the sun can shine here

nagi "owl" kengamine - groundskeeper - faculty housing I2 [rp blog affiliated with string of fates]

[owlseyeball-blog]

[event; oichi & nagi]

[yurinokage]

“Yes… Ichi is fine.”

Her voice was soft as she replied to his apparent concern. Truly, the bump had been barely anything, and by then she had regained her balance. She was about to ask about him in turn, but her gaze first dropped to her hand. Just moments ago she had been holding her new locket, but now it was nowhere to be found.

Without missing a beat, she dropped to the ground and began to feel and look around for it.

“Ichi’s locket… where has it gone?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“That’s good, I’m glad--”

Wait, what had she lost?

“A locket... ?” Oh. Oh, dear. It took a second before it hit him that she could easily have dropped something upon bumping into him, and suddenly he felt rather responsible. Nagi could hardly just leave a lady in need of assistance, and he knelt beside her in hopes of offering just that. “Here, let me help you. Can you tell me what it looks like? It couldn’t have gone far.”

A locket could be an important thing, after all. It wouldn’t do to let something like that wander.

[serutee]

Truthfully, she had no idea that she would meet him here. Of course, she still had those feelings, they had never changed since DW, and seeing him again only amplified them. Yet, the idea of actually being near Nagi again was a pleasure, a gift even. Her unrequited feelings didn’t matter, now.

“Nagi..”

She smiled, and even let out a chuckle at his words.

“To think! The two of us meeting here, huh..?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“Haha, indeed— I couldn’t have hoped for better. It’s been far too long.”

Within but a moment, Nagi embraced her in a gentle hug. The opportunity to witness her undying cheer once more was nothing less than a godsend. So Karako had found her way to Tancho too. It was no surprise that so many of them were simply trying to settle back into some semblance of a normal life, though it was funny to see how they had congregated here of all places.

Since he had spoken with Saitou, one thought had lingered in the back of his mind; this is no coincidence. Karako’s presence now only served to strengthen that.

[owlseyeball-blog]

[event; oichi & nagi]

[yurinokage]

All of the festivities had left Oichi a bit dazed, confused. Not that she was unfamiliar with festivals, but this seemed much livelier than she was accustomed to. Not to mention the activities themselves were not ones she had witnessed before.

So she found herself wandering aimlessly through the booths, the occasional shiny object catching her eye. But more often it would be a piece with a floral motif that captured her attention—lilies, in particular. Somewhere along the way she even purchased a small locket with that very flower emblazoned on the front.

It was while admiring it that she tripped over a stray cord, which sent her stumbling forward. She might have fallen, if it weren’t for a nearby body standing in the way.

Looking up after the collision, she slowly blinked up at the man that had inadvertently stopped her fall. He had a kind smile, the sort she wished she had seen more often. As for his apology, either she had missed it, or simply chosen to ignore it.

“You kept Ichi from falling…. thank you.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

"It was-- ... the least I could do, miss."

The first thing that struck him was a gentle face, and an even gentler voice. It was almost unsettling— he was an inch away from thinking of it as fragility, but he didn’t like to make such poor assumptions as they were hardly at all fair. Was ‘Ichi’ her name? It was beautiful. He quickly regained himself and his warm smile returned.

“There’s no need to thank me. We all can lose track of our feet now and then, no harm done. Are you quite alright?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

[event; open]

“Celebration of the season, I see. A fine sentiment.”

Nagi had always housed a fondness for 'end of the year weather' apparel, and judging from the merchandise at the booths lined up across the school grounds, he now had an opportunity to properly indulge it.

A display of scarves persisted in catching his eye, but he spread his attention elsewhere. Worn as much of his clothing might be, he already had a scarf to wear, a perfectly fine one that he had no intention of replacing— a loving memory that he would keep close to his heart. There was no harm in sifting through other wares to choose a pair of gloves, though, for instance. Without fail it was always his fingers that turned to ice first, and that could make just about anything difficult.

Quite suddenly he felt another body bumping into his, a little clumsily at that—there wasn’t much room around these booths to wander, was there?

“Am I in your way? I apologize.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

gamefowl started following you

Was that really... ?

It was.

"... the sound of your bell still warms my heart like nothing else, Karako. Even now that we've found daylight."

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

Those of quick minds lasted longer than those without. Being able to read a situation, both at the surface level and concerning its ramifications, was a necessary part of his position under the Shinsengumi. Brute force in and of itself could not have carried them this far.

“I see. I think I understand now.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

The man nodded. He thought he had an idea as to what was on Saitou’s mind. Destiny is ultimately up to you and what you choose. That’s what’s important.

“I'd prefer to keep these things simple. The fact is, I’m here, whether or not it's to be believed that fate had something to do with it."

"If my personal opinion carries any weight, I think it would be best to make the most of what's there, and try not to worry overly much about what may or may not have brought us here. It might only earn us a headache otherwise,” Nagi added with humor in his tone.

[golduck]

[owlseyeball-blog]

[hanbei & nagi]

[rosaceaescarlet]

“So you’re one of the ones I owe my thanks to for such a beautiful retreat. It’s nice to finally put a face to some of the hard work.”

