Hakuoki: Okita the Jerk Part 1
Jul. 3rd, 2018 07:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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So, having decided to play the 6 original love interests first, I couldn't escape the logic of playing Okita Souji next. Time to rip off that jerky bandaid.
Content Note: Transphobia, sort of? Tacky disability Angst. And mention of ritual suicide, which comes up here and there a lot in these paths in general, and I may not always remember to warn for it.
Also, dude really is a jerk.
** Spoilers**
I was thinking about how each love interest loses what is most important to them, and has to learn to redefine themselves: Saito loses his honour, Heisuke loses his innocence, and Hijikata loses the dream of the Shinsengumi.
And for a jerk like Okita, the most important thing he could lose is...himself. As he slowly dies of tuberculosis. Which apparently still happens on his path!
This should be fun.
The upside of the "play the original love interests" plan is it makes me feel more able to maybe just not do Sanan's path, which is feeling even more unappealing after how gross he was in Heisuke's path. At least Okita is kind of cute.
...oh no he's really hot in the CG the walkthrough maker chose. Overall he's one of the characters who looks better with the earlier, longer hair.
Thanks, Sanan! My intense desire to punch you is drowning out my relatively mild desire to punch Okita, this should make him easier to date.
I finally see the first possible scene with Kazama, as he fights Okita! Huh, something that hasn't come up before is that Kazama is actually really bad at sword fighting technique, he's just ridiculously strong and fast.
Kazama: Thanks for the dance, chump, but I've got better things to do.
Okita: nah I'm going to kill you :3
(90% of Okita's expressions are a passive aggressive cat-like smile. SO PUNCHABLE. EVEN NEXT TO KAZAMA)
Kazama naturally wipes the floor with Okita, and Chizuru glares.
Kazama: heh, I don't suppose you mean to kill me as well? Lets have at it, I like to watch children squirm.
I am...guessing he doesn't know who she is yet.
Okita drags himself up to protect Chizuru. Kazama rolls his eyes and gracefully departs via the window.
Chizuru: Why did you save me? You always said you'd kill me if I got in your way.
Okita, looking genuinely surprised: Why did I do that? ...I'll figure it out later, right now I have to kill...that...*collapses*
Ok that was mildly endearing.
New scene! Chiruzu finds Okita surrounded by...children...who he says he made play with him... because he was bored.
Okita: Do you want to play with us :3
Chiruzu: Uh. This is a bit weird? And will get you in trouble? Maybe you should send them home.
Kids: We can play where we like! And we like Souji!
Chiruzu: This is a place for the Shinsengumi, men who keep the streets safe.
Kids: No they just kill people!
Okita: We sure do >:3
Kids: And Kondo is a loser!
Okita: Hmm :3
Okita: *lifts a child up into the air*
Child: Whee!
Me: Is this supposed to be charming? I mean...it kind of is?
Chiruzu: I have mixed feelings
Okita: >:D
WHAT THE FUCK
The child has to scream and beg and apologise for insulting Kondou while Chiruzu shouts at Okita.
AND I REPEAT WHAT THE FUCK AT LEAST SANAN ATE KIDS BECAUSE HE WAS HUNGRY
Afterwards he's unrepentantly "Well they insulted Kondou >:("
Chiruzu tells him to apologise to the children but is sort of charmed by how much Okita cares about Kondou. COME ON CHIZURU HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS.
Seeing the "investigate the vampire serum" scenes for the first time! Sanan is just...straight up telling her everything? She calls for Okita as Sanan transforms and starts to be overcome with bloodlust.
Sanan: This experiment was a failure. Okita, I hate to impose....but if you could...?
Okita: I understand :3 *draws sword*
Me: *remembers that in real life, Okita helped Sanan commit sepukku, and actually has a moment of sadness for them both*
But Okita just injures Sanan enough to knock him out.
Later, after the demons show up again, Chizuru tells Okita, who has "a cold".
Okita: MY NEMESIS I'LL KILL...*coughs up blood*
Chizuru: Oh no I'll get help!
Okita, with coldly vicious fury: Don't. Tell. Anyone.
Later, the doctor tells him he has tuberculosis, and he says he would rather die sooner than leave the Shinsengumi. He sees Chizuru eavesdropping.
