[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.]
[ 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. ]
[ Kashuu doesn't know a lot of things huh......!! ]
sure. i'll meet you there
[ bc haru sent him the swordhaus address long ago... back when they first met actually! And then, true to Souji's sketchy word, he heads on over to the swordhaus apartment dressed and armed like he always is because he's a fashion plate. He has like a bag of pastries with him because Souji can't bother to eat properly too. ]
[LOOK... no. No he doesn't, he's Jon Snow but he's happier that way, probably!!
Anyway, Kashuu had meant outside of the building itself, so he jolts a little in surprise when he opens the door and Souji is right there. He's dressed as usual too, armed with his vessel and wearing the thick coat that he's rarely seen without.]
Hey, knock next time! [HIS HEART. ...Also, eying that bag??] What are those?
[ Souji smiles because Kashuu jolting in surprise is funny. Anyone jolting in surprise is funny! It sure is nice to have a sense of humor that can activate in any given situation. ]
I thought you knew I was coming. [ So he doesn’t have to do anything as lame as knocking!! Gosh! He looks at the bag, then pushes it towards Kashuu for him to take. ] Here, have one if you want.
[ He doesn’t actually answer that question… But if Kashuu takes the bag and peeps in then he’ll see a couple of small bread buns... that have red bean inside, but so far they just look like bread buns!! ]
[Is it really, is it really. This punkass... But ah, food? He looks into the bag after taking it, nose wrinkling a little. ...And then he does reach in and take one, because 1) he's a trusting shit and 2) he likes snacks.]
Thanks. Hey, d'you mind if we leave one of these for Ardeo, too?
[LEAVING THE HOUSE. Closing the door behind him and making sure it's locked too, because he may be a trusting dunknuts, but he's still careful when it comes to the well-being of the people around him.]
Nah, but it's respectful to leave something. I got him a present, but it'd be nice if you could give one, too.
[ Why is that Kashuu's babysitting senses only activate for the people around him and never for himself.... ]
Respect, huh. [ He should leave off making any rude conclusions about Ardeo since he's never met him, right??? But he also read that handy dandy notebook. Souji contemplates for like a second, then shrugs. ] Alright. I'm not that hungry anyway.
[ What a flippant attitude... Ardeo can have the rest of the bag!! Or just one. ]
[Because he oNLY VALUES OTHERS gosh Souji learn to recognize your own hang-ups.]
Thanks! [Even if he's being flippant, Kashuu will offer a smile. He tucks the bun into his sleeve for later snacking, and then turns to tug at one of Souji's. Why... It's like some bizarre reflexive gesture, since he drops his hand a second later like he's just realized it's strange.]
—It's in the shopping district. We'll have to walk a little while to get there.
[ Also what the heck, that's like the second time Kashuu's done that. Souji's ready to run a fuse trying to interpret that gesture, but instead of trying to interpret, he should probably just ignore it. So he spends a couple of minutes in silence walking along Kashuu, then ]
Do you always touch people like that? [ Never mind. He's going to ask in a very straightforward manner that's not roundabout at all for once. ]
Also wow, that really is straightforward?! Kashuu almost feels a little self-conscious... But since Souji is being blunt, he's blunt right back in return.]
Yeah, I guess. It's kinda like... habit? [HE SOUNDS UNCERTAIN-- But that's only because it's not really a habit, he just doesn't know how to put what it is into words. "I like being held, but I could never hold anyone". "Touch is really important to me - that connection is important." "A sword that isn't held isn't a sword at all, right?"]
...Before I had this body, I could only wait for people to pick me up. It's not fun when you can't touch anyone.
[ It’s not something Souji immediately understands, probably because he’s never been very touchy himself. (He is, but only around like Kondou-san or Chizuru). But thinking it in terms of "Kashuu’s a sword." helps. ]
So it’s something you like to do. [ He can sense that there’s something unsaid there. Do his own hang-ups about being able to wield a sword translate to the swords themselves????? ] It reminds me of how kids drag adults around when they want to play.
[ He says it idly, not meaning any real offense (for once). Actually, he probably sounds the warmest he’s ever sounded at the mention of kids... ]
why would u want to return such a fabulous prize??
[That's definitely something he picks up on. Considering how attuned he tends to be to those around him (and Soujis in particular), and how brusque this Souji tends to be, he'd have to be trying to miss it.
