[ '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... ]
Well, I mean! I just turned twenty-two, and well... [ Even though he's around Vashyron's age, Vashyron was... more mature between the two of them. And that was saying a lot considering that he certainly wasn't the most mature adult that someone could come across. ] From how you act, I thought of you kind of as a little brother... so I thought that you were younger than me.
[ LIKE... ZEPHYR... ]
B-But hey! You don't look twenty-eight, either! So... [ She's just going to just bury her face into the crocodile plush before groaning loudly. She messed up. She messed up so bad. ]
[ Messed up so bad is a good way to put this. Sure, at least they're both out of their earlier moods, but it's not like this is a great thing to hear either.. The words little brother echo in his head. There's no way anyone could think that way about him when he's all big and manly, right?!
God. He can never let Sano catch a word of this, the guy would never let him live this one down... ]
Y'know, you're really puttin' my pride as a man at stake here.. [ Little brother. ] You look so tiny and young, and then you're seriously saying you thought I was even younger than that..
[ He's going to have to cry himself to sleep tonight at this rate. ]
What!? [ She lifts her head, in which her face is practically beat red from embarrassment alone. ] You look young too, you know!? And just because I'm smaller than you doesn't mean anything, you can be bigger than me and younger! I mean, you kinda act like it anyway!
[ God she's just digging a deeper hole for herself. ]
... I'm sorry. [ She's just going back to hiding her face. ] I'll leave...
[ How does she put this in a way that doesn't sound offensive!? She lifts her head again, but she turns so she's at least not making eye contact with him when she speaks; ]
I just got more of a feeling that I needed to take care of you. But like I said, there was only a couple of moments where you acted younger. [ Especially when he was drunk. ] When I first met you and that time you and Sano helped me out, I thought that you were cool and mature. But I guess the more you helped me, the more I felt like I needed to take care of you, so that's why I thought that you were younger.
Plus, I never met someone fluster up just by being called a 'Prince'.
[ At least he seems to calm down a little, acting a little less flustered when he hears all of that. Sure, it's not exactly not embarrassing whatsoever to hear her say she felt like she had to take care of him despite him being so much older than her and a man and all, but at least it's easy enough to sense the good intent behind her words.
Yare yare... ]
You usually think that way 'bout people so quickly? [ He wouldn't be too surprised. There's something reminiscent of Chizuru's kindness about Leanne too, even if this girl is a whole lot more spunky and entirely unlike the women of his time. But thankfully Shinpachi is not exactly the most formal guy around, so he doesn't really mind too much to begin with.
Shinpachi sits back down next to her, giving her a pat on the shoulder. ]
Well, guess I'm pretty lucky to have you lookin' out for me.
[ Not that he thinks he needs it, exactly, but.. it's just always nice to know someone cares. And he'd hardly want to make her feel bad for her effort or intent, so he smiles, and not as over the top as he usually does. Although it might still be a little subdued thanks to circumstances, who knows. ]
Huh? Well... [ She can't deny that. It's not like it took her over a year to think of Vashyron and Zephyr as people that she wanted to protect. And soon she was like that for Michonne, too, but-- ] I guess you could say that.
[ She doesn't want to think about what she's lost now that they managed to make the conversation turn an entire one-eighty. Which is why she's quick to replace those thoughts with a smile after he came back to sit down. ]
Aren't you? I've learned from the best, so my services aren't cheap!
Haaah, you're sayin' I gotta pay now?! [ His surprise over it is entirely faked, though - he can do the comedic reactions just to make others smile fairly easily too, considering how he's pretty naturally a strongly emotional guy. So going along with something silly is like second nature to him. ]
Ya gotta say that stuff up front next time! I'm broke, y'know..! Kondou-san doesn't pay me that much!
That's good. Not sure if I could afford having friends otherwise. [ No, you can't afford having them since they'll all die and you'll be a mess, Shinpachi.
He lifts a hand, moving it on top of her head and ruffling her hair lightly. ]
I guess.. I don't charge anything, so just come see me if ya ever need help, 'kay? 'specially if it involves beating up someone who's messing with ya, I'm good at that.
[ She's twenty-two and puffing up her cheeks life a child when he reaches to ruffle up her hair. Immediately raising a hand to pat down any flyaway pieces. ]
What? You think I can't take them down myself? [ A pause. ] Oh! Are you taking the 'prince' thing seriously again? You don't need to do that.
T-- .. that and this have nothing to do with each other!
[ Are his cheeks turning faintly red again? Yup, sure is happening, what else do you expect when she's calling him prince again.. he thought she got over that shit by now. ]
Even aside from you bein' a woman and small, it isn't like thugs are all ya have to deal with in a place like this. [ He sure knows that by now. ] Don't think you have to take everything on by yourself. Only a moron'd think that.
