week 3, post-execution; Stephanie

[discardia]

[ Stephanie pls stop hurting yourself-- but you know what, Cardia's just going to knock on her door when she's calmed down enough and hopefully this poor soul's had a decent chance to rest. ]

Stephanie... are you awake?

Comments

[vigilantics]

Yeah. You can come in.

[ when cardia does, she'll find stephanie in bed. which should not surprise anyone. she's under the covers at least, so cardia won't see what's left of her leg. ]

[discardia]

[ Thanks for that. Cardia's still looking hella concerned, though. ]

How are you feeling?

[vigilantics]

It could be worse!

[ it's said cheerfully. ]

[discardia]

You lost your leg. You were screaming.

[vigilantics]

... it was my bad leg?

[discardia]

Stephanie. Please-- don't do that again?

[vigilantics]

I don't think I can. If someone else tries it, it'll probably be a worse punishment.

[ maybe even death. and while she has done some risky things here, she wouldn't actively try to murder hikage. ]

[discardia]

Probably. I can understand voting like that, but if the punishments are going to become increasingly brutal... we'll have to avoid it at all costs.

[vigilantics]

Well. At least I definitely confirmed we wouldn't just be put into stocks like Natsuo was, I guess.

[ there's a silver lining. ]

[discardia]

There... is that.

[ ... haaaa. ]

Is there anything I can bring you?

[vigilantics]

Oh, no, that's fine. I'll take care of that myself.

[ ... yes. ]

[discardia]

[ ... lord. ]

Stephanie, please let me help.

-- Actually no, let me help or I'm leaving Sisi here to guard you.

[vigilantics]

...

Is that a threat?

[ how scary can a corgi be... ]

[discardia]

I suppose.

[ he's pretty fierce. ]

[vigilantics]

...

It gets pretty boring here.

[discardia]

I can continue to keep checking on you. I'm sure it's fine if you move around tomorrow, but... you should probably try to rest, if just for today.

[vigilantics]

I guess.

[ she would prefer to be moving around right now, if only to show people she's okay. ]

[discardia]

... You scared a lot of us today.

[vigilantics]

[ she shifts her gaze so she's looking at the wall. ]

I tend to do that. Everyone must think I'm an idiot, but I don't regret it.

[discardia]

You're not an idiot.

But being sacrificial is a little concerning.

[vigilantics]

It's... [ she shakes her head. ]

What I did was selfish. I did it for me, because I have a code I live by, and by even participating in this game I've been breaking that code. Voting for a murderer every week is breaking it, and even when we know they did it, it kills me. So, this one time, I did what I wanted to do. And I don't regret a single thing about it, except for the fact that it gave you all so much work to do while trying to save me.

[discardia]

... Then, vote for me.

[vigilantics]

What?

[ she knows she heard her correctly, but steph has to make sure. ]

[discardia]

If you don't want to vote to condemn someone, and you can't vote for yourself, vote for me. I'm going to be doing everything in my power not to kill anyone, and I'm not going to be offended by it.

That shouldn't compromise your morals, right?

[vigilantics]

[ there are a few things she can point out for that. what if there's another case where they can't find the killer, and people decide to vote for people who seem innocent just because they doubt no one else will vote for them. what if cardia does actually kill someone. ]

... we'll see. Thank you for the offer though.

[discardia]

[ look, there's no real way to win here, and if Cardia dies because people think no one else would vote for her, it sure would be hilarious-- I mean. ]

I just... understand not wanting to go against what you believe in. That's why I'm so afraid of this game.

kia what the FUCK is that alien touching cardia

[vigilantics]

There are a lot of things that terrifying about it.

... you're having a hard time.

TECHNICALLY DR. FRANKENSTEIN

[discardia]

I don't want to kill anyone, Stephanie.

... But I don't know if I can refuse it. I don't know what they can threaten us with.

GET HIM AWAY FROM HER

[vigilantics]

...

I really hope that you don't have to find out.

[discardia]

...

You don't know, do you?

[vigilantics]

... know what?

[discardia]

How they get us to kill.

Rather, I hope neither of us have to learn.

[vigilantics]

[ she shakes her head. ]

I know you get a wish from what they [ the blotters ] told us. But... as for how they'd punish you if you don't want the wish? No clue.

[discardia]

I don't know, either. But I think such a thing probably exists.

... Because there's no wish I have that's worth someone's life.

[vigilantics]

Same here.

[ considering they cut off her leg just for not voting properly, she really does not want to see the punishment for that. ]

[discardia]

I realize that saying "let's do our best" sounds empty, but...

Let's... do our best, regardless. Maybe there's another way.

[vigilantics]

I don't think it sounds empty. It's a promise, I think. A reminder that you have to keep trying.