demarcates | IC INBOX

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!! ]

... 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. ]

...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. ]

[ 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...

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). ]

[ 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!

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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ ...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.

[ In the Shinsengumi, there are two types of people: the wolves of Mibu, and then there’s Kondou. He’s not as good as he should be at being a fearsome leader, or even just the second part, but what he lacks he tries to make up for with enthusiasm. Whether or not it actually ever works, well, that remains to be seen. It doesn’t seem to be impressing Hijikata very much at the moment, but then, when does he ever really manage that on actual merit alone?

He nods at Hijikata’s explanation, doing his best to take it all in. Truth be told, as much as he makes it sound simple… Kondou isn’t sure that he’ll ever be able to pick it up, at least not particularly well. But there’s a first time for everything, and so he shifts into place, doing his best not to crowd Hijikata’s personal space too much.

… except that he’s right there, pressed up behind him.

Concentration is becoming more difficult. ]

R-right, I'm sure that I can pick up on this…! It would be a disgrace if I didn’t.

[ That’s not strictly true, but he’s trying to distract himself from the real problem here. ]

So… if it’s further away, should I aim it higher?

[ problem? what problem. hijikata is certainly very oblivious to any potential problem.

...on the contrary as well, though in a much better circumstance, he has full faith kondou can not only learn this, but learn to do it well! assuming he pays attention enough, anyway; which sometimes, he's aware is a little bit of a difficult thing to keep of the other's. ]

Yes.

[ there's a lot more to it, but... not for aiming a water gun. ]

I guess you just hold the trigger. [ he's not sure himself, but that's all he can assume because it'd be difficult to actually play the objective of this game consistently having to pull. ]

It also helps if you don't let yourself get distracted by your surroundings.

[ Don't let yourself get distracted by your surroundings, he says, as though Kondou can easily follow that advice. There is one thing in particular he'll find himself getting completely distracted by if he's not careful, but for now he'll try to keep himself on track.

... Hijikata is right, unfortunately, in that his attention span can be absolutely terrible at times. ]

Alright... let's see, then.

[ Time to hold the trigger and see what happens-- oh, look at that! ]

It seems as though it's rather straightforward!

[ hijikata drops his hands away from kondou's now, a small laugh escaping him. it's hard not to find the other's reaction rather endearing in its simplicity, not to mention actual surprise (did he really think it wasn't? yeah, knowing kondou, probably). ]

Imagine that. Now you can win something from it.

[ he gives a small shake of his head before going to step back now so he can give kondou his space back ~~but if only hijikata was more aware, if only...!!~~ ]

And not lose your dignity talking about it in the future, yeah?

I think my dignity has been saved, thanks to you. And it'll be worth it if I can win things, too; the prizes do seem rather useful, don't they?

[ How he can be so enthusiastic about something like that is anyone's guess. ]

They do. [ he pauses, though, taking a second look at the prizes to verify this conclusion. ]

... Most of them.

[ this is true, but it's also Kondou and Kondou has always been easy to please even when he shouldn't be, so while it still often baffles Hijikata, he works hard to take it in stride.

besides, so long as the other is smiling, he can't complain in the slightest. ]

Not sure when it'll come in handy once this thing is over with, but you never know. [ stranger things must happen, especially in this place. ]

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