HIGEKIRI;

[crashout]

Comments

[crashout]

Surprisingly, most humans aren't used to being called away against their will to somewhere unexpected. Pretty sure most people are still pissed and confused.

[...he isn't entirely sure why, but...somehow he feels like maybe a more elaborate answer is in order.]

I had another game like this one to finish. I'm not sure how it ends yet.

[banzais]

[higekiri nods along - it adds up with what he's seen regarding humanity, and he doesn't blame anyone for their feelings. even though he hasn't experienced those emotions himself... it's interesting to see what others feel]

Ah, is that so...

You must be quite frustrated indeed. Do your comrades from your previous game need you?

[crashout]

Yeah. [He doesn't hesitate on that unlike some of his other answers.] ...one of them is actually here. But there are a few other reasons I need to get back to where I was. I wasn't supposed to come here.

[banzais]

[higekiri nods at that]

Mm, I understand.

[and then automatically, as if it's the most natural thing in the world:]

Then I will do my best to help you return as soon as possible.

[crashout]

[Higekiri??]

...and what about you? [Please think of yourself like the rest of the selfish humans of the world.]

[banzais]

Hmm... I would like to go home at some point - but I do not mind new things either. I like when things are lively!

Our master would send us on missions that could last decades... so a bit of time away doesn't matter very much to me.

[a beat]

I aim to send you all home before decades pass.

[crashout]

...a noble goal. [He doesn't know what to say. How do people just...volunteer to do that in situations like this? Maybe it's because Higekiri isn't human.]

What kind of missions would last so long?

[banzais]

Hmm... Ones where we need to observe humanity.

[there's a slightly apologetic tint to his smile - an acknowledgement that it's not the entire story, but... well, he thinks that it's actually the most important part of it]

But when you've lived for over a thousand years... I do not think that it is very much time at all. I enjoy my missions, just as I enjoy small moments like this.

[a gesture between the two of them, and he tilts his head]

Recently, I have found myself very happy to simply exist.

[crashout]

[He doesn't mind the lack of an entire story. He understands what that's like. It's...sort of a sweet sentiment, if he allows himself to think about that. Being happy to simply exist sounds nice. Is that possible?]

...humanity, sometimes, isn't the best thing to observe. [It's a slow sentence, but firm.] But every now and then there are some examples of goodness left. Maybe things would be easier if more people approached it that way.

[banzais]

[there's a brief little laugh at that]

Mm... No one enjoys the loss that comes with war, the hardships that come with battle... but I think I heard recently that 'it is the sad moments that shape us'.

[the words sound foreign on his tongue - and it's clear that he's still trying to wrestle with how much he believes in it... but]

Even so - I think that as a whole, I enjoy humanity. No matter how old I am, I can still be surprised.

[crashout]

[It's interesting to see what, exactly, Higekiri's picked up and what he's trying to commit to. That much he can admit, and he turns to look at him from the corner of his eye.]

True enough. [Begrudgingly. He can't deny it either.] You must have met a lot of different people here then. Have you pledged allegiance to them, too?

[banzais]

Allegiance...?

[he sounds curious at the word before laughing]

I don't have a master here - but I have my younger brother. I believe that he would be happiest if we worked in tandem with each other. I have found an ally who is a Watcher, and carries a large scythe. As well as a teammate who knows about technology, and wants to protect people.

I would also like to hope that you and I can get along well!

But... I do not know if I have an allegiance - besides that to my duty to protect as many humans as possible, and carry out this new mission I have found for myself.

[crashout]

Hizamaru. [Just saying it.] And Kagachi. And Dick, I think. [Those descriptions sound right, and he doesn't think that Higekiri can confirm but Junpei pulls out his clamshell to find the profiles of those three.] These guys, right?

[...but ah.] Alliance then. Most people wouldn't jump into them right away, but with what just happened we might not have a choice. [...] I wouldn't mind working with you if you can trust what I'm doing here.

[banzais]

[oh! higekiri nods his confirmation - yup, those are the people he was talking about]

Hmm... You wish to go home - as long as you do not intend to do harm to others in order to accomplish that, then I don't see a reason not to work with you. And given that you were concerned over that woman...

