epidemiology | THEY SEE ME ROLLIN', THEY HATIN'

Entry tags:

THEY SEE ME ROLLIN', THEY HATIN'—

CHARACTERS: Gintoki Sakata

naturallywavy and whoever!

DATE: December 14th.

WARNINGS: this is a Gintoki log.

SUMMARY: Mostly scooter related, but some other things too: a SOL hell post.

( 1. ) SCOOTER HELL #1

_{[ After all the care and attention he had been given from all of these model citizens (seriously, you know who you are— and who do you think you even are anyway?), Gintoki is up and running to his healthiest. He had received once he had gotten out of jail a personal item from home and hasn't been using it except recently because he's in better condition to.

People might have seen the strange, silver "horse" as some described it, buzzing between the two divided parts of the city. Though, people in the goblin's side might catch a better glimpse of it. The horse in question is usually seen as a beacon of silver light before somebody can fully see it in the lantern lights that decorate the city.

Maybe you sent Gintoki on a task to retrieve something for you, such as an item from the market (specifically if you're on the goblin side and want something from the human side, fugitives!) or maybe he's just stopping by for a visit— you decide! It's completely up to you (remember, he's a freelancer who will do any task for money), but he stops his scooter near you. ]}

Yo.

_{[ He's running late, for whatever it is we're doing, but you don't even get an apology. There's a sucker in his mouth and he pulls it out when he shows up— that probably wasn't safe to eat while you're driving, but w/e. ]}

( 2. ) SCOOTER HELL #2

_{[ Maybe it's the other way around— you don't need him, he needs you! Especially if you're somebody he's had CR with. He's talked about something really important that he needs to show you and doesn't go into description about it, but he's asking you to wait outside of the inn you're staying in— human or goblin inn, it doesn't matter.
And again, here he is, pulling up in his mo-ped like he is the absolute shit. It's a bit of a nerve wrecking stop as he spins the scooter, making it come to a stop by breaking and allowing it to skid to the side. Wow, look how cool it is! Maybe he was trying to accommodate for how small he was down there.

Once he has stopped there is a long silence as the dust he stirs up has settled. He removes his helmet. ]}

It's cool, isn't it?
_{[ yeah this..... was all he wanted to show you. You came outside for this. ]}

( 3. ) OUTSKIRTS

No, this isn't what I'm looking for either. Do you have something that is like this, oi, pay attention— It's like this— _{[ Gintoki is having at it with a goblin vendor who is selling some articles of clothing on the streets. He's aggressively gesturing to his yukata, scooter neatly parked off to the side. ]}

White and blue— where I have have one arm out. I don't want two sleeves. I want just one sleeve. Do you have just one sleeve..!?
_{[ he goblin seems a bit frustrated at this and pulls out another article of clothing that looks nothing like what he's wanting (which is the exact same thing he is wearing). It's just.. it's a little stained, even after Alice washed it, with blood and has a few tears in it.

Gintoki grits his teeth, beginning to lose his patience as well. The goblin pulls out what appears to be a dress next, which is indeed, white and blue— but it's a dress. ]}

What the hell is that..!? WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU TAKING ME FOR..!?
_{[ break up this argument? watch in awe? I'm not sure, but things could get violent if you just sit back and watch. ]}

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[ Alice resumes an awkward shuffle, stopping short, each time she asks a question, as if she's expecting him to snap at her. She still feels bad and she's been known not to have tact, at times. Insulting the Caterpiller and the Mock Turtle, especially.

Truth be told, she has no idea what a "car" is. Rigshaws, maybe, it sounds like it could have been something Mr. Radcliffe mentioned; the man was pretty obsessed with China and Japan. She's sure that he would have prodded and berated Gintoki about his country, let alone his world.

Thinking of him makes her sick, so she is quick to push him out of her mind.

Back to the present, and back to someone that treats her like an actual person. Awkwardly, she asks- ]

... May I ride it, too?

Edited (... wrong formality X( sorry) 2015-12-16 06:29 (UTC)

_{[ It was interesting. The Amanto arrived only 20 years ago, but their technology was so much more advanced in comparison to 1800's Japan. It's no wonder they took over the country so easily. If she doesn't ask anymore questions, he won't talk about it. He's been to space on several occasions, it wasn't that great and he didn't see much appeal. If she wants a bunch of neat stories, she should ask Sakamoto— he's the friend that abandoned them all to go across the stars as a successful merchant. Needless to say, his feelings were mixed about all of those kinds of things, so best to avoid them.

