o37 [Voice | Action]

[ahappylie]

Well...at least I can move the mask to the side. How is everyone else doing with their costumes? Isn't the town interesting? I've never seen anything like it! It's so strange~

[Souji is dressed like this with a mask like the ones to the right, but moved to the side so it doesn't cover his face. He doesn't like his costume at all. It brings back bad memories. But taking it off did nothing and he hates just sitting in his room all day.

If people are out and about, he can be found just about anywhere in town looking at the decorations, poking at the buildings, or taking Saizou for a walk. Eventually, he'll end up back at House 50 with Saizou in tow so he can feed the little piglet before the pig decides to eat someone.]

Comments

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[...It's so hard to keep this up. Souji continuously proves to be completely unruffled by him. Plus, costume or not, he still seems pretty feminine; it's throwing him off his game. He was always nicer to girls. :(

So...he may be softening a little. Maybe. Just a little. BUT IT'S NOT LIKE HE LIKES YOU OR ANYTHING.]

...No, don't trouble yourself. I was just surprised.

...It's a kind offer, but I wouldn't want to put your companions in an uncomfortable position; I don't particularly know anyone in your household.

[Backpedal. Backpedal. This is actually true though; he would feel pretty awkward just dropping by.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He's used to dealing with grumpy people.

And don't worry, Ramirez. Souji likes you. 8) Or...rather, worry. He won't leave you alone now.]

Oh, that's true... Hm...Then we should introduce you! One or two of them are quite friendly, but the other two... [He laughs a bit.] Actually, the other two you might get along better with. They're a lot like you.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[What is that supposed to mean. :C]

...Really.

[...He's not sure how to take that information, actually.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Souji smiles and pushes his mask further out of his face.]

Yes. They don't talk a lot, either, and some people think they can be kind of scary or mean, but they're really not. They're good people. They just don't show it like everyone else.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[Good people. It hits him hard, and close to home. Good people. What an interesting way of putting it. Did that mean he was a good person, even after so willingly abandoning the only friend he had growing up to a life of loneliness on the Great Silver Shrine?

Hah. It was only poetic justice that Fina would be the one to leave him here.

Fina, Fina, Fina. He had forcibly pushed the thought of her far out of his mind, but it was back now, tugging insistently at his heartstrings. Was he a good person, then? Leaving her there and then selfishly wanting her back?

No. This man was sorely mistaken.]

I see.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He said something wrong and he can tell. The way Ramirez's tone seems to quiet and his entire demeanor settles is obvious to someone who spent so much of his life watching other people.

He stops smiling and lowers his gaze slightly. He'd only meant to cheer Ramirez up and it seems he's done the exact opposite. It's times like these that he's reminded that he can't always cheer everyone up and that he doesn't always know the right thing to say. He wishes he did, but he doesn't.]

...I'm sorry. I seem to have upset you.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[It's too much. He didn't want to think about Fina. He didn't want to think about the fact that he would most likely never see her again. He didn't want to think about the fact that he was stuck here with nothing to do until further notice.

But there they are, dancing in front of his mind, and again he gets that feeling of someone scraping sandpaper against the red, raw organ that was his heart.

And it's too much. He doesn't trust himself to stare stonily ahead, so he turns his face away, tilting his head down and allowing his hair to fall like a curtain around his face. Had he been a weaker man, he might have actually collapsed from the emotional pressure that was suddenly bearing down upon him. The cold stoicism and deep passion are only separated by several layers of very thin skin and Souji, though unintentional it may have been, managed to find the correct wording in order to make it spring a leak. His mouth opens; there's a tremor to his voice when he speaks.]

..I-I'm sorry. It's just-

[...Wait. What was he doing? More importantly, how was he planning to end that sentence? Spill his heart out to a man he's only met once before? His mouth claps shut again and he lapses back into silence, spending several uncomfortable minutes pushing the lid back on his feelings. He looks up again, his jaw set in a stern, grim line and speaks with an odd, tightly controlled voice.]

...Forgive me. I must have made you uncomfortable.

It's nothing important, so please, don't trouble yourself.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[There was a brief moment when Souji thought maybe Ramirez was going to open up, but the window passed too soon and the man closed off again. He's used to seeing that sort of thing, however, so he merely waits until Ramirez has collected himself.

He's noticeably colder towards Souji, however, which makes the swordsman a little sad.]

If anything, I'm the one who made you uncomfortable.

[He pauses, dropping his eyes as he thinks before looking back up at Ramirez with a sad smile.]