He didn’t quite know what to truly make of the man. From the look of him, he didn’t have the typical look of someone that spent their life outdoors; perhaps he was just starting out in the industry? Then again, appearances were deceiving, more often than not. It wouldn’t have been the first time he’d misjudged someone by only taking surface appearance into account.

“But you’re a newcomer as well, are you? I know there are several other individuals that started at the school this term, but I haven’t had the chance to meet with very many of them. You’re one of the first, actually.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“Is that so? It looks like we’re in the same boat in that regard.”

It hadn’t struck him until that point that he really hadn’t done a great amount of socializing. He’d met a new face or two, yes, but to say he was adrift upon a sea of strangers was a statement not far off the mark. Perhaps being kept in a perpetual brand of darkness for so long had hindered him, just a bit. Nagi was still adjusted to circumstances dire, and any exchanges no matter how light their tone had always followed suit. This wasn’t the case anymore, and he would have to do what he could to move with the times.

“It’s true, I haven’t been here terribly long... a little over a month, if I had to give it an estimate. It’s been enough to get me started, though I’ll be honest in saying I’m still in the process of gaining my bearings.”

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

An interesting view to hold, and certainly one that Saitou had no issues with. He did not care for letting destiny hold him by the strings, however, and refused to think that his actions had no impact on his fate. He would struggle for whatever new dream he happened upon.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but are you saying that even those who idle are rewarded?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

An intriguing point. Saitou clearly was a sharp thinker.

“Not necessarily. You should always continue to move forward— it’s the most important thing you can do. You'll always have a path, yes, but if you sit and do nothing, then you’ll never go anywhere.”

If ever I had idled on my own path, Nagi thought, I doubt I would even be here.

[owlseyeball-blog]

[hanbei & nagi]

[rosaceaescarlet]

“I can understand why. It has a certain air of serenity around it. It’s something of a rarity these days. Ah, but I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.”

He offered his hand to the soft-spoken man, a small smile appearing on his face. It wasn’t often he met someone that spoke so humbly about his work. It was appealing, in its own way. Perhaps even a bit nostalgic.

“Takenaka Hanbei. I’m the new Japanese military history professor. And you would be?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

Another new face on the staff, was he? Everyone here really was a newcomer, it looked like, although he got the distinct impression that this man was anything but a beginner. Composed, intelligent— qualities worth their weight in gold.

He took the offered hand with a nod. “It’s a pleasure. Nagi Kengamine, I’m a new groundskeeper under hire here at Tancho.”

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

He had little to smile about, but he would not turn down an opportunity to do so. The small things that most people overlooked, those were all that he truly had claim to now.

Saitou took in Nagi’s words. A nod of comprehension. “It must be fate,” he restated, knowing no other way for his mind to grasp it. To be turning to blind faith, hah, goodness they were grasping at straws here. But perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.

“Why do you say that?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“... bear in mind that this is little more than intuition speaking. However, I think that everything happens for a reason. Be it a lesson to learn, or a person to meet, or whatever else. Even if its value isn’t recognized right away, its importance will make itself known eventually.”

“That’s only my view, really. Make of it what you will.”

[whettheblood]

Even if this was Japan, he would have been fine with never seeing another Deadmen again. As it turns out, this is a small world and there are still people like him trying to live a mostly normal life again.

“Managed to escape Wonderland without getting maimed, huh?”

Although he hadn’t cared for Scar Chain, he had to respect Nagi and his team for fighting several Undertakers, including the batshit monk himself, and pulling through. Not all Deadmen had the will to even attempt training, let alone accomplish a feat like that. Trauma hindered the weak. 

“Figured I had to start out somewhere.” He shrugged, hooking a hand in his pocket. It didn’t sound like he was very enthusiastic. The other hand idly flicked a double-sided lizard coin.

[owlseyeball-blog]

While he hadn’t known Senji so very well, and their differing views set them worlds apart, Nagi had always held a consider amount of respect for him and his strength. Admirable wasn’t quite enough of a word for his abilities, really.

“That’s right, a good many of us did. By the skin of our necks, maybe, but we did.”

It appeared the tables had turned, in a way. While Nagi found this new start to be a blessing that he could take every advantage of, it didn’t look like Senji was terribly overjoyed with the change in environment. When the arena had been part of their everyday lives, the thrill of proving his might was something the Crow clearly relished more than anything, but now those opportunities were far more scarce in kind.

“A lot of us are adjusting, if I'm right. We’re all beginners here.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

[hanbei & nagi]

[rosaceaescarlet]

The campus was far more lively than he had been anticipating. Despite that, Hanbei had still managed to ferret out a few places of relative calm around the place. The gardens had the added bonus of being carefully tended, a detail that didn’t go unnoticed as he strolled along the paths and admired the flowers. The place was clearly a labor of love for the Gardening Club; perhaps he would have to pay them a visit and thank them for it one day.

It had already been a few weeks since he had come to the Academy, yet Hanbei felt unaccomplished. He had no ties to speak of and only had a general grasp on the workings of the place as a whole. There was still so much beyond him—a fact which irked him constantly. He knew he should relax—knowledge would come with time—but something had him set on edge. He couldn’t quite place it, but he knew it was there, lurking like a shadow. All the more reason to frown for him.

