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Who: Takakage Kobayakawa

thirdarrow & Abe no Sousei

deontology
When: Some time before the intro log
Where: An appliance store at the shopping district
What: Senpai teaches Kouhai all about technology.
Rating/Warning: Not yet. No robots have started maiming people.

The colony still felt foreign to him, even after he was introduced to it a second time. For some reason, the pervasiveness of electronics is unsettling - even though the droids are built to be humanlike, they somehow lacked the spark of life in their eyes that would have marked them out as true flesh and blood. As humanoid as they are, they are not humans. They lacked emotion. And after a full day dealing with robots, he needed some actual human company.

He summons Awanagi before leaving the workplace, careful to do it discreetly and out of the way of anyone who might find it alarming. The Persona trailed him like a shadow, occasionally holding things while he placated transport readers with cards and other identification. He couldn't return to his apartment just yet, though - the microwave needed replacing. For some reason, it had vanished during his absence.

The shopping district is more crowded than usual, given that it is now after office hours. It takes him a while to navigate through its streets, finally locating a more reputable store for appliances and actually getting to its entrance. Fending off a welcome droid, he casts his eyes around the huge department floor - and his gaze falls on one of the people he would least expect to come here.

From what body language he could perceive at this distance, there seems to be some confusion in Sousei's countenance. The strategist quickly makes his way over - if Sousei hasn't noticed him in his approach, he would call for the other's attention politely.

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Magic users... he hadn't expected that, though Sousei supposes that is something he's going to have to get used to. Not that magic is a completely foreign subject, not in the least with his bloodline as it is, but the fact that there are quite a few people with magic is going to require getting used to.

Along the same vein as how vampire Shinsengumi is going to take getting used to. Nobody mentioned that one back home.

Still, even if they were to have more luck with the next wave of captives, Sousei's of the same mind as Takakage; he shakes his head simply, answering, "There is no guarantee if we do that. It would be more logical for all of us present to try to learn as much as we can ourselves."

Maybe someone will have a talent for robot dismantling... you never know. Regardless, by this point they've reached the registers; he's at least gotten used to shopping in this fashion, so it's only a matter of moments before he's purchased the rice cooker. After all, it's not like he's hurting for money, even if he still keeps a pretty close watch on it.

Magic is something very sparse in their world. Takakage himself had the potential to channel a few simple spells, but it was only after years of study that he could produce something more than mere light shows. Arcane arts seem to have died out in the era of modernity - perhaps for the greater good. It could be devastating in the wrong hands.

It did come as a surprise to him as well, when the existence of other planes became known. Many of them carried individuals with far more spellcasting power, often unmatchable even if he tried to learn their craft. If anything, this has taught him about the dangers of superhuman abilities, and the importance of intellect to counter what his magic cannot.

"Of course." He inclines his head at Sousei's words. "Internal mechanisms aside, robots have a rather regular operating system, dictated by their code. This is often what malfunctions, I find." Interference and hacking are the two biggest causes.

Well, magic or not, it seemed technological savvy was what was going to win the day here. Shame he wasn't better at it, but Sousei knew very well that he'd have to take it a little at a time and simply do his best with what he could manage. If they all did so, perhaps they would be better prepared in the future.

And if not, at least he knew that smashing through them with a sword was still viable, even if more difficult than with a human opponent.

"...Their competence with their own machinery matters little if it is purposeful interference." Sousei doesn't say if he means purposeful interference from others, as they'd claimed with the clowns, or purposeful interference from the city itself, with how undependable they all seem to be. He figures he doesn't really need to, and better to not say too much than to regret half-understood conjecture now.

The mechanical nature of robots made them more difficult to combat than human opponents, but it also gave them new weaknesses. It would be something they could exploit.

"That is true. Then that would bring into question the reliability of everything." Not that it wasn't already questioned, but if they were fighting some other unseen third party other than the supposed Flamines... it could greatly complicate things.

"For now, what we can do is learn more about everything and keep our friends safe." Sousei has people he knows from home here, yes?

Friends.... Right. One partner, one acquaintance, two ancestors. However that...works...

Nonetheless, the point is well-made, and he understands what Takakage is getting at. It gets a simple nod in response from Sousei, even as he considers the city around them. Even now, it's easy for him to get turned around here, due to the sheer size and quantity of the buildings. Even Tokyo is nothing like this--

From his time, anyway. He's suspecting it'll change.

