pachintoki | Cerealia Inbox

_{[ the more pressing matter first: ]}
Had an x-ray done today. Guess what they found? It was you, safely tucked away in my heart! They said my heart is fine with a friend like you in it. Send this to all the people you love and care for, if you get 5 back no one will break your heart. Xx

_{[ followed by: ]}
Ah. I hope you settled in alright and those voluptuous robots didn't cause any permanent damage to a ball or two of yours.
This place is always suspicious, so be on your guard, Gintoki.

P.S: If you ever want a discount at McCERES, let me know.
P.S.S: Right now we have a special! The McKnight BBQ Burger is back, and this time, is it back with a ~*kick*~! Try one today with a little extra spice and a large fry for only 4.99!

Today I realized that I can make these sorts of faces on my phone.
~(=^‥^)_旦~

(=;ェ;=) (=^-ω-^=)
(=^･ω･^)y

ヽ( ⌒o⌒)ﾉ＝lニニフヽ(⌒-⌒ )ﾉ

_{[ squints ]}
Why are those happy children playing with a Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon?

Boy, you really don't know your weapons very well. That's no cannon. It's my sword. . . and it's going for your face, oi! Idiot! Looks like I already won.

Edited 2015-04-19 20:13 (UTC)

It's not boy, it's Katsura.
That looks nothing like me! You should have your emoji license suspended!!
Who gave you the right anyway?

I couldn't hear all the crap you just barfed up outta nowhere because I was too busy doing my . . . special move!

Power Pole Extend! ヽ( ⌒o⌒)ﾉ＝lニニフ ━━━━━━━━━━━● 三☆ ☆ ☆ ヽ(⌒-⌒ )ﾉ

Prepare to be blasted away!

Edited 2015-04-19 20:30 (UTC)

Aah, wait, I guess, you do sorta look more like this:

ヽ( ⌒o⌒)ﾉ＝lニニフ ━━━━━━━━━━━● 三☆ ☆ ☆ ༼･〜･ ༽╯

Edited 2015-04-19 20:40 (UTC)

Haaaa, very funny. (=;ェ;=)
Look what you've gone and done. You've made the kitty upset.

this upset huh

no kitty wait

wait

(=;ェ;=)＝lニニフ ━━━━━━━━━━━● 三☆ ☆ ☆༼･〜･ ༽╯

i tried to stop him

too late

[ah crap, he really used the word kitty]

Edited 2015-04-20 03:45 (UTC)

_{[ SHRIEKING ]}
LARRY-SAN WOULD NEVER!!! SHE IS A GOOD CAT THAT HAS ALWAYS RESPECTED ME!
_{[ coming to terms that he's a piece of shit in this texting evidently. ]}

im not texting you anymore

⬇

what's that supposed to mean? are you the cat? want something shoved in there?

It's actually you-- because you are being rude.
And it is very characteristic of you to shove your ass into people's faces.

_{[ There is some rapid knocking on Gintoki's door this evening. ]}

Ha ha haa! _{[ Shouldn't be ho ho ho? Oh well. Such a sinister laughter. It sounded like somebody was breaking in more than anything. Should you even bother answering the door? ]}

Open up! It's the Spirit of Christmas!
_{[ spirit of Christmas my ass. Spirit of Christmas sounds nothing like that. ]}

Edited 2015-04-21 23:00 (UTC)

[He's, unsurprisingly, just made himself comfortable under the kotatsu he'd added to his home decor when the knocking comes. ]

Spirit of Christmas, Spirit of Christmas, you finally came. The chimney is open.

[He definitely sounds excited. Or something. He'll start peeling a few small oranges, eating them without a care for anybody at the door.]

_{[ BARGES IN.
Here we have Katsura in full blown Santa garb, even with a sack over his shoulder.
There's a twinkle in his eyes.. such poop colored eyes... as he glances at Gintoki on his way in. His hair spills from his hat, obviously tied on beard looking stark white. ]}

Have you been a good boy this year?
_{[ have you.... the real question. ]}

[He's almost taken aback by Zura in his full-out garb; then again, it isn't like he can't expect that level of commitment from him. Still, is the expression on his face impressed, just a little. . . maybe.]

Santa-san, I think you just broke into my house. Aren't you supposed to use the chimney? Who's really good and who's really bad here?

Gin-san is nothing but a good boy all year long.

[going back to reading JUMP right about now.]

Ha ha haaa! Your chimney door was locked, you were wrong! Santa-dono had to enter in a more friendly way! _{..Oh, I think the hinge broke.}

Gintoki, did you think that I wouldn't go through the trouble of getting you a present this year? Ha Ha Ha, you're absolutely wrong— again!!
_{[ He seemed so happy... but he just couldn't get ho ho ho right.
Katsura plops right down and gets comfortable across from Gintoki. ]}

Are you ready?

[First, he'll simply lift his eyes, watching Zura sit down.

. . . man. He was pretty serious about this, wasn't he.

So with a sigh that's with his whole body, Gintoki slides the JUMP aside and sits up like it's difficult; he'll slouch over with his hands in his lap, sitting cross-legged on the floor.]

Hoooooh, Santa-san, how cooooool. Gin-san can't wait for his present.

[. . . Zura, Gintoki didn't get him a darn thing. What is the wig doing. . .]

Edited 2015-05-26 03:59 (UTC)

_{[ Katsura seems pleased with his response, however dull it was, and shuffles in his bag to pull out a bottle of sake-- whatever kind Gin prefers. There is a decorative ribbon wrapped around it.

Actually... a good gift?!!!!

Then he pulls out a little round tupperware and pushes it towards Gintoki.
What's inside? A little itty bitty chocolate cake. Just enough serving for one person ( that you ). ]}

Only since you've been good.
_{[ No matter how much Gintoki can get under his skin, he feels indebted to him still— he's always "good" in his book. ]}

[It. . .

. . . it was a good gift. He'll let Zura set the sake down between them-- but he'll pick up the container and open it right away, sniffing.

Chocolate. Chocolate cake. Heavenly sugar.

Zura bought him sugar? He almost couldn't trust it. On the other hand, it was Zura, and it was Christmas. He'll tilt his head a bit at it, but then he's getting up, coming back with a fork and two cups, pouring some for himself and Zura.]

Good, huh? So what if I'd been bad?

You know how the legend goes-- bad children get... old VHSes of K*men R*der. Not even the good ones, and not even on Blu-Ray.
_{[ it's supposed to be coal, but ok. ]}

Gintoki, even with some of friends I have made here, I'm glad to see somebody from home-- It worried me too much to think of those I still call my comrades to be perished like they try to claim— or, realistically, some place far away from me.

_{[ pleaaaaaaase don't leave him. ]}

I'll just have one cup to drink with you, however.
_{[ He's pretty lightweight. ]}

Edited (o wait he didn't know they're here yet.) 2015-05-27 01:45 (UTC)

[He'll take his drink in one swallow, filling his cup again. Gintoki's pretty quiet for now, but he'll speak up after taking another sip.]

