bakerstreet | The Picture Prompt Meme

A link since the image is kinda huge.

[It was a gray, dark day. The clouds were a veil shrouding the sky, a veil which was billowing and wrinkling and rippling as the wind blew in from the north. It was cold. Moist. Forerunners of rain.

If Hijikata had a collar he probably wouldn't be able to resist the urge to tug on it. But - either because we're dealing with before the true advent of the furies or because he wasn't feeling black today (or both and time is our bitch) - he lacked one. So instead, he just was grim. He grimmed his way through the increasingly obvious prelude to a storm. He grimmed as he ignored the cold and wet as best as he could, and any attempt to point out otherwise would get a sharp, "Shut it." And grumbling. He grimmed his way to house. Their destination.

Their. Plural. Saitou was back at camp with Souji, far below. Which left Hijikata with Sannan in the ass fucking middle of nowhere checking out this house which some bureaucrat with more money than sense had built. An-...

You know what? Let's skip the rest of the prelude. You get the idea. This was the point in which, after testing the front door and discovering it unlocked and doing appropriate let's be prepared in case a small horde of ronin come streaming out formalities (he sensed fuck all, but still, formalities, they'd get killed pretty quickly otherwise if they didn't observe them), Hijikata opened the door. And immediately saw a dead body.]

...

[It wasn't anybody that they knew.

Probably.

But it still seemed pretty fresh as corpses went in the middle of fuck nowhere. Remarkably fresh, actually. It was the sort of fresh which implied that someone had beaten them there, and that same violent someone was possibly still in the general vicinity.]

Shit.

[Said with feeling. And the faint roll of thunder could be heard in the distance.]

[ Sannan will bring up the rear with a small 'tch' from his lips. A dead body was never a good sign. It was even less so when there wasn't a lot of blood. Furies perhaps then? Or something else, he wasn't sure what to expect with the current proceeding of things. He'll make his way towards Hijikata, eyes surveying the area with an air of intrigue as well as cautiousness. He didn't recognize the body but it didn't make the situation any less grim to him.

The rolling thunder in the background didn't allude to any foreseeable breaks in this string of bad luck either. He'll look to Hijikata a frown evident on his face. ] It seems we arrived a bit too late. However I have to wonder whether this man is friend or foe.

[ He'll look up at the house proper it's empty windows and unfamiliar structure alien to him and probably everyone else. ] Perhaps we should split our men into two groups. One heading for the back while we take the front? There's no telling what else might be lying in wait inside here. [ The unfamiliarity of the place already put them at a disadvantage so it would be better to spread out and see what they could find. ]

[The frown was matched by his own. Not that he'd expected that it would be easy, but there was still a difference between hard and spontaneous murder mystery bullshit. Especially given the lack of blood...shit.]

Yeah. Probably a good idea. [That was to Sannan.

Then, louder: a series of barked out orders which, summed up, basically told the men to search out back and to at least use the fucking buddy system while they did so to minimize the chances of this adventure ending with the phrase, "...and they all died mysteriously." (He didn't explicitly use the f - or r, undubbed - word, instead stating that with at least two people sticking together they could better capture, instead of kill, whoever it was that killed whoever this was and extort answers from them. Because if it wasn't a fury Hijikata sure as hell wanted answers. And if it was a fury hopefully they'd be far away when him and Sannan killed the thing.)

They left.]

Well? What do you think, Sannan. Fury or something else?

[ Sannan is quiet the entire time throughout Hijikata's orders. His hand to his chin as he looks at the evidence in front of them. His expression doesn't seem to be good though. ]

I'm afraid it might actually be furies. These markings...along with the brutality of it would suggest that it was them. [ But there are men known to be just as brutal. Perhaps they were dealing with fugitives or Choshu allied warriors. ]

I can't say for certain however. But based on what's seen here...there's no mistaking the victim of a fury attack.

Damn. I was hoping I was wrong.

[Not that Hijikata expected that his initial assessment would be wrong, and didn't think he was wrong - if he thought it was anything but a fury attack (or the act of some deranged mass murderer that might as well be a fury) he would've ordered the men differently - but wouldn't it be nice if he had overlooked some simple detail and it was actually the result of a bear mauling? If Sannan had said, "Oh, over there, there's a bunch of bear tracks." Or something simple and easy and normal.]

Let's go.

[I'm making you pick the next room. Deal with it.]

Ganbatte...

[Later...]

...

[A long damned fucking time later they - or at least Hijikata - would realize and recognize that he had actually gotten off lucky. Later, when he heard Sano's report of having to dress up for the Kanamara Matsuri (as some Shinto priests had an out-of-era inspiration for giant mascot suits) and how Heisuke got chased about by giant metal dongs, Hijikata would realize that he and Souji?

Had gotten off damned lucky.

