minutemen | 2 ❀ bad end meme

2 ❀ bad end meme

❝ANOTHER BAD END MEME❞

A popular fan theory is that the enemy swords you fight are actually your swords from an alternate universe who wished to change history. For this meme, feel free to make up your own starters or use one of the prompts below. Remember to state if your character is corrupted, not, or if you have no preference.

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1. How could you let this happen? They wanted to be left alone, their mood was poor, and maybe you should have noticed the signs but now that you have, it’s too late. They can’t stop these thoughts in their head and something in their soul has turned dark and ugly. Is it too late? Maybe you can get through to them… if not, are you ready to draw your sword?

2. Possession. Even the smallest trace of doubt can attract them— evil spirits. Once the dark spirit has latched on to your soul, it takes over and consumes you. Maybe the possession is gradual or maybe it happens suddenly. All you know is that everyone has regrets and anyone can doubt… this could happen to anyone.

3. In a moment. You've been assigned on a mission. It's nothing surprising but this is one that hits a little closer to the heart and not in a good way. It's natural to wonder what you would do if you could go back in time and change a certain thing. But right now, it's actually in your power to make it happen. Can you do it? And if you do, can you deal with the consequences?

4. Becoming your own enemy. Your mission is to go back in time and let things happen as they were meant to be but their fall into despair was never supposed to happen, right? And so you went back in time to prevent their misfortunes but you keep failing again and again until, this time, you think you’ve got it. This time, you’ll be able to save your friend - but will you be able to save yourself too?

5. Reborn again. When destroyed in battle, the sword disappears only to return again anew. You can’t choose the fate you’re born with though and this time, someone has returned… on the wrong side.

6. The other side. But there are three sides to this war, aren't there? You are the third side: the Kebiishi. This army thinks they're preserving history but you know better, don't you? It's not their fault... the only history they know is the history they ruined. The saniwa's army doesn't know how to stop and that's why it's up to you to put an end to them.

7. Actually not so innocent. You don't even realize you're doing it. You go to sleep, you black out, and the next thing you know, there's blood on your sword. But from what? How? Did you do it? You don't... remember doing this but everyone is saying you did something wrong. But you're innocent! You swear!

8. The cure is ineffective. They saved you. You'd turned on them before and you were forced to commit grave sins against your will but they saved you. They stopped you. Your soul was purified by the saniwa sage. Did it hurt? Maybe you remember. Maybe you don't. But all that matters you thought you were saved... until it became clear that you weren't. You're living on borrowed time. You're a ticking time bomb. Are you ready for part two?

9. Wildcard. Bring the pain. Make your own/mix and match.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( She frowns, )

... When the others came, he fled. ( Looking down. She can feel most of her swords to some degree. She can usually sense when they're nearby or if things are wrong, ) I can't sense his presence... or anything dark, either.

( Tsurumaru Kuninaga is missing. )

Don't worry, Mikazuki-san. Hasebe and the others will take care of it for now.

... I'll bring him back.

[He knows he sounds tired, but to him right now, this is of the utmost importance. Tsurumaru Kuninaga is their comrade. He has to be brought back.]

We'll find him and bring him back. I promise.

[And if they can't... then at least they'll eliminate him themselves. Mikazuki can't imagine Tsurumaru, even a Tsurumaru so far gone he's attacking them, would want it any other way.]

How is everyone else? How many are hurt?

( Mikazuki promises to bring him back and she knows that if he says it, he'll make sure it happens. Mikazuki is reliable like that. He'll bring Tsurumaru back no matter the cost and by any means necessary. )

... I know.

( No one will leave Tsurumaru to handle this alone. )

Ichigo-san said Tsurumaru found some people before they knew what was happening. Others came to help but they were hurt badly. We were all caught by surprise.

( No one saw it coming. )

The Konnosukes are checking on everyone now.

( And she'll have to leave soon to tend to the others. But Mikazuki is the one that she saw hurt right before her ees and thus, he's the one that feels closer to her heart. Perhaps if she was older, she could set those feelings aside and tend to things less personally. )

[Ichigo... Ichigo can hold down the first with a cool head while Mikazuki can't. That's good. So can the Konnosukes.

They will come back from this, for sure. They have to. They cannot try as hard as they can when their Master is holding it together so bravely after what happened.]