Well. That's another similarity, isn't it? The Souji that wielded him loved kids, too. He'd play with them in the courtyard whenever he could, he'd take pretty good care of him - he was definitely a far cry from the person he was in battle when he was with them. But that just leads to some morbid thoughts and feelings! Like wow, it's too bad Souji couldn't ever - didn't ever, as far as he knows - have kids of his own. DEPRESSING. He'll skip right the hell over that with a petulant-sounding:]
I'm like, probably thirty times your age, you know.
[ Thankfully, Souji's feeling pretty good tonight, y'know?! He doesn't feel sick or half-dead or about to tb his lungs out, so feeling good puts him in good humor too. Which is why instead of guessing that Kashuu's petulant because he's thinking of tragic things, he writes it off as Kashuu being petulant because he's a kid. ]
You don't act your age at all. [ HE SURE IS OLD... Teasingly, ] You're touchy and you like compliments. And kids like being spoiled by the people around them all the time.
[NORMALLY HE WOULDN'T BE WRONG. Kashuu does act like a kid more often than not, and 90% of the time it's because he's just a dumbo child at heart. He can't even really use the "I've only been around a year" thing as an excuse because it isn't true?! He's been around a lot longer, even if he didn't have a body...
Anyway, reaching out to bat at Souji's arm. Punk.]
How d'you think someone who's over five hundred is supposed to act, huh? And I'm not that touchy!
[Ah, but he doesn't deny the rest even remotely...]
[Thanks for simultaneously pulling his hair and PUNCHING HIM IN THE GUT WITH NOSTALGIA, ugh. (It's not that bad, he's just being a baby, but still.)
Even though he makes a surprised and displeased noise, he doesn't reach out to punch this punk or anything. Maybe he's trying to prove he's slightly more mature?? A FOOLISH ENDEAVOR, but A for effort, Kashuu.]
You'd think so. [That sounds like an insult, but he's just referencing the fact that the Souji he remembers really liked kids...]
Geez... Anyway, the shrine's just up here. [Hm, does he have any last words of wisdom to give...] Ardeo's always been super nice to me but I heard some people say he kinda has a temper, so don't pull on his tail or anything, I guess. [#nailed it]
[ that sounds like an insult to Souji!! but he laughs it off anyway. ]
So he's not nice to everyone, huh. [ Souji gives mister 'he's probably nice to everyone' kiyomitsu a Look. ] You don't have to worry. I might be a kid like you, but I won't touch him.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text, sometime shortly after the intro!
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
[ also what even is that face ]
depends. what is it?
[ he's lying he's so free. free like the unemployed bum he is. ]
LOOK..... who's the sketchy one here
And it's a cute face, he'll fight you.]
I want to stop by the shrine
points at kashuu
oh right your friend
[ if he understood the nuances of quotation marks then he'd put a dozen around that word... ]
i'm free. where are you?
STOP NO
I'm at my apartment
Do you want to meet outside?
POINTS!!!
sure. i'll meet you there
[ bc haru sent him the swordhaus address long ago... back when they first met actually! And then, true to Souji's sketchy word, he heads on over to the swordhaus apartment dressed and armed like he always is because he's a fashion plate. He has like a bag of pastries with him because Souji can't bother to eat properly too. ]
UGH LEAVES THIS PLACE
Anyway, Kashuu had meant outside of the building itself, so he jolts a little in surprise when he opens the door and Souji is right there. He's dressed as usual too, armed with his vessel and wearing the thick coat that he's rarely seen without.]
Hey, knock next time! [HIS HEART. ...Also, eying that bag??] What are those?
YOU'LL BE BACK
I thought you knew I was coming. [ So he doesn’t have to do anything as lame as knocking!! Gosh! He looks at the bag, then pushes it towards Kashuu for him to take. ] Here, have one if you want.
[ He doesn’t actually answer that question… But if Kashuu takes the bag and peeps in then he’ll see a couple of small bread buns... that have red bean inside, but so far they just look like bread buns!! ]
SO U SAY NOW
Thanks. Hey, d'you mind if we leave one of these for Ardeo, too?
i can accurately predict the future
Does he only appear if you give him offerings or something? [ It’s not a no though. ]
ugh...... well... i cant say ur wrong
Nah, but it's respectful to leave something. I got him a present, but it'd be nice if you could give one, too.
see :3c
Respect, huh. [ He should leave off making any rude conclusions about Ardeo since he's never met him, right??? But he also read that handy dandy notebook. Souji contemplates for like a second, then shrugs. ] Alright. I'm not that hungry anyway.