Right. This way. This is the way he'll have to go. "Yes, that's correct. I will be cautious." Sousei shakes his head a moment later, continuing simply, "For now, it is enough to not become complacent."

And it will change. Tokyo will eventually become the largest city in the world, at least in population - a dense network of streets and buildings that even a Persona probably could not map. Sure, there are problems that arise with density, but Takakage is optimistic. Their people have always picked themselves up after disasters, whether natural or by man's folly - and there is no reason that they will not continue to do so.

The strategist follows Sousei as they make their way down the streets. He is content to let silence sit between them for a while, simply looking around and taking in their location.

But he does speak up after a while, to ask something that had been on his mind ever since they were introduced to each other.

"Pardon the abrupt question, but - I have not heard of the organization you lead, not even in my readings." And he does read up a lot about the future - now history - of their land. "Can you tell me about it, or is it something that is not meant to be public?"

He takes care to give Sousei an opening in case it is the latter.

It is a curious thing, to know that someone who has studied history still does not know about them. Granted, Sousei's not particularly bothered by it, because that had always been their intention--to be the nameless heroes protecting the nation behind the scenes, unknown and unthanked. But to know that they succeeded...

Well, that's good enough for him.

Still, in a place like this, speaking to a historical figure from times long past, it's pretty obvious to Sousei that extra secrecy is unnecessary. There are things he will keep to himself still, of course; he's the cautious, close-lipped sort. But the Yamainu...?

"We, the Yamainu, are the hounds created to protect the nation." That much is easy, Sousei knows. It's what they are to everyone back home. The Orochi, on the other hand...the fact that they were created to deal with that threat in particular? That's to be kept secret. "We are intended to remain an unknown organization. I am relieved to hear that it is so."

That explains a lot. Which also meant that he probably should not pry - but as someone who had watched over the land in his time, assisting with keeping the peace of Western Japan - he cannot help but feel that he would be entitled to know about it as well.

But no matter. It probably was not relevant during his time, and in his current state that knowledge would be worthless. He cannot go back, after all.

"I see." He inclines his head slightly, looking thoughtful. "Your task has been done well, then. The land is at peace, even after our time." Again, time traveling and reading shenanigans. "Our people are lucky to have you."

He says this with little shame. It is the truth, after all.

It's...more praise than they've ever gotten, and more than he ever expected, too. Sousei had lived his early life being told that his entire purpose was to live until the Orochi appeared--and then, if necessary, to die. Tenka had given him more than that, and had given him the dream he clings to even now, all of those years ago.

To be the nameless heroes that would be able to protect people. To give his life meaning. So to hear praise like this...well, it gives him pause. It's...strange. Certainly not bad, and surely Takakage knows that that's not why he's doing this, but...

Not bad, no. If only the other Yamainu were here, to properly receive that praise. "...Thank you. I would not be able to do it alone. My team is not here, and so I will accept the praise on their behalf."

There's the heavy implication there that if his team ever does show up, they deserve to hear it in person, admittedly. The Yamainu are important, okay. It's basically his life.

That, too, is something Takakage can understand. Teamwork is important, after all, and it is how humans could achieve what they could not as individuals. Just as an army depended on its strategist, a strategist also depends on his allies. He would be defenseless without warriors to protect him, and he needed their strength to get things done.

"If they do arrive, I will be sure to thank them as well, then." On behalf of his generation, he means. He knows all too well the importance of passing the baton to the right people. His son being a very good negative example.

Which meant it was all the more important that they return home as soon as they can. It would be something that needed working towards.

Sousei is pleased that Takakage understood his underlying meaning, at least. The Yamainu were formed not for praise and acknowledgement, but...there is nothing wrong with receiving praise and acknowledgement. They deserve it, for the hard work they do, and it means more from someone else from the country than from their own captain, at the very least.

But aside from that, he simply nods.

The country has been entrusted to them, and they won't allow it to fall into ruin, whether by the Orochi or these apparent extraterrestrial threats. Unfortunately, it also means he doesn't have much to say in response to that, being as naturally taciturn as he is. Hope you weren't expecting an enthralling conversation, Takakage...

The strategist himself is content with the silence - unnecessary words let slip too many things, after all. Perhaps they would discuss some of the more important issues at hand on their way home, but for now there is no need to speak.

And off they go, navigating the grids of this colony, two small dots out of place on the street.

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AND DONE