Urashima Kotetsu ( 浦島虎徹 ) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kametaro) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
130bladeworks2015-06-27 06:56 pm
kametaro) wrote in 130bladeworks2015-06-27 06:56 pm
VACATION IS WHERE I WANNA BE
 ☼ BEACH VACATION MEME ☼ Summer begins, and the saniwa's army earns a well deserved vacation. All expenses paid for by their organization, from travel to lodging to food, and yes, even the swim wear and toys. The water is blue, the skies are (mostly) clear, and it's time to have some fun at the beach! Watch out for the jellyfish and KBseagulls. ***Feel free to include some prompts in your top level. If you can't think of any, pick from below for some ideas!** 001.IN THE WATER This is why you're here, right? Take to the water and splash around. Now might be a good time to learn to swim if you don't already. But watch out! Here comes a large wave--! 002.SANDCASTLES This is it... the enemy's stronghold... not! It's a race against the clock to build a castle before the tide comes in. Collect those seashells, fortify your fortress, and don't be a jerk and ruin some else's castle. 003.SUNBATHING or maybe you've opted to sit under the shade of a large umbrella instead. Some times it's good to just sit back, relax, and watch to make sure no one needs to be rescued later. Keep an eye on the tide or you might find yourself getting wet anyway. 004. BEACH ANIMALS There are tiny fish in the tide pools, crabs crawling around, and uwah are those sea turtles?! Tsurumaru, put that octopus down right now. Ouch, did that jellyfish get you? And look, over there! That's a dolphin! You know, dolphins are intelligent creatures and have been known to help people-- WAIT NO ITS A SHARK ITS A SHARK NOT A FRIENDLY FISH IT LOOKS LIKE A DOLPHIN BUT ITS A SHARK. 005.MELON SLICING The organization has been kind enough to provide food and drink as well. They must have felt very clever sending all of those watermelons, though. Really, who needs that many watermelons? It's a competition to see which sword is the True Melonslasher. 006.STORM Those clouds came in so quickly, you barely had a chance to notice. The sky is dark, the rain is pouring down, and the wind is blowing cold. It's time to quickly collect your things and try to find some place dry. 007.KBCGULLS. Oh no, who fed the seagulls? They're circling around like vultures and making swoops at you, trying to steal your food. Hey, wait, that's not even edible! Was it just you or was there an evil glint in that bird's eye just now...? 008.BEACH PARTY. All of those watermelons you sliced earlier are being put to use. The sun is setting, the food is out, and a bonfire is going on the beach. Eat your heart out and dance around the fire. Watch the sunset, look at the stars, this sure is nice, isn't it? 009.WILDCARD. Mix and match. Create your own prompt. Find the dragon king's palace or something. |
why are u always trying to crush my heart
He won't be too sensitive about it just yet, at least, because
im not making this easy for youSouji's face isn't immediately recognizable to him. The only thing that seems a little off is the nagging sense of familiarity that sets in as soon as he speaks, and a feeling that's almost... peaceful? Maybe. Something like that, anyway. Like coming back to a childhood home years and years after moving, years after a new family has moved in, years after the tiny sapling in the front has grown into something big and beautiful and impressive.He steps his way into the little sheltered area, starting to wring his hair out (away from Souji, at least, since he looks cold as hell.) It's strange, but he feels drawn like a magnet to Souji's side. He's tactile by nature, so he has to actually remind himself that people usually like their personal bubbles.]
Yeah, it did. What's up with that, huh? It was supposed to be clear all day!
because it makes such pretty sounds
Souji is frowning gently for a moment, trying to figure out why Kashuu seems so familiar somehow, trying to recall if he's seen him somewhere before. But the other man isn't saying anything about it, although Souji could have sworn that something like recognition registered on his face for just a moment - or is he imagining things? The storm has made the light pretty murky, after all.
He makes a sympathetic grimace in return, and a moment later he's fished yet another towel out of the bag he's dragged with him, holding it out to Kashuu.]
Here, this should be dry. I didn't even get to use it before my friends tossed theirs all over me and practically carried me here. [Save Souji first, defy the storm and/or death in the water later, apparently.] I hope it's not going to last, though. It would be a shame to have to go back to the hotel.
