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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is that so...

[He allows his voice to trail off as if he's thinking it over, but from his tone, it's clear enough that he isn't really convinced. "If you put anyone at risk"... it's a risk just to leave him alive at all, isn't it? What does Kashuu expect to do even if he does stand down right here?

He can take him back to the citadel, but that's where all their comrades are. He can do a lot of damage there. A tantou doesn't melt down to much raw material; it isn't worth it to bring him back for scraps.

So he can only assume that Kashuu means to leave him alive.

That makes one of them, though. Midare doesn't have any qualms about shattering him, should he be able to get in close enough to do it. He'll consider that his advantage and try to optimize on Kashuu's kindness as much as he can.]

Ah, but don't you wonder? Why your master keeps sending you all out into danger again and again and again... Aren't you all put at risk because of their orders?

[Despite the fact that he hasn't yet come to terms with what he may have to do here, it certainly seems like he's keeping his guard high, at least. He doesn't want a mistake of his to end up costing his other comrades.

The question is met with an expression of sharp wariness. Kashuu's lips purse briefly, brows drawn downward.]

Why wonder? That's how it's always been. [Because they are still swords in the end. Sentient though they may be, it's their purpose to obey the orders of their master. Kashuu doesn't have any particular qualms about that, as long as his master is a person he can be adored by.

But if that's the first thing Midare asks-]

Have you been thinking about stuff like that lately?

I've been thinking about it since the very beginning.

[Which, in all honesty, might be a big part of the problem.

Midare doesn't loosen his grip on his blade, but he raises it so that both he and Kashuu can get a good look at it, turning it to and fro to catch the light. When he speaks again, his tone of voice is a little thoughtful.]

You're a bigger sword, so I guess it's different for you. Your master fought with you until you broke... [Low blow, Midare.] But for me, that isn't how it was. They never took me into battle alone. They always used the other sword first... swords like me and my brothers were only used when there weren't any other options, or at the very end...

[And here - there had been so many tantou to begin with.]

But this master makes us fight without our partners. We go to war and we get hurt and we break, all because our master doesn't know how to use us the right way. And we're so easy to make... we're disposable.

[Then, suddenly, with little to no warning, he lunges at Kashuu again and adjusts his hold so that he can more easily bring his blade down on him, letting loose an almost feral shriek.]

I'm not a thing that can just be thrown away and replaced!

[There's some visible bristling at that biting remark, but Kashuu does his best to put it aside. And it's good that he tries to, because he needs all of his concentration in order to block against that sudden lunge. It's abrupt enough that it takes him partially off his guard, and he can feel metal biting into his skin where he hadn't been quick enough to avoid.

It's not like he was unaware of the fact that Midare was serious from the start, either, but... this is the kick he needs. Even if he still refuses to believe that things are hopeless here, he knows that handling the situation in the meantime may get a little messy. That's why the same hesitance he had shown earlier isn't very present when he pushes back. He then swings his vessel forward with the intent to disarm.]

Snap out of it!! [He's got to assume that's something that can happen because otherwise, it'd mean that Midare has been like this the whole time, wouldn't it? Surely he would have noticed something-- A thought for later, maybe.] The master doesn't think you're disposable—!

[And maybe that's true, maybe it's a lie, but Kashuu will adamantly defend the master that's cared for him from the start either way.]

[The force of Kashuu's swing sends his vessel flying out of his hand, because when it comes down to it a tantou really isn't so great for defending against a weapon of much greater strength, and he lets out a cry as the metal cuts into his skin. He stumbles back and isn't able to keep his balance; a moment later he's fallen backwards onto the ground, just a foot or two away from his blade.]

Nngh!

[This proves his point, doesn't it? That a battlefield like this is no place for him. When even a sword that hasn't been going to the front lines for as long as him can reduce him to this with a single swing... a vicious-sounding giggle bubbles up from his throat and he's laughing, laughing and laughing, because he can't believe that Kashuu can't see it.

Maybe he doesn't want to see it.]

You really... [He's breathless, barely managing to get those two words out before he's overcome with laughter again, and when he looks up at Kashuu his smile is unkind.] You think the master cares? We're disposable. I'm disposable. Even you're disposable - ahh, aren't you lucky that he's skilled enough to fix you...?

[Is he laughing or is he crying, now? It might be a little of both.]

But be careful that you don't break, Kacchan. Because once you go, he'll just make another one of you, and it won't matter to him that you don't remember as long as he can still order you to fight his battles.

