Losing a comrade is diffult, in more ways than one. You should take your time figuring it out. But if you need someone to talk to, my door is open to you, Junpei.
[ there's a thoughtful hum but he's not disagreeing. ]
Yeah. Do you think what Polly said is true - that we have to do the fucking to avoid making ourselves targets for the demons she summoned?
[ he's a little bothered they can't just cut them down honestly ]
[Normally he'd, like, ignore the first part because haha what's actively talking about your issues with your teammates? But at the same time it sort of helps, so there's a nod.]
Thanks, Izuminokami. I'll keep that in mind. We've...well, it's not too new. I just didn't expect it to happen here.
[But yeah, about their bigger problems...] As much as I think Polly is selfish, I don't think she's lying about that. The others would have confirmed if she was. [...wait.] Wait, did you just call it "the fucking"? [Swords???]
...no, it doesn't. But I don't know if...[Words.] We have a lot to do to get out of here, and I'm not going to waste people's time just because I'm...I don't know, sad? Mad? I don't know, I don't really get what I am.
[So it's not that he doesn't want to talk about it, it's just a thing that happens and you suppress it and move on. Real healthy.]
Chuuya-Red and Carlos both seemed to agree. That's what made me think it was true. And yeah, Polly called it but it's just "fucking." No the. The Fucking sounds like a really bad movie. Not that it matters when it comes to what we have to do.
I don't believe it's a waste of time. If we're going to be working together, it's better if we understand each other, isn't it? To do that, we have to talk about it - especially if it might affect the mission.
[ he's sincere in advocating for healthy coping mechanisms for a friend's sake and all, but also. it helps the mission. it's a good thing!! ]
I see... Sex has a lot of different names. [ he's making mental notes, i hate this. please don't let him use anything the book calls it. ] They said at least once a week... Will you be alright, as far as that goes?
[That sounds more like what he'd expect, and there's a low chuckle in reply.]
Maybe so. There's a reason I've been talking to people when I can. If there's going to be more casualties on our hands...[A shrug.] But there isn't really a good way of saying I kinda wish it had just been her and not him, too.
[Still.] Sex, fucking, screwing, the horizontal tango, the two-backed beast...I could go on but it's easier just to call it fucking. [Thanks Junpei. At the question though, he looks...briefly startled.] People are going to want to do anything for survival, won't they?
Maybe not, but I don't think you're wrong for feeling that way, either. Carlos was a victim - if anyone deserved what happened, it was her, not him.
[ he's just gonna. blink at junpei's list. there are even more names for it than he thought? so what if he just focuses on the survival part instead. ]
...Right. But if it really is something we need to do to survive, and we need other people to do it with, isn't it just as likely that someone may be refused? It's a cowardly way to kill someone, but it would be just as effective, if no one else agreed to it.
[...there's a small, pleased look. At least someone agrees with him. Not that anyone really deserves to be melted down but details.] That one we can agree on.
[Please save Kanesan.] When you put it that way, I can see the concerns. But at the same time it's stupid not to agree because there isn't really a guarantee everyone else will agree with you, too. Plus we don't know how this demon operates. Polly said at least once a week, but what if that's the bare minimum to keep it away? Wouldn't it stand to reason that doing it more builds up a stronger barrier?
[This is a fancy-ass roundabout way of saying he doesn't have anything set in stone but he's open to options.] ...are you going to be okay? This is all new to you, isn't it?
Spite can carry you a long way. But that... sounds reasonable? [ unsure. ] It's less likely they'll target the ones who are more willing to play their game.
[ he's a little surprised at that, but he laughs it off. ]
It may be new to me, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm a popular sword, you know. [ no. ] I don't have any plans yet, but... Hmm, if nothing else, I can probably ask for Nikkari's help. It seems he's in his element here. Unless...
[I'm wheezing, this is literally just two dumbasses at this point. Spite sure is a great motivational tool and he's keeping his full attention on Kanesan as he speaks. Like he's thought, this is a sword who perhaps isn't as clueless as the others, and there's a curious hum somewhere in the back of his throat.
Granted, he's a bit disarmed by that smile and there's a brief laugh.]
Maybe a little. Is that so surprising? ["Charm" is a very vague word and admittedly Kanesan is a very beautiful sword. Junpei's an idiot but he's not blind.] I suppose Nikkari's a good fall-back as needed though.
I know a good thing when I see it. [Listen he's fine with letting Kanesada preen, he thinks it's sort of hilarious. But...the look goes from flirtatious to intrigued.]
Are you all this loyal when it comes to things like this? [It's a curious question because he keeps hearing from swords that they honor their word. Sometimes words don't mean much without the actions behind it.]
