[ 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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[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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