( closed ) i don't want to be pitied,

[hitokiller]

WHO: Okada Izou & "friends".
WHAT: March catch-all, event shenanigans. 
WHERE: The Monzen-Nakacho district, Oyoko river, Tokyo, etc.
WHEN: 3/14~3/31
WARNINGS: None at the moment. 

Comments

[cranekin]

(Oh, what a reaction. He absolutely takes delight in it. If they were in a better setting, he would be having so much fun but he stays ever mindful. There's a prisoner here. There's a job to do. And he can use this to his advantage.)

Maybe.

(He hums. Maybe he is a demon. Maybe he's something like Izou. He holds up one finger and with each following statement, he lifts another,)

I've been a blessing. A protector. Divine. Recently, I've been a messenger from Heaven and then an oni.

(Five fingers, five roles.

Eyes shifting, glancing at their prisoner, smiling the smile of someone enjoying an inside joke. Always one for dramatics, as if on cue, the air in the room shifts, a warm breeze swelling and centering around Tsurumaru. Cherry blossom petals manifest and in a burst of white light and energy... a sword appears in his outstretched hand. Fingers closing around it, wind dying down, and now suddenly armed,)

You can face "divine punishment" (tenchuu, which he makes no point of acknowledging Izou. He shouldn't have to.) or "suffering." (Ku. The suffering of being human.) But if you speak, you may find mercy.

(This poor guy was not paid enough to deal with this. He's trapped in a room with devils and his mouth hangs open. It's very clear his resolve his breaking and he might have something to offer for a chance out.)

[hitokiller]

( it's not a clear-cut answer that he receives, and izou looks even more wary for it, but the display of mysticism when combined with the shocked shriek of their captive is enough to put even him on edge.

this sword-related specter or whatever is impressive to say the least, and it's the mention of divine punishment that has izou freeze.

there's no way that word wouldn't ping him in some way, wouldn't run cold under his skin with the memory of each kill and with the shock of someone other than him uttering it with meaning in this decaying world.

their hostage, too pressed at this point and completely unwilling to suffer whatever the consequences might really be, leans back so violently that the chair itself seems to shudder. there's some babbling about illegal tech and invisibility and whatnot, and izou just barely registers that as being useful while he's busy thinking about tsurumaru. LILITH is watching, though, of course, and clocks the information as legitimate, recognition of it coming through the speaker. )

About time.

( and then, to tsurumaru, a glint in his eye: )

I got a couple questions if you're willin' to answer 'em. Outside.

[cranekin]

(The announcement goes off. They've gotten what they've come for and their reward will transferred to them the moment their information is verified.

Tsurumaru holds his position, sheathed sword in hand... and then lowers it. There's no need to continue but ooooh, did he love the look on their face. It makes him smile and he could preen like a bird right now, all pretty and proud of what they've achieved. )

Hm?

(He would have expected Izou to be as pleased but he supposes the man has questions, right? How long has it been since he'd laid out the first crumbs?)

I guess it's time.

(For answers, right? And he pats Izou on the shoulder as he practically skips ahead, right out that open door.)

Let's go, Izou-kun.

[hitokiller]

( the image of tsurumaru preening is so cute...

and their captive is on the verge of tears, beyond relieved to see the two of them shuffling their way out of a room that's been a literal nightmare for them for the past hour or so.

when they exit, though, izou rounds on his companion who may or may not still be holding tight to that steel, fingers curled inward as they grasp at his collar in the close quarters of a hall so blindingly white it might swallow tsurumaru whole. )

If yer that old, then... —how come you didn't say anything this whole time?

( pieces of a puzzle are slowly sliding into place, and while he's stern, it's a sternness without teeth. a one thats unnerved by what he doesn't know. )

[cranekin]

(Still holding his sword, the gold fastenings clink delicately as he's forcefully handled. There's a certain level of resistance as he holds his ground but he relents enough is free to grab him, bring him down, push him back...

(Yes, he thinks, this isn't really surprising given what he recalls.)

He only smiles, eyes bright, as playful and light as ever,)

You never asked.

(Of course, he hadn't helped either.)

[hitokiller]

( true. he hadn't asked. izou kept to himself, almost out of habit.

he's steady, the tension brought on by this reveal practically thickening the air between them on his end. )

That mean you...

( his grip loosens a bit, more a shocked reflex than anything. )

You know everything about me? You haven't been laughin' at me this whole time, have you?

[cranekin]

Not everything.

(It's true. There's no way he would know everything. Raising a hand to pat Izou's fist on his shirt,)

Now, now. Why would I laugh?

(Pat, pat,)

You're a fine swordsman. Of course, a sword would know you.