[ His expression changes into a grumpy frown at the first part of the message. Geez, don't blame a guy with big hands from older times that he doesn't know how to type, okay, his friends already make fun of him enough over it.
But then he receives the second part, and even though after the first line he had half a mind to just shove away the device and go back to sleep or something, he can't after reading that. "I just needed someone to talk to." He thinks of the way he - for once - can't just rant to his best friend about what's wrong.
(He thinks of what could be wrong with Leanne, and all he can see is the way her body looked so tiny and frail as it was lying there among the wreckage of the train--) ]
no
i meaan not rejjkaty sorta
[ He glances around the room, then at the door - Sano is bathing to make sure his wound doesn't get infected and it should probably still be a little while before he has to go bring the guy back here, so.. ]
[ Which was surprising since was far more used to having to deal with the person with a hang over, not the other way around. But with everything that has happened in just the span of two days, she just needed a quick talk with someone who she knew would at least lighten the mood.
At least she hoped. ]
Alright. I'm on my way.
i told her and she said "someone thinks i'm an adult that's so cute" so you're stuck with me
[ This might not be the time to ask Shinpachi to lighten the mood, but it's not like he knows just what exactly she wants either.. thankfully she at least knows where his room is by now since we all know that when Shinpachi has to type out exact numbers and letters over these devices, it's going to take at least 15 tries (especially since he gets mad and just starts mashing halfway through).
He does open the door though in case she forgot which door in the hallway it was before sitting down on the side of the bed. ]
[ Thankfully she still remembers after she had him carry her home and fortunately got him to stay there and not go back for another drink.
It doesn't take her long to go from her room to his, fortunately. Her pace slowing only for a moment when she sees the open door in the hallway, taking a brief moment of hesitation before she finally approaches and peeks her head in. Without much of a second though, she enters. ]
Hey, uh, [ She looks to the door. ] do you mind if I close that? I don't really want anyone to pass by and here this...
Go ahead. [ Not like he's expecting anyone, and if anyone did stop by, he'd rather have them announce it while he's in this mood anyway.
At least he does glance at her when she enters, trying to judge how she's looking - he can't say he knows her that well, but he did see her around multiple times by now, so he should be able to tell if something is majorly off, he figures.
Shinpachi's room is sort of a mess though. At least it's not Sano's room where the entire mess happened so there's no blood anywhere, but there's stuff randomly spread all over the room as if someone just carelessly abandoned it on that spot and never looked back at it. A spear rests against the wall, while three swords can be found too if anyone'd bother to count. Especially haphazardly thrown across the floor of the room are a plush teddybear and a life-sized crocodile plushie. Shinpachi doesn't seem to pay them any mind either. ]
.. So, what did you wanna talk about? [ It's obvious to notice something different about him, at least. His voice is much less energetic, his posture a lot less cheerful and more slumped, as if something came and sucked all of his energy straight out of him. ]
[ She gives a quick nod before closing the door, and it's only when his question comes up and she can't even bother to meet his gaze that she began to take note of the room.
Sort of a mess was putting it lightly. Even Zephyr managed to keep his room neat, and surely he was only a couple years younger than Shinpachi. ]
Geez, I don't know if I should start talking or cleaning up first. [ His difference in mood is easy to catch, but she gives an awkward laugh as if to lift some of the tension from her shoulders. It doesn't work, but it was an attempt, at least. Something that she hasn't bothered to do since her conversation with Michonne.
She walks forward, careful not to accidentally step on anything (hey, it may be important... to him) before kneeling over to pick up the teddybear. Eyeing the crocodile plushie as she considers exactly how she should put it, but ultimately mentally shaking her head at the thought of being anything more than direct. ]
I don't know if you know her, but... my roommate, Michonne, I... [ The life in her voice seems to vanish as she speaks. ] I stabbed her. And I hurt someone I didn't even know too.
[ At least for once Shinpachi is patient. He waits even as Leanne stalls on actually telling him, wandering around the room and picking up the plush animal to stare at it. It's not like sitting here and waiting for her is much different than what he was already doing - sitting and waiting for Sano - after all, so he doesn't mind.
