Not at all, speaking from experience. I bet that's a helpful attitude to have in your case too!
[ because ryouma knows the shinsengumi might as well have gone around pointing swords at people as a form of greeting. never mind that he tends to inspire that in people in general, shinsengumi or otherwise, it's not important. ]
Wait, why would he know-- Chizuru pauses, checks the username, and then realises this isn't the 'he' she thought she was sending this to at all. ]
oh gosh i am so very terribly sorry i am not sure who i am talking to right now but it seems that my message has been sent to the wrong person maybe you are mistaken about who i am as well and that is why you might think you know something about my case
[ Definitely not realising it's her username that gave away that clue. Most people here don't even know who the Shinsengumi are, after all. ]
Hehe, it was getting a little boring and quiet anyway.
As for the rest, the Shinsengumi are pretty fond of waving their swords around, so it sounded to me like a lucky match.
[ the only reason he hasn't gone ahead and revealed himself is because he imagines she'll realise soon enough anyway, given that he's being annoying and knows who the shinsengumi are. ]
no please i did not mean to make them sound like types who do that not at all
[ Even though.. they definitely are, hence how Chizuru has that experience in the first place. But she will be caught dead before she'd be caught slandering the Shinsengumi!
.. though it's with that thought that she realises who she accidentally must have been texting.. ]
is that you sakamoto-san mister sakamoto mister ryouma? um
[ Referring to people properly in this place is hard. Even though he said formalities weren't necessary, Chizuru can't help it. ]
Hehe, sure is! Just Ryouma's fine, you know? But I'm flexible.
[ despite what he goes by as a username, ryouma glad to not have to hide behind the rider name in any other situation.
he also doesn't expect her to suddenly get on his level of throwing out formalities, but he can at least reassure her that he's not one to take offence to these kinds of things. ]
Anyway, a couple of those guys are Servants too and being deadly with a sword's what they're known for better than anything else, so I think you're off the hook.
i cannot believe that reputation still follows them even then
[ Though it's not too surprising, right? Especially when it comes to people like Okita, who sure love pulling out their sword in any given situation.. and it's not like some of the other ones are all that better. But Chizuru knows them all to be such kind men deep down, so it's still a little sad to know that reputation just haunts them for life.
Or.. um, afterlife. She's still getting used to the entire 'Servant' idea. ]
but some of them made the same deal as you? does that mean you have met them again did you see how they were doing?
[ It feels a little selfish to ask that, given that Ryouma might not be on the best terms with them, but.. of course Chizuru can't help but be curious. She's so invested in their wellbeing, after all. ]
It's a touch easier in their case, actually. We're more or less the same, but instead of having a permanent contract like me, they responded to the call of a human Master. I met them when Oryou and I ended up in the same place.
[ ryouma is doing his best to explain without adding layers of complexity and he thinks he's done alright. one thing at a time! it's as much for his own sake as it is for chizuru — higher magical concepts will always be a little over his head no matter how long he keeps at it. ]
The Chaldea organisation has similar goals, so they're putting those skills to good use there. It's nice having Hijikata-san and Okita-san as allies this time around!
[ Thankfully she can kind of understand this. Even if she may not have a great picture of the situation, she can kind of put the little things she can grasp together to have a faint idea of what's going on in Ryouma's world.
Even though it's wild. ]
i am so glad all of you can work together this time
[ Because Chizuru already knew the men of the Shinsengumi were actually kind people deep down - and since Ryouma very much seems to be the same way now she's meeting them here, it's obviously so much better for them to fight together than to fight each other. ]
if you were kind to them back there i would like to thank you i can imagine it perhaps not being easy given everything that happened during your life but i always think it is so much better when everyone can just get along especially among kind people
catching up after that sudden hiatus sorry for the lateness!
Thank me?? Haha, no need for that! Not much point in holding old grudges when the world's a different place anyway. Everybody had dreams and ambitions, they just ended up taking different shapes. In the end, even the shogunate knew the shogunate needed to go.
[ his enemy had always been the system itself, so whatever petty grudges he might've held in life seem even smaller when time has a way of putting things in perspective. ]
You seem like must've been pretty well-acquainted though to know what they're really like beyond what they can do with a sword. Hehe, have you secretly been a member of the Shinsengumi this whole time~?
[ he's joking as usual, but from his perspective it's also not impossible especially when the shinsengumi he knows is a lot less of a boys' club. ]
[ .. well, if Ryouma truly doesn't carry a grudge against the Shinsengumi.. then it'd just be cruel to lie to him, right? Especially since so far it's been more of a lie of omission than any outright or direct lie, but that would change if she didn't tell the truth here.
