okitactless | week 3, post-trial

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week 3, post-trial - Sanji

[SO THIS SURE IS A DUNGEON THAT YASU IS CHILLING IN...

Is it dark? Is it cold? Is it weirdly damp? IS IT ALL OF THE ABOVE we may never know but here he is anyway, curled up against the wall with his hands tucked into his haori sleeves. He doesn't look any worse for wear, just a little tired, especially with his hair out of its usual tie.

He isn't so exhausted that he ignores the sound of footsteps, though, lifting his head and glancing over curiously.]

Sanji-kun?

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[It takes a second for Yasusada to understand what he's looking at, but when he does, a genuine laugh escapes him.]

I'm not sure, I'm not used to needing to eat. [He probably is?? But he still isn't quite sure how to tell. EITHER WAY, he gets to his feet--he'll accept his death row meal if they can get it through the bars I guess??] Thank you, Sanji-kun.

[Got him to crack a smile? That's another small victory then, and Sanji passes off the tray of burgers and fries (of course fries!) through the bars, momentarily pleased.

Only a moment, though. He's still feeling the loss here.]

... Sorry it ended this way. I didn't vote for you, but... [Doesn't seem like it mattered! Enough people did.]

[Yasusada plops down unceremoniously, poking at prodding at all this Cool New Stuff that he isn't quite sure how to eat. He decides to start with a fry first, since that seems fairly simple, and pops the whole thing in his mouth with that same innocent curiosity.

He has enough manners not to talk with his mouth full, at least, shaking his head.]

It's okay. It was my fault. [No matter what Okita says... he's the one who didn't listen. He does tilt his head, though, giving Sanji a curious look as he carefully picks up the burger.] May I ask who you did vote for?

... 2B-chan.

[No point in hiding the truth. Yasusada will not be around for much longer, and if forced to, Sanji would stand by his logic.]

I don't think she killed Monika-chan, she loved her too much, but Fitzgerald... I could see her pulling off that.

[Yasusada nods. He doesn't look surprised.]

I almost voted for her too. [The lack of fingerprints, even if he doesn't exactly understand how all of that works--her strength, her skill... plus, she isn't human. He likes to think he understands how she might've thought a little better than the humans here, but in the end, he'll never know.] I changed my mind, but... Fukuchou was a very skilled fighter. [He probably wouldn't have said as much to Hijikata's face, since he's a punk like his master, but.] She's one of only a few people who could've taken him down, I think.

[Nodding in agreement. 2B could absolutely do the task if it was required of her. Machine or no, she seems that type of lady.

... But he supposes the group won't know for now, if ever.]

Who did you end up voting for, then?

[A wry smile.]

Akechi, again.

[A GRUDGEWANKER UNTIL THE END... but he'll explain after a tentative bite of his burger, covering his mouth with one hand to speak.]

I don't believe he's skilled enough to have killed anyone from this week, but I don't like him and I didn't think he'd get enough votes to be chosen anyway.

[Not that he would've been too upset if they'd voted Akechi off the island considering he really was guilty, but.]

[God, that gets a laugh out of him. Sanji is very attached to Eichi, admittedly, but that is a Mood for Akechi.]

Can't blame ya. And given what's happen, I think you earned your right to vote for whoever you want.

[...]

Hey. I'll do my best to look after Souji while you're... gone.

[If Yasu only gets the chance to write one letter from the graveyard will anyone be surprised if he sends a note to Akechi that says U SUCK

His own amusement, however mild, seems to fade at that, though; his smile disappears, and he looks down.]

...Thank you. [His voice is steady when he speaks, but it's soft, and understandably sad.] Okita-kun, he... [He pauses, struggling internally--but will Okita ever find out? Probably not.] ...he doesn't... handle loss very well, and he always blames himself for things like this. Fukuchou's death, too. [No matter how much Yasusada had tried to tell him it wasn't his fault, Okita hadn't believed him. He'd simply tried to hide his feelings in an attempt to spare Yasusada's, and that had only made them both more miserable.] I don't know if he'll believe you, or anybody, but... I'd like it if he knew this wasn't his fault. It might help to hear it from other people.

[From anyone who isn't, well. Him.]

[... Yeah. Souji seems like the type, from what he's seen. Taking the burden on himself because it's the only way he knows how to cope.

Sanji knows that feeling well.]

