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

[mikazuki_munechika]

[While it makes him seem like a nosy old man by telling him all these things, he means no harm. Knowing your allies is just as important as knowing your enemies.]

The others probably won't be so happy if they find out about this...

[With "this" he means the notes, at which he points.]

... And me helping you with it. Especially because this is sensitive information. But it would be more fatal if this got into the hands of the enemy if we're honest.

[prevail]

I wouldn't want to put you in an uncomfortable position, by any means.

[It's important that they all be able to trust one another, especially because they deal with the real dangers of combat. Robin wouldn't ever want to cause friction between any of his allies]

As for the notes, those are temporary. I burn them, after I've finalized information. And the final copy I keep close at hand.

[Always, in point of fact. Because he can only agree with Mikazuki that it would be disastrous if anything ever happened to that information]

[mikazuki_munechika]

They might be just as upset with you. But getting to know us is essential.

[Mikazuki thought nothing of their saniwa collecting embarrassing information about them, reading all these things about himself actually made him laugh. However, others like a certain crane and a candlestick slasher would die from embarrassment.]

With "close at hand" you mean that you will memorize them?

[prevail]

That may be the case, but I hope if they ever become aware of it, I can explain my reasons to their satisfaction.

[And while it would be less roundabout to simply ask the individuals in question, Robin doesn't want to put them on the spot. Or make them relive anything they'd simply rather not touch upon.

At the same time the latter is another reason he's been researching]

I don't entirely trust my memory. But I mean I keep my finished notes on my person.

[Even when he sleeps, for that matter]

[mikazuki_munechika]

I'm sure they will understand if you explain it to them.

[Right... their Saniwa had a few memory issues as well, didn't he? While Mikazuki thinks that having this information on paper isn't a good idea he does understand why Robin needs it written down somewhere.]

Ah, very well then...

[He gets up to hand the notes back to Robin and then reaches up to pet his head.]

Thank you for all your hard work.

[prevail]

[That gesture comes as a surprise, even if Robin supposes it shouldn't. Mikazuki's the eldest among the swords, and he's so much younger and short-lived than the lot of them by comparison.

He doesn't respond at first, looking down at his notes as though he's forgotten what they looked like]

Ah...it's nothing compared to the work all of you do.

[This seems the least he can do, but it's something within his capabilities]

I do encode the final notes, so there should be less need for concern.

[One thing Robin does have is a sharp mind. And so he's been creative in making it difficult for anyone to understand his roster, even if someone would have to go through him to get to it at all]

[mikazuki_munechika]

[He does have some grandfather like traits and doesn't really hide these. And he also wanted to show some appreciation for all the things their saniwa does for them.]

We all do what we can. All of us.

[They fight and Robin takes care of the strategy. Everything is well-balanced.]

Then everything should be alright.

[prevail]

[Mikazuki makes a good point, they're all doing what they can. It's hard to consider his efforts a match to what everyone else is doing on a daily basis, but it's true all the same]

I'll be more careful about these temporary notes.

[mikazuki_munechika]

[In all honestly, most of them would be lousy at tactics and just charge into battle. Not everyone could do what Robin does and he should have some confidence in his abilities.]

Good. ... Then shall I help you correcting them now?

[prevail]

Alright. Thank you, for the help.

[He takes a moment to collect a pen before he offers the papers back for easier correction]

Since I have a reliable source, I'll notate the accurate information in my roster. After that, I'll burn these so they don't wind up anywhere they should not.

[mikazuki_munechika]

You're welcome.

[The more help their saniwa has the better, isn't it? And this kind of information is to be used for a good purpose and not to make fun of them or anything, so he will gladly help.]

As reliable as this old man can be. But know that even my knowledge has its limits.

[He can tell him about the things he saw in the past and what he sees nowadays but he couldn't tell Robin about the time Ookurikara, Mitsutada and Tsurumaru have spent together, for example.]