firstsaderesponder

[Another day on Prismatica, another birthday that Sougo misses. That natural course of action was to be a sulky boy in his own room. Sougo didn't know how time worked in this place; was Kondou-san doing okay without them? He's not doing okay without Kondou-san...especially not when his Iris traits were out in full force for some reason.

Unfortunately what greets him at the door is his greatest rival for Kondou's attention. Why did he have to get stuck with Hijikata. But he sees the ceramic pieces in Hijikata's hands, and Sougo immediately knows. They both miss him.

And to be honest, he needs someone. Anyone.

Hijikata will see that in addition to his antlers and ears, Sougo's face is looking more...deer-like. The tip of his nose is colored black and he looks like he has eyeliner around his eyes. Sougo tries to rubs the back of his head, trying to appear as if hanging out isn't a big deal. But his entire arm is now a bat wing, and he's trying to make use of the teeny tiny thumb he has.]

Fine. You better not break the cups, Bull-san.

[Oh, these stupid, stupid boys.]

[It's still wild to see Sougo looking like this. Sometimes Hijikata feels like they're all just dressed up for yet another new merchandise set, probably in collaboration with a zoo or something, but the physical and emotional changes are all too real. Knowing that they have to spend their commander's birthday without him has put enough of a damper on his Sanguis aggression to keep it from flaring up at every small provocation (though it also helps that he got into some fights over the last few days).]

My hands aren't hooves, are they? But you can carry them if you want to.

[He holds the sake cups and bottles (one for pouring, two large ones containing the actual drink) out to Sougo, not expecting him to actually take them.]

Do you want to stay around here or go to the Groves? In the latter case bring a blanket.

[Sougo can do some of the work at least. Ever since the floods at the end of last month temperatures markedly fell, but it's still mild enough to sit outside and enjoy the weakened warmth of the sun.]

[If they were all caught up with canon, these two idiots would've known that they ended up as cows. Which is relevant for our resident bull. At least they get paid when it comes to merchandise...

Anyways, Sougo does want to go to the Groves. Kongoat is there. Might as well bring a blanket then. Just for himself.]

I'll be back.

[He'll slam the door in Hijikata's face. Afterward, he rummages his apartment for a blanket and attempts to hold it with his wings for hands. A few minutes later, the door will open again to a Sougo burrito. His wings are folded around himself and the blanket is on top of him in another layer. Yes, he had to roll himself into the blanket.]

Let's go, Hijikata-san.

[At least those are just cow kigurumi... but alas, they really have no clue about the many, many more merchandise lines that are in store for them. Having the door thrown shut in his face leaves Hijikata completely unfazed, given that it's Sougo he's dealing with. When he comes back out, though, he frowns.]

You want to walk around like this? You'll make me look like a grave robber.

[Sougo doesn't really look like a mummy, but he definitely does look suspiciously shrouded. Ah well, what gives. Hijikata doesn't actually care, so he sets out for the Groves with him. By now it's a routine path for them both, so they arrive at the nearest entrance before long. The change of seasons is already becoming obvious in the plant life.]

Where do you want to sit? In the woods, in the flower gardens..?

[Even though the merchandise line makes them look like fashion disasters, at least they won't look as terrible as Sougo's roommate. Sougo's used to seeing Hijikata's exasperated face and he doesn't care. But seriously, how else is he supposed to hold onto a blanket when he has literal wings for hands?]

I think people'll focus on you being a cow first.

[Hijikata-san just went from a bull to a cow...of course, Hijikata should be used to Sougo firing back at him as well. The issue is that Hijikata tends to always react to it, but that's really his own fault.

How long has it been since their first visit to the Groves? How has this neon planet become their new home? In Sougo's case, while he's gotten used to living here, it's not home. Not without his commander. The worst part is that these sentimental feelings are amplified right now. Once again: it's all Iris' fault.

Once they arrive, Sougo makes a beeline for the petting zoo.]

Let's sit by Kondou-san.

[He means that goat. That very diarrhea-prone goat.]

[Hey now, don't dunk on the JoJos, Sougo. Hijikata may not get those eccentric outfits either, but they got some very prestigious collaborations out of those! He does let out an aggravated snort at being called a cow, but doesn't correct Sougo, even though it's a struggle. He knows it would only make the little sadist double down, and right now Hijikata doesn't want to get to blow a fuse. Kondou-san wouldn't want him to maul Sougo on his birthday! When he hears Sougo's suggestion at the park he snorts again, ears flicking.]

We're not sitting in the enclosure with the goats!

[Ugh, why is it a pseudo triple moon phase?! Sougo better not try to hug him again, that spooked the hell out of him the last time. It's been a whole season, hasn't it... and seasons are longer here on Prismatica. This planet may be Hijikata's station for now, but he isn't truly at home without his commander and best friend either. His feelings of missing him manifest as vexation thanks to his super Sanguis mode.]