ENJOY ITS DYING SYMPHONY u demon
When the towel is offered, he reaches out and takes it with a grateful sound.]
Thanks. I don't want my hair to dry with rainwater in it. [Even if that's much better than salt water... But he'll start to towel-dry his hair soon enough, satisfied to have something nice and warm to wipe the water away with.]
You have good friends, anyway. Y'know, for us it was like "wow, run, every man for himself!!" out there when it started raining. [A HEAVING SIGH... Rudeass swords.]
I'm not gonna leave until I see fireworks, so it'll have to stop eventually.
sounds like crying children and the dying bleats of baby seals *^*
A lot of my friends are like that, but... they're all pretty protective of me, I guess.
[A bit of a put-upon sigh follows that statement. It's a bit of a pain when your friends feel like a certain someone will have their hides if they get you in too much trouble. Sometimes a young man just wants to get in trouble, and damn the consequences!!!
Still, he's pretty glad to be relatively dry and not too cold right now, because the last thing he wants is to have his holiday ruined by a cold, so he's pretty grateful all the same. He moves unconsciously a bit closer to Kashuu, because look, it makes sense to stay close together when you're both cold.]
You're part of that big group of guys, right? Heisuke has been staring at most of you all morning, wondering if you're a group of models or something. He's got an eye for cute and pretty people. [That's followed by a casual shrug and a laugh - apparently he's used to his friend's habit of downright ogling strangers?]
WOW senpai definitely noticed
[Probably. As long as it doesn't get stifling... But he could easily see that being the case, and he doesn't really like the idea of it, himself. He likes attention! He doesn't like being stifled.
He doesn't seem to mind when Souji moves closer, either way; he sticks close to people, and he doesn't feel threatened at all by this... stranger? But his hands freeze for a second when he hears that name - a familiar name, one that he hasn't heard outside of the contexts of history books in a long time. ...A coincidence, maybe? Some history-enthused parents? He glances sideways at the bundle of towels beside him, but his expression is largely unreadable until he forces it into something more lighthearted and boastful. His heart is beating a little too fast now, but he tries to ignore it.]
Mmmhm! We're not models or anything, but we're pretty nice to look at, right? [Souji is used to his friend ogling strangers, but Kashuu apparently doesn't mind... If that's anything to go by, he likes being looked at, and even adds:] But I'm the cutest, y'know!
aren't you proud of me?
[And because they don't want to be glared at by some other protective asshole, but shhhh. He knows they mean well, and it's not like they don't drag him along to have fun with them, so he doesn't mind a little bit of stifling. As long as he doesn't feel like he's a burden or in the way, he's happy.
Souji wonders fleetingly if he maybe said something wrong as Kashuu's hand freezes up, and even if he can't see any signs that Kashuu has taken offense in his expression, he only relaxes when the other man speaks again. While there's a suggestion of something being hidden there, it's obviously not anything to be too alarmed about, since Kashuu doesn't mention it - it's probably private, and none of Souji's business. People - particularity Tatsunosuke - have told him before that he needs to not try to get himself involved in other people's business all the time.
He laughs at the question, the noise warm and amused. Reaching out, he absentmindedly brushes away some sand that's ended up on Kashuu's shoulder somehow.] People often say that I'm not very good at judging people's appearance, but... I do think you're very cute! You seem like the kind of person who takes good care of his appearance. [The fussing about his hair had been a clue, and the nails are another.]
i am... wipes a single tear away
But Kashuu manages to recover pretty well, exerting the full spectrum of his "dealing with shit" skills (which essentially just amounts to 50 different ways of ignoring something) to maintain his breezy attitude. It's almost shaken again when Souji touches his shoulder, though. However brief the contact is, it brings such a strong and bitter pang of nostalgia with it that he doesn't know what to do. He would lean away if it didn't mean losing contact, because somehow, that seems even worse.]
—I do, I do. I keep myself cute for my master! [DON'T JUST SAY THESE THINGS TO STRANGERS, KASHUU-- He's not well-socialized enough to realize that is probably not something most humans hear outside of some very specific clubs and possibly bedrooms, lord help him.
