[ judge vinsmoke fills his head, turns him back into that weak, defenseless little kid who would have died if not for the leniency reiju showed him, despite everything. ]
what if it's one of us?
[ it's not nami. it could never be nami. but it could be him, as flawed and unstable as his genetic makeup is. ]
( for a moment, it seems like a ridiculous question. why would shanks think that? of course he would never hurt them. they're luffy's crew. that makes them, by extension, under his care. )
Then the accusation falls to me. At my strongest I'm more than capable of any of these killings. And I have a history of deception, from the last game. Whatever argument must be made. My reputation has suffered worse. You're family, Sanji. I protect my own.
we protect our own too, you old bastard. you're not taking the fall for anything.
[ a beat. ]
paul. his murder was done by someone who knows butchery. and if we're assuming the targets are people close to the killers, then he and i were close. even if it was for only a month. alina wouldn't do it. and his sister was one of them during the last games. that doesn't leave many options.
( he has plenty of allies who would be willing to make the case for him, if push comes to shove. )
Or it could easily be a setup. Doesn't it seem a bit too convenient? If you'd really done it, don't you think they would have found traces of cigarettes at the scene?
( be so fr sanji u wouldn't even stop smoking during a murder )
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no subject
( the reason is murder. you kill his people, you die. no exceptions. )
Leniency isn't a consideration.
no subject
what if it's one of us?
[ it's not nami. it could never be nami. but it could be him, as flawed and unstable as his genetic makeup is. ]
no subject
Then the accusation falls to me.
At my strongest I'm more than capable of any of these killings.
And I have a history of deception, from the last game.
Whatever argument must be made. My reputation has suffered worse.
You're family, Sanji. I protect my own.
( still, he has to ask: )
Do you have reason to believe it is one of us?
no subject
you're not taking the fall for anything.
[ a beat. ]
paul. his murder was done by someone who knows butchery.
and if we're assuming the targets are people close to the killers, then he and i were close. even if it was for only a month.
alina wouldn't do it. and his sister was one of them during the last games.
that doesn't leave many options.
no subject
( he has plenty of allies who would be willing to make the case for him, if push comes to shove. )
Or it could easily be a setup.
Doesn't it seem a bit too convenient?
If you'd really done it, don't you think they would have found traces of cigarettes at the scene?
( be so fr sanji u wouldn't even stop smoking during a murder )