ahappylie | 048 [Voice

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048 [Voice | Action]

...oh. They really did leave me in the woods.

...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Souji's back from his mallynap as a kid; a kid totally opposite of what he's usually like. He vaguely remembers Luceti and is wandering around in the woods on the edge of town, confused and dragging his journal around.]

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[Why is this guy following him? It's weird and it makes him think he isn't supposed to be here. Okita stops and turns, looking up at him.]

Is there a reason you're following me? It's creepy.

[That earns a laugh from Homura.]

Is it really? I'm following you because I'm curious. I've no intention of doing you any harm.

[He takes a step away, holding the broom a little closer.]

...It is. Only strange people stare at children like that.

Then I suppose that makes me strange, doesn't it?

[Is the child afraid? It is highly likely that Okita doesn't possess the same skill with a sword at this age.]

But you should believe me when I say that it isn't my goal to hurt you. I'd have already done so by now if it was.

[Yeah that doesn't make him feel any better, Homura. He moves away again and starts to skirt off toward the kitchen.]

..........

[It's not Homura's fault Okita's a scaredy-brat. He laughs again at the retreat, crossing his arms over his chest.]

If Ayumu's cooking dinner, that might not be the safest place to hide.

I'm not hiding.

[He's making a strategic retreat away from the creepy man who suddenly appeared at the house and is following him around. He stops by the doorway to the kitchen, staring at Homura uncertainly.]

I need to put the broom away.

[Uh huh. In other words, hiding.]

You might get away with that much. But Ayumu generally chases everyone out of the kitchen when she's started cooking. She can be quite forceful when she wants.

I'm not important enough to notice.

[And he skirts inside. A few minutes later, he returns, eying Homura suspiciously as he heads to the back door.]

[While it'd be simple enough to let Okita wander out of sight and merely reappear in front of him, Homura doubts it would do much to ease the child's mind. So instead, once Okita returns, he resumes following. Okita will just have to put up with the creepy man for now.]

Why do you think yourself so unimportant?

[Geh, why is the creepy man still following. Soujirou looks over his shoulder and frowns, then goes outside, heading toward the animal pens to feed them as is his job.]

Why are you so interested? Don't you have other hobbies?

[Of course he is. What kind of stalker would Homura be if he gave up after five minutes?]

A few. But most of them are better with company, and my usual sparring partner is occupied.

... [Soujirou sighs and gives up, going to the feed shed to pull out food for Tammy. The chocobo hears people moving and comes over, warking at Homura and Soujirou in kind.]

You're just like him. Maybe a little less rude, but just as weird.

Oh? Is that why you don't care for me?

[Homura stops watching Okita directly, at least long enough to go over where Tammy's appeared. He holds out a hand for the bird to appraise.]

Be careful when you open the pen. Tammy has a habit of running away.

You stare at me and follow me around. Why would I care for you?

[He struggles to pull a bale of greens over to the pen while Tammy smells Homura's hand. The smell of food distracts her though and soon she's moving toward the side of the pen where Soujirou is.]

Fair enough. So long as you judge me on my own merits, then.

[Homura grins as Okita struggles with the load. He turns again toward the boy, who is now the subject of Tammy's attention as well.]

I can help you with that, if you'd like.

[That makes him different from Hijikata. The older man has such a complex against samurai that Okita still hates him for it. That and the stupid nickname.

He manages to pull it close to the pen and then Tammy warks, causing him to jump.]

I can manage.

[He goes to open the pen, but sadface for him, his hand doesn't quite reach the latch. Well...this is embarrassing.]

.....

[And probably made worse by the fact that Homura isn't hiding his amusement at all. Okita did say he could manage, so far be it from Homura to step in where he's not wanted. Instead he'll just watch with interest to see just how the boy handles it.]

[He frowns and reaches for the latch again, then gives up and goes back into the shed. A moment later, he comes back with a short stick and uses that to pop the latch open. Tammy tries to push, but he snaps the stick at the gate and she backs off.]

It's not nice to laugh at people's shortcomings.

[And with that he'll go back to dragging the bale of greens over.]

No, it isn't. [Good thing Homura isn't trying to be nice, huh?]

But it is good to be clever, and determined. Those are admirable traits.

[Rude people. Wonderful. Rude people who are watching him and judging him? Oh...even better. He looks over at Homura, then goes back to work, pulling the bale of greens into the pen and hoisting them up into Tammy's feed box. While the bird goes to eat, he leaves, using the stick to lock the pen again. He tests it to make sure she can't get out and then looks up at Homura.]

Curious to a fault, prideful, assesses people even though no assessment is requested thinking that praise makes up for the strange way he watches them. You aren't helping yourself to remove the weirdo label.

[Deadpan and rude himself, Soujirou turns to go back to the shed and put the stick away.]

[Aw. It's so cute when Okita tries to turn the tables. The rudeness doesn't phase him in the least, though.]

And perceptive--with one mistake. I didn't offer praise to somehow apologize or repent. I said it because I believe it to be true. It's an important distinction.

[When it comes to the name, Homura merely shrugs.] I've been called far worse.

[He comes back from the shed, staring at Homura warily.]

Truth isn't always the most important thing.

Oh?

[Homura meets Okita's stare with that same so-called "creepy" ease.]

Then what's more important than truth?

[Guh. He turns and heads toward the house.]

Something you don't know until you've lost it.

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