[When Hijikata heard of the cabbage kites and their very special life cycle he immediately was all excited. Creatures that spend their whole life in search of the best mayonnaise? He has just the right thing for them! He doesn't even attempt to make mayonnaise himself (everyone knows that only mayonnaise fairies can do that, regardless of multiple people's claims to the contrary!). Instead he uses the Spread Stick he bought in Riki's shop to diligently create heaps of his beloved Mayorin brand mayonnaise from home and fill it into jars until he has a half-dozen full. With those he sets out to to fulfill some cabbage kite dreams.
Whether Tsumugi runs into him in Dayrise, Solarpeak, or Sunwaning, he's having the time of his life, wearing a simple black kimono he bought himself not long ago (his uniform from home is just too much for the summer districts!) and smiling brightly as he observes a cabbage kite approaching the spoon he's holding out.]
Come on, come on! This is it, I promise you! This is the mayonnaise that'll send you to Heaven!
[As soon as the cabbage kite samples the condiment (... somehow), its soul really does ascend, though all Hijikata and Tsumugi can see is its body lifelessly dropping out of the air. Hijikata catches it in a scarily practised motion, then puts it in the big cooler bag next to him. Just how many cabbage kites has he already caught?!]
[So someone spilled a potion and inadvertently created a small jungle in Coldreach. Hijikata sets out to handle the situation... but it turns out to be more of a problem than he anticipated. His trusty sword, which should cut all the more sharply after its recent enhancement, bounces off the thick vines as if it were made of rubber, and before the samurai knows it he's been ensnared.]
Seriously?! Come the hell on! This is a beginner quest! I'm a veteran--
[He pipes down as a vine wraps around his neck. Okay, it looks like he'll need to use his fire magic! He sets his surroundings ablaze... only to remember a little belatedly that he's not fireproof (that's an advanced ability, after all).]
Shit--
[This kind of didn't go as planned. Sorry, Izuku, you're arriving to a bit of a mess here!]
[A lingerie thief, huh? Hijikata has dealt with that kind of pervert before! Of course he has no lingerie to steal, but the underwear thief back in Edo made it a habit to drop off "pity panties" for men who usually won't get to see any women's underwear up close... and Hijikata was among the recipients. (That later turned out to have been a prank by his subordinate Okita, but it still got him pissed off enough to join the neighbourhood's efforts to apprehend the thief!) So he can be found observing a backyard near the red light district where a lacy pair of panties, along with a matching bra, is hanging out to dry.]
He'll probably appear any moment. And then...
[He smirks, hand on his sword. He's not at all beyond using his fire magic, too. A filthy pervert like that deserves a little scorching!]
[It took Hijikata and Thoma several days to get to the mysterious bridge, even with their rented snowmobile. Hijikata delegated all sorts of tasks to Thoma on the way: Since he can, thanks to his Vision from home and his local winter powers, wield both fire- and water magic the samurai instructed him to melt respectively freeze the different types of snowskeletons that chased after them on their journey (while he focused on steering), and at night he had Thoma raise up a protective igloo (or at least some approximation of one). If the poor housekeeper could not manage that he'd have to listen to Hijikata's sighs about how he should practice more! On top of that he got so spooked by sudden noises in the night on several occasions that he clung on to Thoma as they laid in their sleeping bags.
With Thoma somehow able to look past all that (?) they eventually arrive at the bridge not long before noon. Hijikata scrutinises it as they approach.]
It looks so harmless... but I've seen some shit happen on normal-looking bridges before, so let's be careful.
Bone Sucker's Coming to Town
[People getting their bones sucked out of their bodies is something Hijikata can't just turn a blind eye to. Whoever is doing that needs to be stopped! So he ventures out in the direction of the watchtower with a rented snowmobile. He's plagued by second thoughts, though: What if he's no match for this enemy? What if he gets his bones sucked out?! He doesn't want any of the kids who have become like little siblings to him having to identify his deflated-blow-up-doll-looking boneless corpse!! Technically he actually promised to not go into the Segments on his own anymore1 When he spots another person in the distance he perks up in relief and steers his vehicle towards them.]
