degozaruyo | 001 [action; voice]

Entry tags:

001 [action; voice]

[Action (locked to Okita Souji)]

[It's very cold, which is the first tip-off that something has gone quite wrong. Early October in the Eleventh Year of Meiji had seemed like a second summer, but now Kenshin is lying in snow.

On his wedding day.

He jumps to his feet and reaches for a sword that isn't there. Whoever brought him to this snowy wood has relieved him of his sakabatou and his normal clothing, leaving him wearing nothing but a thin pair of Western-style silk trousers.

He hears a rustle and the snap of a twig underfoot; someone is coming. Kenshin takes a defensive stance.]

Hello?

[Voice - the next day (January 17; open to everybody)]

[There is rustling as Kenshin attempts to figure out the way the book works.]

Ah is this how to...? This is so strange, speaking into a book...right, there we go. Yes. Hello! This one is called Himura Kenshin. He arrived in this place--Luceti?--yesterday.

[More rustling. Yep, that's totally Kenshin bowing to a book.]

Pardon the intrusion, but this one must ask: is there a Kamiya Kaoru-dono or a Myoujin Yakiho here as well? If so, this one would dearly like to speak with them.

Thank you for your help!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Waking up in the forest was always confusing, especially when he woke up in New Feather clothes and with a firm recollection that there hadn't been snow in Luceti the last time he'd seen it. Walking back without shoes was a pain, but it was better than waking up with broken bones as he'd done before.

Slowly making his way back to the village, he pauses when someone actually calls out when his foot breaks a twig to analyze the voice.

Cautious. Defensive. Open enough to invite an ally. Not a voice he recognizes from the network so....

New Feather?

He comes out from around a tree, hands raised and palms shown with a smile on his face.]

Hello~ I didn't mean to scare you.

[Kenshin relaxes slightly when another man in a similarly underclothed situation comes out from behind the trees. But only a little bit. He manages a small smile.]

This one wasn't frightened; he simply did not expect to find anyone else in such a desolate place as this. Ah...sorry to impose, but do you know where we are?

[Hokkaido, maybe? That would explain the snow...]

Edited 2013-01-17 04:22 (UTC)

I would, but it likely isn't anywhere you recognize.

[He lowers his hands, hugging his arms around his chest to keep warm. The man has a strange way of speaking.

A familiar way.

Souji cocks his head to one side, keeping his distance.]

This world is called Luceti - and it isn't anywhere near your home unless you're from another of the enclosures. There is a village not too far from here.

Lu...ceti.

[Kenshin stamps his feet to keep warm, considering.]

Enclosure? No, this one doubts that he is. A different world? How very strange.

[He gives Okita a bright smile. He doesn't believe it, not really, but they both need to get out of the cold as soon as possible.]

That would certainly explain the snow! Forgive the imposition, but if you would be so kind as to show this one the way to the village it would be most appreciated. Warmer clothing must be acquired.

[Though he doesn't know how. What little money he had with him was taken with his clothing and sakabatou.]

[The niggling feeling that he should know this person is eating at him, but the need for warmth and clothing comes first.

Souji smiles back, bright as ever, and motions to his left.]

It shouldn't take long from here. I live just off the path from the village center and very close to these woods, if you don't mind stopping there to find something to borrow.

[Kenshin bows deeply, and as he does so he notices a strange pulling on his back. Huh. Had he been wounded?]

Please excuse the intrusion. This one is very grateful for your help. This one had not expected to find--oro?

[He begins walking toward Okita (making sure to maintain a safe distance, should the man attempt to attack him) when he catches sight of something extremely out of place.

Okita has wings.]

Edited 2013-01-17 05:06 (UTC)

[The sudden cut-off and a familiar sound of confusion brings his attention back to the stranger and Souji tilts his head again.

Oh right.

He turns slightly to show the sky blue and white mountain striped wings on his back, his long hair trailing down between them.]

Oh yes, these. You'll get used to them.

There is a lot I will have to explain about this place, but there should be a book with your name on it nearby. Let's start there.

[He'd get used to...oh. Cue another confused ORO?! as Kenshin discovers his own wings. This is moving into bizarre-nightmare-resulting-from-stress-right-before-his-wedding territory, but his numb hands and the pain in his bare feet from touching the cold ground are proving otherwise.

He takes a startled step back into a snowbank and touches something with his foot. A book.]

Ah, this one...believes he has just found it.

[Ah, the shock is settling in. That's not good.]

So it would seem - that and the other additions. You'll also find they give us tattoos to identify us. Not very nice if you ask me, but at least it isn't conspicuous.

[He motions forward again.]

Please, let's get you inside. I can make tea.

[Kenshin is full of questions he wants to ask, but there's no use asking them if he's going to be frozen. So he nods at the mention of tea and follows the strange young man out of the woods to a large Western-style house.]

Please excuse the intrusion.

Please, don't mention it. I'm sure my housemates won't--

[Souji stops as he approaches the back door. Tammy, the giant yellow chocobo is huddling in her stable and there isn't new grain in her feeder. The sounds of his pig roaming through the house unfettered is also not a good sign.

