In our bodies we will live, in our bodies we will die

[dishevelment]

Who: Ren Koumeidishevelment & OPEN (with one part locked to Ren Kouha roughcut)
When: IC 6/16 OOC 4/3
Where: Various places around the city
What: Koumei and Kouha need to have a Talk + Koumei attempts to find a hobby
Rating/Warning: Potential for serious, feels inducing discussions



A -- Locked to Ren Kouha

[It has been a short while since Kouha arrived in the city, and Koumei was overjoyed to have his youngest brother around. Although Haru insisted that it wasn't a problem, Koumei knew that he would need to repay the Saniwa back one day for allowing the two brothers to be in the same apartment. Just being together was enough for Koumei to be content.

But there was something that they needed to talk about-- something involving the Empire that they were supposed to inherit. Something involving their siblings, and the fact that one among them had allowed the darkness in his heart to swallow him whole.

Koumei was actually awake that morning, idly playing with the his little robo-pigeon and the robo-fox that resided in the apartment, trying to find a way to further delay the inevitable. He didn't want to talk about this...

But it was a shadow lingering over them that was hard to ignore.]

B

[There had been a common refrain he had heard over the last several weeks: "Find a hobby."

It was a strange notion for Koumei, a man who had spent much of his life supporting a war effort in one capacity or another. If he hadn't been in war counsels or attending to his work in the magic research facility, he was catching up on precious sleep or playing with his pigeons in Rakushou.

But, mostly it was sleeping.

While Doudanuki's insistence on teaching him how to use a sword was compelling, it was far from an actual hobby. That was work-- and the only way he was able to keep Doudanuki from destroying his hair.

Thus, Koumei found himself in the library perusing the various crafting books, looking for something that would catch his interest. If he wasn't there, he was looking at the selection of fiction novels of a variety that ranged from cerebral mysteries to sordid romances.

After checking out a few of them to read further, he went over to the gardens to enjoy the afternoon reading. Whether he actually spent the afternoon napping underneath a tree or not was another story, but regardless of the outcome he would consider the day well spent.

It was strange, having so much free time. He didn't know what to do with it.]

Comments

[nostatus]

[ Napping partners. Shinpachi likes the very sound of it already. If there's anything Shinpachi loves, it's manly friendship and all that, after all. And napping partners sounds incredibly like manly friendship to him, so he's all up for it. ]

Hey, does that sound like a problem? We'll have those things in no time!

[ Even though Shinpachi has.. no idea where to buy them.. but he's just very easily Enthusiastic about things, okay. ]

And my name's Shinpachi-- Shinpachi Nagakura. Make sure to remember it if you wanted to know it so badly! [ He laughs. ]

[dishevelment]

[Wow, such enthusiasm. He had an idea of where to get those hammocks, fortunately-- he didn't want to let this strange friendship pass him by.

He bobbed his head politely at the introduction, and added his own.]

My personal name is Koumei, and my family name is Ren. And, please, if you wish to use a shorter name, I would prefer 'Mei' over 'Kou.' All of my siblings have 'Kou' in their name, and my youngest brother likes to call me 'Mei.'

[nostatus]

Mei, huh? Sounds great!

[ Shinpachi has embraced the nickname life in literally less than five minutes after meeting the other guy and tripping over him, yes.. but we're talking about the guy who has probably never called his best friend by his full name either, so it's not much of a surprise. ]

So, tell me where we can find these hammocks already! I gotta try one out right now!

[dishevelment]

[This sort of behavior was far from unusual, in Mei's experience.]

I'm not entirely sure-- we'll need to go asking around, but they shouldn't be terribly hard to find with the variety of shops in this city.

[cresthopes]

I guess not. I know my brother doesn't really want to talk about the divorce so I suppose not many people want to talk about half siblings either.

[Pause]

...But I wish that a lot of people did.

[dishevelment]

Yes-- it certainly would help matters if they did. It might make it easier for young people like you to cope.

[cresthopes]

What about you though?

Did you have any of that back in your world? It's not that unusual is it?

[That and he just didn't want to feel alone right now]

[dishevelment]

I have ten siblings from different mothers, Takeru, and I never knew mine very well. While we don't have any laws for ending marriages, things do happen.

[cresthopes]

Like what?

[He said before he thought about it some more] Like your siblings and you don't get along and your parents aren't happy? And that you get into a lot of fights or something?

[roughcut]

We've all got our burdens, Mei. Pitying him's just gonna make it harder for him to bear it. As long as he doesn't ask for help, we've just gotta respect it.

