Are you worried 'cause of what happened during the curse? It's fine now. And I have people helping me. Have you met Emily? She's very responsible.
[ considering how he's been, it could sound like he's teasing, but it's actually a genuine question. he'd said the wrong thing the last time, so he's trying to be careful. ]
What do you mean? All kinds of things! Plenty of which I'm not at liberty to share no matter how much I like ya. Alliance business, you know...
[ which is true, even if it's not the whole truth. he sighs and sits down while he waits for the water to heat up. ]
You probably heard about the debt, right? I can't take back what happened, so there's no point in carrying on about it. I'll make sure it gets paid, alright? Taking responsibility is what everyone wants anyway.
The debt I agreed to pay for what I did to Izō. People keep showing up and calling me in for meetings lately knowing everything already, so I just figured you did too.
Technically, yeah. But it's Majima who's seeing to it personally. 100 million yen is what I owe, which I had to agree to before he was willing to move forward with our negotiations. I couldn't ruin everything for everyone just because I made a stupid mistake.
[ even if it isn't exactly fair — since he hadn't shot izō on purpose or even been in control of himself — but he has calmly accepted his fate. ]
[ tell him about it hizen!! he is also from a time that predates the yen, so he can't accurately wrap his head around the number. he attempted to have jikoogle convert yen into ryou or koku because those are currencies he can understand, but it's unlikely to be an accurate figure in any case. it's a huge amount of money, but he hasn't flinched at the challenge. he'll handle it.
ryouma watches hizen sit down across from him and gives him an odd look. ]
... What do you mean? What else is there to say? Unless you mean what I'm doing about it? [ ugly laughter. ] I'm doing whatever I have to do. It's a good thing I had some savings on hand, but I'll have to find another job before next month since I can't count on anything else turning a profit any sooner than that.
[ ryouma sighs and realise it makes little difference. it's not like others weren't told. ]
I met with the other leaders. The Daitengu was still recovering in the hospital, so I was on my own. The others were accompanied by Majima and Musashi.
[ he wasn't at all worried about going it solo either; ryouma is used to being alone in difficult negotiations, which is why he thought nothing of it. ]
I pitched my idea and answered all their questions. When we were almost finished, there was something I said..? It was a misunderstanding, but I smoothed it over. In any case, I have two months to deliver on my promise or there will be an even worse war...
[ ryouma picks right now to get up and check on the kettle, which isn't ready yet. easier than looking at hizen. ]
'Course I wouldn't be around to see it because your boss would have collected my head himself before that, which really solves the debt issue too, if you think about it.
(Ryouma speaks and Hizen listens. Sword leaning against his shoulder, eyes watching Ryouma even when he looks away. It's not impossible to guess what Hizen might be thinking but he doesn't make it easy.
He isn't happy with what he's hearing but then again, he rarely ever is happy with anything. As for what's bothering Hizen specifically... he feels like he's watching history repeat again. It's almost haunting how Ryouma follows the same beats he did before.
Taking on burdens by himself, working nonstop for a dream, stepping on toes and making enemies along the way, setting himself up to do the impossible under a ridiculous amount of pressure and... inevitably making stupid decisions. Just thinking about it makes Hizen tired and he knows there's little he can do to stop Ryouma. As in the life before, he would be a nonstop force.
When Ryouma finally finishes, Hizen knows it's his turn. He could say something. He could yell. He could scold him. He could press for more information. He coulud just stay quiet and leave Ryouma on his own. Instead what he says is a quiet and flat,)
Well, no, but that's how it works, doesn't it? I was around for a purpose, and as soon as I finished it, there wasn't really any reason to be there anymore. Things happened exactly as they were meant to.
[ it didn't matter if he had things he wanted to do or people he might've wanted to spend time with. he knew what he was getting into and ultimately had no regrets. but now..? ]
(It's a sudden change in topic and when Hizen speaks, the tone of his voice seems to shift. It isn't emotional. He lacks his typical irritation or even any type of anxious care he might have when he usually speaks. It's serious and almost businesslike, like someone giving a report,)
Until that moment, nothing was determined or meant to be. It doesn't matter if you've finished or not, either. The day you died is also the day you were born. You still had your whole life ahead of ya. You got it again now, too.
(Holding his sword tight,)
That's why you can't do the same things ya did last time.
(And make history repeat in this same, eerie way that he's beginning to see.)