But then she does speak up. Faintly he's remembered of the way she looked when she realised she might be all alone here after they didn't find her friends when she first remembered. But at least back then she had actually been emotional, not like.. this. Almost lifeless.
Although he gets it, he really does, he's pretty sure he sounds just about the same right now since her story is his, he did exactly the same thing, he regrets exactly the same things, even if it was Sano and Klavier rather than Michonne and a stranger.
Still, he's faintly happy (is that a good word for it, considering the situation?) that Leanne isn't really hurt. He's seen Michonne's sword, after all, and he knows just what exactly those weapons are capable of after using one for so long himself.
for a moment or two he sits there, quiet, as if he's thinking to reply - then he pats the spot next to him on the side of the bed, as if he's telling her to sit down. ]
I see. [ His tone makes it obvious he understands, and he lets out a long sigh. ] So you went drinking too.
[ He's pretty sure that's what did it, in retrospect. The haze over his mind was a lot like being drunk, and he had the worst hangover ever after it - but even so, it wasn't just being drunk, not with the voices and nudges in his head. ]
[ The silence almost has her regret coming here in the first place. Her apology to Michonne didn't go well at all, so why would talking about it to someone else turn out any better?
Her stomach twists with just the thought, and then she lifts her head in some surprise when he pats the bed. But there's no sense of relief when he does speak, and for a moment she gives him a look of concern as she quickly stood to sit next to him—with the teddy bear still in hand, even wrapping her arms around the plush when she sat down. ]
Yeah. [ She gives a slow nod. ] ... You think it happened because of that? [ It makes sense; and as she processes the thought, the realization of his words slowly sink, causing her to lift her head. ] Wait. 'Too'? Did you go through the same thing?
[ He does eye the teddybear in her arms for a moment. Shinpachi knows it's not a normal one, after all, so he's a little wary of it.. but it's been in his room for weeks now and it hasn't slaughtered him in his sleep just yet, so he figures it's safe enough for Leanne to hold it.
There's more important things to talk about right now, anyway. He sucks in a deep breath when he hears her questions. ]
Yeah, same thing happened to me. I injured some guy I know and then stabbed Sano in the side. [ He bothers mentioning the last name mostly since he's sure Leanne wouldn't recognize Klavier anyway, so no need to throw names around there.
He does linger on it for a moment, letting some silence fall, but he wants to move on so badly. He doesn't want to remember the looks on their faces, their blood on his sword - his heart still hurts thinking of it and he doesn't want to head down the route of self-blame when Leanne is right there as well.
So Shinpachi quickly moves on. ]
It was a little like I was drunk, but even stranger than that. So I figured they must've messed with the booze the night before. [ A benefit to her sitting right next to him - and maybe why he asked her to sit down like that - is that he can just look ahead of him instead of directly at her. ] No way I would've had a hangover this bad either otherwise, anyway.
[ She doesn't know to respond, at first, which is probably a good thing when he falls silent. It was already difficult enough having her own problems, but it's difficult to not feel concern for Shinpachi too. ]
Yeah, I had the same feeling. Guess we won't be drinking anymore, huh? [ She bites her tongue after her own comment, and for a moment she mentally hides her face in the palm of her hands. Now is not the time to be making jokes, especially when the two of them obviously had a lot in mind.
But maybe they needed to lighten up, even if it was just for a moment. Her heart nearly sunk in the realization of Shinpachi not looking directly at her, even as she turns her head to look at him. He looks so much smaller, in a way, and there's a pinging sense of familiarity as she looks to him. Even if he's quick to change the subject, it's far too obvious of how he felt.
Almost hesitantly she reaches out, placing her hand on his back. ] He's alright, isn't he? [ Because if something even worse happened, surely he wouldn't have invited her over. ] You don't have to be so hard on yourself... it's COMPASS' fault for messing with us. [ Again. ] I'm sure Sano doesn't want to see you down like this, either.