So you don't--

I mean, there's no way the whole planet was destroyed right? Because like, you've been here longer than me but I wasn't destroyed so they're definitely lying? Like, I don't really want -- you don't think that things -- that JUMP is really gone, like there's no way all those things could be gone . . . I don't think?

[Man, he suddenly started rambling. Better shut himself up with a good bite of cake.

JUMP, another word for Shinpachi and Kagura, probably.]

[Outside of Gintoki's door this evening is a small box. The box is filled with colorful mochi, perfect for the new year, and underneath the box is a card. It reads:

"Happy New Year. Try not to throw these up."

There's nothing subtle about that message at all!! The card is unsigned, but he's probably seen that handwriting before...

But whoever left it is nowhere to be found.]

[. . . when he thinks of throwing up, for a moment, he thinks of Sakamoto.

. . . but then he remembers the incident from the ball not too long ago, frowns at the handwriting, and takes the box inside.

It'll sit in the kitchen, untouched, after that.]

Yo, Kintoki!

[After a beat:]

Is this your number? I wonder if I've got the right one...

[ring ring ring Bakamoto. Are you going to answer it? Answer already.]

[does he ever answer his phone

there's a high likelihood he left it at whatever bar he was at last night

or you know, dropped it in the toilet]

[beep?]

This is McCeres, can I take your order?

[click]

_{[ Maybe you're going to the kitchen? Maybe you're going to the bathroom? Maybe you're just walking down the hallway. Whatever, it doesn't matter which room you're in, but all over the walls there are plenty of these flyers.
There is text on the back:
JOIN THE REBELLION
PASSWORD: JULIUS CAN SUCK THE BIG ONE
***ACCEPTANCE INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY TOWEL**

CONTACT KATSURA KOTAROU FOR DETAILS.

There isn't any sight or sound of him around? Doesn't mean he isn't, however. ]}

[He'll tear one or two down. . .]

Ah, extra toilet paper.

_{[ PULLS THE SHOWER CURTAIN BACK AND POINTS A FINGER WILDLY. ]}
It's not extra toilet paper, it's rebellion!
Don't dishonor what I'm trying to accomplish here with your dirty ass!

[SCREAAAAAAAAM

SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN A GUY POPS OUT OF THE SHOWER WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE A LEAK! His pants are half-way undone, even.

. . . n-nnno, no, it's not . . . not wet, right? Oh thank-you kami-sama. He really could have let loose there, but it seems things are still dry. . .]

GH-GET OUT OF THE SHOWER!

Edited 2015-05-26 04:08 (UTC)

_{[ Katsura stays put, poised, not even bothered by Gintoki's scream with his arms crossed. ]}
Are you even going to read it, Gintoki? Surely somebody like you is moderately interested in what actually goes on in this place.

Oi. . . get the hell out of my shower so I can take care of my business. My business is gonna come before your business, so get out.

[Waiting. Yeah, he's waiting. But he's about two seconds away from dragging Zura out by the wig.]

Not until I make sure you read every detail of that-- even the fine print.

[Seriously, why does he bother. After a minute he'll close the shower curtain calmly, and take care of what needs to happen. Enjoy those sounds, Zura. There are a few other sounds, there's a flush, you can come out now.

Gintoki's going back to his fancy high tech sofa, so that's where Zura can find him. There aren't any fliers to be seen anywhere now, unlses Zura wants to look in the toilet.]

_{[ He'll.. endure it. Katsura is a persistent little shit, so he stands behind that shower curtain until he is certain Gintoki is out there.
And then, when he steps out of the shower, it hits him that all of his papers have been used for toilet paper.

Don't do this to him, Gin. DOn't go breakin' his heart.
Zura comes barreling out of the bathroom. ]}

GINTOKI! Aren't you concerned about any of this that is going on?
_{[ beeline to the couch. ]}
Don't you want to put a stop to it?

_{[ RINGRINGRINGRING PLEASE PICK UP. ]}

[there's. . . an answer? But then there's only some muffled sounds, some thumps and bumps, and after that it disconnects.

Normally, that probably means that he's asleep and he threw his phone across the room, but who knows what it could mean now. ]

Edited 2015-06-16 21:35 (UTC)

_{[ Oh my God. What is the meaning of this? He knew what had happened— it couldn't be real. It wasn't real... was it? It could not have been. All of these mirages and fakes of people he is so close to.. it is something with this place. It's all just a trick, but it felt so real. He felt the blood of his friend splatter against his hands, and heard the cries emitting from his throat, vanishing into a mere echo in the vast darkness.

Was this what Hell felt like?

For the moment, Katsura drops his hand and hears the dial tone from the speaker. His stomach felt so twisted and tight like he was going to throw up right then and there. If it wasn't for taking a few long, deep breaths and gathering his thoughts, he probably would not have remained calm.

He had just seen Gintoki stabbed to death, and now this spirit that was harassing him was putting the blame on him.
Zura is certain his heart is pounding out of his chest. Idly, he speak to himself: ]}

This place.. why does it do these things?
_{[ Without another word, he is out the door, running to Gintoki's apartment. ]}

Edited 2015-06-17 02:23 (UTC)

_{[ Out he runs, keeping his blade steady the entire time. Nothing was safe here. Nothing could be trusted. He vowed to not leave his apartment without his weapon.

Gintoki protected his life before, and the mere thought of having himself to be the one to blame for his friend's death was impossible. In fact, he wouldn't be sure if he could live on beautifully like Gintoki told him to if his comrade ever died at his hands. Katsura would probably still live on, but in torment.

Katsura felt healthy— his body was rejuvenated and all of his injuries were healed. It was almost like a new body, but it still carried scars from the past.
His feet pitter-patter across the pavement, and didn't stop for anybody or anything as he approaches the apartment complex. ]}

_{[ Once he reaches the little place he has been before, he is knocking rapidly on the door. ]}

GIIIIIN-TOKIII!
_{[ almost sounded like he was about to break in.
...which he will if you don't answer. ]}

[Unfortunately for Zura, it actually just means he's stuck with his own ViViD problems, namely running from an enormous perpetually growing pudding monster. When the game finally glitches him out he'll stumble home a few hours after Zura tries to knock on his door - tired, bruised, and somehow covered in a white, gooey substance, feeling sticky.

That shouldn't have been possible. Wasn't the game really just a game? How was he injured and. . . so sticky?

At least his sword is still intact, though also sticky. When he finally makes it to his home, he'll open the door and slump in without too much thought, closing the door behind him --

And that's when he can sense it. There was somebody else here, and he didn't know if it was a monster from the game, or not. He'll hold his bokuto out in front of him, taking another cautious step into his apartment. Maybe. . . maybe he was just being paranoid, but the alarm bells were sounding and he felt the need to be cautious. ]

Edited 2015-06-17 05:54 (UTC)

_{[ There is probably some damage done to your window, Gintoki. That's the only feasible way he sought to get in.
Katsura was.. ambitious. Very ambitious when he had his priorities straight ( a rare spectacle ) and his heart set on his goal. Tonight, his goal was Gintoki's safety, especially after what he had just witnessed when he lost.
He hears footsteps. One thing about the specter that has been following him around is that it is extremely quiet. This is Katsura's first notion that the new presence into the apartment could actually be Gintoki, the very person he was waiting for, and not this mirror image of him that has been driving him crazy over the past few hours.

