130bladeworks | corruption au meme

corruption au meme

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.

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Kacchan isn't any stranger to hard work, so it's okay, isn't it?

[Eat the sweets he didn't bring them all the way here for nothing, okay. He looks from the plate to Kashuu a little expectantly, because he honestly did thing the presentation would be cute enough to prompt him into eating. When that doesn't happen, Midare's shoulders slump a little.

He'd tried, but... had that effort not been enough? He'll have to keep trying.]

Almost from the start. [Was Kashuu their saniwa's first sword? He should have been. Midare will have been the second.] The master learned how to use the forge when he made me.

[nEVER.

But at least he's still holding the plate instead of putting it down and ignoring it completely. In fact, as Midare talks, he's looking the snacks over with a careful eye. ...It really is cute. The effort is touching, and there's a flicker of an expression that seems like it might be pleased.

Then, in a somewhat absentminded way:]

I bet that's pretty special to the master. [The first forged sword... That's important, right? Firsts always have a big emotional impact on people and swords alike, generally speaking.]

[Important? Maybe - or maybe not. If he had been the first rare forged sword, he might have been important by virtue of being first, but Midare is just one of many. He was easily made and he will be easily replaced should it come to that. But their master, at least, is kindhearted; firsts aren't the only measure of importance.]

All of us are important to the master. You are, too.

[If they weren't important in some way, even if just sentimental, they wouldn't be repaired. They would just be shattered, and their saniwa would use the steel he saved from not making repairs to forge their replacements.]

Yeah, but we can't all be the most important.

[Which is probably the first big red flag, if the smaller ones that have been popping up over the past few days weren't enough. Sure, Kashuu can get jealous sometimes, but most of his issues with esteem and importance are largely self-centered. The main person he's competing with is the him of the past who failed when it mattered most.

His grip on the plate tightens imperceptibly, but the look on his face doesn't shift much.]

That's not really fair, is it?

[That sure is a gigantic red banner Kashuu is waving...

Midare's attention is on Kashuu's face, though. That he was able to say such a thing without his expression changing overmuch is even more worrying than the words alone are. Even if this is a different sort of jealousy from the kind the uchigatana usually harbors, such things aren't said without some display of emotion.

So, when he speaks, it's a little more slowly and a little more cautiously. He knows he has to be careful where he treads, here.]

I think what's most important to the master is winning this war... and if we all help with that, we'll be important, too.

[No single sword is the most important, you don't need to go on a killing spree so you can be the favored sword, Kashuu...]

[But this is highlander, Midare. There can only be one...

His expression does shift a little at that, though. It might not have been very noticeable otherwise, but since Midare is already watching it, the change may be more obvious. A certain bitter edge, something vaguely melancholy, nothing that seems even close to mollified.]

Yeah... It would be nice if things were that way. [If, which is most decidedly not the case. He laughs then, and the sound is dry and brittle.]

But they're not, are they? We both know they're not. [The laugh is followed by a smile, and he doesn't wear either of them well. Like a glove that's a little too big, everything seems ill-suited to the strange mood he's in.]

What'll happen after the war is won, anyway? To the master... to us? D'you ever wonder about that, Micchan? This plate of snacks is suuuper cute- [Said rather abruptly, with a glance down toward it.] -but it's not like anyone will care about it after it's all used up.

[It's exactly the sort of thing Midare has gone out of his way not to think about.

That isn't something he's going to say to him, though - saying "I try not to" isn't going to change the fact that Kashuu has thought about it, and it's not going to help him figure out how to turn his thoughts toward better things. He doesn't want to believe that it's too late to draw the other sword out of his foul mood.]

Kacchan, you're definitely more important than a plate of snacks. Even when this war is done, the master isn't going to stop caring about you.

[He doesn't know what the saniwa will do. If this war doesn't drag on too long, it may be possible to return to the way things were. For Midare - that means returning to the museum where his first vessel is displayed. But for Kashuu, who was discarded...]

You two can stay together, can't you? Even when the war is won, you don't have to be apart. The war ending won't mean an end to our master's magic...

[It seems like he might actually be considering that for a second - and he is, but not in the way Midare is likely hoping. Those are the thoughts that have been consuming him lately; the possible what-ifs of actually seeing this war to its end and being rendered useless again, and the things he might be able to do to circumvent that. He had cycled obsessively through plan after plan, running through the pros and cons of each in turn until a single thought had struck him hard enough to overwhelm the rest and crowd them out.

It's not like the master will be able to even think about discarding him if he's the only sword in the arsenal, right?]

Mmmhm! Even if the war ends, I'll always be by the master's side.

[Strange wording, and there's a gentle emphasis on "always", but it may be overwhelmed by the sound of china shattering soon after. Kashuu holds the plate out while talking, like he's going to set it on a table. Obviously there's no table to place it on out here though, and it falls to the pond rocks, wasting all of that super cute food and thus establishing him as the unsalvageable villain in this scenario because only trashpond residents look a gift snack plate in the mouth.