[ "Alright".. well, yeah, he isn't dead and Shinpachi is at least grateful as all hell for that, but he knows he still injured the other guy pretty badly. And it's even more of an issue since this place is dangerous and they're the traditional kind of warriors - Sano can't even walk around much by himself anymore, let alone his spear. What if shit gets worse here, or something happens, and Sano won't even be able to defend himself?
Knowing he caused that is even worse than knowing he stabbed him, really. ]
Nah, it's more complicated than that. [ He had a chance to stop it. Saitou told him to stay away from the bar, and he still went the moment he had a chance to do so. And he's the only one, everyone else was smart enough to be wary, and of course he messed up.
He sighs, unsure if he wants to explain all of that to Leanne or not. She doesn't deserve to hear his whining in this case, especially not if the same happened to her.
Finally Shinpachi turns his head to look at her, looking like he's trying to smile but not being too great at it right now - maybe it only makes him look more pathetic, really. ]
Weren't you the one who wanted to talk to me? Don't go around tryin' to cheer me up now when there's enough on your mind.
[ Don't worry she'll protect the two man-children.
Her features immediately change when he says that it's more complicated than she'd like to believe, however. Her lips forming into a line as her first thought was to apologize. But she couldn't stand the thought of him being so hard on himself when his situation was far from his fault. It's not like they knew this sort of thing would happen, even if it's become a habit for her to expect the worse to come sooner or later in a place like this. ]
Yeah, but... [ She looks to him with concern evident on her features, letting out a sigh of her own as the hand on his back returned to her side.
But not before she gives him a gentle punch to the shoulder. ] It's not fair of me to just sit here and talk when you have your share of problems, too. Especially when we practically went through the same thing, and then you expect me to not try to cheer you up? What kind of friend do you think I am?
[ "What kind of friend".. it's a little strange, honestly. It's not exactly like he's interacted with a whole lot of women in his life - ones that didn't immediately ignore him right after, anyway. Sure, there's Chizuru and she's his friend, but it's almost more like he thinks of her as a little sister if he's truthful with himself. But Leanne acts nothing like Chizuru, if anything, she acts more like the guy friends she has. But since she is a girl, that makes it a little.. weird.
Or instead of putting it that way, maybe it's better to say different. Since even if it's strange, he doesn't think it's as much of a bad thing, even if it means he's still inclined to look out for her instead of just letting her worry about him.
But at least it makes him a little more inclined to answer in his usual way, the corners of his lips tugging up just a little. ]
The kind who'd punch a defenseless guy in the shoulder when he's down.
Defenseless? [ Her eyes widen, looking at him in slight surprise before breaking into laughter. ] Seriously? You have arms of steel! I bet that was nothing, you big baby!
[ She doesn't bother to hit him again to prove a point, only because she's taking the time to do that to concentrate on the smile apparent on his features. Leanne couldn't help but smile wider when she does see it, feeling some sort of accomplishment knowing that she's at least helped cheer him up. Even if it's just a little bit, it motivates her to go on. ]
Aren't you the same guy who told me that he got into fights all the time back home? You'll live.
[ 'You'll live', she says, and even though he knows it's just part of the joke she's going on, he still knows it's true in general too. Even with this situation. He's always gotten through so much shit both here and back home, and even if this might be a little more severe than the usual shit - he hurt his best friend, he injured a proud warrior so much that for the time being Sano can't even go around by himself anymore - he'll find some way to cope with it eventually.
(After all, if he's one of the only two who survive this whole Shinsengumi ordeal, then he's got to have a natural knack for it, for better or worse. ]
Still doesn't give an excuse for a girl to start smackin' me around while she's holding a teddybear.
[ But it's easier to keep the tone light for now. He can't exactly do that with Sano, considering the circumstances, and it's awkward even with the others from back home, but Leanne is so much more uninvolved in all that so it's a little easier. ]
It was one hit! You really like to complain, don't you?
[ She huffs lightly, using the same hand that hit him to gently grab his arm. Hey, at least she's not pinching him. ] Are you telling me that this is all for show?
