[She might have continued their conversation that is meant to be casual on the surface but really is anything but since they're both aware that the other is keeping up the cheerfulness in an attempt to make things feel more normal. She also might have blushed at his compliment and stammered out some flustered thank-you.
Neither of those things happen, though, because Shinpachi doubles over, and his hair whitens - one minute it's brown and then she blinks and it's white like snow. She's sure that, if she could see his face clearly, his eyes would be blood-red.]
Nagakura-san..!
[...it was only ever a matter of time. Somehow, they had avoided it happening on the ship, but she knows a little bit about the bloodlust from Heisuke and from what she's overheard.
The bloodlust was why she'd become involved with the Shinsengumi in the first place. Those escaped rasetsu so many years ago -
She banishes the thought and kneels down next to him, her expression one of acute concern. She isn't worried for herself, because she fully trusts that Shinpachi would never hurt her, even like this. She's worried for him because for him to have made that sound, for him to be clutching at his chest like that, it must really hurt. He usually doesn't show his pain... not in front of her, not in front of anyone.
She needs to help him. What can she do? How can she help lessen the pain of the bloodlust?
...bloodlust.]
Just... [She looks down at the blade at her waist with an expression of slowly dawning comprehension. There is something she can do. She can help him. She can...] Just hold on for another few moments. You'll be okay...
[And then she reaches for her blade, sliding it carefully out of its sheath. She can't believe she's about to do this - doesn't really know how Shinpachi will react to it - but all she can think is that if a little bit of blood (or a lot, even, she's a demon and she'll recover) will help lessen his pain, then she's glad to give it up. It doesn't matter. What matters is that he stop hurting, because he doesn't deserve this on top of everything else.
She takes a breath and presses the sharp edge of her sword into her finger to draw blood before she can lose her nerve or he can make any move to stop her. A few droplets of blood gush from the wound - it's not a large one, just enough to get some blood flowing, and she bites her lip as she offers her hand to him.
Please forgive me, Nagakura-san...]
Here... it might help. Please, it might help you...
[Her expression is desperate, pleading with him to do whatever it takes to make his pain disappear. She doesn't want him to have to suffer for even a moment longer.]
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Neither of those things happen, though, because Shinpachi doubles over, and his hair whitens - one minute it's brown and then she blinks and it's white like snow. She's sure that, if she could see his face clearly, his eyes would be blood-red.]
Nagakura-san..!
[...it was only ever a matter of time. Somehow, they had avoided it happening on the ship, but she knows a little bit about the bloodlust from Heisuke and from what she's overheard.
The bloodlust was why she'd become involved with the Shinsengumi in the first place. Those escaped rasetsu so many years ago -
She banishes the thought and kneels down next to him, her expression one of acute concern. She isn't worried for herself, because she fully trusts that Shinpachi would never hurt her, even like this. She's worried for him because for him to have made that sound, for him to be clutching at his chest like that, it must really hurt. He usually doesn't show his pain... not in front of her, not in front of anyone.
She needs to help him. What can she do? How can she help lessen the pain of the bloodlust?
...bloodlust.]
Just... [She looks down at the blade at her waist with an expression of slowly dawning comprehension. There is something she can do. She can help him. She can...] Just hold on for another few moments. You'll be okay...
[And then she reaches for her blade, sliding it carefully out of its sheath. She can't believe she's about to do this - doesn't really know how Shinpachi will react to it - but all she can think is that if a little bit of blood (or a lot, even, she's a demon and she'll recover) will help lessen his pain, then she's glad to give it up. It doesn't matter. What matters is that he stop hurting, because he doesn't deserve this on top of everything else.
She takes a breath and presses the sharp edge of her sword into her finger to draw blood before she can lose her nerve or he can make any move to stop her. A few droplets of blood gush from the wound - it's not a large one, just enough to get some blood flowing, and she bites her lip as she offers her hand to him.
Please forgive me, Nagakura-san...]
Here... it might help. Please, it might help you...
[Her expression is desperate, pleading with him to do whatever it takes to make his pain disappear. She doesn't want him to have to suffer for even a moment longer.]