naturallywavy | [ FUTUROLOGY ] ✖ IC CONTACT

I had a very good dinner.

[ Alice doesn't bother holding back the sigh as she steps into the room. she's not in the mood to scold him, this time, freely moving past him and picking up a worn, well-loved book. ]

That was to wipe your face, not blow your nose.

_{[ Ah. How odd. He was expecting some kind of scolding.
Gintoki pushes his tongue into the crack of his mouth to catch a lingering taste of sugar before eyeing the book.

Something was up. ]}

Ah, ah. What's that you have there? .. How did you get a good dinner? _{Where is mine?}

Edited 2015-11-16 04:15 (UTC)

Le Morte d'Arthur.

[ She pauses, realizing he may not know what it is, so, she clarifies, settling herself down. ]

It's one of the oldest books about King Arthur.

[ Alice settles herself in a seat, slowly pulling a blanket over her head, as means of security. ]

Well... I tried to look for you, back at the castle, but I couldn't find you. But that man, that nuisance- he was there and he was cooking food for the children. He offered me food, too.

[ She turns to look up at him. Free food should be something that would make her genuinely happy, but Alice isn't looking very pleased at the moment. She looks fairly somber talking about it. ]

_{[ Oh my God. Boring as fuck again. First Pearl with her book, and now this. Gintoki listens, though he doesn't pry further as to what actually happened. The nuisance guy again, huh? Little do we know that Gintoki has crossed paths with him and doesn't know it.

Alice probably feels him settling next to her. If she's on the floor, he's on the floor. If she's on a bed, he's on the floor. If she's in a seat, he's on the floor near her, perched there like a child would be. He's not sure what this blanket means, but he's quickly following suite and pulling half of it over his head too.

Now they both look silly— and that's the entire reason that Gintoki does this: is to make her feel like she isn't alone, even with such a small gesture.

We'll leave the nuisance talk alone for now. Perhaps she needs a distraction, or something to make her happy. ]}

—What the book about?
_{[ always a great question for bookworms. ]}

Edited 2015-11-16 04:35 (UTC)

It's various stories about King Arthur and his knights, everything from his birth to his death.

[ The stories involving King Arthur weren't the most cheery. That didn't matter to Alice, who sits there, swinging her feet. The blanket was means of keeping herself secure, almost retreating in a bad habit of hiding herself from others. Even at 19 years old, it was a hard habit to kick when she was upset. ]

When I was a little girl, my father used to read stories like this to me. So, I wanted to read it, again.

[ So she could remember sitting in his lap, as he read it to her. Her father happily reading to his children about his namesake. Those were good nights at the Liddell household. ]

_{[ Knowing your father must have been nice. Instead, he knew Shouyou-sensei, which was more than enough. Shouyou had a lot of stories too, but they were mostly made up. They would put Gintoki right to sleep, along with the sounds of the wilderness.

Then again, it didn't take much to put Gintoki to sleep.
Anyway, Alice seems sentimental. That's something else they have in common. ]}

I don't have any books I read as a child.

_{[ He reaches into his yukata and pulls out.. this. Here we go again. ]}

Only what I have as an adult.
_{[ which is essentially a kid's book. ]}

It has a lot of pictures on the cover

[ Which doesn't seem so bad. The book in her lap has many elaborate illustrations in it, some that she looked at for hours when she waited for her father to come back. It would seem childish for some, but not for Alice as she leans down to look, huddled in the blanket. ]

I used to love those sort of books when I was a little girl. I wouldn't read anything without pictures.

[ She's very sentimental right now wistful as she recalls her father holding her. Maybe that's why she's been wearing the blanket like that, too. ]

They must be good stories to read before you fall asleep. Aren't they?