He nearly felt bad as he continued down the walkway. Frowning amidst the beauty of the place almost seemed like an insult, but he could hardly bring himself to stop as he got lost in his thoughts again. The only thing that finally managed to break it was the look of mild embarrassment when he walked straight into someone knelt in front of one of the rose bushes, a pair of trimmers in hand.

“My apologies. It seems I should pay more attention to the things in front of me than the flowers around me. You’re uninjured, I hope.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

Uninjured, yes, although the collision had been enough to upset his balance and land him on his rear. While it was taking Nagi a moment to register what had happened, the words being spoken hadn’t gone over his head, and he managed to pull himself back together with a smile without much trouble.

“Ah, it’s nothing to worry about, I’m quite alright. But thank you.”

He began to realize the pad of one thumb was beginning to sting, and he brought it to his lips in a weak attempt at relieving the sensation. One of the thorns must have caught him just now, he thought. He could faintly taste his blood, which hit his conscience like a ping pong ball-- it bounced right off, but left an impression. Setting his shears aside on the grass, he stood with the help of his free hand.

“I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying these gardens too. Perhaps it’s a bit early to take pride in the work, but... I’m finding it a privilege to help see that they prosper.”

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

Everyone seemed to be in a state of confusion and chaos. The academy managed to retain some basic level of structure, yes, but the general atmosphere was far more suspenseful than it should have been. Saitou knew not what to make of this sensation, other than to maintain his cool, even in the face of the unknown.

He smiled at Nagi’s attitude towards it all. “Misery loves company?” he suggested, a hint of humor in his voice. That was a joke.

But that humor only lasted so long. Saitou spoke quietly, just barely above a whisper, “I have never had something so strange as a congregation of all these folks happen to me before. It is fate. That or it is a very vivid dream. Perhaps this is even the afterlife. I don’t know. I don’t pretend to know. —I am relieved that there are some of us who retain a sense of normalcy, though.”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“It would seem that way,” Nagi replied, returning the expression. He silently observed that on Saitou, a smile didn’t seem out of place so much, but it did look as though it needed to be broken in to feel more natural, like a crisp, new glove.

“That I do understand. It does appear a tad unnatural that such a number of people of wildly different origins have all come to one place... even I’ve met a couple of familiar faces that I thought gone from my life; how they came to be here of all places is a mystery to me.” The man’s gaze had gradually fallen to the grass, his expression having changed to one remarkably blank.

Nagi sighed, the sound a bit odd through his voice box. “Perhaps it will make sense to us in time. I’d like to think that in life, there are no accidents."

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

That hadn’t been long at all. Perhaps it was enough time to settle and become acclimated to the routine, but not enough to think of this place as home. Saitou looked about once more, a foreigner to his own homeland. The thought made him sad, made him yearn for the past. But perhaps this was the price that came with peace, even if it was on a superficial level. 

“I see. I wonder if the rest of the faculty are that new. Do you ever feel as though someone is… watching us?”

[owlseyeball-blog]

“I’ve gotten the impression that that’s the case for many. Of course, it’s only a hunch... but if you watch a while, you’ll see a few people stumbling over their own feet a little. At the very least, we’ll all be in this together.”

Nagi had to think on his inquiry a moment. Did Saitou refer to surveillance, or... ? There was quite a difference between being watched, and being watched over. The two had vastly different connotations. “I’m not sure I understand.”

[laeva]

hell hath no fury like... | Saitou & Nagi

[laeva]

“Have you been here long?” Saitou inquired, referring to Tancho Academy. He himself was just beginning his new life here, so to speak. It would be nice to know that he wasn’t the only one at a disadvantage, struggling to learn the ins and outs of this place.

Of course, it wouldn’t take Saitou too long if he paid attention to all the signs and landmarks. Retaining one’s bearings was an important skill, one that had been drilled into his head since youth.

[owlseyeball-blog]

"Heh, not very long at all, actually. A little over a month... a month and a half, at the very most." It had been enough time for him to go over the grounds he would work with a fine toothed comb and iron out his future routines, but not much else.

Nagi was learning the layout of the campus more and more quickly every day, though. It all would work itself out somehow.

[owlseyeball-blog]

[hanbei & nagi]

Roses, beautiful as they are, are much easier to appreciate when properly pruned. If the foliage is left unattended, it’s entirely possible that at some point there will end up being more thorns than petals. Nagi, of course, intended to nip such a mess in the bud, pun not quite intended.

A set of pruning shears in hand, he had taken to kneeling by a row of rose bushes, trimming away broken stems and blooms that showed signs of withering. It was a somewhat saddening task, but it would only help these plants thrive and become even more lovely a spectacle in time. Death could give way to life... there was a lesson in that, and it made something in his heart smile.

So attentive to his work was he, trying to avoid the sharp points in the stalks and avoiding the shear blades with the ends of his fingers, that it never occurred to him that he might not be the only one among the vast displays of flora...