[ it's the tone shift that gets his attention. it makes him curious at first, but then it's clear that he's really listening. not to say that he wouldn't ordinarily, but he's listening with the sort of intent that he would if hizen were telling him some kind of important business. ]
I see. Fair enough. I can't promise to be careful, but I won't be as reckless as I was before, at least.
[ if hizen had to witness the end, then he already knows where ryouma was stubbornly, willfully irresponsible, thanks to his pride. that's certainly preventable... ]
Was it really the same day? I suppose I didn't even realise what day it was, only that it was freezing outside, and I was just gettin' over a cold...
[ weird bit of unexpected nostalgia. ]
Anyway, it's summertime and I'm a lot harder to kill these days.
(He nods. It was the same day. He won't admit it out loud but he remembers the day Ryouma was born. Just like he remembers the rest of his time at the Sakamoto estate. It's all in the past now. It isn't important. But he still remembers.
He might not have been at Omiya that particular night; the night when everything first went down but he's heard the stories and he's visited that moment enough times to know how it goes. The exact little details aren't really important. It doesn't matter where he's sitting or what he eats or why he decides to stay. As long as he's in that room with Nakaoka Shintarō. As long as he dies and Mutsunokami shatters. As long as the killer gets away... nothing else matters.)
... You're annoying enough to catch a cold in the summer.
(Isn't the saying supposed to be "only fools catch cold in the summer" and not "annoying people?" It doesn't matter.)
Ahh, but don't worry, alright? Everything'll be okay. If y' feel like helpin' out, I'm always lookin' for information, so lemme know if y' hear anything interestin'!
[ of course he's as flippant about this as he's ever been, more concerned with the work yet to be done instead of any dangers. ]
Not that anything's gonna happen, but I'll say I feel better knowin' you an' Izō got each other no matter what.
[ because in all of it, that's all he cares about. ]
[ it's a question he wishes he didn't ask because there is no good answer for it. ]
I do what I gotta do, like always.
[ there's never been anything in it for him, not then or now, judging by how things have been going for him. ryouma's work succeeds, but anything else always falls through. hard to really mind it, though, when it's still a win regardless of how lonely it might be along the way. that's just how it goes. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ he's not going to just volunteer information. ]
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I dunno. (Does he? Doesn't he? He isn't... the smartest person here. He's not good at figuring people out.) I just know you're up to something.
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[ considering how he's been, it could sound like he's teasing, but it's actually a genuine question. he'd said the wrong thing the last time, so he's trying to be careful. ]
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... Helping with what?
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[ which is true, even if it's not the whole truth. he sighs and sits down while he waits for the water to heat up. ]
You probably heard about the debt, right? I can't take back what happened, so there's no point in carrying on about it. I'll make sure it gets paid, alright? Taking responsibility is what everyone wants anyway.
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(He caught that.
Also look at this face, Ryouma. Look at it!! This is the face of a sword boy who doesn't know shit about any debt.)
What debt?
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[ congratulations, you played yourself. ]
The debt I agreed to pay for what I did to Izō. People keep showing up and calling me in for meetings lately knowing everything already, so I just figured you did too.
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(HE KNOWS NOTHING, RYOUMA. NOTHING.)
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[ it's a time of people springing something like interventions on him. what're you gonna do? ]
But—... well, now you know. It's not Alliance business, it's private business, so I'm allowed to tell you.
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(Ryouma, explain. Actually explain,)
What d'ya owe? Who? The clan?
(The whole clan for shooting Izo? Is it the whole clan???)
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[ even if it isn't exactly fair — since he hadn't shot izō on purpose or even been in control of himself — but he has calmly accepted his fate. ]
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(And a hundred million yen. A HUNDRED MILLION YEN HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF SO MUCH MONEY IN HIS LIFE.
Okay but... Hizen is going to come a little closer and sit somewhere? Across from Ryouma's desk or something.)
I wanna know what's going on.
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ryouma watches hizen sit down across from him and gives him an odd look. ]
... What do you mean? What else is there to say? Unless you mean what I'm doing about it? [ ugly laughter. ] I'm doing whatever I have to do. It's a good thing I had some savings on hand, but I'll have to find another job before next month since I can't count on anything else turning a profit any sooner than that.
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(He's... pretty clueless! He doesn't fuss with things like power dramas or political intrigue. He's very much been doing other things.)
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[ he's not exactly worried that hizen is a gossip or anything, but it prevents any confusion. ]
I was doing alright, actually. Considering what I was up against..? Pretty alright. Your boss ain't a fan, I'll say that much.