But he moves on from that quickly because he clearly doesn't think anything's wrong there, turning on his heel to do a little turn for his new companion.]
See? Even if I get all rained on, I still look good, right?
/makes an Oscar speech thanking you
Is this person maybe flirting with him? He hopes not. He can never tell and it's always pretty awkward all around when it happens. He doesn't think so, though? The other man is clearly just proud of his own appearance, nothing wrong with that, and Souji rather likes all that confidence. Even so, he kind of has to ask...]
You master? [Because no seriously, that's either something strange and unique somehow, or way too private to be talking about like that.
Still, he'll laugh delightedly at Kashuu showing off, nodding emphatically.]
It's not easy to keep yourself presentable when you're all wet and cold, so that's a real skill! It's terrible to know people like you, really, who roll out of the bed looking good and then make themselves even prettier just like that. [A small smile and a headshake.] It's really rather unfair.
throws flowers onto the stage and claps enthusiastically while crying
Oh— my owner! [That doesn't make anything better. But he does understand where the confusion might be coming from now - and he'll promptly set that aside for the time being, because he wants to focus on the compliment first! It definitely doesn't seem like he's flirting, at least; he just seems to want the praise. He's always seeking out those words of reassurance, after all, even if hearing them from this man make his heart skip a beat for some reason that he can't (or doesn't want to) pinpoint. He still doesn't linger on it for long. Instead, he tugs at the hem of his beach shirt - white and red and ruffled at the end - and smiles as prettily as he can manage.]
It's one of my talents! I'm good at looking my best no matter what. It'd be no good if I couldn't even do that, yeah?
[Souji found a weirdo...]
/gently saves all your flowers and tears in a totally not creepy way
And Souji always finds weirdos. It's his thing. His best friends are the three idiots out there in the storm trying to surf practically blind, and a guy who claims he can see ghosts - and a lot of children. Absolutely no one will be surprised that he's found another one.
Souji, on the other hand, just looks pleased. He's pretty weird himself, so maybe he's drawn to it in others?]
It's true that it's a good talent, but... [His smile softens, and there is something more mature in his eyes for a moment, as if he's not quite as carefree as he seems; as if he's detected the slightly off note about the other man's need for praise. He reaches out again, and rather solemnly puts two fingers under Kashuu's chin, as if that is something perfectly normal for strangers to do.] ...I think there are probably plenty of good thingsabout you, even at moments when you can't look your best.
The very best qualities about a person isn't in their looks, right? Even for someone as pretty as you, that's still how it is. [And he beams, as if this is pretty much a normal conversation to just spring on someone as well. Kashuu has rediscovered a weirdo...]
ah, what an enthusiastic kouhai........
But-- funny, how he had been worried about invading personal bubbles at first when Souji seems perfectly fine with sharing space to a degree that's far too intimate for a couple of strangers. The gesture is almost upsetting, but not because Kashuu doesn't want the contact. Maybe because he wants it too much - because it feels like something he's been missing for a long time, and he has to stop himself from reaching out and grabbing hold of Souji's wrist.
His smile freezes in place as he continues to speak, and that deeply upset feeling continues to grow right alongside the nostalgia, which now weighs heavily on him. How is it - how is it that a stranger knows exactly what he wants to hear? It's getting harder to shake it off, and he doesn't like that at all, so he takes a step back.]
Well, duh! If I wasn't good at what I do, I'd be useless. [At least he has the common sense to not tell a human that what he does is kill... people...] Buuut I have to look my best even then, see?
no subject
He slowly shakes his head, giving Kashuu a solemn look.]
You shouldn't say that. Even- Even if you fail at what you think you're meant to do, even if you can't be what you want, you're not useless. No one is. There's people who care about you, right? To them, even if you mess up, you're still valuable.
[He shrugs a bit awkwardly under the weight of all those towels, a self-conscious smile tugging at his lips.]
It's a pretty difficult thing to remember. I still often think like that too, and I guess that's something you can't help doing sometimes, but... always succeeding at what you do and looking beautiful while doing it seems like a really high standard to set for yourself, that's all. I'm sure no one wants you to be that hard on yourself.