Gintoki actually just missed out on a conversation Katsura was having with seemingly himself, but he was actually trying to negotiate with this cloaked figure that had starking white, wavy hair. Even with the fact this Gintoki seemed more real, Katsura wasn't going to be so easily fooled by this place. Just in case, he chooses to protect himself.

There is a clash against Gintoki's bokuto.

Katsura stands with his sword against the wood of Gintoki's blade, very sternly looking at him. ]}

... Please, Gintoki.
Tell me you are real.

_{[ His expression doesn't falter, but his brow is holding fresh sweat. Katsura is healed, good as new, but his complexion is white as a sheet. ]}

Tell me if you're safe.

[. . . He wasn't expecting Zura, though it's a bit of a relief that it's him and not some stranger, or a monster. Gintoki will look at him, confused, a brow quirked as he takes in the slight and feels the other's sword against his bokuto.]

O-oi. How safe do you think I feel when I walk into my place and this guy I know is pointing a sword at me. How safe should I feel?

[He'll look closer, eyes narrowing a bit. ]

. . . the hell is wrong with you, Zura? Too many video games for you too?

_{[ That sounds more like him. Not these harmful whispers and lies that the phantom has been telling him over and over for the past hour. That lazy sounding voice, the way he held his stick of a weapon that has been through entirely too much— it reminded him how he would fight against their enemies back home. Katsura keeps his sword steady, watching Gintoki in the eyes.

For a moment, Gintoki saw a glimpse of what Katsura looked like against his enemy. Focused, determined, intimidating. His brows were pinned tight together, dark eyes watching Gintoki's every move like a hawk. He looks like he could kill Gintoki any second.

And in a mere moment, his expression changes to something of relief— it softens to something warm and nice as his posture visibly relaxes like an actual weight had been lifted off of his shoulders.
This isn't a trick— this is his friend. He wasn't going crazy, was he?

His sword drops to the ground with a noisy clang.

Before Gintoki knows it, he's gathering the other man into his arms into an embrace. Never mind the fact Gin was bleeding and had gunk all over him. He didn't care about anything like that.

All he wanted was to feel his friend in his arms— a tangible affirmation that he was safe. His breath is a little shaky, but he says just above a whisper: ]}

I thought I lost you.

_{[ which would have been not okay.
Especially if it was because of something he did.

No— Gin has saved him plenty of times. To have something happen to him and have his blood on Katsura's hands was something unthinkable. ]}

Edited 2015-06-17 13:27 (UTC)

[It's not lost on him - that intensity, that battle-readiness that nearly has him lifting his sword, and taking a few steps back as if he's not quite sure if Zura - or maybe not Zura at all - would go for him or not; the uncertainty, though, is still clearly in his face as he watches the other, someone he's known for just so long. His feet shift a little, but then in that moment Zura's dropping the sword. He hasn't seen that look in a long time, and it threw him off a bit; this whole place was throwing him off, period.]

I-I mean it, stop being weir--

[. . . well, weirdness factor increased by 10 here. He doesn't so much mind it, only it's having him really lost, since he couldn't remember the last time Zura had done something like this. Something pretty shitty must have happened; this was basically the only way he really knew that Katsura had, somehow, really believed he was dead.

After a moment he'll set his bokuto down, leaning it against the furniture. It's not quite a hug back; he'll grab on to the other's kimono sleeve with one hand and then slump a little, shoulders relaxing with a sigh as he leans on Zura a little more. He was, after all, tired. Too tired for this kind of thing, definitely.]

Oi oi, well, you know, yesterday-- [It's this uneasy voice, lazy but quiet and definitely trying to make light of things. ]

The remote was missing. I lost the remote, yesterday, and it was really annoying.

[almost as annoying as this hug. Nobody takes Gin-san out so easily, you damn wig.]

Edited 2015-06-17 17:44 (UTC)

_{[ It's really been awhile, hasn't it? Even though they were close friends, neither of them were super touchy with one another like this.
Katsura listens to his words, finding amusement in them. His fingers curl into Gintoki's yukata— seeming to be possessive for a moment— nothing was going to take his friend from him, he promised himself. A promise he had made himself before, but it need to be silently whispered again after this scare. He doesn't respond right away, probably because he is trying to resist his tears from falling out of the sides of his eyes.

It was too much to talk about right this very instant. He had just witnessed a brutal murder of somebody he cared a great deal about, and now his emotions have gone from sorrow and worry to happiness and relief— a complete 180. Even somebody as strong as he is had their moments of being weak. ]}

Losing you would be even more annoying than a remote... even when my favorite soap opera is on and I can't change the channel.

_{[ Lame.
Finally, Katsura pulls away and looks up at Gintoki. He's smiling— it's very faint, and his thick lashes are wet. ]}

I'm sorry.. I can't talk about it right now.
But I was certain you.. you.. were taken by this place.

That's just because your soap operas are shitty, you know, I told you that FallOff is better.

[He'll stay there; he's being pretty good right now, Zura, you'd better appreciate it. Soon though, he'll shift some, still with that unease, just a hard-to-notice movement of muscle, this hug was too long -- but then Zura pulls back, so he's okay. He'll straighten up, one sticky hand rubbing at the muscle between his shoulder and neck, twisting at the waist lightly, back and forth like there was a crick in his back.]

Huh, well, I guess they tried but they suck at video games. Don't ever underestimate the number of slimes a guy will kill in his lifetime.

[Or puddings, as it was. Maybe that wasn't what Zura meant, but he knows better than to push things. If he wanted to talk about it, he would. Zura pretty much always did what he wanted.

That wasn't a bad thing, usually.

He'll stop rubbing at his shoulder, giving a little stretch and-- yup, a whine. If Zura wasn't sure it was him by now, he should be after this.]

Hnnn, I'm tired, I wanna bath, I want meat . . . beef barbecue, and rice . . .and strawberry cake. . . and a nap. . .

Edited 2015-06-18 00:13 (UTC)

_{[ That's not it. That's not it at all. And yet, he still cannot bring himself to tell Gintoki what happened. One thing was for certain, though, he wasn't just going to easily go back to his apartment after this. He'll stay for a few hours— maybe all night if he had to. He couldn't tell Gintoki right now that he actually died and his penalty was this.. whatever this was.

He wrings his hands together slowly and blinks a few times with a slight scoff. ]}

You do need to bathe.
_{[ wtf was on you, bro. ]}

[He'll give Zura another look over, and then finally decide that the best thing to do for now is to act like things are just . . . normal. That things are ok.