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(G O D ! But he nods. He isn't surprised to hear this is what Ryouma is working on but--)
And ya aren't gonna say what all went down?
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[ ryouma sighs and realise it makes little difference. it's not like others weren't told. ]
I met with the other leaders. The Daitengu was still recovering in the hospital, so I was on my own. The others were accompanied by Majima and Musashi.
[ he wasn't at all worried about going it solo either; ryouma is used to being alone in difficult negotiations, which is why he thought nothing of it. ]
I pitched my idea and answered all their questions. When we were almost finished, there was something I said..? It was a misunderstanding, but I smoothed it over. In any case, I have two months to deliver on my promise or there will be an even worse war...
[ ryouma picks right now to get up and check on the kettle, which isn't ready yet. easier than looking at hizen. ]
'Course I wouldn't be around to see it because your boss would have collected my head himself before that, which really solves the debt issue too, if you think about it.
Not that I have any intention of dying.
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He isn't happy with what he's hearing but then again, he rarely ever is happy with anything. As for what's bothering Hizen specifically... he feels like he's watching history repeat again. It's almost haunting how Ryouma follows the same beats he did before.
Taking on burdens by himself, working nonstop for a dream, stepping on toes and making enemies along the way, setting himself up to do the impossible under a ridiculous amount of pressure and... inevitably making stupid decisions. Just thinking about it makes Hizen tired and he knows there's little he can do to stop Ryouma. As in the life before, he would be a nonstop force.
When Ryouma finally finishes, Hizen knows it's his turn. He could say something. He could yell. He could scold him. He could press for more information. He coulud just stay quiet and leave Ryouma on his own. Instead what he says is a quiet and flat,)
You didn't before, either.
(Have any intention of dying.)
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[ it didn't matter if he had things he wanted to do or people he might've wanted to spend time with. he knew what he was getting into and ultimately had no regrets. but now..? ]
I'm not finished here yet, so I can't die.
[ he sounds very sure. ]
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(It's a sudden change in topic and when Hizen speaks, the tone of his voice seems to shift. It isn't emotional. He lacks his typical irritation or even any type of anxious care he might have when he usually speaks. It's serious and almost businesslike, like someone giving a report,)
Until that moment, nothing was determined or meant to be. It doesn't matter if you've finished or not, either. The day you died is also the day you were born. You still had your whole life ahead of ya. You got it again now, too.
(Holding his sword tight,)
That's why you can't do the same things ya did last time.
(And make history repeat in this same, eerie way that he's beginning to see.)
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[ it's the tone shift that gets his attention. it makes him curious at first, but then it's clear that he's really listening. not to say that he wouldn't ordinarily, but he's listening with the sort of intent that he would if hizen were telling him some kind of important business. ]
I see. Fair enough. I can't promise to be careful, but I won't be as reckless as I was before, at least.
[ if hizen had to witness the end, then he already knows where ryouma was stubbornly, willfully irresponsible, thanks to his pride. that's certainly preventable... ]
Was it really the same day? I suppose I didn't even realise what day it was, only that it was freezing outside, and I was just gettin' over a cold...
[ weird bit of unexpected nostalgia. ]
Anyway, it's summertime and I'm a lot harder to kill these days.
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He might not have been at Omiya that particular night; the night when everything first went down but he's heard the stories and he's visited that moment enough times to know how it goes. The exact little details aren't really important. It doesn't matter where he's sitting or what he eats or why he decides to stay. As long as he's in that room with Nakaoka Shintarō. As long as he dies and Mutsunokami shatters. As long as the killer gets away... nothing else matters.)
... You're annoying enough to catch a cold in the summer.
(Isn't the saying supposed to be "only fools catch cold in the summer" and not "annoying people?" It doesn't matter.)
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[ of course he's as flippant about this as he's ever been, more concerned with the work yet to be done instead of any dangers. ]
Not that anything's gonna happen, but I'll say I feel better knowin' you an' Izō got each other no matter what.
[ because in all of it, that's all he cares about. ]
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And Hizen just
sighs and goes quiet. There's definitely something on his mind.)
And you?
(Who has Ryouma no matter what?)
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[ it's a question he wishes he didn't ask because there is no good answer for it. ]
I do what I gotta do, like always.
[ there's never been anything in it for him, not then or now, judging by how things have been going for him. ryouma's work succeeds, but anything else always falls through. hard to really mind it, though, when it's still a win regardless of how lonely it might be along the way. that's just how it goes. ]
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