driftfleet | Just Keeping Swimming

Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

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

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I . . . don't know.

[He smiles faintly and then puts a hand on Kubo's head very lightly.]

If you'd like to try, I'll help you, but you needn't force yourself.

[ The touch startles him but he doesn't move. ]

Aren't they dangerous?

Do you trust in me?

[He knows it may be too early to ask that question, but he might as well try.]

[ That's a loaded question, which is apparent from the way Kubo shifts on his feet. ]

It's . . . not about trust.

[He moves his hand and shifts the pig in his arms again.]

No?

[He watches him for a moment, then tilts his head slightly to one side as he tries to keep his voice light even with the weight of his words.]

Is it about not wanting people to get hurt then?

[ He nods slowly. ]

You can't always trust people will make it out okay.

This is true. You can't always trust that they will make it out okay.

[Okita hunches down in front of Kubo and puts one hand out, pinky up.]

But what if I make you a promise? If you think it's too dangerous at any time, or are worried about our safety, we'll immediately pull out. No questions asked.

[ Kubo hesitates visibly once more. The stakes were different after all. There's no reason to chase after something that might not exist. But . . . it couldn't hurt to try, could it?

Finally, he links his tiny pinky finger with Soujirou's. ]

[His smile softens and he goes through the Yubikiri song, lightly squeezing Kubo's finger before letting go.]

And now you know I can't lie about that. Perhaps if we're lucky, it will be nothing but puzzles and a few fish we need to chase away.

I doubt we'll be that lucky.

You knoooow.

[He shifts Saizou in his arms and the pig snorts, looking at his master with long-suffering eyes.]

If you keep being so negative, you might start looking as grumpy as someone else here.

[Saizou blinks and then starts grunting animatedly in protest.]

I'm not being negative! We're underwater in a strange world. It's normal!

Is it?

[He reaches up to his own forehead and makes a big show of pretending to mock Kubo's "grumpy face," massaging a fake crease between his eyes.]

Because when your face is like this, you look a little big negative.

That doesn't look anything like me!

Oh, you're right.

[He makes an over-exaggerated frown and an annoyed face.]

Is that better?

[ Kubo makes an excellent deadpan face. ]

You're not doing yourself any favors.

[He lets up and laughs.]

And neither are you.

[He makes an equally deadpan face.]

You make it too easy.

I . . . guess I do.

[ He chuckles a little. ]

[He inches a little closer and the deadpan disappears as he reaches up with one hand to poke Kubo lightly in the cheek.]

You're almost as easy to tease as my friend back home. And that is saying a lot. He's aaaaalways like this.

[And he makes his best disapproving scowl with forehead wrinkles and all. He deepens his voice as far as it can go (not much) and says:]

"Souji, why can't you be more adult? Souji, why is my tea cold? Souji, why did I let you convince me to have a page? This is annoying."

I'm not . . . always like this. At least I wasn't.

[He lets up and shifts Saizou in his arms again, which earns a disgruntled noise from the piglet.]

Death has a way of changing all of us in many ways.

[He knows, Kubo. It's okay.]

But if you would like some advice to ignore from a samurai who has seen too much of it: don't let it destroy the part of you that wants to smile, no matter how much it seeks to.

I don't think that'll happen.

[ He knows the truth. It's carved into his heart when he faced his grandfather. It was easy to give into the anger, the fear, the blood rage of being robbed of a family he had only gotten to know.

But his memories keep him going. ]

Good.

[Then he is stronger than some of the adults he knows.

He's certainly stronger than Okita himself.

Okita smiles and stands up, letting Saizou down onto the ground. The piglet protests and then immediately swims to stick close to Okita's legs.]

Then when you wish to go, will you contact me? I'll be sure to leave Saizou on the ship unless you wish for his help as well.

[ He nods politely. ]

Yeah, that's fine. I'll let you know. Dangerous temples are probably no place for a pig anyway.

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ahappylie - 2017-03-16 00:26 (UTC) - Expand

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shamisens - 2017-03-16 11:33 (UTC) - Expand

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