starhuevalley

[ Theo is supremely bummed about the buses. He likes his freedom in this place, but none of the things he's able to do here are exactly new. Maybe he's able to indulge a little more in alcohol, because no one here knows him and he won't be soiling the family name or the army's reputation. And there should be more girls he hasn't actually met at some point before.

But he wants to go home. He didn't really have to, but he's made his mother and little brother his responsibility, so naturally he's worried about being away from them like this.

He's on his third bottle by now. Sure, he's 18, but he's still a kid — and beginning to act even more like one. ]

Mom must be so worried by now. And half the country can't understand what she's saying because the idiots can barely lipread, let alone sign.

How do we fix this hyperdimensional stick thing again?

I don't know, but if it would help you feel better, I can start a fight.

[ STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. ]

[ He laughs humorlessly at Taako's proposal. ]

What, you gonna throw a bottle at someone?

[ Taako whips a bottle at an NPC's head without a second thought.

They look Angry. ]

What the hell, man?!

[ The NPCs, of course, think Theo had meant them. ]

Not you! This dude!

[Kojuro frowns vaguely over his beer; apparently he's determined to give it a good shot at being tolerable before he goes back to his sake. (Especially if it's not cheap and cheerful.) He can understand the worrying, but...]

Time's stopped; your mother can't worry, because as far as she knows, you're still there. And it sounds as though this stick thing will sort itself out in enough time. What's important right now is...

[And he points with his beer now! Oh Kojuro, slow it down.] Not worrying at your age! And living your best life while you have the time, before you have to go back to your engagements! Your family will be safe and sound, and you must count on that. It will be true! [It has to be, because that's the only thing keeping him from going absolutely ape and punching a bus or something stupid.]

[ He's a sulky teenager when drunk, and it's beginning to show. He frowns back at Kojuro, although it's because of what the older man said, and not because of the beer. ] What do you mean, time's stopped? Are you a scientific person now, too?

[ And now he rolls his eyes. ] I'm not worrying. This is me not worrying. [ He practically chugs half a bottle down. ] I wouldn't be drinking if I was worried, because it's not a very responsible thing to do.

Wh-- Fuck no. Do I look like I know science?

What I do know, Theo...Is that I was told by that girl with the glasses when I got here, off that bus thing, that time stopped at home. And she is the one who knows. [Now he's tapping at his temple with his beer. Who let baby grandpa on the piss?] I'd be pissed off if I was missed at home. I'd kill shit if I wasn't at home and my lord had to do shit without me.

[Oh my god he's starting to turn red. Theo, what have you done? Theo, why did you introduce him to Western Alcohol? He didn't expect it to hit as hard as it has, going by how many he's had in the first place.] But I'm glad you're not worried. Worried makes for bad company. Who's worrying, right?

Theo. Theo, see any girls you like? I'll help...I'll help you out. I'll talk you up.

You know how to grow rice and make sake. That doesn't count as science?

Whoaaaa okay, but you better tell me when you're pissed off and wanting to kill shit. Someone's got to hide the bodies; I don't like that job, but I'll do it for you, because you're cool.

[ At Kojuro's offer to help with girls, Theo just... laughs. Loudly. ] Thank you, sir, but I can deal with the ladies just fine. [ And he's not kidding. He's actually quite the charmer — although it helps plenty that he's from a family with good genes, and on both his parents' sides. He picks up the bottle again and points it toward the older man, smirking. ] Maybe you need a hand? I'll help you.

Whaaaaaat? [Kojuro takes a dramatic slug of beer, before putting the bottle down and slicking his hair back with both hands. He thinks he looks cool, but really he just looks dumb as shit.] Me? Need help? No no no no no. I have no room for anyone else in my life! My dedication...Has to be all for Lord Masamune! There's no doubting it!

[Well...Apparently they're both in the habit of being popular, though somebody doesn't have time for taking advantage of those whose type is 'punk bitch with a heart of gold'. What a cruel man...] And I can get rid of my own corpses, too; I have fields to bury under now. But...You're 'cool' too. You're kind of like Bontenmaru...Just a bit. Just enough, Theo.

[OH NO Kojuro's going in for the hair pat, except it's with Drunk Hands so it isn't gentle or polite. Sorry, bud.]

[ The kid looks absolutely baffled. ] Seriously? Like, no room and no time for other entanglements? At all? Whoa, you samurai are hardcore.

[ Okay so what stuff is this Starhue Valley beer made of because it's only been how many bottles but it's like they've been at it forever. And OH HEY HAIR PAT, that's actually the sort of thing Theo likes but doesn't get enough from his own father so now he's like... sniffing?

But then he realizes that he's acting like a wee baby over a drunken hair pat, so he tries to squirm away from Kojuro's hand. ] Heyyyy. That'll take forever to wash off now!

I raised Bontenmaru! From when he was a child! I could never abandon his side for a tryst with someone who would never mean as much to me as he did!

And my hands are clean! [...If only because Kojuro would never use hair gel so much as anime magic to hold his shit in place, but...Let's be real. His hands are probably covered in spilt beer from being a little too energetic with his gestures, anyway.

Damn it, Kojuro.] The life of a retainer is not easy, Theo. It is not easy! But I would not have it any other way; I have been given meaning, a place to belong! And no woman could do this for me! You'll understand one day when you're older!

