estoria | ( OPEN )

[ Inari. That's how. Bam. ]

Correct. I'll take the attention any day. [ Kogi can't stifle the laugh, raising a hand to cover his mouth. Not quite a chuckle, but not a guffaw. ]

Impressive is in the eye of the beholder. As elegant as some of us swords can be, we are quite dangerous too? Danger doesn't have to be obvious, as well!

[ Finally, lowering his hand, he reveals a grin. ]

It was a joke, of course. I don't plan on breaking any time soon.

[But he doesn't even know who Inari is?!]

Impressive can be elegant and dangerous-- they're not mutually exclusive, and I've found that they often do exist hand in hand.

[Even his own skills were impressive, in both regards, and he didn't come across as a man who would be willing to even hurt a fly who got in his way.]

[ oh... just for fun, perhaps they left fishy in donut's room!! tsurumaru would certainly approve of it, and it'd be a good surprise for donut, whenever he returns. by then, fishy just might be awake to give him the most charming, violence-free greeting in the entire world.

once they set the tank down, tsurumaru lifts his arms behind his head, giving them a light stretch. ]

One day, we'll find Fishy a proper, permanent place, so that we don't have to keep carrying its tank around everywhere.

[ and with that cue, he steps carefully, tiptoeing out of the room without daring to breathe; not that swords need to breathe anyway, but you know! he makes sure kogi follows after him successfully, before reaching for the door handle, closing the door with the softest click. ]

[Thanks for not being a hypopotamus, Kashuu. Namazuo appreciates it! And maybe in the future, when all of this is less tender, he'll be more willing to open up and talk about it. Or maybe they can all just move forward from here. He'd be fine with that.

But for now, he just fiddles with the empty sleeve, nodding and smiling.]

I bet we could. Something pink, maybe? Or white?

[YOU CAN'T ESCAPE HIM FOREVER NAMAZUO...

He's giving this some serious thought, that said.]

Mmm... Pink might clash with what's in his hair unless I made it in a really close shade. White might be nice, though! Maybe white with pink accents? Y'know, I asked him what his favorite color was once and he said he didn't have one.

[Okay but is Kashuu gonna remember this or will his offended rage at bouncy house shenanigans wipe it from his memory]

Oh, that would be cute! He'd look kind of like Imano-kun that way... maybe pink and green, to match his eyes. [--wait hold up] What? Of course he does! Everyone has a favorite color.

[He'll remember it at some nebulous point and time in the future, maybe... Ages from now when no one else remembers.]

Green and white would be better than pink and green. He'd just look like a watermelon, then. [Not that that'd be a bad look for him...

BUT--]

I know, right? That's what I said! He was totally wishy-washy about it though, so I don't think he was lying.

Hmm...I think they're alright. They're strong, and I learn much from them. Perhaps things here tell us that it's all hopeless, but if there's a fighting chance, they won't go down. [And it's happened before, and it'll happen again. You lose when you give up!

She smiles gently.] There is someone from Vietnam here. Her name is Ai.

Aha, I hope so. Then he can try very hard himself.

[She never got to see Mutsunokami's memory. But she knows he's the sword of Sakamoto Ryoma, and a lot of people have heard of him. She can tell his memories were nothing plesant.]

I understand. Sometimes it feels like we are all much older. [Well, they are, but time moves so fast for them that they also don't feel it.] Your brothers, what are they like?

[ Don't tell Kogi, his heart will shatter into a thousand fox-shaped pieces. ]

I hope to see what sort of things you can do with your fan at some point in the future, Koumei. I am sure you are a very skilled fighter in your own right!

[ After all, fans are elegant, just like Mei. Either way--- Kogi's hungry. Food time. ]

[A pity. Kogi will eventually figure out that Koumei knows nothing of Japan besides what he's learned from the Swords....and largely consists of OH NOES DEATH and YAY TOFU.]

On the front lines? Not particularly. But, as a support? You'll find that it's quite useful.

I shall be honored if we ever have the opportunity to fight alongside eachother, Kogi.

[and Shinonome would find a certain redhead in obnoxious lounge pants and a loose white button up shirt working in the kitchen, ostensibly trying to make either roasted sweet potatoes or some kind of congee-- the results were uncertain. It was a small grace that his tangled mess of a ponytail was tied up in a bun and kept out of the way, considering the state of what he was working on.

Koumei looked up at the sound of that familiar voice, not entirely surprised. He had seen Kon's name on the list of new arrivals in ViViD and knew it was only a matter of time before the man returned.]

Ah. You're here, [he commented easily, not even sure what to say to someone who had been missing for a month-- and not by his own volition.]

A

[Spring was a time of changes, both good and bad, and it was a time to step forward in all regards in life. Koumei had been steadily adjusting to life in this city over the last couple of months with as much grace as his awkward and clumsy person could muster and, now that his little brother was in the city, he saw that he had no more excuses to not face some of the more mundane aspects of this world that had been bothering him.

