130bladeworks | VACATION IS WHERE I WANNA BE

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.

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[Ah... Souji isn't entirely certain where this conversation is going. He really likes this new friend - and it probably says a lot about him that he already assumes that this is what Kashuu is going to be - but the conversation really is rather... weird. Like, super weird actually. Not that he actually minds about weird too much, but still.

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.

[He makes everything weird. Swords just always make everything weird without exception, this is the way things are... What a dang tragedy.]

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...]

[OKAY, definitely something private and something that he personally doesn't need to know more about. Souji definitely doesn't judge - he has a mind broad enough to contain several bars swords many times over - but he also isn't much interested in what other people get up to. So apart from shading to a delicate pink for a moment, he won't reply or ask any more questions.

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...]

[Bless Souji for just accepting that he has truly run into a weirdo... Even if he is also a weirdo and therefore is probably right at home with other freaks, good work team.

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?

[He doesn't mind or look the least bit flustered as such when Kashuu backs away from his touch. But that frozen smile, and the words even more so, bring a look of concern to his eyes. He remembers his own voice, desperate and younger than now, saying, If I can't even do this... I'm completely useless to you, aren't I? He remembers the hurt that remark had caused, too, and how little he had meant it.

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.

[Yamato is the sword that had inherited Souji's insane (maybe a little literally) ability to shift moods on a dime, to make himself ferocious and formidable and frightening. But Kashuu certainly has quite a temper of his own and a sharp, cruel tongue that's ready to lash out whenever he's given the reason to show it, and it seems this has hit a raw nerve. The look on his face, which had been able to carry such friendliness before, is much cooler and distanced now. He'd move to set his hands at his hips but awkwardly realizes that he still has this guy's towel, and it is still raining, so he can't just storm off...

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.]

[Souji falls quiet for quite a while, raptly watching Kashuu's face, and no protests appear to be forthcoming. It's true, isn't it. From the day he'd sat there and listened as they gently told him there was no way he'd pass the psych evaluation, and he'd felt as if a hole had opened up in his world... well, that's exactly what he'd done. He'd found something else he was good at, and more importantly, he'd found out that even if he was good at nothing at all, he's still be loved.

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?

[Kashuu's anger might be sharp and sudden, but it isn't long-burning, either. The apology seems to be enough to defuse him, even if he's still unhappy. His shoulders rise and fall, and he mumbles a simple:]

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.

[Souji nods slowly in response, because crazy or not, that makes sense with what he's heard so far. And again it reminds him of how he used to be, and how he'd finally been told to stop treating himself like someone else's possession. That it wasn't fair toward either himself or the other man. But... how is this man - this tsukumogami - supposed to not feel like that? He is a possession. All the worth an item has is what people are willing to give it.]

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?

[He doesn't pull away this time, but some of that distance is still present regardless, like he's unwilling to put his guard back down yet.]

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?

[Again, Souji can't exactly argue with him. No matter how it seems to him, it would be wrong of him to assume he knows better - and the subject obviously pains the other, so he'll let it go. Like this, right now, he won't do much good, will he?

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.

[He hates Okita Souji just a little in that moment (even if he never really hates Okita Souji), because all of the little similarities - the curve of his cheekbones, the slope of his shoulders, his hands - had been something that he could willfully ignore up to this point, but he can't do that anymore. Souji's taken away that layer of protection and he's left feeling dizzy and wishing that he could keep tricking himself.

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.

[Souji sighs, suddenly a lot more aware of how cold he is, possibly because he's also feeling quite tired all of a sudden. He slumps a bit until he's leaning against Kashuu, managing another little laugh, albeit a not entirely happy one.]

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.

[He doesn't move when Souji leans against him, even though a part of him wants to. But he's always craving contact, and now that he can't ignore these similarities and this crushing feeling of nostalgia anymore, he might as well embrace it, right? Or... try. He can try, because the alternatives are painful.

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?

[It's really strange to suddenly be close to someone who was actually there, during that distant time in history which seems linked to him somehow - even if he was a sword at the time. Like suddenly there is a clear line stretching from the both of them to those events, real and tangible, instead of just vague feelings and hunches.

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?

[There's something about that statement that rings out with a certain kind of loneliness, and even though a part of Kashuu is glad to be here right now, it's a much smaller part than he would like. Geez, nothing can ever be easy or straightforward...]