[Kondou-san likely wouldn't Sougo to maul Hijikata on his birthday, but will that stop Sougo? No, he's made of less integrity than Hijikata. Sougo had started walking, assuming that Hijikata would follow him...but the bastard just had to complain as usual, huh? Is Sanguis the moon of bitching?]

I meant on the benches, but if you insist, Hijikata-san...

[A Freudian slip, perhaps? Sougo's deadpan as always, but he talks with less bite than usual. Just as Sanguis toughened Hijikata's sentimental feelings, Iris makes Sougo feel more wistful. Hijikata's all he has right now, after all. That doesn't mean that Sougo necessarily has to be nice to him, but he can't bring himself to hate on the guy like he does every other day of his life.

He would go around and push Hijikata forward to the petting zoo, but he's literally wrapped up right now. So Sougo continues on his merry way. Hijikata will follow anyways if he wanted to make this happen.]

[Come on, Sougo, you know that Hijikata will always bitch, Sanguis or not. It's for the better that Sougo has his wings full for the time being, because Hijikata really does want to try and get along with him, if only for an hour... hell, even a half-hour will do. It's for Kondou-san. He snorts again and follows along, still feeling weird at the sensation of the ground under his hooves.

Once they arrive at the goat enclosure - ugh, his super-sensitive nose isn't really happy right now - he picks a bench under a tree that's facing the animals rather than the footpath and sets up the sake set in the middle. A table would be great to have, but with just the two of them they can easily make do. Once three cups are poured he sits down and waits for Sougo.]

Let's drink to Kondou-san.

[That goes without saying, but it feels more official it he says it out loud. He toasts with Sougo as well as the third cup sitting on the bench (which Sougo presumably does as well), drinks, then takes Kondou's cup and pours it out for him. Sougo can do the next one; he's going strictly by rank here.]

What do you wish him for his birthday?

[Of course it's not September 4th in Edo now - or at least it won't be if and when they return there -, but half a year has gone by here since they arrived. He never would have thought that they'd manage to survive this long without their warm-hearted commander and best friend. Would he be proud of them?]

[As soon as he sits on the bench, Sougo tries to release himself from his self-imposed carpet roll situation. Biting on the edge of the blanket with his mouth, he turns his head to try and unwrap it slightly before letting gravity do the rest of the work. He keeps shifting his wings to loosen the blanket until it sits at his shoulders. Normally, the lack of opposable thumbs would be a lot more frustrating but thank Iris for blunting any angry emotion. As such, he has to hold his cup with both wings lest it falls.

As soon as Hijikata asks Sougo what he wishes for Kondou, Sougo replies flatly without any delay--]

A better vice-commander.

[Hijikata shouldn't be surprised at this. It's their usual routine. But after a moment, Sougo sighs and looks ahead at the goats, looking more thoughtful.]

I just hope he's safe and the rest of the guys are doing their job protecting him.

[Sougo doesn't know all the mechanics of their arrival on Prismatica, but it doesn't matter to him as long as Kondou-san is safe. It would've been much better if he was here with them all along...he'd have more of an excuse to hang out with Hijikata, at least. Maybe Kondou would've encouraged Sougo to be less of a shit while he was here, but what's the use of being an upstanding citizen if Kondou isn't here? Not that Sougo was ever an upstanding citizen in the first place. But seeing his commander's smile and hearing his laugh would've made Sougo's Prisma days a lot brighter. Would Kondou-san find a new cute girl to stalk? Would he even actually get laid, butt hair and all? Kondou-san would probably be proud of how often Toshi is getting some, at the very least...

And right on cue, the goats start walking up to the fence. Moonblessed = food, right?]

[Hijikata is too busy with the sake to really take notice of Sougo's struggle, but evidently Sougo can handle it. Once he names his wish for Kondou's birthday Hijikata snorts, but the follow-up makes him bite back a snappy retort and instead respond sincerely.]

Time isn't moving for them. Or rather, we'll be thrown back to the exact point in time we were taken from when we're sent back home. This is how this place stays out of legal trouble; no one can sue them over missing characters this way.

[If Kondou were here he and Sougo would both be happier and, in all honestly, more confident in everything they do, but Hijikata in particular would also have to clean up after him and let him cry on his shoulder about his romantic misadventures. Given Kondou's usual luck he might just fall for someone who doesn't like him back, but catch the attention of a gorilla Prismal... and speaking on the birthday boy, there's that hairy goat with its friends. Of course. He gives them a deadpan look as some of them start bleating in expectation of being fed.]

Shoo! We only have sake!

[A snort...fitting for a cow.]

Oi, don't be mean to Kondou-san. This is why he needs a better vice-commander.