Okita: Haha, can you believe that doctor's joke :3
Chizuru: Mmm :(
Okita: ...if you tell anyone I'll kill you :(
Chizuru: Oh no, even telling me he'll kill me doesn't bring him any joy ;_;
Uuuuuurrrrrgh he isn't looking after himself and she's all worried and he tells her to stop nagging what a FUN DYNAMIC.
Also, watching a love interest curl up in blood related pain was more fun when it was vampirism. *checks to see if the Edo Blossoms walkthrough for him has "give him blood" options and it does??* Huh. Maybe vampirism doesn't cure tuberculosis?
I have this (super mild) bronchitis that's been hanging on and am having to try very hard not to google "do I have tuberculosis" right now.
Chizuru: How do you feel about your best friend Saito joining the bad guys?
Okita: Guess I'll probably have to kill him :3
Chizuru: But he's your friend!
Okita: I'm the sword of the Shinsengumi. Swords don't think, or care about right or wrong. They just kill (=ↀᆺↀ=)
Chizuru falls on top of Okita in his bedroom while running from the demon attack, and he flirts exactly as much as is reasonable then smoothly changes the subject once she gets off him. FINE. HE IS AT LEAST NOT SLEAZY.
He then goes into a little squee about how amazing Kondou is. I guess he just emulates his sword technique and hairstyle, not his BASIC COMPASSION AND DECENCY.
Sanan: So Okita is getting sicker. Guess it's time for him to become a vampire :D
It's just occured to me that Okita's callousness + bloodlust is a disturbing combo.
Hijikata tells Sanan to sod off and gets Chizuru to check on Okita.
Okita: Why are you being nice to me? I don't need your pity :/
Chizuru: That wasn't even a little bit frightening, just how sick is he? ;_;
He angsts a bit about being dead weight but having nowhere else to go. Chiruzu is pretty sure noone resents him being unable to fight, but that doesn't cheer him up much.
The demons are attacking again, with only Yamazaki and Inoue there to defend against them. Chiruzu goes to get Okita, but realises he's too sick.
Okita: We can't let Inoue die! It would make Kondou sad!
AND THEN CHIZURU'S EVIL TWIN KAORU APPEARS, DRESSED AS A BOY
Kaoru: I apologise for hiding my true self, but I did it for the same reason I am here tonight...to save my sister.
And then he shows his sword, the twin of the one Chizuru has been carrying all game.
OK Okita. YOU MAY BE A JERK, BUT YOU BROUGHT ME A HOT CROSSDRESSING EVIL TWIN.
*claps with glee*
So afaict, the Yukimura village was destroyed by humans when they refused to help attack the Shogun. The survivors were Chizuru's adopted dad Kodo Yukimura, and the twins. Kodo took Chizuru, and Koaru went elsewhere. Which means Kodo saying he raised Chizuru to bring glory to the Yukimura clan wasn't inconsistent with her being adopted after all!
Kaoru: You're taking this awfully calmly, Okita ^_^
Okita: It's not really my business is it? But I am curious whether you, as a demon, also plan on using Chizuru for your own ends :3
Kaoru: No. But if I had said yes, would you have tried to stop me with that broken body of yours? ^_^
Okita: Nope, I don't care about her at all. Now get out of my way :3 *draws sword*
Kaoru: You'll need this then ^_^ *hands him vampire serum*
Me: o.O
Okita: =o.O=
Kaoru: I am forced to work with Kazama because my adopted people are aligned with his. But when I heard they plan to use my darling little sister as a broodmare I had to do something ;_;
Me: Omg Kaoru I don't know what your evil plan is but I can tell it is fiendish.
(Anime has both taught me the word imouto-chan=little sister and ruined it forever)
Chizuru: Don't do it! It...it would break Kondou's heart!
Kaoru: I bet it breaks Kondou's heart that you can't be in battle with him right now ^_^
Chizuru: OMG what are you, some kind of EVIL twin??
Suddenly, vampire attack! Okita takes the serum and is as monstrous as you'd expect.
Okita, his expression dark and his white hair stained with blood: Happy now, Koaru?
Me: Oh no I ship it.
