Waking the Dead 2.0 || May 19, 2063 (Saturday) || Friendship in the cups.

[kawaakari]

[It's a little after lunch with the Shinta Clan that Kasumi Aoi makes an interesting suggestion: that the War Hounds wile the afternoon hours away in good company with their mentors, former or otherwise, that can make it. Invitations are easy; she can handle them.

So, there you have it: doing things the Japanese way, talking over sake, nibbling idly on onigiri and whatever else. The rest of the household has left you alone. This is quality time with the people who have watched your back, and taught you whatever they could.]



OOC Notes
+ Each thread here is for one-on-one conversations between players and their respective mentors. Group shenanigans can be played out on the table, if you guys like.
+ Noey and I are going to bring his conversation with Malia on the table!

Comments

[bladeweaver]

[Taning's mind zooms into overdrive. Brigade he can understand. Even to him, he is still sort of an unknown quantity; he just hasn't had that much time spent with him. (Which, he realizes guiltily, he needs to remedy soon.) But Josh is harmless! He's probably the best man out of all of them right now.

And then he thinks about it. Perhaps it's not a matter of personal capability, but of connections...?

He knows that Brig has been spending a lot of time with Hikaru lately. Okay, yes, that would explain Tohru's interest in him perfectly. Not to mention that thing that he saw yesterday. Brig and Kasumi, eh? Okay. Another potential minefield right there.

How about Josh? That's puzzling for more than one reason. For one thing, Josh is harmless. Well, relatively so, compared to Brig at least.... But then he realizes that he's measuring strength by its more prosaic manifestations. Josh's strengths lie in the social. And yes, he's been someone who's spent a lot of time with Hikaru as well.

One thing about his shisho, his devotion to his son and Blade King is serious business.]

Ah. You are worried about how their interaction with Hikaru-san could be more harmful than beneficial?

[fidelias]

I do not know what it means yet.

[Which is more than enough to put up every single red flag in Tohru's brain. He doesn't like not knowing. And not knowing makes him investigate, and look into every single possibility.]

[bladeweaver]

[Shit. It might be time for damage control.]

To be perfectly fair to the both of them, sir, I think their hearts are in the right place. [And not for ripping out, please.]

Unless they're faced with Taskforce Valkyrie. In that case I don't know if I can say what they would do.

[fidelias]

If it was simply a matter of good intent, this world would not nearly be as dirty and as troubled as it is now.

[Hm. Valkyrie.

Not going to comment on that just yet.]

[bladeweaver]

[Taning stands his ground, both because his morals and his loyalty to his blade dictate it.]

If it wasn't for good intent, this world would be a lot more dirty and troubled than it is now. As I'm sure you know. Apologies for the impertinence. [Not really sounding apologetic, though.]

[fidelias]

[Nods. No offense taken.]

Both must be balanced. Hence, their actions will need to speak as loudly as their intent to me.

[bladeweaver]

I have no doubt that they will.

[He's not so stupid, though, that he doesn't know that it goes both ways. Good and bad are equally loud.]

May I ask why you are asking, shisho?

[fidelias]

Your blade interests me.

[It has not hit a point of concern just yet, but Tohru is the kind of person who likes to make sure that it never gets there. Not if he has something that he can do about it.]

[bladeweaver]

I have an idea what happens to about half of the people that interest you, shisho. Might I venture a question?

[fidelias]

You may.

[...Yeah, he's not going to deny that first part of Taning's statement. There is no need to lie.]

[bladeweaver]

Unless the matter is extremely pressing and urgent, could I prevail upon you to course all your... concerns, about my blade, through me? For my part, I swear to be as completely truthful as is possible for me. You know the worth of my oaths, shisho. You yourself are Obrimos, and would understand more completely than anyone could. I too swore a personal oath to take care of my blademates' well-being.

[An extremely faint nimbus, only visible at this range to Tohru through the haze of cigarette smoke, appears around Taning. It is black thunderclouds alive with red lightning. Taning is unaware that he does this, again].

[fidelias]

[He is watching that unfold quietly for a turn, and then turning away to pour himself some more sake.]

Very well.

[Then, softly:]

Control yourself.

[bladeweaver]

[Control himself? Wha?- oh. He notices the trailing edges of his nimbus.]

My apologies. That was both impolite and dangerous, were I speaking to someone I didn't trust.

[Yes, that's a backhanded statement of faith.]

Thank you. I swore an oath to your son, Brother Wolf, too. I won't let him come to harm. Not on my watch.

[fidelias]

Apology accepted.

[Downing his cup now.]

He will give you a run for your money. It is only fair that I warn you.

[bladeweaver]

[He actually grins at this. This, he is very familiar with. It's a personality quirk of his, he freely acknowledges.

He pours Tohru another cup, as he downs his own and refills it as well.]

I'm certain he will. What he probably would not expect, especially from one such as I, is that I might give him a run for his money as well.

[He shrugs, as if it ain't no thang.]

Yulia likes calling me an old dog. I don't mind; it's probably true. Every implication of that metaphor, I freely accept. In any case, [He smiles a warm-ish smile.] Hikaru's practically our honorary blademate.

[fidelias]

[This is why he feels like he can trust you, Taning.]

Might I forward a suggestion to you, then?

[bladeweaver]

From you? Always.

[fidelias]

Invest in Life magic. That will extend your life, and make sure that you are around a little longer to hold my son in check.

[bladeweaver]

[Huh. He used to know someone who could point him to a start in Life magic... But he hasn't heard from her in a while. Maybe someone else, then.]

I think I will. Thank you. The more people who are interested in his well-being, the better, right?

[fidelias]

I would like to think so.

[Especially if they're people who know how to move through the world properly. Taning is getting there, at any rate...]

[bladeweaver]

[Taning recalls three other blades with meddling meddlers.]

I was thinking of joining the Morticians. If I am to meddle with Hikaru-san's well-being, might as well make a career of it, eh?

[fidelias]

Then the Morticians are perfect for your purposes.

[Hum.]

When Kuzunoha is more willing to speak to the lot of you, you may want to pick his brain for pointers. He used to lead their division.

[bladeweaver]

[Huh. Really? Interesting...]

Makoto-san, eh? I suppose I'll talk to Joshua about that, then. They seem to have grown... rather close.

[fidelias]

['Close' is relative with a man like that, but Tohru is going to hold back on commenting for the moment.]

What about the roles that you wish to take?

[bladeweaver]

Nami and Gishi. The latter because I've always felt like an aborted scientist, the former, because of what you are teaching me. I would think those are appropriate roles for a Mortician, wouldn't you think? I do of course welcome any feedback you have, shisho. [A welcoming, graceful shrug.]