the general - night five.

[foxhounds]

THE GENERAL night five Instead of waking up in the jungle, you wake up elsewhere. This is the square where The General comes to decide what to do, and Ivan patiently sits on a bench, though she's as impassive as ever to what's going on. Each of you has your own foxhound who's barking happily to welcome you back. They'll help you find who you choose to hunt tonight. After all, you're saving them. You have a little while to discuss who you'll hunt tonight, but don't linger too long, since you only have until dawn. rulebook character statuses profiles All night votes will be due 8/26 by 5PM EST

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ivan

[foxhounds]

[ Once everyone wakes up, Ivan will approach them each in turn to give them a tight hug, if they'll allow it. ]

[unrulyprincess]

[This is why you're the best Ivan, and not that other chick.

Clarine allows it, breath shuddering at the contact, though she doesn't think to return the hug until it's already over.]

We...can still do this...correct?

[They have to win so desperately, but every time they lose someone it feels even more hopeless.]

[foxhounds]

[ Clarine gets an especially tight hug, at least, since she knows it was hardest for Clarine. ]

Yes. This is when things get more difficult... But you can do it.

[unrulyprincess]

...There were so many deaths last night. Are those killers still out there as well?

[They obviously have to fear for their own lives as well, but...if they can maybe take advantage of that, that'd be nice too.]

[foxhounds]

[ She nods. ]

Yes— And Tayto will be joining them. [ Because I forgot to mention Gi-ne's dog is gone too whoops ]

[unrulyprincess]

[There's the faintest of smiles at that.]

...Good dog. She would have appreciated that.

[Go give em hell, Tayto.... A slow breath, and Clarine nods. She doesn't feel as though there's much more to ask--they're in the final stretch, and everything is going to be bloody now. If they can just survive for a bit longer... they can still win.]

I shall believe in us as well. We are not beaten, and we shall not be. For the sake of us all.

[foxhounds]

[ Ivan takes a step back, then puts a hand comfortingly on Clarine's shoulder. ]

...You won't be. I'm on your side, so I'll make sure you live.

[hopefragment]

[What's happening Ivan, are we having a conversation or-- oh.

Ivan's a good five inches shorter than Hinata, so when he finally wraps his arms around her in return, after an awkward, confused pause, he can fool himself into thinking this is for her sake.]

This isn't going to stop us. We're going to win.

[He is absolutely saying that for her sake and not his own. Yep.]

[foxhounds]

[ Just don't Despair, Hinata. That's what she wants to make sure of. :( ]

I know. I believe in all of you from the bottom of my heart.

[hopefragment]

[Noooooo promises, though having a solid human(?) being hug him to reassure him is definitely a step in the right direction.]

...Thanks. We won't let you down.

[He really needs to stop making these kinds of promises that he won't know for sure he can keep... a sigh, and he loosens his hold on her, trying to pull away.]

The Rainsford... what exactly happens, if we go after someone they're protecting?

life goal #1: hugging the universal waifu

[gravesite]

[ Considering that he's the tallest one here, her head only comes up to his chest; still, when she offers, he'll press her against him, wrapping his arms around her tightly for comfort. ]

If it hadn't been for her today, I would have...

[ His voice grows softer, and his breath hitches. ]

It's like she died for me. That makes me... It makes me really sad, you know?

[foxhounds]

[ She hugs Tsurumaru especially tightly, and even though she's quite a bit shorter, she's clearly trying to make that hug as warm and comforting as she can. ]

I know. I know, Tsurumaru...

[ Her grip lessens a little, but she won't pull away until she does. ]

I'm still so sorry that I gave you all such a difficult job. You've all been so strong and brave so far.

[gravesite]

[ Her embrace is indeed warm and comforting, and he thinks that he would like to hold her for a long time. (He doesn't remember the last time that he held the human body of someone that he'd grown fond of; holding the murdered body of his master, buried in his grave, doesn't quite compare).

Still, it's not proper — and so, he lets go, wiping something invisible on his cheek. ]

I'm a weapon, after all. I'm used to this kind of thing!

[ Still, his words tremble audibly, and it's clear that he's trying his best to smile. ]

It's just a few more days, right? After that... we'll all be fine.

[hijiwanwan]

[ Sorry Ivan, instead of a hug you'll get an awkward shoulder pat from Hijikata :( ]

We'll make sure we win this, don't worry.

[foxhounds]

[ At the very least, this is about what she expects. Except you should go hug Tsuru?? comfort your do-s boyfriend and fulfill her shipping dreams as retribution ]

I know... I know you will. I have faith in all of you.

