aerialassault: (confident -- you gotta deal)
Cliff Fittir ([personal profile] aerialassault) wrote2012-01-07 11:57 am

Appointments

Cliff here. Looks like we've missed eachother, so drop a note and we'll talk soon.

[please note date/time/type of interaction.]
ahappylie: (Bittersweet)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-20 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[If Cliff meant to hit Souji hard, then he hit his mark straight on. Rather than flinch or bite back at him, however, the swordsman went completely quiet, staring down at his friend dispassionately. TERRACE was a memory he wanted to forget, even if it was one that eventually saved his life. Remembering TERRACE made him remember home and the last time he spent time with Hijikata alone, when he was alive and well and not trapped in this place that kept ripping him away again. Right after the raid, when Souji was too weak to walk on his own, blood still on his lips as he tried to reassure his friend that he wasn't dying.

No one liked it when they were lied to, but sometimes the lies were the only things that kept them going.

Still he didn't want to hurt Cliff either, and most of the responses that were flying to the forefront of his mind would do just that. "You can talk to me about how much it hurts when you see a future you can never have because you and everyone you loved is already dead" was the main one. That wouldn't do anything but make Cliff angry and so he held his tongue and waited as his rationality caught up to him. It was clear that Cliff was dealing with everything far better than Souji was, and the last thing the swordsman wanted was to be a burden. He'd been told before that if he lost his usefulness, he'd be left behind.

He'd always wondered if that was why all his friends had left him.
]

If you hate being lied to, you shouldn't be friends with me.

[He gave the man a small, tired smile and leaned down to pick up the water bottle - his constant distraction from everything else.]

I'm not hurt, Cliff-san. No more than you are. And the things we could talk about are things I doubt could ever be changed. I've come to accept that over the years.
ahappylie: (Barely holding)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-21 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
[He didn't expect anyone to believe him, but he always hoped they would. It was hard enough putting what he felt into words that wouldn't scare everyone away, but talking about things that scared him was nearly impossible. It hurt too many people and then their faces changed. He hated watching people look at him, waiting for the day when he wasted away. The pity and sorrow was too much for him to handle.

Hijikata had taught him how to kill, but no one had taught him how to grieve.

With the smile stuck on his face like a picture frozen on a television, Souji shook his head.
]

I'm samurai - it isn't quite the same as military, but it is close.

[He looked down at Saizou who was staring up at him as he lifted the water bottle from the ground and straightened up. The pig stepped forward and craned its neck back to look at its master.]

As for what I was hiding from? I was hiding from you.

[He turned his gaze to Cliff and tried to bring his light tone back from the grave. He even managed a small laugh.]

I'm apparently not as good at hide and seek as I used to be. Is it your turn to hide now? Or do you not need to do it as much as I do.
ahappylie: (Wistful)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-21 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Nothing to hide from anyone - Souji wished he knew what that felt like. Skill, bloodthirst, and his penchant to strike to kill even in a fight were things widely known by most people. Everyone knew about the demonic murderer of the Shinsengumi and Souji had never minded that.

It was the other part that he could never talk about. And even now, he wasn't sure if Cliff's invitation wasn't just an open door to disaster.

He watched his friend for a moment, wondering why he could lay his life down for Cliff without a moment's thought but couldn't do the man the simple act of trusting. He wavered for a moment, then crouched down in front of him, balancing on the balls of his feet, looking up into his face.
]

I envy you, Cliff-san. Your honesty and trust, your straightforward nature. Your hope. Your future.

[Once, he could have had that. He trusted, he had tried to live normally and with hope. But then he'd read books and learned the truth. Then he had died and learned that he would not live much past a year at home. He couldn't imagine how difficult it had been for his friends, who had come here long after their own deaths, to return to that nothingness with their mission still unfinished and doomed to fail. He'd never been the strong one in the group. That had been Hijikata, Kondou, even Tetsunosuke, but never Souji. And all of them died on a battlefield or were executed without Souji even knowing, all while he wasted away in a back room in Edo.

He smiled faintly and rocked back onto his heels, ready to stand up.
]

Thank you for letting me have a family for a short time. I should go now.
ahappylie: (Mild surprise)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-21 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[The gesture took him by such surprise that he almost snatched his hand away out of instinct. It wasn't pity or sorrow in the touch, but gratitude and understanding - neither of which Souji had much experience in receiving. He looked at Cliff's hand, still frozen from the shock, and then felt the tension in him begin to dissolve. His shoulders relaxed and his weight shifted slightly as his instinct backed down, allowing him to feel his friend's warmth and the comfort inherent in that. It was such a simple motion, one whose power he'd never really understood until now. He still had so much to learn about people.