Hm... That would depend on the sword, I think. Some of us have had many masters over the years, so it may not matter as much to them. But the Shinsengumi swords like me...
[ his arms cross over his chest as his expression turns... thoughtful? reminiscent? regretful? maybe a little bit of everything. ]
The Shinsengumi were the last to use us. In my case, Hijikata was my only master. The age of swords ended when he... [ he shakes his head. ] ...when the last of the Shinsengumi were killed at Hakodate.
[Sometimes he likes these conversations because it tells him a bit about the sword he's dealing with. Kanesan provides that bit of information, and he tilts his head in thought for a moment.]
...you're a young sword, aren't you? That battle was only like a hundred and fifty years ago. [Like he's read the profiles and kept track of stuff but somehow he never realized Kanesan really was baby.] Sorry, I guess that wasn't really the point. But it makes sense. If you've only ever had one person to dedicate yourself to, it's more natural than it would be for someone passed from master to master.
And that may be true, but it’s a little different for the Shinsengumi. Our masters held onto us until the very end, even after everyone else had started using different weapons, like guns. It may be the reason they were defeated… but they treasured us as much as we did them. No other swords can say that.
[It's kind of cute? He's not going to outright say so, but it puts some things into context.]
It just means you were prized by your masters. [Like. Yes. Maybe the Shinsengumi should've upgraded but it's not like he doesn't understand that kind of loyalty. Even when there are better things out there, even when there are things that could maybe keep you safer, sometimes you just hold onto the one thing that you can't even put a value on.]
Does the Saniwa count as a new master then? Or is it kind of a gray area?
[ he nods with a fond, if sad, smile on his face. ]
That they did. Enough that I was sent away for safekeeping, before the final battle.
[ it's one of his greatest regrets, but it doesn't make him any less proud of his master. all the same, it's in the past, so he focuses on the next question instead. ]
The saniwa is our new master, but it's a little different than before. We're given these bodies once we're summoned, so he doesn't carry us into battle himself, like the others did. And the war we're fighting is different than any that we've fought in before.
It’s different for each of us. We were all summoned at different times, for one thing. Missions can take years, depending on what we need to do. I don’t know about the others here, but my last mission took about five years or so, and that puts me at about... six or seven years fighting the History Revisionists?
[ he shrugs ]
Most of the time, we aren’t supposed to associate with humans. We do our job from a distance, so we don’t affect history.
You're timetravelers. [NOBODY HAS EVER FLAT-OUT SAID WHAT THESE SWORDS DO.] You go back in your timelines and fix things that are threatening it. Is that it?
That's right. The History Revisionists try to change key events in history for their own purposes. Our job is to stop them, and protect history from changing as much as possible.
[ kanesan’s expression turns grave at this question, and he turns away for just a second before looking back at junpei. ]
That’s not our choice to make. History happened the way it did for a reason, and even if it’s difficult, we have to protect it. There’s no telling what will happen if something changes. Taking that decision into our own hands...
[ he shakes his head. ]
That would make us no better than the Revisionists.
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Losing a comrade is diffult, in more ways than one. You should take your time figuring it out. But if you need someone to talk to, my door is open to you, Junpei.
[ there's a thoughtful hum but he's not disagreeing. ]
Yeah. Do you think what Polly said is true - that we have to do the fucking to avoid making ourselves targets for the demons she summoned?
[ he's a little bothered they can't just cut them down honestly ]
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Thanks, Izuminokami. I'll keep that in mind. We've...well, it's not too new. I just didn't expect it to happen here.
[But yeah, about their bigger problems...] As much as I think Polly is selfish, I don't think she's lying about that. The others would have confirmed if she was. [...wait.] Wait, did you just call it "the fucking"? [Swords???]
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[ but. yeah. he'll drop it, if junpei doesn't want to talk about it. ]
True... The red Chuuya doesn't seem like the kind to let that slide, does he?
[ he pauses. ]
...Yes? Isn't that what Polly called it?
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[So it's not that he doesn't want to talk about it, it's just a thing that happens and you suppress it and move on. Real healthy.]
Chuuya-Red and Carlos both seemed to agree. That's what made me think it was true. And yeah, Polly called it but it's just "fucking." No the. The Fucking sounds like a really bad movie. Not that it matters when it comes to what we have to do.
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[ he's sincere in advocating for healthy coping mechanisms for a friend's sake and all, but also. it helps the mission. it's a good thing!! ]
I see... Sex has a lot of different names. [ he's making mental notes, i hate this. please don't let him use anything the book calls it. ] They said at least once a week... Will you be alright, as far as that goes?