And the best way to do that is to apparently start taking off all his sticky clothes, leaving them in a trail on his way to the bathroom while mindlessly telling Zura about the pudding slimes and how dumb they were and how hard they were to kill. He'll start filling the tub; apparently despite all this technology a guy still had to wait for a bathtub to fill up; he'll run his fingers through the dried mess of pudding crap in his hair. ]

. . . but yeah, anyway, I'm pretty sure something's way wrong with that game. Isn't it supposed to be fake? It's a virtual game, right?

[He's in his boxers, which are also sticky somehow? Gross. It's a good thing they're friends.]

Edited 2015-06-20 01:20 (UTC)

_{[ Katsura allows him to step away from their conversation and make his way toward the bathroom, trailing after him like a lost puppy. He couldn't just let Gintoki leave his sight after seeing such a horrifying display that felt so real before him. It's almost like Katsura didn't believe he was actually here.

Each time an article of clothing is dropped, Zura is bending over to pick it up right after him, despite it being gross, and folding it nearly over his arms. Eventually, they're both in the bathroom, and Katsura allows Gin to leave his sight so he can put the clothes in the sink for the time being.

His arms fold into his haori sleeves, brown eyes flicking to Gintoki once more a he stands there in his undergarments. He still had strawberry boxers? Still? Silently judging. ]}

... If it were completely real, I would not be here right now.
_{[ He doesn't understand how he is living if other people are leaving the game in tatters. ]}

Something isn't right. You shouldn't be injured.

[Gintoki, ever careful of things, is casually dropping his sword into the bath-water. He'll rub it some with his hand, then start toweling it off. Good as new. How else were you supposed to clean a bokuto that got pudding on it. He's hoping it doesn't smell weird after this---

He'll blink over, still hunched gracelessly over the tub.]

Hah? Oi, did you get a game over? Was it something with giant paws? You shouldn't be so easily distracted, you know. . . not all of them are friendly.

[trailing off some, then toweling the sword some more while sitting on the edge of the tub. Then he'll set it down and start fingering his hair some more; it was just so matted and gross, totally stuck together. He'll wrinkle his nose some. ]

_{[ By now, Katsura has taken a seat on the toilet seat that is down. He's asking him a pretty sensitive question right now that Katsura isn't sure he wants to completely open up and answer-- all he could do is remember the loud shrills and cries of something unearthly in front of his very eyes-- flecks of blood kissing his cheeks in violent spurts and the body of his dear friend ahead of him left lifeless on the floor.

His stomach twisted in an unpleasant way.

Katsura's face pales considerably as he stares at the floor.
Buffering.. in 3.. 2.. 1.. ]}

I shouldn't be here. And you shouldn't either.

Edited 2015-07-11 05:48 (UTC)

Gintoki.
Your hair is a mess— more than usual.

May I?
_{[ something tangible— something real. That mop of hair holds a lot of Gintoki's character. Okay, it wasn't like Shinpachi's glasses, but it was very characteristic of Gintoki.
He wants to feel you and make sure you're a reality still and not something fake. ]}

[He'll . . . wait then. He was waiting for something calm yet snappy to come back at him, and when it doesn't, he only waits, and waits for the bath water to finish filling, too. Gintoki has pretty much styled his bathroom like the one he had at home, with a separate bath and shower, only adding a little extra luxury where he'd never had any.

He'll lift a brow at Zura's sudden declaration.]

You think so, huh? Did it take you all this time to think of that?

[That comeback was still just a little cautious. He'll turn on the water now, making sure it's just the perfect temperature when--]

May what? May you what? You wanna take a bath too? Don't you have a bathroom? I know it's a mess, there was pudding everywhere. [huffff]

I couldn't even eat it.

[such a pained expression wow.]

_{[ Although a bath would do Katsura good, he's not sure if bathing with Gintoki is something he wants to do. ]}

Ah. It's just your hair. It needs to be washed.
_{[ maybe if he told Gin what happened this would make more sense but ah.. he doesn't really want to. It's still such a shock he's alright. ]}

May I?
_{[ and he is going to cook for you too after this so be nice. ]}

[. . .weird. And a pain. This was seriously a pain. . .

But just this once -- for now -- he's not going to reply with some sharp insult, or tease Zura anymore. Yeah, enjoy this, because all Gintoki's going to do is hand him the shower, lose the strawberry boxers and sit himself down on the stool there, within reach, at least, of Zura. He'll rest his elbows on his knees.

And then he's not going to mention another thing about it. Something was definitely off with his wiggy friend, he had all the earmarks of been through some crap and It wasn't as if Gintoki couldn't enjoy it anyway. So the next things out of his mouth are really casual.]

Oi oi, don't forget that I don't have miles of hair like you do. Don't use so much shampoo.

_{[ He should probably tell him.
It's difficult, though, and Katsura is still in a bit of shock, but he gives Gintoki room and time to get comfortable. All of this is nothing he hasn't seen before, but for some reason, he's really looking Gintoki over and it's a good thing he doesn't notice-- right? Right.

Yep. That's a scar there he remembers-- oh, and that one too. It really was genuine Gintoki.
He lifts the shower and runs the water carefully over the top of Gintoki's hair and then down his back, mulling his thoughts together in an awkward silence.
He finally responds. ]}

I won't-- and I won't get it in your eyes. I don't want to hear you complain about it.

_{[ he lathers his hands up with some shampoo and begins to scrub carefully into Gintoki's hair. It was almost too delicate-- almost like Gintoki was a fragile thing that could be lost at any moment. ]}

.. Gintoki.
_{[ He's been saying his name a lot. ]}

I want to go home.

[The water feels great; he's more than glad to get all the sticky pudding mess off of himself, so he'll relax. It was Zura after all, and if he couldn't trust his long-time friend, there was nobody he could really trust.

He's got a little water in his ears; he'll give his head a bit of a shake, just in time to hear Katsura say those words. The sigh that follows them is long, but he'll speak up after. ]

Aah. Don't say that like I can do something about it.

[There's just a bit of defeat in that voice, something in his quiet tone that could almost sound like resignation. Gintoki, as good as he was at adapting, didn't want to adapt to this. Thinking about the Yorozuya and the others there was too painful, and he just plain didn't want to right now.]

You can't just play with it, you gotta wash it already, wash it good. There's lots of hair there.

[aaaand that's sulking.]

_{[ He gets that sigh. Katsura, actually, gets a clue when Gintoki gives off thee vibes. He doesn't realize he has just been playing with Gintoki's hair as his thoughts gradually got lost in various things, but it's true. ]}

Oh. My mistake.

_{[ his fingertips scritch into Gintoki's scalp as the shampoo suds up even more. He still cannot muster up enough strength to tell Gintoki what traumatized him so much, but-- ]}

I lost.

_{[ A little grunt of disapproval.]}

In the ViViD session that we all walked into.

[Zura's fingers actually felt pretty good, too, and it's a welcome distraction for a moment as the other focuses more on the suds and less on being so damn morose.

He'll listen closely after that though; seems like Zura was going to tell him after all, or at least open up a little. That wasn't too surprising; after all, Gintoki was pretty certain there wasn't going to be anybody else here Zura trusted as much as him, except maybe Tatsuma. Likewise, Gintoki didn't have anybody he trusted more, either.]

