open post, cuts ribbon to musebox proudly

[kbcctv]

[The Citadel is huge, so it's a good thing they have all the time in the world to dick around.

--Well, no, they don't. But the point is, it's a free day. There will be absolutely no work done at all. Unless you want to or something. If you do, you're pretty weird.

The dojo is always open for sparring and practice. If there's any sparring errand you've slacked on, now's the chance to make up! The horse stables are also full of activity, whether the horses are being tended to or rode around-- be careful not to let them trample the fields, though, which is full of rice sprouts and budding cabbage. The lake in front of the saniwa(s)' room has tiny frogs jumping about, and you could catch them in the palm of your hand.

The kitchen is full of food, if you're volunteering to make lunch or have decided that meal time cannot possibly come any later and you simply must prepare something before you die from starvation. While there has been a considerable effort made to make the Citadel look as homely as possible to the swords which come from Japan's past, there's speckles of technology here and there.

The TV room is a good example, with a huge screen sitting on top of a few console systems. Don't break them, you'll only be getting this luxury once. Take turns and play nice. The swords may also find themselves tending the fields with water sprinklers and hoses instead of watering cans, for instance, or heating up some leftover pie in the fridge instead of making another one from scratch since there's technology to preserve food well over a week. The armory and smithy are definitely a little bit more modern than they'd be back in the past, though much is still made by hand-- nothing beats the fine work of a master. Perhaps you'll have a few new friends today, or you want to try creating a cute little soldier spirits to die for you accompany you in battle. Make sure they enter the orb completely, or else it'll turn brown and crack.

Or perhaps you're one of the unlucky swords still stuck in the repair room, sword body still being re-smelted and fixed. Hope the saniwa is good at making you all shiny. If you want to skip all that waiting, perhaps you can try to use a helper token... but they're all in the saniwa's room! Guess you've got to use that Camouflage stat...

But if you truly cannot bear with staying in the Citadel, the time device the saniwa(s) have isn't locked away. You can go on sorties or expeditions to fill your time with something productive.

Just a warning: don't change the past. You won't succeed.

...You could always try, though.]

Comments

but how do we feel about saniwas

[swordsitter]

a.
[ god, why did he ever agree to do this. (it had something to do with erasing history as they knew it, only one with the ability, etc. etc.) days like today, he's not entirely convinced that it's worth it. he'd almost take enemy forces moving in and a bleak forecast over a day this dead. you'd think that centuries-old blades would have better things to do than interrupt his first chance in weeks to catch up on his reading, but no. haru has moved from room to room to room--even resorting to stairs and the kitchen--to try to get a little peace and quiet. in the end, he'd wound up out in the courtyard up in the limbs of a tree. it's not particularly dignified, but here in the keep, he doesn't have to pretend to be, either.

he stiffens as he hears the first telltale sound of footsteps nearing, and before he realizes what he's doing, he's throwing the book. ]

No! Whatever it is, it can wait until after I've finished this chap-- [ a glance to his empty hand. ] --ter. [ he slaps his hands to his face, feeling his ears heat. ] .. Please hand me my book..


b.
[ at some point later in the day, he can be found in the kitchen. on the best of days, he's kind of overwhelmed by this whole operation (that's why he has so many extremely capable blades on his side), but one of the few things he can do--and do well--is cook. it comes from having younger siblings, probably. and though he likes to keep the blades busy when they're not out fighting, he also likes to take part in the same work when he can.

.. he is, therefore, chopping vegetables with his ipod tucked in the back pocket of his jeans (when he's just in the keep like this, his clothing tends to be simple and practical), buds in his ears. and.. and he's dancing. he's not very good at it, either. ]


c.
[ hit me with your best shot? ]

a

[yaayaa]

Ohhh, that was close! So close! My life was flashing before my eyes! [says a tiny fox who was probably not in any danger of getting hit by a book.

Speaking of which, Nakigitsune's just going to be quietly holding it up towards your perch. It's a good thing he's got quick reflexes, the book didn't even touch the ground.]

Here.

