inbox

[retorter]

INSERT DEFAULT VOICE MAIL MESSAGE BECAUSE SOMEONE'S TOO TECHNOLOGICALLY INEPT LAZY TO BOTHER

for text, voice, video, spam, action

(credit)

Comments

[ text ]

[yasusada]

[ Ding! ]

hppy yuo here
here s a
wlemcing gift
of our
vince commande
r :O
everyon loves this pc
picture

[ text ] 1/2 i can't believe

[retorter]

[ whAT.... IS THIS ]

[ text ]

[retorter]

[ no... he knows what this is!!! also this is sooj's first time texting, so it comes after... a while ]

is that hijikata-san with the toilet ??

POINTS AT EYES POINTS AT U... action/event!

[poiseonous]

[MURDER M&M FEST, YOU SAY??

That is-- Kaoru is usually out and about when Shit's Going Down, not because this punk has no sense of self-preservation (though that's also true), but because it's usually a great time to figure things out. Information tends to slip through the cracks when more pressing problems need to be dealt with, after all.

But the flipside to this particular brand of info-gathering is that it's very hands-on - which can be seen now, if Souji happens to look toward the first sketchy alley he might pass by. It's his favorite demon ever! Who's currently crushing the head of a robot with his bare hand, ah, how charming...]

IM READY

[retorter]

[ they'll be the murderous m&m's that ever murdered ]

[ of course Souji looks into the first sketchy alley he's about to pass by, because the best things happen in sketchy alleys like fleeing ronin or hungry rasetsu just lurking in the shadows waiting to be murdered!!! and this time, his decision apparently has paid off because he totally sees his favorite demon in the world crushing a robot with his bare hands. ]

[ a normal person would probably recognize that this is the sort of situation where too many things could go wrong and choose not to engage, but whatever. he does what he wants!!! which means he totally makes a beeline for him, close enough so that Kaoru could easily see him. not that he'd need to, since kaoru could probably recognize this annoying voice from a mile off ]

And here I thought you'd be standing around playing the damsel in distress. [ aka standing around using whoever's gullible enough to be in the kaoru defense brigade... (not that souji was once upon a time a part of that or anything). anyway HI KAORU!! it's souji, your favorite gumi ] What a surprise.

voice; IC 4/25

[immobileyes]

[ Mary, honestly, isn't entirely sure why she's calling in the middle of a ghost-filled event that she's thankfully missing most of, because she's too sick to get out of bed at this point. Maybe because she hasn't had a chance to talk to him since meeting him and getting her memories back, because of everything that's happened.

And maybe she just can't sleep now and so-- ]

Okita... san? I-I wanted to say sorry for being so rude to you in the library...

[ She also hardly has a voice right now. Sorry, buddy. ]

voice; omg mary u///u 1/2

[retorter]

[ who is this loli whispering on the other end... ]

[ Souji's not feeling too hot himself, but he's in a better condition than all the pure-hearted woobies of Cerealia. It takes a moment for him to recognize Mary's voice because one, she doesn't sound like she's in any condition to talk??? and two, he can' exactly remember anything Mary's done that she should apologize for. So instead of trying to remember tiny rude children, he just thinks back on the number of young girls he's met in Cerealia... which is relatively little, so it doesn't take him long to remember. ]

Ah. Mary-chan, right? [ gurl go to bed?? ]

voice; ugh she's so cute 2/2

[retorter]

Is this about the coat hanger?

[ he's already Amused by this conversation. She didn't even stab him with that coat hanger in the end??? it's okay mary... ]

text. 4/17. i am so sorry for how late this is and hope it's okay?

[thatdamnknight]

Hello, Okita. This is Flynn Scifo. We had spoken the other day and I wish to apologize for what I had said as well as for my behavior. Both had been entirely inappropriate.

[and thus souji ends up getting that apology.]

text. It's definitely okay! Also apologies for being late as well!

[retorter]

[ flynn scifo????? oh wait, this can only be That Guy... excellent ]

Just Flynn Scifo? So you're not actually a king?

[ king of nam coban dai??? ]

text, sometime shortly after the intro!