So we did just walk into it? It just started happening no matter where you were, didn't it? So you got a game over?

[He'll give a little swallow, then finger at some soap near his ear. That had some more serious implications then he cared to admit, considering the bruises he still keenly felt from their little video game fun times.]

But you're still here, so what happened, huh.

Typically, your coding regenerates. I have witnessed several deaths. The fact that you are injured and not revived is more mysterious than the fact I lost and I am here.
_{[ Katsura goes back to merely playing with Gintoki's hair as he falls into some more thoughts, looking at the little curls along Gintoki's neck still trying to spring back into place when he disturbs them. ]}

..But this.. ah.

_{[ He feels himself choke slightly and places his palms on Gin's back, falling quiet for a long time. It was a little awkward, but he finally musters up the right words to say, and he speaks them quietly. ]}

My punishment. I had to watch you die before my eyes.
_{[ His hands leave Gintoki's back all together, Gin's hair still a shampoo mess since he hasn't rinsed it out yet. ]}

I .. saw it. And then.. I saw your ghost.

[He'll notice when Katsura is just messing with his hair, which is a little odd in itself. . . it's just that he hasn't done that in a really long time. Still, it's with quite a bit of patience that he'll wait as Zura talks to him in those broken sentences, only glancing backwards, just over his shoulder from the corner of his eye, when he feels soapy hands on his back that linger for a long moment.

. . . there are a few things that admission is going to tell Gintoki. One, this place really, really, really sucked. What the hell were they trying to do here?

Secondly, he knew that he was important to Zura, like the other was important to him, and their other comrades too. He wasn't naive. Watching any of them die, even Takasugi, would be traumatic. No wonder the other was acting so weird. He wasn't sure how he felt, yet, about the reminder that he was still that important to his old friend.

Thirdly, though, he didn't remember dying at all. It was probably fake. He hoped so, at least.

. . . so that was it. He'll sigh a little, shifting, the muscles in his back tensing some, then relaxing as he finally speaks up after all that quiet.]

Hey.

[are you listening, Zura. He wants to make sure.]

I guess if you gotta keep poking at my hair to make sure I'm not a ghost, you can. Poke at whatever you want, but don't get soap in my eyes. It stings and I hate it.

Edited 2015-07-13 22:06 (UTC)

_{[ Hearing Gintoki respond like this makes Katsura feel eased, even if it isn't the response he would have preferred. Gintoki has never been the comforting type when it came to their relationship-- emotions have always been distant for him and Zura understood that. Hearing something like this just re-emphasizes the fact that he is real and alive as ever.. which is what Katsura needs right now.

The shower lifts and warm water spills over Gin's hair. His other hand ensures that all of the soap is getting out of Gintoki's hair as he rinses him clean wordlessly.

When it's over, Katsura stands from his seat. He, himself, could probably also use a shower, but he'll make do until Gintoki is finished.
Zura makes a turn to leave. ]}

.. Take your time in here. I'm going to make something to eat for you.
_{[ he's so nice and pleasant sometimes, isn't he? Gee, you should "die" more, shouldn't you?
With that, Katsura forces a very, very small smile as he gives Gintoki one last look before disappearing out of the bathroom.

When something precious is put in danger, he cannot help but feel joy when he knows for certain that he is alright. ]}

[Gintoki tips his head back slightly as Zura starts rinsing; the other had done a good job, he probably didn't need to wash it twice. Eyes closed, he'll relax into the warmth of the water and the fingers in his hair. He was pretty easy to please, usually, and this felt great.

He'll give his head another slight shake when Zura finishes, handing the shower head back to Gintoki who takes it and starts running the water over his shoulders and chest idly as he listens. ]

Hnn- Oi, you don't have to--

[But Zura's gone before he can really protest. He was just hungry, anyway, and he didn't even remember what he had in the fridge. Hopefully something, he usually kept a few staples. Gintoki's staples, though, being strawberry milk and other sweet things.

Hopefully he had some meat. He couldn't remember, but Zura will find some thin sliced beef that was probably a little old. Gintoki had some basic seasonings, too.

He'll sigh, continuing to wash all the crap off himself. After he's done he'll sink in the bath, relief flooding into his achy frame as he took a good, long soak. He just had a few cuts, but the bruises were what were really sapping at his stamina right now. He almost wants to skip the meal and head straight for the sofa, once he finishes and wraps a clean yukata around himself, towel still over his neck and shoulders.

But he'll wander into the kitchen. There's a small table and chairs there, so he'll sit in one that faces Zura, and then rest his arm on the table, laying his head on it, dozing a little.]

_{[ Too bad. He is going to. He does discover the meat and find some rice, after sifting through his food and ingredients, much to his disdain. Zura tsks at all of the sugar he finds while preparing Gintoki the best meal he can with the limited items he has.

He's exactly finished when Gintoki wanders in, Katsura's back facing him. He sets the utensils down. ]}

A warrior can't live on sugar alone. You know this.
_{[ He turns with the plate of seasoned and grilled meat with a side of rice and places the dish in front of Gintoki before he also sits.
A hand places on Gintoki's head, ruffling that damp hair slightly, and after a moment, his hand withdrawals. Looks like Katsura has a dish for himself too. ]}

Samurai eat simple foods without the rich sugars.
_{[ a little nudge of his-- you should go back to living life as a fighter, regardless of Edo's laws, because you were so strong. ]}

Edited 2015-07-15 16:02 (UTC)

[He's half-asleep until the hair ruffling. That has him forcing himself to sit up with a sigh, one arm still stretched out over the table while he rubs at his eyes with the back of his other hand. The admonitions drift somewhere through his thoughts as he gives the meal a once-over, then starts in on the meat immediately with a few large bites. He'll put the food away at a pretty good pace without retaliating over the sugar comments.

Except---]

Mmm, wasn't there strawberry milk in the fridge?

[He's gonna get up to check, pulling out a few single-sized milk boxes for himself and sitting down with them. Was he listening at all??? Probably, but this is clearly what he thinks about Katsura's diet tips. He'd defended his strawberry milk habit to Zura more times than he could remember.]

_{[ Katsura is a slow eater-- he's pretty conscious of eating habits, and eating too fast can cause other problems ( though, he does seem to pick up the pace when eating a good dish of soba ).

He does narrow his eyes in mid-bite when Gintoki goes for the strawberry milk and sits down. ]}

...You've always been like that. We all knew it was you would sneak bites off of other plates when we got a treat at school.

[He'll be steadily eating his rice now. Zura though, gets a slight frown at that reminder.]

I told you guys, it was only the spirits. You were being punished for being selfish and not sharing, so don't blame me.

[slurrrrrp oh yes this milk was good.]

_{[ don't slurp like that oh my god.
Katsura drops his wrists to the table, making a slight noise, and straightens up his posture to give Gintoki a look. ]}

I never believed that. I always knew it was you! And our classmates believed me-- some of them would!

