(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

[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?!]

[ahappylie]

[The paper is turning into samurai and people and ninja and--

THIS IS THE COOLEST THING HE'S EVER SEEN.]

DONE sorry

[ahappylie]

[He grabs the communicator, practically shaking it.]

Kubo-kun! Your power is amazing! How did you do that? Can you make a pig?

<3

[shamisens]

[ People always want the weird ones. But with a twang of his shamisen, one origami piece shifts and folds into a pig, running around. ]

[ahappylie]

[It's weird, sure, but Kubo just gave him a glimpse of home. He may never understand how much Okita needed that right now. He laughs like a delighted child, watching the pig run around.]

It looks just like him! You're amazing, Kubo-kun!

[shamisens]

[ He softens, faintly sheepish. ]

It's not much. My act is usually a lot bigger. But I'm glad you like it.

[ahappylie]

It's more than you can imagine.

[He settles down, watching the little figures standing and moving on their own.]

I'd like to hear your stories sometime. If this is how you tell them. I think you'll be quite popular here.

[shamisens]

I usually did it for the money. But . . . I enjoyed telling stories. I'm still not that good at it though.