This would be later.

A long time later.

Now he didn't feel so lucky. Currently, he and Souji were on a fucking raft and-]

He-!

[A wooden duck had just smacked him in the face.

Backing up for a second. The Ahiru Matsuri was an obscure festival, one which the Shinsengumi had somehow been roped into attending/guarding/who the hell knows what, because the temple knew a guy who knew a guy and...you know. It wasn't supposed to have been a big deal. It wasn't going to be a big deal. Who the fuck cares about ducks? But as luck would have it a thief made off with the gold encrusted sacred temple duck, they had to give chase because the duck was worth more than Souji, and this basically led to them being on a raft chasing after this ducknapper who was on another raft and in the meantime the sacred duck carvings were basically pelting them in the head and there's only so much good reflexes could do.]

Edited 2014-09-26 19:05 (UTC)

[Honestly, Souji's not enjoying this anymore than Hijikata is. Part of it was because he hated having to do anything besides killing—that was the only thing he was really good at, after all—but it was also because...

Seriously.

Ducknapping.

Isn't this what they have people like Yamazaki for? Even if it was sudden, he was sure there was someone better suited for this work, someone else they could have roped into doing this despite the very short notice. (And Souji's probably already spent a good chunk of his time whining about this, as if that would help make Hijikata's life any less difficult.) The thing is, if it makes Hijikata miserable, Souji can put up something of a front. He can endure this weird mess they've gotten into if it means being able to see Hijikata's miserable little face as he gets pelted with wooden ducks.

It's the little things that really make life worth it, you know?]

You better watch it, Commander. [He says, paddling, paddling away...] Those things are really gonna leave a nasty bruise if you're not careful.

[You know. In case you needed a reminder.

]

[Yeah, right? This isn't what the damned Shinsengumi was founded to do: they were supposed to elevate Kondou's fucking name, kick some ronin ass, do great deeds, protect the people, and become awesome samurai. Instead, here they were. Paddling down a river, one clogged by duck carvings. Chasing after a thief and a ducknapper, and only because five seconds after the revelation that the sacred gold-encrusted temple duck was stolen a bunch of important people turned and stared at him with expectant eyes and Hijikata knew what they had to do.

And yes, this is exactly what Yamazki was around for, but he broke his leg two weeks ago, and unlike certain people he actually knows how and when to sit his ass down.]

Souji! If you have time to run your fucking mouth- [And here he swatted a duck out of the air with his paddle, one which wafted closeish to Souji, which...gave Hijikata the beginnings of an idea.] -...then paddle faster and do something!

Edited (I caved.) 2014-10-05 04:51 (UTC)

[There are two reasons for Yamazaki’s obedience: 1) he’s a kiss-ass, and 2) he’s a kiss-ass. Sorry some of us would rather not stay in bed for a week over a harmless (?) little cold!

He manages to dodge the flying duck well enough, at least. With the threat avoided, he lets out an exasperated (and, actually, probably a bit exaggerated) sigh.]

Yeah, yeah. [He knows, he knows… It doesn’t feel like they’re getting any closer, but Souji listens to orders enough to not just stop what he’s doing, even if it feels hopeless. (Story of the Shinsengumi’s life, to be honest.)] Just do me a favor and try not to hit anymore of those things this way, okay? I bruise more easily than you do.

[HE’S MAKING SHIT UP.]

[NO FUCKING SHIT.]

Souji! [...no. Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let him know.] Shut it. What did I say about paddling? If you can make bad jokes then you can paddle harder.

[...except this does seem fucking futile, plus, ducks. Duck #2 gets swatted. This one arcs towards shore and startles a small dog which barks and runs off, confused by the sudden wooden attack from above.]

It's not fair if I'm putting in more effort than you are.

[Ah, not that he's surprised, though. It was typical of Hijikata to act like those under him had to work even harder than he actually did.

(Souji being Souji, it's a bit difficult to tell if that's a legitimate complaint or not. But since it's Hijikata, even if it's not a legitimate complaint, there's no denying that Souji passionately believes what he's saying, at least.)

Either way, he continues to paddle, wading through the stream of river water and wooden ducks. He does try to paddle harder, despite his complaints, but it... really doesn't seem to be making a difference, and he can't help but feel like he's paddling really hard for no reason! So it isn't long before another complaint leaves Souji's lips—]

Don't you have any better ideas?

[There is the slightest of slight pauses as his train of logic hesitated before it chugged down the rails and headed towards Bad Ideas Junction.]

Yeah. One.

[And he's paddling towards shore.]

We...borrow two horses- [They've got swords and a nearby stable. Seems legit.] -ride to catch up to the guy, and if we can't find the damned duck we'll have Yamazaki or Saitou deal with the fallout.

