synflux | ( open ) march catch all

(Not far from LILITH's main base, close to whatever has become of the imperial palace, there is a certain museum where one can come see select national and imperial treasures. or rather, it's a place where many people can see holograms of said treasures. many things have been lost since the first kaiju appeared and attacked the city. what is actually left is kept securely locked away. are the holograms really bad, though? when they don't have to be kept in temperature cool cases under strict lighting rules and only allowed out for limited times in the year, holograms can't wear and holograms can always look perfect. in this way, aren't these artifacts more accessible to the masses?

there are virtual displays of fine kimono, shoji screen, lacquer jewelry boxes, and elaborate armor. the quality of the holograms is so high, one would never know they were just images unless they caught them in just the right light or at the perfect angle.

in one cool and dimly lit room labeled "swords", empty display cases can be found. by touching a panel, one can swipe through a list of options to project an artifact into the case. a white haired man in a white coat holds his hand over the screen, tapping on different articles. with each one, a new sword manifests in the case along with a short description. )

Ichigo Hitofuri...

Uguisumaru...

Hirano Toushirou...

Onimaru Kunitsuna...

(he stops on one sword when he senses someone approaching him. the room is so quiet, it's hard to miss it.)

You can learn a lot about the history of this world here.

(or, if you wait just long enough, you can catch him looking at one display. on a hologram panel, you'll be able to catch a name,)

Tsurumaru Kuninaga...

Edited 2024-03-08 16:09 (UTC)

(in a quieter part of neotokyo there are stylish boutiques and aesthetic cafes for people to visit on their leisure. each shop is small and cozy and it's a popular place for people who want to get away from the regular flashy lights and sounds of the city… if they don't mind paying a little more for the peace.

there's a cafe popular with photographers for having a storybook vibe and a kimono shop that sells high quality robes in traditional and modern styles. situated between them is a flower shop. the shop sells "designer" flowers that have been modified to come in various natural and unnatural flowers. some of the flowers have had their scents enhanced and others have them muted depending on the purpose. for other flowers, you can control when they bloom or manipulate how they grow to always be the perfect size or shape for your living space. they live longer, they look better, and they can be arranged into elaborate displays or delicate corsages for custom order.

and in the back, in a certain display, there is a smaller selection of flowers. they're just as beautiful as the rest of the stock, but if one looks closely, they'll catch faults: blemished petals, withering leaves, and flowers blooming at different stages. these are real flowers. natural ones that are coveted by traditionalists. most of them are white for the upcoming white day holiday and the prices are… high.)

Are you interested?

(judging by the apron he's wearing, it's obvious tsurumaru is working here today. whether you knew it before or not... his civilian identity is one "rindou adachi" and he's a florist. he's at one of the counters arranging a bouquet for an order.)

I can give you a special price~

Edited 2024-03-08 15:48 (UTC)

(whether it's at the main base or at one of the martial art halls outside it, tsurumaru can be found dressed in his own clothing for the day instead of LILITH's suit or whatever uniform a hall may require. he's checking out some of the practice swords on the wall. they all look the same but actually, if you grab one, it will calibrate with your implant and auto-adjust to be the perfect weight and length. if you aren't happy with the auto-adjustments, you can customize things even more with a menu using your implant.)

Woah...

(he tries another practice sword and the same thing happens. even if it isn't his, he can feel how the weight almost perfectly mimics his blade even if this is a simple (by this era) practice sword.)

Have you tried this? It's like I'm carrying my own sword! Hey, practice with me. I want to see how it works.

(Alternatively, maybe you're at the main base and you have whatever weapon you usually use out on display after a training session. He also has his own sword at his side for the time being, )

Did you bring that with you? Or did you get that here?

(Since some people have been getting weapons from LILITH and what not... he's curious!)

Edited 2024-03-08 15:48 (UTC)

[ Yuji is heading off to do a little work with his own sword in his hands, but there's a little creature flying behind him who keeps trying to grab at it; since the delivery, it seems as though his hummingbird drone has decide that the sword belongs to it, and not Yuji, and intends to make him suffer for every second of his theft. He lifts a hand, trying to stop the bird from pecking at his face. ]

Wasabi, stop! I'm just going to do some training, you can have it back later!

