Mori Hana (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
130) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
130bladeworks2016-09-25 01:46 am
130) wrote in 130bladeworks2016-09-25 01:46 am
Citadel Meme
 |
001. Newcomer. Smithed or obtained from battle, a new sword has arrived at the citadel. Are you getting the citadel ready for them? With enough swords in the citadel, it might be hard to figure out which room to fit their bed in. Or maybe you're the new arrival being greeted and touring your new home. Hey, what's your favorite food? The saniwa will want to prepare a special meal for you. 002. Returning. You've just returned from a mission. Ideally, you're raining cherry blossoms as soon as you set foot on the citadel's grounds but that isn't always the case. Some times swords come home tired to the bone. Some times, swords don't return at all... 003. Leaving. That sure is your name on the wall telling you to get ready for a mission. Pack up your things, say your good byes, and gather up your team mates. Hey, where are you going anyway? Is it somewhere familiar? Or somewhere you've never been to before? Regardless, this is an order so gather up your courage and steel yourself for the task at hand. 004. Guests. It doesn't happen often but sometimes guests from other citadels come. Some come from generous citadels-- allowed to reunite with old friends and family for a short time. Others are here purely for business which means it's time to brush up in the practice hall and show these punks who has the best citadel. 005. Chores. It isn't all fight fight fight at the citadel. While people are away at the front, the people back home have their roles to fill too. Feed the horses, tend the gardens, make sure everything is in one piece so the squads have a home to return too. ... Did you just break another screen door? 006. Dueling. To assess the saniwa, inter-citadel matches are held regularly. This is different from regular friendlies, though-- here, you're fighting to be the very best. Scores are awarded and... what are those grades even for? Well, it goes on the saniwa's record so it must be important... 007. Special exercise. No, no, no! Something isn't right but what is it? Are you absolutely useless on a team? Or maybe your performance has plateaued and regular training exercises aren't working? Well, it's time to pack up and go on a special training exercise. But what is it? Wrestling bears! Standing under waterfalls! Sitting in a room until you talk out whatever is wrong?! Or maybe we came into this with low expectations and the goal is to just not to die. 008. Attacked. This is a war, though, and it's foolish to expect the battles to be fought only on the frontlines. The enemy is becoming more bold and there are reports of citadels being attacked. Are you prepared for the attack because it's happening right now. Or is this one of the first citadels and you're completely caught off guard. 009. Fallen. What happens when a citadel falls? When a saniwa dies and the swords are left on their own until a new saniwa arrives? The citadel is abandoned, broken swords can be found in the garden. Will a new saniwa ever come home? 010. Wildcard. Choose your own adventure! |
you started it
He doesn't know where his other siblings are, and that's enough to leave him cold. He has to hold onto what he has--he has to, because he doesn't know what's left.
Slowly, shakily, he breathes in, and when he speaks, his tone is low and soothing.]
There is nothing to be afraid of. The others are also here somewhere. [A lie, he thinks.]
They will be fine. [Another lie.]
I will not leave you. [That one, at least, is truth, presuming it's within his power, and he doesn't break in the defense of his brother.
But really... he wonders that he's always been so good at lying, if only for them. (His master had been good at lying too, hadn't he? For a moment, he almost contemplates being grateful to him for that, in this the worst of times.)]
DON'T SHIFT THE BLAME
...I'm sorry. I should've-- I could've scouted more, I should have checked the perimeters-- [Nevermind that none of them had anticipated an attack like this. Defense of a stronghold is something they really, really should've done, and they'd all failed equally at that. Once again, Namazuo hadn't been able to stop the enemy from breaching their walls. Once again, he'd been powerless to protect their master.]
TOO LATE, I BLAME YOU
[The way Ichigo hushes him is gentle, and almost sweetly--like he would hush unhappy whining, or complaints about having to go to bed too early. It's light, and easy...and a little out of place.
But it's the only way he can be right now, to cope with this.
He can't handle thinking too hard about anything else that's happening.]
Do not blame yourself--not right now. [Not ever, really, but especially not right now.] There are still things we must do, and...we shall not be able to do them if we cannot stand tall.
[They can't stand tall.
They won't find any of their friends.
They won't find their family.
They won't find their master.
But... if they stand tall and they pretend... maybe it won't be that way. (Ichigo wishes that he was better at lying to himself, like he is at lying to others.)]
STOP I'M PURE
He's always trusted Ichigo. More than their masters, more than himself, more than anyone. Ichigo is the one whose seen him at his worst, in those moments when weakness overtook him, from blood or flames or the lack of memories without them.
Ichigo is telling him these things, and Namazuo wants so, so badly to believe them. So he trusts. Their home is falling to pieces around them, the smell of blood strong on the air, almost as notable as the lack of ringing steel. But Namazuo clings, and he trusts, and he believes. And he nods.]
What do you need me to do? [It's a weak, watery question, barely loud enough to be heard. But if Ichigo has some direction for him, if they can... if they can start to organize some kind of... if they can just...
(There's nothing, and they both know it.)]
no subject
Otherwise, there'd be nothing.
Just like how there's nothing around them but ashes.
Ichigo takes a deep breath.]
Stay by me. We need to stay close together right now. [When Namazuo may be the only left, the only of--]
We will do what we can to find the others now.
[But...they won't find anything at all.
How long can they search before their strength runs out?]