[ What a flippant attitude... Ardeo can have the rest of the bag!! Or just one. ]
puts u out to sea goodbye...
Thanks! [Even if he's being flippant, Kashuu will offer a smile. He tucks the bun into his sleeve for later snacking, and then turns to tug at one of Souji's. Why... It's like some bizarre reflexive gesture, since he drops his hand a second later like he's just realized it's strange.]
—It's in the shopping district. We'll have to walk a little while to get there.
wow
[ Also what the heck, that's like the second time Kashuu's done that. Souji's ready to run a fuse trying to interpret that gesture, but instead of trying to interpret, he should probably just ignore it. So he spends a couple of minutes in silence walking along Kashuu, then ]
Do you always touch people like that? [ Never mind. He's going to ask in a very straightforward manner that's not roundabout at all for once. ]
u earned it...
Also wow, that really is straightforward?! Kashuu almost feels a little self-conscious... But since Souji is being blunt, he's blunt right back in return.]
Yeah, I guess. It's kinda like... habit? [HE SOUNDS UNCERTAIN-- But that's only because it's not really a habit, he just doesn't know how to put what it is into words. "I like being held, but I could never hold anyone". "Touch is really important to me - that connection is important." "A sword that isn't held isn't a sword at all, right?"]
...Before I had this body, I could only wait for people to pick me up. It's not fun when you can't touch anyone.
can i return this sea cruise
So it’s something you like to do. [ He can sense that there’s something unsaid there. Do his own hang-ups about being able to wield a sword translate to the swords themselves????? ] It reminds me of how kids drag adults around when they want to play.
[ He says it idly, not meaning any real offense (for once). Actually, he probably sounds the warmest he’s ever sounded at the mention of kids... ]
why would u want to return such a fabulous prize??
Well. That's another similarity, isn't it? The Souji that wielded him loved kids, too. He'd play with them in the courtyard whenever he could, he'd take pretty good care of him - he was definitely a far cry from the person he was in battle when he was with them. But that just leads to some morbid thoughts and feelings! Like wow, it's too bad Souji couldn't ever - didn't ever, as far as he knows - have kids of his own. DEPRESSING. He'll skip right the hell over that with a petulant-sounding:]
I'm like, probably thirty times your age, you know.
I KNOW IT'S A TRAP
You don't act your age at all. [ HE SURE IS OLD... Teasingly, ] You're touchy and you like compliments. And kids like being spoiled by the people around them all the time.
[ He laughs!! ]
UGH SENDS U TO THE MOON INSTEAD better??
Anyway, reaching out to bat at Souji's arm. Punk.]
How d'you think someone who's over five hundred is supposed to act, huh? And I'm not that touchy!
[Ah, but he doesn't deny the rest even remotely...]
let me come home....
Being a kid isn't a bad thing. [ how do old people act anyway?? prob like hijikata ] So it's fine if you act like one.
[ It's not like Souji's winning any adult contests himself over here. Especially with how he reaches out to tug on Kashuu's ponytail. ]
no... see u space cowboy.......
Even though he makes a surprised and displeased noise, he doesn't reach out to punch this punk or anything. Maybe he's trying to prove he's slightly more mature?? A FOOLISH ENDEAVOR, but A for effort, Kashuu.]
You'd think so. [That sounds like an insult, but he's just referencing the fact that the Souji he remembers really liked kids...]
Geez... Anyway, the shrine's just up here. [Hm, does he have any last words of wisdom to give...] Ardeo's always been super nice to me but I heard some people say he kinda has a temper, so don't pull on his tail or anything, I guess. [#nailed it]
why this
So he's not nice to everyone, huh. [ Souji gives mister 'he's probably nice to everyone' kiyomitsu a Look. ] You don't have to worry. I might be a kid like you, but I won't touch him.
[ he doesn't want to die ]
gently puts u in a box, good bye...
And he shoots a look right back!!]
Well, that's what some people say. I just wanted to warn you, that's all! [Not that he cares about Okita Souji or anything! HUFFS AND PUFFS--
But with that said, he'll take a few quick steps ahead of his punkass comrade and point up toward a little shrine that's visible now.]
There! Let's go, let's go— [AND OFF HE GOES.]