I'm still honored. ;o;

sickdays - 2014-10-17 10:08 (UTC) - Expand

here you go toshika

[What the hell do you think this is? Free? The guys don't need girly names and the girls don't need guyish names.

Anyway. Hijikata had been given three things: a destination, a name, and a girl to babys-...escort. Or whatever bullshit terminology got him through this. The white lies he told himself to push through it. Originally, he was going to leave it to Heisuke but Heisuke had gotten the flu, which led to the rest of the guys volunteering him for this job. (Those sons of bitches.)

It had seemed normal from the outside. Famous last words.]

What the hell is this.

[Rhetorical question, hence the lack of question mark. Pigeon masks were required. It was part of a theme. The employee explained that it was part of a new approach in social networking: removing the barriers and giving people anonymity so that they could better express themselves and in turn-...

Yeah. Like he gave a fuck.]

Well? [To the girl.] Do you think you'll be able to recognize the guy?

[Shit. He wished that the guy...what was his name? Gerome?...something like that. Hijikata wished Gerome had picked anywhere else because no one would be wearing goddamn masks in that case. Right? (And unbeknownst to both of them Gerome actually had and the address had been written down wrong.)]

[It's like a story out of a bad manga.

Our heroine, Mami Futami, an entertainer. Our love interest, Toshika, the girly samurai who has to escort her because she witnessed something very dangerous and she's the only one who can help the Shinsengumi.

She can't believe what they've stumbled across. She's trying so hard not to giggle.]

Hey, hey, Toshika! I think this place has gone to the birds~!

[And there she goes, giggling. This is such a serious day, but look at this. It's all so beautiful.]

Hmm...Mami can't, sorry! Not with all of these masks on! All birds look the same to Mami.

[...more like the story of his life. What is it with the Shinsengumi and picking up random people who hang around for who knows what reason? ...don't answer that. He's too busy staring at the pigeon mask the employee was trying to foist onto him because he knew exactly damned well where this was going but was going to prolong putting on the mask for one more moment.]

Are you serious...but you've met the guy before, right?

[At least, unlike a certain protag-chan, Mami is a mature beauty. She will insist on that fact forever. She probably mentioned it twice tonight.

Well, while they're trying to get her chaperone to pick a mask, she picks one out for him. She's not tall enough to put it on him (fortunately?), so she just holds it over her head like she's picked up a Legend of Zelda item, complete with an anachronistic jingle.]

Da-da-da-daaaaahn! ...Of course Mami's seen him! He's really scary, like swish-swish-stab-stab-sticky kind of scary! Hey, put this on okay? If you don't, they might make us fly out of here, Toshika!

[At this moment I wish I'd gotten a paid just so I'd have an excuse to make an icon of him with a bird mask on. But you'll have to imagine it.]

...why are you still calling me that? [Since they probably went over this once already.

And the worst part is that she actually has a damn good point, so, after the longest of pauses, he's going to take the bird mask from her. Stare at it for a long moment. The bird mask stared back: cold, dead, hollow. And then, on it goes.

Fuck his life.]

Ehehehe...it's because Toshika is Toshika, of course! Just like Mami is Mami! Let's see, let's see...

[A paid isn't worth it!!!

But now that he's wearing the mask, she's grabbing his arm and dramatically pointing it to the crowd.]

It's hunting season...we just have to find the right bird, right, right? Let's see...the swish-stab-sticky guy was really tall, and he had a tattoo of a rose! Maybe he's...that way!

[She points towards the seediest looking part of the bar. The dangerous part. The part that Shinpachi would probably hang out in.]

Alright! Today, Mami is your vice-captain!

[Too lazy to get one for shit like this, but I'm just saying. If I had 100 icon slots having one dedicated to a bird mask would be a worthy cause.]

What are you saying? You're a thousand years too early to be a vice-captain, kid.

[There's a downside to wearing the mask, and that it's really hard to scowl at things or assess threats because even the most seedy and/or dangerous parts of bars kind of look silly when everyone's wearing a bird mask. Just saying. But. Ever so slightly amused at her, if but a little...a tiny amount, a small amount, and otherwise disgruntling his way towards the seedy shit. If she gets carded he will end them.]

The Picture Prompt Meme

Toshizo Hijikata | Hakuouki

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Ping me if you want me to edit anything. Otherwise...

Noo this is perfect~ :3

Good! And same person: the Souji below and I figured this matched the office theme better.

I'm sorry for the delay /sob

Shit happens. And that missing -san burns me, for the record.

I wasn't sure I would find a good image for this meme but I did.

1/3

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3/3

This is everything I wanted and more.

And now back to staring at my inbox with bleak, empty eyes.

I'm a blessing and a curse!

There's nothing cute about you.

You're in denial, but that's nothing new.

Weh weh weh. You get an emote and a tag.

I'm still honored. ;o;

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