Double-O [Closed]

[goromical]

Characters: Okita Souji and Gorobei Katayama [closed]
Content: An important chat about important people
Setting: 4423 engine room
Time: Evening
Warnings: Perhaps a little sadness from the two guys and Souji being manly, but other than that, nothing.

Comments

[spannertime]

Souji wasn't the best at dealing with emotions. He'd spent so much of his childhood completely detached from feeling much of anything, and as an adult, he'd become quite adept at simply dismissing anything that threatened to bother him for too long.

Somethings, however, couldn't be shoved away so easily, and so he'd resorted to distracting himself in the only way he really knew how--throwing himself into his work. The 4423 probably hadn't been this well maintained since it had been constructed. It also meant he didn't have to see anyone else for long stretches of time.

He wasn't being actively antisocial, though, so when he heard that familiar voice, he extracted himself from one of the cramped little corners he'd been working in, dirty but smiling.

"Hello, Mister Katayama. Did you need something?" He didn't tend to get visitors while he was working.

[spannertime]

"Well... I was very persistent," he admitted. "He didn't exactly want me following him, at first. I guess after awhile, he just got used to it." And the rest was history, more or less.

"That's true," he agreed. "I think sometimes... he just doesn't want to deal with people getting close to him."

[goromical]

This new mental image, of a small Souji following around a large, grumpy Hijikata, should have been funnier to Gorobei, but instead, he felt oddly warmed. He decided that maybe he wouldn't bring it up to Hijikata if they met again. It wasn't something to be teased, and even Gorobei could understand that.

"I think a lot of us are that way. I blame the way this world works." It seemed to be that way for most of the samurai Gorobei had met in his lifetime. "Most of the samurai in this world have done things they have regretted, and the majority of those samurai would rather not get what's coming to them. I'm not saying that's the way it is for Hijikata, but..."

Feeling the conversation slip again, Gorobei tried to brighten it back up with a smile and a laugh. "Ahaha! But you're not that kind of person, Souji. It's more important for you to look ahead!"

[spannertime]

"Maybe..." Souji thought Hijikata had entirely different reasons for keeping everyone away, but he wasn't sure what it was, exactly, so he couldn't elaborate on the subject.

"Look ahead..." He smiled a little at Gorobei, but it was wistful at best. "I'm really quite happy how things are. I like living in the present." His future was too uncertain, and he wouldn't allow himself to make plans for time he might not have.

[goromical]

"Hm. I guess we're very different people." That was an understatement. "I like feeling that there's always something better for me waiting when I finally retire. I guess when you're as old as I am, all you can think about is how you'll finally get out of work and settle down." Though he already knew he was never the type to retire.

He bowed his head in a quick apology, still smiling as he did so. "You'll have to excuse me, Souji, but the future has always intrigued me. I didn't meant to imply that you were unhappy with who you are today."

[spannertime]

"Would you really retire?" Souji asked, peering at Gorobei with curiosity. He didn't think the man was the type. "Don't you think you'd get bored?"

"I know. And I'm not. I guess I just never really thought about what I would do. I like working here, so I guess I'll just keep doing that for as long as I can."

[goromical]

"I don't doubt at all that I would get bored. But, I think it would be a good kind of bored." He paused to better explain his viewpoint. "There will be more time for things I care about instead of things I must do. Sure, those things are much more boring than being on a pirate ship and catching arrows with my teeth to make a crowd applaud, but important things nonetheless. Besides, at that time, I'll probably be unable to move very far or fast, so it's best that I am already preparing for it."

He was a little envious of Souji and his ability to enjoy himself exactly where he was. Gorobei, despite his dreams to settle down one day, was never able to stay put in one spot for very long. "And with how well you do your job, I see no reason why your responsibilities would be terminated earlier than you wanted them to be."

[spannertime]

"Oh. I think I understand." Maybe. He still wasn't quite sure. "You catch arrows with your teeth? Isn't that dangerous?" It certainly didn't seem like a very safe thing to be trying.

"Oh, I'm not really worried about that," he replied honestly. He was sure that the world would need mechanics long past his ability to serve as such.