So.. ]
i have been
[ Sorry to ruin the joke with the truth, Ryouma. ]
please forgive me for not telling you so earlier the timing just never felt right
[ She's being honest about that one. After all, when do you tell someone assassinated by your group that you are part of said group.. ]
so let me make up for it by formally introducing myself now my name is chizuru yukimura i am the page of the vice commander of the shinsengumi toshizou hijikata
[ well. that probably sounds unintentionally rude, so maybe he shouldn't leave it at that. ]
That's pretty impressive! He's a tough one to crack for sure.
[ speaking from experience, ryouma has had to talk the guy down a few times. how much of that is simply because ryouma annoyed him, though, is... debatable. ]
I'd hoped we'd all find a way to work together at some point anyway, you know? So, it's nice it turned out that way after all.
Hehe, I better watch out. I never doubted you since our turbulent times made for plenty of formidable ladies, but not everybody gets to be the page of the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi!
[ Honestly, Chizuru kind of understands his reaction right away.. It certainly wouldn't be the first time she's been confronted with Hijikata's very.. specific reputation, after all. Sure, she may know him a little bit better beyond that now, but she can certainly see where people would get that idea about him after interacting with him. ]
please i am nothing that impressive
[ She has to mention that though, because she sure doesn't want him to get the wrong idea about her. ]
i more or less stumbled my way into it more than anything i truly cannot match up to hijikatasan in any sort of way so i hope i am not creating too many expectations of myself here
So, in the end, it was only when the canaries started to sing in my sleeves that the waiter at the Red realized none of them were my omen, and I had to bring them outside.
Second question: Where can this Huaisang store a large birdcage?
just in time for my brain cells to return from the war tbh; un: rider
Hehe, if one could make a business out of them, I'd be game to try, but given the way of things around here I'll stick to what I know.
[ he's kind of a sorry businessman given the lack of capitalism right now. ]
One happened to show up this morning. [ because it's the 15th and so he is #blessed. ] Gifts from the Tower, I'm told. Although, honestly, under the present circumstances, I would've taken an I.O.U. until things are a bit less.... zealot-y.
Xenia, in its most basic concept as being a ritualized friendship amongst strangers based on gift exchange, generosity, and reciprocity, could still have many fundamental benefits in a city like Trench. The concept was created as a means of providing safety in a world where strangers were as likely to be your greatest ally as they were your worst foe, and were literally the line between life and death in a tumultuous climate of unknowns.
Isn't life in Trench a lot like this?
The institution of Wakers and the generosity that the Sleepers are given by the people who have lived here for centuries is nothing short of impressive, but where is the line drawn? Part of Xenia is not making a burden of yourself upon your host.
How long do we have before the Trenchies start seeing us as a burden? Or, after seeing how they drove one Sleeper and his entire family from town, are we already there?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; un: lookingforshinsengumi (misfire!)
do you think it is strange to start liking someone at the exact moment they point a sword at you
[ That text was definitely not meant for Ryouma, but there it is. Just showing up on his Omni. ]
text; un: rider
I bet that's a helpful attitude to have in your case too!
[ because ryouma knows the shinsengumi might as well have gone around pointing swords at people as a form of greeting.
never mind that he tends to inspire that in people in general, shinsengumi or otherwise, it's not important.]no subject
Wait, why would he know-- Chizuru pauses, checks the username, and then realises this isn't the 'he' she thought she was sending this to at all. ]
oh gosh
i am so very terribly sorry
i am not sure who i am talking to right now but it seems that my message has been sent to the wrong person
maybe you are mistaken about who i am as well and that is why you might think you know something about my case
[ Definitely not realising it's her username that gave away that clue. Most people here don't even know who the Shinsengumi are, after all. ]
no subject
As for the rest, the Shinsengumi are pretty fond of waving their swords around, so it sounded to me like a lucky match.
[ the only reason he hasn't gone ahead and revealed himself is because he imagines she'll realise soon enough anyway, given that he's being annoying and knows who the shinsengumi are. ]
no subject
not at all
[ Even though.. they definitely are, hence how Chizuru has that experience in the first place. But she will be caught dead before she'd be caught slandering the Shinsengumi!
.. though it's with that thought that she realises who she accidentally must have been texting.. ]
is that you sakamoto-san
mister sakamoto
mister ryouma?
um
[ Referring to people properly in this place is hard. Even though he said formalities weren't necessary, Chizuru can't help it. ]
no subject
[ despite what he goes by as a username, ryouma glad to not have to hide behind the rider name in any other situation.
he also doesn't expect her to suddenly get on his level of throwing out formalities, but he can at least reassure her that he's not one to take offence to these kinds of things. ]
Anyway, a couple of those guys are Servants too and being deadly with a sword's what they're known for better than anything else, so I think you're off the hook.
no subject
i cannot believe that reputation still follows them even then
[ Though it's not too surprising, right? Especially when it comes to people like Okita, who sure love pulling out their sword in any given situation.. and it's not like some of the other ones are all that better. But Chizuru knows them all to be such kind men deep down, so it's still a little sad to know that reputation just haunts them for life.
