Opinions without 3.1415 are just Onions (Week1 post trial)

[ghostricked]

After everything, the house seems almost too still and too mundane. At least as long as the doors to that room remain closed. One by one those covered in what was once their teammate are lead to the showers or change in silence. There is no warm meal waiting for them. No words of encouragement.

Life goes on, regardless.

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[boardreversal]

[There's pause, as he looks over at the pile.]

...Sissel-kun?

[He moves towards it, kneeling down silently before it.]

[ghostricked]

[Sissel slinks out, low to the ground in that way scared cats have. No bandanna or collar, though mostly clean- his fur a little stiff from the blood earlier but he must have groomed since then]

[boardreversal]

[...Ah.

How...horrible. Sissel must have also gotten caught in all of that, and his fur...

...God, he'd have had to have licked the blood off, all by himself...

The thought causes Battler to sit down fully, cross legged, gently extending a hand with a soft smile.]

...I don't mind being a warm lap, if you want.

[To his mind...it's a lot better than being in a cold junkpile, even if that junkpile was made by Sho.]

[ghostricked]

[He hesitates, looking up at Battler- 'Are you sure?'

But if not discouraged he will crawl up into his lap]

[boardreversal]

[He's absolutely sure - and when Sissel crawls in, he just...gently starts petting that stiff fur, over and over.]

...I'm sorry. I know you liked him, Sissel-kun.

[He keeps stroking, even as he talks.]

I...can't say I liked him, but...I didn't think he was a bad guy. Weird, and quick to throw a punch, but everyone's different, right? And in the end....he didn't even really mean to hurt Olympia-chan at all....

[He pauses, shaking his head.]

...I just wish we could have stopped him before...he made the choice to do what he wanted.

[ghostricked]

"I just keep ending up with men like that."

[He thinks- but without his collar his thoughts can not reach Battler. It was easier, before he lived that night as a 'human'- before he died and tasted that fruit of knowledge. He of course never had the revelation of his nakedness, but knowing was it's own burden, even if he didn't know in the same way a real human knows.

He knows enough. And it hurts more now- because unlike with Yomiel this time he has words for the suffering humans express. Almost like they have tainted his own heart in a way. He's not sure if he's better for it or not- but he will use this knowledge to help them just like he did on that night. But for now, he just wants to be a cat again.

And as a cat he can comfort in ways another human usually can not. He bumps his head against Battler's hand and chest. 'It'll be okay.']

[boardreversal]

['...Sissel is trying in his own way, isn't he?
Even though I can't hear his thoughts, I think....I understand what he's trying to say.']

...I know. Thank you, Sissel-kun.

[He starts petting him again, before gently trying to lift him in his arms and place him more against his chest, regardless of the faint blood smell on him.

If Sissel lets him, he'll gently bump his head against the cat's tiny one.]

...Let's...both do what we can, with what we have to help everyone with.

....No matter what happens in the future.

...Okay?

[ghostricked]

[This close to Battler's chest he can hear the lubdub of his heartbeat. Slower then he'd expect, considering. What had Battler seen to stay so calm right now, after seeming so emotional other times?

Was his own life not that much of a worry to him? Sissel can understand that.

When his head is bumped he'll nuzzle back, putting his paws on Battler's face as he does so, so he can get his scent on him better.

I'll do whatever I can to get you all free, I promise...]