Koaru: *claps* Thank you! ...for FALLING INTO MY TRAP >:D
Chizuru: ...what?
Koaru: I gave him the serum because you care about him. And now I get to see my sister suffer :D
Oh GOD his backstory is his adopted family had wanted a girl demon to make babies with, and he resents Chiruzu for looking like him but having "the right equipment". They told him he was worthless and he killed them all.
GAME. GAME I KNEW YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT I AM STILL DISAPPOINT
On the upside, turns out the plot of the path isn't going to be "slowly watch Okita die of tuberculosis". It'll presumably be 95% vampire angst, 5% "well he's dying of consumption again but at least he's not a vampire" bittersweet ending.
Afterwards Okita tells Chizuru not to blame herself, that it was his decision and he doesn't regret it.
Okita: Also, don't get involved with a guy like me. I'm dead :3
Choices: "@No@" "@Why@"
I do not recognise these emojis, game :P
Unlike Sanan, who got all BEHOLD MY UNBELIEVABLE POWER the moment he was turned, Okita feels just as useless as before, since now it's sunlight stopping him from fighting by Kondou's side. I guess only Saito and Hijikata are the SUFFERING SUNLIGHT IS THE SAMURAI WAY type.
He cheers Chizuru up about her brother being evil by saying "family is just a bunch of strangers who happen to be related to you, you didn't choose them so they don't count". I wonder if Kondou is a replacement father figure/big brother, I vaguely remember hearing Okita was raised by his older sister.
Oh god I just remembered Kondou dies. That's going to fuck Okita up as much as it did Hijikata.
Somehow ended up with a bittersweet, shippy scene where Harada talked about his mixed feelings about the vampire serum and was really kind to Chizuru. Sorry, Harada, I'm sure you're a much better boyfriend but you'll have to wait.
As much as Okita can be an ass, I'm glad Heisuke has someone to hang out with in the vampire dorms who isn't Sanan.
And now for the battle where Inoue dies, which marks the point where paths begun to seriously diverge. On Heisuke's route he was overcome with bloodlust and there was a "give blood?" choice, I don't see one on what's left of the Kyoto Winds walkthrough for Okita which is interesting. Maybe he just gleefully eats people.
...oh man I just remembered Yamazaki got injured at this battle on Heisuke's route and I don't even remember if we hear if he died? I'm guessing he did. He's been growing on me, poor doomed dude.
I don't think I've ever actually seen Kondou with his gunshot wound before! He always gets it, but it's usually offscreen. And, well, I did say these routes are about threatening whatever the love interest holds most precious...
Okita shows more concern about Kondou than he has about anything else all game, and starts blaming Hijikata for not keeping Kondou safe. Okita clearly has none of the respect for Hijikata that he does for Kondou, which I find interesting, since he and Hijikata have much more similar natures. Hijikata blames himself too :(
Okita sneaks out, and Chiruzu finds him in a dark alley, murdering soldiers from the group who shot Kondou with cold glee. After they are all dead, he turns to look for his next victim and she stops him.
They have an argument about whether what he's doing is ok. He glares and says he'll kill her if she keeps getting in his way and she says fine, do it. Then he laughs and says she's crazy.
Saito comes to tell Okita that Kondou is ok and is nice about it in a Saito-ish way. (Saitoooooo rescue me from your awful friend)
The next night Okita is lured into an alley by the sound of gunshots. Koaru gloats about being responsible for Kondou's shooting and tells a line of riflemen to shoot Chizuru, Okita takes all the bullets then falls unconscious.
Kaoru gloats some more and I think wistfully of Kazama. Villains motivated by pure evil or sadism are so boring. I had such high hopes for you, Kaoru :(
Yamazaki recovered from his wounds and helps take Okita to a castle to recover from his own! Good for you, Yamazaki.
Meanwhile Okita actually seems sad that Inoue died...because it will make Kondou sad.
And that's the end of Kyoto Winds. I'm still not sold on this path but I'm on it now. And I ship them a little, in a "he sucks but you both clearly want to kiss each other so have it, I guess" way.
At least the next game should have more blood-drinking than bloody-coughing.
