video;

[ahappylie]

Who: "Soujirou" aka Okita Souji and you!
Broadcast: Network-wide
Action: SS Golden, later the SS Iskaulit Gym
When: (Broadcast) January 3rd, morning (Action) January 3rd and onward, afternoons

Broadcast
Since it seems that I'm far enough in the past for most people to consider me quite long gone, I suppose there's no harm in announcing who I am. It's a little strange, seeing how I kept this to myself for so long before.

But-- [deep breath] --I'm a teacher of the Tennen Rishin style of swordsmanship. [What, did you think he'd announce himself for real? Haha, silly you. Still, people who know of him, might get a clue from that.] I'd like to find someone willing to spar with me, if they're up to it. I heard there is a space for it on the-- [ugh, foreign names are hard.] Iskaulit? The other big ship. I'll be there every afternoon to practice.

Also, I've been searching for proper boken or shinai as well, so if anyone can help me find some, I would be very grateful.

Action
[Every afternoon, Souji will be at the Iskaulit gym in an open area. Before he has practice swords, he'll be using makeshift staves and whatever else he can get his hands on to simulate a sword. Come learn from a legendary swordsman! Or just go "why is that babysitter guy suddenly looking like he can murder 50 people???"]

Comments

[Video]

[pain_train]

I don't know what that style is, but would you be willing to teach it? And I'd be happy to spar. It could be super interesting. I use a saber.

[ahappylie]

It's a very old one apparently. [He laughs.]

But of course I can teach you, if you'd like. [Sabers aren't something he's familiar with, but learning how to fight against other types of weapons could be very useful here.] If you're willing to show me this "saber" weapon.

[pain_train]

Oh, like more old Earth stuff, awesome. Sure, I'll bring it over to the Iskaulit. It's just a regular saber instead of a tank cutter, but it's decent. Wouldn't want a plasma blade in here anyway, I guess.

[ahappylie]

You say those things as if I'd understand them. That's sweet of you.

[He laughs a little and then nods.]

I'll be at the big ship in the afternoon, so please come by whenever it's convenient for you.

[pain_train]

People say weird stuff to me and think I'll understand it all the time, so it's fair.

[Anyway.]

Okay, see you there!

[And she shows up pretty promptly, actually. She's got her sword with her, and her very small collection of knives just in case he'll be curious about those.]

[ahappylie]

See you soon.

[He laughs and nods, then signs out to start his warm-ups. He doesn't know how long it'll take for her to show up, but having so many female fighters here has been an interesting twist from his home. He was accustomed to shinobi, but ones that fought openly with a sword were new.

When she arrives, Okita is going through his sword kata with a shortened staff. There wasn't much else he could use for now. As he finishes a swing he spots her heading in, so he lowers his makeshift weapon and bows his head.]

Thank you for coming on such short notice.

[pain_train]

Hi! No problem, I wasn't on duty or anything. I'm Wrath, by the way.

[therewerefifty]

[Pinged so hard.]

May I ask how far in the past, sir?

[ahappylie]

Well, I've heard anywhere from 150 and 600 years ago from people, so I'm not really sure. [He laughs a little, because what else can you do but laugh in the face of that ridiculousness?]

But I am from the year Genji 1, if it means anything to you.

[therewerefifty]

The year, no. [The format, on the other hand, is relieving. He can't be from so far ahead, can he?]

I hail from Edo in the year Tenmei 2. I would think your identity would be a puzzle to me for entirely different reasons.

[ahappylie]

[Tenmei 2... He counts back and realises she's from more than fifty years in his past. The age of his grandparents, if he'd been allowed to get to know them much. It's a bit startling to hear of someone even further back than him, but it also gives rise to a strange sense of camaraderie.]

I think you would be right. I'm afraid I'm from a bit in your future, but not too far.

Are you adjusting well to the strangeness of this place?

[therewerefifty]

'A bit' sounds a lot less intimidating than several centuries, sir. [She says it with some dry amusement, but then inclines her head.]

I have adjusted well enough. The... technology... took some getting used to, but I suppose I was half prepared for it already, having met those who'd told me much about it.

I am Otono-Tachibana Makie. [She hesitates a moment, then adds a little tentatively:] Former swordswoman of the Itto-Ryu.

