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[demarcates]

wesley.gibson@compass.net (3) is2g (╯°Д°）╯︵/(.□ . \) D55 63:19PM first.last@compass.net (6) Re: Mission D11 8:01PM first.last@compass.net (12) [text] D10 9:35AM

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<span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">TO:</span> first.last@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">CC:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">BCC:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net, firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">FROM:</span> firstname.lastname@compass.net <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">DATE/TIME:</span> Day Twelve, Night. 63:19PM <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">SUBJECT:</span> (no subject) <span style="font-family:courier; color:#93002d;">MESSAGE:</span> No message.

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[demarcates]

[ he didn't even think of that, but... ]

It does.

[ that is how it works, isn't it. free pass. leave it to kondou to look at it with an optimistic tint. ]

[conceded]

[ That was probably the wrong thing to tell him, given the wide grin that spreads across his face in that moment. ]

Then I'll have to make sure it counts.

[demarcates]

[ oh shittles. honesty gets you nowhere these days. ]

You better.

[ he'll hit you again on principle if you waste it there are people less fortunate than you out there. ]

[conceded]

[ Do you know, Hijikata, that it's far too easy to wind you up these days? Kondou gives him the most amused look ever, and then starts to inch closer again.

Better be worried. ]

I wouldn't dare to let you down.

[demarcates]

No?

[ wow that's a huge exaggeration ok. hijikata does perk slightly when that expression is combined with kondou inching closer but doesn't inch away because while half of him is telling him nope nope noeP he can't win this teasing battle this time around better give up now, the other half is really curious just how he plans to do that.

bring it, kondou, do ever bring it. ]

[conceded]

[ Do you know what happens when you encourage Kondou? Bad things. Bad things always happen. Still, he's going to take advantage of the situation, and with Hijikata looking a little less like a startled samurai confronted with a can opener for the first time, it means he can make his move.

Which is a repeat of before. Him leaning in to have a taste of that candy floss for himself, in a less than conventional way. He may as well take his time, since he's already undertaken his punishment for it. ]

[demarcates]

[ what guts, kondou could get away with a free pass on that display of courage alone.

but, if he's going to take his time, then hijikata will return the gesture, although it's a bit timid especially considering he's instigated this thing himself before in a role reversal situation. funny thing is, it's really so much different when on the receiving end of both being teased and how that teasing is being played out. he's still really embarrassed, but now he does seem to have it under control. kind of. he's not sure how much control being unable to get his cheeks to stop burning really signifies here. ]

[conceded]

[ That's the secret: that kind of embarrassment never really ends. Kondou would know, since he's been on the receiving end before too. It's something that will make itself known at the most inopportune moments for the other person to mercilessly exploit. Thankfully he keeps it short (kind of) and sweet (mostly sweet) before stepping back and giving Hijikata the broadest smile that he can possibly muster. ]

I shouldn't distract you so much, I did promise you a date.

[ Remember that part about how the teasing never ends? ]

[demarcates]

[ but all that teasing is still worth it for that smile of his and hijikata can't help but smile a little in turn—it's always been hard not to around the other, after all, and time hasn't made that any easier to change.

he'll end up glancing down towards the bag of pink candy, now, before looking back to the other. ]

You did.

[ he guesses he can forgive him for all the teasing on one condition. ]

Well, then, what's next?

[ but that condition is for him to know only.

he folds his arms across his chest loosely, though, still holding onto the candy floss bag. ]

Don't get us sick.

[conceded]

I won't get us sick, Toshi, I promise. I know how to take care of myself!

[ And knowing how to take care of Hijikata is a given, really. There's nothing in the world that he wants more than being able to make sure that he has everything he needs. Still, he gives him a warm smile, and motions towards the games that aren't too far away from them. ]

If you've had enough to eat already, then what about something like that? We may as well start there. I need to keep you entertained somehow.

[ Apart from trolling him. ]

[demarcates]

[ hijikata does look over to where kondou is referring to, not really able to quite tell from here exactly what those games consist of despite not being that far away... but, nothing he can see from here looks all that familiar, either. ]

And those somethings are...?

[ BECAUSE HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THEY'RE GAMES WHAT IS WRONG WITH WESTERNERS AND THEIR IDEAS OF FUN... ]

[conceded]

Games, Toshi! We can win vouchers to some of the stores if we do well enough.

[ May as well frame it in a practical light, that way Hijikata might be more inclined to try them out. ]

[demarcates]

[ o wat. ]

...I didn't think it was possible, but COMPASS never ceases to amaze me with new things that continuously remind me what a bunch of assholes they are.

