Lili watches his hand extend toward her warily, and even visibly relaxes when he retracts it to rub the back of his head. Clearly she's still not accepting any attempts at comfort. Though at the suggestion, she just lets out a sigh.]
... Fine.
A clean slate is what you're after?
I'll agree to it.
[ . . . on the condition that he's not a buffoon again anytime soon but. This is more than what most people would get from Lili!]
[ Not being a buffoon again soon is a tall order for someone like Shinpachi who tends to go by emotions rather than carefully thought out actions most of the time.. but at least he'll try. For whatever that is worth. Annoying or angering girls isn't exactly high on his list of desired activities right after being dropped back into this place. ]
Yeah, yeah, that's all! Gotta cut a guy some slack.. [ Especially since it's not like he really did anything wrong..
.. he thinks.. Where's Sano when you need him, he's no good at decyphering girl speak.
He quickly grins though, obviously trying to make the atmosphere a little lighter before it ends up choking every single bit of positivity out of this situation. ]
Then we should properly introduce ourselves too, right? I'm Shinpachi-- Shinpachi Nagakura, nice to meet you. [ :D? ]
[ . . . . ah, a grin. Lili furrows her brow for a moment, tilting her head in response because it's still so odd to be around people that will smile this much. It reminds her vaguely of Tetora though... so perhaps it's not a terribly awful thing.]
Lili An. [As for it being nice to meet him-] ... We could have met under better circumstances.
[To be honest??? But still she's just going to sigh.]
You're... skilled. [to say the least???] As such, I have a proposal.
[ Somehow he figures this is the best he's going to get out of her.. Despite being a (relatively) young girl, she doesn't really seem like the type to let her guard down and just have fun, huh..
But it's fine, he can work with that. Clearly she just needs to experience some fun sometime, surely she'll laugh then! So he's totally filing that in the back of his mind now for use later - a note that says he's got to meet up with her again sometime to show her something fun in this place once he's used to everything here enough again.
.. and once they're out of ViViD, too. That'd help. ]
Huh? [ Her last statement makes him blink in curiosity though, suddenly shaken out of his thoughts. ] What kinda proposal?
What kind of fucking proposal do you think, Shinpachi.]
In exchange for your protection against whatever might be out here, I will assist in finding the exit to this place and answering whatever questions you may have.
[So you know, a pretty sensible proposal - even though Lili thinks that it's kind of uneven. It's frustrating that she's not strong enough to even provide him back-up and would probably just get in the way...!]
Sure, she might act all weird and feisty, but there's something oddly cute about her. She still wants his protection, after all, and that's enough to make Shinpachi feel a little better about all this. So there is something even a slight bit more vulnerable under that harsh spiked exterior, right?
It makes him slightly giddy enough to grin a little at her.. sorry, Lili, this is what you have to put up with. Maybe not entirely an imbecile, it won't get much better than that. ]
Sure, got it. Anything that looks at us funny is going to grow a head shorter. [ He says it pretty jokingly, but he means it, okay. He has that sword for a reason, and it isn't to just watch as.. whatever is in this jungle jumps at them.
He even starts walking already, motioning her to follow him. ]
I've been in this place before though, so I don't know how many questions I have.. I just need to know if anything changed since I must've disappeared. [ Even if he has no idea how long ago that was. ]
[Why is he grinning.... Lili just gives him the most perplexed look at that because stop? Stop! She didn't do anything worthy of a grin, what kind of person is she dealing with here? How dangerous!
But.... there's a little huff and she follows after him regardless, a little surprised to hear that he'd been here before. That's... new.]
What's the last thing that you remember? I've been here about a month now myself. I can do my best to inform you on at least that long.
[ A month and a half.. well, even if she might not remember what he last remembers (Shinpachi sure thinks he hasn't seen her around here the last time he was here, anyway), it'd give him some indication of how long he has at least been gone.. ]
The last big thing I remember.. [ He glances up a little as he tries to remember it before letting out a sigh. It's not exactly a pleasant memory. ]
We were all dropped off in this.. code? I think that's what they called it, I'm no good with this technology stuff. [ He's only just accepted electricity, why do you got to force computer mumbo-jumbo on him. ] We were all disappearing.