[he nods again - that demonstrates enough of a conscience that higekiri can accept it]

I enjoy having allies. I'm happy to help you with whatever you need - my only request is that you look after my younger brother when possible.

[not higekiri, but hizamaru]

[crashout]

[Like. Haha. He can't really promise that until he knows what kind of game they're playing, but simultaneously...he doesn't really intend to do damage, no. They're all stuck and it's terrible. His morals are still sort of there.]

Like I said. Beck wasn't prepared and that was something I should have thought about. [So...no. Harm unintended.] Consider us allies then until further notice. [...]

I'll do what I can for Hizamaru, too. He's capable, but he seems...I don't know. Young. [Says the 22 year old about a 1000+ year old sword.] I'm not interested in seeing something bad happen to him either.

[banzais]

Oh? We were forged on the same day. Do I seem young too?

[he's so curious about this answer, but mostly he just looks amused]

Then please let me know if you ever need anything else from me, my ally.

[crashout]

[There's a moment of consideration.]

Not really. I'm not sure what you seem. [Not young and not old. Maybe just existing.] But the offer's appreciated.

[He looks at his feet again.] Pick your alliances carefully. Situations like these tend to bring out some ugly things in people.

[Not that he thinks Hige really needs to worry, but. It's sort of a way of saying he'd be really pissed if someone took advantage of him somehow.]

[banzais]

[there's a soft hum at that as he looks to the ceiling]

Situations of stress often do... Humans endure quite a bit of abuse, and can be pushed to their limits.

I cannot say that I am accustomed to working very closely with alliances, even though I find them useful... but at the very least, I think people here are not entirely difficult to understand.

[but he's just

old]

[crashout]

You're not wrong. [It's a heavier tone, but like. Anyway.] Working with alliances can be harder than working alone, I've noticed, but they're useful.

As long as you feel that way, then...guess it'll be okay. [Yeah nvm that sentence kind of pushed Hige into the old category but it's fine.]

[banzais]

Oh - so you are used to working alone?

[or at least thinks alliances are less convenient for him - but higekiri just smiles at the confirmation, tilting his head]

I'll do my best not to hold you back.

But even so... thank you for being concerned for me. [he places a hand over his chest] I wonder if this is the feeling that humans would call gratitude.

[crashout]

Well, uh...you really helped us out back there. So I should actually be thanking you. I guess. [It kind of just got embarrassing, thanks.] Don't think of it as holding me back. I work fine either way.

[Contradictory, sure, but it's complicated.] I had people I worked with back home. They're two people I trust probably more than they think, but I still don't know what they'll really do until it's happening. Call it...relearning the art of teamwork. Or something.

[banzais]

Do you think so...? I did not understand everything that was happening - but at least expeditions are familiar to me.

[those are standard swordfare.... as for listening to the people that junpei trusts, he hums softly]

I understand. My brother must feel the same way, I think... He trusts me very much, even though sometimes I act without telling him. I think it takes a great amount of trust in order to rely on someone in such a way. I hope they will always fulfill your hopes.

[crashout]

It doesn't matter if you understood everything or not. You were probably the most calm out of all of us in there. [That counts for a lot.

The relationship between the brothers is one that he can understand fairly well. And he agrees, actually. It takes a lot of trust to rely on someone, but that's the scary part. "Always assume everyone you meet is a thief." Isn't that what he said not even that long ago? But here we are.

He'll keep that in his head though instead of saying it, but the expression on his face has slipped back to something a little melancholy instead.]

You trust him just as much, don't you?

[banzais]

Mm, well... I'm rather sure I've been on enough battlefields that those sights weren't very distressing to me... I do worry about the woman.

[he means beck - because she clearly was the least equipped to deal with the demon and yet she got it anyway!! but regardless... he watches junpei's expression before just answering the question with a little nod of his head]

It would be remiss of me as an elder brother to not trust the younger brother who tries so hard for me, wouldn't it?

He is capable of great things.

[crashout]

I do, too. [Like he'll flat-out confess that he's actually pretty worried about Beck because it's easier than telling Beck herself, apparently.] ...this wasn't the first time I've seen something like that, but she's led a pretty normal life so far. It almost felt intentional that she got the worst of it.

[But ah. Yeah. That would make sense.] He seems eager to please. If he's as capable as you are, then there shouldn't be a problem looking after him, too.