week 3, post-trial - Cardia

[okitactless]

[Whenever Cardia manages to make her way down here, she'll find one (1) tired pompom, curled up against the wall, but near the bars. He's had a surprising number of visitors, considering he didn't think he'd be permitted to see anyone else once he'd been taken away, but maybe that's not too surprising. You know, considering the circumstances.

He still looks surprised to see her, but not unpleasantly so.]

Cardia-kun?

Comments

[discardia]

[ A little dip of her head. ]

Hello. I brought Sisi to see you.

[ Just in case he couldn't tell from the squirming ball of fluff in her arms. ]

[okitactless]

[The squirming fluffball is always welcome!!! ...Cardia is too, of course, and he would've been happy to see her either way, but he definitely brightens up at the sight of his favorite fluffy companion.]

Ah, Sisi-kun! [A GOOD DOG a better dog than yams] I'm sorry, I don't have any treats for you.

[discardia]

It's all right. He just wanted to come with me-- I think he understood where I was going.

[ He seems to be in oddly good spirits though. Is he actually okay? ]

[okitactless]

[He's as okay as he can be, considering the circumstances--that is, he isn't happy, per se, but he's... calm. Death is, after all, the most familiar thing about this place for him.]

I appreciate it, Cardia-kun. It's quiet here. [He doesn't like that part, so much.]

[discardia]

... I'm sorry.

I don't know why-- people voted for you, when it was obvious that you didn't do it, and I'm sorry I couldn't prevent it.

[okitactless]

[Gently, Yasusada shakes his head.]

It's alright. It was my fault. [He's oblivious about a lot of things, but it's not like he doesn't know what he did.] I shouldn't have spoken like that. I knew Okita-kun didn't want me to, but...

[He'd been desperate, and in the end, he probably did more harm than good.]

[discardia]

You were upset, and worried. I don't blame you for it.

[ How could she? ]

[okitactless]

Thank you, Cardia-kun. I appreciate it.

[He reaches out to bury his hand in Sisi's fur, if Sisi will let him. When he smiles at her again, it's a little more subdued.]

It's not really fair of me to ask this of you, but... will you take care of Okita-kun for me?

[discardia]

... Me?

You really want someone like me to?

[ as Sisi not only tolerates this but cranes his head to lick his hand. ]

[okitactless]

Yes.

[Simply.]

Someone like you is very different from someone like us... I think you might have better luck than I did.

[discardia]

[ Well, no, she doesn't go around stabbing people when necessary, but...

Cardia remains silent for a minute. ]

If that's your wish... I'll do everything I can to grant it.

[okitactless]

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

[It's all he'd wanted. Protecting Okita... that's always, always been all he's ever wanted.]

[discardia]

... Is there anything I can do for you? In this moment, I mean.

[okitactless]

[Stroking his fingers through Sisi's fur, he hums softly, thinking.]

...Will you stay a while? [He offers her a small smile.] It's okay if you'd want to. It's not very pleasant down here.

[He'd rather not be alone with his thoughts for too long, though. Not until he has to be.]

[discardia]

Of course I'll stay! I'll stay as long as you need me to!!

[ that's not even a question!! ]

[okitactless]

[It isn't as though he'd expected her to say no, but he looks relieved when she agrees, regardless.]

Thank you, Cardia-kun.

[...]

...do you think it's true? That those letters are from the dead?

[discardia]

... I really hope so. I want to believe that everyone is still technically sade somewhere else.

[okitactless]

Yes, but... what about their wounds?

[They've had some pretty gruesome deaths after all.]