[And this is where Lalli frowns. Not so much because of irritation, not yet at least, but rather because of how much he's thinking about this situation. It's like Lalli is processing what Hijikata said and coming up with more questions than answers.]
Izo's messy, that's how he lives.
[Okay, now he actually is slightly offended, but mostly for Izo's sake. Lalli wouldn't like it either if someone came in and rearranged his things, he can totally get why Izo is off sulking somewhere else.]
I'm Lalli Hotakainen. Who are you? You shouldn't be cleaning up his apartment, he likes it how it is. If he wanted it cleaned, he wouldn't be off sulking about it.
That might be so but it's not how I live. [He clicks his tongue dismissively.] That stray dog makes a lot of noise but that's all it is most of the time. Noise.
[When he sets his cloth aside, it's more out of courtesy for the conversation than giving in. As far as he's concerned, he's already shown willing by not throwing the assassin's collected trinkets in the trash where they belong. For now, they sit untouched but for where he's moved them around to make space.]
Toshizō Hijikata, Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi. [Even he can recognise that it's not much of an introduction when that almost certainly doesn't exist where Lalli's from. He shrugs.] ... I know Izō from before. He invited me to stay.
[Lalli's eyes narrow a bit. Hijikata is abrasive in an entirely different way from Izo, and it might take months for him to get used to that. Lalli has never been that good with change, it's going to take him time to get used to a new presence.
Speaking of which-]
Izo's mind lacks mental defenses, and he forgets to eat sometimes. So I bring him food and check on him sometimes.
...we're friends.
[It's important to him, he's so difficult about making friends.]
[Hijikata eyes him for a few moments longer. It's not entirely surprising that Izō has friends, even less so that they feel the need to take care of him; he seems to provoke that kind of reaction in people. Maybe it was more accurate than he thought to call him a stray.]
Hm. [Unreadable as he is, there's no judgement or disapproval in his voice and he's quick to return to his usual clipped tone.] Pass me that beeswax.
[He picks up a new cloth. No amount of polishing is going to make the wooden fittings and panels on the doors look presentable but he's nothing if not stubborn.]
[A stray dog who got taken in by a stray cat. Or is the cat actually the stray being looked after? It's hard to say. Neither Izo nor Lalli are particularly responsible people. Lalli's just food motivated, that's all.
Since it doesn't look like Hijikata is going to snap or yell or attack, Lalli finally moves from his statue-like perch. He slips down from the balcony in a fluid motion that speaks to his familiarity with climbing, and he steps over to grab the requested item and hand it to Hijikata. Lalli questions the wisdom of polishing something with so many dings and stains on it, but Kissa reminds him that it's best not to question things unless you plan on solving them yourself.]
From family. My grandmother first, then my cousin Onni.
[He pauses for a moment, and then adds:]
And some from the military. But it was mostly Grandma and Onni.
[Hijikata hums thoughtfully. Military experience... that explains a lot, and it's something he can relate to somewhat. The Shinsengumi didn't necessarily fit under that label and he's always considered himself a samurai before a soldier but towards the end of things they might as well have done. So, there's genuine respect- and even a small amount of gratitude- in his voice when he speaks up again.]
I see. Then they have my thanks too for training you.
[Arrogant as he is, even Hijikata can recognise he was in a precarious situation. Besides, it's always suited him better to work in pairs or groups; lone wolves die alone in the wilderness. Only a pack can survive.]
I've run out of cartidges for my rifle. Where do you get yours?
[At first Lalli doesn't understand why Hijikata is thanking his relatives, but then he connects the dots to the fight from before and he hums in neutral agreement. He's grateful to his family too, yes, and for those same reasons.