[ Frown frown FROWN. But girls are fun, Kojuro! Although... Theo has to agree about the last bit. About meaning and a place to belong and no woman being able to give him that. Then again he's only eighteen and the women he's met so far aren't exactly the deep sort. Things have certainly changed since the war ended. ]

But what about having a child of your own?

[ His expression brightens. ] And we're stuck here! Until that hyperscientific bus is fixed! So you can have all the girls you want and still be a good responsible retainer when you get back home! [ Oh you're overenthusiastic now, too? Your samurai not!dad's drunkenness is contagious. ]

[Well..........He doesn't know that, okay. He has never been good with girls! Too rough! Too brutish! Too scary! Too...Busy. Which is why he slams his beer on the table, upsets what dregs are left, and raises his voice to try and distract from the extra hint of redness burning away at his face.

IT'S JUST TIPSY BLUSH OKAY DON'T LOOK AT HIM.]

My duty is making sure that Bontenmaru furthers his line! Nothin' more, nothin' less! I am second to last priority at all times! Theo!

[Now he's just pointing with both hands. It'd look cool if he weren't hollering.] My loyalty stands even here, and I won't tolerate even the thought of sharing my attentions with anyone else! I can't do my job when I get home if I'm lovesick for some girl here, can I!? You can't accept anything less than total dedication from your own retainer! A man cannot fight if his heart is not on the battlefield beside him!

[Wow way to sound really gay bro.]

[ Someone somewhere in the tavern actually shouts GAY! and it earns a little wave of laughter. Not loud enough to drive everyone else to silence, but still. It reminds Theo of the bullies back home who relentlessly picked on his little brother, men of the sword who weren’t worthy of the honor. The thought of it just makes him so mad.

He slams his beer on the table, standing up and drawing himself to full height. And for a kid, he’s pretty tall. All muscular, too. Probably will even make the ladies swoon, despite his drunken state. ]

You watch who you’re calling names! He is a samurai! A good, respectable, honorable man!

[ But, see, all that slamming and yelling? Definitely loud enough to shush the whole tavern, even just for a few heartbeats. Oops. ]

[Look, back in samurai days apparently sucking your bro's dick was pretty standard shit anyway so the hubbub over him saying that sort of thing just...Boggles Kojuro. As in, he's drunk enough that he goes into deer-in-the-headlights mode, plus furrowed eyebrows. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT DUDE IT'S MANLY AS SHIT TO LOVE YOUR BEST FRIEND. GIRLS ARE OK BUT THEY'RE NOT MASAMUNE....What is wrong with those dudes seriously.

Still, even if he doesn't get what's going on, he knows that Theo just stood up for him and that? That's some respectable shit right there. No matter what sorts of looks they're getting right now, he reaches over to clap a hand on Theo's shoulder and smile; it's small, very faint, but warm all the same.]

Thank you.

My round, as they say! What will you drink? Beer, sake? Some other new discovery to alcohol? It's on me!

[ Theo beams at the shoulder clap and smile, but then his eyes start to get teary. That... THAT is something he's always wanted to receive from his father. Appreciation, gratitude. It's one thing to complimented in public because you're his son, and another to be genuinely thanked.

GODS HE'S NOT GOING TO CRY OKAY. He just nods and sits back down, and doesn't even react when Kojuro announces that he's spending for everyone else's drinks. He stares at the bottle in front of him, almost looking like he's trying to make it melt. ]

[Oh...

oh he can't go buying drinks if he doesn't know what Theo wants, because he's doing this for Theo's benefit. And he knows that look, that's a look he's taken on a few times in his youth ~~and seen on Bontenmaru once or twice, a complete rarity~~.

The happiness of the bar will wait, thank you. Kojuro shuffles over so that he's at Theo's side, leans down and replaces his hand on his shoulder. His voice is careful and quiet, just because no one likes their emotions talked about loudly, do they?]

Did my actions cause you some distress? I apologise for this, though not for my actions and sentiments in themselves.

[ Theo welcomes the contact and takes reassurance in it, although he doesn't look at Kojuro when he responds. ]

N-Not distress, no. I just... [ He puts a hand on the bottle as if to drink from it some more, then he shakes his head, deciding against it. He's had quite enough, or so he thinks in this particular point in time. ] I just wish my father actually did that, you know? I mean, he's not embarrassed of me or anything, he actually takes me along his important meetings and introduces me to important people and tells people at parties how proud he is of me... but it feels like he doesn't really mean it. Like he's saying and doing those things because he has to, because I'm the eldest, because appearances have to be kept...

[ TOTALLY NOT CRYING. But there might be a hitch in his voice somewhere there. ]

[Ah.

Kojuro scowls, even for a moment; he knows that's the pride of a father not used to open affection, but that raises cold children and that is not a method sitting well with him. (Then again, look at how his kid turned out holy s h i t.)

His grip tightens a little, affection over unhappiness, and he bobs his head in thought.] ...Something you logically know is false, but feel is true all the same. Emotions are wicked things, Theo, and some men do not like to let them run rampant for fear of losing themselves to the worse ones.

Still, if you wish for praise, I doubt I will lack opportunity to give it you wholly deserved. And perhaps when you return, you should talk to your father about your feelings, so that he can better change for your sake.

[Log]

PLEASE HELP THIS KID START A BAR BRAWL, KTNXBYE~

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