He blinks slowly at her request, the very edge of his lips daring to tug into a smile. He twists his body around and opens up his back cargo, pulling out a spare helmet.
Ah, yes. This is the one Shinpachi uses when they all four go out. It should fit her fine.

He edges up on the seat slightly. ]}

Hop on.

[ Oh, boy. Maybe she should have reconsidered asking to ride with him, if only because that means she'll have to burst her personal bubble as a result. But, as usual, curiosity overrides her discomfort. Alice saunters over to take the helmet.

She gets the purpose of the helmet, but quietly thinks that the helmet looks absolutely ridiculous. Does this mean they're going to fall off? How fast does it go?

Where other Victorian women would shrink at the idea, Alice doesn't. It takes her too long to put that helmet on after she goes from inspecting it, then to awkwardly putting it on, clipping it. Ow, she didn't want to pinch herself. And her hair, what about her hair?

She sits sideways, she doesn't straddle -- after all, she's not wearing pants. She looks up to Gintoki, then back to the ground. Well, she'll just. Grab his clothes, maybe. Touching him is already too much.

Victorian English women are kind of weird. ]

So, then... is it like riding a horse?

[ God, she doesn't remember the last time she actually rode one or if she did, at all. ]

_{[ Gin observes her as much as he can in the rear view mirror— what is she doing. His eyes narrow slightly as he watches the best he can before he looks over his shoulder, sputtering a bit: ]}

Oi, oiii. I'm not moving an inch until you sit like I do. If you want ride, ride it properly.
_{[ this is going to be a task, isn't it. It's just not very safe to ride it this way.
He's given plenty of people rides and that's what they usually do: sit behind him and hold onto his middle. Shinpachi does this, Kagura does this, Tama does this, strangers do this— so forth. Gin isn't the cuddliest person, but he allows his bubble to be popped when it means somebody has something to hold onto.

If Alice preferred, there are also handles on either side of the seat that Kagura prefers sometimes. Up to you.
He'll point this out, though, in case she hasn't noticed. ]}

There are handles you can hold onto— under the seat on each side, or Gin-san.
_{[ He pats at his rib cage for good juncture. Whatever is comfortable for you, Alice. He's waiting. ]}

Edited 2015-12-16 07:12 (UTC)

[ Handles are perfectly fine -- as a matter of fact, they're preferred. The idea of actually physically hanging onto him is too much for her Victorian senses, so, Alice grips the handles under the seat, instead.

But getting her to put her legs on either side is going to be a bit much. ]

I'm perfectly fine. Sitting otherwise isn't lady-like.

[ He should be lucky she's not insisting to be out in absolute riding garb. Even Alice thinks that's a bit much. ]

Alice-saaan. _{[ His voice drawls, but there is some obvious annoyance in it. He's still speaking over his shoulder at her. ]}

Don't be stupid. I've been with plenty of ladies who can open their legs with no problem. _{[ please just take this in the context of scooter riding and not what he really means. ]}

You can sit however you want any other time. But it's safer to ride like this— it doesn't make you any less of a lady; you're lady-like enough as you are. If anybody says otherwise, I'll knock their teeth out.
_{[ He snorts, looking ahead again. ]}

This is how you ride.

Edited 2015-12-16 07:27 (UTC)

[ It could be easily be misconstrued as otherwise, even she knows that. There's a mutter of protest, of Alice purposefully splaying her dress out enough to hide the fact of how she shifted herself.

Oh, god. Normally, she doesn't get flustered this much. She's only doing this because he says it's safer.

She'll take his word for it and this time, acting like a reprimanded child, lowering her head and not saying anything else, no matter how tempted she is to say that she knows that he will knock out teeth.

