uncertainties and a possible second lease on life at Synodiporia

[maruniichimonji]

While I appreciate the thought, you do remember what happened the last time you tried this, right? I know it isn't the same as the other place, and to be honest, I'm pretty grateful for that, but you and I didn't exactly get along before, either. Keeping that in mind, are you sure this is what you want? I'm not gonna fight you on it if it is, but if it's not, don't try to force yourself.

I gotta admit, though, it might be nice to get out for a little while...

Comments

/hugs your face

[devaluates]

Whoa, so even Sano-san's coming along too? With you around, there's no room for doubts right?

[Sano's like the big brother everyone needs, okay. His mun totally has it lucky.]

Ah but... we missed out on gryphons I guess. According to Chizuru....

[Pouting? Who's pouting, certainly not him...]

/suffocates

[maruniichimonji]

Well, it's still undecided yet because we got off to a rocky start. I think it'll be alright so long as it's not like the last place, but she seems to think I'm going to walk out on her or something.

[ According to Chizuru, what? ]

...Heisuke, do you even know what a gryphon is?

[devaluates]

Eh?! You walk out on a girl? She doesn't know you that well, clearly.

[As for the gryphon thing...]

They're like... a bird and a horse in one?

[He is describing this complete with hand motions and probably looks ridiculous.]

[maruniichimonji]

Hey, just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it couldn't. [ ...except it probably won't. ]

[ And seriously, Heisuke? Those things don't exist. Chizuru could probably tell you the sky was green, the grass was blue, and dinosaurs still existed and you'd probably believe her. Don't worry, though, he'll just roll with it. ]

...uh-huh. Somehow, what you're saying, what I'm picturing, and what you're...gesturing don't really match up.

[ Birds don't have horse heads and horses don't fly, for starters, and the added hand motions have him completely lost. ]

[devaluates]

Do too!! I mean I can't really make it fit right since I've never seen one but I imagine it's big like a horse and has wings, right? I wonder if it's made of other animals too... that would be weird!

[Which he finds incredibly funny but at the same time a little terrifying because Chizuru shouldn't be around anything so dangerous, right? At least Hijikata's there to keep her safe...]

[fuckingibuki]

It doesn't really matter if you like your mun, you know. 'Cause if they like you, then you're just screwed.

[maruniichimonji]

I guess I oughta be glad I'm not the favorite, then. Problem is, she seems to think I'm difficult. I think she's just over-thinking things and making it harder than it really is.

[fuckingibuki]

Well, these people do make things more complicated than they need to be, that's true, but uh...

You are difficult. Kinda. You haven't punched anyone lately, have you?

[maruniichimonji]

...

[ Yeah, there's only one way to answer that. ]

Nope. Are you volunteering?

[fuckingibuki]

[Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck - ]

What?! No! Are you crazy?!

[Just a little bit, Ibuki. Juuust a little bit.]

[tealeafs]

Huh? [ She blinks a little bit. ] Harada-san was stuck in a place like this one before..?

[ But then again, he doesn't sound like he hard a particularly fun time wherever that was, so she's quick to add-- ]

.. I'm sorry.. but this place isn't all that bad, I promise! I mean.. bad things happen sometimes, but I never mind helping you or any of the others out when you need it.

[maruniichimonji]

Eh... [ Oh no, he is not telling her about Sex City... ] It was lonelier, but some of the people were nice enough. A little bit strange, but not bad.

[ He can't help but smile, though. Whether she meant to or not, her words help ease some of his hesitance at going somewhere else. ]

As long as I'm not on my own to figure out what people kept calling "modern technology" again, a few bad things happening with friends around doesn't sound so bad at all.

[tealeafs]

[ See, without knowing it was sex city of all places, Chizuru isn't getting the idea it could be that at all. As far as she can gather, it just wasn't that great since it was lonely for him - which she can understand. He's always been so close to Shinpachi and Heisuke that it'd probably be weird for him to suddenly be by herself, just like how she'd feel lonely too if she was suddenly seperated from everyone. ]

Oh, that's alright..! I can help you with it! [ Not that she's an expert on modern technology by now - far from it - but she's learned a few things, and the thought she can help him out by telling him about them makes her pretty excited, showing in the expression on her face. ] I can tell you all about ferris wheels and cotton candy and hotdogs, if that helps..!

[ .. not really necessary information, huh. But could anyone really shoot down that enthusiasm. ]

[maruniichimonji]

[ He'd rather her think that, to be honest. So much better than the reality of 'I was too homesick to handle sex with strangers'. ]

The what...? [ Her enthusiasm is adorable though, so he's going to let her talk. After all, how often does she get something to be excited about? ] None of those things sound like they should be combined at all, and what's a 'ferris'?

[ Wheels, he can do. Cotton is for cloth, candy is for eating, hot is not something that should be associated with dogs unless they're sleeping in the sun... but what in the world is that first one? ]

[tealeafs]

Oh, they're not a whole lot like what their names make them sound like.. [ Although she sort of understands cotton candy, since it's fluffy like cotton? But she's still not sure why a hotdog is called a hotdog, or what a ferris is supposed to be.. ]

A ferris wheel is like.. um, it's a little difficult to just explain, but it's like a really big wheel with carts on it that you can sit in and then it slowly spins around. You have a really nice view once you get all the way up.

It's a lot of fun, Harada-san! Really, if you get here with us and see one sometime, you should try it too. I did too, and..

[ .. well, she was going to say it's fun, but the memory of being on there with Hijikata instead manages to make her cheeks flush a deep red. ]

U.. um.. it's.. it's really fun.

[ You know.

Makeouts.

But she's not going to mention that part just as much as Sano's not going to mention sex city.. ]

[deontological]

My, my. Harada-san of the Shinsengumi might be joining us? [Well, she supposes with both Kazama and Kaoru about, the more friendly faces Chizuru has around her, the better. And she has to admit, Harada does have a good track record with her already, even if she isn't entirely sure of his - and the entire Shinsengumi's, really - ability to protect her, she doesn't doubt his sincerity one bit.] I feel more encouraged already.

[maruniichimonji]

[ Unfortunately, he's just shy of meeting Sen, but he's not in the habit of ignoring when a woman's spoken to him, and the group is infamous enough that her recognition doesn't faze him. ]

I'm not sure if that's seriousness, sarcasm, or something else entirely, but whatever it is, I'll take it.

[deontological]

It's of the utmost seriousness, I assure you. [She chuckles - her short time there so far has already prepared her for the possibility of timeline shenanigans, so she doesn't bat an eyelash as she continues, although she does remember having met him in Kyoto.] You're well acquainted with a friend of mine. I can't help but be happy when someone Chizuru-chan trusts will be joining our quest.

[maruniichimonji]

You know Chizuru? [ Well then! That changes things. If she knows Chizuru well enough to call her a friend, then this girl can't be anyone bad. And given the '-chan', she probably also knows Chizuru's female. ] She hasn't gotten herself into too much trouble, has she?

[deontological]

She has been in the care of a handful of your comrades, I believe. She seemed well when I spoke to her. [Which is good for the Shinsengumi, because if she seemed like she was in huge trouble Sen would have had to have words with them.] I'm sure she'll be very happy to see you.

[creatic]

Ah, Sano-san not getting along with his lady-mun, is it? I thought this day would never come.

[maruniichimonji]

[ And of course, the guys all pick up on that part. Well, except Heisuke, but he's never been terribly perceptive. ]

I wouldn't say we aren't getting along, it's more of a difference of opinion. She thinks I'm difficult, I think she's making things harder than they need to be.

[creatic]

Hah—? Is that an insult; to be difficult? [ THAT'S WHAT SOUJI'S CALLED ALL THE TIME... in some shape or form. ]

I honestly can't say I've heard that description of you from a woman before.

[maruniichimonji]

It's not one I've ever heard before, which is why I think she's making it harder than necessary.

[ And because curiosity... (and it's likely he won't get much out of her) ]

So who's taking care of Chizuru?

[creatic]

How should I know? Maybe Hijikata-san if he wasn't eaten by a dragon, yet. If he has... eh, Ibuki-kun can take over for a little. Maybe.