Hey!! Are you also looking for the bone suckers?
[Hopefully his fellow otherworlder has more of a plan for this than he does!]
[Hijikata should not have let Eva rope him into this. But what's a man to do when a cheeky kid asks him if he's scared of an old house? There was no way he could have said yes! And so he finds himself in the Winter Segment after dark with her, having come out here with a chariot he only recently learned to steer (it was a terribly bumpy ride, but they couldn't take a snowmobile since there's no snow on the ground this close to the border with the Spring Segment). The mysterious house ominously rises into the night in front of them, and Hijikata can already feel the goosebumps all over his body under his uniform.]
So... so this is it, huh.
[He's making no move to go in first.]
Can You Dye With All the Colors of the Lake
[Hijikata doesn't really care about fashion. He usually prefers plain clothes in subdued, dark colours. But the people venturing out all the way to the Prism Lake will need protection in the wilderness, especially if they aren't used to fending off threats on their own! So he signs himself up as a fellow otherworlder's escort. If he gets a say they'll take the airship to the remote Winter Segment's station - arguably the most comfortable and safe way of travelling - and then journey for another couple of days on foot, crossing over into the nearby Spring Segment and passing through an area that allows them a view of the vast, eternally blooming Cherry Blossom Park in the far north.
When they eventually arrive at the lake he assumes guard duty, leaving the fabric-dying to his companion. Occasionally, however, he checks in on the progress.]
Found a good colour combination yet?
On the Wings of a Butterfly
[Given the relative proximity of the Prism Lake to the Cherry Blossom Park Hijikata journeys to the latter location after seeing the fashion designers' quest through. He's not exactly keen on getting on the back of one of the gigantic butterflies flapping their massive wings around the blooming treetops, but when someone asks him to accompany them he agrees. He wouldn't want anyone to fall off these creepy huge insects! As a butterfly lands to let them mount it he's rather hesitant, but hell, he's ridden an archaeopteryx on Avalon, surely he can manage this! So he gets on top of its hairy body and extends a hand to his quest partner.]
It'll be damn unstable with all the wind, so if you have anything to hook or wrap around my belt, let's do that!
[Tornadoes in the (previously) safe zones of the Spring Segment trapping civilians for days on end? Not something any policeman worth his salt can just look away from! The problem is that Hijikata once again has no real plan of how to tackle the situation. Neither his swords nor his levitation ability will be helpful here, and his fire would only turn the tornado into a flaming inferno. As such he wears a steep frown on his face as he observes the raging winds from a safe distance.
When he becomes aware of a new arrival he's glad, even though the other person is a young girl. He knows better than to underestimate a kid! He nudges his head at the problem with some exasperation.]
Any ideas how to get a handle on this? I'm a bit stumped here.
Technical Move: Rain Dance
[Hijikata isn't much of a dancer, but once he hears about the danger the sirens present he feels a sense of urgency. He won't let anybody get drowned and eaten if he can help it! So he takes the airship to the Great Ocean Lake (only a total nutcase would let themselves be flung there via catapult - well, okay, or people with abilities that'll reliably brace their fall).
While other volunteers are learning the rain dance from the mermaid instructors he can be seen patrolling the underwater perimeter in cecaelia form, moving along the lake floor with his tentacles. When he sees someone being led away from the loosely organised group by what appears to be a kindly mermaid he propels himself up and swims over there (luckily he's had some practice in how to move around in this form on Avalon).]
[Having lava lizards move north in the Summer Segment, gradually approaching Nightwake City, does seem like bad news, so Hijikata is setting out there to help chase them back to the Lava-Ridden Lands. This time he planned things out better and secured Rider as his companion. A winter power holder feels like the ideal partner against these enemies! It would have taken them a very long time - a week at least - to travel to the southern edge of the Jungle of Judgement if not for Pegasus, Rider's winged horse. Hijikata had to hold on to her all the way during their nightly flights to strengthen her magical energy (and to not fall off), but he made up for her high energy expense by taking care of the campfire and cooking (which he, naturally, drowned in mayonnaise) while she rested in the mornings, before they both slept during the hot days.