Or.. um, afterlife. She's still getting used to the entire 'Servant' idea. ]
but some of them made the same deal as you?
does that mean you have met them again
did you see how they were doing?
[ It feels a little selfish to ask that, given that Ryouma might not be on the best terms with them, but.. of course Chizuru can't help but be curious. She's so invested in their wellbeing, after all. ]
no subject
[ ryouma is doing his best to explain without adding layers of complexity and he thinks he's done alright. one thing at a time! it's as much for his own sake as it is for chizuru — higher magical concepts will always be a little over his head no matter how long he keeps at it. ]
The Chaldea organisation has similar goals, so they're putting those skills to good use there. It's nice having Hijikata-san and Okita-san as allies this time around!
[ so things are much better than expected? ]
no subject
Even though it's wild. ]
i am so glad all of you can work together this time
[ Because Chizuru already knew the men of the Shinsengumi were actually kind people deep down - and since Ryouma very much seems to be the same way now she's meeting them here, it's obviously so much better for them to fight together than to fight each other. ]
if you were kind to them back there i would like to thank you
i can imagine it perhaps not being easy given everything that happened during your life
but i always think it is so much better when everyone can just get along
especially among kind people
catching up after that sudden hiatus sorry for the lateness!
[ his enemy had always been the system itself, so whatever petty grudges he might've held in life seem even smaller when time has a way of putting things in perspective. ]
You seem like must've been pretty well-acquainted though to know what they're really like beyond what they can do with a sword. Hehe, have you secretly been a member of the Shinsengumi this whole time~?
[ he's joking
as usual, but from his perspective it's also not impossible especially when the shinsengumi he knows is a lot less of a boys' club. ]it's okay! c:
So.. ]
i have been
[ Sorry to ruin the joke with the truth, Ryouma. ]
please forgive me for not telling you so earlier
the timing just never felt right
[ She's being honest about that one. After all, when do you tell someone assassinated by your group that you are part of said group.. ]
so let me make up for it by formally introducing myself now
my name is chizuru yukimura
i am the page of the vice commander of the shinsengumi toshizou hijikata
no subject
[ well. that probably sounds unintentionally rude, so maybe he shouldn't leave it at that. ]
That's pretty impressive! He's a tough one to crack for sure.
[ speaking from experience, ryouma has had to talk the guy down a few times. how much of that is simply because ryouma annoyed him, though, is... debatable. ]
I'd hoped we'd all find a way to work together at some point anyway, you know? So, it's nice it turned out that way after all.
Hehe, I better watch out. I never doubted you since our turbulent times made for plenty of formidable ladies, but not everybody gets to be the page of the Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi!
no subject
please i am nothing that impressive
[ She has to mention that though, because she sure doesn't want him to get the wrong idea about her. ]
i more or less stumbled my way into it more than anything
i truly cannot match up to hijikatasan in any sort of way
so i hope i am not creating too many expectations of myself here
after 80 years, a misfire; un: hummingbird
Second question: Where can this Huaisang store a large birdcage?
just in time for my brain cells to return from the war tbh; un: rider
[ not that anyone did but here we are!! ]
no subject
[........wait a minute. this is not the User Name of one of his many spare brothers.]
My sleeves are very spacious. No birds were harmed!!
no subject
[ .... ]
Is the practice so you can train them to do their birdy business outside?
no subject
Yes. This one is a dedicated bird trainer.
[it's not and he isn't.]
I would never sneak birds into places they shouldn't be.
no subject
[ no stop he believes it. ]
I suppose I oughta keep what I know to myself then, huh?
no subject
[birdtrayed]
no subject
Have you had a chance to see any of the mechanical birds that have been showing up lately?
no subject
[Ah, let him make it super clear:]
Where are the the mechanical birds appearing? I want one!
no subject
[ he's kind of a sorry businessman given the lack of capitalism right now. ]
One happened to show up this morning. [ because it's the 15th and so he is #blessed. ] Gifts from the Tower, I'm told. Although, honestly, under the present circumstances, I would've taken an I.O.U. until things are a bit less.... zealot-y.
no subject
[the text message essence of tapping his foot expectantly, tell him the Business, sir.]
I want to see the bird... Does it sing?
Misfire | Text | un: LEM2
Xenia, in its most basic concept as being a ritualized friendship amongst strangers based on gift exchange, generosity, and reciprocity, could still have many fundamental benefits in a city like Trench. The concept was created as a means of providing safety in a world where strangers were as likely to be your greatest ally as they were your worst foe, and were literally the line between life and death in a tumultuous climate of unknowns.
Isn't life in Trench a lot like this?
The institution of Wakers and the generosity that the Sleepers are given by the people who have lived here for centuries is nothing short of impressive, but where is the line drawn? Part of Xenia is not making a burden of yourself upon your host.
How long do we have before the Trenchies start seeing us as a burden? Or, after seeing how they drove one Sleeper and his entire family from town, are we already there?