[this all makes sense, yeah. no reason not to believe it when they don't have proof otherwise, but it does mean she has a lot of things to consider.]
Guess this monster thing and having a match explains the feeling some of us have been experiencing for the last few days. That connection. [her own hands come up, clasped almost in pray as she thinks. it's hard to ignore it now, and especially when she considers there's someone out there that shares something with her.]
That's one of the things I'm worried about, too. It's one thing to decide for yourself, but if your partner is someone who can't defend themselves well, or they're young...it's a lot of responsibility making sure they're safe, too. Not everyone will be able to handle that either.
Right... It seems we're "incomplete" without the other, but it's up to us to decide whether it's worthwhile to fix that. It's tempting, if only to make that feeling go away.
That's true, too. Not everyone is able to protect another. I have faith that I can, if they need it, but our situation seems too complicated to make a decision on that alone. [ a heavy sigh. ] I'm not always good at understanding what my partner needs most, either. Maybe it would be best to let them decide what they want and continue to support them.
[ he doesn't really need to know who they are to do that, anyway. it's the easiest way forward. ]
And some people might be tempted by power alone. [aerith does not specify what kind of person she is or her thoughts on this though.]
Maybe there's an easier way to find out who would and wouldn't want to find their match. Like if we had a list of volunteers or people who said they'd be open to it, and people who weren't could avoid being asked to share their alignment. We'd know who we'd still have to protect, but we'd have an idea of who's willing to take a risk. [she frowns then.] But that still feels complicated, and you're right. It doesn't really make the feeling go away.
...it's hard to say there's one solution to this at all.
Depending on what the power is, that may be understandable. I'm afraid I don't understand mine well enough to make a decision on that. My partner may even feel the same.
There isn't. [ one solution, that is. it's too complicated, when lives are intertwined. ] But your idea is a good one. It's somewhere to start, as we try to decide what the right decision could be. Some may even find courage in it, knowing their match may be looking for them.
It might be easier to understand the longer we're here. People are likely going to start using them to figure out their limits, or maybe even using them to try and signal to their match to come find them. [like a hidden message.]
Maybe that's something I'll think about, too. Give it some time so that we can settle with them and think about the choice, and then put up a list. It can't hurt if it's voluntary.
You must be right. [ then again he could easily spend a whole game completely clueless to how these powers work. we shall see. ] It sounds like we'll be here for some time, so it shouldn't hurt to think about it for a little longer.
What do you think, Aerith-dono? Would it be worthwhile, for you, to find your partner?
[i love and support anything iwa does and so does she.]
Yeah. There's no rush yet if all we're doing now is waiting for them to be ready for their ritual. [murder is going to ruin everyone so bad. the question isn't surprising to her though and she seems to think it over carefully.]
Right now? No, I don't think so. Maybe the boost in power would help us, but...the idea of sharing your fate with someone else is pretty complicated. Especially when we don't know what the cult really plans for us in terms of a sacrifice, or how people will respond in the meantime. I don't want to bring anyone down with me if something were to happen that I couldn't stop.
I am thinking of going to speak with our overseers a bit more, in the meantime... It seems that talking with them in public like today is more difficult for them.
[ iwatooshi listens, solemn, and nods along. aerith's answer isn't unexpected, but all the same, there's something in how she words it that makes his brow furrow. ]
You believe that something would happen to you, Aerith-dono?
[ she seems to think any trouble would be because of her...? ]
[a nod of agreement. yeah. talking to the overseers in private is the best shot they have at actually getting anywhere, she thinks, because there are a lot of problems and questions that may be more personal for some people than others. to the actual question though...
well. yes. but actually saying that seems to be something she's less sure of.]
I think something can happen to any of us at any time. Don't you? I don't think any of us thought we could be brought here against our will to be a part of this ritual before it actually happened.
[ that part's not exactly new. but... the ritual, yes. ]
That is the way of battle. But you made it sound as if you think it's inevitable, somehow, that you would be the one responsible for bringing your partner down.
[ a pause, and then he shakes his head. ]
I must be reading too far into what you've said. I'm sorry.
It's alright. [mostly because, well, he's right, but she does not want to touch on that when iwa's generally been very nice.] I wish it wasn't like this, but it may be that we won't know until something happens.
[let's gently redirect the conversation though.]
When you say you've been summoned before...what do you mean?
We won't. I don't want to believe it's guaranteed for something bad to happen, either. You're all very smart. Many of us are quite strong, enough to protect the others. There is time to sort everything out.
[ it's best to hold onto hope for now, he thinks. ]
Ah. [ a small smile. ] My current master summoned me with this body. Normally, this [ shifts the naginata slightly ] is my only body, my true form.