[And would you look at that, Kongoat had led the other goats to the fence, much like his gorilla counterpart would do. Despite what Hijikata says, they won't stop demanding food. Sougo puts his cup down and pantomimes cupping his right ear with his wing, as if he could actually listen and understand.]

What is it? Yeah yeah. Huh. Okay.

[With a single beat, he turns back to Hijikata.]

They think you're one of them.

[Sougo will let Hijikata bitch it out while he fiddles with the sake bottle. He'd pour one out for his former superior if his wings would allow him. At least if time is stopped back at home, then it's like they never left at all. That's a good thing. No one would dare to try and kill Kondou-san, or worse, try and stand by his side. That eases Sougo's worries a bit, but Sougo also knows he's selfish. He would've wanted Kondou here with them anyway. Of course, Hijikata's blood pressure would skyrocket but who cares about that.]

Anyways, I guess that's good that he's not left alone. Good for the gorilla girl, too.

Like hell do I look like a goat!

[To be fair, he does look like livestock... but with the current amplifications his cattle designation is all the more obvious. He lets out another annoyed snort, clearly unable to stop doing that.]

Which gorilla girl do you mean?

[It speaks volumes about Kondou's love life that there's more than one... there's the Amanto princess and the girl from the doujou, whose regular shows of brute force qualify her for the nickname too in Hijikata's book. He assumes that Sougo meant the latter, but even if Kondou were able to stalk her unchecked now, he isn't too worried about her ability to defend herself.]

Damn it, these goats won't shut up. If no one else stops by to feed them I'll get them some pellets.

Could've fooled me, Hijikata-san. You've got hooves and you're loud, so as far as I'm concerned, you're one of 'em.

[At this point, he would put his arms behind his head all casual-like. Unfortunately, he doesn't have arms at the moment. Sougo is still trying to work out how to pour the sake bottle. He at least has a hold of it and is trying to pour more into Hijikata's cup...but the angle is too steep and the drink overflows.]

Ah. Oops.

Maybe you should have a drink first and then go feed them.

[He's banking on a tipsy Hijikata trying to feed the goats, because that would be priceless. Besides, these goats are not going anywhere. They still are looking expectantly at these demi-humans.]

Oh, and I meant the sister of Shinpachi-kun, of course.

[Yeah, that marriage to Princess Bubbles...that was really sad. Let's not talk about that.]

[The sake situation draws Hijikata's full attention, but even if it weren't he'd gladly avoid discussing that proposed gorilla wedding any further.]

Damn it, Sougo, be more careful!

[He takes the bottle from him and sets it down, then lifts his cup as carefully as possible and takes a few sips to get the sake down to a normal level. Glancing at Sougo's wings he finally realises the full extent of how handicapped he is right now when it comes to finnicky manual tasks.]

You really went completely batty this time around, huh? Let me handle to pouring from here on.

[The goats are observing them with their demonic-looking eyes, and their hairy brown-furred leader raises itself up against the enclosure and bleats.]

Yeah, yeah! Give us a moment here! It's Kondou-san's birthday!

[As if the goats would understand that! But really, he just wants a moment to actually think of Kondou. How much time will pass until they see him again?]

[Be more careful...Hijikata, you say that all the time to him, but does Sougo listen? The bottle is taken away from him like it would be taken away from a child. Sougo didn't care too much about the drink overflowing since his M.O. is always to elicit a good reaction. But Hijikata pouring his own drink would reduce the chances of a drunk Hijikata. After all, he wouldn't be stupid enough to get drunk alone in front of Sougo, would he?]

So you'll pour your own sake then? That's really rude, you know. You sound like the one going batty.

[Not that Sougo really cares about decorum. Hijikata usually handles that.

The goats get more and more insistent. It's kind of cute, actually. If Sougo could actually hold a bag of pellets, he would dangle it in front of them. Kondou-san is nowhere near as demanding as the hairy brown goat he looks like, though.]

You should've gotten him a cake. It's his birthday.

It's not the goat's birthday. Stop role-playing with it. As for pouring my own drink, I think these are mitigating circumstances!

[He nudges his head at Sougo's wings before emptying the rest of his cup in one go, then getting up to buy the goats some food already so they'll stop standing there and staring at them.]

Here.

[Sougo can probably manage to hold the open pellet bag between his wings, that way he can pour it out for the goats or let them take turns sticking their heads inside. It kind of does feel like doing a favour to a child, but hell, this super Iris cycle can't be easy on Sougo... and Hijikata himself should mind his sake intake lest his Sanguis aggression give him any stupid ideas. He pours the rest of the near-empty bottle into the cups, but decides to save the second one for another time. It's only the two of them after all, even if they refill Kondou's cup along with theirs.]

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