week 0, tuesday afternoon

[disilluded]

[Idk, some nebulous Tuesday time.

Sousei is on the hunt for someone in particular!!

Where are you, Cardia, he's here to find you and approach to chat, hands neatly tucked behind his back as he does.]

Ah. Cardia. A moment of your time.

Comments

[discardia]

I'm... harmless?

[ yeah, she's never heard those words before in her life. She has to look uncertainly at her gloved hands, biting her lip.

Is he right? Or will they bring her poison back if she doesn't cooperate? Does that mean while she's here... she isn't a monster? ]

[disilluded]

Correct.

[They may be able to bring her poison back, but he doubts it.]

Do you doubt it still? Surely you have seen for yourself that your skin will not cause anyone else harm right now.

[discardia]

I... haven't tried. I was actually trying not to touch anyone.

[disilluded]

... Very well then.

[He's just going to start tugging off his glove!!]

[discardia]

[ oh god what is he doing, she's automatically taking a step back. ]

Sousei--?

[disilluded]

We will test it now.

[Holding out his hand!

Chop chop!!]

[discardia]

...

[ yeah, no, she ain't budging. ]

[disilluded]

I'm quite confident in my conclusions.

Now, if you will, Cardia.

[discardia]

I really don't want to, Sousei.

[ rather, she's terrified. ]

[disilluded]

[A simple sigh, and:]

I will not force you to.

But you stand here at a choice. You may choose to be terrified of the unknown, and what may be true with your poison, or you may find out right now what is the truth.

[discardia]

[ why does he phrase it like "suck it up or be a pansy"?

Cardia still stands there for at least another five minutes, eyes filled with conflict. But finally, slowly, she tugs one glove off her hand.

Reaching out might take another five minutes. ]

[disilluded]

[It's fine. For all that his words are harsh, he's patient as he holds his hand out, palm up for her to touch when she is ready.

He knows this can't be at all easy.

But he has a point to prove here, and he thinks she really is brave enough to do it.]

[discardia]

[ it's not easy. Her entire face feels hot, but her hand feels clammy, and she can abruptly remember slamming her palms against rock, crying out for help and struggling to save Elaine as her voice got softer and her coughs grew more painful. She remembers a dog's scream of pain.

So even when she reaches out, her fingers are trembling. But then her palm comes to rest on top of Sousei's and...

Nothing burns.]

[disilluded]

[Nothing burns.

Sousei leaves his hand up, Cardia's trembling fingers resting against it, and nods to her once.]

I believe that answers that question very nicely.

...Well done.

[discardia]

You're... [ Cardia swallows hard, speaking thickly, even as tears well up. She may be slightly overwhelmed. ]

You're so warm...

[disilluded]

Yes. And you are as well.

[(Human. Warm. Safe.) Sousei will leave her his hand for as long as she needs! He can understand this is a large, large thing.]

Take your time. I am in no rush.

[discardia]

[ this doesn't make her human-- but she's not hurting him. And he said she was warm.

Cardia just takes several deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of touching another person-- before she draws her hand back. And smiles. ]

Thank you.

[disilluded]

There is nothing to thank me for.

[That's for sure; all he did was push her into trying.]

But that is one less thing you must fear here, if nothing else. Our situation is still perilous, yes... but it is not so because of you.

[discardia]

I'm not sure how to handle that part yet... but I think I'll have to learn more first.

[disilluded]

[... Well.]

There is time to learn. So long as you are breathing, there is always time to continue to learn.

[So... now Cardia can focus on that.]

[discardia]

So I should focus on your survival, too.

[ He didn't say that. ]

[disilluded]

[He...definitely did not say that?

That gets a blink out of him, ever-so-slightly baffled.]

That is not-- how did you come to that conclusion?

[discardia]

I need to survive, in order to learn. But I think I'll learn a lot just from knowing you, so I need you to survive too. So I'll... do my best to protect you, Sousei.

[disilluded]

[Oh my god... how do these things happen. Sousei blinks blankly at that, but... her determination is sweet.]

... Your thought processes are misguided, though...

[He appreciates it.

But. Still.]

I am more than capable of protecting myself. Worry about yourself, and I will make certain I do not die.

[discardia]

I'll worry about both of us. But I'm glad to hear that.

[ there is stubbornness in this one. ]

[disilluded]

[There is definitely stubbornness in this one...goodness.]

...Well. Clearly you may do what you want. So long as you are concerned for yourself first, I will be satisfied.

[discardia]

Thank you. Then I'll do that.

[ GOOD TALK. ]