[ She's glad that his tone at least lightens up, it reassures her that he... well, he's doing alright(?), at least. Even with how she's acting so far, she would be a liar if she said she still wasn't concerned for him. ]
[ He'll take the lack of pinching, thanks, let him keep at least a shred of his dignity...
And honestly, he's also glad to see her a little more energetic again. It suits her a lot more than being so weirdly quiet, even if with these circumstances anyone would be quiet, even him.
But for now, her own energy spurs him on in turn as well. ]
Hey, it's different when you do it. If it was Heisuke, I would have shoved him off already, but I can't exactly do that to a girl. [ Purposefully using Heisuke - even if he's gone - as an example rather than Sano. He doesn't want to think too much about bodily harming the latter right now. ] That's an unfair advantage ya got there, y'know? Don't abuse it.
I won't abuse it. But now that I know I'll definitely keep that in mind.
[ Which could be a good or bad thing, really. ]
So, what's this all about anyway? [ She motions to the teddy bear and then the crocodile on the floor. ] I didn't really take you for the stuffed animal type. Unless...
[ And there seems to be a spark in her eyes as she leans forward before looking to him in surprise. ]
[ Were he fully in his usual mood, he might have gotten flustered over the idea and sputtered some answer. But since he's a little more calm and level-headed thanks to everything, he just lets out a dry breath at what he's saying before turning to look at the plush animals rather than at her again. ]
Nah. My boss got them for me. [ Might be the easiest way to refer to Kondou without having to go into specifics.. besides, he doesn't really want to think about Kondou. Not now the guy is gone only a little while after Shinpachi had to put him down. ]
He just wanted to do something for me, even if it's kinda silly. [ Shinpachi shrugs. ] .. he's just that kinda guy.
[ There's something pretty fondly in the way he says it though. ]
Silly? I think it's cute. [ Of course, that's coming from her perspective. She leans back, both arms wrapped around the teddy bear once again as her eyes return to the crocodile plush. ] Even though it's not a whole lot, it means that he thinks about you. He sounds like a really kind man for doing that much, you should feel lucky!
[ It... honestly almost reminds her of Juris. Even though he could never give her much, it was always a constant reminder to her that there was someone that cared for her.
But she quickly shakes that thought off, seeing as any remembrance of the past often times got her into worse moods than the one she had just previously. Letting out a heavy sigh before she speaks; ] Thanks for listening to me today, Shinpachi. Even though I ended up not talking much... [ At least not on what she originally came here for. ] It made me really happy.
[ Saying "it means that he thinks about you" while Shinpachi had to kill Kondou and now the guy is gone and dead on top of it THANKS LEANNE... REAL NICE OF YOU TO SAY THAT...
But he knows she can't know - what does she know about him, anyway? There's probably a lot she shouldn't have to know, considering how shitty things are about to get back in his world that he doesn't want her to have to worry about as well. (Because she probably would, she seems like that kind of girl. She came here to talk to him about her problems and in the end she only wanted to talk about his own.. what a strange girl.) ]
You're happy listening to an old guy's problems? [ He means it a little happily though as well. Moreso than he was the beginning of this conversation, although it's still a very, very muted kind of happiness compared to his usual loud kind. ] You have some weird hobbies, Leanne-chan.
Oh come on, you're not that old. [ Like she knows. ] What are you? Twenty? Twenty-one?
[ YOUNGER THAN HER... AT LEAST? ]
Well, after not having any for so long, you start picking up whatever you can. [ It's not like she had much to do at all back in the facility. She was either placed under odd experiments with no explanation or spent time drinking tea and conversing with Juris over the outside world. Waiting patiently for the day that she could leave and see everything face-to-face for the first time...
And well, she does, but not in a way that she hoped to. ] Besides, I don't exactly hang around the most normal of people, so it kinda rubbed off on me.
[ Not having any? What, is she just the kind of girl who can't settle on anything? He can't think of any other reason for her to not really have hobbies - she seems like an ordinary girl to him. Sure, one that claims to fight and calls him her prince (EXCUSE HIM?!) and is blonde and he's not exactly used to that either, but a normal girl all the same.
Maybe it's why there's a part of him that wants to make sure she's alright too, even if she might not really have spoken about her own point of view on the whole stabbing situation.
