Unfliltered

[nicotinized]

[Toshi's mental voice sounds a little anxious - he's trying to hide it, but he has no idea when he is, just that finally there are other people around and some of them look familiar]

Hey, what did I miss? Is Souji still here?

[there's a pause, and then he sounds a little calmer, and a little embarrassed]

I got stuck in some weird patch of liminal space where time was all fucked up - watch didn't work right or anything.

Comments

[nicotinized]

I'll let you know if I spot him - I'm sure Chizuru's worried.

[and that Hijikata probably is too but he's not going to say that]

[hakodate]

She's good at that.

[To be fair, he's good at that, too.]

Thanks.

[nicotinized]

No problem. She's okay?

[hakodate]

Yeah. You know how she is.

[She makes TRYING REALLY HARD TO ALWAYS BE OKAY into an art form and all.]

[nicotinized]

Yeah, but I trust you to know if she's really okay.

[Souji is exactly the same. Always 'fine' except... not.]

[hakodate]

Ask me again once I figure out if Souji's still here, then.

[...because it's starting to get a little worrisome, how many of his ducklings have come and gone, sometimes more than once.]

But she bounces back fast.

[He's the one who seems to lose it and need the help back up, honestly.]

[nicotinized]

Yeah, fair. I'll kick his ass for you if you want.

[hakodate]

I'd say I'm going to do it myself anyway, but I'm not sure there can ever be too many asskickings for him.

[nicotinized]

That much trouble, huh?

[hakodate]

I've forgotten more stories than anybody ever wants to hear.

[nicotinized]

You'll have to share some, sometime.

[hakodate]

Next time we find a bar, maybe.

[Not that Hijikata tends to drink much, but some things require it.]

[nicotinized]

Good. I'll buy.

[he could just make some here, but there's something to be said for the right atmosphere]

[hakodate]

Deal.