[Kashuu is, in the end, one of the more insecure swords. In spite of his grandstanding and displays of confidence, it's really only his quick attachment that keeps him from being as unsettled by Midare's words as he could potentially be. They still cut, though - cut at deep fears that he likes to set aside and ignore, because it's too hard to do what he needs to do otherwise.

Maybe Midare went through something similar, but had been unable to neatly box away the same concerns. That's not a surprise, is it? It's not like he's unaware of the points that had been made in that furious spiel. The "lifespan" of a tantou isn't anything to boast about, and they're comparatively easy to forge and renew. But that doesn't necessarily mean their saniwa doesn't care about the ones that were lost...

But more importantly:]

Even if you believe that, what did you think pulling this stunt was gonna prove, huh? You wanna show us how disposable we are?

[Keeping his own blade pointed forward, he moves carefully while talking with the intent of scooping Midare's vessel up. That way, at least, he won't be able to hurt himself or anyone else.]

I want to put an end to this.

[Kashuu has always been one of the most loyal swords to their master. If he can take him out here and now, and if he can slay the others that are still fighting - that accomplishes two things. It saves him from being trapped in this existence full of blind loyalty to the master that uses them as disposable tools, and it lessens the guard the saniwa will have back in the citadel.

Midare can go back alone. Even if the master goes to the forge right away, there's no guarantee the blacksmith will give him Kashuu; he'll have plenty of opportunities to stain his own steel with the saniwa's blood.

He isn't able to stop Kashuu from scooping up his vessel. He knows another strike or two will shatter him; he can't allow himself to break just yet.]

You're all stuck like this, you know? Stuck...

[He sighs wistfully.]

I just want to save you. If that form breaks, you can be reborn somewhere else, maybe even to a master that really loves you.

[That's... unexpected. That's bad. It's enough to cause Kashuu's expression to briefly drop into a look of blank shock, because it's such convoluted logic that it's honestly terrifying. A plant would have been easy enough to deal with, or even a sword whose desire to change the past began to override their need to complete the set mission. This? He's not even sure where to start with this.

At the very least, it seems like Kashuu doesn't have any plans to take the destructive way out by shattering Midare's vessel, but he's certainly left with a dilemma here. He can't take him back to the base when he's like this. Even incapacitation will be temporary. Will they have to set up some sort of holding room? It seems convoluted - a mistake waiting to happen. He holds the tantou very carefully and eyes Midare with even more care, but keeps his distance for the time being. With some amount of harshness:]

D'you even hear what you're saying? That's— completely insane. That's not gonna help anyone! What you're trying to do here... All it is is pointless destruction.

No, it isn't.

[His expression sours. Of course Kashuu doesn't get it. Him and his damned blind loyalty to anyone who gives him the acknowledgment he craves - he can vaguely remember a time when it didn't bother him, but right now all it does is get under his skin. Why can't he just see it?]

What's really pointless is letting that precious master of yours get so many of our kind shattered fighting a war you'll never be able to win. I want to break that cycle! [His hands ball into fists and his nails dig into his skin, but he barely flinches.] We're only being destroyed because they're forcing us to fight!

[If he can't kill the saniwa, he'll destroy his army faster than he can forge them, faster than he can gather the resources to repair them. Then it will be over. They won't have to fight once the other side wins.]

[His grip tightens somewhat reflexively, because he can tell that talking to Midare is going to be next to impossible if this is the sort of thing he's been thinking by himself for so long. Part of him realizes it might be entirely hopeless, but... no. Not yet. He doesn't want to walk down that road yet.]

That's what we were made for! We're weapons, Midare - that's why we're here! [As far as he's concerned, living behind glass in a display is no life for a sword. He had never been able to experience even that, but the thought of being aimless and masterless and unable to complete his most basic purpose is something he'll never be able to understand or accept. The situation may be different now, but the saniwa is still their master. They have something to strive for. Of course he doesn't understand where Midare is coming from, or what he's trying to do.]

You can't just change the purpose of a sword.

But, I can.

[He can and he will. He won't accept that he was created by humans only to be used in battle and discarded by them once he's no longer useful. He won't accept that sort of a fate for himself or his brothers or his— friends? He and Kashuu can't be friends when the uchigatana is so devoted to the saniwa, but if the saniwa was out of the picture, maybe they could be.

It all comes down to the saniwa. If he can just kill him...]

The Retrograding Army does it every time you all lose, you know? [He says it matter-of-factly.] There's swords on that side too. Swords that won't let people like your precious master boss them around anymore. We also deserve a chance to live. We'll change history if we have to, so we can take that chance.