I never meant...

[He sighs a little and tries again.]

I hope there is someone here you can speak with, Ramirez-san. It's no good to keep everything locked away inside.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Souji. Don't be like that. Ramirez cringes inwardly at the response he receives; he might be abrasive but it really isn't his intention to actually cause harm. He feels appropriately guilty whenever a person actually seems hurt by it.

Unfortunately, the feeling isn't enough to get him to talk, so Souji just gets a funny, tight-lipped smile for his efforts.]

There's nothing particularly interesting to say. Everything just seems to be catching up with me, that's all.

...Truly, I should apologize. Such a lack of self-control is nothing but disgraceful.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[He nods and keeps the same smile on his face. It doesn't have to be interesting in order to be said, but he won't push the issue since it's obviously a sore spot for Ramirez.]

As you said, everything seems to be catching up to you. Even the strongest people can't be strong forever.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[Yes, it's quite a sore spot. Souji isn't the only one who can pile on the self-loathing. But Ramirez just smiles back. It's a bit strained around the edges, but it's looking a little more normal this time.

He fucked up bad and he knows it. So time to play nice doop doop doop~]

Maybe not, but I promise, that's not a common occurrence. Everything is fine now, in any case; I'm sorry if I alarmed you.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[kajf;aj they have the same face, what is this.

Also, you cannot trick a trickster. Souji stops smiling and looks at Ramirez for a moment, his expression quiet and a little distant. He doesn't believe you, Ramirez. He smiles the same way after all. He knows what that sort of thing really means.]

...

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[YES. I NOTICED. There was much loling and being severely creeped out.

But he seems to enjoy being a mirror right now, as the smile fades from his face once Souji starts leveling him with that odd look. Ramirez shifts under the stare; the transparent, piercing feeling he seems to get from it is not a comfortable one.]

...Are you all right?

[...It must be him. He's said something wrong. Again.

Damn it.]

...My apologies. It was never my intention to upset you.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[SCREEEEEEEEEEEAM

Souji just keeps watching him for a moment, then smiles again, tilting his head to the side.]

You didn't upset me. I merely learned something new about you.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[...

...Somehow, he likes where this is going even less.]

...And may I ask what that would be?

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

We're more alike than I thought.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[...Wh-what. Why do you say this. Nope nope nope, he is not liking the road this is taking at all. His guard is going straight up.]

...Really.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[Don't worry, Ramirez. This is a road Souji hates walking.]

Maybe.

[A beat]

I don't know since we don't know each other all that well.

But do be careful, Ramirez-san. That sort of smile can get tiring after awhile.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

[...There's a flicker of something on his face at those words. Ramirez seems to realize his expression has changed and struggles to regain the impassive look he had before, but it had already bubbled through; a hollow, desperate sort of exhaustion manages to leave an impression on his appearance.

Luceti never did sit well with him. He doesn't like it here. He's not used to the freedom, the lack of direction, the feeling of closeness that this town seems to bring.

And moreover, he doesn't like the feeling that no matter how hard he tries, everything he attempts to hide only seems to be increasingly obvious under this man's gaze.

He does not like it.


Ramirez does not designate Souji's observation with a response. In fact, with as much attention as he seems to pay it afterward, he might as well not have said anything at all.

But somehow...

He just seems so tired.]

I shouldn't keep you any longer. I'm sure you're busy.

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

I'm not so much, but I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome anymore than I already have.

[He turns and leans down, picking up his pig who is more than happy to be off the ground now. Saizou is also smart enough to know when to be quiet, looking up at Souji quizzically without making a sound.

Souji just smiles faintly down at him as he speaks to Ramirez.]

I'm in House 50 and work the midnight shift at the Welcome Center. I'll keep another cup out for you, whenever you choose to come by.

[targetprime.livejournal.com]

All right.

[He does not promise to go. He doesn't want any more friends here. He doesn't want to feel anyone else leave.

...But there may be a part of him that is intensely grateful for the offer.

Maybe.

Not that he'll acknowledge it or anything.]

...Goodbye, Okita Souji.

[...And I do believe that was the first time Ramirez ever actually used his name to address him.]

[ahappylie.livejournal.com]

[There are no promises, nothing assured, but Okita smiles anyway, nodding. It is as much as Ramirez can give and he's okay with that. His smile turns a little softer at hearing his name and he waves.]

I'll see you again soon, Ramirez-san.

[He turns and heads off in the direction of town.]