...He knows what he'll find inside and rather than let a stranger see his unhappiness, he pushes forward and smiles, brushing snow off his feet at the door. Once he opens it, he knows they're gone. The house is stale and Saizou is sitting on the living room table, snorting through a bowl.]

It may be a bit of a mess inside since I've been away, but I'll get the heat on and find you a change of clothes. If you don't mind traditional Japanese wear.

[Kenshin looks at the giant bird stabled next to the house with some curiosity before entering the house. He's never seen its like before, but he's also never seen a person with wings. Or himself with wings. He figures he'll except just about anything at this point.

Even the small pig on the table.

Even without the heat turned on, the house is deliciously warm compared to outside. Kenshin and his frozen feet are very grateful to be indoors.]

Ah, no, not at all. This one prefers it, actually. He finds Western clothing somewhat impractical.

[He smiles and leads the way inside, going over to the electric thermostat on the wall and fiddling with it until it kicks on. Such a handy device.

As he does that, the pig is staring at Kenshin. Or glaring, really. It hasn't moved from the table, as if it has declared the living room HIS domain and Kenshin is intruding.]

There. I'll bring in a spare change of clothes then.

[Souji turns and sees Saizou glaring and sighs.]

Saizou, he's new here, please don't bite him.

[Kenshin smiles back at the pig.]

Saizou, is it? This one doesn't mean to invade your area. Please excuse the intrusion for just a few minutes~ It won't be very long.

You're a funny little pet to have. An angry one too, it seems. It's a very honorable thing to protect your master and your little castle.

[Souji laughs and Saizou just looks miffed, turning around to put his butt to them both.]

It's nice of you to humor him, but he's just being grumpy since I left him alone.

[Sweeping past his angry pig, Souji disappears into his bedroom - musty, it needs to be aired and cleaned - and emerges a moment later with a cloth wrapped dark blue wool kimono. He hands it to Kenshin with a smile.]

I hope it isn't too small for you.

Thank you very much for your help!

[He goes into another room and changes. The wings are surprisingly difficult to work around, but once he's in the kimono he feels marginally human again.

He comes out and beams at Okita.]

It fits very well, thank you. You have been most kind to this one. [He bows for the umpteenth time because that's just how he rolls.] This one is called Himura Kenshin. It's good to make your acquaintance.

[While Kenshin is off getting dressed, Souji gets dressed himself - much faster as he's well used to having the wings already and has holes cut out so his wings show, folded against his back. He takes the extra time to move Saizou off the table and onto the floor, where the pig roams off to the kitchen. Okita smiles at the stranger when he emerges into the room again and returns the bow.

-Himura Kenshin.

A name he recognizes. He knows they've met before now - only very briefly - and apparently now this man doesn't remember him at all.]

It's good to make your acquaintance as well, Himura-san. [What can he recall about him...? From Edo, the future, something else...]

My name is Okita Souji. I'll put tea on for you now, so please take a seat. [He motions to the sofa with its pillows both on and off the cushions.]

[Okita Souji. That earns the other man a sharp look, very quickly masked by Kenshin's usual pleasant smile.

He doesn't look quite like the Okita Kenshin remember, and seems quite lively for a man dead over ten years.

But in a strange country where everyone has wings? Maybe anything's possible.]

Oro? Okita Souji, like the Shinsengumi Captain?

[That look is all he needs to see to know that this man isn't from the far off future, but one where they could have crossed paths. It wasn't often that he met someone who survived him, but when he did, it usually ended with someone dying. Even if Kenshin masks his recognition with pleasantry, Okita is on alert and waiting for the first indication that he might attack.]

We share a name, yes. Did you read about him in history books?

Something like that. The Shinsengumi are very famous, you know! So very well admired. This one really respects the stories of their skill!

[Diffuse the situation. After all, there's no indication at all that this is Okita Souji; not the one of Kenshin's memories. Kenshin accepts the tea and sips, asking questions about Luceti all the while.]

...and this truly is another world? It seems almost unbelievable.

I've heard they weren't very well liked at all. [He steps back as Kenshin takes the tea, putting his hands behind his back. With his hands out of sight, he motions to Saizou to stay in the kitchen. The pig pokes its head out, sees the hand motion and slinks back.]

More that they were ruffians and no better than the criminals they went after. Like a loose pack of wolves.

[nope, you do not get away from this, Kenshin.]

[Okita hides his hands, but Kenshin takes a different track; he makes sure that his hands are in view at all times. He never stops smiling politely.]

Oro? Well, it's been more than ten years. Memories do tend to soften with age. Stories of the Shinsengumi are quite popular in Tokyo, where this one is from.

[Ten years. Memories. Tokyo.

Souji counts back from what he knows of Japanese history after he dies and up to when he's learned they change the name from Edo to Tokyo and...

Okay, yup, now he is definitely on alert, Kenshin.]

That would explain why you speak in such an old-fashioned way. It's very unusual. For someone from the future.

The future?

Yes, you're from a time when Edo is called Tokyo, aren't you? But not so far if you say ten years is a long time for memories.

You knew them, didn't you - the Shinsengumi.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 [action; voice]

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action; sorry for the wait!

action;

action;

action;

action;