But his hands are free now. He takes a step forward and reaches for Midare, and if he doesn't move away, his fingers just ghost over the hair framing his face, barely there.]

So I'm glad you agree. That makes things a lot easier for me! You always understand...

[He isn't able to mull over the strangeness of that wording for too long, because the plate shattering on the rocks is quite an effective distraction. Midare gasps and jerks back, startled by the sound; already on his guard when Kashuu steps forward and reaches out for him, he takes two quick steps backwards to put himself out of his comrade's reach.]

No...

[It's more of a "No, this can't be happening" than a "No, I don't always understand" - but he really doesn't understand this. Kashuu is a whole bundle of insecurities. He's known that since he first started to spend time with him - but even though he's hard to handle, he has a lot of endearing qualities, too.

They're friends, aren't they? He had thought that they were. Comrades first, yes - the war always comes first - but he had thought that they were friends, too. Friends don't try to hurt their friends in a fit of jealous rage.]

Kashuu, stop it... you're scaring me.

[You know it's serious when he abandons the cutesy nicknames...]

[He sure doesn't seem to like Midare pulling away like that, because it's enough to finally break the strange rut that his expressions seem to have fallen into. The half-there smile and somewhat distant vacancy clear almost immediately in the face of a deeply accusatory anger, like just those two steps back had been enough to cut. He pauses for a second in his own pursuit, but when he speaks, such vehemence is spat out that it doesn't fit the questioning words at all.]

But you understand... You do understand, don't you? [And what if he doesn't? The question comes to mind without prompting, like so many of his own (are they--?) thoughts seem to lately. If not even Midare understands, what will he do? He steps forward again, but this time his hand drops to the hilt of his vessel. In one brief moment of apparent crystal clarity, he answers that plea.]

I can't. [And then the moment is gone and he shakes his head, laughing. It's a sharp, harsh noise.] Wow, that was totally stupid of me! Things are never that easy. I guess we're gonna have to do this the hard way, huh?

[The hard way, indeed. Midare can't bring himself to answer because he never wanted it to come to this - even as he'd tried visualizing worst-case scenarios, he'd never dwelt on this kind of an outcome for long. Imagining it is just - it's painful.

...but unpreparedness is one's greatest enemy, and in spite of the pain, he'd thought a little about what he might do if push came to shove. And it certainly seems as though it has, so with a shake of his head to clear his thoughts, he decides to let actions speak louder than words. If this becomes a fight - a fair fight, anyway - then he knows exactly how it will end: with his current form broken and bleeding on the ground and his true form shattered. He can't let that happen.

So he lunges, but he doesn't draw his own blade. Instead, both of his arms are outstretched and he tries to make a grab for Kashuu's vessel as he gets in close. Even if he doesn't manage to grab it, though, he'll take off running as he brushes past the uchigatana - this place isn't suited for a fight.

One of a tantou's greatest strengths is speed; he relies on it now and hopes that he moves quickly enough to be able to lead him off and that Kashuu won't be strong enough to grab him by the hair and halt his escape.]

[It seems for a second like Midare might be able to nab his sword, but Kashuu raises his hand at the last second, unsheathing it and swinging it upward in one smooth stroke.

But oh, there goes his little zippy friend before he has a chance to draw even a little blood. That's... hm. Well, it might have been a little disappointing earlier, but the second he drew his vessel, he could feel that heavy weight of displeasure and anger lift from him. He knows, now, that everything will work out just as they should in the end. What more reassurance does he need?

He turns soon enough, since he hadn't even bothered to reach out and try stopping Midare, too distracted by his own shift in mood.]

Someone's been spending a little too much time around Ka-ne-sa-da! [Each syllable of the name is accompanied by a little skipping step. He doesn't seem to be in a huge rush even though it's entirely obvious that he's pursuing.]

Hey, I can play like that too if you like it. I mean, I have a lot of work to do... Am I gonna be saving Micchan for last?

[Emulating Kanesada might not be so bad. If fighting dirty will help him to keep this contained - until their master can get Kashuu to the forges and buff this corruption out of him (Is that even possible? Has Kashuu been left to his dark moods for so long that now it's too late to fix them?) - then he'll pull out the dirtiest tactics he can possibly think of.

Case in point: Since Kashuu isn't rushing after him, once he's out of sight enough for it to not be too noticeable, he jumps and pulls himself up into the branches of a tree. An ambush isn't the most unfair tactic in his arsenal, but it's a start.

He bristles with anger as the other sword keeps speaking and almost responds right then and there - but that would give away his position. As he waits for him to come close enough, he draws his blade, and watches his movements carefully. Save him for last? As if he would ever let that happen. He'll let Kashuu lay a single finger on even just one of his brothers over his dead body.]

Haaaah!

[There. He's just close enough. Midare leaps from the tree and stabs downward, and though he is clearly trying to incapacitate him, there isn't actually enough force behind his strike to kill. Kashuu isn't one of his brothers and he'll protect them from him to his dying breath, but he doesn't actually want to hurt his friend beyond repair, either.]

