ahappylie | o41 [Voice --> Action]

Apparently so. It's interesting the effect a single day apparently has on the population.

[Cute.

He hates that word so much he just doesn't even-]

This entire holiday is ridiculous.

[...Oh wow, he totally didn't mean to respond to you there, buddy.]

Doesn't it? And don't be silly, Ramirez-san, it isn't ridiculous, it's---

[UHHHHHH, whoops.]

.............

[Silence reigns because now he's embarrassed.]

[That's fine. Homura enjoys conversation, especially the kind that involves debate. Although his voice might suddenly be less challenging than normal.]

Do you think so? Ramirez, wasn't it?

[Yes Okita, Homura heard you. And don't think you can just fade into the background like that.]

Silence isn't like you, Okita.

...Yes, that's right. My apologies for the interruption.

[...Huh. Normally he's more evasive than that.

And now that Homura mentions it, Ramirez is usually the one that has to grasp for an end to the conversation before Souji stops harassing him of his own accord.

...Not that he's worried or anything.]

Did I offend you?

[ahahahahaha crap.

Staring off into space for a bit, and then shoving the pig in front of the camera. The pig looks very....unamused.]

I'm sorry, Saizou needed something.

There's no need. [Homura smiles in a way that's significantly less cocky than normal. Funny how that works.] You've hardly committed a crime, though I'm curious to just why you think the holiday is "ridiculous."

[And it is genuine curiosity, as Homura is clueless about holidays himself. What he does have a grasp on, however, is evasiveness--which means Okita isn't fooling him.]

Well, since he no longer needs something, you're free to rejoin the conversation, aren't you?

[You know what? Had this been any other day, Ramirez would have just said for him to mind his own goddamn business.

However, this is clearly not a regular day.]

...I didn't have such frivolous holidays. There's no need for it.

[And it's a good thing one of them is good at picking up on those things, because Ramirez certainly isn't. But he will be polite and wait patiently for Okita to say something. :|a]

[Ramirez is a moeface. And Homura is being mean. B( ....although, he is right and so Okita will push Saizou gently out of the way. The pig snorts and walks off, more than happy to be done with this stupidity from his owner.]

We don't have it in my country either, but it's nice, isn't it? Everyone's so happy.

[Homura chuckles at Ramirez's assertion. He can't argue with it, because there really is no need.]

On a certain level, it is better than the normal day-to-day. I think it's less about necessity than simple desire, when it comes to such things.

[Allow Homura to pause before making things 9000x more awkward for the two of you. He's actually perfectly comfortable.]

But if that is the case, then would it be correct to assume the two of you are free now?

[NO HE IS NOT MOE STOP SAYING THAT, SOUJI. 8(]

...Mmm. Happy or not, I don't see any purpose to it. [And Ramirez is all about needing some sort of meaning in what he does. It's what makes Luceti so hard for him to live in.

Though in a rare case of sympathy-] ...But I suppose I cannot fault anyone who wishes for a distraction in this place.

[...Tch. Oh, Homura.]

To say no would imply that there's something to do here.

[...lol he actually has no idea what he's hinting at. Ahurdur.]

People just need companionship, don't they? It's rather nice, when you have people around. [Which is a bit more than he would normally admit, but oh well. La dee dah~ Changing the subject.]

There's always something to do here! I keep telling you to come over, but you never do. Even Homura-san has been here once be-- [Oops. That was when he was Hijikata. He was...not supposed to know that.]

I'm free~

Companionship does tend to improve life in general. [As Homura himself has experienced--along with the importance of purpose. It makes him rather sympathetic toward Ramirez as he continues.] Perhaps you'll be able to find your own purpose for celebrating in time.

[And he heard that, Okita.] ...Yes, I have. But you weren't present, so far as I know. [ :| ]

Then since neither of you has plans-- [Which is what he's going to take your words to mean, Ramirez.] --we should meet in person. By the fountain? We can decide where to go from there, unless you're still housebound, Okita.

[His mouth opens for his usual rebuttal. No, he is not coming. He doesn't want to be around either of you and Ramirez really wishes you would take the damn hint-

...Alas, Ramirez is easily swayed if the person(s) in question happen to be particularly charismatic. And, Moons help him, the more they keep talking, the more he hangs on to both their words. Something about the two of them was just...oddly magnetic.]

...Very well.

[...Oh Moons, that was not what he meant to say.]

I heard about it from Hijikata-san. [Smoooothly covering that slip up.]

And~ That sounds fun. Don't be late, you two~ I'm already in the square.

[Homura wouldn't dream of being late. Suddenly eager to be out on what had started as an ordinary day, he'll use his powers to teleport to the fountain. This results in his needing to lean against it temporarily after, but only for a moment while he waits. Granted, his typical patience seems to be fleeting, and Homura often looks to see just who is approaching.]