See for yourself.
_{[ Gintoki says as he hands over the book to her. The only probably is that it is completely in Japanese.. so she probably doesn't know how to read it. Gin remembers this and withdraws it, flipping through a few pages. ]}

Ah.. well, sometimes people here have trouble understanding it.
_{[ He opens a page, which seems to be a chapter of Bleach. Gintoki regards it with interest— note how when he turns the page its read in the opposite direction as opposed to an English book: right to left. ]}

I'll read you'em sometime.
_{[ He says this with a very small smile.
please get into his fandoms, Alice. ]}

[ Alice can't understand any of it, no. It would be something that Mr. Radcliffe would hone in on, having his office back in London littered with artifacts from China and Japan. The writing is pretty to her, as she looks down at the pages with a soft smile on her lips.

Where were these things when she was a child? ]

Really? You promise? I'll listen to them.

[ Poor Alice, she has no idea about fandoms. As far a she's concerned, it's a friendly swap of stories. She seems eager by the idea, clutching the book dearly to her chest. ]

Then I can read you stories, too, if you like. They're not boring! I promise.

_{[ This is good. She looks brighter than how she was when she first walked in. ]}

I pinky swear.

_{[ He holds out his pinky to her. Though, something about his expression doesn't seem as happy— not like when he was trying to show her the really cool thing that never actually happened. Nevertheless, he looks gentle and his voice is exceptionally sincere.

A pinky swear. It meant a lot to him; more than anybody could ever know. A pinky swear is what he made when his wrists were bound and his teacher was taken to him in shackles.

Ever since then, he has been making pinky swears— for everything. They're very serious, though, and he follows through to them.

He was pinky swearing other things that Alice probably didn't agree with.
Pinky swearing he'd help bring the sun back, pinky swearing he'd keep her safe.. even if he knew she could take care of herself, pinky swearing he'd continue to be her friend.

It was his own personal vow. ]}

Edited 2015-11-16 18:18 (UTC)

[ Pinky swears is something she knows from her sister and the orphans back in Houndsditch. Alice leans down with a soft smile playing on her face, linking her finger with his. ]

Pinky swear it is, then.

[ She didn't absolutely trust him, but she trusted him more than anyone else in their odd group. She shuffles back into her seat with the book in her hands, tightly secured in her arms. ]

Did you eat anything else other than cookies?

_{[ Gintoki, however, admits defeat to the floor with a soft thud, lounging on his back. Isn't this a familiar circumstance? ]}

Cake. I had cake. Some candy. Honey. I haven't been able to find good ice cream yet.

_{[ Would you believe it? His eyes are falling shut. ]}

I see. I hope that they were good for you, then. Were they? They must have been, with how tired you are.

[ Alice peers over, looking at him with a soft smile. It's almost like the orphanage, all over again with the children and nap times. ]

I had meat and bread -- I think that was the most meat I've had in a while.

[ She sounds relatively content at that moment, swinging her feet in the seat being small as she is. All is quiet until she blurts out- ]

That man from before cooked food for children and he stole clothing from the castle and gave it to them. His name is Ban. Isn't it odd? For someone so terrible, how can they have the capacity to be generous.

_{[ Ban. He recalls a Ban. Somebody named Baaaaan or something of that sort threatening to tip over the outhouse— expose his manbits.. something like that. Gintoki doesn't say anything, but he is listening. After a moment of silence, Gin has rolled over onto his side, back facing Alice like before when they were outside. ]}

People choose their own path and their perception of justice can be screwy at times. _{[ It isn't odd. Gintoki has done horrible things and then pure things in his life. He has committed sins for the greater good in the end. ]}

I respect him for that. _{[ Choosing his path, he means. ]}

I suppose so, yes. But the same can be said of those will ill intent. They'll convince themselves that what they do is good and a service to others, when in reality, it can be the most horrific thing imaginable.

[ It was a little too late to be having conversations about morality and motives. Alice found herself more bothered by it than she let on. She curled up in her seat. ]

He's a menace, though not a monster, so far.

[ And Alice wasn't sure what to think of him anymore. ]

He's tried to take my knife and threatened me, yet he offered me food. He broke in here and then offered up his neck to me to cut it.

[ And yet- ]

So why is it still so infuriating and pitiful?

