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That powerful...?
[ or laudna believes she is, anyway. iwatooshi has his doubts, based on what the overseers have said, but she seems so confident. ]
Some... mentors [ almost said masters ] can be difficult, I've heard. To be punished for following orders... it sounds frustrating.
[ or laudna believes she is, anyway. iwatooshi has his doubts, based on what the overseers have said, but she seems so confident. ]
Some... mentors [ almost said masters ] can be difficult, I've heard. To be punished for following orders... it sounds frustrating.
[ what a morning! iwatooshi is looking a bit tense, but not enough to ignore anyone he comes across. laudna gets a slight bow in greeting. ]
Laudna-dono. It seems we should be expecting magic to interfere with things each week, if this goes on. Ichiban-dono disappeared before my eyes.
Laudna-dono. It seems we should be expecting magic to interfere with things each week, if this goes on. Ichiban-dono disappeared before my eyes.
I'm not surprised, either.
[ there's like half a second where he looks like he wants to say more, but he shakes it off. ]
Karma told me that he wanted to protect everyone here. Perhaps we should have tried harder to protect him, instead... not the magic in this place would allow it.
[ there's like half a second where he looks like he wants to say more, but he shakes it off. ]
Karma told me that he wanted to protect everyone here. Perhaps we should have tried harder to protect him, instead... not the magic in this place would allow it.
[ blinks in surprise. compliment?? ]
...Thank you, Laudna-dono. I would like to protect as many as I can, but... it's frustrating, to be trapped and unable to do anything. Karma seemed to think so, too.
[ as to that, he shakes his head. ]
It's nothing. Speculation, at best and we shouldn't be making assumptions when there are lives at stake.
...Thank you, Laudna-dono. I would like to protect as many as I can, but... it's frustrating, to be trapped and unable to do anything. Karma seemed to think so, too.
[ as to that, he shakes his head. ]
It's nothing. Speculation, at best and we shouldn't be making assumptions when there are lives at stake.
I will.
[ solemnly, like a vow. but after a pause, he turns to face her to offer a formal bow. ]
I'm sorry, Laudna-dono. [ it does sound genuine. ] I trust you, and I don't mean to keep secrets from you, but I worry about casting doubt on anyone who hasn't earned it. It's dangerous when we have to choose someone else to die this weekend, and I don't think the answers will come so easily.
[ solemnly, like a vow. but after a pause, he turns to face her to offer a formal bow. ]
I'm sorry, Laudna-dono. [ it does sound genuine. ] I trust you, and I don't mean to keep secrets from you, but I worry about casting doubt on anyone who hasn't earned it. It's dangerous when we have to choose someone else to die this weekend, and I don't think the answers will come so easily.
I'm not angry.
[gently; she wasn't meaning to suggest she was upset.]
I do want to know what happened to all three of them, very very much. But I'm content to wait for answers. I think your hesitation speaks well of you. Many rush to violence and condemnation.
[gently; she wasn't meaning to suggest she was upset.]
I do want to know what happened to all three of them, very very much. But I'm content to wait for answers. I think your hesitation speaks well of you. Many rush to violence and condemnation.
I don't blame them, after losing those they care about.
[ it's a natural reaction. very human of them. ]
As long as we can focus on what's before us when it matters, I think we'll find the answers. We'll just have to be quick to do so within our time limit.
[ it's a natural reaction. very human of them. ]
As long as we can focus on what's before us when it matters, I think we'll find the answers. We'll just have to be quick to do so within our time limit.
[ and she is valid for that 👏 i support her even if iwa's doing his monk thing. ]
I'll do my best not to let you down.
...And yes, I am. [ he did say he trusted her, and meant it. so he stands a little taller to face laudna properly. ] The monster I've been connected to is a dragon. Its ability allows me to see the voting spread from these rituals.
I'll do my best not to let you down.
...And yes, I am. [ he did say he trusted her, and meant it. so he stands a little taller to face laudna properly. ] The monster I've been connected to is a dragon. Its ability allows me to see the voting spread from these rituals.
Mm. I hope to use it carefully in the coming weeks.
[ ah... as nice as it would be to match with someone like laudna, he thinks it’s still good to be able to trust each other with this information at all. ]
A symbol of justice. [ not entirely unsuited for her, with her thoughts on betrayal being what they are. ] And an interesting power, too. Were you testing it, last week?
[ ah... as nice as it would be to match with someone like laudna, he thinks it’s still good to be able to trust each other with this information at all. ]
A symbol of justice. [ not entirely unsuited for her, with her thoughts on betrayal being what they are. ] And an interesting power, too. Were you testing it, last week?
[ he's gonna be out by the toyama residence today, peeking around curiously! ]
It's almost like home... but with some new things I don't recognize.
[ too bad he won't get to explain that... the darkness steals them away for a memory to play out before them:
It's almost like home... but with some new things I don't recognize.
[ too bad he won't get to explain that... the darkness steals them away for a memory to play out before them:
you throw imanotsurugi to the ground, roaring, "Do you have any idea how much trouble your resemblance to Lord Yoshitsune is causing me?"iwatooshi breathes out a heavy sigh once the memory ends, turning his eyes away in shame. ]
"I'm sorry!" he answers dutifully, rising to his knees.
"Now that it's come to this," you snarl, raising the staff above your head, "I have no choice!"
he flinches, ready to receive the blow - but it never comes. you stop before it can connect, frozen in place, until finally, he drops character to look at you questioningly. you step back, mortified.
"I can't do it. I can't hit you," you tell him flatly, turning away. hurting your precious friend, your partner... how could you ever bring yourself to do that? it's one of the toughest battles you've ever faced.
"Iwatooshi! This is our rehearsal of the 'The Subscription List'!"
"Still, I can't do what I can't do," you insist, settling down with the staff at your side. he keeps badgering you about it to convince you to try again. that is, until a pair of new faces come to greet you both - the new touken danshi you were told about, surely. imanotsurugi lights up, happily introducing himself to the newcomers. you ignore them, until a name catches your attention, heart sinking.
"I am Higekiri."
no, it couldn't be. but the other confirms your fears: "I'm Hizamaru."
so this is what kogitsunemaru tried to warn you about - the treasured swords of genji brothers, yoritomo and yoshitsune. there's no world where you wouldn't recognize those names, those crests. but these swords... you've never met them before today.
as imanotsurugi greets them properly, you finally rise to your feet to face them yourself, though you can't bring yourself to smile as you normally would.
"Higekiri-sama and Hizamaru-sama, right? My name is Iwatooshi."
"It's nice to meet you, Iwatooshi," Higekiri says, stepping forward. you avert your eyes and tuck the staff under your arm to leave.
"Well, excuse us. Let's go, Imanotsurugi."
and you walk away without another word. it's very rude, you're well aware, but this isn't something you're prepared to face right now. it's best to leave it, gather your thoughts, and approach it again later. it's safer that way, for imanotsurugi.
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