I will. [His voice is quiet, but warm with a promise.] He shouldn't be blaming himself for shit like that... even if it takes a while, I'll just keep reminding him until maybe he'll believe it for himself.

Thank you, Sanji-kun.

[There are no tears in his eyes when he looks at Sanji, and though there's sorrow on his face, his gratitude is clear and genuine.]

...he's one of the best swordsmen in Japan. [Sanji probably doesn't care about this, but with Hijikata gone, and Okita unlikely to tell anyone... he wants at least one other person to understand where his devotion comes from. His letters, while enthusiastic, had been intentionally vague.] Even in the future, where I'm from, people remember how incredible he was. He took such good care of me and my partner, when we belonged to him. And even though I had to watch him die... even though he's already very sick here... he's still so strong.

[Sanji listens -- it feels like the only power he holds in this place, to carry the will of the dead. He nods at the end of the short tale. Maybe he can't understand completely, but there's a swordsman on his crew almost painfully dedicated to the wellbeing of his swords.]

... Do you prefer it this way?

[A surprisingly personal question]

Leaving this world before he does this time?

[It takes a minute for the words to sink in, and when they do, Yasusada finds himself blinking at Sanji in surprise. Even here, it's not something he'd truly considered--he'd assumed that, were he to die, it would be protecting Okita, but he'd been picturing some intense battle that wouldn't leave him with any time to contemplate his own death. Having the time to ponder this situation isn't something he'd anticipated.

Were he alone, it's not something he'd like, either. But if it's Sanji asking...]

...It's an honor to give my life for Okita-kun. [When he answers, it's slow and careful, as he tries to pick out the right words to explain himself.] ...but I don't like that he'll have to endure this loneliness. Being left behind by everyone... it's not a feeling I ever wanted him to know.

[He hadn't expected Hijikata to die before them, either. He'd been the last to go back home.]

And I don't like that it means Rapunzel-kun is in danger. [That one comes as an afterthought, but with less hesitation.] I promised to keep her safe, but now she could die because of me.

[The mention of Rapunzel in particular has Sanji glancing elsewhere but Yasusada -- that's a wound that will take a while to heal (and then longer still, once Sunday comes around and everyone is forced to watch her fate).

But he gets it. If Sanji had a choice... well, it's a pirate's nature to want to go down in a blaze of glory, if you gotta go at all. It's not so much he wants to die, but...

Well, in any case.]

Whatever happens to Rapunzel-chan isn't your fault. It'd be on our hands.

[The group knew the risks. That no one thought to consider Rapunzel's fate is... telling.

But he's not here to get angry. Sanji shakes his head, unclouding his thoughts.]

I understand, though. Living's the harder job when you're left behind. [...] But if he's as strong as you say, he'll weather through this somehow.

I told her I'd protect her, though. My partner would never forgive me if he knew I'd let this happen.

[Truthfully, that's neither here nor there, but. Yasusada's perceptions differ from reality in many situations.

Still, when it comes to Okita--]

He definitely is. [But...] ...He might try not to, though. [It isn't so much that Okita is actively suicidal, but Yasusada knows his master well. He can get... reckless, especially if he's panicked or feeling helpless in some way.]

[Sanij can't exactly scold Yasusada's perceptions when Sanji would be blaming the shit outta himself if their positions were reversed. He'll close his eyes and let that slide.]

... So Souji is of those types, is he?

[no elaboration needed. He understands]

So he needs food and something to keep him busy. [What a troublesome guy]

-- Do me a favor, would you? Wherever you end up, don't settle for death. If there's a way to get everyone back, I wanna see it through... you guys don't deserve this.

[Despite himself, Yasusada smiles. Somehow, even though they aren't exactly the closest of friends, he'd known Sanji would understand. Perhaps it's something about his aura, or maybe just his willingness to indulge in the wide-eyed curiosity of tactless spirit, but he trusts Sanji to take care of this, as best he can. To take care of Okita.

(To everyone who's come to visit him, it's the only thing he's really asked for.)

The request, though, that catches him off-guard, and he blinks, visibly surprised. "Don't settle for death" is not really a common sentiment amongst his people, after all. But it isn't as thought he disagrees--and even if he did, he'd be hard-pressed to deny Sanji anything after he'd gone out of his way for all this.

So after a moment, he nods, expression shifting into something determined.]

I'm not sure how helpful I'll be able to be over there, but I'll do what I can.

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week 3, post-trial - Sanji

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