Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on Mafik
When: The month of March



[Welcome to Mafik, the water world! Hope you brought your best swimming gear and don't have a paralyzing fear of water, because that's all that's here! So get out those wet suits and enjoy life under the sea!

In other words, it's a mingle! ]

> System Information

Comments

a

[castrationfist]

Oh? Mr. Soujirou?

[Unlike most people, Caster isn't really swimming. Somehow, she's sticking to the ground, walking like she's in the air.]

I suppose if you asked me, I'd pick pink, but I'm not sure I'd choose either of those.

[ahappylie]

[Being a spirit/fox/magical...thing helps indeed. Okita doesn't mind semi-floating, it's actually rather relaxing.

He pulls back the pink one and frowns slightly.]

No? Then which would you choose? I'd like to take something back so I can remember this planet.

[castrationfist]

Hm... I'd choose nothing. I don't want to remember this planet at all. It's like being at the bottom of the lunar seas all over again. It's nostalgic, but it takes forever to get my tail back to normal afterwards!

[ahappylie]

But they're so cute!

[I MEAN LOOK AT THEM. They're fluffy even if they're underwater. They can only be better out of water, right?

But speaking of--

He looks down behind her and notes the floating hair and tail.]

Oh...but yes, I suppose that is going to be a bit of a struggle. Does it take long to dry?

[castrationfist]

Ages!

[She pouts.]

Well, I can sort of use sunlight to dry it, but then it has a weird smell, and the fur goes all limp... It can take days to get it as silky and fluffy as I like it again!

[ahappylie]

[He hugs the pink crustacean to his chest and tilts his head to one side.]

Do you not use the "shampoo" thing they have here? I've only recently tried it and it seems to be very good for your hair.

[castrationfist]

Hair and fur need different kinds of care!

[ahappylie]

What sort of care does fur need then?

[Brushing maybe? Lots of...brushing??? He has no idea, he never had a pet with fur.]

[castrationfist]

Lots of brushing to keep it from tangling, and a different kind of shampoo. Fur and hair have different kinds of textures, after all! Not to mention how dirty it gets when I fight...

[ahappylie]

[So he was right on one account.]

I suppose the salt water doesn't exactly help either. I've been having trouble detangling my hair, too.

[Although he can at least tie his hair up when he's fighting... He didn't get much of a chance to when the raiders came and there was a lot of blood to wash out later.]

I used to help my sisters brush their hair though, if you'd like some help.

[castrationfist]

You're quite correct. Honestly, the salt water almost makes me miss the wax from Kyoto's court.

[The flax oil, waxed hairstyles, the combs... She doesn't often get nostalgic for the Heian capital. Certainly not the more painful parts. But sometimes it does get brought out.]

If you'd like to, then I suppose... I just hope you're better at it than my brothers.

[ahappylie]

[Wow, that actually makes him give a genuine smile of nostalgia. While he was never allowed in court - he was far too low born for all that - it's nice to hear someone talk about things he recognizes so glibly.

His sisters couldn't afford something as nice as oil they used in court, but the sense memory of sitting next to his sisters and applying oil to their hair as they prepared in the morning is still strong. And more recently, brushing and combing out the tangles in Hijikata's hair. His hair was a point of pride for him, and Okita used to sit in the morning or late evening and help him with it.

The smile twinges as his heart remembers Hijikata's absence.]

I hope I am as well. My sisters will be mad at me if I let that skill go to waste. Although there might not be wax here, perhaps we can find some oils that are comparable.

[castrationfist]

You've got sisters, then?

[It's an old habit, to try to find out about people's lives. It's not just being nosy... Well, not just being nosy. She's pretty nosy. But also, for a long time, finding out people's histories was a matter of life and death.]

[ahappylie]

[This is a safe enough topic, so he doesn't mind the prying for once.]

Yes, two of them - both older. [He won't give names or too much information though because he's still a paranoid little shit.]

They married when I was young, but I used to help them prepare in the mornings when they were busy.

[castrationfist]

What a devoted brother you were...

Ah, I know! Is this what they call a 'sister complex'?

[caster where did that even come from.]

[ahappylie]

[Wtf is a sister complex?????

Okita is so confused. Confused enough that he just stares at her for a moment, then tilts his head to the side.]

I don't know, actually. What is a "sister complex?"

[castrationfist]

Eh, you don't know? Really? Ehhh, hmmm, should I say it, should I not.... I think it would be more interesting if you asked someone else!

[ahappylie]

[He shrugs and nods.]

I'll have to ask my crew then. Some of them are from further in the future than I am.

[Although he doubts the answer will be what he wants to hear. Tamamo, why you gotta do this.]

In any event, my sisters married early in my life, but since I also grew my hair long helping them when I was young turned out to be a valuable skill.

[castrationfist]

Well, good luck!

[she wants to hear that so bad.]

But you sound like you were close.

[ahappylie]

[Noooooope]

Mm, as close as any siblings are, I suppose. [Aaaaaand subject change]

You say you have brothers? Are they older or younger?

[castrationfist]

Hmm... Well, I'm the oldest, technically, but we were all born right after another.

[She wonders how many hints she can drop before he'll realize. Let's find out.]

I don't get along with them very well, though... One of them has a horrible temper and likes to throw things, and it once got so bad I ended up as a hikiNEET for a while, and then the other is such a jerk I run whenever I see him! But he keeps chasing me, we've been doing that forever. It's quite a pain.

[ahappylie]

[Ah, right, foxes. Although he wonders if they all gained powers like she did... That was how fox spirits were created right?

Ugh, he wishes he'd paid more attention to Hajime when he talked.]

Being the only female in a den of males must have been hard on you. They don't sound like very good brothers at all.

[castrationfist]

[She almost laughs, but with supreme effort, keeps her face straight.]

They certainly aren't. And I've never even met my mother, my father Nagi ran away from her right before we were born...

[ahappylie]

[This is definitely part of the legend he doesn't know.]

Did she die? How did you survive without parents?

[castrationfist]

[Well... Hm. She isn't sure she wants to explain. But also, she really, really wants to see the look on his face.]

She did. She died giving birth to the Hino-kagutsuchi.