[slurping and a good smack of lips too, because that's how you drink something delicious, Zura. He'll finish his dinner up pretty easily. It was good - good enough, and even a little bit actually good, too - and he'd needed it. ]

Well if you didn't know it was me, you'd be pretty gullible and stupid. I guess it's good you knew.

[Just a dead fish expression, but then--]

Hey.

At least you still know what's real and what's not.

[suddenly going back to the situation at hand, surprisingly.]

I'm not gullible and stupid, I'm Katsura.
_{[ He simmers down as he finishes off his food, standing up to take his and Gintoki's dishes, instantly going to the sink to clean them off. Isn't it nice to have a housewife here, Gintoki? ]}

... I do, now. It's not telling what could happen in the future again.
_{[ he's already seen so much shit here and he's only been here for nearly 5 months. ]}

[He'll watch, resting his head on his arm again, which is stretched out across the table. His tone as he speaks again is deceptively uninterested. ]

Zura. Oi, listen to me.

If you're that worried, why don't you come over the next time something happens, huh? It's better than you getting all worked up over something fake, right?

[DID HE JUST but anyway his face is buried in his arms right now. Not like Katsura is going to see what kind of expression he's wearing just now.]

_{[ Instantly, Katsura seems to brighten up at the invitation. Gintoki should have seen that coming. ]}

You want me to come over more often?
_{[ Gintoki said nothing that implies that, but Katsura is going to take Gintoki's words and interpret them how he feels. ]}

Ah, I'm awfully busy— I'm not sure if I could regularly make time for that.
_{[ He resumes cleaning the dishes and then puts them away. ]}

Perhaps for a longtime friend I can.

[Just a frown that says should say all he's thinking right now. Yeah Zura, that's totally what he said. He wants you to come over all the time.]

[aaaand a biiig yawn]

No no, you're busy, you're a busy guy, so never come over again.

_{[ and he just brightens and brightens. ]}
Gintoki. I don't know how to feel about all of this-- it's embarrassing.
I'll do my best to come and see you as much as I can, I thought you'd never ask!

_{[ guess who is still hearing what he wants to hear and not what Gintoki is really saying. ]}

Hnnhngh.

[Just this grumbling growling groan. He'll slump onto the table, face in his arms. And he'll keep slumping. . . and more slumping. . . slump, slump. . . aaand slumping right onto the floor. He'll slide right off the chair onto the ground, rolling over and once again burying his face in his arms.

Was something wrong? Is he okay? Was this sulking? Is it possibly the laziest tantrum in the world? Maybe somewhere between all of those. He was still pretty tired. . . kami-sama, he didn't want to move another inch. Even laying here was exhausting! Why was Zura still here! ]

_{[ Katsura is accustomed to this kind of behavior from Gintoki, so he doesn't exactly respond right away, allowing Gintoki to pitch his little fit all the while humming pleasantly while he finishes up some more of the dishes.

Anyway, Gintoki is showered and has eaten so he guesses it's time for bed.

Once he is done, he makes his way over to the other male and wordlessly bends over ot pick up his ankle--
--and drag him across the floor. ]}

I suppose it is past your bedtime.
_{[ He'll say this almost too fondly.
Can you blame him, though? A few hours ago he thought he had lost somebody important to him. ]}

[When Katsura picks up his ankle, Gintoki makes his leg as heavy as possible, refusing to budge a muscle. Zura was still here, he was still weirdly fussing over him, and he wasn't sure if he actually wanted the other to get out or not. It must have been this place, this weird place where he didn't have all the things he was used to. Once he starts getting pulled a bit, he'll roll over onto his back with a drawn out complaint.]

Stoooop it, stop. I don't wanna move, I'll sleep here. I don't wanna go a centimeter from this spot. Oi Zura-- [Pause for a big yawn; he'll give a good stretch too, letting his arms flop down over his head.]

You're not listening! Oi, stop being weird and go home already!

[more and more though, it's something he feels like he should say, rather than something he feels like he means.]

Edited 2015-08-17 00:44 (UTC)

Your back is crooked enough as it is. You don't need to sleep on the bare floor if you have a futon to go to. Unlike you, my spine, along with my hair, are straight because I take care of myself.
_{[ what does hair have to do with anything. Katsura gives enough tug. ]}

... I think you're getting fat.
_{[ he couldn't have said this any more tactlessly. ]}

MY HAIR'S BEEN CURLY SINCE I WAS BORN! Don't try to make it sound like I did something to deserve this hair, jerk!

[He'll now actively tug his foot back; if Zura lets him, he'll get up and walk to his futon - made extra big and fluffy from the apartment technology -- then flop on it with little ceremony, but maybe a bit of dramatics. ]

I'm not moving from this spot now. This is the spot I wanted all along.

[Because this is a better spot, clearly. Anything he says is muffled into the pillow anyway.]

It's not jerk, it's Katsura!
_{[ Oh? He's getting up? That's a surprise. Katsura allows this, monitoring his movements and then watching his little tantrum once he reaches his futon. No matter. He's right where Zura wants him to be.

The other approaches, looming over his friend with his arms crossed. ]}

Are you finished, now? Get under the sheets properly. Remember to lie on your back, and if you cannot sleep-- unlikely-- count sheep.

Mnnhnm.

[no mom. He doesn't budge.]

_{[ He's going to pitch an entire fit any moment, Gintoki. I swear to god.
Katsura bends over, trying to flip Gintoki on his back. ]}

Sleeping on your side like that in a futon will make you ache. You should know this.
Uwahh... you're heavy.

[idly waving those hands away]

Then stop moving me.

[He is a rock. He is immovable.

. . . he is a lump, more like. But if anything, he's getting more stubborn now, actually holding on to the futon.]

I hope you throw your back out.

Edited 2015-08-25 05:57 (UTC)

_{[ He sees that. He sees that clinging there. It's no good. This is for your own benefit, Gintoki. You're just too stupid and lazy to realize this is out of love. Katsura purses his lips together, tsking at him and then gives his side a pretty firm kick. Nothing too bad, but it isn't a light kick either. ]}

You'll be a hunchback before you become middle aged.

_{[ But then.. he bends over again, this time to cover up Gintoki as much as he can with the blankets that his fat ass isn't piled on.
Once that is done, Katsura does, in fact, leave him to sleep. It doesn't sound like he is leaving his apartment, but there is definitely peace for Gintoki.. finally. ]}

[Gintoki gives a grunt of pain at that kick. Seriously, was that really neccessary. . .he'll curl up a bit and gather his pillow and smush his face into it, only to shift around annoyingly as Zura tries to put blankets on him.]

The only reason I'll be sore is because you kicked me.

[it's just so sulky. Once Zura leaves the room though, he'll fix the blankets himself and settle down to sleep. He won't mind that Zura hadn't left the apartment, as long as he could sleep.]

[On the morning of February 15th, Gintoki will find a small box of store-bought chocolates on his doorstep. Attached is an unsigned note:]

Ah, what's this?

