tabularasa_rp | Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is? (Open)

Entry tags:

Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is? (Open)

Who: Parsee Mizuhashi

bridge_princess and You!
What: Parsee Builds a Clock and tries to keep time
Where: Near the Bridge to Nowhere and Parsee's Shrine
When: A pretty lady looked at me and said her diamond watch had stopped cold dead....
Content Warnings: None other than Parsee's usual surly behavior is expected. Will update if necessary

(OOC: Note - Because the flow of time is not stable or normal, any attempt to measure time is doomed to failure. She's experimenting with that fact here.)

1) Do I look like a Horologist?
Parsee was standing there with a pile of what was quite literally just trash in front of her. Among these were a piece of long bamboo that she was adding a weight to and using one half of a pair of scissors to cut to a wedge on the other side. It kind of looked to anyone who might be paying attention like she was getting a small miniature aqueduct of running water ready to come from the stream, though what the point of this entire exercise might be was probably not immediately apparent.

Unless you were from Japan. The bamboo piece was sort of telling there. She was trying to make one of those Deer chaser fountains some people used as water clocks of a sort.

2) It ain't pretty, but...
The Shishi Odoshi was complete. Ok, the truth was that it looked awful. The bamboo piece, even cleaned up, clearly had seen better days but there wasn't any fresh bamboo. The whole construction was made with pieces that were not really designed from it. Old half rotten wood and rusted metal culverts did the job of coaxing water from the creek into position, and it was just kind of ugly to look at. But as the water started to flow down, trickling at a steady pace over the tip of the bamboo, the whole process began to work.

The water that filled the bamboo gradually changed its center of gravity until it pivoted, dumped the water into a channel leading back to the river and then fell back into position with a 'tonk' sound that scared a nug chicken in the distance away with a sqwuack. She put her hands on her hips and nodded in satisfaction. Only... about an hour later, if it was an hour later, she was staring at the thing with a look of mounting consternation.

"That's... That's not right."

3) The Doctor is In
Frustrated with the whole affair but unwilling to get the water clock to stop working, Parsee sat down with a thump beside her shrine, cleaning the scissors she'd used to help slice the bamboo and putting them back together before setting them in the shrine where they'd been offered originally. She squatted down next to the shrine and rubbed her forehead, the irritation apparent in her features. It wasn't adding up, and she didn't like how it was adding up.

But sitting beside the shrine, ostensibly doing her 'job' of waiting for prayers that would never come or people crossing her bridge was soothing in a way, so that was what she was going to do. And hey, these people were crazy enough that she could believe they might actually come to her looking for advice. One or two had already, god help them all. So, yeah... she'd wait and see.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That explains it a little. You might not even realize it's happening.

[She was pretty sure Akechi was more ... aware. He'd seemed a lot clearer in his intentions that night.]

You realize those concerns aren't here, right? Other than escaping and getting back to them, none of that's here. You aren't half as busy as you would be back home, hero boy. You can't use that to put these things off forever.

You're going to have to figure out and address your feelings. Lucky you.

[Tonk]

The concerns don't disappear just because I can't see them.

(They have to go back home, that's a fact. Ren is working harder into the recon missions they've been pulling, into finding the Phantom Thieves and into coming up with the possibilities as of to what this place actually is.

Different concerns. Still busy.)

[Tonk tonk tonk tonk]

You're upsetting mister Water clock.

[She held back a little laugh and leaned forward. This must be so frustrating for him. He looked like he was so used to having the mission there before his eyes and this world just didn't play that game. He came to her looking because she'd been too quiet. Was his daily life a never ending build up of getting stronger, finding allies, fighting the darkness, changing the world?]

You're not wrong. The concerns are probably still there. But that's the thing. Time doesn't work right, Ren. You can play hero, pretend Akechi's not hovering over your shoulder like a nagging lover, avoid your feelings as you plunge into trying to get home as soon as you can or puzzle it all out. But this place?

[Tonk.]

You and me? We're stuck on its watch. Its time. And you're not going to get anywhere on yours. This is only going to get worse for you if you don't learn to accept that.

Your concerns are there, but you're going to have to deal with them on this place's schedule, or you're going to go nuts.

(YOU'RE upsetting Mr. Water Clock!!

It was surely frustrating, but he's not giving Parsee the satisfaction of knowing she is getting a reaction from him, so he continues with his calm, collected stance. He listens, though, because what is there to do but that?

Honestly, though? He's pretty sure he'd rather go nuts. He needs the mission. This world tames him and he doesn't like it. Shiving-practice with Akechi was probably the highlight of the past few... Whatever time.)

... Why do you even care?

(Deflecting the subject to pick on her? Absolutely.)

[She had to hold the laughter back. Here she was, leaned in way too close to him for anyone's comfort, and he was still deflecting, trying to avoid the fact that he was so mission focused he probably never even dealt with his feelings. And now he was trying desperately to deflect them onto her?