There's definitely time. [she does firmly believe this. time is going to have to be enough, even with other unknown factors.] With enough time, we can resolve anything before it can happen.
[and yet she's still very much going to be thinking about these things. instead of fixating on that, she's looking at the naginata curiously.]
So...it's like having a little more freedom than where you were before. Are you ever going to have to go back to your true form?
That's right. We may not know how just yet, but we have the tools to find the answers.
[ and everyone is sooo smart. he believes in them. ]
A lot more than I had before! Wielding my own weapon was a new and exciting experience. The first time I tasted food, it was more than I could ever imagine. Being able to move the way humans do really opens the world to you. [ hah. his expression falters for just a moment, but he tries to even it out before he speaks again. ] When my current master no longer has need of me, I will likely return to what I was before.
[this is really cute? like the enthusiasm is sweet, knowing that there were a lot of first-time experiences here...
but the latter is less cute. actually, this is kind of bad, and she gives him a questioning look as she assesses that. that seems...unfair? that seems kind of unfair to bring someone into a world and then remove them when you don't need them.]
Even if your master doesn't need you, would you not be able to find another purpose? [she's asking this, but she does...also, in a sense, sort of understand a little. what comes from something must return to something. but that's their world. she knows other places have other rules.]
[ hhhhhhh. this question is... troublesome, iwatooshi things. his chest feels a little tighter than it should. ]
I don't know if that will be possible. [ before she can ask, he continues on, ] I have this body because of Master's magic. Without their power to sustain it, what is there that I can do?
[it's definitely a little difficult for aerith to think on because...sometimes you have to let someone's path go a certain way. that makes sense. but she still thinks that there are ways to change the future to be something else instead of what's "meant" to be.]
...I guess it would depend if you would want to be sustained like this without being with your master. [magic is also a lot trickier.]
[ iwatooshi watches the flames in silence for a long moment before inhaling, slowly raising his eyes to the sky above. foggy though it may be, the stars are still bright as ever, and they bring him some comfort. ]
I don't know, [ is the answer he settles on. ] I am lucky for the time I've had, and every memory is precious.
...But I exist for my master, to serve them. Even before being given this body, that was all I knew. To exist without them... even if it is possible, I don't know what I would do.
[it's difficult to say when you know you have a purpose. but she can understand that. she knows how it feels to think you're lucky for the time you've had, and the memories you've made being something of value. but to exist without purpose...she's not sure what that would mean either.]
Maybe it isn't something you need to think on now. The most important thing is finding a way to get back to your master, isn't it? They still need you now. [and it's the present that's important. while the past can't be changed, they can still move forward and create a future to be the way they want it to be.]
[ nods. it's a lot for him to process, so a later time is just as well. ]
You are right. They have other touken danshi, of course, and another naginata if that is what they need, but I don't want to be away for too long. Even if my master doesn't need me right away, there is someone I'm still waiting for, after all, and I would hate to miss their return.
[and now she just looks curious. she does not need to know, but she's nosy. and she thinks that maybe it's nice to know more about the people she's stuck here with, so...]
Who are you waiting for? That partner you mentioned?
We are like partners back home, yes. [ a fond smile. ] My former master served his former master. They were close friends, so we served them together for many years.
His name is Imanotsurugi. After our last mission, he left on a journey to become stronger.
It’s been months now. [ his smile turns a little sad. ] I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be, but he did send a letter to our master. He’s working hard.
I bet. [letters are nice, at least.] It's good to know he's okay though even if it's hard to be apart. I'm sure he'll be back sooner than you think though.
[especially if they're all stuck here anyway for a while, but she does not say this.]
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Guess this monster thing and having a match explains the feeling some of us have been experiencing for the last few days. That connection. [her own hands come up, clasped almost in pray as she thinks. it's hard to ignore it now, and especially when she considers there's someone out there that shares something with her.]
That's one of the things I'm worried about, too. It's one thing to decide for yourself, but if your partner is someone who can't defend themselves well, or they're young...it's a lot of responsibility making sure they're safe, too. Not everyone will be able to handle that either.
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That's true, too. Not everyone is able to protect another. I have faith that I can, if they need it, but our situation seems too complicated to make a decision on that alone. [ a heavy sigh. ] I'm not always good at understanding what my partner needs most, either. Maybe it would be best to let them decide what they want and continue to support them.
[ he doesn't really need to know who they are to do that, anyway. it's the easiest way forward. ]
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Maybe there's an easier way to find out who would and wouldn't want to find their match. Like if we had a list of volunteers or people who said they'd be open to it, and people who weren't could avoid being asked to share their alignment. We'd know who we'd still have to protect, but we'd have an idea of who's willing to take a risk. [she frowns then.] But that still feels complicated, and you're right. It doesn't really make the feeling go away.