Ohhhh! It seems as though you've been visited by your one true love- Chocolate! ^w^

Careful, careful! Don't stuff your face so quickly- You'll choke. ♥ ♥ ♥

[. . . can he even trust this? Seriously, why would he trust this. He'll take it inside, then set it on top of the box of mochi that's been in his kitchen since New Years.

That he got from some asshole who's too cool to wear an eyepatch already.

Yeah, he knows what idiots left these dumb gifts.

. . . it's chocolate though, so it might not last as long as the mochi. Aaah, seriously though, can he really trust it. . . ?]

[eat the goddamn chocolate, you diabetic bastard ✿ヾ╲(｡◕‿◕｡)╱✿]

_{[ it's been a rough day, hasn't it, Gintoki? A rough day of being jobless, probably doing nothing. You're ready to hit the sack.
Low and behold, there's somebody in your bed. Somebody has beaten you to your own bed— somebody who has worked long and hard and probably deserves more rest than you.

He's lying on his back and buried under the covers, but Gintoki probably recogizes the dark hair that is spilling out from under the blanket. ]}

[Sometimes it was pretty boring in the apartment. Gintoki was a home-body, sure, he could be entertained by low-quality TV for long enough, but he sometimes missed the sound of Kagura and Shinpachi hanging around.

But tonight wasn't really one of those nights. Tonight he'd spent awhile earning some money in ViViD, and then he'd promptly eaten drank through it way, way too fast. He was so ready to sleep, full and content from a new place he'd found with decent food. All that fighting had made him a bit tired, too, oddly enough, even though it was supposed to be virtual.

Yeah, right.

Anyway, he'll come to his room. He'd made it a bit nicer than what he had at home, the futon a bit bigger and much more full, comfortable and soft, just what he wanted. The room was dark but he had no sensing his way over to the bed--

AND FALLING right on his face. Did he trip? Was something there? What the hell had just happened, he didn't remember moving anything over there, not even his pillow. Gintoki will turn over, sitting on the futon and noticing how his legs were resting over . . . something.

Something under the covers. Something with long black hair, waiting for him, waiting in his bed for him and waiting to . . . sleep in his bed? Mess up his bed? Possess him? Haunt him forever? Give him worse nightmares than he'd ever had? Steal his souuuulll???! DRAG HIM TO HELL??!!?

CALM DOWN, kami-sama, calm down, calm down! It's with a shaking hand that he reaches over, fingers twitching, and then with a shout of BRAVERY snatch the covers back--

Well, if the scream doesn't wake Zura up, the feet kicking at his side frantically probably will! THERE WERE EYES! EYES IN HIS BED, IN THE DARK?]

LEAVE ME ALOOOOONE!!

_{[ Truth of the matter was the fact that Katsura hadn't intended to just fall asleep in Gintoki's futon. Rather, he was waiting for him to get back from where ever he had gone.. but he's exhausted. Once he got comfortable, it was useless. He fell into a deed sleep.

Though, the shrieking does make him nearly jump out of his skin, and suddenly he is kicked out of the futon and halfway on the floor. He didn't know Gintoki could be to lively in the evening. Was Gintoki really that mad about Zura barging in like this? They were good friends. He shouldn't send mixed signals like this. ]}

IT WAS JUST COLD IN HERE SO I GOT UNDER THE BLANKETS!! I'm clean!! I'm clean!!
_{[ he really has no idea that Gintoki was confusing him for something else. ]}

[Gintoki will receive a call from a rather disgruntled fellow.]

Hey-

[Sakamoto clears his throat. He attempts to maintain his usual jovial tone, although the man he's calling knows him far too well. There's a hint of uncertainty in his voice.]

Yooo, Kintoki! Is Zura with you? I haven't really seen 'im! Ah, recently.

[He'll answer pretty quickly, actually. Truth was, he'd already seen Zura's name missing from the phone. He had a habit of checking the device each day in case Shinpachi and Kagura showed up, and he might have even checked to make sure that his oldest comrades were still around too. There's a pause after Sakamoto's fake cheerfulness.]

. . . oi, are you even home right now? You are, right? Isn't he there?

[He responds all too quickly, panicked but doing his best to hide it. Usually he's an expert, usually it's entirely possible, but today-]

Yeah. Hell yeah! I'm home, but...

[Today, a friend of his may have disappeared into some intangible void.

And not even a beautiful one, not space, not cast out amongst the stars. He isn't even buried beneath the soil he loves, his body may have become a number, a fucking number-]

He hasn't been home for a few days. Z-zura, he's... He's clumsy too, right? Ah! Not as clumsy as me, but-

[The last time Sakamoto had seen him, he walked out in those red heels.

Had he stumbled and fallen?

Softly:]

Maybe he got lost. Followin' some cat or somethin' like that.

[In this goofy text, the following file is attached.]

are you hard right now? ;)

only an idiot would get hard from 2-D

aren't you one of those idiots

why else would you spend that much time reading shounen jump???

spoken like someone whos never read a jump in his life! the only thing that jump makes hard is a little boy's willpower moron

and boobies

come on! how else are they gonna make those magazines sell

friendship effort and victory not like youd understand

if you really wanted to make me hard youd come over with 3D.

Edited 2015-08-23 03:09 (UTC)

more like cleavage, cleavage, and more cleavage!

(^｡^)ｵﾒﾃﾞﾄ∠※ﾎﾟﾝ!｡･:*:･ﾟ'★,｡･:*:♪･ﾟ'☆ﾐ

no

ice cream! youd bring me ice cream! i always wondered but youre really being an S right now! showing me a picture of something i want so much right now!

oh? but you know me! i'm so easily distracted

i'd buy it, my attention'd go elsewhere and... well! it'd all melt by the time i'd get it to you

and wouldn't that be a damn shame?

youre not a good friend

not a good friend at all.

[after a pause, some more comes]

hey

hes back right?

[no need to elaborate on who]

_{[ Is that knocking at your door? It certainly is. Better go answer it. At least it isn't an aggressive entrance through the window.

In a falsetto tone: ]}
Sakata-saaaaaan, I'm the ice cream man! Open up!

_{[ really, though. He means business. Just get your lazy ass up. ]}

[Gintoki just so happens to be near the door when someone knocks, but he'll look at it cautiously. Obviously the ice cream man wouldn't know his name, right? And anyway, didn't that sound suspiciously like a pain in the ass he'd known for his whole life? The kind that doesn't hurt all the time, but maybe you sat on the sofa for too long and then you get up and get pins and needles because your butt has gone numb. . . yeah, it was that kind of pain in the ass.

He'll quietly walk to the door, and then Zura will hear a careful click sound.

Did he just--- yeah. Gintoki will start walking back to the sofa. His butt needed to get numb again.]

_{[ You do that, Gintoki. But as soon as you sit down on the sofa, you'll realize there is somebody right seated next to you now.
He also has somehow already helped himself to an instant cup of ramen. ]}

Gintoki!
We have to ta-- _{[ sluuuuurp, smack smack ]} about something important!