[swordsitter]

It was nowhere near you! [ he doesn't think. (it's not like his aim is that great.) he's already embarrassed about throwing it in the first place, the last thing he needs is drama from nakigitsune's fox.

still, he lifts his face as the sword-spirit offers up his book, still blushing faintly. .. at least nakigitsune is quiet. he doesn't bother haru much, either. in fact, as far as his (numerous) blades go, this is one he really doesn't hear much from at all.

he hesitates, then eases out of his perch, climbing down until he's on slightly more of a level with the sword, accepting the book with a grateful glance. ]

.. Thanks. Sorry, I didn't really mean to throw it. [ he was just clearly frustrated. ]

[yaayaa]

Never fear! No matter how dangerous our saniwa-sama may be, Nakigitsune will ensure the safety of your valuables! [it's true, the fox was at no time in anything resembling danger! doesn't stop it from dramatizing things though.

nakigitsune himself is unperturbed, though he does curiously glance at the cover as he's passing it over.]

Are you having trouble concentrating today? Are you reading something particularly interesting?

[swordsitter]

[ it's still pretty weird for haru that the fox translates nakigitsune's silence, not that he'd tell either of them. he doesn't want nakigitsune to feel self-conscious, especially around his saniwa, and.. anyway, the shyness is kind of.. cute? he supposes?

he huffs at the fox, though, rolling his eyes. ] Only because I've been driven to being dangerous today.

[ so that's a yes to the first question, at least. he takes the book back, curling his hands over it and letting it rest in his lap. ] .. It's just a fantasy novel. Nothing exciting. But everyone's been underfoot today, too.

[yaayaa]

[the fox doesn't always properly translate, either, though the general idea is usually there somewhere. meanwhile, naki tilts his head at that answer, thinks for a moment...steps back a bit.]

Everyone must really like you, to be bothering you all day! [That's a good explanation, right?]

obsessive love, clearly

[inamorati]

[ it would surprise anyone to know that yamato no kami yasusada, terrifying sword on the battlefield and reigning king of ass-kicking at the citadel dojo, can't catch lobbed objects flung at him on a daily basis. it's not for a lack of trying -- see, his hands were up in a vague gesture of defence or some sort -- but it just seems that outside of the battle and training context, he has no natural defenses against flung objects.

therefore, haru is treated to the amusing montage of yasusada getting beaned in the head by a book, sitting down roughly like a ragdoll with a most perplexed look on his face.

still, he's not a sword for nothing, and recovers admirably quickly. dutifully, he picks up the book, dusts it off, and walks up to the base of the tree to look up at the sage he calls master. even as he reaches up with his free hand to rub at the quickly-reddening lump on his forehead, his good cheer is unabated -- though notably, he makes no move to hand the book back up to haru. instead: ]

So this is the book you've been reading, Haru-sama. [ he personally has never had any interest in books, but he's seen the sage with this book for quite some time now, and it makes him curious. ] Is it that interesting?

this is a good response.....

[swordsitter]

[ it would surprise anyone-- even haru, clearly. and while some might say, you know, shouldn't the saniwa know his sword-spirits better, haru would tell them politely to go to hell. how was he supposed to know? it's not like he makes it a habit of throwing things at his various blades, and he hadn't meant to throw this, either. he's almost more surprised with how good his aim was this time than actually hitting yamato, but then it registers that the blade hadn't dodged. panic sets in on the heels of that realization, and he almost jumps up and starts clambering down to check on him, but yamato recovers quickly and is already rising to his feet by the time haru is tensing to do so.

he settles again, wincing as the spirit comes closer rubbing his brow. wow, he.. really hopes it doesn't get around that he's suddenly chucking books at people. he's already worried about how appropriate he really is for the job.

blinking at the comment and question, he hesitates, then eases down out of his perch and to a lower series of branches, legs dangling and close enough to reach out now. which.. he does after a moment, fingers brushing away the sword-spirit's to check the mark himself. .. well, it doesn't look too bad, at least.. ]

I think so. Most of what I read isn't exactly deep and thought-provoking literature, though. Just.. escapism, I guess. [ kids' books, stupid teen romances, sci-fi, fantasy, famous foreign novels, that kind of thing. it's probably a little silly now, given what his life has turned into, but before all this started, it was his only real respite.