[adornmental]

[Kashuu's a champion when it comes to pushing away things he doesn't want to deal with, you know. He's got hundreds of years of that under his belt, and it's his tried and true method for coping with everything from poverty to death.

Now's really no exception. He's definitely left stinging after the departure of both Horikawa and Yamato - other swords and members of their household have left as well, but they stand out the most - and it's brought other worries to the surface. What if the Souji he's grown so used to leaves one day? What if Haru is taken next? And then, another version of Souji stumbled in and he's so 110% done, but! The important part is that he's able to carry on like he isn't done, and that's exactly what he does.]

Hey! Are you free (*•̀ᴗ•́*) Like right now

text mmm sketchy late night texts

[retorter]

[ Souji stares down at the text he receives for a second. The great thing about text is that he can never accurately pinpoint the person's tone, so he genuinely thinks this is Kashuu just being a busy social bee. Maybe later he'll be able to tell that Kashuu is mega-suppressing things, but for now ]

[ also what even is that face ]

depends. what is it?

[ he's lying he's so free. free like the unemployed bum he is. ]

action; idk a little bit after masks get weird

[coastal]

[Warning: this is gonna be really embarrassing.

Lili is dutiful about her training - she's really, really tired of being weak, after all. As a result, she comes to the dojo every single night after spending her days at school and at work, and she almost prefers being at the dojo now because it means that she won't be able to think about the mask that waits in her bag, the mark of a bloody handprint becoming more and more pronounced with each passing day.

It's the size of a man's hand now and it frightens her.

But she's not thinking about that as she's exiting the changing room and fixing up her hair pin, her schedule dictating that she has to be in bed soon that she can go to school the next morning without being too tired. It's why she's so unfortunately distracted that she didn't even realize that she'd left the mask unattended for a little too long.

All too suddenly, it's clattering on the floor right in front of her, bloody handprint pronounced for all to see.

Cue the most high-pitched squeal as she's scrambling to get away from it, frightened all over again, and -- not looking where she's going when she's bumping into a solid body.

Guah?!

Embarrassing.]

lili pls....

[retorter]

[ In contrast, Souji doesn't visit the dojo every night. If it's just practice, then he can easily do that back at the apartment or at some shady corner of a public park. The dojo's really only when Souji wants to spar with someone and that too is an uncommon occurrence. He used to spar daily with Yamato, but then Yamato left. And Souji wasn't in the mood to fill that gap. ]

[ But here he is now, wondering why he came, wondering if he can drag Saitou here last minute (he probably can???), and still wondering even as the movement from the corner of his eye ends up bumping into him... And instead of smoothly side-stepping, Souji's hand snaps out and grabs Lili by the arm, half by instinct and the other half to prevent her from falling on her ass. ]

[ Then he looks at her, really looks at her, and most of the annoyance at having to see her again is colored by his amusement at having heard her squeal?? ]

You sure are clumsy. Falling must be a habit of yours.

[ hi lili. ]

Text -- Shortly after the intro log stuff

[onerous]

I killed someone.

[She agonized for a good half an hour trying to figure out what to say here and that's about all she came up with. Good job.]

It was just in that game. I suppose that doesn't count.

[She's quiet again for a long moment, staring a hole into her device.]

It feels like it counts.

text; oh no yuri

[retorter]

[ Souji reads the first line and raises an eyebrow. A misfire, maybe? Yuri accidentally sending her murder confession to Souji? Who is he to judge tbh ]

[ But then he reads the rest of the message. ]

[ ah ]

[ he almost doesn't text back. not out of callousness, but out of the knowledge that Souji's not well-equipped to handle the sort of discussion he suspected this was going to be. ]

what happened to pretending they were flies?

sometime in april...

[adornmental]

[ie the month kashuu comes for his headpants

HE'S FEELING REALLY CLINGY, THOUGH. Which is impressive, considering how clingy he is normally. But no, it's even worse today. It's WAY WORSE. And that urge to keep those important people close extends to Souji, because it always will, no matter how much Kashuu pretends that isn't the case.

Which is why he sends a text at ass o'clock...]

