corruption au meme

[kbcctv]

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.

Comments

[havocking]

"No..."

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."

[candlecutterpikachu]

Ah.

"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."

[havocking]

Midare shakes his head, unable - or perhaps just unwilling - to accept the truth of Mitsutada's words. Willful ignorance isn't an attractive trait, and he knows that, but this is his friend and comrade. They've fought together for too long for him to be able to take him at his word and leave him to end things on his own.

"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!"

[candlecutterpikachu]

Mitsutada silent for a good while after Midare finishes speaking, eyes unfocused as if he hadn't been listening at all. But there is a slight flicker in the air around them - just a very slight one, as if someone had covered up spilled ink on the floor with some sand - enough to tell the tantou that perhaps something had changed.

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.

[havocking]

There is a tension in the tantou's shoulders before Mitsutada looks to him and speaks again - like he's nervous that what he has to say isn't going to be accepted the way he hopes it will. He knows the two of them have never been close and so perhaps his words won't mean as much as they would coming from a sword that Mitsutada had shared a history with.

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."