[ He twitches away, wincing as the bird gets him on the back of his palm. It's not really the most painful thing he's experienced, but it's similar to a paper cut - a strange ache that seems to hurt more than it should. ]

Stop that!

[ But then there's Tsurumaru, and Wasabi seems excited that there's someone new, immediately abandoning Yuji for the stranger. ]

Huh? I got this one here.

[Raidou had been avoiding the museums since he'd arrived, wondering if it would just feel too strange. Over 350 years removed from his own time, he'd surely see things from his era there as antiques. Would it make him homesick? He didn't want to invite that feeling in if he didn't have to.

But he's been here a few months now, and has gotten curious. The virtual displays are a bit of a disappointment, and Raidou is tired of the falseness of digital things in this time. So hard to get your hands on things like paper, a book, a pen and ink...

When Tsurumaru speaks up, the teen silently walks over to look at the screen to take a peek of what reading. Thanks to his stealth, se catches sight of that name.]

Did that say...?

(He holds up a hand, offering a finger as a perch for "Wasabi.")

What's this? Something interesting?

(Maybe his affinity as a birdkin spirit will make Wasabi behave. Either way, he'll try to get it to calm down before giving Yuji his attention,)

Ah! You have a real one!

(And not a practice tool.)

[ Wasabi flies over immediately: it seems as though anyone is fine as long as it’s not Yuji. ]

He hates me, I dunno why since he’s supposed to be mine.

[Alas… He holds the sword out, at least. It’s one of the elemental ones - a Light one. ]

I bought it, yeah.

(As if prompted, he begins to read, his voice calm and quiet so as to not disturb the peace in the gallery,)

Tsurumaru Kuninaga. Forged by Gojo Kuninaga in the first year of Tengi.

(Tengi 1: In the Heian Era, approximately 1053 CE. Raidou can catch the rest of the placard easily enough.)

Inscription: 国永 (Kuninaga)
Designated Imperial Property

Are you surprised, Raidou-kun?

(Not everyone at LILITH knows. Heck, most people don't. He hasn't really gone out of his way to share it.)

(What a cutie. This world has a lot of differences from back home and he isn't fond of everything but he sure does love these little guys.)

He's just a little cold before he can warm up.

(Tsundere. He's calling Wasabi a tsundere without knowing the right word.)

I didn't know you were a swordsman.

It’s been weeks now.

[ He’s only a little bit sad about it. Like… Forty percent. Yeah. ]

I’m not really? I just thought it would be useful to practice. I never know… What we’ll have to deal with.

[He both is and isn't. If it were anyone else besides Raidou, maybe, it could be seen as a coincidence. But Raidou is sensitive to things most aren't, magnetite in his world, magic or whatever elsewhere. His constant proximity to demons in his life meant that someone like Tsurumaru felt similar, but not the same. It's the case for many Outsiders, though, and he can't make heads or tails of all the other supernatural forces out in the universe yet.]

I... am not sure of what to make of it.

[This is within his purview, but still outside it.]

Can I ask how this is... related? [He's not even sure how to ask this without being too prying.]

When a "thing" reaches its 100th birthday, it becomes alive and a soul is born.

(Tsukumogami. It's a simple enough concept but he wonders how much he really has to explain to Raidou.)

I was here before.

(This was his "home.")

It takes months for spring to come.

(Things take time. And Wasabi seems so nice right now. Tsurumaru moves his finger a bit, letting the birdbot balance on his finger,)

Since Yuji-kun is a good boy, I'm sure he'll come around.

(And he stills his hand and watches the little hummingbird for a moment before raising it again, trying to let set it up and away for now.)

Ah... so you got it because it was cool. (That's why he got a sword. Sure, it's a useful sword but it's pretty cool!) If you don't know how to use it, it won't be much use in battle.

Yeah, but he's kind of a jerk, so...

[ Whatever!! Wasabi flickers its little wings and flies off to settle on top of something high in the room, making little squeaking sounds. Clearly, it's eyes are still on the sword.

Speaking of - ]

It wasn't just for being cool? I've used a smaller sword before, but I'm usually better with my fists. Shion-san said he'd help me learn a little, though, and these swords have special powers in them that could be helpful?

[He doesn't need to explain further. Honestly, this explains everything. It's not something he ever would have guessed, assuming from his own past experiences that Tsurumaru was definitely a demon of some kind, just something from outside his world.