[ this is just really weird. he doesn't like them because THEY MAKE NO SENSE—one week taking everything and publicly torturing people and then another a carnival where they give them valuable items as rewards for playing in the games around and about. what kind of fucked up experiment is this? and he's knows in general the whole thing is off the charts to begin with, but even so.

still, while he may be really suspicious, he's not going to ruin kondou's night by refusing to partake nor is he willing to be stubborn and sacrifice the opportunity for things that will help all of them in some way. a small sigh escapes him before he gives a small nod. ]

All right, all right, let's play some games, then.

[conceded]

Do you think that there will be something wrong with the carnival, Toshi...?

[ Uh oh. Absolutely do not let Kondou start going down this path, because it is a dangerous one, and one which he will likely never recover from. This is supposed to be a date, something fun! So as soon as either of them start to linger too much on past events, it will all go to hell particularly quickly. For a long moment his brow is furrowed, as he's expecting Hijikata to change his mind and say fuck this, I'm leaving.

But it doesn't come.

The furrowed brow is very quickly replaced by a surprised expression instead. ]

Are you certain? We can leave if you wish to.

[demarcates]

I am, let's go.

[ and he's walking by kondou to tug him in the direction of these games he was talking about. he's not going to answer the previous question, there's no point. it's bad food for thought and they don't need any of it, especially if they're going to stick around, regardless. ]

[conceded]

[ Oh well then, I guess that they're heading off already then! That doesn't really answer his question, but Kondou is going to stay quiet and be a good Shinsengumi husband because the last thing that he needs is to do something that will inevitably piss Hijikata off.

Eventually he sees a game that he recognises, and so don't mind if he takes control and drags Hijikata over by the sleeve so that he can see it. ]

How about the water guns? Your aim has to be a lot better than mine.

[demarcates]

Did you really do that badly playing?

[ he's trying to imagine this situation because he'd have thought something with no kickback like a real gun wouldn't give too much trouble for someone who can use a blade like kondou. then again, the weight and balance is completely different, but...st...ill... god kondou you didn't lose at shooting water did you!! ]

[conceded]

... is it possible for me to not answer that question and yet somehow still keep my dignity?

[ Because in the end, he'd managed to lose to Kaoru several times, and it had taken a considerable amount of practice on his end for him to become somewhat competent at the game. How embarrassing. Even then, he was fairly sure that he wouldn't be able to hold out against Hijikata's own skills. That was always the case between them, but he didn't begrudge him that. ]

[demarcates]

...Do you want me to teach you?

[ just... don't answer, he'll let you keep your dignity for what it's worth and not ask for the details, okay, kondou-san. ]

[conceded]

[ Hopefully Hijikata is watching closely enough, because Kondou's face lights right up in that moment. Have you ever seen a grin so big? ]

Would you really, Toshi? As long as it isn't any trouble...

[demarcates]

Yes, it's no trouble at all.

[ he's pretty sure he just saw that grin the last time he indulged you maybe two and a half minutes ago, but now he's not quite so sure because maybe this one really is bigger which means he definitely can't say no or anything bad, now, even if he had planned to (which he hadn't). ]

[conceded]

[ Every time Hijikata indulges him, that grin somehow manages to become wider. It's magic! Kondou is still smiling, like he's just had some kind of major success. (Of course he has; it's not very often that he can score a victory against the demon vice commander!) ]

Great! I would very much like to learn, then!

[demarcates]

Come here, then.

[ he's moving over to one of the guns in particular now, looking at it expectantly before glancing to the booth tender who seems ready to let them give it a try, before he steps off to the side and waits for kondou to come over to him as requested, motioning to standing in front of the mounted toy. ]

[conceded]

[ And go he does, not unlike an eager puppy who wants attention from its master. In fact, that is probably the most accurate description of Kondou to date. He moves over to stand in front of the gun as directed, and turns to watch Hijikata, waiting rather happily for further instructions. ]

[demarcates]

[ ...definitely a puppy.

hijikata has to stop himself from comparing the two in his head, actually (and even then it doesn't matter all that much because he's still thinking it), so instead he just focuses on keeping his attention where it should be, and that's on the other and showing him how to do this properly. so, after a moment he'll move to come around behind kondou and start to instruct and physically movie him into proper position for this sort of thing. ]

This isn't even close to actually shooting something, but it's a start. Here, the basic idea is that you need to compensate distance. Unlike a sword, the further out and away your target it is, the more you have to adjust because the bullet—or, the water, in this case—isn't an extension.

[ bullets are different than water, anyway. much faster, much more to deal with, but for now, this is just a fine place as any to start... hijikata leans over kondou's shoulder now a little to reach and hold the other's arms in place and shift him a little bit in a better position to be judging distance. ]

You'll have to adjust and aim higher or lower depending on how you miss. For this, it's a little like throwing something.