#featherstiels

Starter for @featherstiels

The Western barbarians are intimidating. Over the course of Takasugi Shinsaku’s life he’s faced them down, sworn to kill them all, negotiated with them, and at last even become friends with a few. And even with that experience, they still make him apprehensive They’re loud and large - that’s bad enough - but more importantly, they’re often backed up by powerful navies. 

Takasugi wonders if that holds true here too. He’s already overheard a few people who sound and look American. It may not be very diplomatic to ask them outright about American influence here, but in his experience, Americans are free and easy in their manners, always ready to talk about their country. 

This one he’s watching now is tall, nearly six feet to Takasugi’s five feet three inches. . Doesn’t have red hair, but does have the pale dog eyes of the stereotypical Western barbarian. He’s talking to a shopkeeper a little way down the street and Takasugi has been debating whether to talk to him.