I can't sleep

Can I come over

headpants time

[retorter]

[ It's a good thing Souji's awake at ass o'clock like he always is. It's also a good thing that he's used to Kashuu coming over to crash, so he looks at this text and doesn't automatically suspect Kashuu's ulterior headpat intentions. ]

[ Also, oddly enough, he's in the mood for company. Weird... he sends a quick reply.]

If you want. I don't have any plans tonight anyway.

[ basically, yeah come on over cashew nut. ]

action | 6/20 | late evening

[deathline]

[She stands out in her strawberry red leather jacket over her blue kimono and yet blends in at the same time with the crowd. Hands in her pockets, staring straight ahead, each step in her laced up boots deliberate and yet directionless at the same time.

The bright lights of most of the districts are deterring, even for someone like Shiki who lived in the urban jungle that was Misaki. In fact, everything in Cerealia felt 100% more blinding, flashy, overall just unpleasant. It made trying to sift through her thoughts unbearable. But Shiki knew she couldn't just think about things the whole time in her room even if she preferred being alone. She had to know the city and be familiar with its mysteries and its dangers. She would have to take the trouble to be aware of the people around her.

Honestly, this is proving to be a monumental task because she still wants to be alone.

(There were very few people who caught her interest though, she could name them using her fingers... Oh yeah, there was that guy that could be classified as historical, but that battle never had an end...)

Anyway.

Exploration is being done however. She passes by the Church building and stands outside, head tilted upwards as if she's considering going inside.]

finally slams into this im here

[retorter]

[ Souji doesn't like the lights of Cerealia either.

[ He doesn't have the luxury of being from a city of similar scope and size, so Souji has no experiences to draw from. It's just as well, he probably wouldn't like the colony even if he had. Like Shiki, he can't stand that unpleasant, cloying feeling he feels just by slipping through the crowds. ]

[ Crowds full of strangers, because Souji doesn't run into people he knows at night. (Besides Hawke sometimes when he's in the rare mood to socialize.) It's easier for him to avoid contact from familiar faces and over-familiar strangers at night. Just like how it's easier for him to brush them off and pretend that the empty spaces around him aren't jarringly silent, not when the city around him is so loud and invasive. ]

[ He feels it even more tonight, finally turning and breaking from the crowds, slipping into alleyways and down shadier streets, before arriving on the street outside the church. Souji's visited the Church a couple of times, but never long enough to talk to anyone there. In fact, visiting the Church isn't even on his mind until he spots Shiki. His gaze narrows, the sight of Shiki tugging at something more than apathy for once, but he doesn't actually figure out the reason until after a few seconds pass. ]

[ Then he knows. She's dressed differently, but Shiki had left an impression. One Souji wouldn't forget just by different clothes. Trying to kill her and almost getting killed in return can do that, even if they did get interrupted in the end. He slows down, making his steps audible as he heads towards her. ]

There's not much to see in there, just so you know.

[ His tone is light, as if the last time they met they hadn't been trying to kill each other for fun. ]

[text]

[tsuranuki]

Souji.

Lately, have you noticed anything unusual recently about people.

Or about yourself?

[ He'll ask about the robots, later. ]

[text]

[retorter]

Not really. I don't go out of my way to speak to people.

[ this is a lie, because people have been weird. Souji, especially, who wants to touch lots of people. but he is the last person to admit this out loud... or through text. SO ]

I've seen some people do stupid things with those robots on the network, but I expected that to happen, so I don't think it's unusual.

[ TRUST. NO. ROBOT. ]

audio; sometime during the event

[immobileyes]

U-um... I don't know if you did anything with any robots, but are you okay?

[ Because Mary is so over them. ]

audio;

[retorter]

[ same, mary, same. He's surprised; and also a little glad to hear from Mary. He's not really used to worrying, since everyone in the Shinsengumi was more or less capable of handling themselves. But being acquainted with moes and liking them meant also having to worry about them, which Souji does in a way that's not too apparent considering how casual he sounds here. ]

I'm fine. There's no reason I shouldn't be, since I got rid of mine way before all this started. How about you? You're not running around outside looking for trouble, are you?

✿ action; pleasure district AT NIGHT.