Next: Okita Part 2 (I actually played Harada part 1 next, but this way you get the story in order)
So, having decided to play the 6 original love interests first, I couldn't escape the logic of playing Okita Souji next. Time to rip off that jerky bandaid.
Content Note: Transphobia, sort of? Tacky disability Angst. And mention of ritual suicide, which comes up here and there a lot in these paths in general, and I may not always remember to warn for it.
Also, dude really is a jerk.
** Spoilers**
I was thinking about how each love interest loses what is most important to them, and has to learn to redefine themselves: Saito loses his honour, Heisuke loses his innocence, and Hijikata loses the dream of the Shinsengumi.
And for a jerk like Okita, the most important thing he could lose is...himself. As he slowly dies of tuberculosis. Which apparently still happens on his path!
This should be fun.
The upside of the "play the original love interests" plan is it makes me feel more able to maybe just not do Sanan's path, which is feeling even more unappealing after how gross he was in Heisuke's path. At least Okita is kind of cute.
...oh no he's really hot in the CG the walkthrough maker chose. Overall he's one of the characters who looks better with the earlier, longer hair.
Thanks, Sanan! My intense desire to punch you is drowning out my relatively mild desire to punch Okita, this should make him easier to date.
I finally see the first possible scene with Kazama, as he fights Okita! Huh, something that hasn't come up before is that Kazama is actually really bad at sword fighting technique, he's just ridiculously strong and fast.
Kazama: Thanks for the dance, chump, but I've got better things to do.
Okita: nah I'm going to kill you :3
(90% of Okita's expressions are a passive aggressive cat-like smile. SO PUNCHABLE. EVEN NEXT TO KAZAMA)
Kazama naturally wipes the floor with Okita, and Chizuru glares.
Kazama: heh, I don't suppose you mean to kill me as well? Lets have at it, I like to watch children squirm.
I am...guessing he doesn't know who she is yet.
Okita drags himself up to protect Chizuru. Kazama rolls his eyes and gracefully departs via the window.
Chizuru: Why did you save me? You always said you'd kill me if I got in your way.
Okita, looking genuinely surprised: Why did I do that? ...I'll figure it out later, right now I have to kill...that...*collapses*
Ok that was mildly endearing.
New scene! Chiruzu finds Okita surrounded by...children...who he says he made play with him... because he was bored.
Okita: Do you want to play with us :3
Chiruzu: Uh. This is a bit weird? And will get you in trouble? Maybe you should send them home.
Kids: We can play where we like! And we like Souji!
Chiruzu: This is a place for the Shinsengumi, men who keep the streets safe.
Kids: No they just kill people!
Okita: We sure do >:3
Kids: And Kondo is a loser!
Okita: Hmm :3
Okita: *lifts a child up into the air*
Child: Whee!
Me: Is this supposed to be charming? I mean...it kind of is?
Chiruzu: I have mixed feelings
Okita: >:D
WHAT THE FUCK
The child has to scream and beg and apologise for insulting Kondou while Chiruzu shouts at Okita.
AND I REPEAT WHAT THE FUCK AT LEAST SANAN ATE KIDS BECAUSE HE WAS HUNGRY
Afterwards he's unrepentantly "Well they insulted Kondou >:("
Chiruzu tells him to apologise to the children but is sort of charmed by how much Okita cares about Kondou. COME ON CHIZURU HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS.
Seeing the "investigate the vampire serum" scenes for the first time! Sanan is just...straight up telling her everything? She calls for Okita as Sanan transforms and starts to be overcome with bloodlust.
Sanan: This experiment was a failure. Okita, I hate to impose....but if you could...?
Okita: I understand :3 *draws sword*
Me: *remembers that in real life, Okita helped Sanan commit sepukku, and actually has a moment of sadness for them both*
But Okita just injures Sanan enough to knock him out.
Later, after the demons show up again, Chizuru tells Okita, who has "a cold".
Okita: MY NEMESIS I'LL KILL...*coughs up blood*
Chizuru: Oh no I'll get help!
Okita, with coldly vicious fury: Don't. Tell. Anyone.
Later, the doctor tells him he has tuberculosis, and he says he would rather die sooner than leave the Shinsengumi. He sees Chizuru eavesdropping.
