VOICE | @k.charlotte

[hndzhn]

( His voice is rough and just a little weary. )

Was I robbed of power through my own fault, my death, or did this place take it from me ... ?

( The words of a man dependent on his monstrous strength, but the tone of a man exposed.

He moves on: )

I need something to wrap my face with. My name is Katakuri Charlotte, and I'm staying at the Invincible if anyone can provide assistance.

Comments

[hndzhn]

( Pudding ... ?

He doesn't let his surprise color his words as he speaks. )

Yes. I'm at the Invincible. I don't quite remember what happened.

( He pauses a beat. )

Are you ...

( Another beat. How to phrase this, in a place like this? )

Surviving.

[flangirl]

[ The next message is broken up a little by loud, staticky buffets, as though of wind, though the endless night is still. ]

I'm coming right over! I'm on my way!

[ And Pudding is shouting to be heard from some feet from her tablet, and the sounds of footfalls on hard earth follow. ]

I'm okay - I'm -

[ Surviving is the word for it. ]

Everything's... h-hang on I'm almost there!

[hndzhn]

( He wants to tell her not to rush, to take her time. But her presence will be a comfort to them both, will be answers, will be welcome. He keeps quiet for a moment. )

I'm not going anywhere, Pudding.

( Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? )

Room 307.

action!

[flangirl]

[ Oh don't you DARE say that like you can promise it this time! ]

[ But she doesn't send another message, just. Appears at his door, knocks a little frantically, and then barrels in. The door thankfully swings itself shut behind her, because all Pudding's focus is on literally jumping on Katakuri, arms around his neck, and wailing. ]

You were gone! You were gone!! I looked everywhere and I couldn't find your lantern and I thought you'd -

[ She doesn't even know how to word it here. Died? People who die come back. She just buries her face in his shoulder instead and sobs. What else can she do? Before here - before... Sanji... - she's not sure she would have had any emotional reaction to any of her siblings' fates. But Katakuri... here... after the wedding, and after seeing Katakuri's face for the first time... ]

[hndzhn]

( He lifts her easily, right up to eyelevel, like when she was much smaller and could barely walk. )

Look at me. I'm going to be here with you as long as I can be.

( There's nothing to hide his mouth. He does not smile, but for someone as familiar with his mannerisms at Pudding is, she can probably tell that there's concern there, written across the upwards knit of his brows. )

You've been fine, right?

( Well. )

As fine as you can be, here?

[flangirl]

[ It's so - strange. For him to lift her like he does. She's older and bigger; he's so much smaller here, like the portal or maybe Beacon itself fit him to size in all these small buildings and spaces made for people closer to her size. But he's still so big, and she's still so young and small - or feels it, so much more acutely, right now - and she feels like a little sister, in a way she can't explain but names immediately, with her arms hooked around his neck, sitting sidesaddle in the cradle of his arms. ]

[ She can't explain it. She could barely describe it if she tried. But her sobbing calms, so quickly, at his promise (the one he can make, qualified for his own control) and his concern, down to soft hiccups and slower tears. It's an entirely new experience, rattling, and she doesn't know how she knows what it is - her siblings are barely that, but for name and general alliance - but she does, and a comfort settles in her chest that is likewise new, and strange, and precious. ]

[ Fuck, she even laughs a little as he amends his question, nodding. ]

I have been. There's so much I can't do here, but I'm... trying. I'm keeping logs of the food supplies, and I make breakfast every morning... and everyone's so nice. [ A little laugh. ] Well, some of them are prickly, but they're trying, too.