estoria | ( OPEN )

[ As had become his habit, Pitch spent the extra time in the lengthening hours of evening carefully looking over this piece or that of custom-made tailoring.

It was almost funny how exacting he was about everything. But on the other hand it was a useful alternative to ViViD. Still, whenever Haru would call it a night, so would Pitch.
He would neatly fold his work, and put it away, like he'd never been there. Then he'd disappear into Haru's room too. But not into Haru's bed, but rather into his closet.

It was always the same every night. It wasn't always following Haru, sometimes Pitch was already a part of that closet. Sometimes he was nowhere to be found. But it was always on nights when Pitch followed Haru that Haru had bad dreams. ]

[When he finally locates the apartment his card-key opens - and gets help figuring how that works, somehow - Cao Pi has no idea just who lives around him. There sure are some weird creatures, but seeing as he just came from a place where cadres of snake demons were a daily visual, he can get past it. But after the first day, he realizes he's seen a number of young men carrying swords passing back and forth in the halls. Now that is way more interesting.

It isn't the swordsmen that get him to leave his apartment and prowl around to meet neighbors, though. Cao Pi is already annoyed with having to live like a commoner, mingling with them isn't a priority. But he can't help but notice that the upstairs folks are pretty active. It's not the most awful noise but it's noticeable in the solemn quiet of his quarters. So after a couple of days here he is, maybe not in armor but still in his coat and finery, striding up the hallway to find which of the apartments must be the culprit. When unsure, he starts knocking on all the doors.]

I.

Generally speaking, Kon doesn't tend to go home with strangers. But Mutsu proved himself to be incredibly friendly, like a stray dog that's decided to adopt you instead of the other way around. Except the tsukumogami definitely isn't a stray, considering he'd offered to bring him back to where he and his numerous sword buddies live with a bunch of other people.

And, you know, the historical ramifications of him being Sakamoto Ryouma's sword sort of leads him to not questioning much when it comes to whether he's getting himself into trouble or not. The curiosity and intrigue outweighs literally everything else as he makes his way to the apartments Mutsu told him to go to.

So here he is, poking his head in curiously. And maybe nerding out a little, internally, because the swords of historical figures live here.

II.

Do swords need to eat? Kon imagines not, but that doesn't change the fact that he figures they still like to eat, considering they're human-shaped and most spirits will eat food if they think it tastes good. Besides, not all of the people here are swords. Probably.

... there are, admittedly, a lot of people, so who knows.

But he disappears for a little while before he comes back to the apartment that seems to be the base of all activity, plied with ingredients for a very easily customized stir fry. It's something that can feed a lot of people, and since there's so many of them, hey, it seems like a great way to show gratitude for the hospitality that's been extended to him.

Still, he's at least going to stop someone on the way to his work, asking:

[At some point this particular evening, as Pitch is pouring over his work with a meticulous eye, Kashuu will take a break in his work (similar work, actually - he's not a tailor, but he does sometimes design clothing for his boutique) and stop by whichever area he's working in.]

Hey. [It's not a confrontational tone, exactly, but it's not Kashuu's usual up-beat one either.]

You got time to talk?

Huh?

[It's a new face asking that question, but Kashuu is pretty used to new faces coming and going here by now. Haru tends to adopt everyone who wanders within a ten mile radius of the apartments and he's passed that trait on to several swords, so their living quarters are always abuzz with activity (and slowly spreading out like the blob monster to take over the entire floor...)

Besides, this guy has food?? Who would turn down a free meal! He eyes the ingredients for a second, curious, but then nods and gestures toward the kitchen.]

Sure, sure! Just lemme clean up a little.

[There are probably mugs and bowls all over the counter...]

[One of those doors, once knocked on long enough, will eventually open to reveal...a masked young man with a tiny fox by his feet.

It is sadly not the fox that usually talks for him, so rather than saying anything, Nakigitsune's gonna just stand there and stare up at...ah, haven't they passed each other in the halls before? Maybe he's a new sword? How many non-swords live in this building again...]

[ALL THAT INCESSANT KNOCKING even if this is only like, 1/12th the amount of noise that the swordhaus apartments generate on the daily... But Kashuu, who was trying to take a nap, isn't super thrilled with the sound that just doesn't go away. Normally when you ignore a door long enough, the person gets tired and leaves! Not today, apparently.]