[hijiwanwan]

[ Ivan................. your shipper heart is still strong......... can he stab tsuru instead, ]

[foxhounds]

[ no wtf ]

ugh crashes into here it's happening

[gravesite]

Hiji, Hiji!! Hiji!

[ Even as the air this meeting is somber, he's never not excited to see Hijikata. Except for the fact that that's not entirely true; his cheeks are still a little red from earlier, but it doesn't feel proper to cry on Ivan, as kind as she is. ]

Hiji... [ This time, his voice is soft as he stands there, rubbing at his eyes for a moment, before stepping forward and reaching for him with his arms, pressing Hijikata against him. (For a supposed demon vice commander, Hijikata is oddly warm and soft... to hug.)

And this time, Tsurumaru does cry, his frame shaking as he buries his face into Hijikata's shoulder — for Gi-ne, for Orion, and for everything else. ]

@ivan here u go

[hijiwanwan]

Hiji? That's not how you address your master. [ He usually says his threats in a serious tone (since Tsurumaru definitely has a habit of not really listening to Hijikata and he has to be extremely firm with what he says, but after today he's really tired- he also misses Gi-ne greatly, but he won't allow that to get to him too much since he has a job to do.

But... He's surprised at the hug, eyes widening when the sword pulls Hijikata towards him.

This is? The first time Tsurumaru is acting like this to him? Shaking... Crying... Not acting like that awfully playful, immature sword that pushes his patience to the edge sometimes! ]

Well, whatever. I'll allow it for now I guess.

[ Err... Awkward pat number three... On Tsurumaru's head! Why did Gi-ne leave him alone to take care of these kids (Tsuru is acts like he's 5? It counts?) ] Now quit that sniveling. We're going to win.

@ivan @official_ivan @waifu this is for you

[gravesite]

[ Tsurumaru doesn't cry often, not like this. He doesn't cry like this much at all, his shoulders shaking, his breath catching in his throat until it's hard to breathe. To put it simply — he hasn't cried like this in eight hundred years; it reminds him of all the reasons why he's locked his capacity to care about humans, about others.

It reminds him that he's foolish for having unlocked it here.

He speaks, a bit bitterly this time; he does stop sniffling, though, if only for a few seconds. ] There are no guarantees that we'll win. There are no guarantees that people stay alive. You can ask a corpse you loved to come back, to not abandon you, but they won't come back.

[ At first, he thinks that he'll be fine to with just a pat on his head; it's a little nostalgic, after all. But when his breathing doesn't slow; rather, it speeds up, he figures that it's not enough. ]

I have... a request. Will you grant it, Hijikata?

ugh *buys love gems to scout for UR Ivan in llsif* my waifu?

[hijiwanwan]

Hmm...

That's not true. We actually have a chance this time. [ With this weird as fuck game, but hey? If they win... They live? How does it even work though- he wonders. He huffs. ] Say whatever you like but I'm not going to give up.

[ Especially since he's desperately trying hard to win, for the Shinsengumi... He has to get back, make sure Kondo-san is ok... They have to protect... So many people, yet he's stuck here. ]

Huh.

Maybe. Speak.

ugh if i could idolize a UR eli with $400 i can idolize ivan too

[gravesite]

[ Maybe it's a crime of his, not knowing how to be optimistic; but life has never taught him to look on the bright side. Still, there's a part of him that wants to hope that this will end differently than his previous fates, and to Hijikata's words, he gives a soft, short laugh.

When Hijikata asks, Tsurumaru fumbles with his words at first, but either way, it's gotten him to calm down. He keeps his arms just where they are, though, seeing no need to move them. ]

It's a little childish, and you'll probably say no, but... [ Well. Here goes nothing. ]

Will you... hold me back?

THAT'S SO MUCH MONEY #DoItForIvan

[hijiwanwan]

[ He lowers his voice to a whisper. ] That's because you have no shame, but that's how dogs are suppose to act.

[ Way to ruin the moment Hiji!!! Well, he's trying his best to not be physically upset, considering he just wants... To get this over with, honestly. He's... Tired. Damn.

He sighs. ]

Only if you don't cry again, it gives me a headache. [ Cause DAMN! Enough of THESE TEARS!

But he does wrap an arm around the sword- standing there for a few moments, in silence he finally speaks up again. ] I'm going to bring the rest back, it'll be fine.

[ Sometimes he feels like he's only saying this to convince himself everything will be okay. He... Really dislikes the thought of having the blood of his comrades on his own hands. When the others died, that's exactly what it felt like... And he hates it. ]