[ He catches the tone in her voice that means not to ask further about that point. Although he wants to tell her that he hopes those weren't times as hard on her as he expects they must have been, he relents ]
[ On the War Hounds: It feels like the army ] I do enjoy it, Ma'am. It started out for me as just like the army. Then they started feeling like my family back in the army. I guess, I got attached to them since they've been my first social interaction since... well, in a long time. And it felt familiar.
Their personalities make it something I'm torn about really. [ He thinks of particular Blademates ] Josh, Brianna and Kaz, they feel like normal kids. It's something different; they make me see them in a different light. When Taning's acting goofy, it feels that way too.
Yulia though, always reminds me that it's a job. That it's a mission. I guess, no matter how I've tried to reach out, I have difficulty seeing her in any other light. And Taning can't mask how much of a soldier he is too, when we sortie.
In a way, I find being with Yulia and Taning more... comfortable? Familiar? [ Because it feels like how his life has been since he was born. It's a mission. Everyday is a mission with a purpose of improvement. And constant fighting. ] Normal?
[Listening, outwardly attentive as always, inwardly filing everything away for future reference. These are the War Hounds, after all. That blade.]
That is understandable, given the similarities that the three of you share. I hope, though, that you do not plan on holding any of them at arm's length from you. They are your surrogate family now, correct? That is the Netsach way, as it is our own.
Of course not, Ma'am. [ He means it ] They're actually the only people I've felt comfortable enough to let into my home... J's home... aside from An'yu-sama and his family.
I even enjoyed goofing around in the photos while wearing the Stormguard Armor with Taning and Brianna. It's the first time I've actually taken a, what do they call it? A "selfie"? [ He smiles at the thought. It really was comfortable doing that with them ]
And well, Yulia, I think she's still not at-ease with me like the others are but that hasn't stopped me from trying to reach out to her. [ He remembers the trip back from Sta. Cruz. How he told her she looked better when she smiles. He wonders if the Lady of the Night knows of that engagement; the one the other four don't talk about. He laughs inside. He also remembers trying to reach out on their first day of "Bushido training" with Hikaru. How he lifted Yulia up and told her she looked wonderful in the kimono. ]
[ Brigade thinks of how so long he'd wanted the "normalcy" of the times in WWII back. And how when some semblance of it suddenly returned, it made him so happy. The news in particular of being with J and K without worrying of Disquiet was both uplifting and heartbreaking ]
[ He takes a deep drag of his cigarette. He hadn't really taken the time to recollect much on all this. ] I'd just gotten so used to being alone, Ma'am. [ He exhales the smoke out. ] When it disappeared, I just accepted it as part of me. Something I had do deal with like people born without one eye, or someone who's lost his legs. [ He pauses. Long. Downs his sake. ] I guess I just got used to it. I'm a soldier. I was a Promethean made as a solution. So I thought of it as just another problem I had to deal with, and dealt with it.
[ He pauses again. ] And I'm having difficulty breaking old habits. Just can't get out of old patterns I set up to compensate for everything.
It will be difficult for you to tell others to break bad habits if you cannot break your own.
[Pouring a new round of sake for them both now, with a small smile on her lips.]
Perhaps you can consider this a step. You did say that you have enjoyed our time together. Maybe you should take more time out to find more people to do this and others things with when you return to the Philippines.
[ He concedes to that. ] I know, Ma'am. But I guess we're all works in progress.
[ He thinks on her words ] I'll try. [ He pauses and adds ] My best. I think I've at least been making headway with those I hold close. My family, my Blade, An'yu-sama, your son. [ They really are the only people he spends time with doing things of the non-combat sort. Interaction with everyone else is mostly driven by some particular purpose. ] I planned to give my blademate Brianna a gift actually. Well, more of, have a gift made.
I thought that too really, Ma'am. [ He takes a sip of his sake ] I mean, what can a soldier living off standard pay [ Albeit pretty good pay ] get for the scion of a multi-millionaire family.
So I thought I'd get her something that money can't buy. Something special. [ He's thinking of that crazy image in his mind of his initial, knee-jerk idea for a gift ] I actually thought of pulling up a Sakura tree and giving it to her like an over-sized bouquet actually. Don't worry, I'm not crazy; just the idea.
[ He takes a pause, as he contemplates his plan ] So I thought of what if I found a way to grow her one, in her own backyard. Bring her home a little piece of Japan she can always wake up to in the morning.
[She actually means it this time. Not that Brigade could have been able to discern that she had been false with him in any fashion, or hiding anything, in the first place.]
Perhaps I can have someone give you some of the sakura seeds from our own gardens. The ones that grow here are exceptionally beautiful.