_{[ A menace— not a monster. What did she mean by that? Countless people have called a Gintoki a 'monster' by his fighting style. Some people— some of them lived and some of them now dead— caught a glimpse of just how absolutely terrifying Gintoki can be once his trigger was pulled.

This kind of whiplash Alice was experiencing with this guy reminded him slightly of one of his classmates— somebody who just wanted to destroy. Somebody who wanted to see the shogun's head roll and flood the country in fire. ]}

Some people are selfish. Some people just want to see the world burn.

_{[ Takasugi was crazy. Gintoki was crazy. Even Katsura— well. Katsura was crazy from the start but in a different kind of way. Whatever was Ban's issue, Gintoki didn't care. But his unpredictable behavior put Gintoki on high alert.. for himself, for other people, for Alice.
Gin is quiet for a moment before he grunts and sort of flops around on the ground until he is comfortable. With a rather sleepy tone: ]}

Oi. It's cold. It's rainin'. I'm staying here. _{[ It wasn't.. raining. But this was his excuse to camp out here.
It was his excuse to invite himself to live here without saying it. From this day forth, this is the place he was going to call his 'room' and if Alice ever told him to leave, he would say it's raining. ]}

Doesn't look like it's going to light up anytime soon— probably never. Guess I have no choice. _{[ Do you get his drift? ]}

[ That was odd and Alice doesn't know what to make of his statement. She leans up from her seat to gaze out the window. It seems to fly over her head, at first. ]

What do you mean? I don't see anything.

[ Or maybe she was seeing what she wanted to see. Her mouth hangs open at the thought. The usual pit of self doubt swallows her. Alice settles back down with the book on her lap, staring at the cover. It's only a few minutes later she finally understands it. ]

Well-

[ She's used to people wandering in her room -- children or other patients back in the asylum. Eventually, she comes to the conclusion she doesn't have the heart to shoo anyone out. ]

Being as mad as I am, fine, you can stay.

It's fine. You're in the same kind of company. We gotta stick close— birds of a feather and all of that. _{[ He doesn't know her story— why she just calls herself mad— and again, he doesn't find it right to just pry into it. Gintoki was a rather secretive individual— he knew he felt uncomfortable and wanted to avoid discussions when pried at. Why should he bother her? Gintoki didn't hallucinate, but he did have frequent nightmares; he did have frequent outbursts of anger. He did have that frequent feeling of guilt as the days went on and he lived his life. It was something he would carry until he died.

He wanted to live a beautiful life to have a beautiful end.

Anyway, a hand lift up and rakes through his curly hair, and then a passing thought as he closes his eyes: ]}
Especially if you're going to be making cookies.

_{[ See that? it's a soft smile. ]}

Edited 2015-11-25 00:00 (UTC)

[ Alice has opened up her book, only this time to look at the pictures instead of actually reading it first. It's just something she can fill in the silence and her own racing thoughts regarding her sanity. She manages a breathy response, something close to laughing for her. ]

I'll make you cookies, you needn't worry there, though you may have some competition from little mouths.

[ Another few moments pass and Alice is left in silence again, before she blurts out, looking down at him- ]

What do you think? Is it wrong to steal clothing and food for others when they're in more need? It's not, is it? Well, I think it's not and they told me he was going to lose his head.

[ God help her, she's actually upset with it. ]

_{[ Geez. He's been hit with a lot of profound questions lately from several people. Alice probably hears him yawning as he lies there on his back, one leg lifting so the ankle rests on his knee.

With a disgruntled expression, his hand goes to his mouth, pinky finger picking at his teeth. ]}

If somebody's soul is pure, whatever their heart tells them is right — is right. Whatever their heart tells them is wrong — is wrong.

The problem is.. not everybody has a pure soul; not everyone has a heart that actually speaks to them.. so they do whatever the hell they want.

[ She'd actually found out about Gin being put in prison a couple of hours ago, but it had been shortly before the concert she'd put the date of in her flyers and, well. The show must go on.

