Oh - no, definitely not. I mean, I probably would have wanted to say at least part of that, but the nicer parts.
[a beat, before he shakes his head.]
No, it's alright. I don't like keeping secrets. [as for those questions, though... nobody's really asked him the second one that plainly yet, and he pauses for a moment.] I do plan on that, yeah. But - I don't know the answer to the second one. Still, given the choice between running away or at least trying to help the people it hasn't gotten to yet...
[He just nods in response to the first bit because like, fair, yeah, he'd be doing the same.
As for the rest - well. He'd be honest in the same way if he were in Rupert's shoes, so he can only nod, looking considering.]
...You have a strong and beautiful heart, Rupert-kun. The people that you would risk your own life to protect are fortunate to have you. [Followed by a small, fleeting smile - there and gone, like the flitter of a butterfly's wings.] Do you know how you might fight against it yet?
[He just dips his head a little in return for the thanks, listening as he BASICALLY JUST SAYS "YEAH WE GOT NO IDEA MAN LMAO". That's how he's lived his whole life though, he ain't about to judge.]
...I know that we've only just met, and this sounds like the sort of problem that one person alone wouldn't make much of a difference with, but if there's something that I could do to help you in your victory... Please let me know, and I would be happy to.
[Because he's going to die anyway so he might as well die while trying to save someone else's world!]
[because he doesn't know souji intends to SUPER DIE!! and thinks that if he shuts off his world and anyone else goes there, they'll just be stuck there forever even if they don't die via negative energy monsters. it's fine.]
But - I really appreciate you offering, seriously. You've got a pretty good heart yourself, you know...?
[Souji opens his mouth, seems to consider something, and then closes it again. The smile that follows is a little wan.]
Please keep it in mind, at least. [Maybe someday he'll mention it's because he's been boxed out of a future that he can accept, goddamn.] ...My apologies for bringing this conversation to such a dismal place, though. Now is the time to take a bit of a rest before facing it all again, right?
No, it's alright. And I'll keep it in mind, but... I guess, just know that whatever happens to me next, I've made my peace with it. I think I got pretty lucky, even. I got the opportunity to meet you and everyone else before I go back.
[since he assumes he won't see them again even if things don't go Badly for him. anyways x 2!!]
To make it less dismal, though - your turn for a story, probably?
[HEEEELP WHY ARE THEY BOTH OUT HERE BEING LIKE THIS.]
...I can understand that. [He also feels very lucky that he got to meet so many sweet people at the tail end of his life.] Still - I hope that you can make it through the trials ahead of you and find peace on the other side.
[NO HE BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF PEACE... That's what his smile says, anyway!! He just gives a little nod, somewhat encouraging.]
I believe so, too.
[They're both wrong. But!!]
Mm, let's see... Ah! How about the time that I snuck my darling Saizo into one of the shogun's castles? [SAID WITH A LAUGH as he pokes Saizo's little round face.]
Ah, but... I guess you could say the shogun is something of a top authority in my country? Some people would likely feel honored just to lay eyes on one of his castles. [With the implication of "IT AIN'T ME THOUGH". Listen. Souji cares nothing at all about authority. He simply loves his Shinsengumi.]
In any case! I was given permission to stay in one of his castles once, but I was slated to be there for quite some time... There's just no way that I could leave Saizo on his own for that long, right? So even though it was the shogun's castle, I brought him with me! I tucked him right into my bundle of belongings under a sheet and he's so round that everyone just assumed it was some sort of lantern for the porch. When Kondo-san found out, he looked like he was going to pass out right on the spot, haha.
[DON'T HAHA.]
Edited (adds more stupidity) 2022-07-15 07:50 (UTC)
[THE AUDACITY OF THE POWER CENTER OF THE WHOLEASS COUNTRY... Honestly though Souji agrees.]
Anyone should feel honored to have Saizo in their home, I think! [Reaching out to patpat his round little noggin. Saizo bukiis in answer, whatever the hell that means.] But it's alright - after Kondo-san found him, he only had to hide when the attendants visited.
[Which probably leads a little into his answer for the second question, haha! Hah... There's a barely-there pause; his expression doesn't shift much.]
I was staying there for treatment and rest, since I had an illness that demanded fresh air.
[sage nod... saizo has rights forever now. he pauses for a longer moment than souji, sympathetic, even if he definitely isn't thinking of the correct magnitude of illness.]
And you said it lasted a while...? That's too bad. I'm glad you had a nice place to stay, though.
[Sweet Rupert... Well! He's sure not going to correct him. HE JUST SMILES. Saizo probably stares up at him with knowing piggy eyes but he ignores it it's fine.]
Mm, I'm very grateful for it. There was a lovely garden that I could look out into to bird-watch, and the men would practice close by so I could hear them doing their drills and such. The attendants even brought me books to read and a plant to care for!
[Do you ever think about how Souji is an Olympic athlete of dodging.]
Oh - they weren't there for very long. Only a few weeks, really... The war was already starting to move quickly even then, so they dispersed in practically no time at all.
[ME LAUGHING. Souji not laughing but definitely wiping his sweaty forehead...]
Ah... Well. I'm not really the best person to explain these things... [He doesn't care about politics, he only cares about the Shinsengumi, listen.] But we've had some issues lately that some people don't think the shogun handled well, so they want to oust him.
...Makes sense, for a country that was getting close to war.
[he still looks very concerned, though!! he knows basically nothing about this conflict, but he's still on souji's side after hearing that the other group was a threat to the city.]