Souji squeezed Cliff's hand lightly in return and, crossing his free arm over the top of his knees, laid his temple against it. From here he could see Saizou sitting nearby, watching them quietly, and he could hear Cliff's steady breathing as he looked away. It was strange to hold hands with someone, but at the same time, it made him feel better than all his running and hiding combined. After a moment, he closed his eyes as he tried to memorize this new feeling for however long Cliff decided to let it last.
]
ahappylie: (Cheeky)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-21 01:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[He could feel Cliff shift as he began to talk and Souji relaxed his grip. His words were familiar, things he knew intellectually, and somehow being told them reminded him of what other people often said about him. For all his years and his deadly force, Souji was so very much a child. Usually it never embarrassed him, but suddenly he felt his ears turning a little red as he looked up from his headrest. Rather than let the embarrassment show, he smiled back at Cliff and nodded slightly as he pulled his hand away. He pillowed his head on top of both arms and turned his gaze fully toward Cliff.]

You sound like you're proposing. Or you're being old. I can't decide which.

[His lips quirked up in an amused smile at his own teasing and then he winked at Cliff, relaxing a little more. He understood what the man really meant and he let it show in the appreciative smile that hid beneath his mirth.]
ahappylie: (Giggle fit)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-22 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
[He laughed a little and shrugged.]

I used to tell Hijikata-san the same thing and he'd get this really angry wrinkle right there. [Souji reached up and pointed between Cliff's eyebrows.] I think old people get that, but you didn't, so you must not be that old.

[He pulled his arm back and then laughed again.]

And I would, but I don't know if you'd want to marry me. I'm not as good a cook as I was in our pretend house.
ahappylie: (Frank and open)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-22 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Why wasn't cooking important? Souji was also just as dumbfounded as Cliff was for a moment, then laughed away the ruffling of his hair.]

When you find someone who is a good cook, you'll understand. I would have liked to introduce you to my friend if she were still here. I think she could have changed your mind.

[He could cook, but he was nowhere near as good as Ayumu. Not that many were. Souji let his head roll to the side, his temple resting against his arms again, and thought for a moment on the absurdity of their situation. He smiled at Cliff and his optimism, heartened by his words even if the weight of his future hadn't fully lifted.]

I'll have to take lessons, I guess.
ahappylie: (Curious)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-22 04:01 am (UTC)(link)
Then why don't you and Fayt-kun come by for dinner sometime? Kohaku-chan doesn't eat save for milk and honey, but she appreciates the company.

[Saizou snorted and Souji lifted his head to look at him. The pig was staring, wondering why they were still here if they were no longer hiding. That was a good question, of course, but Souji tilted his head back, considering his options. When he spoke, he was still looking at Saizou, even if his question was directed at Cliff.]

Have you eaten yet?
ahappylie: (Thinking)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-23 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Then family dinners or not, it was decided. It would be good to have people over again. The house could get quiet with just the two of them there and maybe Kohaku could bring some of her friends, too. Souji always felt better when he was surrounded by people, especially at meal times. He smiled at Saizou first, then turned his gaze to Cliff.]

Oh, I assumed she'd be coming with Fayt-kun. Or were they not together in your world either?
ahappylie: (Or so I heard~)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-23 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[He laughed openly at that, feeling more like his old self now as he rocked back a little.]

Oh! Yes, I told her that once and she was very confused. She's very cute, even if she could probably kill me in my sleep.

[Not that it was likely to happen what with how lightly he slept, but he recognized talent when he saw it.]

They made such a cute couple though. ...I wonder how they are holding up.
ahappylie: (Bittersweet)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-25 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fine, huh? If Cliff seemed so sure about it, Souji wanted to take his word for it. He knew he could trust Cliff, but at the same time, he wouldn't be completely reassured until he saw them himself. He didn't know Fayt and Nel as well, even after playing pretend as family for a week, so he was naturally worried about them.

When Cliff asked after him, he paused and looked over. Cliff was still concerned and Souji didn't want to worry him any longer. Even if he wasn't 'better' per say, he no longer needed to hide so he smiled back at Cliff as if nothing were wrong.
]

Once I sleep, I'm sure I'll be fine. Before that, would you like to get something to eat?
ahappylie: (WTF)

August 19, afternoon

[personal profile] ahappylie 2013-08-26 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Those cracking joints made Souji raise an eyebrow of his own. For a fighter, it made sense for someone to have a few kinks here and there, but the way Cliff's shoulders popped, it sounded like he hadn't relaxed or had a massage in far too long. As he climbed to his feet, Souji made a move to follow.]

I could help you tak--

[But was cut off mid-sentence as Cliff suddenly grabbed at him. Even when it was just between friends, Souji had never been very good when it came to sudden movements and when Cliff grabbed at him, he instinctively twisted to get out of the way. Maybe it was his fatigue or maybe it was just that Cliff caught him by surprise, but he felt arms grab him around the waist and hoist him up as he made a very undignified sound of surprise. He almost hit his head on the ceiling as he rose up and over the Klausian's shoulder, still trying to find a foothold in the increasingly strange reality going on around him. Down below, he could hear Saizou grunting and oinking up a storm as he ran around Cliff's feet, looking for a place to bite him.]

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