But now that the concert's over, with some autographs given out to her budding group of fans, and she's returned to her room, she sends out a text. She's not sure if he has his network jewel on him, but it's worth a shot. ]

You missed the concert.

[ ...If he doesn't notice the message right away, she's going to start sending him more texts. ]

_{[ Word had already gotten out about people being in prison, so Gintoki didn't risk texting out to anyone or really using his watch device at all. Gin knew he wouldn't be there for Nico, but he also didn't want to message her and make her worry about him. When he receives a message, though, he isn't sure if she knows about what has happened to them.

Instead of explaining his predicament, he responds. He doesnt respond with a snarky remark or an insult like he usually does. He gave Nico his word that he would do this for her, and yet, here he is— covered in blood and dirt and feeling nothing but hunger. Gintoki doesn't seem panicked over the fact he could get in trouble by talking to her.

She deserves his time, as risky as it is, after all of this: ]}

nico-chan,
i know you performed well. with how you speak and how i see what drives you.
i don't need to see you perform to understand. i can already see it in who you are.

i'm sorry.
_{[ After all, you did get him to smile without singing and dancing. ]}

So, then, it's not always wrong.

[ She could understand anyone stealing for the sake of surviving or selling themselves for money. Between the asylum and Whitechapel, London, she understood how far people would go to just stay afloat. Society could condemn them all they wanted, but in the end, society made them that way, Alice would say. ]

He could have left those children starving there and he didn't. The most noble and esteemed men in all of London wouldn't dare sully their hands feeding and clothing children, and yet, he did.

[ He threatened her when she gave him thanks. Eventually, the only conclusion she could draw he was more pitiful than she thought in the first place. ]

I'm sure he'd threaten me if I told him I was grateful for it, too, for him helping those children. Some days, I don't even feel like myself, so how can I take care of them?

[ Silence falls as Alice looks down at her book, staring down at the images of King Arthur, as if that would provide her answers. Eventually, Alice just blurts it out, she comes out and says it. ]

He doesn't deserve to die.

Isn't it what Robin Hood did or something? Give to the poor. Hey, I'm poor— people should give me stuff too. _{[ I mean, he's not wrong, but now wasn't the time for that— stop, Gintoki.

Anyway, Alice is musing things that she should probably keep to herself and Gintoki is merely listening it, logging it away. She's asking questions Gintoki asks himself— when he doesn't feel like himself and his money is tight.. when he's not sure if he can take care of people who are important to him. What does he do in those situations? Well, to be honest, he merely just kind of drinks, so he can't tell her to go out and drink. Gintoki is a little bit mindful of how he should role model himself for people like Alice. ]}

How can you take care of them? You give up whatever the hell you can. That is the right thing to do because most people wouldn't give a shitkicking damn. Sacrifice yourself, if you gotta.

_{[ and then, in response to that last statement: ]}
If somebody is doing good for others to redeem themselves, they only deserve only a crown to wear. _{[ The world is too corrupt otherwise. Pity he doesn't listen to his own words a lot of the time. ]}

Edited 2015-11-28 05:08 (UTC)

Give them what I can?

[ She could and would do such a thing for orphans. Her lips pressed into a thin line, she debates it, she really debates telling Gintoki why she's so upset. It bounces in her head for a bit -- but then, what would he say if she turned a blind eye to children? ]

It's not that easy, it's-

[ Alice wouldn't really dare steal anything, especially that much like Ban did. She couldn't do what Nanny did, either, but she understood it and often wished that Nanny didn't result to such a level of selling herself. She grows more anxious at the thought, and decides not to mention it, altogether. ]

It's not only the right thing to do, it's what I should do, it's my penance and I'm not very good at it. I don't always feel well.

[ Well, she's not lying and she's not admitting to hallucinations, either. ]

[ FUTUROLOGY ] ✖ IC CONTACT

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text; un: NICO☆NICO☆SMILE; backdated to the evening of November 23rd

dadtoki has failed you

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