Okita: Haha, can you believe that doctor's joke :3
Chizuru: Mmm :(
Okita: ...if you tell anyone I'll kill you :(
Chizuru: Oh no, even telling me he'll kill me doesn't bring him any joy ;_;
Uuuuuurrrrrgh he isn't looking after himself and she's all worried and he tells her to stop nagging what a FUN DYNAMIC.
Also, watching a love interest curl up in blood related pain was more fun when it was vampirism. *checks to see if the Edo Blossoms walkthrough for him has "give him blood" options and it does??* Huh. Maybe vampirism doesn't cure tuberculosis?
I have this (super mild) bronchitis that's been hanging on and am having to try very hard not to google "do I have tuberculosis" right now.
Chizuru: How do you feel about your best friend Saito joining the bad guys?
Okita: Guess I'll probably have to kill him :3
Chizuru: But he's your friend!
Okita: I'm the sword of the Shinsengumi. Swords don't think, or care about right or wrong. They just kill (=ↀᆺↀ=)
Chizuru falls on top of Okita in his bedroom while running from the demon attack, and he flirts exactly as much as is reasonable then smoothly changes the subject once she gets off him. FINE. HE IS AT LEAST NOT SLEAZY.
He then goes into a little squee about how amazing Kondou is. I guess he just emulates his sword technique and hairstyle, not his BASIC COMPASSION AND DECENCY.
Sanan: So Okita is getting sicker. Guess it's time for him to become a vampire :D
It's just occured to me that Okita's callousness + bloodlust is a disturbing combo.
Hijikata tells Sanan to sod off and gets Chizuru to check on Okita.
Okita: Why are you being nice to me? I don't need your pity :/
Chizuru: That wasn't even a little bit frightening, just how sick is he? ;_;
He angsts a bit about being dead weight but having nowhere else to go. Chiruzu is pretty sure noone resents him being unable to fight, but that doesn't cheer him up much.
The demons are attacking again, with only Yamazaki and Inoue there to defend against them. Chiruzu goes to get Okita, but realises he's too sick.
Okita: We can't let Inoue die! It would make Kondou sad!
AND THEN CHIZURU'S EVIL TWIN KAORU APPEARS, DRESSED AS A BOY
Kaoru: I apologise for hiding my true self, but I did it for the same reason I am here tonight...to save my sister.
And then he shows his sword, the twin of the one Chizuru has been carrying all game.
OK Okita. YOU MAY BE A JERK, BUT YOU BROUGHT ME A HOT CROSSDRESSING EVIL TWIN.
*claps with glee*
So afaict, the Yukimura village was destroyed by humans when they refused to help attack the Shogun. The survivors were Chizuru's adopted dad Kodo Yukimura, and the twins. Kodo took Chizuru, and Koaru went elsewhere. Which means Kodo saying he raised Chizuru to bring glory to the Yukimura clan wasn't inconsistent with her being adopted after all!
Kaoru: You're taking this awfully calmly, Okita ^_^
Okita: It's not really my business is it? But I am curious whether you, as a demon, also plan on using Chizuru for your own ends :3
Kaoru: No. But if I had said yes, would you have tried to stop me with that broken body of yours? ^_^
Okita: Nope, I don't care about her at all. Now get out of my way :3 *draws sword*
Kaoru: You'll need this then ^_^ *hands him vampire serum*
Me: o.O
Okita: =o.O=
Kaoru: I am forced to work with Kazama because my adopted people are aligned with his. But when I heard they plan to use my darling little sister as a broodmare I had to do something ;_;
Me: Omg Kaoru I don't know what your evil plan is but I can tell it is fiendish.
(Anime has both taught me the word imouto-chan=little sister and ruined it forever)
Chizuru: Don't do it! It...it would break Kondou's heart!
Kaoru: I bet it breaks Kondou's heart that you can't be in battle with him right now ^_^
Chizuru: OMG what are you, some kind of EVIL twin??
Suddenly, vampire attack! Okita takes the serum and is as monstrous as you'd expect.
Okita, his expression dark and his white hair stained with blood: Happy now, Koaru?
Me: Oh no I ship it.
Koaru: *claps* Thank you! ...for FALLING INTO MY TRAP >:D
Chizuru: ...what?
