( OPEN )

[swordsitter]

Who: swordhaus + cr
When: throughout march
Where: the three apartments swordhaus uses.. or will be, once the newbies arrive
What: march catch-all
Rating/Warning: probably nothing, but i'll edit as necessary.

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[ this is a busy, noisy household. sorry, neighbors. ]

Comments

[spes_phthisica]

[You know, he's only in here to get a spare futon for his, Kashuu's and Yamato's room, in case either of them thinks sharing beds is too crowded some nights. He actually leans right past Pitch at first, wrestling with the unwieldy roll, his clearly emaciated body not making it entirely easy on him.

And then... ah. Ahem. A really tall, not entirely human-looking guy is standing around in the closet? Okay then. Somehow, this isn't nearly as surprising as it should be.

Of course, Souji does jerk back away from him, the startled breath he expels immediately starting a minor coughing fit, and he waves a hand feebly at the surprise wardrobe lurker as if to say he'll soon be done. Sure enough, he is wiping the blood away from his lips with a handkerchief only a moment later, smiling bleakly and apologetically.]

Ah, sorry. You startled me a bit. [A short bow follows. His voice is still a bit shaky and harsh.] I'm guessing you're one of Haru-kun's friends? I see no sword on you, so...

[isolophobia]

[ Pitch really is trying to be polite, and ingratiate himself here, so as he seemed to unfold from the closet, he brought the futon roll out for Souji. He wasn't sure about linens, though... And just imagine if someone saw him now. The great King of Nightmares humbled to thinking of bed linens.

Physically he was still the same; tall, thin to the point of wiry, and a bit more than "human-strong". Though at the moment Pitch seemed as stooped and tired as an old raven. He shrugged, gold eyes flashing. ]

I wouldn't say 'friend', exactly. But Haru did invite me.

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji's eyes light up a bit in gratitude as the futon follows the latest addition to the household out. It's frustrating and humiliating, of course, that he can't even seem to gather the strength for such simple things anymore - but it's also easier to humbly accept help here in Cerealia, when he knows that he'll be getting better with time.]

Ah, thank you. I'd rather not have to go ask my former swords for help with that - they'd probably scold me for trying to do it by myself.

[A light laugh, casual and bright.] Ah, but then we're in a similar position right now, I suppose. I was invited to live here rather recently as well, though I've been staying here quite a lot before. [He tilts his head thoughtfully.] Though on different grounds, most likely. You're some other sort of spirit, I'm guessing?

[isolophobia]

{ Extraordinary.This mortal ws weakened, but was still able to see him with perfect clarity. Pitch did incline his head briefly. since having the futon roll in hand did mean he could not execute the sort of dramatic and courtly bow he wanted to. ]

You guess correctly. I am another kind of spirit altogether.

[ And since Souji was already having to look way up at seven feet of creepy and thin, Pitch put the roll by hi feet and straitened up up to his full height. ]

The Boogeyman.

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji is quite unaware of the strangeness of the situation, apart from the more obvious strangeness of Pitch himself. Back home, it would be strange, because he doesn't have any spiritual powers the way Hajime does, and the only supernatural creature he's ever seen was one which rather specifically was haunting him. Then again, as it's Pitch... who can say? Souji does at least in some ways have the simplistic mind of a child.

Now he gazes up at the spirit with obvious respect, even a bit of excitement, but also some puzzlement.]

Ah, I take it that the name is a more Western phenomenon, then? I don't think I've ever heard it - but then again, I can't say I'm the most well-educated person around. [He laughs a bit apologetically.]

[isolophobia]

[ Strange? Oh you sweet summer child you haven't seen anything yet. Pitch gives that far too knowing grin and spreads his hands. ]

It is western. You likely know me as the Namahage. Which, while fun to steal the odd small child while the household is busy laughing and chasing those in costume, it's not a good look to keep year round.

[ Not that he could have. He'd tried before. But Pitch faded no matter how his appearance had changed. East or west. ]

[spes_phthisica]

[Souji's eyes grow wider still, looking practically haunting in that hollowed-out face. He remembers being afraid, as a child, of being taken away. He wasn't a good kid, after all. He had made everything so hard for his family.

But that is only the memory of old apprehensions, there for a moment and gone in the next. He even smiles only shortly thereafter, childish and adult beyond his years all at once. Fear is a constant in life, after all.]

So you scare children all around the world wearing different faces? In scary stories and bad dreams, that sort of thing?

[isolophobia]

[ Pitch smirked and bent to pick up the rolled futon then seamlessly slid into a tight circle around Souji. His shadow left his signature of being a bit disjointed. As though it was slow to follow him. ]

As long as somebody is afraid of those "scary stories" then yes.

[ Ending up where he started, Pitch waited for his shadow, like a streak of ink in the floor, to catch up with him. Alright so maybe he was showing off a bit. ]

Nightmares, though? That's something else...

[spes_phthisica]

[Strangely, it's not so hard for him to accept. Of course, darker spirits have to accept as well as lighter ones, that only makes sense. It's just how the world works. As someone who has been called the child of an oni, and who has prided himself on doing very bad things so that other people don't have to, it's what he has always believed.

He gasps a bit at the trick with the shadow, but honestly seems more delighted than intimidated - certainly impressed.]

That's something even adults have - but I suppose it's easier to make a child believe a dream. When we grow up, we tend to dismiss them as soon as we wake up.

Still, everyone has something they're afraid of, is that what you're saying?

[isolophobia]

[ Pitch sneered at first. He didn't much like the reminder that it was apparently easy to dismiss him as a 'bad dream'. But after a moment his lip curled in a smirk. ]

Yes. Though with adults it's altogether different. Children are frightened or brave by equal measure. They ear children they know no better.

[ And showing off a bit again with parlor trick magic, Pitch's shadow detached from him and both he and his shadow seemed to bow to each other. Then It came back an simply became a shadow again as Pitch faced Souji. ]

With adults, by and large, it's secrets.