aerialassault | 001 [audio/action] backdated to the 18th

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001 [audio/action] backdated to the 18th

[accidental audio/action for CH 5]

--at's it. I'm gonna pulverize--

[The words, made audible through an accidental feed on the journal that Cliff threw aside, were cut off by the crack of splintering wood as his fist slammed into it at full throttle. Cliff had finally awoken from his shift-induced dream, and he was pissed. It was just unfortunate that the first person he saw that morning had to be the target for his frustration at the Malnosso.

He was going to crush their captors...after he crushed Albel Nox.

It wasn't going to be pretty.]

[very intentional audio]

Sorry 'bout the mess this morning. Technical difficulties. Won't happen again.

Now. What the hell was that last week? A shift? That's one helluva-- [He stopped and took a deep, calming breath.] Don't tell me that happens all the time.

I'm more than game if anyone wants to work off some stress. See ya at the Barracks. Or the Dome. I dunno.

Cliff Fittir. Over and out.

[action]

[True to his word, Cliff could be found at both the Barracks and the Battle Dome at various points throughout the day, as he restlessly wandered between the two facilities because neither actually fit his needs for the moment. A good spar was what he had in mind, although he wouldn't say no to company with someone that didn't know him and was actually sane.

Don't worry. He'll be cool.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The subtle struggle wasn't lost on Cliff, but he didn't comment. It wasn't something for him to prod at.]

It also takes a li'l patience, and not everyone's got that. [Says the man who punched a whole in the wall on a whim earlier that day. It was just a moment of catharsis. He was always a reasonable man.

He smiled at the question and held up a fist.]

It's why I like my hands. What did you think I had these gloves on for anyway?

Edited 2013-02-22 05:05 (UTC)

[He smiled faintly at the comment about patience. He had the patience for it, but it was the finesse and the actual understanding of other people that he lacked. He could pry into people's lives, but he couldn't fix them. He'd seen that first hand with Tetsu and Tatsu.

Raising the sword again, Souji turned his head to look over at Cliff and gave him a cheeky smile.]

You seemed like a very fashionable person to me.

[There were problems that wouldn't have been fixed even with a decent amount of social grace. It was a lesson that Cliff had learned the hard way, with Maria and the Invisible.

That lesson was part why he all but retired from the playing field. Politics were someone else's game now, especially since he had someone that he needed to keep both physically and psychologically safe.

The cheeky grin is returned in kind. Cliff liked this guy.]

Ya mean it wasn't my jacket or my earrings that clued you in?

Oh, but it's the gloves that make the outfit.

[Souji barely suppressed his laughter, remembering all too well how he hasn't cared about fashion since ever, but how Hijikata and the others always did. They paid attentions to trends - or they had before coming to Kyoto and assuming control of the Shinsengumi.]

You must be very popular with the ladies.

Eh. Maybe.

[He certainly joked about it often enough, but his actual success...?]

I think they like my refined sense of humor more than my gloves. Gotta make the ladies laugh, y'know.

You've probably got pretty good luck yourself, with that smile of yours.

[Luck. With the ladies.

....Pffffffffffffhahahahahaha. Souji pauses for a moment and then doubles over laughing, nearly dropping his sword. Give him a minute here.]

[Just. This look.]

Hey, if you're fond of the guys? That's cool too.

[He calms down and shakes his head, wiping a tear from his eye.]

No, it's less my preference and just the idea that I'm popular with anyone for that reason.

I never had time and even here it isn't a priority.

[Cliff grinned.]

It ain't a priority for me either, ya know. For similar reasons. There's not much time to take a girl out on a few dates if you're running around all the time, and even here I don't wanna lose my focus.

[He pointed at the punching bag in front of Cliff.]

The focus for beating inanimate objects?

[He shook his head.]

Nah. I've got people here to look after. Can't really do that if I've got other things on my mind.

[Souji looked up at Cliff for a moment, then tilted his head to the side.]

Do they require so much minding? That must keep you very busy then.

[There was a twinkle of fondness in his eyes as he smiled down at Okita.]

He's just a kid who's growing up in a bad situation. I promised I'd keep him safe, and that doesn't change a bit here.

[A kid? ...A child here. It isn't right.]

Oh. Is Cliff-san very good with children then? Do you like to play games?

pffft.

[He snorted-- mostly in wry amusement at himself for not being clear.]

This kid ain't exactly as small as you're thinking. I mean that he's...uh, growing into a man in the middle of a bad situation. A very bad one. But, that's not important here.

Not to say that I don't like kids! I just don't always get a chance to see them. Not really.

Edited 2013-02-27 20:24 (UTC)

[Oh whoops. Souji laughs at himself for his misunderstanding.]

Aaah, I see. It seems to be a theme, isn't it? Young people simply aren't allowed to grow up as they should - as unfair as that seems.

Yea. And that's in most any world.

I dunno 'bout you, but I'm sick and tired of getting sucked into someone else's wars.

[He could comment on how he's actually fighting a war and being responsible for sucking others into it, buuuuut leaving that out.]

It would seem so. Do you often get thrown into different wars, Cliff-san?

Does it matter here?

[Translation: it's complicated.]

[...He laughs.]

No fair using my line against me.

Looks like we've all got our things, huh? It's like I told ya before, I try to help the little guys not be bullied around so much. It just doesn't really matter here.

I would think that would matter more here than ever.

Probably. But, I retired. Not that I wouldn't help. I've just got other things I need to worry about first.

[Retired? At such a young age?

...What even is retirement. That would drive Souji insane.]

Like the "kid" you're in charge of?

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