his fingers fall away and he braces his hands against the limb instead, pale eyes apologetic. haru doesn't emote much even on the best days, but he's surprisingly expressive anyway. ] .. Sorry about hitting you. I wasn't really thinking about it.

arujisan... obligatory shaft headtilt goes here ig

[inamorati]

[ off the battlefield, that is to say when he isn't actively trying to shank anything or wipe anyone's asses across the dojo floor while yelling death threats, yasusada is remarkably patient and polite. he waits while his sage descends from the tree. tilts his head up obediently when he reaches down to feel the reddening lump for himself-- certainly, it's not bad. in fact, yasusada barely feels it, now that the initial confusion has passed and he is now preoccupied with the pleasant feeling of his master caring for him.

the moment passes as quickly as it comes, but it's small moments like these that he cherishes. nothing can fill the okita-shaped hole in yamato's life and all the grief and sorrow attached to it, but this helps make it more bearable and fulfils his need to be obsessively loyal towards something.

now, he has a small smile on his face as he looks back down on the book that he still holds within his hands. runs his fingers over the title with a tilt of his head. he almost wants to ask if he can read the book too-- but it isn't really his place to make such a request. so at haru's apology, he shakes his head, and then ruefully reaches up to hand the book back to its rightful owner. ]

I didn't dodge, so there's no reason to apologize. [ he says this honestly as he always does, professional and clipped words. as though he hadn't meant to dodge, which... is part truth, really. but what he says next is just a little more hesitate, the difference just barely there if you know him well enough. ] Haru-sama, are you bothered by us?

[ by him, by the swords at large. yasusada would have had to been dumb to not have seen the agitation and the exasperation in his master's composure for the past little while, culminating in a thrown book. it's a question that he'd been wanting to ask for some time, and hadn't had the time and place to be honest and forthright up until now. ]

[swordsitter]

[ there's no reason to apologize for hitting him with a book? haru's lips part, surprised as always by some of the things that come out of his sword-spirits' mouths, but then they thin again. how.. should he even respond to something like that? and then on the heels of that, yamato asks a question he should never have to wonder about, and-- and honestly, haru should have expected it. he's been irritable today, and given some of these blades and their histories, he really should have had more self-control.

he hesitates, then takes the book carefully from yamato's hands, setting it down on the branch beside him. he reaches out, then, curling his arms around the other man and tugging him closer, resting his chin on the top of the tousled head. ]

.. I was in the wrong, Yamato-kun, and if I do something wrong, I'm always going to apologize for it. You shouldn't-- [ his fingers curl in yamato's clothes, white-knuckled for a moment. ] You shouldn't have to dodge, because I shouldn't be throwing things at you. [ he pulls back, then, to meet his eyes, his own as serious as they've ever been. ] And I'm not bothered by any of you, I just.. [ he colours faintly, gaze sliding away. ] I just need a little time to myself sometimes. I'm not.. exactly good at this job. It's kind of overwhelming.

[ that's.. probably the most words he's strung together at one time in a while. it's not to say that haru doesn't talk, but he's not exactly chatty, and he prefers to listen when he can instead. he feels like he's constantly behind the curve, running to catch up, to learn everything he can, to be better and stronger and worthy of being.. someone that they give their loyalty to. it's probably no surprised that he snapped a little today. stress he can handle, given his life prior to this, but this kind of stress is on a whole new level. ]

[inamorati]

[ from yasusada's point of view, several things stand out. a) books aren't exactly lethal projectiles, and it's practically nothing compared to what he faced on the battlefield daily. b) he is his master's sword. even after having been manifested doesn't change that, and his master is allowed to do whatever he wants to with him, even if it's launching books in his general direction. c) he hadn't dodged because his knee-jerk reaction had been to almost draw his sword and slice the book in half, and in actively curbing that urge he hadn't had time to do anything but to let himself be hit, so really, it's his own fault that it happened. d) he could never fault haru for doing anything to him. it's in his nature as a sword to be deeply in love with his wielder, no matter who they are and how they act. from a practical point of view, and in which yasusada is always nothing but practical, the thrown book was not worth the breath used for the apology.