The first thing that I remember is an awful place filled with far too much garbage - and then a swamp after that. I later had to realize that they were ViViD levels... and after that, this place pieced together some sham of a festival and called it a carnival. But you likely don't remember that, do you?
[ At least he knows what those are, thanks, Zelien.. but considering the one over there, he doesn't terribly mind the fact that he missed out on the one here. It was probably equally annoying, if not downright deadly. But the fact that Lili doesn't seem to remember the last thing he remembers does tell him one thing - she has been here since after he left, which means he's been gone for a while now..
Geez, this place is such a pain in the ass, why bother to suddenly put him back here then? ]
It pulls stuff like that all the time though. I'm not surprised they didn't stop after I.. disappeared, I guess. [ It's weird to call it that way when he hardly even remembers anything happening to him between then and now. ]
[Which is as close as her sympathy will get to "I'm sorry to hear that" even though her expression pretty much says it. Even as they keep looking for an exit, she shakes her head.]
[ A lot, honestly.. But he has no idea how much of the people he used to know are even left here now. It's kind of a depressing thought he doesn't want to consider much while something could still attack them out here for all he knows.. it's probably better to play it safe. ]
The Shinsengumi. [ Even if they're not here, he'll still see them if he ever manages to go home, so it's a little less painful. ] You ever heard of a group of guys named that? Or know someone who said they're part of it?
[ . . . . oh. Lili blinks at that, surprised. Then there's an immediate - almost too eager nod because that's actually an answer that she can provide.]
Yes.
Saitou arrived during the same ViViD level that I did - but Souji had been here longer, if you can find them. I met Hijikata as well but I am uncertain when he arrived... [A thoughtful pause.] There are also... the swords who were part of the Shinsengumi, I believe? Kashuu mostly...
[ Of course - at this point - Shinpachi is not assuming that Lili means actual sword people by that. Just.. you know, Shinsengumi arriving with their swords with them. Totally normal. Just completely glossing over that part. ]
Saitou, Souji and Hijikata-san, huh.. I saw Sano earlier too, so I guess we're 'bout halfway there. [ Again. What is it about these places and liking to keep them around in groups? Sure, the wolves of Mibu are supposed to be a pack and all, but..
He does smile at her now though. See, Lili, this doesn't just have to be about yelling! ]
Thanks. It really helps me, knowing that. [ NO HAIR RUFFLE, STILL A LITTLE TOO UNSURE ABOUT THAT.. But next time, for sure. He's already telling himself he'll just try that again another time. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I LIVE FOR YOUR LAUGHTER.....
Lili watches his hand extend toward her warily, and even visibly relaxes when he retracts it to rub the back of his head. Clearly she's still not accepting any attempts at comfort. Though at the suggestion, she just lets out a sigh.]
... Fine.
A clean slate is what you're after?
I'll agree to it.
[ . . . on the condition that he's not a buffoon again anytime soon but. This is more than what most people would get from Lili!]
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Yeah, yeah, that's all! Gotta cut a guy some slack.. [ Especially since it's not like he really did anything wrong..
.. he thinks.. Where's Sano when you need him, he's no good at decyphering girl speak.
He quickly grins though, obviously trying to make the atmosphere a little lighter before it ends up choking every single bit of positivity out of this situation. ]
Then we should properly introduce ourselves too, right? I'm Shinpachi-- Shinpachi Nagakura, nice to meet you. [ :D? ]
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Lili An. [As for it being nice to meet him-] ... We could have met under better circumstances.
[To be honest??? But still she's just going to sigh.]
You're... skilled. [to say the least???] As such, I have a proposal.
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But it's fine, he can work with that. Clearly she just needs to experience some fun sometime, surely she'll laugh then! So he's totally filing that in the back of his mind now for use later - a note that says he's got to meet up with her again sometime to show her something fun in this place once he's used to everything here enough again.
