[ it's been quiet lately, though her customers keep her pretty busy.
and it's hours like this, before snack otose opens, when tama's running errands, that the silence really gets to her.
she's in the middle of distracting herself, cleaning the glasses and cups behind the bar when the door opens and otose smiles mildly, lighting up her cigarette as she answers. ]
[ mostly, she's not in the mood for conversation across the bar counter, but if it's katsura, he won't hold it against her. especially since she's picking a bottle of sake, still about three-quarters full and two little cups, taking them outside with her.
the difference between the two of them is that otose still has tama, still sees her every day, and shinpachi's within walking distance. losing gintoki hurts, but it's not the same at all.
she sits on the bench, on the other end, and sets the bottle and cups down between them. ]
[if the samurai is surprised by Otose's relocation, he doesn't quite show it, two hazel eyes sliding over to her but briefly]
[it's a little early for sake, but that never stopped the people of Edo, really, no matter where they were]
[however, he doesn't pick up the bottle to pour for them]
Ah, I would like to continue being polite and drink with you, Otose-dono, but I do not wish to bleed on your good cups.
[he tilts the hand at his chest to show an unfortunately messy gash half-wrapped in a handkerchief (with a small Elizabeth face needle-pointed in the corner, one of its eyes creepily turned red)]
But please, feel free to drink without me. It is your sake, after all. Not everything need be so formal.
[ she's really been out of the loop-- when had that happened? but otose's an old veteran of feigning unconcern and she pours herself a cup, sips and takes a closer look at the cut.
she's curious about how it happened, of course she is; old lady can't do much but she has her connections too. ]
What kind of idiot could wrap that so badly you'd bleed on my cups?
[ it's half expression of concern, half reprimand and offer to redo it. probably, it's either his own work or elizabeth's, and either way it's still a bad job. ]
[he doesn't seem to take any offense to the sharp tone as he confirms her suspicions; it's his right hand, which means his left was used to wrap it]
[he doesn't move the hand from Otose's inspection, comfortable in showing his wounds to a trusted person]
Ah, it's a little funny... suddenly having to utilise one's non-dominant hand. There are all kinds of things it has learned to do, without trouble, like using a sword or chopsticks, or turning the pages of a book. But things it isn't used to, it's hopeless at.
[ otose snaps back to her old no-nonsense efficiency, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve and extending her hand for katsura's, pinning him with a hard stare.
it's not like she does a lot of first aid (the hospitals can usually do a better job than she can) but something simple like that, even if it is pretty ugly, she can handle just fine. one of the things about living in noisy, violent edo is that this sort of thing becomes commonplace. ]
[ she inspects the wound closely anyway, scanning for dirt or infection, nodding when she finds neither. at least that's one thing she won't have to deal with. ]
You can only say that if you make sure this doesn't happen again.
[ Otose binds it tightly and thoroughly, ties it in place and uses a safety pin to hold it as backup. hey, she's always prepared.
and then she pours herself another drink. (it's not like she plans to get drunk before Snack Otose opens or anything, but it's always an option.) ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text
no subject
Try a binder, Katsura.
( action )
[and he doesn't come in all quiet thought by himself]
[rather, he stops at the threshold, calling in]
Otose-dono? Hello?
Re: ( action )
and it's hours like this, before snack otose opens, when tama's running errands, that the silence really gets to her.
she's in the middle of distracting herself, cleaning the glasses and cups behind the bar when the door opens and otose smiles mildly, lighting up her cigarette as she answers. ]
We're not open yet.
Re: ( action )
[poised on the threshold like an uninvited vampire, the samurai leans back to look at the hours posted outside]
[he's holding his hand against his chest, instead of resting it on his sword hilt -- peculiar, but then again, Zura usually was]
My apologies. I did not realise it was so early. I will come back in two and one-half hours.
[and so Zura excuses himself back outside, and sits on the bench usually reserved for grumbling old men playing mahjong]
Re: ( action )
the difference between the two of them is that otose still has tama, still sees her every day, and shinpachi's within walking distance. losing gintoki hurts, but it's not the same at all.
she sits on the bench, on the other end, and sets the bottle and cups down between them. ]
Well at least you're polite about it.
Re: ( action )
[it's a little early for sake, but that never stopped the people of Edo, really, no matter where they were]
[however, he doesn't pick up the bottle to pour for them]
Ah, I would like to continue being polite and drink with you, Otose-dono, but I do not wish to bleed on your good cups.
[he tilts the hand at his chest to show an unfortunately messy gash half-wrapped in a handkerchief (with a small Elizabeth face needle-pointed in the corner, one of its eyes creepily turned red)]
But please, feel free to drink without me. It is your sake, after all. Not everything need be so formal.
Re: ( action )
she's curious about how it happened, of course she is; old lady can't do much but she has her connections too. ]
What kind of idiot could wrap that so badly you'd bleed on my cups?
[ it's half expression of concern, half reprimand and offer to redo it. probably, it's either his own work or elizabeth's, and either way it's still a bad job. ]
Re: ( action )
[he doesn't seem to take any offense to the sharp tone as he confirms her suspicions; it's his right hand, which means his left was used to wrap it]
[he doesn't move the hand from Otose's inspection, comfortable in showing his wounds to a trusted person]
Ah, it's a little funny... suddenly having to utilise one's non-dominant hand. There are all kinds of things it has learned to do, without trouble, like using a sword or chopsticks, or turning the pages of a book. But things it isn't used to, it's hopeless at.
[he admits, not without a quiet humour]
Like tying bandages.
Re: ( action )
it's not like she does a lot of first aid (the hospitals can usually do a better job than she can) but something simple like that, even if it is pretty ugly, she can handle just fine. one of the things about living in noisy, violent edo is that this sort of thing becomes commonplace. ]
Maybe you should start practicing.
Re: ( action )
[the dirtied hanky falls away, replaced by Otose's clean one]
-- I have already cleaned it. You do not have to.
[please don't throw sake on my wound]
Re: ( action )
You can only say that if you make sure this doesn't happen again.
[ Otose binds it tightly and thoroughly, ties it in place and uses a safety pin to hold it as backup. hey, she's always prepared.
and then she pours herself another drink. (it's not like she plans to get drunk before Snack Otose opens or anything, but it's always an option.) ]