TIME PATROL PATROL PATROL (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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130bladeworks2015-04-29 02:09 pm
kbcctv) wrote in 130bladeworks2015-04-29 02:09 pm
corruption au meme
 The Sword Army pursues the Retrograding Army through history, encountering familiar settings and reliving old memories. Though strong, with every change in time and setting, the swords dread the old memories. As they fight to preserve history as it is meant to be, the Sword Army must steel their hearts and resist temptation lest they come to fight themselves…  |
| A popular fan theory is that the enemy swords you fight are actually your swords from an alternate universe who wished to change history. For this meme, feel free to make up your own starters or use one of the prompts below. Remember to state if your character is corrupted, not, or if you have no preference. |
PROMPT IDEAS 1. How could you let this happen? They wanted to be left alone, their mood was poor, and maybe you should have noticed the signs but now that you have, it’s too late. They can’t stop these thoughts in their head and something in their soul has turned dark and ugly. Is it too late? Maybe you can get through to them… if not, are you ready to draw your sword? 2. Possession. Even the smallest trace of doubt can attract them— evil spirits. Once the dark spirit has latched on to your soul, it takes over and consumes you. Maybe the possession is gradual or maybe it happens suddenly. All you know is that everyone has regrets and anyone can doubt… this could happen to anyone. 3. Cry Wolf. We fought the same battles and shared the same meals together so it was only natural that we would be considered allies and friends. The fateful moment approaches and suddenly it is revealed: One of you is not a true friend. There is a traitor among you. 4. Becoming your own enemy. Your mission is to go back in time and let things happen as they were meant to be but their fall into despair was never supposed to happen, right? And so you went back in time to prevent their misfortunes but you keep failing again and again until, this time, you think you’ve got it. This time, you’ll be able to save your friend - but will you be able to save yourself too? 5. Reborn again. When destroyed in battle, the sword disappears only to return again anew. You can’t choose the fate you’re born with though and this time, someone has returned… from the wrong side. |
INSPIRATIONS There are some corruption fanart floating around Pixiv, as well as a FST made by Aki ( fletrir). Other canons with similar themes to this meme are first and foremost Puella Magi Madoka Magica, as well as Shin Megami Tensei and other demonic-theme heavy series. |
Original premise and coding was done by
eskimo, image taken from here.
no subject
He's not even denying it this time - but Midare's words do manage to make him smile a little. It's a weary, rueful one, but enough to maybe let him turn around.
Coolness has always been what he hung onto, as a way to cover his own pain and be able to remains strong for the others. For someone to see him at his worst moment would be an utter travesty, and he would have protested otherwise - if he just wasn't so tired and so close to falling.
"You shouldn't see me like this."
He's heard stories, of how swords immediately turn on their comrades when they finally become fully
corrupt. But he doesn't feel any of that bloodlust towards Midare, so maybe it isn't that bad yet.
Except it can't be cured, because his soul was dead and rotting in the first place. And you can't lie to the Grim Reaper, can you?
"Don't worry. I'll settle this myself."
no subject
Settle it himself, he means. Mitsutada is a part of the Sword Army. He's a part of their saniwa's makeshift family - that means he has so many who will help him carry this burden and find some way to settle it. Midare is one of them.
The burden he can bear may be small, but it's his duty to try and help.
And if he can't... if Mitsutada really is too far gone...
Then it's his duty to keep whatever sickness has been inflicted upon him from spreading. He can't let it infect the rest of the army; can't have them giving up, or turning on each other, or trying to hurt their master.
He can't leave. Who knows what Mitsutada will do if he's left with no one to watch over him?
"We're part of a team. You can't get rid of me that easily."
no subject
"I won't."
Because he knows Midare is trying to help, and he wouldn't even think of raising his blade against the younger sword. That was never his duty, never what he wanted.
"But, it's for your own good. For the sake of everyone. I don't want to hurt you."
He doesn't have much time left, and he doesn't think that Midare will be up to the task. And he doesn't want to make the other watch him die.
"Did you know? Did the saniwa tell you? No, I don't think she did."
Why is he saying this so easily?
"I was dead from the beginning." A sky painted with crimson, bloody as the flower on the grass beside him. "It's only to be expected."
no subject
It might be a, No, you won't hurt me. It might be a, No, she never told me. But from what Midare says next, it's most likely a, No, you aren't dead. His voice is devoid of all its usual teasing undertones when he speaks, and he leans over to try and get Mitsutada to look him in the eye.
"You aren't dead. You're talking to me right now, aren't you?"
Maybe his original form had been shattered so badly that he might as well be dead, but he wasn't gone. If he had been, even his spirit wouldn't have been able to be summoned by the saniwa at his forges.
"You're alive. And you're going to stay that way."
no subject
"No, not that." He shakes his head, voice fluted, almost breathless - as if someone else was echoing his words ever so faintly. "Not dead that way. Dead here."
He taps his true form - except it was never his true form, only a replica. A fake. Dead since the day he was born into this new vessel, because Death is always paid - it just depended on when.
"Midare... I really appreciate it. But you should go."
Because he doesn't believe a tantou can kill him when he finally goes mad.
"I'll end this before I can... hurt anyone. Especially you."
no subject
"I don't believe that." His voice is a little strained and brittle. "Even if that form isn't your first, you're still you."
He reaches over to put a hand on Mitsutada's vessel. "You remember all the things you experienced then, right? The first time around..." Shattered or no, he's still carrying everything from that time with him. (He doesn't allow his thoughts to dwell on what "you still remember everything so you're alive" might mean for Namazuo and Honebami; that's a different case, and right now, he's just trying to convince Mitsutada.) "You have all of those old experiences and you're still making new ones, so you're still alive!"
He doesn't think he can kill him, either; in fact, he knows he can't. If this comes to a fight he'll be shattered. But this is Mitsutada, who he knows doesn't want to hurt him. If he can just - delay things - long enough for the saniwa to find that trail of blood and make his way out here... If he can keep Mitsutada from giving in...
"You're strong, aren't you? You can fight back against whatever's doing all this. If you're injured, we can take you back to the forge for repairs and the master can do something about it...! Don't tell me to go and don't say you'll end things, that isn't way this has to be!"
no subject
See? Even Midare knows. You don't want to just end things like that, do you?
His singular gaze finds the tantou's own, the amber ring in his eyes glimmering in the fading light.
"You know... you've always had a way with words that your siblings don't."
It's the best way he can psyche himself, by talking about others and remembering how blessed he is to have these sorts of people with him. Even Midare, whom he doesn't spend a lot of time with, can manage to say these things...
... then maybe, there was hope after all. Even if he were to be consumed and bear the mark of darkness - maybe, just maybe, they won't shun him for what he will eventually become.
"I can try."
He can't promise he will win, because the thrall of death eventually consumes all - but if he can do something to hang on, maybe just for a little while... then someone else might come along who could do more.
no subject
But he visibly relaxes, and even manages a smile, when the other sword speaks. They may not have a shared history, but perhaps the experiences they've shared as members of the saniwa's army are enough.
"If you try, you'll succeed."
That's what he wants to believe, anyway - that even if the darkness comes creeping in, their forces will be strong enough to beat it back by sheer force of will. It's a risk, because if the darkness isn't totally at bay he's putting himself right into Mitsutada's striking range, but after a moment, he holds out his hand to him.
"...let's go back together, okay? Maybe it will be easier after the master buffs you up a little. He can repair you, good as new."