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Maybe so. There's a reason I've been talking to people when I can. If there's going to be more casualties on our hands...[A shrug.] But there isn't really a good way of saying I kinda wish it had just been her and not him, too.
[Still.] Sex, fucking, screwing, the horizontal tango, the two-backed beast...I could go on but it's easier just to call it fucking. [Thanks Junpei. At the question though, he looks...briefly startled.] People are going to want to do anything for survival, won't they?
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[ he's just gonna. blink at junpei's list. there are even more names for it than he thought? so what if he just focuses on the survival part instead. ]
...Right. But if it really is something we need to do to survive, and we need other people to do it with, isn't it just as likely that someone may be refused? It's a cowardly way to kill someone, but it would be just as effective, if no one else agreed to it.
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[Please save Kanesan.] When you put it that way, I can see the concerns. But at the same time it's stupid not to agree because there isn't really a guarantee everyone else will agree with you, too. Plus we don't know how this demon operates. Polly said at least once a week, but what if that's the bare minimum to keep it away? Wouldn't it stand to reason that doing it more builds up a stronger barrier?
[This is a fancy-ass roundabout way of saying he doesn't have anything set in stone but he's open to options.] ...are you going to be okay? This is all new to you, isn't it?
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[ he's a little surprised at that, but he laughs it off. ]
It may be new to me, but it's nothing I can't handle. I'm a popular sword, you know. [ no. ] I don't have any plans yet, but... Hmm, if nothing else, I can probably ask for Nikkari's help. It seems he's in his element here. Unless...
[ he's just gonna give junpei the kirakira bishounen smile like a dumbass, I'm sorry ty. ]
Are you saying you're charmed by me, Junpei?
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Granted, he's a bit disarmed by that smile and there's a brief laugh.]
Maybe a little. Is that so surprising? ["Charm" is a very vague word and admittedly Kanesan is a very beautiful sword. Junpei's an idiot but he's not blind.] I suppose Nikkari's a good fall-back as needed though.
[He's. Trying.]
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Not at all! You've got good taste.
[ thanks for feeding his ego! keep doing that, he loves it. ]
And if you need a fall-back... My door is always open to you.
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You're sure? That's a pretty big offer to make.
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Of course! I keep my word - it's the samurai way.
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[ his arms cross over his chest as his expression turns... thoughtful? reminiscent? regretful? maybe a little bit of everything. ]
The Shinsengumi were the last to use us. In my case, Hijikata was my only master. The age of swords ended when he... [ he shakes his head. ] ...when the last of the Shinsengumi were killed at Hakodate.
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...you're a young sword, aren't you? That battle was only like a hundred and fifty years ago. [Like he's read the profiles and kept track of stuff but somehow he never realized Kanesan really was baby.] Sorry, I guess that wasn't really the point. But it makes sense. If you've only ever had one person to dedicate yourself to, it's more natural than it would be for someone passed from master to master.
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[ he’s baby. ]
And that may be true, but it’s a little different for the Shinsengumi. Our masters held onto us until the very end, even after everyone else had started using different weapons, like guns. It may be the reason they were defeated… but they treasured us as much as we did them. No other swords can say that.
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It just means you were prized by your masters. [Like. Yes. Maybe the Shinsengumi should've upgraded but it's not like he doesn't understand that kind of loyalty. Even when there are better things out there, even when there are things that could maybe keep you safer, sometimes you just hold onto the one thing that you can't even put a value on.]
Does the Saniwa count as a new master then? Or is it kind of a gray area?
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That they did. Enough that I was sent away for safekeeping, before the final battle.
[ it's one of his greatest regrets, but it doesn't make him any less proud of his master. all the same, it's in the past, so he focuses on the next question instead. ]
The saniwa is our new master, but it's a little different than before. We're given these bodies once we're summoned, so he doesn't carry us into battle himself, like the others did. And the war we're fighting is different than any that we've fought in before.
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How long have you been fighting this war though? A lot of the others seem really old, but they've also spent less time around humans.
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[ he shrugs ]
Most of the time, we aren’t supposed to associate with humans. We do our job from a distance, so we don’t affect history.
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You're timetravelers. [NOBODY HAS EVER FLAT-OUT SAID WHAT THESE SWORDS DO.] You go back in your timelines and fix things that are threatening it. Is that it?
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What about if the history you're preventing from change would be better with a change? Has that ever happened?
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That’s not our choice to make. History happened the way it did for a reason, and even if it’s difficult, we have to protect it. There’s no telling what will happen if something changes. Taking that decision into our own hands...
[ he shakes his head. ]
That would make us no better than the Revisionists.
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