[ That's pretty familiar too. Isn't it what Chizuru said too, plenty of times? It's not a kind of mindset he can understand very easily, but he can still somewhat wrap his mind around it. Enough to realise it's nothing she has to be worried about, because-- ]
Who ever said you're a bother to me? [ Because she's not. Besides, she's helping him out too, then there's no way she could be a bother to him to begin with. ]
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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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Well, I mean! I just turned twenty-two, and well... [ Even though he's around Vashyron's age, Vashyron was... more mature between the two of them. And that was saying a lot considering that he certainly wasn't the most mature adult that someone could come across. ] From how you act, I thought of you kind of as a little brother... so I thought that you were younger than me.
[ LIKE... ZEPHYR... ]
B-But hey! You don't look twenty-eight, either! So... [ She's just going to just bury her face into the crocodile plush before groaning loudly. She messed up. She messed up so bad. ]
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God. He can never let Sano catch a word of this, the guy would never let him live this one down... ]
Y'know, you're really puttin' my pride as a man at stake here.. [ Little brother. ] You look so tiny and young, and then you're seriously saying you thought I was even younger than that..
[ He's going to have to cry himself to sleep tonight at this rate. ]
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[ God she's just digging a deeper hole for herself. ]
... I'm sorry. [ She's just going back to hiding her face. ] I'll leave...
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Then he speaks up, strangely soft compared to his usual tone, even sounding a little defeated-- ]
Do you really think I act that way... [ There goes his reputation. He knows people think he's an idiot, but not that he's a kid, right?! ]
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[ How does she put this in a way that doesn't sound offensive!? She lifts her head again, but she turns so she's at least not making eye contact with him when she speaks; ]
I just got more of a feeling that I needed to take care of you. But like I said, there was only a couple of moments where you acted younger. [ Especially when he was drunk. ] When I first met you and that time you and Sano helped me out, I thought that you were cool and mature. But I guess the more you helped me, the more I felt like I needed to take care of you, so that's why I thought that you were younger.
Plus, I never met someone fluster up just by being called a 'Prince'.
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Yare yare... ]
You usually think that way 'bout people so quickly? [ He wouldn't be too surprised. There's something reminiscent of Chizuru's kindness about Leanne too, even if this girl is a whole lot more spunky and entirely unlike the women of his time. But thankfully Shinpachi is not exactly the most formal guy around, so he doesn't really mind too much to begin with.
Shinpachi sits back down next to her, giving her a pat on the shoulder. ]
Well, guess I'm pretty lucky to have you lookin' out for me.
[ Not that he thinks he needs it, exactly, but.. it's just always nice to know someone cares. And he'd hardly want to make her feel bad for her effort or intent, so he smiles, and not as over the top as he usually does. Although it might still be a little subdued thanks to circumstances, who knows. ]
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[ She doesn't want to think about what she's lost now that they managed to make the conversation turn an entire one-eighty. Which is why she's quick to replace those thoughts with a smile after he came back to sit down. ]
Aren't you? I've learned from the best, so my services aren't cheap!
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Ya gotta say that stuff up front next time! I'm broke, y'know..! Kondou-san doesn't pay me that much!
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[ If Vashyron was here, though, he'd probably be slamming his head into a wall. She can practically hear him,
"One million the first hour, and two million for every hour after that." ]
I don't charge friends.
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That's good. Not sure if I could afford having friends otherwise. [ No, you can't afford having them since they'll all die and you'll be a mess, Shinpachi.
He lifts a hand, moving it on top of her head and ruffling her hair lightly. ]
I guess.. I don't charge anything, so just come see me if ya ever need help, 'kay? 'specially if it involves beating up someone who's messing with ya, I'm good at that.
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What? You think I can't take them down myself? [ A pause. ] Oh! Are you taking the 'prince' thing seriously again? You don't need to do that.
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[ Are his cheeks turning faintly red again? Yup, sure is happening, what else do you expect when she's calling him prince again.. he thought she got over that shit by now. ]
Even aside from you bein' a woman and small, it isn't like thugs are all ya have to deal with in a place like this. [ He sure knows that by now. ] Don't think you have to take everything on by yourself. Only a moron'd think that.
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Do you always have to mention the small part? [ It reminds her of something she wishes she could forget, honestly. ] And I know that, but, you know...
[ No. He doesn't know. ]
I just don't want to be a bother for anyone.
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Who ever said you're a bother to me? [ Because she's not. Besides, she's helping him out too, then there's no way she could be a bother to him to begin with. ]
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god i hate you
i love you too babe
this is why people think we're dating