And it's why, despite the fact that he still feels like he's walking on needles with his guilt, he smiles widely at her, hoping it'll encourage her too. ]
Well, no matter what you're gonna say 'bout it, ya seem like a normal girl just fine to me.
[ He stands up, picking the crocodile plush off the floor and shoving it into her arms. ]
Here. If ya don't wanna feel lonely, just take him with you for tonight. It's a lot less creepy than the other one. [ HE HAS GOOD REASONS FOR SAYING A CROCODILE IS LESS CREEPY THAN A TEDDY BEAR OKAY.. LEGIT REASONS.
THIS TIME. ]
.. Oh, and I'm twenty-eight, by the way.
[ Just dropping that bombshell on her last minute.. he thinks it's a very apparent and normal fact, thank you very much. ]
[ Well the only hobby that she has that could be classified as 'ordinary' is shopping, so...
But his words do reach her, making her look to him in surprise before immediately brightening up with joy. She was happy enough just to hear that, if only because she's spent an entire life not living the ideal "normal" life she imagined back in the facility. One where her best friends would be other girls living inside the walls of Basel instead of two hunters; but still, she managed to live life in bliss until only recently. ]
Thanks. [ To both what he said, and to the crocodile plush that he was now shoving into her arms and replacing the teddy bear that was there. ] I'll probably end up wrestling it when I wake up tomorrow—
[ And then she stops, eyes widening for a brief moment as she opens her mouth to speak... only to let out an awkward laugh in some poor attempt to look less surprised. ]
[ There they go, she seems genuinely glad and happier again, so he at least did something right here--
Except then she goes on, and the surprise is obvious even to someone who might seem like an idiot sometimes like Shinpachi. It's almost as if there's a slight twitch near his eye as she says it, actually.. younger than her? But she isn't even close to his height - even for a woman she's pretty tiny, no way she can even be close to his age, right? ]
W-- what made ya think that?! [ DOESN'T HE SEEM COOL AND WISE AND MANLY IN HIS MATURITY... ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
what
But then he receives the second part, and even though after the first line he had half a mind to just shove away the device and go back to sleep or something, he can't after reading that. "I just needed someone to talk to." He thinks of the way he - for once - can't just rant to his best friend about what's wrong.
(He thinks of what could be wrong with Leanne, and all he can see is the way her body looked so tiny and frail as it was lying there among the wreckage of the train--) ]
no
i meaan not rejjkaty sorta
[ He glances around the room, then at the door - Sano is bathing to make sure his wound doesn't get infected and it should probably still be a little while before he has to go bring the guy back here, so.. ]
thei points is justi come over
i need an adult for this i'm calling rose
It's fine. I mean, I am too. Kinda.
[ Which was surprising since was far more used to having to deal with the person with a hang over, not the other way around. But with everything that has happened in just the span of two days, she just needed a quick talk with someone who she knew would at least lighten the mood.
At least she hoped. ]
Alright. I'm on my way.
i told her and she said "someone thinks i'm an adult that's so cute" so you're stuck with me
He does open the door though in case she forgot which door in the hallway it was before sitting down on the side of the bed. ]
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It doesn't take her long to go from her room to his, fortunately. Her pace slowing only for a moment when she sees the open door in the hallway, taking a brief moment of hesitation before she finally approaches and peeks her head in. Without much of a second though, she enters. ]
Hey, uh, [ She looks to the door. ] do you mind if I close that? I don't really want anyone to pass by and here this...
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At least he does glance at her when she enters, trying to judge how she's looking - he can't say he knows her that well, but he did see her around multiple times by now, so he should be able to tell if something is majorly off, he figures.