Whaaat? [Actual Child Kashuu Kiyomitsu... But when he realizes that he has no idea who the person knocking is, he'll kind of shape up a tiny bit maybe.]

Are you looking for someone?

[Poking his head into one of the rooms, Kon might notice a face peeking at him over the back of the couch...or two faces, really - a boy and his fox--ah wait no the cybuddy fox is popping up too, now it's three. We have a new visitor! They're all curious.

Curiosity doesn't stop Naki from continuing to chew on his pocky while he stares, but at least his non-robotic fox is polite enough to speak up.]

Ah, are you a new comrade? Welcome to our home!

[Strange...mask. Cao Pi doesn't even really register the fox, just the figure standing there.]

Excuse me. Do you know the people in the rooms there? [gesturing toward the main swordhaus apartment which happens to be right above his.]

[puts on his Lord of Wei face.]

That depends. Is there an actual herd of elephants living here, or is that merely how it sounds when living below?

I

[It was hard to turn down an offer from Mutsu-- especially when Koumei found himself reminded of the vibrant personality and legacy of his late cousin Ren Hakuren every time the young man flashed him that warm and boyish smile. The offer was doubly hard to turn down when it involved sharing quarters with Mutsu's friends and countrymen. A shared culture, even if only superficially similar, was something to be prized in this strange city of Tellus and it's 'modern' sensibilities.

What Koumei hadn't expected was that there would be so many of them. If Koumei closed his eyes, it was almost like being in one of Kou's colonial territories...

He would need to thank them, somehow.

Thus it was that he lingered near the door of their quarters, a voluminous basket of fresh fruit in his arms. Although Mutsu had assured him that his presence was not a problem, it didn't feel right entering without invitation.]

II

[3am. He couldn't sleep-- and not for lack of wanting.

After hours lying in the dark, thinking about that battle and trying in vain to contain his worries for his family, Koumei had finally had enough of the images that haunted him every time he closed his eyes. All he could think of was his brother Kouha, with his dapper hat and his cute little braids, lying bloodied on the ground. His sister Kougyoku was beside him, Metal Vessel clenched tightly in her hands as she struggled to bring forth the Magoi necessary to summon Vinea's presence in her body.

It wasn't reality; It was pessimism, and emotion clouding his sense of rationality.

Padding out into the kitchen in his slippers, Koumei sought a distraction. A cup of hot tea-- or maybe that remedy from Balbadd, with the warmed milk that had turned golden with the addition of turmeric-- might suffice...

Except, nothing in the kitchen made sense.

Several moments later an electrostatic pop could be heard, followed by an explosive crash as a ceramic-lined metal cup ruined the communal microwave.

Scalding milk soaked the counter. The golden dust of turmeric had blasted in the air and Koumei, choking on the spice, was hiding behind his feathered fan on the far side of the room.

He had just come out for a cup of warm milk, and he was honestly feeling so attacked right now.]

Edited 2015-11-20 22:08 (UTC)

[Kashuu is, contrary to what many people think, a very light sleeper most nights. It usually takes less than a knock on his door to wake him up (though whether he'll actually indulge whoever's trying and get up is another matter entirely), so the loud bang from the kitchen is definitely enough to wake him even though it's the next apartment over. WHAT 3AM SHENANIGANS ARE GOING ON--

Rushin on over to knock on the door... He sure isn't being quiet about it either, just in case there's some weird break-in or fight going on over there. No wonder they're getting sound complaints, honestly.]

Hey! Open up!

[There was an audible crash and a muffled complaint before the door creaked open.....revealing an auburn haired man in simple cloth robes peering through.]

--Sorry for the disturbance, [he said softly, obviously chagrinned, and politely bobbed his head as a show of respect.] The machines here aren't as simple as they look.

[Nakigitsune looks over at the door in question, nodding. There's a short pause before he remembers he should probably try talking too.]

....Did you want to...meet them?

[On the plus side, that eliminates the possibility that this guy is a burglar, probably! Kashuu only fleetingly recalls him from earlier in the day; he had fruit, or something...

Well! That part isn't important right now. The important part is figuring out exactly what broke before anyone else wakes up... He's already starting to get war flashbacks and he doesn't even know it's the microwave yet, lord.]

Did you break something? That was a super loud crash-- [Don't mind him just toeing his way into the apartment and peering around.]

