(no subject)

[shamisens]

Who: Kubo and You
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Marsiva
When:

[ Kubo wakes up with a jerk, fumbling around before he realizes it's not dark. The fire isn't lit and — this wasn't the cave he grew up in. Groping around, Kubo felt the solid presence of his shamisen, the two strings intact and breathes a sigh of relief. Then he carefully slips off the bed, slinging it over his back. With his one eye, he looked around. And pinches himself. ]

Okay. Not dead. Where am I? This isn't the Heavens . . . is it?

[ He had been sure everything had been settled, but Kubo hadn't exactly had time to learn the exact nature of what lingers above. ]

Comments

[ahappylie]

It's all very confusing, I know. [His smile softens in sympathy. He had the hardest time adjusting, too.]

We're no longer in our homeland, not even in the same time as far as I know. We're on a large fleet of ships that sail the stars now.

[shamisens]

[ The stars. With a pang, he wished his mother was here. She would know. ]

Why are we so far away? Why did they take us?

[ He can hazard a guess why they'd take him but that isn't to be shared just yet. ]

[ahappylie]

I wish I knew, little one. The answer I've received was that we are interesting to them somehow.

[He doesn't fully understand the concept of "reality TV" although he can get the gist of it. It's strange and invasive and he hates it, but he can't hide from it so he has to deal.

He just wishes young children like this boy didn't have to.]

They put us on these ships so people across the stars can watch what we do. It's called "reality television." But it isn't all bad. Sometimes people you know appear. Some of my crewmates have people they know on the Fleet.

[shamisens]

I'm not that little.

[ Says the tiny little twelve-year old. ]

So they just want to watch us. For our stories.

[ It makes sense, as much as anything does. He brushes some of his hair back. But the latter statement stings, so he looks away. ]

I don't have anyone like that.

[ahappylie]

[Oops. Well, he's not quite Tetsu's age, so he's still little!!! And smol.

And here would be where he normally would tease the boy on the other side of the video feed, but the way he looks away speaks of heartbreak and loneliness. He knows what it's like to feel as if you have no one in the world anymore, so he can't make a joke out of that.]

Perhaps someday you will again - here or elsewhere.

My name is Soujirou. [How casually he lies about his name is becoming second nature to him.] What is yours?

[shamisens]

[ He believes that, but Kubo is still reeling from loss. ]

It's Kubo. How - How long have you been here? In this strange place?

[ahappylie]

It's nice to meet you, Kubo-kun.

[As for thaaaat question.]

And I've been here.... Ah. Just under a month. Not long at all, really.

[shamisens]

That's longer than I thought . . . what do you do for money? Food?

[ Money and food are his primary concerns. He's got to take care of himself. ]

[ahappylie]

Food should be provided by the ship you're assigned to. Until then, you can enjoy the things on the Marsiva for free.

[He pauses, then lowers his voice to a conspiratory whisper, one hand up to hide his mouth from some imaginary person off to the side.] Which you should definitely do. I didn't get much of a chance, but I hear it's much better than other places.

[Back to normal now.] Money I think can be earned at the big space stations, like large travel towns, we sometimes stop at. By working on your ships, you can also earn some money. The people who watch us will sometimes send gifts, too, if you make a big impression.

[shamisens]

[ He cracks a small smile, unable to help himself. ]

So we get to see distant lands? That's amazing!

[ahappylie]

[There's a smile! Okita claps his hands together and nods.]

Yes! We apparently travel to many different places - other stars, big stations in space - and see many different people. I've never been on a ship before, so it's all very fascinating.

[OH WAIT. He turns away from his video and comes back with a handful of violently neon colored candy sticks.]

And they have candy!

[shamisens]

[ Wow. ]

That's . . . a lot. I don't think I could even finish all of that.

[ahappylie]

Well, that's why we share, isn't it~

[He picks a few sticks out - orange, purple, and pink - and waves them at the screen.]

Once you're assigned to your own ship, come and see me. I'll keep these for you.

And I promise I won't eat them. No matter how tempting they are.

[shamisens]

[ His expression is gentle. He wouldn't take kindness for granted. ]

Thank you. I'll come by.

[ahappylie]

I'll be waiting then.

[He smiles and slides the candy out of view.]

There are a great many people in the Fleet, Kubo-kun. Perhaps they'll have more information for you, but if you have any other questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

[shamisens]

I can't really think of much . . .

[ Food, money . . . not dying. Those were his primary concerns. He frowns, concentrating. ]

I guess I don't understand why they took us instead of just asking for our stories.

[ahappylie]

[tbf, those are the big three.]

I don't really know. Maybe they don't want the stories we've already lived, but the ones we are about to create instead.

The future is so much more interesting than the past sometimes, after all. And some stories of our past, we don't want to tell unless forced. [Like him.]

[shamisens]

[ He watches quietly. ]

But if the stories of our past aren't told . . . who will remember them? Who will keep them alive?

[ahappylie]

Some stories are meant to be told, Kubo-kun, and some are not.

[His story isn't one he thinks anyone should know. Not until he joined his friends, at least. The stories of the Shinsengumi....now those are some he hopes will ring throughout history.]

Are you a storyteller?

[shamisens]

Everyone's story is important. Even the terrible ones.

[ He nods. ]

I use my origami to tell the stories I hear.

[ahappylie]

[He pauses, then smiles a little. He doesn't believe that, but it's nice to hear.]

Your origami? That's something I'd like to see. I do like origami. What stories do you like to tell?

[shamisens]

I usually do the stories my mother used to tell me.

[ Kubo gently slides his shamisen off his shoulder. He pauses, his fingers drifting over the makeshift strings he had attached to it before. Then, shaking it off, he plucks the strings. Any paper nearby starts to move, drifting towards him like a miniature tornado. Then it bends and shifts into people - samurai, townspeople, ninjas. ]

1/?

[ahappylie]

[Aw, it's a shamisen! That's so nostal--]

[ahappylie]

[Wait, is that paper moving?]

[ahappylie]

[THAT PAPER IS DEFINITELY MOVING ALL BY ITSELF IN TIME TO THE MUSIC AND MAKING ITSELF INTO ORIGAMI

WHAT IS THIS WITCHCRAFT

WHAT

WHAT

WHAT?!]