That's why she's tagging along. ]

_{[ Finally. And that wasn't as hard as he was expecting. Gintoki seems pretty smug about this progression and looks over his shoulder at Alice. ]}

—Knew you had it in you.
_{[ With that, he revs the scooter. It makes a healthy sounding, hum noise, though he assures Alice since it sounds like she doesn't know anything about scooters: ]}

It's noisy. That's how it is.
_{[ The scooter rocks as he puts his foot on the ground to ready it, so he asks one more time: ]}

Hang on to your panties.
_{[ He knows he'll probably get scolded for that later, but whatever. Alice is going to have to get used to his potty mouth. With that, it takes off, nyroom, but not going anywhere near fast as he would usually take it at first. ]}

[ Before they really do move, Alice is mindful to smack one of Gin's arms automatically at his comment, heaving a tired sigh as she does so. He can have his potty mouth, though not without any sort of repercussions from her.

Alice's ire doesn't last long. The forward movement causes her to grip the side tighter, nearly taking her by surprise. Her eyes drift down to the ground, watching it pass underneath them, far faster than what she's used to and then behind them, watching the vendors drift further away. She's nearly beaming, finding herself excited by the ride already. Even if he can't see her, Alice turns back to him with a genuine smile. ]

_{[ that is what you think-- cause Gin casts a glance in the rear view mirror and can see a glimpse of a smiling Alice. He has only seen this on few occasions, so he keeps it in his mind. She seemed like such a sad and troubled girl at times; it reminded him of himself.

This is absolutely worth it, he thinks. ]}

Let's find a new place to live.

[ Every so often, Alice will watch things pass by her or look at the ground underneath, watching it just past by. It's faster than anything she's ever been on and she's left wondering if it can go any faster.

She's a little hesitant to ask, conjuring up an image of Gintoki tearing through the goblin side of town and eventually cause them to teeter over. Whatever Alice was picturing with Gintoki picking up the speed always ended up in a crash or flying through the air. Excessive and childish, but Gintoki somehow encouraged that childishness in Alice that remained dormant in her for years.

Still, whenever they get off, Alice is going to smack him again. ]

Here?

[ She's surprised they're welcoming humans. After an awkward delay, Alice affirms a little louder, over the engine. ]

Alright.

_{[ Gin whirls through the outskirts, passing different buildings and vendors as he does so. Her hesitance makes him think for a moment, so he eventually asks while the speed on the scooter quickens: ]}

We'll find a place.

_{[ Truth of the matter is ... Gintoki had no where to go. He was going to try, though. ]}

[ Momentary worries about finding a place to stay are lost as soon as the speed picks up. Alice is really excited by this, her smile growing. A normal woman in her time would be screaming by now, but not Alice. It's far better than the trains that are currently passing through London's underground, despite the slight chill collecting on her cheeks. Alice leans forward. ]

I'm sure that we will, we can always speak to the locals on this side. We can try again, like we did before.

[ Awkwardly pausing. ]

Like when you first arrived to get cake, remember?

[ She means to say sweet talking, though she supposes that she's not very good at it. If it means acting like a starving pair of stragglers, sure, why not, that might work. ]

_{[ Alice is a bit of odd duck, Gintoki has gathered. He found this out early in their friendship, and maybe that is what he likes a lot about her. This was a problem, though, finding a place to live. He had left a bad reputation in the mouths of both sides, and Gintoki knew that. He wasn't going to outwardly be so pessimistic, especially with somebody he cares about.

She's bringing up memories now. Gintoki had mixed feelings about memories. He liked them, but never really talked about them. He casts her a glance in the rear view mirror, then grunts in response. ]}

Still haven't been able to get that cake again.
_{[ He sounds so salty. ]}

I can talk to them.

[ She was hoping, at least, with her small stature and her polite demeanor that she could find a good place, a good spacious room with more than one bed, so they didn't continue their awkward shuffle of one sleeping on the bed the next night or Alice sleeping under the bed.

Yes, Alice was pretty odd. ]

Whatever you pick, let me speak to them in proper, English custom.

[ Compared to... well. Gintoki's nose picking crudeness. It was a nice contrast and even Alice offered up a small smile. ]

Is there something wrong with Gin-san custom?
_{[ Gintoki knows. he hates dealing with professional personnel anyway, but he just is interested in her response. ]}

I think sometimes it's hard to say "no" to a polite lady.

[ That's her answer. She will certainly try to use whatever "charm" she may have, but in the end, if she butters up someone and offers polite custom, she's sure they'll consider. ]

I don't think you would be able to pass as my father.

