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

[dishevelment]

[Moving on a whim, Koumei gently pulled his youngest brother into a firm hug, allowing them both the comfort and privacy that they both needed from the things that they both already knew. He sucked in a deep breath to prepare himself-- for knowing that a something is coming doesn't always make a person emotionally ready to handle it.

Not all of the mental exercises, strategizing, and theorizing could have prepared him for the depth of Kouha's grief.]

The only thing I know for sure is that we shouldn't curse our fate, [he admitted at length, in a diplomatic and round about way of stating that he wasn't sure what was going to happen next himself.] We'd be no better than Gyokuen and Hakuryuu if we do, and I don't think I could bear to spend eternity without being near our siblings and cousins.

[It was a fanciful sentiment, wishing for an existance of relative peace within the flow of the Rukh, intermingling with the spirits and memories of loved ones that had long since passed on. A man of science and rationality, it seemed almost outlandish to even have such sentiments, but his own observations of the Rukh within the fields of Magic Research that he oversaw alongside the Empire's military presence and economy did nothing to disprove the Rukh as an ever flowing, ever changing force that influenced them all. Speaking with Aladdin, and witnessing the history of Alma Torran through the boy's words, further cemented that notion.

With that boy around, nothing seemed impossible.]

Otherwise....we must trust our friends and siblings to make the right choices. We didn't come this far to have everything fall apart....and strange things happen around that young Magi.

[roughcut]

[Kouha is a very tactile person. He just never expects anyone else to be the same. When Koumei pulls him closer, Kouha makes a quiet noise of surprise, but he doesn't struggle. Once he's in place, he settles immediately, clinging to Koumei's clothes in a way he'd be embarrassed by, in any other situation. Clinging to those that protect you is for children, and Kouha is no child. That doesn't mean it's not comforting, and he'll take what he can get right now.]

I don't wanna die. I don't want anyone I like to die. But mostly, I don't want to be apart form anyone again. You don't have to worry about that, even if I'm not so sure I believe all of that stuff about the Rukh.

[He shakes his head again, trying to crack a smile but utterly failing to do more than grimace.

He believed in it as far as magic went; he wasn't the type to deny what went on right before his eyes. But that being what happened to you when you die? He'd never really thought about it much. He's supposed to be the one that doesn't think so hard, just being muscle. Getting all philosophical is odd for him.

Besides, Mei was the one who worked with it the most. He'd have a better idea, so Kouha decides to trust in that, instead.]

And Aladdin... He's pretty good. He managed to get hold of one war and stop it, right? You think he might manage it again?

[Granted, those were extraordinary circumstances where the world itself may very well have died without everyone working together. Still, it's hard not to hope for that, no matter how slim the chances.]

[dishevelment]

You know the boy better than I, [Koumei admitted, dipping his head down to rest against his brother's while Kouha clung to his robes like a lost child. In effect they were both children-- and both lost without the light of someone else to follow. But, without Kouen in the city with them, they were in the same position that they were in during that awful period after the First Emperor and his two eldest sons passed in that fire.

Time stopped for no one. They just needed to take the best parts of what they believed, bury it in their hearts, and keep moving forward toward a better tomorrow.]

Aladdin...he has a way with people, and has encouraged alliances to happen where they couldn't have otherwise. I think it's best if we trust both him and our Brother right now, while we're stuck in this city. It's all we can do.

[roughcut]

[This... This is good. Kouha hates the situation, but physical comfort from one of his favorite people in the world helps quite a bit. At least, he's not about to lose it and go smashing anything in the next little while out of frustration, and that's better than what he'd been thinking about five minutes ago.]

He's a good kid. Smarter than he looks, but he can be trusted.

[That's Kouha for you: even when giving compliments, sometimes he just comes off as rude. Aladdin can be a sneak, considering he slipped past Kouha's radar the first time, despite traveling together for a while, but that's to his advantage. Maybe he'll have something up his sleeve nobody else knew about. It's worth hoping for, so he nods as he continues.]

If there's a way out of this, those two have gotta find it. If not... maybe we can take something from here back with us, something to change things. There's plenty of strange things that might help here.

[dishevelment]

Hmm. I know he's a good child, and I can't help but feel sorry for the fact that he bears such a burden at times. [His voice was low, as if speaking any of this too loudly might disturb the others in the apartment. But it only leant itself to the intimate privacy of the moment between the two of them-- and holding Kouha in his arms like that was itself a comfort to him. Although he expressed himself in dry commentary, he was fond of the rough mannerisms of his brothers. The physicality of everyone in their family was something that he greatly missed.]

Even though he's still reeling from losing his chosen King, he still has some hope in his eyes. I believe we can trust them-- and I think having faith in them would serve us better than scrambling for an alternative in this world that we might not be able to bring back with us when we return.

[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]

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.]

[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]

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.

[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.

[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?

[dishevelment]

[But compliments of that sort are embarrassing-- he's the 'plain' brother, remember? Even Hakuryuu has more presence than he half the time!]

The stories vary from person to person, [Koumei explained in his usual even tone, unbothered by Kouha's exaggerated display.] But the end result is typically in the robot attacking them for one reason or another.

I also have little reason to trust the Company because of their history of lies, but that itself is a separate matter.

[roughcut]

[Only because he doesn't want attention... Koumei is super charismatic, when he wants to be!! And someday, Kouha will see to it that he starts showing it.]

They put machines in our eyes, Mei. Like we could trust anybody who does that! Not really surprised they'd make war machines that look human, when they're those kind of people.

[He points to his own eyes, struggling not to look sick at the idea.]

[dishevelment]

[Kouha's words were met with a solemn nod.]

Ah, so you found that out as well. That saves us some explanation.

[The privacy invading notion of there being spies within their very eyes was out right disturbing, even for a man who worked in part to help reanimate the dead for the ongoing war effort.]

...While they might prove useless to the Company, our military secrets are still at stake. While I don't doubt that they've technology that surpasses our capabilities, I'm sure they would be quite intrigued by our advances in communication and transport.

[Because the CEREvices, while handy little tools, were still rather clunky to the simplicity and elegance of long range clairvoyance magic.]