[ Completely oblivious to the projected annoyance, he carries on serenely-- ]
I had to use someone's key card to get in, of course. [ Pause... You can probably guess who it belonged to! But rather than confirm that, he's quiet for a moment before continuing. ] Hijikata-san got fired. He seemed to care a lot about his job.
[ He doesn't even notice that he's swapped out the usual -dono for the way Zurako usually addressed Hijikata. Maybe he did end up finding some semblance of fondness for him during that whole stunt... ]
Didn't this happen like two months ago? Why is it suddenly bothering you now?
[ He scrubs a hand over his face, and turns over on his side again, his back towards Zura. ]
Technically I guess it is, but the Shinsengumi are all terrible cops anyway. They just happen to have connections in Edo that'll keep them from getting tossed on their asses for all the shit they pull. No wonder he gets fired in a place that doesn't have Kondou and ... whatever that old guy's name is.
It bothered me then, too. But my focus was on other things.
[ So he got a little sidetracked! What with the festivals and the quests and the moving into a new house AND DISCOVERING HE HAS A CRUSH ON GINTOKI which he will not mention. ]
Matsudaira-dono. [ Supplies helpfully. It seems at his canonpoint he already had his Ezurako run. ] Yes, I suppose you are right. They're thugs in uniform in all but name. Nevertheless, he was the only one in the NCPD so far who was sympathetic to my concerns.
[ Without being aware those were his concerns, of course. And there's also the possibility he would have been "sympathetic" to just about anything Zurako said anyway, but... he wants to believe. ]
[ With a quiet, long-suffering sigh, he closes his eyes again. ]
Yeah, obviously. Part of what makes them terrible cops is that they hate just sitting quietly by when bad things happen, no matter what the brass says. They'd rather blast in their with bazookas and call it a good day's work. They don't know what 'finesse' means.
Without the Bakufu backing, they would probably go bankrupt from all the property damage settlements. But perhaps they are better suited for a vigilante role, all things considered. They would be able to act when they believe it to be the right thing to do, rather than heel whenever ordered by their kennel owner.
[ Speaking of which... ]
Hijikata-dono appeared fairly receptive to this idea even before he was let go from the police. Perhaps if I give him a little push... steer him in the right direction with a gentle hand...
[ Zurako still has her claws in him by some miracle, after all. ]
[ Wait, wasn't he just feeling bad about the whole catfishing thing and its consequences? Now he wants to do more?! ]
[ He turns his head back forward just so that he doesn't strain his neck, and thinks about rolling over again but decides that's too much hassle. Zura can talk to his back. ]
I didn't say that. I said it was technically your fault but that he's also a bad cop so it's not all your fault. That doesn't mean you should go dress up and make him dance to your music again. If he wants to do something, he'll do it on his own.
[ The huff that follows almost sounds a little petulant. Gintoki really does see a lot more sides to him than most people, huh? Too bad a lot of them are kind of ugly, but isn't that what true friendship is about. ]
He would do it faster if he got a little push! The sooner we sort this world out, the sooner we get to go home, right?
[ That doesn't deserve a response, so he just jabs an elbow back. As far as he can because he's not sure how close Zura is, and he doesn't care what he manages to hit so long as he hits something. ]
[ It hits him... somewhere. Probably around the solar plexus or something, assuming Gintoki swings his arm far enough back since there's a little more distance between them as usual. ]
I see. [ Why does he sound excited? Did that elbow hit him right in the M switch or did he just decide that this means Gintoki is jealous over him and wants to keep him and all his attention to himself? ] Very well. I shall refrain from engaging him in this manner again.
[ Taking initiative sure is attractive, isn't it-- ]
[ At... least he seems to be back to "normal" (for him)? ]
[ But it's normal weird, right? ...Right? Or perhaps, following the absence of it, now it's just as weird as the weird-weird. Definitely something to overthink at a later date! ]
[ For the time being, at least, it appears that Katsura is placated by whatever mostly one-sided conversation they've just had. He's not even ruffled by the rude instructions Gintoki gives him, instead just sinking into his pillow and smiling a little into his duvet. ]
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no subject
I had to use someone's key card to get in, of course. [ Pause... You can probably guess who it belonged to! But rather than confirm that, he's quiet for a moment before continuing. ] Hijikata-san got fired. He seemed to care a lot about his job.
