[catch all for belph]

[survivaltricks]

Comments

[survivaltricks]

[so the director's offices are closed, but Akira is there anyway! banging on the door 8') let him in, damn it!!]

[but when Belph approaches he stops, lowering his fist and trying to ease the tension in his shoulders]

. . . sure.

[a pause]

Why? Was how it worked in the castle different?

[axilium]

[honestly that's a mood]

Did you guys get weird effects if you slept outside of your room?

[survivaltricks]

[aha]

Ah.

[he thinks he sees where this is going]

Yeah, we did. Anyone who slept in their room or was awake at night didn't suffer any weird effects. But anyone who slept somewhere else had something strange happen to them.

They disappeared by Saturday, though.

[axilium]

Good to know it's not permanent. Since investigations seem to be taking a cue from your place, I thought that might also be one of your things...

[survivaltricks]

. . . [huh. he hadn't thought investigations would be different]

Yeah. So far, it's just like the mansion. Dead body announcement, everything seems perfectly fine even though there's probably blood and gore everywhere, weird effects gone by trial--

[. . . ugh]

[his expression twists into something distasteful]

Fuck. [a pause] What'd you get hit with, anyway?

[axilium]

Yeah, we had to search for all the evidence and corpses on Friday before we got the announcement. Sounds like the announcement plus clues that can only be seen a few is exclusive to yours.

[he shakes his head.]

Not me. A friend—stayed in the kitchen, now he can't get full no matter how much he eats.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . aha]

[that is different, and Akira hadn't even thought about the possibility of there being any differences between investigations and trials at all. though. . . he really should've]

We'll have to find evidence and corpses tomorrow, during trial. I guess it motivates us to use our time wisely, or some other shit like that.

[ugh]

He might be better waiting it out until the day ends, so he doesn't make himself sick later on.

[axilium]

I don't know about you, but time management was never a strong point of ours.

... Duly noted.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . laughs a little, but it's wry]

Yeah. Wasn't ours, either.

[another pause and he slumps up against the building]

. . . damn it. We all knew this was coming, but. . .

[axilium]

Buuuut everything still sucks.

[survivaltricks]

[it is SOMEHOW WORSE than Akira EXPECTED IT TO BE and THAT SUCKS BIG TIME]

Say it again, but louder.

[axilium]

[he cups his hands around his mouth.]

EVERYTHING SUCKS!

[survivaltricks]

[laughs, breathless and actually amused, and thunks his head against the director's office door]

[UUUUUGH]

[axilium]

{ugggggh indeed]

Try not to give yourself a concussion before tomorrow.

[survivaltricks]

I don't know. Might be preferable to whatever happens tomorrow.

[so. fukken wry]

[axilium]

Well, I can't deny that I'd personally love to get drunk before trial, but unfortunately Wei Wuxian doesn't have enough wine for that.

[survivaltricks]

Sounds like it's time to resort to petty thievery.

[he's so tired he's starting to make stupid, dry jokes]

[axilium]

If you find a secret stash of alcohol anywhere that isn't his fermenting wine, let me know.

[survivaltricks]

I don't drink the stuff, so you've got it.

[. . . THE DRIEST FINGER GUNS]

[axilium]

Thanks, glad I can count on you.

[survivaltricks]

[hm]

[. . . all that said. . .]

How are you doing?

[axilium]

[he raises an eyebrow.]

I'm not the one who shouted my ex's name to the skies a short while ago.

[survivaltricks]

-- he's not my ex??

[WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT??]

[axilium]

Right, right.

[survivaltricks]

Why does. . . why does everyone keep thinking he is?

[Belph isn't even the FIRST]