[goromical]

There was no point in living without a bit of danger, was there? But maybe he should question that a little bit nicer, so Souji wouldn't have to think that Gorobei really was as crazy as he seemed. "Not dangerous for me, Souji! I was born with a metal head. The mouth is the safest place to catch arrows." He laughed, knocking on his head with one fist while simultaneously realizing that he probably wasn't doing much good for his whole "not crazy" reputation.

"Not worried about that? Then, what did you mean by, ah, what you said. 'Long as I can' or something along those lines, wasn't it?"

[spannertime]

"That's very brave of you," Souji replied, trying to imagine why anyone would think of doing that in the first place. "How did you learn how to do that?"

"Oh. I just meant... my health isn't very good," he admitted. "So I don't think I'll be able to do this forever."

[goromical]

"Well, without giving away any of my secrets--I like being faster than most--it comes from a lot of practice. Moving the sword quickly, cutting quickly. Starting off with harmless things moving quickly at my face, and eventually working my way up to more dangerous things." He laughed and patted his sword a few times, looking a bit reminiscent as he continued. "I could never really do anything else but sling a quick sword, so I stuck with my strengths."

Gorobei stared blankly at Souji for a moment, trying to remember if he was supposed to know this information already or not. If he did know it at one point, he doubted he would ever forget. "Your health? I don't believe I knew about this, Souji. It doesn't seem to inhibit you. It's not that serious, is it?"

[spannertime]

"It was part of your training, then?" That made sense, even if the whole thing still seemed a little more dangerous than he would ever have wanted to undertake himself. "Heihachi was trying to teach me some sword skills, but we didn't have much time, so I'm really not any good."

"I try not to let it," he replied. "I don't want people to think I can't do my job." What would he have, without that? "It's why I cough a lot. But it's not serious, most of the time. I try to be careful."

[goromical]

"Heihachi was trying to teach everyone something," Gorobei mumbled to himself, grinning at the thought of his younger samurai friend. He raised his voice back to the proper speaking level as he continued. "I'd like to see how far you've gotten, if you'd like to continue with your training. I'd rather not worry about anyone else trying to pick up lessons from Jenka. But, ah, I suppose that's all up to you, yeah?"

It made sense that the sickness wasn't something that Souji liked to advertise, most sicknesses were like that, but Gorobei made a special note to himself to never repeat that information to anyone, just in case. "I'm glad to hear it's not serious. But, if you ever feel like it might be getting in your way, you should take a break, yeah? Maybe let me know. I'm just a petty officer, yes, but the Captain usually listens to most of my excuses. Haha."

[spannertime]

"I don't think I'd want lessons from Jenka," he admitted. The Jager made him a little uneasy, to be honest. She didn't seem as controlled as Mamma or Dimo, or even Maxim. "I would like that, though. Especially with Mister Hijikata not here... I need to be better at defending myself."

"I try to be careful," he replied. "Sometimes it's hard, when there are emergencies, and I'm the only one around who can really help. But the rest of the time, I try to take it easy." As much as he reasonably could, anyway. He had a bit of a hang-up, not wanting to seem weak to anyone. "Miss Gkika and Miss Penelo would get angry if I didn't." Clearly, that wasn't something he wanted to happen.

[goromical]

There was no hiding the face Gorobei made at the thought of angering the two doctors on board. Gorobei had managed to escape their wrath simply by keeping quiet about all of his injuries. There was no point in announcing his sickness or pains (the few that there ever were) because he would never trust a doctor enough for them to get within a few feet of him, and knocking the samurai out was not an option. "Very good idea not to anger the two of them. I have a hard time thinking of anyone I fear more on the ship. I think even the Captain listens." Which said a lot.

Anymore said on the matter of the sickness would make Gorobei feel like he was lecturing Souji, so he dropped the subject. "I find getting off the ship every once in a while even more important than keeping up with my rest. Especially eating food other than the food that comes from the galley. You're invited to come out and eat with us--whoever 'us' is--whenever you get the chance, yeah?"

[spannertime]

"They're a little scary," he admitted. Penelo less so than Mamma, of course, but neither one of them was to be trifled with. Of course, he also liked them both a great deal, even if he got scolded occasionally.

Souji had to ponder that offer a little. He liked people, and he certainly liked going out, but he tended to stick close to the ship unless he was running an errand. Still, he couldn't keep hiding in his room and in the engine room forever. "I'd like that," he replied finally.