.. and once they're out of ViViD, too. That'd help. ]
Huh? [ Her last statement makes him blink in curiosity though, suddenly shaken out of his thoughts. ] What kinda proposal?
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What kind of fucking proposal do you think, Shinpachi.]
In exchange for your protection against whatever might be out here, I will assist in finding the exit to this place and answering whatever questions you may have.
[So you know, a pretty sensible proposal - even though Lili thinks that it's kind of uneven. It's frustrating that she's not strong enough to even provide him back-up and would probably just get in the way...!]
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Sure, she might act all weird and feisty, but there's something oddly cute about her. She still wants his protection, after all, and that's enough to make Shinpachi feel a little better about all this. So there is something even a slight bit more vulnerable under that harsh spiked exterior, right?
It makes him slightly giddy enough to grin a little at her.. sorry, Lili, this is what you have to put up with. Maybe not entirely an imbecile, it won't get much better than that. ]
Sure, got it. Anything that looks at us funny is going to grow a head shorter. [ He says it pretty jokingly, but he means it, okay. He has that sword for a reason, and it isn't to just watch as.. whatever is in this jungle jumps at them.
He even starts walking already, motioning her to follow him. ]
I've been in this place before though, so I don't know how many questions I have.. I just need to know if anything changed since I must've disappeared. [ Even if he has no idea how long ago that was. ]
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But.... there's a little huff and she follows after him regardless, a little surprised to hear that he'd been here before. That's... new.]
What's the last thing that you remember? I've been here about a month now myself. I can do my best to inform you on at least that long.
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The last big thing I remember.. [ He glances up a little as he tries to remember it before letting out a sigh. It's not exactly a pleasant memory. ]
We were all dropped off in this.. code? I think that's what they called it, I'm no good with this technology stuff. [ He's only just accepted electricity, why do you got to force computer mumbo-jumbo on him. ] We were all disappearing.
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That doesn't sound familiar at all.
[Terribly blunt, this one.]
The first thing that I remember is an awful place filled with far too much garbage - and then a swamp after that. I later had to realize that they were ViViD levels... and after that, this place pieced together some sham of a festival and called it a carnival. But you likely don't remember that, do you?
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[ At least he knows what those are, thanks, Zelien.. but considering the one over there, he doesn't terribly mind the fact that he missed out on the one here. It was probably equally annoying, if not downright deadly. But the fact that Lili doesn't seem to remember the last thing he remembers does tell him one thing - she has been here since after he left, which means he's been gone for a while now..
Geez, this place is such a pain in the ass, why bother to suddenly put him back here then? ]
It pulls stuff like that all the time though. I'm not surprised they didn't stop after I.. disappeared, I guess. [ It's weird to call it that way when he hardly even remembers anything happening to him between then and now. ]
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[Which is as close as her sympathy will get to "I'm sorry to hear that" even though her expression pretty much says it. Even as they keep looking for an exit, she shakes her head.]
Are there any people here you might recognize?
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The Shinsengumi. [ Even if they're not here, he'll still see them if he ever manages to go home, so it's a little less painful. ] You ever heard of a group of guys named that? Or know someone who said they're part of it?
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Yes.
Saitou arrived during the same ViViD level that I did - but Souji had been here longer, if you can find them. I met Hijikata as well but I am uncertain when he arrived... [A thoughtful pause.] There are also... the swords who were part of the Shinsengumi, I believe? Kashuu mostly...
[Is this helpful?? She hopes it's helpful.]
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Saitou, Souji and Hijikata-san, huh.. I saw Sano earlier too, so I guess we're 'bout halfway there. [ Again. What is it about these places and liking to keep them around in groups? Sure, the wolves of Mibu are supposed to be a pack and all, but..
He does smile at her now though. See, Lili, this doesn't just have to be about yelling! ]
Thanks. It really helps me, knowing that. [ NO HAIR RUFFLE, STILL A LITTLE TOO UNSURE ABOUT THAT.. But next time, for sure. He's already telling himself he'll just try that again another time. ]