Koaru: I gave him the serum because you care about him. And now I get to see my sister suffer :D
Oh GOD his backstory is his adopted family had wanted a girl demon to make babies with, and he resents Chiruzu for looking like him but having "the right equipment". They told him he was worthless and he killed them all.
GAME. GAME I KNEW YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT I AM STILL DISAPPOINT
On the upside, turns out the plot of the path isn't going to be "slowly watch Okita die of tuberculosis". It'll presumably be 95% vampire angst, 5% "well he's dying of consumption again but at least he's not a vampire" bittersweet ending.
Afterwards Okita tells Chizuru not to blame herself, that it was his decision and he doesn't regret it.
Okita: Also, don't get involved with a guy like me. I'm dead :3
Choices: "@No@" "@Why@"
I do not recognise these emojis, game :P
Unlike Sanan, who got all BEHOLD MY UNBELIEVABLE POWER the moment he was turned, Okita feels just as useless as before, since now it's sunlight stopping him from fighting by Kondou's side. I guess only Saito and Hijikata are the SUFFERING SUNLIGHT IS THE SAMURAI WAY type.
He cheers Chizuru up about her brother being evil by saying "family is just a bunch of strangers who happen to be related to you, you didn't choose them so they don't count". I wonder if Kondou is a replacement father figure/big brother, I vaguely remember hearing Okita was raised by his older sister.
Oh god I just remembered Kondou dies. That's going to fuck Okita up as much as it did Hijikata.
Somehow ended up with a bittersweet, shippy scene where Harada talked about his mixed feelings about the vampire serum and was really kind to Chizuru. Sorry, Harada, I'm sure you're a much better boyfriend but you'll have to wait.
As much as Okita can be an ass, I'm glad Heisuke has someone to hang out with in the vampire dorms who isn't Sanan.
And now for the battle where Inoue dies, which marks the point where paths begun to seriously diverge. On Heisuke's route he was overcome with bloodlust and there was a "give blood?" choice, I don't see one on what's left of the Kyoto Winds walkthrough for Okita which is interesting. Maybe he just gleefully eats people.
...oh man I just remembered Yamazaki got injured at this battle on Heisuke's route and I don't even remember if we hear if he died? I'm guessing he did. He's been growing on me, poor doomed dude.
I don't think I've ever actually seen Kondou with his gunshot wound before! He always gets it, but it's usually offscreen. And, well, I did say these routes are about threatening whatever the love interest holds most precious...
Okita shows more concern about Kondou than he has about anything else all game, and starts blaming Hijikata for not keeping Kondou safe. Okita clearly has none of the respect for Hijikata that he does for Kondou, which I find interesting, since he and Hijikata have much more similar natures. Hijikata blames himself too :(
Okita sneaks out, and Chiruzu finds him in a dark alley, murdering soldiers from the group who shot Kondou with cold glee. After they are all dead, he turns to look for his next victim and she stops him.
They have an argument about whether what he's doing is ok. He glares and says he'll kill her if she keeps getting in his way and she says fine, do it. Then he laughs and says she's crazy.
Saito comes to tell Okita that Kondou is ok and is nice about it in a Saito-ish way. (Saitoooooo rescue me from your awful friend)
The next night Okita is lured into an alley by the sound of gunshots. Koaru gloats about being responsible for Kondou's shooting and tells a line of riflemen to shoot Chizuru, Okita takes all the bullets then falls unconscious.
Kaoru gloats some more and I think wistfully of Kazama. Villains motivated by pure evil or sadism are so boring. I had such high hopes for you, Kaoru :(
Yamazaki recovered from his wounds and helps take Okita to a castle to recover from his own! Good for you, Yamazaki.
Meanwhile Okita actually seems sad that Inoue died...because it will make Kondou sad.
And that's the end of Kyoto Winds. I'm still not sold on this path but I'm on it now. And I ship them a little, in a "he sucks but you both clearly want to kiss each other so have it, I guess" way.
At least the next game should have more blood-drinking than bloody-coughing.
