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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

[No, this is a trap and he's walked right into it, but at the same time, he is 100% certain Oda Nobunaga is a man.]

Every story and history book has him listed as a male though. Every portrait, the accounts of his life, everything.

That's right. You know how many people she defeated, how many people she subjugated, and in the end, it was only her own subordinate's betrayal that brought her ambitions to an end.

But you know, history is written by men. We women only have a few roles we're allowed to have. The harlot who destroys the nation, the witch who must be defeated, the holy maiden, the devoted wife... But not the conqueror, not the revolutionary, not the innovator who redefined warfare in Japan. Men have such fragile egos, you know? If they couldn't hide the fact that they were all defeated by a warlord named Oda Nobunaga, they would rewrite events so that at least they weren't defeated by a woman.

It's a surprisingly common story. Many women who were too powerful, heroes or villains, were recorded into history as men to soothe the pride of those who had opposed them.

[That makes a lot of sense, especially considering how few people would ever know the accomplishments of amazing women like Yamazaki Ayumu. She was their most effective spy and one of the first to lay her life down so willingly in the most brutal manner. He can understand everything she's saying to him now and yet...

It still doesn't jive with him.

He can't just erase his entire life of knowing that Nobunaga was a man because one person says otherwise.]

...Well, what other heroes were actually women then? Ones I'd know, perhaps?

Let's see... From my era, you know how all the tales talk about how Minamoto no Yoshitsune was so beautiful? She was indeed a beautiful woman. Minamoto no Yorimitsu, as well, though she had Ushi Gozen complicating matters... Genjou Sanzou, to go back even further.

[She looks at Soujirou, appraising him.]

I don't know what era you're from, however, so I'm hesitant to go more into the future than those.

Ah, well. [Seriously, wtf is going on right now. None of those people were women????]

I'm from Genji 1. I looked into it recently and that should be around...1864? On the Western calendar.

Oh, then you must know of the famed Shinsengumi?

Ah.. the Wolves of Mibu?

[Well, that was uncomfortable, but he can manage. He does it all the time in Kyoto and sometimes here.]

Yes, I've heard of them. It's hard not to hear of their exploits in the capitol.

That Okita Souji of theirs... I didn't believe it at first, but that Lightless Three-Stage Thrust couldn't have been anyone else.

[She sighs, annoyed.]

...

Oh.

[So he becomes a hero? And is brought back to life in the future? That's kind of-

Wait.

WAIT A MINUTE.

WAIT A HECKIN MINUTE.]

The Okita Souji you know is a woman?

Hm... I'm not sure you could call it 'knowing' her. Most of our relationship was trading barbs while we attempted to kill each other, you know? Well, she really hated me, I guess because of my legend, and I couldn't figure out her identity until she brought out her coat and flag... It was rare for me to be able to fight a Saber at all, but I managed until then. Then that flag summoned Kondou, and really, two Shinsengumi against one lone fox? Using her Three-Stage Thrust was just overkill.

[Okay, no, he has to laugh because?? This has to be a joke right?

Like ha ha, good one, Hajime. Yes, people called him girly all the time and Hijikata even though he'd turn out to be a good wife when he was a child, but they all know he's really a man.

Right?

Right?????

So he laughs because it's the only thing he can do.]

That is one person who I know is absolutely not a woman. Something must have gone wrong in the future.

Hm? What are you talking about?

[how do you know

have you seen okita souji naked]

[Oops, crap. Now he has to really work hard to keep his identity a secret.]

Well, I live in Kyoto and I've seen him. He is definitely not a woman.

[And yeah he has seen him naked!!! It's called a mirror.]

You'd have to be quite close to be that certain.

[ARE YOU FUCKING OKITA SOUJI]

[The answer to that question is A. Yes and B. Sometimes because self love is not a crime ok]

They often go through my area on patrols, so yes, I've gotten quite close.

Close enough to see her without clothes?

[He sighs internally and then sets the plushie he's holding back onto the shelf.]

I know what you are insinuating, but please believe me when I say I know him quite personally.

[Since he was a child, in fact.]

And he is male.

... You're very invested in this, aren't you? "Soujirou".

[He looks back at Tamamo and gives her a melancholy smile.]

I suppose you could say I am, even if I wish I could ignore it.

[Then he turns back to the stuffed animals.]

His life is going to be very difficult [and short] so I'd rather people knew him as he really is.

I see. Perhaps this is a difference between worlds.

As long as you don't intend to kill me again, then we won't have any problems.

[Again?]

Perhaps so. If I did kill you in another life, I'm sorry. You seem very nice now.

[And perhaps they won't have problems, but he's already wondering how much of a friendship he just lost. His name has always caused these problems, and even here, leagues and light years away from Kyoto, he probably should have known better.]

Didn't I already say? In the Holy Grail War on the moon, I was killed by Okita Souji's Lightless Three-Stage Thrust. It was quite a painful experience.

[She's watching him carefully.]

[The wariness in her posture says it all and his smile, while still remaining, seems hollow now. Of course, why would she ever trust him even if it wasn't him who killed her?]

I believe you. It is a brutal technique even when it isn't full of magic.

[He keeps his hands where she can see them, but also takes a step away as he pretends to care about looking through the stuffed animals again. Might as well give her space.]

[Well, then. Let's see if he can retain that attitude.]

Though if it comes to brutality, I think I still win. After all, you can ask King Zhou.

[It's all but admitting to being Daji. That's all it will take to make him see her as an enemy, she's sure.]

[King Zhou.... He searches his memory and comes up with Hokusai's drawings and tales. If he recalls correctly, King Zhou was in the throes of an evil fox spirit that delighted in the murder and torture of innocents.

Normally he'd be rather put out by discovering someone enjoyed torture, but then he also knows that the fox spirit fled China and came to Japan and there became quite a different type of person. If everyone were judged on past actions forever, then wouldn't everyone be worthy of scorn?

Considering how much blood is on his hands, and how much will be in the future, he supposes he can't judge.]

I could, but I would prefer to ask your husband now who knows you as you are, than someone who only knew you as you were.

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