Eventually they start to see the changes in the landscape: Lava lakes litter the area, there's a sulfuric scent hanging in the air, and the usual fauna they encountered on the way seems absent. They decide to face the enemy during the daytime for visibility (on Hijikata's part), so after a little more rest at dawn they venture out exploring on foot. When he spots some movement by a lava pond, he touches Rider's arm.]
Rider, look-- I mean, there's some creature sitting by the edge of the lava over there. Is that one of them?
[It sure is! And it's seen them, and it's coming right at them with all the aggression and speed of a protective hippopotamus mother.]
Temple of Frustration
[Hijikata once again makes himself available to escort a less combative individual on their journey through the jungle. Of course he, too, is curious about what keeps the monsters away from the temple. He leads the way as they move through the lush humid undergrowth.]
Be careful of where you step. I don't know if they live in this jungle too, but in the Rain Jungle there are huge-ass toucans that build ground traps to catch people in.
[Don't ask him how he knows.]
Blood Bloom
[Hijikata has heard of trees, and he's heard of vampires, but the combination of both strikes him as distinctly odd. How can a tree even move fast enough to surprise a victim? Well, he's about to find out. He frowns at the innocent-looking tree standing near the Autumn Flower Yard, then turns to his companion.]
Was it there before, do you know? It's my first time visiting this Flower Yard. Maybe we should take it out, just to be on the safe side?
[He summons a flame in his hand, evidently ready to go.]
[This quest seemed harmless enough, and Kou was so eager to help, Hijikata was more than happy to accompany him. Despite everything forests are not to be underestimated in terms of how dangerous they can be, so he wouldn't want him to go without an escort! With Hijikata's police horse and chariot as a bumpy transport they were able to cut down the travel time to the northernmost reaches of the vast forest to just a couple of days, with a night of camping in between (Hijikata brought tent, sleeping bags, and provisions). It was nice to learn more about each other's worlds and backgrounds on the way, and Hijikata's impression of Kou as a kind and resourceful child only deepened.
When they finally arrive in the forest the samurai keeps a keen eye on their surroundings while Kou harvests the ready-to-eat maple syrup... provided the trees at the outskirts even offer enough.]
[When Eren asked if Hijikata wanted to accompany him on a quest he eagerly agreed - he wants to see what it's like to fight alongside a titan shifter! -, only to learn to his dismay that the one Eren had his eyes on was the graveyard cleaning quest. What a chore!! And why did it have to be a graveyard?! When he tried to argue that the remote location wasn't worth the long journey, given that there was no danger to anyone and the task was just a favour to the locals, Eren made a suggestion that Hijikata found hard to pass up: They could travel there using Eren's titan form.
That plan, once implemented, does cut the travel time down significantly, and while Hijikata at first finds it disconcerting to be carried by such an enormous being (all the more since he only met Eren recently - but he's Jean's friend, so he deems him trustworthy!) he gets used to it after a while. Despite Eren's speed and endurance as a titan it still takes them a few days to get to the graveyard, so Hijikata makes up for the transport by taking care of the camp and provisions each night (... hopefully Eren likes mayonnaise). When they finally arrive at the graveyard Hijikata is somewhat relieved at how normal it looks, but the Autumn Segment has its own eerie atmosphere with its whispering wind and rustling leaves. While all the stories he got to exchange with Eren on the way were worth the trip already he doesn't care for cleaning in the best of circumstances, so he's not exactly burning to get on the task!]
Ah... how about you get started, and I set up the camp in the meantime?
[OOC: If you'd like to plot some things out please hit me up on my quest plotting comment!]
