week 1, post-trial - nico

[okitactless]

[WELP, Yasusada's tapestry theory went out the window this week. That's only one of many reasons he's seeking out Nico after the trial, but it's still the first one he greets him with, accompanied by a small, tired smile.]

I'm glad you're alright, Nico-kun. I was worried for you this week.

Comments

[okitactless]

[It definitely was awful and depressing, and even with Kashuu by his side back in his own world, it's not quite the same.]

We're the same kind of sword, so Okita-kun couldn't use us together. It was either me or Kiyomitsu. So after Kiyomitsu...

[Well. He only had one uchigatana left.

That's not all, of course. It never is.] ...Okita-kun's health started to fail very quickly after that, though. It was only a few years before he died, and he wasn't allowed to fight anymore before that. I stayed with him, but... [He looks down.] Swords can't cut out illness.

[resumed]

[Every now and then I remember TR is actually pretty depressing. But that makes sense.

"Let him try. He'll be weakened. And my son here, Nico—well, he's not much now, I'll grant you. It would've been better if Bianca had lived. But give him four more years of training. We can hold out that long, surely. Nico will turn sixteen, as the prophecy says, and then he will make the decision that will save the world. And I will be king of the gods."

Either him or Bianca. And his father had made his preference very clear at the time. Things have improved, slightly, since then, but it's hard to shake that off. He wonders why Okita solely chose to use Kashuu and leave Yasusada back when they were the same.

It's why he's quiet.]

So the battle with Kashuu was pretty much his last chance, and you never got to be by his side out there on top of losing someone important to you. Kind of a tragic end.

[okitactless]

[WELCOME TO HELL.

For a minute, Yasusada's tempted to clarify--he did get to be by his side after Ikedaya, if only for a little while. But it had only been because Okita had pushed himself, harder and harder, desperate to serve his purpose. To make Kondou and Hijikata's dreams come true.

In the end, though, he decides against it. There's no point. Everyone here can see that Okita tries to hide his failing health, he's sure--it's all Yasusada can do to stop him from overdoing it just to prove himself.

He sighs softly, taking care to wrap up the broken shard again; he doesn't expect Okita to wander in here, but still. He'd rather not leave Kashuu bared like that, knowing how much he'd hate it.]

...We're together again now. Kiyomitsu and I. [There's a pause, and then Yasusada's shoulders rise, like he's expecting judgment or rebuke for his next words. Still, he says them anyway.]

I-- I can't say I don't mind being here, of course. This isn't where any of us belong. But being able to see Okita-kun... to talk to him for real... I can't be unhappy about that either.

[resumed]

[I WOULD LIKE A REFUND.

It's true though. Everyone here can see that Okita's trying and it's worrisome in its own way. He watches the way Yasusada handles the sword--Kashuu--with care. It's respectable, he thinks.]

...sometimes there can be good things to be found in terrible things. I know none of us should be here and we're putting a lot at risk by playing along, but I think I understand.

[...] I haven't seen Reyna for a few months. It's hard for us to see each other for a handful of reasons, but I can't say it's been terrible being able to see her every day again. Update her on our world and what I've already seen that she hasn't yet. Things like that.

And how does Okita feel about it?

[okitactless]

[NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES.

Yasusada smiles a little at the mention of Reyna, though. He likes her a lot, and he's glad Nico has a companion--he can't imagine how difficult this would be to deal with alone.]

...do humans always do that? [Yasusada asks softly, finally looking back at Nico.] Try to find happiness even in terrible situations?

[His smile turns just a little wry at the question.] Okita-kun is like that. He tries to be happy as much as he can. I think... it's probably got to be very strange, for him. Me being here, I mean. [He bites his lip.] And I think... I think maybe it makes him a little sad. Since I'm from so far in the future, to him.

[resumed]

No. [There's an equally soft tone.] Not all humans, but there are plenty who do that drag the rest of us along anyway.

I don't think it's a bad thing, by the way. People who do that. But even with the difference in timeline...you get to be together. It doesn't make it less depressing, I think, but I think at the same time it can maybe be a bright side.