[rosaichthys]

( now, everyone knows that because of saber's haughty attitude that sooner or later at the place she plays as a hostess that she'd get the cute little nickname of "emperor." it's pretty late at night and everyone is having a good time, but apparently there's some punk causing a problem out back? these damn hooligans! she's more the type to handle things herself so who needs security when nero, dressed in another one of her outfits is willing to take the scene.

it looks like she's ready for battle but as the moon shines down on the situation at hand and a man with arms up as if asking for his life, she's tired. she's tired! but she takes in the appearance of someone familiar who seems to be causing the problem at hand, striking fear into this scared npc's heart. )

Umu! I didn't take you for the type to pick fights within this district. ( a step forward and the sound of her armor hitting against the ground, she has a pleased expression on her features. if he doesn't remember who she is — which would be a crime if he doesn't. ) Have you finally came to bow to me? Now would be the best time. ( is she joking? no, she's not. but as a hostess, she should do what she should about her job. ) There are a series of entertainments inside, why don't you speak to me of what the problem may be at a table for just you and I. The one you're scaring, is an assistant here.

slams into this komyu my love

[retorter]

[ Souji doesn't often barge into public establishments to threaten people's lives.

Okay, maybe he does, but that was back at home and Cerealia is a different creature altogether. Maybe he should tread carefully in a city he doesn't remotely understand or care about, but apparently threatening people is just what Souji needs to pretend that he's back in Kyoto, doing the only thing in his life he's good for. He's so caught up in the similarities that it takes him a moment to realize that Nero's speaking to him and then another half-beat to recognize her. This woman again, huh? Her clothes are strange, the way she speaks is strange, her confident manner is just shy of grating, so all in all, Nero does exactly what the city fails to do.

She reminds Souji that he's somewhere that isn't home, threatening someone who he honestly shouldn't be tangling with (this two-bit thug can't really qualify as an enemy of the Shinsengumi), and really, that should be more than enough for him to back off.

His grip tightens on his sword. The hostility that this sad npc just triggered within Souji's dark, sad heart focuses on Nero instead. Souji's itching for a fight, and Nero seems like she'd provide a better one. ]

An assistant, huh? So you're the one who's in charge around here?

action; event stuff

[immobileyes]

[ Mary's been concerned about Okita. Okay, yes, he's a very fierce fighter and he's famous and any member of the Shinsengumi ought to be able to defend themselves and be just fine... but she can't help worrying about how he's doing, emotionally. And that's the thought on her mind when she looks up during one of her walks and realizes-- wait, she knows that figure up ahead. ]

O-Okita-san!!!

[ ... Well. In her haste to reach him, she trips over a slight raise in the pavement, and down she goes. The invisible bird anxiously hopping after her is probably concerned. ]

action; SHOUJO MARY TRIPPING HER WAY TO U

[retorter]

[ Souji turns as soon as he hears his name being called, just in time to see Mary face plant like a real otome heroine. HE SURE LOOKS ALARMED TO SEE HER FALL LIKE THAT, good thing she fell before she could see how sincerely worried he is about her.

Anyway, he makes his quick way over there lickety split. but manages to sound very casual all the same as he kneels down beside her, hopefully not stepping on that dove ]

Try to be a little more careful when you're running after people, alright?

[ MARY, ARE YOU OKAY ]

[Action] Event time

[reprizesal]

[The pleasure district. An area where many hopefully adults would go and enjoy themselves, from drinking, watching certain shows and/or anything to do with sex.

Which might make the sight of Sayo Samonji walking through there rather curious for anyone who doesn't know. Some of the local workers and regular visitors are used to seeing him sometimes, since by now they know he's capable, here to visit someone or frankly doesn't care.

Sayo, or rather "Nameless", is making his way towards the shrine his brother's working at. All while trying to keep his eyes on his fox companion. For an injured looking, unseen spirit, it's surprisingly agile.

And... it went ahead of him again.]

Wait...!

[CHASING AFTER THE FOX SPIRIT NOW. Please don't run into anyone, either of them.]

a new july thread points at eyes points at u... voice!