Hijikata Toshirou | Gintama (+ Prismatica & Avalon CRAU) | Summer
[When Hijikata heard of the cabbage kites and their very special life cycle he immediately was all excited. Creatures that spend their whole life in search of the best mayonnaise? He has just the right thing for them! He doesn't even attempt to make mayonnaise himself (everyone knows that only mayonnaise fairies can do that, regardless of multiple people's claims to the contrary!). Instead he uses the Spread Stick he bought in Riki's shop to diligently create heaps of his beloved Mayorin brand mayonnaise from home and fill it into jars until he has a half-dozen full. With those he sets out to to fulfill some cabbage kite dreams.
Whether Tsumugi runs into him in Dayrise, Solarpeak, or Sunwaning, he's having the time of his life, wearing a simple black kimono he bought himself not long ago (his uniform from home is just too much for the summer districts!) and smiling brightly as he observes a cabbage kite approaching the spoon he's holding out.]
Come on, come on! This is it, I promise you! This is the mayonnaise that'll send you to Heaven!
[As soon as the cabbage kite samples the condiment (... somehow), its soul really does ascend, though all Hijikata and Tsumugi can see is its body lifelessly dropping out of the air. Hijikata catches it in a scarily practised motion, then puts it in the big cooler bag next to him. Just how many cabbage kites has he already caught?!]
Welcome to the Jungle (for
[So someone spilled a potion and inadvertently created a small jungle in Coldreach. Hijikata sets out to handle the situation... but it turns out to be more of a problem than he anticipated. His trusty sword, which should cut all the more sharply after its recent enhancement, bounces off the thick vines as if it were made of rubber, and before the samurai knows it he's been ensnared.]
Seriously?! Come the hell on! This is a beginner quest! I'm a veteran--
[He pipes down as a vine wraps around his neck. Okay, it looks like he'll need to use his fire magic! He sets his surroundings ablaze... only to remember a little belatedly that he's not fireproof (that's an advanced ability, after all).]
Shit--
[This kind of didn't go as planned. Sorry, Izuku, you're arriving to a bit of a mess here!]
Stranger Burglaries (for
[A lingerie thief, huh? Hijikata has dealt with that kind of pervert before! Of course he has no lingerie to steal, but the underwear thief back in Edo made it a habit to drop off "pity panties" for men who usually won't get to see any women's underwear up close... and Hijikata was among the recipients. (That later turned out to have been a prank by his subordinate Okita, but it still got him pissed off enough to join the neighbourhood's efforts to apprehend the thief!) So he can be found observing a backyard near the red light district where a lacy pair of panties, along with a matching bra, is hanging out to dry.]
He'll probably appear any moment. And then...
[He smirks, hand on his sword. He's not at all beyond using his fire magic, too. A filthy pervert like that deserves a little scorching!]
Bridge of the Lost (for
[It took Hijikata and Thoma several days to get to the mysterious bridge, even with their rented snowmobile. Hijikata delegated all sorts of tasks to Thoma on the way: Since he can, thanks to his Vision from home and his local winter powers, wield both fire- and water magic the samurai instructed him to melt respectively freeze the different types of snowskeletons that chased after them on their journey (while he focused on steering), and at night he had Thoma raise up a protective igloo (or at least some approximation of one). If the poor housekeeper could not manage that he'd have to listen to Hijikata's sighs about how he should practice more! On top of that he got so spooked by sudden noises in the night on several occasions that he clung on to Thoma as they laid in their sleeping bags.
With Thoma somehow able to look past all that (?) they eventually arrive at the bridge not long before noon. Hijikata scrutinises it as they approach.]
It looks so harmless... but I've seen some shit happen on normal-looking bridges before, so let's be careful.
Bone Sucker's Coming to Town
[People getting their bones sucked out of their bodies is something Hijikata can't just turn a blind eye to. Whoever is doing that needs to be stopped! So he ventures out in the direction of the watchtower with a rented snowmobile. He's plagued by second thoughts, though: What if he's no match for this enemy? What if he gets his bones sucked out?! He doesn't want any of the kids who have become like little siblings to him having to identify his deflated-blow-up-doll-looking boneless corpse!! Technically he actually promised to not go into the Segments on his own anymore1 When he spots another person in the distance he perks up in relief and steers his vehicle towards them.]