[quietly patient for now]

Meet...not exactly. I live on the floor below, it seems, and I'm starting to wonder exactly how many people are coming and going from there all day long.

[Toe in and peer around all you want, Sir Sword Spirit. At least, Koumei assumes as much-- Mutsu had been speaking like there were many like him in the city, and it was reasonable to guess that they all lived near each other.]

It was one of the machines. I couldn't sleep, you see...

[Koumei hid his face behind his fan, hoping that the feathers and the darkened room would obscure his unease. The battlefield was a far more recent experience for him, and war is never easy on any of the participants.

Including the tacticians-- especially when the lives of his brothers and countrymen were on the line.]

[ Swords do not need to eat but that doesn't mean they don't like to?! Kousetsu has enjoyed all the foods he's sampled thus far in this strange and he's not all that unfamiliar with cooking now because of it.

Still when he sees a new face in the apartment he can't help but inquire. ]

...that is fine. [ Though he doesn't move for a moment before he goes to put away the myriad of cereal boxes left on the counter. ]

Are you in need of...assistance?

[RUDE. But true... But rude!! In turn, Kashuu puts on his agitated-like-a-puffed-up-cat face.]

It's not me! Some swords just don't know how to walk like they don't have cement blocks taped to their feet.

....swords?

[please to elaborate, young man. He hasn't heard of this phenomenon yet.]

[ And low and behold Kousetsu is one sword that happens upon him standing near the door. He will look at the basket and then at Koumei with a slight tilt of his head. ]

Do you wish to...come inside?

[ Don't mind the soft, barely above whispering, voice of the gentleman with bluish green hair. He totally lives here. ]

Are you a friend of Haru-san's?

Haru?

[He lifted his brows curiously at the serious young man standing before him, looking more like an unassuming person who had wandered in from the streets than someone whose clothese were fine enough to belong to royalty. Koumei figured that the stranger was referring to the Kure Haru he had heard of less than a day before.

Koumei shook his head.]

No. It was Sir Mutsunokami who invited me here-- I hope I'm not intruding.

[A short, polite bow quickly followed his words. He meant no disrespect-- honest.]

[It takes several rounds of knocking to rouse Koumei from his uneasy slumber for long enough to shrug on his robe and slip on his slippers to actually go and answer the door. A prince by rank and lineage, as well as military commander and academic, he was unused to having to answer his own door and take his own calls. Typically someone else in the palace took care of such business, allowing him to continue his work with the war effort undisturbed.

Or, if someone really wanted him, they came and got him on their own. There was none of this knocking and polite waiting.

Cracking the door open, Koumei peered out at the tall, regal stranger standing at the door. His hair messy hair, noticeably bound in a high and uneven tail even through the slim opening, did nothing to help his presentation-- although, someone with a practiced eye would notice that the cut and weave of his clothes were startlingly fine for someone so disheveled.]

...Is there something you need? [he asked, no hint of sarcasm or demand in his tone. He merely wanted to cut straight to the point-- two hours of sleep wasn't nearly enough to bolster him for the hassel of being social.]

[ haru usually lives in the central apartment, but he's between the other two off-and-on most days for purposes of chores. that's why, when kon pokes his head in the apartment, there's a small figure with a laundry basket on his hip heading toward the door.

haru pauses, blinking up at the stranger, before simply stepping back to let him in the door. ]

Oh. Are you new? [ haru, don't just accept random strangers into your home.. ]

[Generally, Cao Pi has no fucks to give about waking anyone up from sleep - even if his retainers aren't as lazy as the ones around Wu, he's had to drag them out of other circumstances to get to work. But he is at least a little contrite about it, for politeness' sake.]

My apologies. I'm trying to find the source of the constant noise on this level. Clearly, this room is not it.

[at least not right now. But Zihuan takes an extra moment to notice the fine clothing, and his eyebrow arches in curiosity. Who are these people?]

( OPEN )

Pitch Black || ota ;;?

open!

open & mutsu's fault

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ii! bless the food-bringer

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i

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Open-- and also Mutsu's fault

ii! goodbye microwave 2...

I heard a rumor that it was traditional. Besides, some appliance needed to break....

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it's true... it's not swordhaus if harus hair isnt turning grey

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oh my god~

ii

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I

I

open!

i!!

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