_{[ Gintoki doesn't know the story of her father— but he's assuming she's still alive. Whoops.
And Alice is right. There's a big difference there.. like their race, for example. Gintoki is obviously Japanese an Alice obviously.. isn't. His hair is stark white, and hers is a dark color. Never again is he going to try and pass her off as somebody kin to him, nope.

The scooter tilts as Gintoki makes a turn, pulling up to one of the first inns he sees. ]}

Hold on.
_{[ He says as he tries to ease the scooter to a stop, putting his heels into the ground as it slows to an eventual stop. ]}

[ She's thinking abut her father quite a bit, lately. Her father was in his 40s when he passed away and now that she thinks about it, he would have graying hair, or at the very least, it would be white. Alice isn't paying attention, she's enjoying the passing world around her, thinking of her father and what he would look like now, if he were alive. It's not often she thinks of her father without a crushing guilt.

The turn takes her by surprise and snaps her out of her daydreaming, back to Gintoki. Alice seizes the handles tighter than before, eyes growing wide.

Oh, god, please don't crash, Gin. ]

Ahh! Right.

_{[ Gintoki doesn't crash! We're fortunate here. It actually comes to a pretty successful stop. The scooter sits up right when he secures it before swinging his leg off of it and standing to his feet. He glances down at Alice before rubbing the side of his neck. How was she planning on doing this? ]}

Uh.
I guess I stay out here?
_{[ he knows he can subtract charm from somebody sometimes.. ]}

[ As Alice eases off taking off the helmet and leaving her long hair somewhat fussed, she turns back to him with a small frown. It's true, she did boldly offer to talk to them and hopefully use whatever English charm she possessed. confronted with the idea of talking to strangers, she found herself a little overwhelmed. Wonderland was easy to plow through, because she knew the inhabitants. Strangers was another thing.

Alice hesitates.

She doesn't like to admit that she's a little anxious around others, it's been a while since she was exposed to social interactions. ]

Can you please come with me?

_{[ Gintoki stretches his arms high into the air and looks over, surprised a bit at Alice's request. Geez, what a troublesome girl at times. He scratches his cheek and takes the helmet off of his head to put it on his scooter before walking alongside Alice. At this point, it's kind of unusual to not see them both together anyway.

How nice.

Maybe something about Gintoki's presence made her feel more comfortable. That's fine— Gintoki doesn't mind and actually might prefer it that way.

Though, jokingly (it's hard to tell with his monotone:) ]}

Want me to hold your hand too?
_{[ you can do this, Alice. You don't need him here for it, but he easily complies as he escorts her in. ]}

Edited 2015-12-24 21:26 (UTC)

[ Alice thinks he's absolutely serious, which causes her to slowly turn around and blink up at him. A frown persists on her face. ]

No, I don't think this needs hand holding.

[ She couldn't put it into words. She couldn't describe how sometimes it was genuinely difficult to be surrounded by others and preferred smaller spaces with people she knew very well. She wasn't sure if she wanted to explain it, out of some fear of being teased for it. Ah, well- ]

I think I just need you to be there just in case something funny happens.

[ Read: punch them. Who knows. Alice takes the lead in walking them in, but still would prefer to have that reassurance, even if she's insisted on attempting at sweet talk. ]

_{[ Gintoki yawns, stretching his arms above his head and crossing his wrists, letting them rest behind his neck. A low hum vibrates in his throat as he drags himself along. ]}

Funny. Right.
You want me to knock teeth out if I gotta.
_{[ you know he will.
And he says this probably at the worst time— right when they walk on in.

The goblin inn keeper is seated behind a small, rickety desk and glances up at them when they enter, not looking thrilled at all. ]}

[ She is the one who asked and nearly nudges Gintoki as soon as her eyes fall upon the goblin at the rickety desk. Alice straightens herself, nudging Gintioki beside her to straighten himself. She can do this.

She can do this. No, this is pretty frightening. She forces possibly the most awkward smile on her face, trying her best to look presentable, smoothing out her dress. This is the longest introduction. ]

Pardon us, sir- [ Alice's eyes dart up to her friend. GINTOKI, YOU BETTER NOT BE PICKING YOUR NOSE. Anyway- ] We were wondering if you have any vacancy?

[ Riiight. As the poor goblin's eyes slowly bounce between Alice and her friend. Alice being far too nervous than she should be, placing her hands in front of her to offer up a polite smile, finally, without looking like an awkward mess. ]

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