If you think I'll let this go on long enough for that to happen, you're mistaken! Kacchan, wake up! I know you're still in there somewhere!

[The cry draws his attention upward, and he raises his vessel in defense. It's a shame, he thinks, that he couldn't move quickly enough to draw his scabbard. This sword is important - without it, he wouldn't be able to move, to accomplish what he needs to. That's why he's willing to let this - his - body take more damage than the vessel; his blade is angled so that the downward slash will slide off and toward his shoulder, but he doesn't seem to outwardly react even as metal bites into his flesh.

Despite that, Midare will get a very spirited:]

Ouch! That's pretty mean—! [Which is far away from actually sounding pained or even in distress, but A for effort...

That's also about all he actually says before he shifts his stance and takes a forward swing. Unlike Midare, it's clear that his aim isn't just to incapacitate - there's the same force behind his strike that he would be using against enemy troops.]

Nngh—

[Midare takes the hit and skids backwards with the force of it, doing his best not to lose his balance because he knows that the moment he becomes a sitting duck for Kashuu's next strike is the moment it's all over. His outfit is ruined, he thinks idly; cut through by the blade and stained by his blood. It's what he makes note of rather than the pain, because he's so hyperfocused on watching for Kashuu's next move so he can either dodge or block that he doesn't have the attention to spare for how he feels.]

You're the mean one... you're not holding back even a little bit.

[Midare is going to have to get serious, too. He darts forward, hoping to get in close enough that Kashuu just won't have the space to maneuver his blade -

And barrels right into him, shoulder-first into his chest in an attempt to knock him down. Fighting dirty, indeed.]

It's no good if I hold back, yeah? You should know.

[It's a good move on Midare's part, since Kashuu had indeed been drawing back for another strike without much pause. He wants to get this done and over with as quickly as possible, because that distant part of himself that still functions as it should is screaming out against the attacks he launches. He doesn't want to fight against his comrades - he doesn't want any of this, but he feels a sick sense of satisfaction by the same token when he manages to draw blood.

He doesn't get the chance to draw it again just yet though, since Midare's barreling into him like a tiny tank and he does indeed lose his balance. Instead of trying to catch it, he tries to catch the tantou instead. He drops one hand from the hilt of his sword, trying to wrangle Midare into something like a one-armed bear hug but with a lot more murderous intent. ENTER THE BEAR CUBE]

Edited (omg html dont eat my shit) 2015-05-06 09:17 (UTC)

[The attempt at catching him is successful, and they both hit the ground hard. Midare squirms but finds that Kashuu's grip is a little too strong for him to break, but luckily enough, his own vessel is small and maneuverable. It isn't easy, but he manages to shift his arm just enough to position his blade over Kashuu's chest.

...

He doesn't have it in him to be as vicious as he would if this were his real enemy. When he looks at Kashuu, even as he can feel the murderous intent rolling off of him, all he can see is his friend.]

...K-Kacchan... you're still in there somewhere, aren't you? [He winces, because Kashuu's grip is so strong.] But it's not... you... doing this... is it?

[If the blade over his chest bothers him at all, there sure isn't any outward indication. He keeps his arm locked solidly instead, and a part of him wishes that he could be just a little stronger... Just a little. He could crush the life out of another sword easily, then. Break the human body and snap the metal without worry. The hand that's holding his vessel remains at his side for the time being.

At the question, he looks toward a spot a little beyond Midare's shoulder before actually meeting his eyes. His don't reflect much, but the expression he wears is one he hasn't even given to an enemy before.]

Hey, what are you talking about...? I'm right here answering you, aren't I? I mean, it's not super confusing! I just decided that I'm totally over dealing with such a big crowd.

Why are you saying that..?

[Kashuu's words are like a slap to the face - simultaneously sounding like him and not sounding like him. Midare wants to believe that it's just whatever has a hold on him right now, and that the insidious grip is something that can be broken.]

We're your friends. Your comrades. If you kill us, you're killing people who love you! Is that really what you want?

[Ah, that's smart - that's smart, appealing in such a subtle way to his usual weaknesses. Not "people you love", but "people who love you". He smiles in a knowing way, and his grip tightens just a little.]

Will it be a little sad? I'm not really sure... [He hasn't thought about it much and doesn't really want to. The empty halls are something he strives for, but the thought is also terrifying to that part of himself that's just barely hanging on.

There doesn't seem to be much of that conflict in his tone, though; he sounds as breezy as one might when talking about the weather.]

But it's fine! It'll be fine. It's just going back to the way things were, right?

But you didn't like the way things were before...

[His voice wavers. If he can't get through to the tiny bit of the real Kashuu Kiyomitsu that remains, he's really going to have to do it. He's going to have to try and kill him. Does he have it in him to do that?

...if it's to win this war, does he even have a choice? He can't let himself be taken out by this. He's going to have to kill his friend, and that's a terrifying thought.]

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corruption au meme

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