but haru's point of view is equally as important, if not more-so. no matter how he personally feels on the subject, it seems that haru felt badly about the incident, and it's not yasusada's place to counsel him otherwise. therefore, he's very surprised when he's suddenly pulled into a hug, warmth settling in on the surface of his head. haru's words surprise him even more, colours his feelings of warmth with sadness. being a fairly quiet sword himself, he's always respected in turn haru's taciturn nature, and while he may not truly understand haru's sentiments, he can at least understand that the fact that he is speaking so much must mean that these thoughts must've weighed on him quite a bit.

it makes his heart hurt. he's not particularly good at comforting others, doesn't know what to say really. but haru tries hard for them, he knows. for all these swords, and he owes it to his master to at least try, no matter how awkwardly. first, he reaches up with a hand, tilting his head up carefully so that he can see his master's face. seeing as he's under a branch and not quite tall enough to reach, he misses his mark, and is only able to pat haru's cheek, not his head as was intended. ]

Please don't sell yourself so short, Haru-sama. You were able to manifest so many of us; including me, and I am known to be difficult to use. [ he says this patiently, with his usual straight-forward honesty, each and every word sincere. ] You lead us to battle. You keep us safe with your strategies. You repair us when we're hurt, and you grieve for us when we fall.

[ and he knows that not all swords were ever grieved for when they fell. that at least one human being was able to watch their passing and cry for them is already more than they could've hoped for. yamato had never been grieved for, either, after okita-kun's death. to know that someone can witness his passing this time is for him, personally, a source of comfort. he goes on. ] You are a good master, and I am proud to serve you. You are worthy of my loyalty. I doubt I am the only one who feels this way. Your impact not always something that you can see with the eye. [ you only need to ask, and you'll hear it.

finally, he lowers his hand, and then his head. it feels odd to nod in deference when he's in an embrace, something that breaches the boundaries of their master and sword relationship, but he also owes it to haru to say this much. ]

If anything, I should be apologizing to you. If I could perform better, I could make it easier for you. But I can't ask you for your forgiveness [ and here yamato pauses again. hesitates. ] -- because I am glad that you are here.

[ glad that despite his feelings, the stress, how overwhelming it must be-- that he is still here and has yet to leave them. it gives him respect for his master, honour and dignity.

as the last words leave his lips, however, an uncharacteristic panic sets in. he very rarely talks this much as well, word after word tumbling forth like he's trying to put feelings to words and being extremely inadequate of it. a twinge of fear-- what if his words are off the mark, if they don't help, if they somehow make things worse? his face colours, feeling impudent, and he ducks his head in uncharacteristic shyness. ] I'm sorry, Haru-sama. I've... said too much. I apologize.

b~

[acclimates]

[ cooking wasn't one of his strong suits so for the most part, Izumi didn't have a lot of reasons to linger there. of course, he was still able to help gather and store food, so he came and went from the kitchen from time to time. he'd just finished putting some items in storage when he turned around and saw-- well, he's not quite sure what he's looking at. there's nothing practical (or attractive, for that matter) about the strange moves. so he can't help but wonder the great question... why.

the best part is, perhaps, that thanks to the music - Kanesada can stare a bit. ah-- but he was almost finished with all the vegetables on the chopping board. so, he chooses to assist, handing him the washed potatoes out of the sink.

now it's his turn to question - just how long had Izumi been watching? ]

[swordsitter]

[ he'd actually thought he was alone for the moment, so lost in what he was doing and his music that he hadn't noticed izumi come in. so when there's hands suddenly handing him potatoes, haru actually jumps, stumbling back and dropping them with a little yelp of surprise, yanking his ear-buds out at the same time.

eyes wide as he stares, hands clutching his chest, he finally realizes.. oh god, izumi saw him dancing around like a moron. his ears heat, the blush traveling to the rest of his face in record time, and he drops his head into his hands. ]

.. Oh my God..

[acclimates]

[ huh... well, he wasn't sure what it was, but one thing was quite clear - he hadn't intended for anyone to see it, and now that he knew someone had... he was embarrassed. heh-- no, no he's not going to let that go. ]

So. [ it's coming. there's no stopping it. Izumi's going to let him squirm a little, pausing before-- ] What was that? Is it some kind of ritual to pray for good food?