She leaned back, winking once as she settled against the back wall of the shrine.]

You're the one who came to me.

[Silence... Her eyebrow twitched. Play along water clock. If you're not going to tell time then at least give emphasis to the moment so it was properly dramatic.]

You clearly care about something that isn't saving the world, or you wouldn't be here. Unless you think I'm part of your heroics. Do you think I am? [Her smirk widened.] Am I an ally you have to earn the trust of? Get close to? Help save?

I wonder how Akechi would feel about that.

[Tonk. Better, Water Clock.]

I came because I enjoy your company.

(Not for unrequested and unrequired romantic advice.

If his presence here made her imagine something else, he might as well not be back next time and allow her to go visit him at her own leisure.

After all, it's not like dealing with his feelings would bring anything good. It would probably just worsen an already rather layered and complicated relationship that definitely doesn't need any worsening. He's more than happy to focus on literally any.thing. else.)

You're my friend. I care about those.

[Tonk.]

...

[She looked away. Someone had, intentionally, or unintentionally struck one of those nerves with her. Her body language curled up and she rested her chin back on her knee, not making eye contact. Damnit, why did he keep calling her that? She wasn't anyone's friend. She was an angry, bitter little troll who dealt with other people's problems or made them have problems when they were having too good of a time as they crossed her bridge.]

You are some kind of masochist, trying to make a friend out of me. Especially when you know what I am.

[She did actually kind of mean that. She'd told him before that she was going to hurt him. Why he enjoyed her company, she struggled to figure out. She fidgeted. As she thought about the fact that he considered her a friend, she thought about all the people that hung around him at the party. Everyone who revolved around him like swirling eddies in a whirlpool with him as the Charybdis at its center.

She kind of hated them. But that was the jealousy talking, and she knew it.]

Why do you enjoy spending time with me? I'm not a pleasant person.

(At times, he feels like a broken record talking to Parsee.

He has already made it explicitly clear that he cared very little about what she is, how old she is and those aspects that she keeps pushing forward to dodge their friendship. He doesn't quite like repeating himself, so he doesn't.

Instead, Ren focuses on how nervous the conversation has made her, and while he's happy to not have to deal with the whole Talking-About-His-Feelings-On-Something-Irrelevant-And-Impossible vibe that was going on, he's treading carefully on how this conversation can develop. Last time, she did snap on him, after all.)

You're honest and you tell me things that I don't expect to hear.

(One could argue Ren is not a pleasant company either - an onesided conversation at times.)

[At times, it was like being a broken record dealing with herself. She faced the same problem multiple times before she started to believe that things were going to be different from her assumptions. She didn't expect a response, though, not to that. He hadn't the last time. He wouldn't this time. He was just... so ... stubborn.

She cocked her head and looked over at him, more out of the corner of her eye. She... supposed she could understand that. She was different, wasn't she? And he was insatiably curious.]

What do... [Tonk.] No, never mind. you won't answer that.

['What do you want from me?' Probably for her to be herself. Her fingers clenched at the hemof her skirt. He was not going to give up, was he?]

You care too easily, Ren. I'm pretty sure some people think it's an admirable trait, but it leaves you vulnerable. But fine. I'm done trying to stop you. I don't think I really could without my powers.

...

Just... remember. I'm the jealous type.

(OOC: Joker gains +1 Kindness!)

(Hm?

An eyebrow raised at the giving up a question, but he doesn't push it. He's pretty much done trying to explain things to Parsee, specially when it came to how he saw her and their dynamics.

What was it that he had said? Think what you want? Applies here as well.

This time, she isn't really saying anything new - Akechi has said the same, with different words. People take advantage of your kindness. He doesn't quite mind that part, though, and he disagrees that it makes him vulnerable. There are sure advantages to being close to people, aside from the fact that he just likes to be. Unfortunately for all involved, Ren is a tough one to convince or change, so he just shrugs in response.)

Finally. Can we talk about something else?

Finally he says...

[She leaned back and started to relax. So, they were going to just try and move into more comfortable territory? She was game. She was as willing to move on in terms of topic as he was. And, oddly he might have noticed, as willing not to push him out the door.

She wouldn't admit it, but she didn't actually want him to go.]

You pick the topic. Any topic is fair game.

You're the chattier one. You pick it.

(Only reason he doesn't say the same is because there are things he does not want to answer, and putting boundaries before she even asks herself is more ammo to be used against him further in the road.)

Tch... stubborn. Fine.

[She looked him over a little and decided to brave a little bit of a backpedal. There'd been something he'd said earlier. She'd been busy bugging him about Akechi, which she was totally not done with even if she was done for today... but it had her curious.]

If we're supposed to be friends, friends get to know what each care about, right? [that was normal, right?] So, what are some of those "other concerns" you have to get back to so badly?