...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.

Mm, I don't exactly think that I could live up to that kind of person at all.

[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.

[There's a part of him - the petty part that lashes out when he gets angry - that wants to say he's definitely too busy. It would probably hurt less, he thinks to just leave now (even if it'd be at the cost of a nice, dry place to wait out the rain in.)

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.]

[It's not hard to tell that there is a lot of history and probably hurt there that makes Kashuu act so studiously nonchalant. And, well, he'd actually made a point of reading more about the man whose name he shares when he was younger, and if he remembers his history right, that's hardly so strange.

But he can't just bring up something like that, can he? He's pretty sure that right now, the word 'Ikedaya' over his lips might cause Kashuu to immediately backpedal out of his agreement, and he really doesn't want that. Instead he shakes his head firmly, laughing.]

I don't believe that. After all, you're the living spirit of an amazing sword - I'm sure it's impossible for you not to be fascinating. [And some flattery doesn't hurt either, he's already come to recognize that much.] Is this your first time at a beach, by the way? There must be so many new things for you to discover now you have a body that doesn't depend on someone else to wield it, right?

[DAMMIT reincarnated Souji already knows how to read him far too well... Because 1) he would indeed have backpedaled out of both their agreement and the little sheltered area if Ikedaya had been brought up and 2) the fastest way to brighten his mood is through compliments... Even if this Souji had never personally wielded him, it still means a lot to hear things like that, and a little bit of his careless nonchalance ebbs away in the face of his desire to have his ego fed. Lord help him.]

—Yeah, well. I dunno how interesting it'd be to people these days. [It seems like it would be offensive to just automatically assume that Souji has the same interests just because he's... the same(ish) person (in a way). His history is mostly rife with Ye Olde Battles and viewpoints and stories.

At the question, he hesitates for a second before nodding.]

I already knew what to expect, but it's different to know and to actually be able to do beach stuff. [He says, like he hasn't spent most of the day napping under an umbrella...] Master brought fireworks for later, I think, and we all got sent out here with like, a ton of watermelon. Seriously way too much watermelon. [DOES THE ORGANIZATION THINK THEY'RE ALL FATTYDINGDONGS.]

[Souji has always been rather good at picking things up, not because he has an inherent understanding of human behavior - because he really doesn't - but because he's genuinely and deeply intereseted in people he cares about. And Kashuu has now been sorted into that category without any introspection on Souji's part, because when it comes to the right kind of people, he cares as instinctively as he breathes.

He nods thoughtfully as Kashuu speaks, his lips parting in a slow smile of understanding. Yes, he can very well imagine that there's a big difference between understanding a concept and actually being there.]

I think I know what you mean. I mean, not exactly - I can't imagine any human can, right? But I was pretty sheltered for a long time as a kid, and no one really had any time to take me out and do things. I remember watching movies, starting to learn how to read, and I knew the words without knowing what they meant. [There's a hint of nostalgia in his smile for a moment, before he perks up once more.]

Fireworks are amazing down by the water, though. I know you'll love them. Oh! What kind of food do you like? Eating must be a pretty weird thing to do for the first time...

[ah souji, he can always be relied on to react to weird situations in an equally weird way...

But Kashuu glances over as he speaks, brow furrowing a little. A sheltered childhood, huh... Sounds like a pretty lonely thing. He doesn't comment on that directly, though, even if Souji is the one who brought it up first.]

Yeah - then you know it's different. [Reading about bonfires and suikawari and fireworks, and actually being able to stand at the edge of the sea and taste the salt in the air and have starfish thrown at your face thanks Yamato.

There's a little hum of agreement in response to Souji's comment about the fireworks (he really is looking forward to that), but the question has his brow furrowing further. What kind of food does he like??]

Uh... I haven't really thought about it. [?!?!] I mean, I like most of the stuff I've tried so far. ...Some things are too sweet. [He hasn't eaten enough to have a least favorite food, though.] And it kinda is! The first meal is the best.

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VACATION IS WHERE I WANNA BE

/makes an Oscar speech thanking you

throws flowers onto the stage and claps enthusiastically while crying

/gently saves all your flowers and tears in a totally not creepy way

ah, what an enthusiastic kouhai........

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/muffled "Somebody that I used to know" playing in the distance

BUT U DIDNT HAVE TO CUUUT ME OOOOFF

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!!