[ not sure if the truth is more or less embarrassing than that idea. he'd be better off wishing for lightening to strike Izumi's memory honestly. ]

i hope you don't mind if i tag you here too..! (it's b. because why wouldn't it be)

[tanchozuru]

[ Tsurumaru barely holds back the laugh threatening to spill from his lips at the sight. He's no connoisseur of dancing--except by way of sword, ducking between enemy lines and striking as quickly as his size allows him--so he has no right to find the movements as funny as he does.

And yet. There it is, the short intake of breath that comes just before his loud, crooning laughter. He steps past the door and tries to stop it after the initial bout, but it still escapes in giggles while he makes his way over. So much for surprising the saniwa like he'd planned.

...he can't even talk, if he does he's going to laugh. This is terrible. Help, Saniwa-san. ]

never! always bring me surprise sword...

[swordsitter]

[ WHY THIS?! he'd thought he was alone! he was supposed to be alone! but suddenly there's an old man laughing at him, and haru is totally mortified that the crane-sword saw him bobbing around like a moron. he can't help it, he loves upbeat music, and upbeat music makes him want to move, and before he knows it, he's dancing, and--

and now they're here and he's never going to live this down.

he whines pathetically, burying his face in his hands, ears feeling like they're on fire. ]

Noooo, what did I do in a former life...

good! your saniwa's so adorable, i can't resist making fun of him

[tanchozuru]

[ This isn't helping!!! If anything, it's worsening his laughter, and Tsurumaru has to lean against the counter top to keep himself steady. Oh, oh but it's too good. The look on the saniwa's face--that whine--the fact Tsurumaru can, closer now, hear exactly what his master's listening to...

It's too much. Is it possible for sword spirits to die of laughter? Oh, but to have a happy passing at last-- ]

You might have been a frog-- [ Hold on, he can speak. Tsurumaru tries to convince the giggles to subside for at least a moment. ] You might've been a frog that was accidentally dropped into someone's tea and cursed for the rest of your lives, for not hopping out quick enough.

[ ...and then imagining the quiet, fairly reserved saniwa as a frog sets him giggling again. Terrible. ]

sdlfkj ////// i'm glad you like him

[swordsitter]

Tsurumaru-san--! [ it's a miserable, pathetic whine. noooo, stop laughing at him, you're going to draw attention, and then every blade in the camp will realize just what an enormous dumb nerd their saniwa is.

his face is just getting hotter and hotter, the blush traveling clear down his throat as he fumbles to turn his music off. ugh, this isn't fair. of all the blades in the camp that would have to come across him making an idiot of himself, it would have to be the one least likely to just let the experience die.

it just makes it worse that he was just compared to a frog. ]

You-- You can't tell anyone else you saw this--! [ some saniwas might make that an order. haru just sounds pleading. ]

[tanchozuru]

[ He almost takes pity on his saniwa. Almost. Very close.

But that just isn't him--it doesn't suit him, it doesn't seem like him, so the thought is discarded in favor of a friendly hand on his master's shoulder. ]

It looked like a very fun dance, Haru-san. I think it would be fun to teach the rest of the swords. [ Rest in peace, saniwa-san's reputation. ] Perhaps I'll call for all of them now and you can show off your moves.

b! c:

[uchinoke]

[ Really, it's a wonder why they even allow Mikazuki into the kitchen- nothing good ever leads from it. While being the beautiful sword that he was, treasured heavily by his shape and grace, everything that falls below that never seemed to line up with his skill level. And who could blame him? Certainly no the saniwa he just so happened to notice as he passed by the kitchen's entrance.

It was a silent pause, Mikazuki at first having no intention of stepping into the kitchen floor. Yet as he continued to watch the boy's moves, his... slow and slightly awkward moves, the sword becomes curious.

It is with this curiously (on top of being highly amused) that the sword finally steps foot into the area. Doing well to watch his steps as to not disrupt the other from whatever... it was that he was doing.

Really, you were such a strange human. He could never quite grasp just how unique you were.