Shinpachi's room is sort of a mess though. At least it's not Sano's room where the entire mess happened so there's no blood anywhere, but there's stuff randomly spread all over the room as if someone just carelessly abandoned it on that spot and never looked back at it. A spear rests against the wall, while three swords can be found too if anyone'd bother to count. Especially haphazardly thrown across the floor of the room are a plush teddybear and a life-sized crocodile plushie. Shinpachi doesn't seem to pay them any mind either. ]
.. So, what did you wanna talk about? [ It's obvious to notice something different about him, at least. His voice is much less energetic, his posture a lot less cheerful and more slumped, as if something came and sucked all of his energy straight out of him. ]
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Sort of a mess was putting it lightly. Even Zephyr managed to keep his room neat, and surely he was only a couple years younger than Shinpachi. ]
Geez, I don't know if I should start talking or cleaning up first. [ His difference in mood is easy to catch, but she gives an awkward laugh as if to lift some of the tension from her shoulders. It doesn't work, but it was an attempt, at least. Something that she hasn't bothered to do since her conversation with Michonne.
She walks forward, careful not to accidentally step on anything (hey, it may be important... to him) before kneeling over to pick up the teddybear. Eyeing the crocodile plushie as she considers exactly how she should put it, but ultimately mentally shaking her head at the thought of being anything more than direct. ]
I don't know if you know her, but... my roommate, Michonne, I... [ The life in her voice seems to vanish as she speaks. ] I stabbed her. And I hurt someone I didn't even know too.
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But then she does speak up. Faintly he's remembered of the way she looked when she realised she might be all alone here after they didn't find her friends when she first remembered. But at least back then she had actually been emotional, not like.. this. Almost lifeless.
Although he gets it, he really does, he's pretty sure he sounds just about the same right now since her story is his, he did exactly the same thing, he regrets exactly the same things, even if it was Sano and Klavier rather than Michonne and a stranger.
Still, he's faintly happy (is that a good word for it, considering the situation?) that Leanne isn't really hurt. He's seen Michonne's sword, after all, and he knows just what exactly those weapons are capable of after using one for so long himself.
for a moment or two he sits there, quiet, as if he's thinking to reply - then he pats the spot next to him on the side of the bed, as if he's telling her to sit down. ]
I see. [ His tone makes it obvious he understands, and he lets out a long sigh. ] So you went drinking too.
[ He's pretty sure that's what did it, in retrospect. The haze over his mind was a lot like being drunk, and he had the worst hangover ever after it - but even so, it wasn't just being drunk, not with the voices and nudges in his head. ]
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Her stomach twists with just the thought, and then she lifts her head in some surprise when he pats the bed. But there's no sense of relief when he does speak, and for a moment she gives him a look of concern as she quickly stood to sit next to him—with the teddy bear still in hand, even wrapping her arms around the plush when she sat down. ]
Yeah. [ She gives a slow nod. ] ... You think it happened because of that? [ It makes sense; and as she processes the thought, the realization of his words slowly sink, causing her to lift her head. ] Wait. 'Too'? Did you go through the same thing?
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There's more important things to talk about right now, anyway. He sucks in a deep breath when he hears her questions. ]
Yeah, same thing happened to me. I injured some guy I know and then stabbed Sano in the side. [ He bothers mentioning the last name mostly since he's sure Leanne wouldn't recognize Klavier anyway, so no need to throw names around there.
He does linger on it for a moment, letting some silence fall, but he wants to move on so badly. He doesn't want to remember the looks on their faces, their blood on his sword - his heart still hurts thinking of it and he doesn't want to head down the route of self-blame when Leanne is right there as well.
So Shinpachi quickly moves on. ]
It was a little like I was drunk, but even stranger than that. So I figured they must've messed with the booze the night before. [ A benefit to her sitting right next to him - and maybe why he asked her to sit down like that - is that he can just look ahead of him instead of directly at her. ] No way I would've had a hangover this bad either otherwise, anyway.
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Yeah, I had the same feeling. Guess we won't be drinking anymore, huh? [ She bites her tongue after her own comment, and for a moment she mentally hides her face in the palm of her hands. Now is not the time to be making jokes, especially when the two of them obviously had a lot in mind.
But maybe they needed to lighten up, even if it was just for a moment. Her heart nearly sunk in the realization of Shinpachi not looking directly at her, even as she turns her head to look at him. He looks so much smaller, in a way, and there's a pinging sense of familiarity as she looks to him. Even if he's quick to change the subject, it's far too obvious of how he felt.