[adornmental]

[SO. That sure was a lot of crazy shit, huh... Lots of death and dying and murder and the unwilling sharing of memories and other painful and unpleasant things, especially to people like them who just Do Not Do Well With Feelings.

Which is exactly why Kashuu doesn't sound any different than usual when he calls! At like, three in the morning, because of course he does.]

Wanna get pancakes?

[Hello.]

ugh what a good akisurprise

[retorter]

[ Souji’s of a mind to permanently ban feelings from now on, so this all works out just fine. He still takes a moment to respond though. Maybe it’s because the sound of Kashuu’s voice immediately Reminds him of things and mistaken memories and acting like a total butthead. ]

I don’t know what those are.

[ But it’s not an outright rejection. ]

9/25; fail. ( 1 / ? )

[metalist]

[ Her intentions had been so pure, really and truly. It wasn't her fault that the CereVices had become incredibly glitchy in the last few weeks - and maybe, just maybe, such a thing wasn't a great idea in the current circumstances. Boyfriend's Eyes Only! Except now Souji Okita, who Pyrrha definitely doesn't trust, gets to see it too. ]

Good morning! Sorry we missed each other, thanks for not waking me up
Here's something to get you through the day

[attachment.png]

[metalist]

ERROR: RECIPIENT "okita_souji" NOT FOUND
RETRYING IN 25 SECONDS
25 ... 20 ... 15 ... 10 ... 5 ...

[ wHATWHATWHAT

NO ]

SUCCESS: RECIPIENT "okita_souji" FOUND
MESSAGE DELIVERED

[ NO ]

action

[onethousen]

[ Souji are you still on house arrest? WHAT A COINCIDENCE okay it's not much of a coincidence, but at some point Chihiro does stop slinking around trying to be unobtrusive in order to find Souji in A Moment where he's more or less not immediately surrounded by anyone... else............... in the apartment.

Mostly because she feels the Need to apologise, and in one way it's to apologise for running, but more of it is to apologise for having bitten him, even knowing... or guessing... that he'd done a lot worse. It's not a game of comparisons. It's all of them living (SOME RESURRECTING MORE OFTEN THAN OTHERS) through the consequences of this world and its impacts on their actions.

Long story short, she finds Souji and promptly drops into a formal bow (NOT ON THE GROUND THOUGH... screw that), ponytail flipping over as she moves and says: ]

I'm sorry for biting you, Souji-san.

[ Problems with remembering the taste of blood that wasn't hers in her mouth: it's unpleasant, and it's weird, and the bizarre sort of detail that'd stuck with her, alongside the way the light had halo'd around him when he's pulled the improbable and been waiting at the exit of the alley she'd been running through. That one was accompanied by a big HOLY COW feeling, but uh. Yeah. #formerlyterrified ]

action!

[adornmental]

[SO AT SOME POINT while they're all locked up in the timeout box to think about their sins, Kashuu will just

quietly move over toward wherever Souji is, one little scoot at a time. He doesn't really know how to use his words in a situation like this and doesn't think anything he could say would make things better anyway, but he still wants to at least show that he isn't angry or upset. ...Well, that he's not angry, at least. Avoiding being upset would be well near impossible.

Once he gets close enough, he reaches out to touch Souji's elbow and then, if he's not pushed away, he'll lean over to rest his head against his shoulder.]

the timeout box i can't believe

[retorter]

[ Souji's been staring at nothing in particular for the past however long they've been in the timeout box for, but even if he's assuredly not making eye contact with any of the other murder squad, he can practically feel Kashuu inch his way towards him. one scoot at a time. So really, he has all the time in the world to burrow away into a hole of his own self-loathing or to flinch away from the contact. He does neither of those things. Instead, he flicks his gaze up as Kashuu touches his elbow and doesn't move away as he rests his head against his shoulder. ]

I don't really get it.

[ He finally says. ]

Aren't you supposed to be mad?

[ That's the normal reaction, right? Anger, hatred, blame. Souji's used to all three. He knows the way Kashuu holds onto his sleeve, or moves closer for physical contact is a habit of the tsukumogami's, but it strikes him as very strange. For anyone to want to touch a thing like him. That's weird. ]