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He just puts a little more distance between them instead, and starts to towel off his hair again.]
It's different. [Different, because he can tell that Souji is speaking from a place of remembrance here. Something similar had happened to him at some point, then - but humans always have it better in situations like this.]
It's not the same at all. You can try again if you fail at something, yeah? Or if you can't, you can move on and find another thing to be good at and people will still love you. Or maybe they'll love you just because! [Because humans are lucky and some don't even have to lift a finger to be precious.] But it's not like that for me. I'm only good at one thing, and if I can't do it, I'll be thrown away.
[THIS IS... a very private topic to be discussing with a stranger, honestly, but the words spill out almost unprompted even though he wishes halfway through that he had stopped.]
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Who is he to tell Kashuu that it's the same for him? What does he know?]
I'm sorry. I spoke without understanding. [He sighs, absently rubbing his hair a bit dryer.] I'm really very sorry, if that's how things are.
['It's different', Kashuu had said. He talks about being thrown away, about having only one function, and he refers to someone as his "owner"... And here's the point where Souji makes a mental leap that you probably have to be a bit insane to make - and perhaps having a best friend who talks to spirits helps too.]
You're... not human, are you? That's what you meant when you said it's different, right?
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S'fine.
[And maybe that anger would have stayed just a little longer in any other situation, but he finds it draining out quickly when this man is the one who's talking, for some reason. The look of his face when he's so solemn reminds him of someone much older than this child appears, and he averts his gaze - very briefly, because it snaps back as soon as Souji speaks again. That's definitely an insane leap in logic and it's clear Kashuu hadn't expected it at all, especially since he had been doing a (kinda) okay(ish) job at keeping his inhuman quirks to a low. But he'd said too much, he assumes, and... well- there's no point in lying, is there?
Even now, he still doesn't feel threatened at all.]
You ever heard of tsukumogami? Like those angry umbrellas and shoes and stuff? I don't go around smothering people in their sleep or anything, but that's what I am.
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I understand. So you need to be of use, and you need to be beautiful, because that's how people think about things. [He inches a bit closer again, gives Kashuu's arm a gentle experimental prod.] But you're a person too, right? You have a soul. Without it, you couldn't be a tsukumogami.
[To Souji, that still makes a difference. Even if something is a belonging, if it has a soul, it still ought to be precious in its own right. That makes it a person, with thoughts and a heart and a will, and a-]
Oh. I never asked- that is, if it's okay... could you tell me your name?
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Just having a soul isn't enough. [It doesn't seem to bother him too much, all things considered. He rolls his shoulders again and the gesture seems almost careless, but someone with eyes as keen as Souji's would likely be able to notice that it's forced to a degree. He doesn't want to think about any of those complex, painful things, so he latches onto the new subject easily.]
It's Kashuu Kiyomitsu. [And because the Shinsengumi are still remembered to this day, and sometimes their swords are remembered as well, he adds:] I'm a good blade, y'know, even if I'm difficult to handle. [...] But I don't go around stabbing people in their sleep either or anything. [Those shitty futon tsukumogami giving them all bad reps GOD.]
What's yours?
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And then Kashuu reveals his name, and for a moment Souji feels as if his entire life has been the unrolling of one great big cosmic joke, and he's just hit another punchline. Of course, now there are no more people to look out for... of course this is the spirit of that man's actual sword. He knows what Hajime would say, that he'd say that Kashuu had found him for a reason, because he used to be Souji's sword long ago, but it's just... a bit much, to think of it like that.
For a moment, his only response is to rub a hand across his own face, laughing rather helplessly.]
You know, I probably should've guessed by now. [He treats Kashuu to a strange little smile, uncertain and apologetic, before taking a deep breath and plunging on.] My name's Okita Souji. I'd say sorry, but that really isn't my fault.
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Cosmic jokes are always pretty damn rude, but this has to take the cake, he thinks.
His expression is surprisingly mild for the moment, but it's only mild in the same way the weather had been before it started pouring. His hands are immobile once more, but his fingers bunch into the fabric; a gesture of anxiety.]
...It's not like I'd need one, anyway. [Because Souji had never been the true subject of his ire, even if he had lashed out at him in subtle digs long after his passing. Souji was just doing what any samurai would do; discarding the useless and moving on.