Next: Okita Part 2 (I actually played Harada part 1 next, but this way you get the story in order)
no subject
Date: 2018-07-03 02:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-07-06 06:50 pm (UTC):D :D :D
I'm so glad, sometimes I stare at the wall of words and go "Sean, they might as well just play the game, that has more pictures".
no subject
Date: 2018-11-12 01:15 pm (UTC)Me: *remembers that in real life, Okita helped Sanan commit sepukku, and actually has a moment of sadness for them both*
But Okita just injures Sanan enough to knock him out.
I saw that as one of the very first moments of Okita's transformation. All this time he's been declaring his willingness to kill basically anyone, and here he's being asked to kill someone, and historically he did...but here he doesn't.
I wonder if Kondou is a replacement father figure/big brother, I vaguely remember hearing Okita was raised by his older sister.
The backstory we get in the prequel is that Okita's sister gave Okita to Kondo to raise when he was nine. It doesn't seem like Kondo did a particularly good job of it, Okita seems to barely know what a hug is. I was honestly furious at Kondo for his bad parenting through this entire route and it was this odd double vision since Okita thinks he's wonderful and this route's Chizuru has to as well. Well, I got to deal with my Kondo resentment in the Nagakura route.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-28 08:02 am (UTC)I saw that as one of the very first moments of Okita's transformation. All this time he's been declaring his willingness to kill basically anyone, and here he's being asked to kill someone, and historically he did...but here he doesn't.
Ooh, nice. I like it.
I read the backstory differently and so am less down on Kondou: the way I interpreted it (and I am not always great at picking up these sorts of details so may be wrong), Okita was given to the dojo, which Kondou was the heir to but did not yet control. So he wasn't directly responsible for Okita's well-being, asides from being a semi-adult (I think he was around 18?) with a position of power. He was like a teacher at a school where a student is being bullied in another class who went out of his way to take care of him because noone else was. I'm pretty sure he hugs Okita early on in their relationship in the Reimeiroku anime, so I assumed they hugged after that too.
That said! However it happened, he did become a father figure to Okita, and didn't seem to do a fantastic job. It feels like he treated Okita more like an apprentice: friendly, and protecting him from active mistreatment, but focusing on him as a swordsman rather than a child in need of love. And their relationship in Hakuoki canon is definitely messed up, and it feels like that has to be at least partly Kondou's fault.
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Date: 2018-11-29 03:26 pm (UTC)I also think this has been a bit of a roadblock for me in being able to connect to the Kondo/Hijikata relationship - since I did Okita's route first and loved it and got invested in his POV, I don't *want* Kondo to be able to love Hijikata in a way that he wouldn't or couldn't love Okita. Hm. I'm about 2/3 through the Hijikata route now so maybe that will give me a different perspective on things.
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Date: 2018-11-30 09:38 pm (UTC)Part of the the tragedy of Hijikata and Kondou for me is that Hijikata also loves Kondou more than Kondou loves him. And part of the tragedy of Okita and Hijikata is that they both love each other more than either of them is willing to express. Both of them are 100% dedicated to Kondou and while Kondou cares about them, his main dedication is to his goals. (And then they all die)
I mean there are definitely ways Kondou connects with Hijikata that he doesn't with Okita, since they have always related as peers while Okita has always been a junior or underling. But Okita doesn't want to be Kondou's peer, he just wants to be more important to him. I kind of think of it as Hijikata as the new step-dad with Okita as the resentful kid :) And I'm not sure Hijikata is more important to Kondou as a person rather than as a tool.
I played the Hijikata path first which stopped me resenting him on Okita's behalf, and Hijikata clicked with me much more than he did with you. But while I'm more sympathetic to Kondou than you are, I resent him on Hijikata and Okita's behalf. I don't think he's a totally terrible person, but he still hurt both of them.
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Date: 2018-12-02 05:03 am (UTC)Both of them are 100% dedicated to Kondou and while Kondou cares about them, his main dedication is to his goals.
This is so sad to think about. And yes, that if Okita and Hijikata had been able to turn to each other instead of fighting over Kondo they might have been able to find the emotional connection they both need.
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Date: 2018-12-04 10:14 am (UTC)This is so sad to think about. And yes, that if Okita and Hijikata had been able to turn to each other instead of fighting over Kondo they might have been able to find the emotional connection they both need.
Yeah :(