[Well, that's all well and good for you two, but some people actually have to walk. :|

Ramirez, in a typical tsundere response, takes his sweet time walking on over to the fountain because as inherently fascinating as the two of you are, it's a lot harder to present a cool-headed exterior when you are standing right. There.

BUT NO. HE CAN DO THIS. HE IS A MAN.

...Right up until he actually gets in sight of the fountain and oh god, he hopes they don't ask him any questions because Ramirez is not entirely certain he's going to be able to unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth.]

[Being out on his walk, Okita was already in the area when he started seeing people appear. First it was Homura who just appeared out of thin air and then, much later, came Ramirez. Despite being first to the square and thus to the fountain, Okita ended up ducking out of sight, clutching Saizou to his chest. The pig was vastly unamused, but after he fed him a little, he promised to stay quiet and ended up falling asleep.

Now that Okita could see both people in the square, he's lost most of his confidence and it takes a little bit before he comes skipping his way over, a bag of candy hanging from his fingertips.]

You all took so long I went shopping.

[Homura of course immediately knows Okita's words are a lie, but there's something endearing about the way the one man teases. And then to counter, there's Ramirez, who stands off at first, but still can be seen. Homura relaxes his shoulders when both show, releasing a tension he hadn't been aware of holding.]

Then I suppose we'll have to find a way to make it up to you, won't we?

[Homura's had a great deal of practice at maintaining a cool and calculating exterior, but the feeling of butterflies in his stomach is less familiar. Still, he already knows that Okita can use his humor to be evasive, while Ramirez seems the sort to be blunt when he has something to say, and silent otherwise.

Which means Homura will be the one taking the lead, and making sure neither of the other two escape--things would be incomplete with either missing, after all.]

Though if you've already treated yourself, you've put us at a disadvantage. [He looks toward Ramirez, who will not get to merely stand by.] I'm Homura, by the way.

[YOU KNOW WHAT.

...Ramirez is just going to keep his mouth shut and nod his head because he is very quickly realizing that his stomach has twisted up into a huge, lurching knot and he can't quite remember how to form words.

It's hard not to just turn and bolt right now, but he is currently battling with the inexplicable need to be near the two of them combined with the fact he...really doesn't know what to do in these sorts of situations.]

I never said it was a treat for me.

[And because Souji's brand of affection is being a totally childish derp, he'll open the top of the bag and hold it out to Homura and Ramirez. Hijikata won't eat them, but maybe these two will and then they'll have something more in common. And if they eat them, maybe they'll smile a little.]

I got them for you two.

How kind of you.

[Homura crosses the short distance between himself and Okita, reaching inside to take one of the candies for himself. He doesn't eat it, however, instead moving to the side so Ramirez can have his turn. Notably, that would involved the third man moving closer to them.]

[And while they're waiting on him to do so, Homura will look curiously at the object in his hand.]

What is it, exactly?

[Oh, well...that's nice. He'd say thank you, but his tongue still feels swollen and Ramirez has no desire to make a complete fool of himself. This does mean, however, that he accepts Souji's candy offering with no fuss whatsoever.

...Well, except for the fact that he is so easily within touching distance of the two of them now. There's a lingering sense of disappointment when Homura moves aside for him; the closing space between them seemed almost tangible and he is suddenly struck with a wild, impulsive desire to brush against him-

...No, that was stupid. Why would he want to do that? He shoves the thought nervously away, as quickly as it came.

Also if his hand happens to be trembling a little while he reaches out for one? You are imagining things and he totally doesn't know what you're talking about.]

[Oh, yay, they're taking them. Okita likes it when he can share things with people and even more when it's things he likes being enjoyed by people he likes. It's a little flustering to be so close to them both, but he smiles through it.]

They're candies - sweet things. Try it. I bet you'll like it.

[First a smile at Homura and then at Ramirez. Although the smile turns to a curious headtilt when he notices how Ramirez's hand is shaking a little.]

Ramirez-san...? Are you alright?

I see. Thank you for them, then.

[Homura's about to put his candy in his mouth when Okita asks about Ramirez's shaking hand. He watches the scene for a moment, then grins, having a guess as to just what that nervous tremble means. Far be it from him to not make the situation worse for the man.

So here, Ramirez. Have one demi-god reaching out to take your hand, turn it over, and press his candy into the palm.]

You should try and relax. [He'll take another candy for himself after he lets go of Ramirez, trying it as he purposely catches Okita's eye.] They are good.

o41 [Voice --> Action]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

Re: [voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

Re: [action]

Re: [action]

[action]

Re: [action]

Re: [action]

[action]

Re: [action]

Re: [action]

[action]

[action]

Re: [action]

[action]

[action]

Re: [action]

[action]

[action]