He moves to hold the towel over the lower half of his face after that, clearly at a loss for what to say. Eventually, with a humorless laugh:] —I dunno if this is lucky or really, really unlucky.
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Whether it's lucky or unlucky, I've either had good or bad luck most of my life. See the guy out there who is probably going to be the first to be struck by lightning among those three? His name is Harada Sanosuke. I suppose you can guess the rest of the names from that.
[Still, for all that he's tired and cold and still a bit wet, he feels... safe. Like the presence of Kashuu is a good thing; right somehow. Like they belong together, and this makes the both of them a little bit less lost. He can't explain it to himself any better than that, but he still knows what he means. Even if this makes his life just a little bit weirder, that's okay.]
I feel pretty lucky having met you, though. You seem like a nice person, and like you're strong and brave. [His voice is absolutely earnest, his smile warm.] It's just- It's like when I met the rest of them for the first time. It's like meeting an old friend.
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When Souji points out one of the people out in the storm, his eyes follow but he doesn't really look. He doesn't really need to. He knows exactly who's out in that storm now. He can't just pretend Heisuke was a slip, some bizarre coincidence. ...Well, it's nice in a way to know that they've all managed to find each other again. He wonders what this says about souls and destiny and other similar things, but that's far too complex for him to dwell on.]
An old friend, huh...
[It is kind of like that, and he's not sure he likes it. He slings the towel over his shoulder, leaning back just a little.]
...I guess. So you've— like, all of you've found each other again?
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Honestly, it's a bit scary. Which might be why he's instinctively seeking out contact, since it's the feeling that is scary, not Kashuu in himself. That much he can identify in the storm of confused emotions which has been so very unceremoniously dumped on him now.]
I guess you could say so? Some are people I've known since I was a child. It used to be like a game to us, I guess. [He sighs, doodling aimless little patterns in the wet sand.]
It's always the same feeling when I meet someone like that, like I've met someone before, like they're important to me somehow. But I don't actually remember anything - not outside of dreams, anyway.
[He shrugs a bit disjointedly, looking up and studying the other man's face carefully.] So I guess... maybe I used to be someone you knew, in a way?
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...Yeah. Something like that, I guess.
[Another lazy shrug, and Kashuu glances back away, out toward the sea and the dinguses puttering around in it.]
But that guy died a long time ago. We're closer to strangers, y'know? [And that's fine, because he's not Yamato - he's not hung up on the past. He's not stuck on the master who wielded him better than anyone, he's not.] Sooo - it's good to meet you or something.
/muffled "Somebody that I used to know" playing in the distance
[Because it might have been okay to be the way Souji is back then, as a warrior, but society in the future isn't exactly as cool about it. So he's conformed, as much as he can, because he has to. All the trouble he got into as a teenager is well behind him, and a preschool teacher with a knack for knife fighting and kendo is pretty far away from a ruthless, powerful warrior, all things considered.
Still, Souji isn't the kind of person who will let himself get caught up in gloomy thoughts if he can help it, and so he smiles warmly at Kashuu and gives his shoulder a small nudge with his.]
Still, he never got to meet you properly as a person either, did he? So in that way, I'm luckier than him - and that's not the only way, of course. [He's got 99 problems but active TB ain't one.] So... would you mind not being practically strangers? I'm guessing you're probably pretty busy, but... it would be nice to get to know you a bit.
BUT U DIDNT HAVE TO CUUUT ME OOOOFF
But dang, who is he kidding? He can't bring himself to walk away from Souji. Even a Souji that would't be able to wield him so efficiently. After a second or two of silence, his shoulders rise.]
It's not like I'm busy right now, anyway. [What with this AWFUL RAIN and all.] So I guess that's fine. There's not much to know, anyway.
[He's still taking this remarkably well, but it's honestly because he's refusing to allow himself to get tripped up on everything that would otherwise probably make him want to cry.]
BUT YOU TREAT ME LIKE SCRAP METAL AND IT FEELS SO ROUGH??
shoves u into the sea...
WHAT what did I do did I get too real
ur always too real for me tbh!!