[There. he could pick what he was ok sharing.]

(And she goes right back into untouchable territory. Like hell he's telling her any of what he does at home. One person knows, in a shallow way. That would be Tifa, simply due to his and Akechi's inability to keep a straight face when they first started to break the void apart in theories.

Instead, he just tries to find the best way possible to explain, without much detail.)

My friends need me.

[Funnily enough? She seemed willing to just accept that statement at face value. It was a good enough answer in the end, really. It didn't get into the heroics, but it gave her... well... something to talk about.]

Can you tell me about one of them? I'll... tell you about someone I guess I don't hate back home.

[Pro Tip: They were actually a friend. She was just awful at expressing it.]

(Oh?)

We're a group of 8.

(Excluding Akechi. The Phantom Thieves have been coming up in conversation more often, and it certainly cheers him up to talk about them.)

We're all very different, but I guess that's what makes our group so strong. One of them is the Student President Council.

(He smiles, eyes closing in serenity.)

She's tough and always tries to improve herself. I admire her a lot.

[There. She had a hope that she'd chosen well asking that. He opened up again. It was only fair to open up in turn, she supposed. She didn't bother to mention that she figured all eight of them revolved around him at the center. That was sort of obvious in her mind, though she suspected Akechi was one of the eight. She wasn't 'that' psychic.]

The smart, tough one everyone respects, is she? I could see that being valuable to have in a friend. What is she like most days?

Yuugi's nothing like that. She's a drunk. [She snorted and laughed.]

Intelligent and thoughtful. She can also take fast decisions wonderfully. We are looking for her and the others, but so far, no luck.

(A sigh leaves him, but it's fine. He won't stop looking and he doesn't plan on giving up.)

Yuugi? Is she the one you don't hate?

... huh. I would have thought you would rather get home to her. You want her to be here? Or are you assuming she is here already? Still, I would have to assume she's got to have a level head. I'm not sure what a "Student Council President" really is. I've only heard a little about that sort of thing.

[Sanae stopped through once in a while.]

She is. Don't take that to mean she's irresponsible. Oni drink to keep from losing their tempers. Last thing you want's a drunk human most days. Last thing you want with Oni's a sober oni. Their rage gets the better of them. She's got a sake cup that always refills.

...really damned stubborn though. Kind of like someone else I know.

If any of them made it here, I cannot ignore it. I would prefer to go home, but I can't just ignore that possibility.

(He is the leader, after all.)

Do you miss her?

Which means until you're absolutely sure none of them are here, you're not leaving. After all, you don't want to leave them behind. How'd you meet?

...

Who, Yuugi? Maybe a little, but don't tell her I said that. I got used to her patrolling up to the bridge and bugging me everyday. Like clockwork. She was one of the big four, so it was a surprise she bothered with me. Her old drinking buddy was never that civil.

She's the Student President.

(Half assed answer, because he can't tell her it was because Makoto was investigating everyone who had involvement in an incident. That he definitely had involvement in. 100%. His fault.)

What are the big four?

Edited (oh look i cannot html today) 2020-08-18 22:27 (UTC)

It's this 'title' some of the bigger name oni used to have. Four of them from a major mountain. Old drinking buddies and trouble makers. They still kept in touch.

Suika was always a disrespectful, arrogant one without a care in the world. Yuugi... just likes to be free to live her life on her terms. I think Suika liked to wander more. She and I don't get on great. [Snort.] Yuugi patrols the streets in hell. Keeps folks from getting too rowdy.

It's really an excuse to pick fights she thinks will be interesting.

... Is there a... Promotion of any kind? Is that possible?

(Huh.)

[She settled back and frowned.]

I didn't bother to keep up in the old days. Youkai had their focuses. Drums wanted to be played again. I watched the bridge and wrecked vengeance on cheaters, satori would stalk their mountains, kappa were... just a nuisance really. There's not exactly an "official" [Definitely used air quotes there] heirarchy among youkai and oni.

But at the same time, there's ones who stand out. They're more powerful than the others. Bigger jobs. Unique ones. Like... there are more than one Hashihime, or there were anyway. Not a lot of us, but definitely more than one. The first of us might have a bit of a claim to fame, but still just a 'type.'

But if a youkai bothered to be thought of as unique, or an Oni got a big name to them, like "Four of the Mountain" there was a story to that. Like that muckity muck Yukari. She's just a 'youkai.' No type. No rules. She's a monster, but there's none like her. Guardian of the gap, master of boundaries. Stuff like that has importance with people who care.

[And despite her tone, clearly she gave a lot of shits about this. it gave her excuses to be jealous.]

Heaven and the real Hell? those have rules, places, ranks. Lots of them. Old Hell? Satori Komeiji's in charge because everyone's fucking scared of her. That's all.

Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is? (Open)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)