Expect that silence didn't last for long, because the more he approaches, the more he began to realize just how terrible his moments were. Was this some sort of cooking ritual dance? There was really only one way to find out: ]

I was going to ask if perhaps you would like some assistance, but it would seem that you have everything under control.

[ Could you... even hear him? Haru had such strange things in his ears. Even more so when Mikazuki fell silent, hearing the faint sound of something erupting from the objects.

Whatever it was though, it was pleasant, and that in sense that the sword couldn't help but feel even more amused. Saniwa what are you even doing- ]

[swordsitter]

[ being an embarrassing idiot, that's what he's doing.

haru doesn't notice (or hear) mikazuki at first, his music turned up too loud, but it's as he's mouthing the words of the song into his wooden spoon as he's doing a spin that blue catches his eye. startled, he yelps, stumbling back and flailing. the spoon goes flying, haru bumps into the table, pale eyes huge in his face and hand clutching his chest.

oh god. oh god, he almost had a heart attack. how long was his oldest and very possibly most revered sword standing there?! yanking his earbuds out, haru buries his face in his hands. ]

Oh my God. You scared me, Mikazuki-san. [ he peeks up at him through the fence of his fingers, blushing and a little humiliated at being caught dancing (really badly). ] Um, did-- did you need something..? [ haru might be the saniwa, but he's still respectful of his blades, especially the ones who've been around a while and seen a lot. ]

[uchinoke]

[ ... Oh! Well, that certainly was a reaction.

Mikazuki could only watch, slightly shell-shocked, as Haru fumbled around and lost his footing. He would have attempted to help, he really would, but it all happened so quickly even the older sword couldn't react as fast as he had hoped. There was a hint of worry that flashed across his delicate features. A hand extending only an inch in poor attempts to aid the frazzled saniwa.

Still, noticing that the boy had remained unharmed throughout the entire fiasco, the only think left to do was... well, laugh. And oh boy did this sword laugh. ]

Aha ha ha! Did I? Truly, I apologize. [ There is a small amount of sincerity in his voice, followed quickly by amusement. ] And to think only Tsurumaru-san was capable of such an act.

[ Perhaps he was on his way to steal his title? He could surprise people once in awhile! Yet as for his next statement, the sword continues to smile. ]

I had hoped to aid in the preparation of dinner... however, I would much rather like learn what those movements were.

[swordsitter]

[ ... he's laughing. he's laughing and haru wants to sink into the floor and expire he's so embarrassed.... he saw him 'dancing'.......... was he genghis khan in a previous life? why is his karma so bad? the most elegant sword in his arsenal saw his total lack of anything approaching rhythm.

he whines into his hands, pathetic, before lowering them to face the music. the tips of his ears are still bright red. ]

Just-- Please forget you saw that, Mikazuki-san.. [ please. .. no, really, please? ] I just.. like music a lot.

[ also what can he ask mikazuki-san to do regarding dinner that's actually within the sword's capabilities..? can he chop vegetables without getting cut? he handles his sword-body regularly, so surely it can't be that difficult to handle a knife.. ]

[uchinoke]

[ Really you were just too much for him. It certainly was never a dull moment here, even despite the lack of combat. ]

Please do not be so embarrassed, Young Master. I am told even dancing is a form of art. [ And art is beautiful, so this... is... beautiful, too?

Actually he has no idea what you were doing but clearly this sword was curious enough to see what was going on. And now he's glad he did. ]

-Nnn? Music? Oh! You are referring to that object that was in your ears? I could faintly hear something coming from it...

b

[mumeito]

[ Let's be real, Ookurikara have never actually think highly of his saniwa read: people in general. In fact, it can actually be argued that Ookurikara might have had enough of being ordered around. He would have been away from the troops if not for other swords asking him to not to.

Still, witnessing the saniwa doing his chore while dancing like a... paralyzed monkey? Yep, unfortunately for the saniwa, he just hit a new low in Kuri's book.

He doesn't express it verbally or anything, though. He just stares at him in disbelief, if not in distrust, while leaning on the doorway. Well, he knows that with the stupid music on, it's going to be a while until he notices him there. ]