The clothing situation was easy enough to manage, so long as the clothes in question were comfortable, but the food situation was another problem entirely. That was why, late that afternoon, Koumei cracked opened the door of which ever apartment sounded like it had someone inside, and quietly poked his head in.]

Excuse me, [he said, all politeness.] I'd like your assistance with something...

[Slung over his shoulder was a bag of notebooks and stationary, and in his hands was a bucket of chicken nuggets. What on earth was he planning...?]

B-- with Kouha

[For once, it seemed like Ren Koumei wasn't alone. By his side was a delicate looking young man with a jaunty hat and cute little braids in his vibrantly red bangs-- and it was clear that Koumei was helping him with the process of settling into life in the city.

Approach? Ask questions? Mistake the young man for a girl? Your call.]

[Cao Pi has become a regular visitor to the floor above his now that he and Koumei are thick as thieves, but this is a curious development.

Now there are two of them.

At least he's not rude enough to call anyone a girl to their face.]

Well. What have we here? Master Koumei... [HI]

[Oh-- hi, friend!

Koumei just smiled warmly at the one man who had made any semblence of sense in this city over the last couple of months.]

This is my younger brother, Ren Kouha. The Company saw it fit to bring him here this time.

[Good call, Cao Pi. Wouldn't want to start things off on the wrong foot.

Kouha looks up when they're approached, grinning at the stranger.]

Friend of yours, Mei?

[That's an interesting development. Koumei isn't usually the type to open himself up easily, so this guy might be something special. To Cao Pi, he continues:]

Nice to meet ya. Are you another one of the guys rooming up here, or something?

[eyebrows UP]

Ah, one of the famed brothers I've heard so much about. [yet, he doesn't bow, only inclining his head slightly to Kouha] I live on the floor below. Cao Pi, Lord of Wei.

[Construe things as much as you want, Gentlemen. Koumei simply knew that it was better to form alliances in this city.]

Lord Zihuan holds a similar political and social standing that we do, Kouha, [Koumei explained, ignoring any silent signals that were happening between them.] Additionally, the culture of his homeland is not dissimilar to that of our own, unlike many of the soldiers in these apartments-- they're more similar to the Kingdom of Kina, with the Seven Sea's Alliance.

You can speak with him freely. He understands what this world is like.

[He recognizes that jaunted hatted individual! Kashuu approaches without pause, trotting his way on over with a bright smile.]

Hey! [A wave for Koumei! And then, for Kouha:] Nice to see you outside of ViViD, finally.

Oh! You're back!

[Kashuu, who'd previously just been sprawled out on the sofa like a bum, immediately sits upright and leans over the sidearm. He sticks a hand out, gesturing Kon in.]

I'm guessing you remember things if you've come back here on your own and all, yeah? Unless someone else was like "hey, you live with a bunch of swords!"

[ They are just so happy for the pets and attention. It's really quite cute! ]

Yes. I...try to help as much as I am able. [ But sometimes it feels like it's not enough. ]

[It's okay to admit you have friends, bro!!

The lack of bowing might have gotten a look from Kouha, but luckily, Koumei cuts that off at the pass. If this guy's a lord, no wonder he doesn't bow his head.]

Is that right? "Lord Zihuan", it is, then.

[Unfortunately, this is the most openly rude of the brothers, so his demeanor doesn't change a bit. He's still sitting with his feet on the couch, smiling up at Cao Pi.]

Guess that explains how you two got to talking. Seems like hardly anybody here comes from a country like ours. It was starting to make me kinda homesick! And all this new technology's kinda crazy, too.

Ai? You must be proud of her! Lucky for you that you get to see the ones you've basically for, in a way?

[ He gently shakes his head, letting his hair settle against his back. ]

That would be like if I met the one who forged me, or someone who actually wielded me. However, history would not allow those things to happen.

[ At least Kogi is pretty sure that it'd be one of those Extremely Selfish and Bad Things if it did happen, even coincidentally. ]

[ Well. Death and tofu definitely sounds like Kogitsune's ideal Japan. He wouldn't disagree to that being Koumei's only perception of his country. ]

A support? Mm. When the time comes, I look to having your assistance.

[ He has no idea what kind of support Koumei would be able to provide, but he doesn't doubt him in the slightest. Either way, they will go to get food (probably not at McCERES this time) at the udon restaurant, and Kogi will teach the man the beauty of delicious fried tofu.

Mmm. Fried food. ]

[A familiar face! Kouha gestures him over, smiling back just as widely.]

Hey, Kashuu! You live here, too?

[Oh, good, they seem to know each other already. It's so nice when his new friends and his family get along. ♥]

It took a while, but Mei here finally helped me get out. That jungle was getting seriously old by the end.

( OPEN )

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OPEN!

B

B -- and let's wait for Loki to get here.

I am here!!

/o/

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B

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