sharpsurprise

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[The feed flickers, and then the newly-calm (or perhaps... too calm) Barge is treated to a close-up of half a nose and part of an eye. The close-up is muttering in Japanese, the image occassionally moving]

Should I just say it...? Ah, I should have read it more carefully...

[suddenly the face moves back, revealing a frowning young man. He's lit by a lantern that sits in a corner, just visible in the background. He looks tired, a little bit too skinny and too pale, but he starts beaming when he apparently notices that the camera is already on. He speaks in English from now on]

I did it, huh? [he sits back and waves cheerfully, tucking some of his long hair behind his ear with the other hand]

I guess everyone's been pretty busy the last few weeks, so I hope I'm not disturbing you. My name is Souji Okita, and I'm new here! I'll work hard to fit in, but I'm still getting used to everything, so go easy on this old man... Oh! I walked around a little bit, and it seems pretty dark! If anyone needs them, I found a lantern and some candles in my room. Please ask me if you need help!

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[he follows her, still looking around in wonder. He has a little book of his own, his warden item, tucked into the belt of his kimono. The thought of Hijikata's book being in a library makes him snicker a little-- it probably wouldn't be an addition to the literary world.]

Thank you, Miss Chromie. You've been very helpful already! Ah, so, you work here...?

Oh, yes! I'm head librarian at the moment.

[She produces a typed leaflet and scurries over to hand it to him.]

Here you are!

Thank you! [It's kind of a relief to see that it's Japanese-- although he's glad he can communicate with everyone in English, somehow, it's a little tiring. He scans it, briefly, then folds it and puts it carefully inside the book he'd been carrying. The snark is lost on him for now.]

That must be a difficult job, with so many books, and so many different people!

Many books, but there haven't been many checked out lately. You've come at the end of quite the event!

I gathered as much! It's confusing, but people seem very melancholy, don't they? ...are you alright yourself, Miss Chromie?

Oh, yes. I wasn't hurt as badly as some of our residents. But it's very kind of you to ask.

I'm glad to hear that. [smiles briefly] Ah, but I hope I'm not taking up your time! You must have better things to do than helping out this lost guy.

Just moving books around. There is a great deal of down time on this ship, you'll find.

That sounds very similar to home! Sometimes the barracks are quiet for weeks, and then suddenly it's very chaotic!

Are you in the military?

Hm, not exactly! We're more a police force, put together to protect the life and values of our governor. But we all live together, and we do have ranks... It's as organised as a group of samurai will get, I suppose!

Oh! That sounds much more friendly. My flight has a similar arrangement!

It does, doesn't it? What do-- did you do, where you're from?

We protected and organized the space-time continuum on our world! It was a complicated job, but I enjoyed it!

It sounds complicated! And now, do you enjoy being here?

Well, that's a complicated question I'm afraid. I am very committed to my inmate going home.

[Chromie keeps smiling. No, she actually does not like it here.]

What sort of things did you get up to in your job at home?

[He understands, but doesn't feel the need to comment. Duty often (always) goes above personal enjoyment.]

Ah, we-- kept the peace. Found out if there was anyone trying to disturb it. Tried to prevent that. [He doesn't mention how they did this, all the blood he spilled.] We used to travel, but the capital was so unruly we decided to stay. It's often not very exciting, though!

The capital is where your governor lives, I take it?

Oh, but where are my manners. Would you like a seat? The library belongs to everyone, after all.

Oh! Ah, I suppose! [He sits down at the nearest table. Chromie might notice that he sits down with a little trouble, wincing when he bends. He won't mention it, though.]

Sometimes, yes. But he's a very important person, so he's away quite often! And of course he also has a palace in the country, so he can relax. I haven't really met him, though!

How did you come to pledge your loyalty?

[Chromie stacks a few books on her chair before taking a seat just so she can see over the tabletop. Whatever works.]

[smiles, a little wistfully]

I... When I was very young, there were two men. They took me in after I got into some trouble, and they taught me a lot. How to fight, how to defend myself, and... other things, too. When they wanted to follow a righteous cause, it only seemed natural to follow them. I knew I could be useful to them. [he coughs softly into his hand]

[Chromie tilts her head, birdlike, at the cough but doesn't comment.]

Do you still fight alongside them?

I do. [he coughs again, though he's obviously restraining it.] It is very hard for me to imagine myself doing anything else. That is-- I'll do my best here. But I've been doing the same thing for a long time.

Ahh, a feeling I'm familiar with. I served in my flight for... several hundred years.

[Hmm, how do help that cough while still being polite.]

...Would you like a cup of tea?

[he blinks a little. He didn't actually think she was young, but that old...?]

That's quite some time, Miss Chromie! Ah-- [he'd just put his hand back up to his mouth to cough, and he smiles at her as he puts it back in his lap]

That would be very nice. Thank you. So... how did you come to serve?

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