coastal | voicemail.

[EAT YOUR FOOT, HEISUKE, EAT IT!!

Except it's true - there aren't many girls who frequent the dojo, much less any who have the ojou look down as perfectly as Lili. And it's true, she did have a lifetime of being locked up in an estate and had a badass lady samurai who protected her for most of her life. All of that is correct!

Yet she's been trying to change that ever since she got here, so the evaluation just makes her puff up like an agitated kitten. There is something a little regal in the way that she straightens her shoulders and tilts her chin up at him though, some natural arrogance shining through.]

Kashuu on most days, Hijikata on others. Mutsu, on the days that he deigns to show up.

[Then, her flash of irritation really shining through:]

Not that I need to prove anything to you. You assume an awful lot about me after only meeting me once - I'd much rather you stop wasting my time and keep your stupid opinions to yourself.

[PUFFED UP ANGRY KITTEN]

( Well, at least if she's going to be attending the dojo, she really acts like it — there's none of the meekness that Heisuke usually associates with girls he often interacts with, and it's honestly almost a little nostalgic. Though, he doesn't remember the person who comes to mind being as defiant as Lili, the tough-girl attitude is the same.

Anyway, that's still two (2) Shinsengumi teachers! So some pretty obvious surprise shines through as he looks back to her, before she, you know, goes and brings back the insults. He's pretty indignant about it too. )

Hey, what's that for? I was just trying to help, you can't just — You, don't touch that!

( The last part isn't directed at Lili, but rather, the wispy little fox that's made it's way back under their feet. It seems to have taken a liking to that golden pin that she dropped, but it's so shabby, Heisuke is pretty sure it probably shouldn't be touching something like that. So he waves his hand absently, leaning down to snatch the thing away from the creature, and is going to regret that decision momentarily. Instead of her pin, now it's brushed against Lili's legs instead, looking at Heisuke like the rebellious little menace it is as vertigo and nausea cause him to buckle over.

What Lili will see is a pretty vivid memory of the first time Heisuke met his father, the way that he was rejected, and his mother's following heartache. )

[There are words on the tip of Lili's tongue, practiced as they are from the amount of judgment that she's received in the past. If you were trying to help, then actually say something helpful and the like - up until she's hit by that memory.

Lili doesn't know Heisuke, but she understands the situation. Nobles are disgusting sometimes and they are unwilling to own up to their deeds. There was once a time where she was just as judgmental, pointing fingers about illicit affairs and who seemed the dirtiest - but seeing it from this perspective throws her off entirely. There are very few remaining prejudices that Lili holds.

This just makes another one disappear.

The cries of a woman are sad, the betrayal and despair on her face are unforgivable. To be seeing this through a child's eyes, to view a mother - even though Lili doesn't understand that either, never had a mother herself - lost in so much emotion... it destroys her on the inside. There's a moment where she herself loses balance, but she lets herself fall when she realizes that Heisuke is already on the floor.

Tears well up in the corners of her eyes and she reaches out to him, placing a hand on his shoulder - ]

W-Wait...! Are you - Are you alright?

( Having pretty much surrendered to sitting right down on the floor, Heisuke for one, isn't entirely aware of what Lili has just witnessed, only that whatever it was it was probably bad. For one thing, something just feels wrong, and for another, that nausea rolls over him in waves that are so bad that he has to cover his mouth for a moment to hold himself back. Even he doesn't want to do that sort of thing in front of a lady — or at all, really.

It takes him a moment for the feeling to subside, though he's still reluctant to stand up. Instead, he casts a suspicious eye to her. )

I'm fine, I'm fine. ( And, with an obvious air of surprise as he catches sight of those tears: ) Hey, what're you crying for? It barely touched you, I'm the one who got sick all of a sudden.

I... [There's a moment of hesitation, just because she doesn't know how to explain it right away. Still though, she shakes her head and immediately her hands come up to wipe at her tears.] I saw something I wasn't supposed to.

[At least, from what she can tell. Her heart still aches a little bit from the memory of it, some anger remaining dormant in her veins, and she shakes her head again.]

I'm sorry.

Whatever it is, it's not something to be crying over.

( He can't really think of many memories of his that are, to be honest; what comes to mind first is that she might have seen seen something to frighten her, or something unjust that's happened in his lifetime. So far that seems to be what the thing has favoured, and he doesn't expect her to have seen something so personal. So, with a sigh: )

I had a duty to fill as a member of the Shinsengumi, you know.

This has nothing to do with that.

[A rather petulant response, but there's admittedly something sad about it. It'd almost be preferred if she saw something about the Shinsengumi - that's at least familiar territory at this point, considering how much she's gotten to know about all of them. But instead there's just a shake of her head as she explains-]

I saw... a childhood memory. Your mother and your.... father.

[The hesitation only being because -

Would you even want to claim someone like that as you father?]

( He freezes for a moment, staying completely still as he looks at her. He doesn't doubt that she has seen something, because this isn't the first time on his path to amnesia that the fox has brushed against somebody, but that sort of choice seems... jarring. He shakes his head after it passes, giving a huff as he does. )

I don't have a father, but there's no reason you have to go crying over something like that. I don't need one when I was a part of the Shinsengumi anyway.

( His tone is prickly, but there's a bit of guilt buried underneath. Thanks @Dad for making another girl cry from beyond the grave, because that was needed. )

Now come on, it's going to look bad if somebody walks by and thinks I did something to make you cry.

( Habitually, he reaches forward, trying to press a thumb to her cheek so that he can wipe away the tears. No more of that! )

[OH.

Lili's admittedly just going to gasp a little bit and reel back almost immediately, her hand coming up to her cheek where he touched her and then wipe away the rest of the tears on her own, even though her face is definitely turning red.

They're not close enough for her to be unaffected by such a kind gesture from someone she barely knows.]

I'd just correct them...

[Because Lili's headstrong as always!!

But honestly:]

... I'm still sorry that you had to endure that. No one deserves that. Not your mother either.

( There's a bit of confusion on Heisuke's features at the dramatic reaction he receives, but he seems to brush it off easily enough, pulling his grubby little fingers away so she can finish up the job. His reply is more flippant than anything else when he speaks, sounding halfway like a dismissive sigh. )

You don't have to apologize — it's not like you did anything. And no matter what, I'm not going to be like that guy, even if I use his name.

( Which is another story entirely! While Heisuke is naturally inclined to going on about these personal things when the chances arrive, for once in his life, he's going to shut his mouth here; regardless of the circumstances, it's not like they've known each other long enough for him to be dumping his Tragic Backstory™ all in one go. Instead he picks up the dropped pin and tries to offer it back to her. )

Anyway, it was trying to take this. It looks valuable, so don't lose it.

[ . . . . well. Lili watches him for a moment. He was insulting her (admittedly accidentally) not too long ago, but regardless she can feel confident as she says:]

No, you'll be much better.

[Even as she takes the pin from him then, moving to gather her hair up again so that she can wear her hair up properly in a way that feels comfortable.]

But - don't think you can tell me what to do.

[Just saying.]

( He looks at her with raised brows, taken by slight surprise at that comment, but offers a smile in return. Though, he definitely still resembles a pouting child more so than anything else when he manages his reply. )

Not even a "thank you"? Jeez, don't tell me you're just like her. I'm just trying to give you some advice.

( And though she looks better after those tears than Heisuke really feels on the ground right now, just to make sure: )

Anyway, you're fine now aren't you? I didn't really think you were the type who would cry over something like that. It really caught me by surprise.

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