CHAPTER 3 ; TRIAL

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 3 - WEEK 329 Narrators Remain ; Wakey wakey, naughty murder children. It's a lovely Saturday, after all. Breakfast is served piping hot at its usual time and all of the evidence has been removed from the scenes of yesterday. No matter how you choose to spent your morning though, the clock will begin to chime the moment both hands reach the large, ornate twelve. Before your eyes materializes a door...but not just any door. Unlike the door leading to the festival, this door sits primly and properly right in front of the foyer. Whether you exit the castle on your own or you feel a friendly, invisible push, you begin to walk under an arc of wisterias. Behind you, the clock continues to chime with every step you take. By the time the time the clock strikes twelve, you've entered a beautiful garden. In front of you is a long table, 19 seats on each side. Around the garden are several glass cases containing evidence collected yesterday. As noon intensifies on the sun-shaped clock, you'll find Tiger at the head of the table, a glass-covered rose near her right hand. Tick tock, Narrators. You have nine hours to deliberate. Throughout today's trial, the delightful, delectable scent of freshly brewed coffee will linger in the air though there will be no coffee present. Instead, today's trial snacks include...finger foods. Welcome to your trial post! Please see here for the OOC summary of events from yesterday's investigation. In addition, please be sure to vote! Please see the voting page on how to vote, as we will have two special things to vote for. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Danielle (entrappings), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

Comments

[okitactless]

Oh...

[Slowly, he lowers his head, silent for a moment.

But then he lifts a hand to rub any lingering tears from his eyes, looking back at Okita.]

Okita-kun... I'm sorry, I failed you again...

[sanguinairy]

[HEY WHAT THE FUCK MAN!!!!! Souji just looks like he's been rekt all over again.

He struggles to find words - any at all - but just looks stricken and has been since the results were read. It looks like it takes what he says a second or two to sink in, and then Souji's rapidly shaking his head.]

--That's— That isn't true at all, Yasusada, that isn't—

[God help him he can't breathe well enough to panic like this.]

[okitactless]

[Perhaps he shouldn't be this calm, not now of all times, but-- well.

If Okita had been executed, he wouldn't have lasted through the night anyway.

He shakes his head, too, but it's much more gentle; and carefully, without shifting too far away, he lifts his vessel and rests it on Okita's lap.]

I know it's not the same, but... will you take care of me a little longer?

[sanguinairy]

[It's a familiar weight. Too familiar, no matter if he's holding it or letting it rest at his hip or sitting with it leaning against his shoulder, his legs.

The familiarity of it makes his stomach turn, but his hands are gentle when he reaches out to rest his palms against the sheathe.]

... ["I'm sorry" just doesn't cut it here, does it? If anything, he's the one who failed Yasusada, and there's nothing he can do about it, like there had been nothing he could do to protect Hijikata.

Stiffly, he nods.]

I will.

[okitactless]

[If anything, Yasusada looks relieved when Okita takes it--as if he'd feared Okita would refuse. He can't look happy, not when he knows how much this is going to hurt Okita, but he can't be too upset at the prospect of Okita getting to live, either.

He's quiet for a minute, watching Okita's face carefully, before he reaches out to rest his own hands on top of Okita's. He glances between Okita and Tiger, choosing his words carefully.]

...I want to ask for something, but it's not a nice thing. [He's at least aware of that much. If it's too much for Okita, then he won't do it--and even though Okita likely already knows what he wants to ask, he waits for permission anyway.]

[sanguinairy]

[He does seem to know what Yasusada will ask of him, expression immediately creasing as it does in such a mournful way. His fingers, still resting over the blade, curl inward to keep that sheathe right where it is. As if maybe that would be enough to keep Yasusada right where he is, too.]

...Mm. [A little sound of acknowledgment first. Then:] Later, please.

[There are only so many things he can deal with at once.]

[okitactless]

[Immediately, he nods.]

Thank you.

[Even if he says no. Even if they never get to speak again, and he doesn't get to ask at all. The fact that he's still willing to listen to anything Yasusada has to say, after all of this, is enough.]

[sanguinairy]

[Funny that Yasusada feels it's enough when he can only think about how he could have been able to do so, so much more.

He won't burden Yasusada with that, though. Instead, he'll just hold onto both him and his vessel for as long as he's able before the rude armor comes to get him.]