[ahappylie]

[Fascinating! An actual woman who practiced the Itto-Ryu? The original branch, perhaps? Or one of the off shoots? He's suddenly intensely interested in this conversation and leans in toward his device.]

Which branch? Many of my friends were students and teachers within the Hokushin Itto-Ryu.

I am... [He still has to be wary of his name, but perhaps not as much with someone who is from his past? Still, the network is open and he hasn't been able to discover who all lives within its range.]

Fujiwara Soujirou. [It should sound odd to her, but it's intentional. He can't give his real name just yet.]

It is a pleasure to meet you, Otono-Tachibana-san.

action;

[bluediligence]

[ It's not exactly unusual for Aoko to walk into the gym and find that other people are already there, but today she finds herself pausing just inside the door, watching curiously as the long-haired stranger makes his way through … are those sword kata? With a short, makeshift staff? Huh. ]

[ And he's actually … Aoko's no expert, but he seems – good. Impressive. She has to give herself a big ol' mental boot on the backside to get herself moving again, stepping out of the doorway and into the gym proper. ]

Sorry to intrude!

[ahappylie]

[It's awkward using a staff in place of a real shinai, but it works. If anything the slight imbalance is an interesting challenge and the added weight is nice in his hands. He'd prefer to add more weight if he could to really strengthen his arms after being out of practice these past weeks, but beggars can't be choosers.

He's just finishing a group of swings when he heard someone come in. He brings the sword down, let's out a concentrated breath, and then turns to face the newcomer with a bright and carefree smile.]

Hello! Have you come to practice?

[bluediligence]

[ Whoever he is, at least he doesn't seem to have been put off by her interruption. Aoko allows herself an answering smile, genuinely cheerful despite the deep shadows beneath her eyes. ]

Yup! [ She carefully sets her bag down by the wall, far out of the way of any potential mishaps. ] I usually drop by for an hour or two around this time of day. [ And sometimes in the dead of night, when sleep's a lost cause and the hotel's too still, too quiet. There's no medicine for restlessness quite like exercising until you can barely move, or so she's come to find. ]

What about – ah! [ Wait. Wait a second. That voice – she could've sworn she's heard it somewhere recently – ] You sound familiar ... have we spoken before?

[ahappylie]

[There's suffering weirdly familiar about her voice... He listens, a little distracted from her words, until she suddenly realizes it, too.

He has heard her voice before and now he knows where. He rests the end of the staff on the ground like a cane and bows his head.]

I guess I'll be meeting you more often than I thought then, Aoko-san. It's nice to see you in person.

[bluediligence]

[ So it is him! Aoko perks up, pleased – he'd been so easy and fun to talk to, and she'd looked forward to meeting him in person. If he's going to be coming here regularly, they really are going to end up seeing a lot of each other … ]

Mm! [ She dips into a polite bow of her own. ] It's nice to meet you properly, Soujirou-san. I've been looking forward to it. But, I have to admit – I didn't expect it to be here.

[ With her hands clasped loosely behind her back, she drifts closer, casting a curious look at the weapon he was training with. ]

[ahappylie]

Oh? Is that so? [He's actually somewhat pleased to hear that. It means very few people here have connected him to his real identity yet. Of course, few here would expect someone long dead from their past to suddenly show up happy and alive again.]

Where did you think we would meet?

video;

[huaaaaagh]

[SWORDS

okay, he's easily pinged.]

I'm not so sure how well it would mesh with my own techniques, but I'd love a practice partner. I just lost the one I trained with most, so I'm worried about getting rusty.

video;

[ahappylie]

[There's a voice he recognizes. If he isn't mistaken this is...Kirito, yes?]

I'm sorry you've lost your partner, Kirito-kun. What style do you adhere to?

video;

[huaaaaagh]

[Crap, style? It's never been a style, it's literally just sword skills... but he can't exactly say that, can he. Uh.]

The... er... Aincrad-style...?

video;

[ahappylie]

Is that....a Western style? I've never heard of it.

video;

[huaaaaagh]

It's... mixed. Pretty Western, though. It doesn't use a Japanese sword.

video;

[ahappylie]

[He hums low in appreciation and curiosity. It doesn't sound like any style he knows, but now he's interested in testing himself against it. It could be fun! Or he could end up with broken ribs. Either way, a good time will be had by all.]

Fascinating~ I'd love to see Kirito-kun's style! Are you available this afternoon?