[His eyes are dark when he looks up again. Kouha has experienced much, but he's also seen his men go through even worse. If they can hold their heads high and be proud, there's no reason to assume Aladdin can't do the same until he proves otherwise.]

Besides, he's a smart, resourceful guy. If anybody can make the impossible happen, it's him and Brother En. I'm just gonna make sure I don't get soft while we're here.

[That has him smirking. Too bad that Kouha and Koumei don't even know the half of it. For now, though, they can hold onto their dreams, and that'll get them through the day.]

[dishevelment]

Like illnesses happen and people die.

[...It was just a fact of life, and one that he wouldn't balk at. Without the help of a trained magician, illnesses like pneumonia could be deadly in his world.]

[dishevelment]

Soft? As if the circumstances here would allow it.

[There was a hint of amusement in the scoffing remark-- Koumei had already been putting in the physical work necessary to stand on his own as a warrior. Kouha might note from their proximity that Koumei's arms were a little firmer, and his hands were callused in ways that they weren't before. They were the gifts of Doudanuki's training, hard as it was.

He knew it would be worth it in the end.]

[cresthopes]

[Takeru didn't say anything. Instead, he just stared at him before looking downward]

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that. I hope that your family members don't have to go through that anymore.

[roughcut]

[Point taken. Kouha can't miss those physical changes, and he acknowledges it with a laugh.]

You'd know better than me. You've been around here a bit longer, right? Guess it's paying off.

[The time difference thing is still pretty confusing to him, but as long as he doesn't think about it too hard, it's not something to worry about.]

[dishevelment]

[He nodded gravely.]

It's nothing to apologize for, Takeru. It's simply the way of the world I come from. If anything, I should be the one apologizing-- that may have been too harsh for you to hear.

[dishevelment]

Truly?

[Koumei pulled away, gazing at his younger brother through his thick, messy bangs.]

I've only been here a short while myself-- there's still many things that I need to learn in this place, but we will find a way to make it work here.

My true concern is our brothers and our Empire....and the safety of our military secrets. Please, Kouha. Be careful around the 'robots' here, and don't let them do anything to you.

[cresthopes]

No, it isn't, I think it doesn't seem that bad. Because that just means you got to take care of the family members you have now right?

And to hope that nothing bad would ever happen to them.

[But that doesn't hide the somber tone]

[roughcut]

Really! You think those muscles showed up overnight?

[Kouha pokes at Koumei's arm, just to emphasize the point. He gets a suspicious look on his face as Koumei continues, suddenly concerned.]

"Robots"? Is that another kind of those machines, or what? I don't trust any of them, but you make it sound like those are even worse.

[dishevelment]

Just...keep your eyes open, and be careful. [Koumei replied carefully, trying to redirect the oddly embarrassing attention Kouha was paying to his arms. Physical skills had always been a few steps beyond his comfort, but it was common knowledge that Koumei had the potential to resemble Kouen if he ever bothered to try to hone his skills.]

The robots may seem human-like, but they aren't. I've not heard one story involving them that ended kindly for any of the parties involved.

[dishevelment]

Of course-- like every brother does, regardless of the circumstances.

I'm sure you worry for your brother too, don't you?

[cresthopes]

Of course I do! I worry about him a lot since he does so for me! And I know he does the same thing for me too!

[A beat] If anything were to happen to him, I don't know what I would do.

[dishevelment]

Hm. We're alike in that respect; it's difficult, coping with knowing that my older brother isn't here.

[cresthopes]

[As Takeru stared up at Koumei for a few seconds, he suddenly had an idea!]

Then maybe I can help you out! Maybe I can help you look for an older brother here!

[dishevelment]

[The offer earned a little laugh from Koumei. Oh, young minds...]

Thank you for the suggestion, Takeru, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass. No one can replace my older brother in any sense of the word.

[Then, he leaned forward as if to share a secret.]

My older brother is more than just my brother. He's the man who will one day be King of the Empire we live in. There is nothing greater for me than to stand by his side and work alongside him while he builds a better world for us all.

[roughcut]

[Aw, Mei, let your baby bro compliment you. He doesn't get to do it often enough, in his opinion.]

Wait, they made human-looking machines!? That's way over the line, Mei!

[Could he sound any more grossed out? He already didn't care for any of the tiny robots around the colony, but ones that look human hadn't quite struck him yet. He's assumed most of the ones that he'd seen were people with mechanical prosthetics, but he's rethinking that now.]

What'd they do in the story you heard?