Hey!! Are you also looking for the bone suckers?
[Hopefully his fellow otherworlder has more of a plan for this than he does!]
Test of Courage (for
[Hijikata should not have let Eva rope him into this. But what's a man to do when a cheeky kid asks him if he's scared of an old house? There was no way he could have said yes! And so he finds himself in the Winter Segment after dark with her, having come out here with a chariot he only recently learned to steer (it was a terribly bumpy ride, but they couldn't take a snowmobile since there's no snow on the ground this close to the border with the Spring Segment). The mysterious house ominously rises into the night in front of them, and Hijikata can already feel the goosebumps all over his body under his uniform.]
So... so this is it, huh.
[He's making no move to go in first.]
Can You Dye With All the Colors of the Lake
[Hijikata doesn't really care about fashion. He usually prefers plain clothes in subdued, dark colours. But the people venturing out all the way to the Prism Lake will need protection in the wilderness, especially if they aren't used to fending off threats on their own! So he signs himself up as a fellow otherworlder's escort. If he gets a say they'll take the airship to the remote Winter Segment's station - arguably the most comfortable and safe way of travelling - and then journey for another couple of days on foot, crossing over into the nearby Spring Segment and passing through an area that allows them a view of the vast, eternally blooming Cherry Blossom Park in the far north.
When they eventually arrive at the lake he assumes guard duty, leaving the fabric-dying to his companion. Occasionally, however, he checks in on the progress.]
Found a good colour combination yet?
On the Wings of a Butterfly
[Given the relative proximity of the Prism Lake to the Cherry Blossom Park Hijikata journeys to the latter location after seeing the fashion designers' quest through. He's not exactly keen on getting on the back of one of the gigantic butterflies flapping their massive wings around the blooming treetops, but when someone asks him to accompany them he agrees. He wouldn't want anyone to fall off these creepy huge insects! As a butterfly lands to let them mount it he's rather hesitant, but hell, he's ridden an archaeopteryx on Avalon, surely he can manage this! So he gets on top of its hairy body and extends a hand to his quest partner.]
It'll be damn unstable with all the wind, so if you have anything to hook or wrap around my belt, let's do that!
In the Eye of a Hurricane (for
[Tornadoes in the (previously) safe zones of the Spring Segment trapping civilians for days on end? Not something any policeman worth his salt can just look away from! The problem is that Hijikata once again has no real plan of how to tackle the situation. Neither his swords nor his levitation ability will be helpful here, and his fire would only turn the tornado into a flaming inferno. As such he wears a steep frown on his face as he observes the raging winds from a safe distance.
When he becomes aware of a new arrival he's glad, even though the other person is a young girl. He knows better than to underestimate a kid! He nudges his head at the problem with some exasperation.]
Any ideas how to get a handle on this? I'm a bit stumped here.
Technical Move: Rain Dance
[Hijikata isn't much of a dancer, but once he hears about the danger the sirens present he feels a sense of urgency. He won't let anybody get drowned and eaten if he can help it! So he takes the airship to the Great Ocean Lake (only a total nutcase would let themselves be flung there via catapult - well, okay, or people with abilities that'll reliably brace their fall).
While other volunteers are learning the rain dance from the mermaid instructors he can be seen patrolling the underwater perimeter in cecaelia form, moving along the lake floor with his tentacles. When he sees someone being led away from the loosely organised group by what appears to be a kindly mermaid he propels himself up and swims over there (luckily he's had some practice in how to move around in this form on Avalon).]
Hey!! What do you think you're doing?
They Lava You (for
[Having lava lizards move north in the Summer Segment, gradually approaching Nightwake City, does seem like bad news, so Hijikata is setting out there to help chase them back to the Lava-Ridden Lands. This time he planned things out better and secured Rider as his companion. A winter power holder feels like the ideal partner against these enemies! It would have taken them a very long time - a week at least - to travel to the southern edge of the Jungle of Judgement if not for Pegasus, Rider's winged horse. Hijikata had to hold on to her all the way during their nightly flights to strengthen her magical energy (and to not fall off), but he made up for her high energy expense by taking care of the campfire and cooking (which he, naturally, drowned in mayonnaise) while she rested in the mornings, before they both slept during the hot days.