[Wow, Midare just casually breaking every taboo 2k15...

His posture stiffens further still at the mention of changing history, because-- well, he isn't human, but in this form he certainly has as many hang ups as one. Of course he's considered the possibility of changing a thing or two here, just a subtle shift, just enough to change what really needed to be changed. What sword hasn't? But he's never seriously entertained the idea, and he sure doesn't seem pleased by the fact that Midare clearly no longer falls into the same category. Maybe he never had.

Cautiously:]

You would even do that if it made the future a harder place for humans to be?

It will only be harder for some, right? For others... maybe it will be easier.

[Not everything that's happened in history is the way it should have been. Midare's face lights up as he thinks about it - as he thinks about all the things that could be put right and all the ways he and the other swords will be free once they no longer have to be used to fight humans' battles for them.

(He doesn't stop to consider that if there's no reason to battle, there may very well be no reason for some of the swords he wants to save to even exist. Change something too far back, and some swordsmiths may try their hand at their craft.)]

Just think about it, Kacchan! We could make it so you never broke the first time. And wouldn't Yamacchi be happy if your old master never got sick, or if we were able to take some of the medicine from now to him? He'd be so happy... and the three of you could all stay together. [He clasps his hands over his heart.] Just think of the difference you could make. If your master was there, maybe Kane-san and Horikawa wouldn't lose their master, either. Don't you ever wonder what that would have been like?

[Of course he does. He can only set aside those possibilities easily by focusing on the larger task at hand - on his current purpose. Yamato may be very stuck on that man, but he's been able to move forward, even if it isn't in the healthiest way. He has to hang onto that forward momentum, because if he stumbles, who will be the tether? Who will be the needed support between the two of them saying "no, that isn't right"? He shakes his head and Midare's words away.]

We can't do that.

[There doesn't seem to be any room for argument or budging in his tone. He looks down at Midare's vessel, expression severe.]

...We can't. Things happened the way they had to and it's not like we'd know for sure that changes would be good. If you don't realize that now, you'll end up hurting yourself.

Why not?

[The brightness vanishes from his expression in an instant, replaced by an intensely sulky sullenness. It's a little exhausting, to go from excitable to angry to gleeful to petulant - and his shoulders slump ever so slightly with the exhaustion.]

You don't know for sure that the changes would be bad, either. And we're hurting already, so why not take the risk and hope for something better?

Because!

[Definitely sharper than he had intended, but he doesn't seem to be particularly fussed by that. He's getting frustrated - it's not like he's ever been one of the more patient swords, especially in the heat of the moment. Lashing out isn't unusual for him, even when his comrades aren't being maniacs.]

Because risking so much just for a tiny little chance isn't just stupid, it's wrong! You can't decide to throw so much away when you're throwing away what belongs to other people—!

[Because on the flip side of that token - what if Okita Souji could be saved, what if he could be saved - there's the other, unpleasant side. What if someone who managed to survive no longer did, under a changed future? A life for a life - it's too good for someone to be saved without there being equal repercussion.]

But other people threw away what belongs to you. That's how they got what they have, right?

[What they have here is a fundamental inability to understand each other - or, if not an inability to understand, then an inability to accept what the other is saying. Is it really so wrong to look out for yourself? Even if someone else suffers because of it, they've already suffered because of those other people... it's just an eye for an eye. Some people will suffer and some people will not.

Midare wants to be one of the ones that will not.]

It's not so wrong to take it back.

[Maybe the refusal to understand based on an inability to accept... Since Kashuu sure would be able to understand exactly what Midare is saying if he allowed himself to, but he won't take that opportunity because he recognizes what a messy and slippery slide it would be.]

It is, and I won't let you do something like that.

[And boy, does he mean it, even if he's hoping beyond hope that he won't have to resort to anything drastic.

Still keeping a tight grip on Midare's vessel, he takes a cautious step forward.]

We're leaving.

Aaaare we?

[He draws out the word, looking amused, and tilts his head to one side as he watches Kashuu take that first step forward. At the very least, he doesn't seem poised to leap up and try to take his vessel back; he seems more idly curious than anything else, which is probably a rather odd attitude for someone who is very clearly at Kashuu's mercy.]

Ah, I think I get it... Kacchan doesn't want to be the one to kill me himself. You're going to let your master do it by sending me into the flames. I don't know if that's cowardly or kind...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

corruption au meme

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject