week 0, sunday

[disilluded]

[Well! He's alive, that's a shocker. He wasn't really expecting it, despite all of his poise and certainty--

But's it's fine. He can absolutely work with this, and he doesn't intend to lose his second chance.

When he runs across Souji, though, he has to stop, of course. After everything...]

... Souji.

[Sup.]

I believe I may be the one to owe you tea this time.

[For filling him with DEATH FEAR and then houdini-ing his way outta death once more.]

Comments

[disilluded]

[Souji...]

I suppose I am used to more uniform training than throwing people into suits of armor, but... I suppose that is one way to grow stronger.

[sanguinairy]

[DON'T JUDGE HIM.]

It's rare to leave a good training session without needing to see a medic. [No nevermind judge him to hell and back.

THOUGH HE PAUSES, AT LEAST.] ...Seeing as we don't have one here, scaling back a little would be good, though.

[disilluded]

[Souji...]

So this is how the Shinsengumi functions...

[DOUBT]

Yes, let us scale it back--at least for those who are not used to handling such things.

[sanguinairy]

Well, some of the other captains are a little more lenient.

[People only go to him for training if they want to DIE. Or become eternally youthful?? It's a long story.]

I agree, though... There's always room to increase the difficulty later if anyone wants, but if we're just starting with the very basics, it should be fine.

[disilluded]

So it is only you who is particularly intensive when it comes to training?

[He's kind of amused by this, honestly. Souji has such an easygoing demeanor, but you really just can't trust that at all.]

[sanguinairy]

Mm... Everyone takes training very seriously, but I've been told that the ones who seek me out have a death wish?

[Trust no Souji is the main takeaway here, basically.]

[disilluded]

A--

[...A death wish...]

... Is there something wrong with you? [JUST...JUST ASKING.]

[sanguinairy]

[THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION... Souji's smile falters for a fraction of a second.]

If it's teaching, that's fine! If it's sparring, I have a little trouble holding back.

[This is a sensitive subject since he accidentally literally fucking murdered Sannan because of it.]

[disilluded]

[Oh, Souji....

He was not expecting that to be a fair question.]

...Why is that?

[he's gotta know these things??]

[sanguinairy]

[Welcome to the weirdass whacky rollercoast that is Souji.

Also, that's another fair question, but he doesn't actually know the answer to it!! Incredible.]

I've been that way since I was very young.

[Let him regale you with the time he straight-up murdered some weird goblin that stole his face in cold blood when he was nine, Sousei.]

[disilluded]

[He is Concerned.]

It is not something you can control?

[It's just how you are? That's wild, Souji.]

[sanguinairy]

[EVERYONE SHOULD BE CONCERNED Souji is going to end up on trial for a self-defense kill if his TB doesn't get him first.

Anyway, he just shakes his head!! Why is he like this.]

When I was a child, it felt like a curse to me. [Because unsurprisingly, no one wants to hang out with the tiny kid that can benchpress fully grown men and win their katana.] But I found people who could make use of it.

[disilluded]

... The Shinsengumi. Hijikata and Kondou.

Is that correct?

[... What a tragic reason to throw his lot in with someone like them...]

[sanguinairy]

[Souji, on the other hand - his expression lights right up at that and he nods without pause. There's certainly no doubt that he loves his commanders, regardless of what they stand for.]

Hijikata-san was the first person to tell me that what I had was a strength.

[A gift, not a curse. It had definitely been a wild thing to hear, and clearly it stuck.]

[disilluded]

... I see.

[He can't deny that, though he certainly feels A Concern over all of this. It's a lot to process, but...]

Are they aware of your illness?

[They must be, right?]

[sanguinairy]

[That definitely causes some visible tension, but he's at least... had a tiny bit of time to adjust to the new normal, before ending up here.]

...They know of it now.

[He managed to hide it for a ridiculously long time, though.]

[disilluded]

You know that is for the better, correct?

[I mean, honestly, as a commanding officer himself--]

They will only blame themselves otherwise, if it is made worse because of tasks they asked of you.

[sanguinairy]

[It would make sense to any normal person, probably!!

Unfortunately, the downside of building yourself up around your strength alone is the fact that without it, it seems like there's nothing left worth hanging around for. Which is an incredibly sore sticking point, and something he hasn't come anywhere close to making peace with.

So, after a brief pause:]

--Let's talk about something else, Sousei-san. [When in doubt, RAPIDLY BAIL OUT.] This tea is very good and you're alive to enjoy it with, so it would be a shame to waste time on things like that.

[disilluded]

[He gives Souji a long, long lingering look in response to that, but...

You know.

He'll let it go for now.]

Indeed. For now, we are both alive, and that is something worth celebrating.

[sanguinairy]

[Saved... SAVED FROM SOUSEI. For like, two days. Souji is visibly relieved, not bothering to hide that as he pulls his tea cup closer.]

That's exactly what I think.

[and since we have another pc we can just say NINJA CLAN HERE THEY STAND, chatting and being glad they aren't dead.]