And while Lalli is still a bit grumpy about Hijikata's presence- he still doesn't like that he's messing with Izo's things, or that Izo's home is being changed at all- he can at least recognize that there's nothing actually wrong with Hijikata that is worth being wary over. That thought carries through in his actions, in how he relaxes a bit and his words seem more natural than tense. Lalli's emotional reactions are a bit more subdued than what most people give, but they're still very blatant and with no trace of falsehoods or attempts to cover them up. A keen eye can pick up on his mood easily, and that mood right now is 'unsure of new things, but not upset or scared'.]
I had mine from home. I haven't found replacements, so I've been careful with how much I use them.
[He has shot his gun exactly five times since arriving in this world, and he's keeping a close count of his ammo. That speaks to another skill of his: survival out in the wilds for weeks on end with no contact with civilization, and the careful resource management that comes with it. Bullets are a prized treasure to be used in emergencies.]
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no subject
Izo's messy, that's how he lives.
[Okay, now he actually is slightly offended, but mostly for Izo's sake. Lalli wouldn't like it either if someone came in and rearranged his things, he can totally get why Izo is off sulking somewhere else.]
I'm Lalli Hotakainen. Who are you? You shouldn't be cleaning up his apartment, he likes it how it is. If he wanted it cleaned, he wouldn't be off sulking about it.
no subject
[When he sets his cloth aside, it's more out of courtesy for the conversation than giving in. As far as he's concerned, he's already shown willing by not throwing the assassin's collected trinkets in the trash where they belong. For now, they sit untouched but for where he's moved them around to make space.]
Toshizō Hijikata, Vice Commander of the Shinsengumi. [Even he can recognise that it's not much of an introduction when that almost certainly doesn't exist where Lalli's from. He shrugs.] ... I know Izō from before. He invited me to stay.
no subject
Speaking of which-]
Izo's mind lacks mental defenses, and he forgets to eat sometimes. So I bring him food and check on him sometimes.
...we're friends.
[It's important to him, he's so difficult about making friends.]
no subject
Hm. [Unreadable as he is, there's no judgement or disapproval in his voice and he's quick to return to his usual clipped tone.] Pass me that beeswax.
[He picks up a new cloth. No amount of polishing is going to make the wooden fittings and panels on the doors look presentable but he's nothing if not stubborn.]
... you're a fine shot. Where did you learn?
no subject
Since it doesn't look like Hijikata is going to snap or yell or attack, Lalli finally moves from his statue-like perch. He slips down from the balcony in a fluid motion that speaks to his familiarity with climbing, and he steps over to grab the requested item and hand it to Hijikata. Lalli questions the wisdom of polishing something with so many dings and stains on it, but Kissa reminds him that it's best not to question things unless you plan on solving them yourself.]
From family. My grandmother first, then my cousin Onni.
[He pauses for a moment, and then adds:]
And some from the military. But it was mostly Grandma and Onni.
no subject
I see. Then they have my thanks too for training you.
[Arrogant as he is, even Hijikata can recognise he was in a precarious situation. Besides, it's always suited him better to work in pairs or groups; lone wolves die alone in the wilderness. Only a pack can survive.]
I've run out of cartidges for my rifle. Where do you get yours?
no subject
And while Lalli is still a bit grumpy about Hijikata's presence- he still doesn't like that he's messing with Izo's things, or that Izo's home is being changed at all- he can at least recognize that there's nothing actually wrong with Hijikata that is worth being wary over. That thought carries through in his actions, in how he relaxes a bit and his words seem more natural than tense. Lalli's emotional reactions are a bit more subdued than what most people give, but they're still very blatant and with no trace of falsehoods or attempts to cover them up. A keen eye can pick up on his mood easily, and that mood right now is 'unsure of new things, but not upset or scared'.]
I had mine from home. I haven't found replacements, so I've been careful with how much I use them.
[He has shot his gun exactly five times since arriving in this world, and he's keeping a close count of his ammo. That speaks to another skill of his: survival out in the wilds for weeks on end with no contact with civilization, and the careful resource management that comes with it. Bullets are a prized treasure to be used in emergencies.]