[ He smiles at the offer ] That would be really nice, Ma'am. I'd appreciate it very much. And I'm sure Brianna would love that too. [ He takes a look around at the Sakura. With all honesty, he doesn't know enough about trees to see how these Sakura are different from others. But Brigade trusts Kasumi's judgment. Heck, she lives here in Seigi. ]
They're really beautiful trees. But I think I'll need to take some time to really see how each one is different from the other, and how one Sakura is more beautiful than the next.
[ Brigade smiles at the offer and stands up to follow her ] It would be a pleasure, Ma'am. [ He smiles, bringing with him one of the Arashi Sake bottles to pour for them as she shows him the gardens ]
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[ On the War Hounds: It feels like the army ] I do enjoy it, Ma'am. It started out for me as just like the army. Then they started feeling like my family back in the army. I guess, I got attached to them since they've been my first social interaction since... well, in a long time. And it felt familiar.
Their personalities make it something I'm torn about really. [ He thinks of particular Blademates ] Josh, Brianna and Kaz, they feel like normal kids. It's something different; they make me see them in a different light. When Taning's acting goofy, it feels that way too.
Yulia though, always reminds me that it's a job. That it's a mission. I guess, no matter how I've tried to reach out, I have difficulty seeing her in any other light. And Taning can't mask how much of a soldier he is too, when we sortie.
In a way, I find being with Yulia and Taning more... comfortable? Familiar? [ Because it feels like how his life has been since he was born. It's a mission. Everyday is a mission with a purpose of improvement. And constant fighting. ] Normal?
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That is understandable, given the similarities that the three of you share. I hope, though, that you do not plan on holding any of them at arm's length from you. They are your surrogate family now, correct? That is the Netsach way, as it is our own.
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I even enjoyed goofing around in the photos while wearing the Stormguard Armor with Taning and Brianna. It's the first time I've actually taken a, what do they call it? A "selfie"? [ He smiles at the thought. It really was comfortable doing that with them ]
And well, Yulia, I think she's still not at-ease with me like the others are but that hasn't stopped me from trying to reach out to her. [ He remembers the trip back from Sta. Cruz. How he told her she looked better when she smiles. He wonders if the Lady of the Night knows of that engagement; the one the other four don't talk about. He laughs inside. He also remembers trying to reach out on their first day of "Bushido training" with Hikaru. How he lifted Yulia up and told her she looked wonderful in the kimono. ]
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[She speaks neutrally, casually, as if the fact that Brigade is a Promethean should mean nothing.
It means nothing to her, but she wants to see what it means for him.]
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[ He takes a deep drag of his cigarette. He hadn't really taken the time to recollect much on all this. ] I'd just gotten so used to being alone, Ma'am. [ He exhales the smoke out. ] When it disappeared, I just accepted it as part of me. Something I had do deal with like people born without one eye, or someone who's lost his legs. [ He pauses. Long. Downs his sake. ] I guess I just got used to it. I'm a soldier. I was a Promethean made as a solution. So I thought of it as just another problem I had to deal with, and dealt with it.
[ He pauses again. ] And I'm having difficulty breaking old habits. Just can't get out of old patterns I set up to compensate for everything.
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[Pouring a new round of sake for them both now, with a small smile on her lips.]
Perhaps you can consider this a step. You did say that you have enjoyed our time together. Maybe you should take more time out to find more people to do this and others things with when you return to the Philippines.
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[ He thinks on her words ] I'll try. [ He pauses and adds ] My best. I think I've at least been making headway with those I hold close. My family, my Blade, An'yu-sama, your son. [ They really are the only people he spends time with doing things of the non-combat sort. Interaction with everyone else is mostly driven by some particular purpose. ] I planned to give my blademate Brianna a gift actually. Well, more of, have a gift made.
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[Given how, well, rich she was.]
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So I thought I'd get her something that money can't buy. Something special. [ He's thinking of that crazy image in his mind of his initial, knee-jerk idea for a gift ] I actually thought of pulling up a Sakura tree and giving it to her like an over-sized bouquet actually. Don't worry, I'm not crazy; just the idea.
[ He takes a pause, as he contemplates his plan ] So I thought of what if I found a way to grow her one, in her own backyard. Bring her home a little piece of Japan she can always wake up to in the morning.
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[She actually means it this time. Not that Brigade could have been able to discern that she had been false with him in any fashion, or hiding anything, in the first place.]
Perhaps I can have someone give you some of the sakura seeds from our own gardens. The ones that grow here are exceptionally beautiful.
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They're really beautiful trees. But I think I'll need to take some time to really see how each one is different from the other, and how one Sakura is more beautiful than the next.
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[She's already standing, and offering her usual smile in his direction.]
You probably haven't been through our gardens extensively yet, as it is.
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