Almost hesitantly she reaches out, placing her hand on his back. ] He's alright, isn't he? [ Because if something even worse happened, surely he wouldn't have invited her over. ] You don't have to be so hard on yourself... it's COMPASS' fault for messing with us. [ Again. ] I'm sure Sano doesn't want to see you down like this, either.
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Knowing he caused that is even worse than knowing he stabbed him, really. ]
Nah, it's more complicated than that. [ He had a chance to stop it. Saitou told him to stay away from the bar, and he still went the moment he had a chance to do so. And he's the only one, everyone else was smart enough to be wary, and of course he messed up.
He sighs, unsure if he wants to explain all of that to Leanne or not. She doesn't deserve to hear his whining in this case, especially not if the same happened to her.
Finally Shinpachi turns his head to look at her, looking like he's trying to smile but not being too great at it right now - maybe it only makes him look more pathetic, really. ]
Weren't you the one who wanted to talk to me? Don't go around tryin' to cheer me up now when there's enough on your mind.
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Her features immediately change when he says that it's more complicated than she'd like to believe, however. Her lips forming into a line as her first thought was to apologize. But she couldn't stand the thought of him being so hard on himself when his situation was far from his fault. It's not like they knew this sort of thing would happen, even if it's become a habit for her to expect the worse to come sooner or later in a place like this. ]
Yeah, but... [ She looks to him with concern evident on her features, letting out a sigh of her own as the hand on his back returned to her side.
But not before she gives him a gentle punch to the shoulder. ] It's not fair of me to just sit here and talk when you have your share of problems, too. Especially when we practically went through the same thing, and then you expect me to not try to cheer you up? What kind of friend do you think I am?
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Or instead of putting it that way, maybe it's better to say different. Since even if it's strange, he doesn't think it's as much of a bad thing, even if it means he's still inclined to look out for her instead of just letting her worry about him.
But at least it makes him a little more inclined to answer in his usual way, the corners of his lips tugging up just a little. ]
The kind who'd punch a defenseless guy in the shoulder when he's down.
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[ She doesn't bother to hit him again to prove a point, only because she's taking the time to do that to concentrate on the smile apparent on his features. Leanne couldn't help but smile wider when she does see it, feeling some sort of accomplishment knowing that she's at least helped cheer him up. Even if it's just a little bit, it motivates her to go on. ]
Aren't you the same guy who told me that he got into fights all the time back home? You'll live.
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(After all, if he's one of the only two who survive this whole Shinsengumi ordeal, then he's got to have a natural knack for it, for better or worse. ]
Still doesn't give an excuse for a girl to start smackin' me around while she's holding a teddybear.
[ But it's easier to keep the tone light for now. He can't exactly do that with Sano, considering the circumstances, and it's awkward even with the others from back home, but Leanne is so much more uninvolved in all that so it's a little easier. ]
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[ She huffs lightly, using the same hand that hit him to gently grab his arm. Hey, at least she's not pinching him. ] Are you telling me that this is all for show?
[ She's glad that his tone at least lightens up, it reassures her that he... well, he's doing alright(?), at least. Even with how she's acting so far, she would be a liar if she said she still wasn't concerned for him. ]
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And honestly, he's also glad to see her a little more energetic again. It suits her a lot more than being so weirdly quiet, even if with these circumstances anyone would be quiet, even him.
But for now, her own energy spurs him on in turn as well. ]
Hey, it's different when you do it. If it was Heisuke, I would have shoved him off already, but I can't exactly do that to a girl. [ Purposefully using Heisuke - even if he's gone - as an example rather than Sano. He doesn't want to think too much about bodily harming the latter right now. ] That's an unfair advantage ya got there, y'know? Don't abuse it.
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[ Which could be a good or bad thing, really. ]
So, what's this all about anyway? [ She motions to the teddy bear and then the crocodile on the floor. ] I didn't really take you for the stuffed animal type. Unless...
[ And there seems to be a spark in her eyes as she leans forward before looking to him in surprise. ]
It's from a girlfriend?