_{[ it sounded important..... but you know him.. and "important" things ... ]}

Edited 2015-09-07 16:47 (UTC)

[There's a shriek in his throat that he struggles to swallow, not doing a very good job as he turns to see Zura, and jumps backwards a little . . . into the corner of the coffee table. . . and trips. . . and ends up on his ass on the floor.

What the hell, Zura, he just locked you outside. Are you a ninja now? Have you been spending too much time with those K*noha brats?

But more importantly -- ]

Oi, don't eat my food! I bought that . . .

Edited 2015-09-07 17:14 (UTC)

_{[ He continues forth like nothing is the matter: ]}

I've discovered some very interesting things lately. And I need your backing on this for _{[ slurrrrrp ]} —everal different reasons.
_{[ Another bite, some noodles hanging from his lips before he sucks them up rather sloppily. ]}

Aren't you interested in what I have to say?

Edited 2015-09-07 17:22 (UTC)

[When Zura just keeps talking, he'll settle back on his hands, relaxing into sitting on the floor. After some more frowning, he'll just sigh a little.]

Well you're saying it no matter what, aren't you? I'm wondering more about how the hell you got in here.

As you can tell, the colony is flooded. It happened recently, when I was on standby for this place. _{[ his disappearance isn't a big deal to him; he just thinks he was put on standby like usual. ]}

I've spoken with the person who is responsible for this, and it isn't somebody who just used more than two squares of tee-pee.
Did you see him, Gintoki? The goatman?

[Just more frowning. This is a hint, Zura, about how that disappearing act of yours wasn't very appreciated. Gintoki's not just surprised to see Zura in his apartment, he's surprised to see him AT ALL.

He's getting up and heading to the kitchen, only muttering over his shoulder at Zura. It was Gintoki, but he seems extra unhappy for some reason, and this time it's definitely directed at Zura rather than just being general annoyance.]

Why the hell would I have seen a goat man, oi. Like hell I'd look for something like that.

_{[ He senses that, Gintoki. He senses that anger. But Katsura couldn't help it. He disappeared and that's what happens here. ]}

He's the one responsible for the flooding, I found out.
_{[ ... ]}

I attempted to strike a deal with him.

[Business as usual then. No explanation for where Zura was, why he thought it was fine for him to up and vanish from. . . from everything, from existence, no sorry for abandoning you Gintoki no nothing.

Well. That was definitely for the best. He's almost relieved, right? Because who wants to deal with that crap anyway, right. A big drink of milk has him soothed just a bit; it's chocolate, he was out of strawberry, but that doesn't stop him from taking the carton back into the living room with him and pointedly setting it in the middle of the coffee table before sitting down on the sofa next to Zura.

He'll only look back at the other with that expressionless stare he was so good at.]

Attempted to, huh? That's what you get for talking to a goat man.

He's a very powerful goatman! I believe he might control the rain that is here, but I'm not certain.
From what I understood, this land belongs to his people.

Ah. He spoke in riddles. It was rather confusing but—
_{[ Katsura tips his head back to finish off his ramen before lowering his hands with a satisfied sound. Delicious. ]}

—I think him and his people could be potential allies for those, like myself, who are against CERES.
_{[ He stares deliberately at Gintoki.
People against CERES: that means you too, right? RIGHT? ]}

[Stares. back.

Sluuuuuurrrrp.

Just taking a drink of milk here, don't mind him, though he'll do it while staring at Zura the whole time. ]

Are you sure you aren't just confused?

[Why the hell are you telling him this, Zura? ]

I am doing what I believe is good for the people... who are against CERES.
_{[ CLEARING HIS THROAT. ]}

[glug

glug

glug]

Mmm.

[Is that a reply? Is he talking about the milk? What was going on.]

Edited 2015-09-07 20:15 (UTC)

_{[ a long drawn out pause, and then.. Katsura slaps his hands on his own knees and exclaims: ]}

Doesn't it matter to you that people are getting injured in this place..?! Gintoki, are you not the least bit suspicous about what they are doing and what they are lying about.. !?

[One last swallow, and then he'll sigh again. Damn you Zura for asking the important questions. Of course he cared. In fact, it was probably because he cared that he'd spent so long moping in this place, because there was nothing that he loathed more than the feeling of not being able to protect people who he knew were in trouble.

And they were definitely all in trouble. He'd felt nothing but helpless since he'd gotten to this place. Helpless to change anything, helpless to even help people, helpless to try and find out where Shinpachi and Kagura were. He couldn't even really find out exactly what had supposedly happened to his home. Gintoki had hated it, hated every second of it to the point where he hadn't even wanted to leave the apartment in a long time.

As it were, he'll shift on the sofa, laying back some on the arm of it and leveling that same expressionless look at Zura with a slightly derisive sound. ]

You always ask such stupid questions.

_{[ Right after Gintoki finishes his sentence, Katsura lifts a hand and smacks him right across the face. He rarely ever initiates fights or harm on Gintoki, even with their bickering, but sometimes he felt like it was a requirement to hit him.

He has hardly seen Gintoki out and about in this place. He hasn't heard anybody talking about this grand samurai that walks the streets of this planet. It's disgusting to Katsura to see somebody who was so strong and so noble wither away to somebody who hermits himself up and apparently just drinks and eats sweets into oblivion— probably has himself some alcohol too. ]}

Then stand up! _{[ he'll stand on key when he says this. ]}

The questions we all have about this place are being answered, and I know that when something else happens, those who are sitting around carelessly are going to get left behind from the rest! _{[ left behind, translated from Zura lingo, means injured or dead.

He's worried you'll get injured or dead if you don't prepare yourself. His voice simmers down, but still firm: ]}

.. And I cannot let that happen to you. If you are so clueless of what is happening here, who knows what could happen to you are a person. If CERES ever completely turns on us, it is the ones who have been preparing to oppose them that will stay strong!

_{[ Guess who found out where you live.
That's right.

This duck thing. It's paying you a visit this evening.
So have it politely knocking on your door. ]}

[He won't think too much of a knock to his door, so Gintoki will open it without even checking through the peephole - is there even one?

Boy, was that a mistake. When he sees those round eyes staring back at him, that beak closed in silent judgement, he'll immediately --

-- stare back. ]

_{[ This occurs for awhile. The lifeless stare down.
Elizabeth is still and as calm as ever, and if Gintoki tries to close to door on him, he'll stick one of his webbed feet right in the way before lifting a sign:

"Good evening, Gin-san—"
"I'm sorry for the intrusion."

"I do not usually ask for this—"
"But I think because of my circumstances at this time—"
"It might do me good."

Wait for it.

"Would you like to drink?"

HOLD THE PHONE. YOUR FRIEND'S PET THING IS WANTING A DRINK? ]}

Cerealia Inbox

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[ ACTION ] 12.24

Re: [ ACTION ] 12.24

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12/31

Re: 12/31

voicemail; 1/1

a returned call

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morning... maybe like... 01/11.. action ????

Re: morning... maybe like... 01/11.. action ????

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[ VOICE; ] post-glitch event, like probably instantly after

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1/???

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3/done.

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