[ He doesn't even notice that he's swapped out the usual -dono for the way Zurako usually addressed Hijikata. Maybe he did end up finding some semblance of fondness for him during that whole stunt... ]
Do you think that was my fault?
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stares at the ceiling for several seconds ]
Didn't this happen like two months ago? Why is it suddenly bothering you now?
[ He scrubs a hand over his face, and turns over on his side again, his back towards Zura. ]
Technically I guess it is, but the Shinsengumi are all terrible cops anyway. They just happen to have connections in Edo that'll keep them from getting tossed on their asses for all the shit they pull. No wonder he gets fired in a place that doesn't have Kondou and ... whatever that old guy's name is.
no subject
It bothered me then, too. But my focus was on other things.
[ So he got a little sidetracked! What with the festivals and the quests and the moving into a new house AND DISCOVERING HE HAS A CRUSH ON GINTOKI which he will not mention. ]
Matsudaira-dono. [ Supplies helpfully. It seems at his canonpoint he already had his Ezurako run. ] Yes, I suppose you are right. They're thugs in uniform in all but name. Nevertheless, he was the only one in the NCPD so far who was sympathetic to my concerns.
[ Without being aware those were his concerns, of course. And there's also the possibility he would have been "sympathetic" to just about anything Zurako said anyway, but... he wants to believe. ]
no subject
Yeah, obviously. Part of what makes them terrible cops is that they hate just sitting quietly by when bad things happen, no matter what the brass says. They'd rather blast in their with bazookas and call it a good day's work. They don't know what 'finesse' means.
no subject
Without the Bakufu backing, they would probably go bankrupt from all the property damage settlements. But perhaps they are better suited for a vigilante role, all things considered. They would be able to act when they believe it to be the right thing to do, rather than heel whenever ordered by their kennel owner.
[ Speaking of which... ]
Hijikata-dono appeared fairly receptive to this idea even before he was let go from the police. Perhaps if I give him a little push... steer him in the right direction with a gentle hand...
[ Zurako still has her claws in him by some miracle, after all. ]
[ Wait, wasn't he just feeling bad about the whole catfishing thing and its consequences? Now he wants to do more?! ]
no subject
Are you hatching another plan to play him? Give it up already. Haven't you done enough?
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Oh. I thought you said I had done nothing wrong.
[ THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU ASKED ZURAAA ]
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I didn't say that. I said it was technically your fault but that he's also a bad cop so it's not all your fault. That doesn't mean you should go dress up and make him dance to your music again. If he wants to do something, he'll do it on his own.
no subject
[ The huff that follows almost sounds a little petulant. Gintoki really does see a lot more sides to him than most people, huh? Too bad a lot of them are kind of ugly, but isn't that what true friendship is about. ]
He would do it faster if he got a little push! The sooner we sort this world out, the sooner we get to go home, right?
no subject
Nothing stops you from introducing yourself to him and pushing him as good ol' Zura. What's he gonna do, arrest you?
no subject
[ Zura's rolling his eyes in the dark, deflating slightly with a sigh. ]
Or stab me. Or run me over with a car. Or leave me stranded somewhere to die.
[ Weren't most of those Sougo's doing, though-- ]
Or just not listen to a word I say. In case you haven't noticed, Gintoki, we do not exactly have a conversational relationship.
no subject
So just leave him alone then.
[ Problem solved. ]
1/2
2/2
[ Somehow it almost sounds more hopeful than confrontational: ]
You really think I should stop seeing him, huh?
[ What in the delusion is this... ]
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[ It hits him... somewhere. Probably around the solar plexus or something, assuming Gintoki swings his arm far enough back since there's a little more distance between them as usual. ]
I see. [ Why does he sound excited? Did that elbow hit him right in the M switch or did he just decide that this means Gintoki is jealous over him and wants to keep him and all his attention to himself? ] Very well. I shall refrain from engaging him in this manner again.
[ Taking initiative sure is attractive, isn't it-- ]
[ At... least he seems to be back to "normal" (for him)? ]
no subject
...
Yeah, that's what this is. Just some kind of annoying delusion that'll be gone in the morning. He's way too tired to spiral about it anyway. ]
Great. Now shut up and sleep.
wrap?
[ For the time being, at least, it appears that Katsura is placated by whatever mostly one-sided conversation they've just had. He's not even ruffled by the rude instructions Gintoki gives him, instead just sinking into his pillow and smiling a little into his duvet. ]
Good night, Gintoki.
yeee