Eventually they start to see the changes in the landscape: Lava lakes litter the area, there's a sulfuric scent hanging in the air, and the usual fauna they encountered on the way seems absent. They decide to face the enemy during the daytime for visibility (on Hijikata's part), so after a little more rest at dawn they venture out exploring on foot. When he spots some movement by a lava pond, he touches Rider's arm.]
Rider, look-- I mean, there's some creature sitting by the edge of the lava over there. Is that one of them?
[It sure is! And it's seen them, and it's coming right at them with all the aggression and speed of a protective hippopotamus mother.]
Temple of Frustration
[Hijikata once again makes himself available to escort a less combative individual on their journey through the jungle. Of course he, too, is curious about what keeps the monsters away from the temple. He leads the way as they move through the lush humid undergrowth.]
Be careful of where you step. I don't know if they live in this jungle too, but in the Rain Jungle there are huge-ass toucans that build ground traps to catch people in.
[Don't ask him how he knows.]
Blood Bloom
[Hijikata has heard of trees, and he's heard of vampires, but the combination of both strikes him as distinctly odd. How can a tree even move fast enough to surprise a victim? Well, he's about to find out. He frowns at the innocent-looking tree standing near the Autumn Flower Yard, then turns to his companion.]
Was it there before, do you know? It's my first time visiting this Flower Yard. Maybe we should take it out, just to be on the safe side?
[He summons a flame in his hand, evidently ready to go.]
Chef Needs Maple Syrup Badly (for
[This quest seemed harmless enough, and Kou was so eager to help, Hijikata was more than happy to accompany him. Despite everything forests are not to be underestimated in terms of how dangerous they can be, so he wouldn't want him to go without an escort! With Hijikata's police horse and chariot as a bumpy transport they were able to cut down the travel time to the northernmost reaches of the vast forest to just a couple of days, with a night of camping in between (Hijikata brought tent, sleeping bags, and provisions). It was nice to learn more about each other's worlds and backgrounds on the way, and Hijikata's impression of Kou as a kind and resourceful child only deepened.
When they finally arrive in the forest the samurai keeps a keen eye on their surroundings while Kou harvests the ready-to-eat maple syrup... provided the trees at the outskirts even offer enough.]
How's it looking? Do we have to go further in?
The Graveyard Shift (for
[When Eren asked if Hijikata wanted to accompany him on a quest he eagerly agreed - he wants to see what it's like to fight alongside a titan shifter! -, only to learn to his dismay that the one Eren had his eyes on was the graveyard cleaning quest. What a chore!! And why did it have to be a graveyard?! When he tried to argue that the remote location wasn't worth the long journey, given that there was no danger to anyone and the task was just a favour to the locals, Eren made a suggestion that Hijikata found hard to pass up: They could travel there using Eren's titan form.
That plan, once implemented, does cut the travel time down significantly, and while Hijikata at first finds it disconcerting to be carried by such an enormous being (all the more since he only met Eren recently - but he's Jean's friend, so he deems him trustworthy!) he gets used to it after a while. Despite Eren's speed and endurance as a titan it still takes them a few days to get to the graveyard, so Hijikata makes up for the transport by taking care of the camp and provisions each night (... hopefully Eren likes mayonnaise). When they finally arrive at the graveyard Hijikata is somewhat relieved at how normal it looks, but the Autumn Segment has its own eerie atmosphere with its whispering wind and rustling leaves. While all the stories he got to exchange with Eren on the way were worth the trip already he doesn't care for cleaning in the best of circumstances, so he's not exactly burning to get on the task!]
Ah... how about you get started, and I set up the camp in the meantime?
[OOC: If you'd like to plot some things out please hit me up on my quest plotting comment!]