some grumpy grump hates kids

[trulyfree]

[No formal introductions here since Fenris is preoccupied with the noise coming from down the hall.]

I returned to my quarters to find the others rooming with me to be missing and shrieks echoing down the hallway.

Perhaps it should be of no concern, but it seems some of the younger ones among us are murdering each other collectively in some strange ritual. I am uncertain of if it would be wise to intrude, though advice would be appreciated as to whether or not I should bolt the door and bar them from returning as punishment for their unruly behavior.

[Not that he hasn't already done just that.]

Comments

[hakodate]

That shit happens a lot here, you'll find.

[The stories Hijikata could tell. Except he probably won't because they're awkward.]

[trulyfree]

Hm. Well, I suppose it wouldn't be fun for our captors without inducing a little confusion for their own entertainment.

[Dry, dry, dry. Everything is dry.]

[hakodate]

I'm pretty sure they get off on all of this, up to and especially including when we get ourselves killed in the line of duty.

[Hijikata entertains no illusions about the Trumps being out to work for the greater good.]

[trulyfree]

[Fenris hadn't actually been serious, but now he is frustrated that someone else actually agrees with the notion, which only further postulates that it may actually be the truth.

He sighs, shaking his head though the other man can't see.]

A sick game of control, it would seem. Once a puppet, always a puppet, I suppose. [How utterly disappointing.]

[hakodate]

[The first few times Hijikata said as much, it was probably a joke.

Now? Now, he's been traveling so long that it's stopped sounding like one to his ears.]

You put it a lot more eloquently than me. I just call it bullshit.

[trulyfree]

[He chuckles.]

I'm afraid "bullshit" is not part of my standard vocabulary. At least, not in the common tongue. But I wouldn't say it is any less inaccurate as a description of the circumstances, informal or not.

[hakodate]

The Trumps haven't done much to earn me speaking nicely about them, so informality it is.

[trulyfree]

A reasonable choice to make. You don't worry about the impression you'll give to others?

[hakodate]

If they can't find something more important to judge me over, I probably don't need to give a shit what they think anyway.

[pseudologist]

You could make a case for it happening every time we land somewhere new.

[hakodate]

...point. But I was mostly thinking of how we used to have three Soujis running around.

[Two of whom also shared a face and one of whom was really goddamned confusing 99% of the time.]