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Nah. My boss got them for me. [ Might be the easiest way to refer to Kondou without having to go into specifics.. besides, he doesn't really want to think about Kondou. Not now the guy is gone only a little while after Shinpachi had to put him down. ]
He just wanted to do something for me, even if it's kinda silly. [ Shinpachi shrugs. ] .. he's just that kinda guy.
[ There's something pretty fondly in the way he says it though. ]
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[ It... honestly almost reminds her of Juris. Even though he could never give her much, it was always a constant reminder to her that there was someone that cared for her.
But she quickly shakes that thought off, seeing as any remembrance of the past often times got her into worse moods than the one she had just previously. Letting out a heavy sigh before she speaks; ] Thanks for listening to me today, Shinpachi. Even though I ended up not talking much... [ At least not on what she originally came here for. ] It made me really happy.
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But he knows she can't know - what does she know about him, anyway? There's probably a lot she shouldn't have to know, considering how shitty things are about to get back in his world that he doesn't want her to have to worry about as well. (Because she probably would, she seems like that kind of girl. She came here to talk to him about her problems and in the end she only wanted to talk about his own.. what a strange girl.) ]
You're happy listening to an old guy's problems? [ He means it a little happily though as well. Moreso than he was the beginning of this conversation, although it's still a very, very muted kind of happiness compared to his usual loud kind. ] You have some weird hobbies, Leanne-chan.
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[ YOUNGER THAN HER... AT LEAST? ]
Well, after not having any for so long, you start picking up whatever you can. [ It's not like she had much to do at all back in the facility. She was either placed under odd experiments with no explanation or spent time drinking tea and conversing with Juris over the outside world. Waiting patiently for the day that she could leave and see everything face-to-face for the first time...
And well, she does, but not in a way that she hoped to. ] Besides, I don't exactly hang around the most normal of people, so it kinda rubbed off on me.
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Maybe it's why there's a part of him that wants to make sure she's alright too, even if she might not really have spoken about her own point of view on the whole stabbing situation.
And it's why, despite the fact that he still feels like he's walking on needles with his guilt, he smiles widely at her, hoping it'll encourage her too. ]
Well, no matter what you're gonna say 'bout it, ya seem like a normal girl just fine to me.
[ He stands up, picking the crocodile plush off the floor and shoving it into her arms. ]
Here. If ya don't wanna feel lonely, just take him with you for tonight. It's a lot less creepy than the other one. [ HE HAS GOOD REASONS FOR SAYING A CROCODILE IS LESS CREEPY THAN A TEDDY BEAR OKAY.. LEGIT REASONS.
THIS TIME. ]
.. Oh, and I'm twenty-eight, by the way.
[ Just dropping that bombshell on her last minute.. he thinks it's a very apparent and normal fact, thank you very much. ]
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But his words do reach her, making her look to him in surprise before immediately brightening up with joy. She was happy enough just to hear that, if only because she's spent an entire life not living the ideal "normal" life she imagined back in the facility. One where her best friends would be other girls living inside the walls of Basel instead of two hunters; but still, she managed to live life in bliss until only recently. ]
Thanks. [ To both what he said, and to the crocodile plush that he was now shoving into her arms and replacing the teddy bear that was there. ] I'll probably end up wrestling it when I wake up tomorrow—
[ And then she stops, eyes widening for a brief moment as she opens her mouth to speak... only to let out an awkward laugh in some poor attempt to look less surprised. ]
You're kidding. [ Leanne no. ] No way!
[ He's older than Zephyr. ]
I thought you'd be younger than me!
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Except then she goes on, and the surprise is obvious even to someone who might seem like an idiot sometimes like Shinpachi. It's almost as if there's a slight twitch near his eye as she says it, actually.. younger than her? But she isn't even close to his height - even for a woman she's pretty tiny, no way she can even be close to his age, right? ]
W-- what made ya think that?! [ DOESN'T HE SEEM COOL AND WISE AND MANLY IN HIS MATURITY... ]
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god i hate you
i love you too babe
this is why people think we're dating