The symptoms were unmistakable, and the medicine was effective in relieving them. I do not know what other conclusion to draw. It has been my assumption that none of us have arrived here in possession of ochimizu, however, so the only explanation I can imagine is that this is the doing of COMPASS.
[A pause.]
Although I was not aware at the time, as I had not met his friend before...I believe you should know, sir, that the one affected is Ivan Karelin.
[ Oh my god, he is going to crush COMPASS with his bare hands before this is over, so help him. Hijikata cuts himself short though, not willing to shift off course of the issue at hand just to throw a fit at a group that he can't currently see or touch. ]
Figures. What about you?
[ Because he wants to know before he spills the rest, since he knows that Saitou will do it regardless of his actual wellbeing. ]
[Maybe a little too fine. But he hasn't quite put that together in his head; the bloodlust hasn't been bothering him at all, but he's as strong and fast as usual, so his powers couldn't be missing, right?]
[ ...That's good enough. It has to be, what other choice do they have? ]
Then, I need you to step forward in this as I step back. Chizuru and Heisuke, don't let anything happen to them.
[ He'll take care of Kondou, still, even if that means dragging him ever single place he goes because he knows he's going to have an episode over finding out about Ivan and that's Hijikata's fault so he'll deal with that. ]
...are you all right, sir? [That in a bit of a smaller voice than usual. He knows asking that, among men like them, can be construed as an insult. He knows, and he'll take whatever's coming his way if Hijikata takes it as such, but - given the circumstances, knowing what's going on takes priority over avoiding giving offense.]
[ Yes, he knows. He's telling him so he gets that Hijikata doesn't have his back in that burden right now. ]
...Karelin had to get his current nightmare from somewhere, right? And where ever I am in burning up my time through the ochimizu, it's far enough along that I'll only be a problem for you without being a rasetsu. [ If this was any other situation—he'd say fuck it and do it regardless, but this isn't something he can screw around with. This isn't standing toe to toe with Kazama Chikage to slap that smug look off his face. It's not just about him and he is aware he can still assist in a different way.
He's not offended, but the spite he's feeling towards this place right now is terribly obvious. He hates this, he hates the idea that he has to sit back and he can't support Saitou with a blade. He hates that what he's feeling is currently eating away at a kid that doesn't even know how to have a fucking lick of self-esteem and still is aimless in the world and no matter how he looks at it, it's his own fault that's happening. ]
I'll find out what needs to be done to resolve this—you pierce straight on through and make sure it happens. You're the only surefire blade able to cut this time. [ At this point, Hijikata has no idea if Heisuke is all right, either. ]
[ he's not going to tell saitou it's not his fault, because that only sounds like criticism to his ability to take responsibility for what he feels is his.
however, hijikata will point out that there is no reason for saitou to feel he deserves less. hijikata lost chizuru on the ishimura. and now he's failing to be able to assist saitou by being affected by COMPASS' bullshit. ]
You trust me, and keep going.
[ and he'll trust you the same.
yeah what's being straight and not vague to make sure he's understood? hijikata doesn't know. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 7; day 3 (super late/early morning after he's traumatized kondou) } voice
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[A pause.]
Although I was not aware at the time, as I had not met his friend before...I believe you should know, sir, that the one affected is Ivan Karelin.
no subject
[ Oh my god, he is going to crush COMPASS with his bare hands before this is over, so help him. Hijikata cuts himself short though, not willing to shift off course of the issue at hand just to throw a fit at a group that he can't currently see or touch. ]
Figures. What about you?
[ Because he wants to know before he spills the rest, since he knows that Saitou will do it regardless of his actual wellbeing. ]
no subject
[Maybe a little too fine. But he hasn't quite put that together in his head; the bloodlust hasn't been bothering him at all, but he's as strong and fast as usual, so his powers couldn't be missing, right?]
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Then, I need you to step forward in this as I step back. Chizuru and Heisuke, don't let anything happen to them.
[ He'll take care of Kondou, still, even if that means dragging him ever single place he goes because he knows he's going to have an episode over finding out about Ivan and that's Hijikata's fault so he'll deal with that. ]
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[He would do that anyway, Hijikata.
A pause.]
...are you all right, sir? [That in a bit of a smaller voice than usual. He knows asking that, among men like them, can be construed as an insult. He knows, and he'll take whatever's coming his way if Hijikata takes it as such, but - given the circumstances, knowing what's going on takes priority over avoiding giving offense.]
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...Karelin had to get his current nightmare from somewhere, right? And where ever I am in burning up my time through the ochimizu, it's far enough along that I'll only be a problem for you without being a rasetsu. [ If this was any other situation—he'd say fuck it and do it regardless, but this isn't something he can screw around with. This isn't standing toe to toe with Kazama Chikage to slap that smug look off his face. It's not just about him and he is aware he can still assist in a different way.
He's not offended, but the spite he's feeling towards this place right now is terribly obvious. He hates this, he hates the idea that he has to sit back and he can't support Saitou with a blade. He hates that what he's feeling is currently eating away at a kid that doesn't even know how to have a fucking lick of self-esteem and still is aimless in the world and no matter how he looks at it, it's his own fault that's happening. ]
I'll find out what needs to be done to resolve this—you pierce straight on through and make sure it happens. You're the only surefire blade able to cut this time. [ At this point, Hijikata has no idea if Heisuke is all right, either. ]
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I will not let you down.
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Yes, sir.
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Saitou.
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[ he's not going to tell saitou it's not his fault, because that only sounds like criticism to his ability to take responsibility for what he feels is his.
however, hijikata will point out that there is no reason for saitou to feel he deserves less. hijikata lost chizuru on the ishimura. and now he's failing to be able to assist saitou by being affected by COMPASS' bullshit. ]
You trust me, and keep going.
[ and he'll trust you the same.
yeah what's being straight and not vague to make sure he's understood? hijikata doesn't know.]no subject
But he doesn't argue. He straightens up, again, and it's as though the motion somehow bleeds into his tone, even just for two short syllables.]
Yes, sir.