...it's hard to say there's one solution to this at all.
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There isn't. [ one solution, that is. it's too complicated, when lives are intertwined. ] But your idea is a good one. It's somewhere to start, as we try to decide what the right decision could be. Some may even find courage in it, knowing their match may be looking for them.
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Maybe that's something I'll think about, too. Give it some time so that we can settle with them and think about the choice, and then put up a list. It can't hurt if it's voluntary.
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You must be right. [ then again he could easily spend a whole game completely clueless to how these powers work. we shall see. ] It sounds like we'll be here for some time, so it shouldn't hurt to think about it for a little longer.
What do you think, Aerith-dono? Would it be worthwhile, for you, to find your partner?
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Yeah. There's no rush yet if all we're doing now is waiting for them to be ready for their ritual. [murder is going to ruin everyone so bad. the question isn't surprising to her though and she seems to think it over carefully.]
Right now? No, I don't think so. Maybe the boost in power would help us, but...the idea of sharing your fate with someone else is pretty complicated. Especially when we don't know what the cult really plans for us in terms of a sacrifice, or how people will respond in the meantime. I don't want to bring anyone down with me if something were to happen that I couldn't stop.
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[ iwatooshi listens, solemn, and nods along. aerith's answer isn't unexpected, but all the same, there's something in how she words it that makes his brow furrow. ]
You believe that something would happen to you, Aerith-dono?
[ she seems to think any trouble would be because of her...? ]
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well. yes. but actually saying that seems to be something she's less sure of.]
I think something can happen to any of us at any time. Don't you? I don't think any of us thought we could be brought here against our will to be a part of this ritual before it actually happened.
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[ that part's not exactly new. but... the ritual, yes. ]
That is the way of battle. But you made it sound as if you think it's inevitable, somehow, that you would be the one responsible for bringing your partner down.
[ a pause, and then he shakes his head. ]
I must be reading too far into what you've said. I'm sorry.
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It's alright. [mostly because, well, he's right, but she does not want to touch on that when iwa's generally been very nice.] I wish it wasn't like this, but it may be that we won't know until something happens.
[let's gently redirect the conversation though.]
When you say you've been summoned before...what do you mean?
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[ it's best to hold onto hope for now, he thinks. ]
Ah. [ a small smile. ] My current master summoned me with this body. Normally, this [ shifts the naginata slightly ] is my only body, my true form.
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[and yet she's still very much going to be thinking about these things. instead of fixating on that, she's looking at the naginata curiously.]
So...it's like having a little more freedom than where you were before. Are you ever going to have to go back to your true form?
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That's right. We may not know how just yet, but we have the tools to find the answers.
[ and everyone is sooo smart. he believes in them. ]
A lot more than I had before! Wielding my own weapon was a new and exciting experience. The first time I tasted food, it was more than I could ever imagine. Being able to move the way humans do really opens the world to you. [ hah. his expression falters for just a moment, but he tries to even it out before he speaks again. ] When my current master no longer has need of me, I will likely return to what I was before.
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but the latter is less cute. actually, this is kind of bad, and she gives him a questioning look as she assesses that. that seems...unfair? that seems kind of unfair to bring someone into a world and then remove them when you don't need them.]
Even if your master doesn't need you, would you not be able to find another purpose? [she's asking this, but she does...also, in a sense, sort of understand a little. what comes from something must return to something. but that's their world. she knows other places have other rules.]
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I don't know if that will be possible. [ before she can ask, he continues on, ] I have this body because of Master's magic. Without their power to sustain it, what is there that I can do?
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...I guess it would depend if you would want to be sustained like this without being with your master. [magic is also a lot trickier.]
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I don't know, [ is the answer he settles on. ] I am lucky for the time I've had, and every memory is precious.
...But I exist for my master, to serve them. Even before being given this body, that was all I knew. To exist without them... even if it is possible, I don't know what I would do.
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Maybe it isn't something you need to think on now. The most important thing is finding a way to get back to your master, isn't it? They still need you now. [and it's the present that's important. while the past can't be changed, they can still move forward and create a future to be the way they want it to be.]
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You are right. They have other touken danshi, of course, and another naginata if that is what they need, but I don't want to be away for too long. Even if my master doesn't need me right away, there is someone I'm still waiting for, after all, and I would hate to miss their return.
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Who are you waiting for? That partner you mentioned?
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His name is Imanotsurugi. After our last mission, he left on a journey to become stronger.
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How long ago was that? Have you heard from him since he left at all?
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[especially if they're all stuck here anyway for a while, but she does not say this.]
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