micromanaging and strategy, you say...

[prevail]

[Robin's been aware that he has his work cut out for him from the getgo. He just had no idea how true that really was. Once he's got books piled in a haphazard semicircle around him, complemented by charts and loose pages of notes, it's so very evident that he has quite a lot to do and not the most accurate of information to work with.

And this might not be so bad if his memory was all there, but it's...not. An accident has assured this much, so Robin has taken it upon himself to cram every bit of knowledge he can into his mind, so that he can fulfill his responsibilities as a saniwa.

One might be given to assume this means that Robin is studying all of these things for some high and important purpose. And he'd argue that it is. As time crawls by he thumbs his way through various historical texts from a slew of authors, jotting down information as he comes across it - whether it agrees or conflicts. Just as he has in days previous, this is the way he spends his downtime.

And as with the days which preceded this, he eventually falls asleep in his pile of books and notes.

What is he studying with such determinations? Why, the swords he's got to work with, of course. Nobody can have a winning strategy without first understanding what one has at one's disposal. Strengths and weaknesses, assets and flaws, it's all right there scrawled on the papers littered around him. The sole exception being the sheet of paper pressed to one side of his face, ink smeared against his cheek]


[ooc: In Robin's original canon he had a tendency to somehow find out or notice all kinds of things about his allies. And he'd write them down in a roster. Some of these things were so deeply embarrassing or private that people were willing to risk their lives to get that roster back when it was stolen in a DLC episode. Gentleswords, he now has a roster with entries about you]

Comments

[reprizesal]

[The first thing Sayo noticed was that Robin's asleep in the middle of a mess. He quietly entered the room and was about to wake the saniwa up. He did see the ink smear on his cheek.

But once he's close enough, the various notes caught his attention and he thought he saw...his brothers' names?

Robin may hear the soft rustling of papers, as Sayo picked up the papers about both Souza and Kousetsu, reading them in his hands. Oh, it's about those stuff? He noticed some of them, but the rest are new to him.]

[prevail]

[It's not enough noise to disturb a man like Robin. He can sleep through no small variety of things. But he isn't sleeping in the most comfortable of places or positions so eventually he wakes up.

He sits rather stiffly, reflecting on the fact that yes, books do not make a good bed. After stifling a yawn behind his hand, he looks around and...

Finds he has company.

Company reading his notes...]

Ah, those are still in rather rough stages so far.

[reprizesal]

[Not just any company, but one of the smallest tantous in the company. Sayo blinks and looks up at Robin. Then he glances down at the notes, before he looks back at Robin.]

...What are these for?

[He sounds a little curious.]

[prevail]

It's my effort to understand you all a bit better.

[And he understands that might be vague, so after a brief pause it strikes him as best to explain]

My hope is that I can devise strategies better tailored to your unique strengths, and cover any weaknesses. The more factors I'm aware of the better I can do at that.

[reprizesal]

[He nods in understanding. That make sense. If the wielder doesn't understand their tools and how to use them... They would be nothing more than useless props.

Sayo looks down at the notes in his hand and his grip tightens a little. Then, he looks back up at Robin.]

...Do you want me to tell you more about myself?

[To better use him in battle, in expeditions, chores and revenge.]

[prevail]

That would be very helpful, but only if you wouldn't mind.

[The reason Robin hasn't asked is mostly an attempt at consideration. His allies have existed far longer than he has, and there may be things they would much rather not think about, or discuss.

And not wanting to impose, he's taken the route of research. Not always the most accurate, but then...Robin would rather invest more time fact-checking than pry into things anyone would sooner forget about.

But now that he thinks about it, perhaps he should've at least asked what they'd be willing to tell him to start with]

[reprizesal]

[He slowly nods. True, Sayo doesn't mind talking about his long history as he remembers them. The only parts where he would hesitates involved the blood and deaths taken by his blade. As a sword, it's in his nature to be a weapon.

But it's the dark emotions in his past that affected him to this day.]

...I don't mind. I'll try to tell you everything.

[And hopefully, Robin would find it satisfactory.]

[prevail]

Thank you for the help, in that case.

[Rather than reach for those notes, he pulls a small book from an interior pocket of his robe, collects a pen, and takes a seat on the floor. At least books aren't littered across the entirety of it.

Once situated he leafs through pages until he arrives at one in particular. It has Sayo's name at the top, and the rest...probably looks like utter gibberish, to any eyes but Robin's]

[reprizesal]

[He looks at the open book in Robin's hands, recognising his own name easily. The rest of the page...makes no sense to him. He wonders what they mean and if he can ask.]

...What do these mean?

[He points at the gibberish looking words.]

[prevail]

[Robin's focus drifts from the page to Sayo's face, and he offers his company a small smile]

I encode my notes once I've decided which information is accurate. Although I make every effort to keep this book safe, I want to make sure no one can take advantage of the details I've collected here, and use it against any of you.

[reprizesal]

[He nods in understanding. That make sense. Sayo knows about the importance of keeping information safe and secret, from his time in a lord's care.]

It would be bad if the enemy knows.

[Sayo thinks he's good at resisting the temptation to change history. To let one of his masters live, to alter one event that affected both him and his master at the time. But... it's better to be safe than sorry.

(Especially, in his case, with his own emotional weakness related to revenge.)]

What have you written about me so far?