It's a strange thing for him to voice, though, so he opts for:]

...Oh.

[Nailed it.]

I see. Is that why you're here today? To, ah, pay a visit?

Ah, you're Shion's student?

(How exciting. He hasn't had a chance to spar with Shion yet despite watching him fight.)

How exciting! Let's practice together.

I wanted to see where I was these days.

(And he hums, going quiet for a moment. He moves his hand over the panel, scrolling through the text slowly. There's a short blurb about how the sword is considered a masterpiece of its time and is one of the best preserved blades in the country. While it doesn't list any names, it says the blade was owned by "many influential figures" and had "served many purposes." At the very end, it says the sword is owned by the imperial collection.

It's at the very end that he lingers for a moment and closes his eyes,)

...

(After a moment and he opens his eyes,)

Not here.

[ While wandering the streets of Neo Tokyo, Jinwoo feels like he's been thrown into a sci-fi movie except there are no props, decorations, or actors. However, everything is real and people live in this city, and have jobs and families. He feels a bit silly thinking of movies under his current circumstances right now, but at the same time, he just can't help it.

It's a relief that after exploring some of the busiest parts of the city, Jinwoo finally ends up in a quieter area. When he passes the boutiques or the cafes, they seem somewhat familiar, even if he can spot the differences easily—the holograms and the robots remind him that this isn't the Earth he knows.

While that isn't a part of his plan, he stops by the flower shop after seeing the designer white lilies and some other enhanced plants. Jinwoo takes a while to look around before noticing the display in the back with the flowers that look less appealing compared to the artificial ones he's seen just a moment before. ]

Me? I'm just looking. [ Currently, he sure is staring at the bouquet Tsuru is working on. ] Those are real flowers, right?

[ There's something strange about this florist and his aura, but he can't really pinpoint what it is. ]

How much for a bouquet just like this one?

[ White flowers remind him of someone he's met at the main base, so maybe it would be a nice gift. ]

[ Back home, museums were great for obtaining some good items, especially if they were connected with a constellation. While it did cross Sooyoung's mind to check out a museum or two and see how tight the security is out of sheer curiosity (this is a lie), she never followed through.

At least not until today.

Her previous encounters with Tsuru never were so quiet as this one is. She doesn't respond to his words—she doesn't have much to say in the matter as this isn't her world and its history doesn't really affect her. Instead, she just watches the holograms and speaks up when Tsurumaru Kuninaga is displayed on one of the panels. ]

Look, it's you.

[ She sneers, shifting her gaze from the sword to Tsuru. ]

Oh, you can tell!

(This pleases him and he smiles. Lifting his hands from his work, he shows off what he's done so far. It's a nice bouquet, each flower carefully arranged to make the whole thing come together. When hears that Jinwoo is interested he replies naturally,)

100,000 kryptos.

(Almost 700 dollars. This is it. This is the special deal.)

(If only Sooyoung could be free and live her best life like a cat and get her artifacts. This museum is empty of artifacts though, save for (maybe) an authentic piece here or there for special exhibition reasons.)

Just an image.

(The only Tsurumaru Kuninaga in this building is him. )

It looks like I'm not here in this world.

I guess, kind of? It's not that serious, though.

[ And he's Gojo-sensei's student, actually. ]

You're definitely going to be better than me!

[ After hearing the price his gaze shifts from Tsuru to the bouquet and back to the Tsuru again. Jinwoo even opens his mouth to say something but no words come out for a while. ]

...

[ After considering his options for a while, Jinwoo finally asks: ]

What about one flower?

[ She can get better stuff on the black market, the museum can keep its holograms and mostly useless artifacts. ]

I see, you wanted to touch yourself. Such a shame.

[ She crosses her arms on her chest and peeks at Tsuru. ]

I'm waiting for Tsurumaru Kuninaga info dump, just so you know.

(Innocently,)

10,000.

(And he. Just. Smiles! He's pratically sparkling... and then he looks down at the counter, acts like he's just noticed something and looks surprise,)

Oops. It looks like I added some zeroes.

(The entire thing is expensive but not that expensive. )

( open ) march catch all

( OTA ) a certain museum

( OTA ) do you sell them?

( OTA ) training and maintenance

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