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[a beat, before he shakes his head.]
No, it's alright. I don't like keeping secrets. [as for those questions, though... nobody's really asked him the second one that plainly yet, and he pauses for a moment.] I do plan on that, yeah. But - I don't know the answer to the second one. Still, given the choice between running away or at least trying to help the people it hasn't gotten to yet...
[it's a pretty clear decision, to him.]
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As for the rest - well. He'd be honest in the same way if he were in Rupert's shoes, so he can only nod, looking considering.]
...You have a strong and beautiful heart, Rupert-kun. The people that you would risk your own life to protect are fortunate to have you. [Followed by a small, fleeting smile - there and gone, like the flitter of a butterfly's wings.] Do you know how you might fight against it yet?
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[it's a little quiet, given what they're discussing, but sincere all the same. the small smile on his face mirrors that sentiment before he moves on.]
We've had... a few ideas, but nothing that's conclusively worked. But - I'll figure it out.
[or he won't and he'll die horribly, which he is also increasingly ambivalent about, so it's fine.]
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...I know that we've only just met, and this sounds like the sort of problem that one person alone wouldn't make much of a difference with, but if there's something that I could do to help you in your victory... Please let me know, and I would be happy to.
[Because he's going to die anyway so he might as well die while trying to save someone else's world!]
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[because he doesn't know souji intends to SUPER DIE!! and thinks that if he shuts off his world and anyone else goes there, they'll just be stuck there forever even if they don't die via negative energy monsters. it's fine.]
But - I really appreciate you offering, seriously. You've got a pretty good heart yourself, you know...?
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Please keep it in mind, at least. [Maybe someday he'll mention it's because he's been boxed out of a future that he can accept, goddamn.] ...My apologies for bringing this conversation to such a dismal place, though. Now is the time to take a bit of a rest before facing it all again, right?
[WHEN DEATH IS A BREAK.]
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[since he assumes he won't see them again even if things don't go Badly for him. anyways x 2!!]
To make it less dismal, though - your turn for a story, probably?
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...I can understand that. [He also feels very lucky that he got to meet so many sweet people at the tail end of his life.] Still - I hope that you can make it through the trials ahead of you and find peace on the other side.
[If only this Rupert was canon Rupert...]
--Ah - what sort of story would you like to hear?
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[it will not. anyways!]
You said the first one that comes to mind, right? Then, same for you.
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I believe so, too.
[They're both wrong. But!!]
Mm, let's see... Ah! How about the time that I snuck my darling Saizo into one of the shogun's castles? [SAID WITH A LAUGH as he pokes Saizo's little round face.]
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He deserves to be inside of one of the shogun's castles!
[HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE SHOGUN IS YET]
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[HELP THEY'RE BOTH GOBLINS.]
Ah, but... I guess you could say the shogun is something of a top authority in my country? Some people would likely feel honored just to lay eyes on one of his castles. [With the implication of "IT AIN'T ME THOUGH". Listen. Souji cares nothing at all about authority. He simply loves his Shinsengumi.]
In any case! I was given permission to stay in one of his castles once, but I was slated to be there for quite some time... There's just no way that I could leave Saizo on his own for that long, right? So even though it was the shogun's castle, I brought him with me! I tucked him right into my bundle of belongings under a sheet and he's so round that everyone just assumed it was some sort of lantern for the porch. When Kondo-san found out, he looked like he was going to pass out right on the spot, haha.
[DON'T HAHA.]
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[the audacity of this shogun!! anyways.]
Why were you staying there for a while, though? If I can ask.
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Anyone should feel honored to have Saizo in their home, I think! [Reaching out to patpat his round little noggin. Saizo bukiis in answer, whatever the hell that means.] But it's alright - after Kondo-san found him, he only had to hide when the attendants visited.
[Which probably leads a little into his answer for the second question, haha! Hah... There's a barely-there pause; his expression doesn't shift much.]
I was staying there for treatment and rest, since I had an illness that demanded fresh air.
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[sage nod... saizo has rights forever now. he pauses for a longer moment than souji, sympathetic, even if he definitely isn't thinking of the correct magnitude of illness.]
And you said it lasted a while...? That's too bad. I'm glad you had a nice place to stay, though.
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Mm, I'm very grateful for it. There was a lovely garden that I could look out into to bird-watch, and the men would practice close by so I could hear them doing their drills and such. The attendants even brought me books to read and a plant to care for!
[HE HATED IT THERE RANDY.]
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[Oh No]
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Oh - they weren't there for very long. Only a few weeks, really... The war was already starting to move quickly even then, so they dispersed in practically no time at all.
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—The war?
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Ah... Well. I'm not really the best person to explain these things... [He doesn't care about politics, he only cares about the Shinsengumi, listen.] But we've had some issues lately that some people don't think the shogun handled well, so they want to oust him.
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But it's not dangerous for you, right? Even if you were staying at his castle?
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[HE SAYS THIS SO CASUALLY.]
But most of the fighting isn't where I was at, last I was home rather than in one of these places.
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You do? Why?
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Well. At this part, his smile is a little softer, considering there's a lot of complicated things in motion here. But.]
Because we fought very viciously to protect the Shogunate and the city we were stationed in, and we cut down many of the ronin who threatened both.
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[he still looks very concerned, though!! he knows basically nothing about this conflict, but he's still on souji's side after hearing that the other group was a threat to the city.]
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