Go tend to the others, Aruji. They need you too. I will be fine for now.

[The blood is mostly stopped and Yagen is coming in. He can get patched up while she takes care of the more injured ones.]

( She shakes her head, )

No. You were... he... ( Stabbed right through Mikazuki in front of her. Cut him down in cold blood like they were no one to be concerned with.

But she knows that Mikazuki is right. She needs to tend to the others. They might even need her more than Mikazuki right now. She looks at his sword next to them and reaches to touch the sheathe with her fingers. The blade is fine, having not been used in the most recent encounter but...

It's with reluctance that she rises to her feet. ) I'll be back.

( She stops just before the blood stain on the tatami in her doorway. There's so much and it's so fresh... )

Stay here.

( In her room. It's probably easiest to not move him for a while.

Bracing herself, she leaves to see the damage. Of course, she won't go alone. Another sword is hovering nearby and is quick to escort her to where she wishes to be. The damage is serious. Yes, the citadel will need to be repaired in places but that all seems so minor compared to the other damages. So many are hurt and there's so much blood. Even more, this seems to be a real hit to everyone's morale... How could they be betrayed like this? No one says it out loud around her but she isn't a fool. She can tell it's what everyone is thinking because the same thought weighs heavily on her own mind.

Of course, she doesn't return to Mikazuki for some time. Many are hurt and need repairs. It's there that her powers are most necessary. Once the process is started and all that can be done is to let her magic work with time, she'll return to find the tachi. )

[In the time she was away, someone has helped Mikazuki out of his bloodstained clothing, and it is folded to the side. The wounds on his chest have been bandaged, and he's been helped into a clean yukata. The bloodied futon has been taken away and replaced with a fresh one. Someone has made a valiant, but slightly futile attempt to scrub the blood out of the tatami. It will need to be thrown away and replaced anyway, but for now at least, the blood stains are not too prominent.

Mikazuki has been dozing on an off, kept from really drifting off to sleep by the worry and tension, so he hears her come back and opens his eyes.

She looks tired and worried too, and he goes to grab her hand.]

Aruji... you need to rest.

( An old stain is a fresh reminder of everything that has happened.

She steps around the stain and kneels down next to Mikazuki. He takes her hand and she looks down at it before taking it back. )

Not yet.

( How could she possibly rest? Even if the adrenaline has passed and the tiredness has begun to settle in, she doesn't even consider retiring. She would never be able to sleep, she thinks. If Mikazuki is awake then she can stay awake a little longer too. She takes a moment to go over towards her closet, reaching back for a familiar box of sword care supplies.

Setting the box down next to him, she'll collect his sword and kneel down again. She unsheathes the sword and begins to tend to Mikazuki. His sword is fine but even then, a little care can go a long way. She's done this plenty of times already so she can speak easily while working, )

We lost him.

( He's really missing. )

[He doesn't protest when she starts tending to the blade. It's nice, even if it isn't damaged. And Mikazuki knows it's also for her own peace of mind that she is doing this, to reassure herself. She is so young still.

But he does have to protest these words.]

We will find him, Aruji.

[He has to believe they will. That there is still enough of Tsurumaru left inside that they will.

He lets her finish the care of the blade, but then holds out his hand to her again.]

Come here.

Edited 2019-01-20 15:01 (UTC)

( It doesn't take long, especially when you consider there was really nothing wrong with the sword in the first place. When she finishes, she sets the sword down in front of her and frowns. She's done what she can but it doesn't feel like enough.

Looking at Mikazuki's hand, she wonders what he's up to. But she trusts him so she scoots a little closer on her knees, reaching to take his hand... )

[He pulls on it gently to coax her to lie down even as he makes some room at his side. he is big, but she is really small and there's more than enough room for her to lie down and get some rest.

And she needs it, he is adamant about that. She is young still and she needs to rest, and she needs to be able to let go of all of that tension for a little moment.]

( There's some confusion and with that comes some resistance. She isn't sure why she's being brought down all of the sudden when she still feels like there are things to do. She needs to check on the injured, make sure the others are sleeping--

But she also knows that her swords always have her best interest in mind and Mikazuki is no exception. She knows she needs to rest and she relents, laying down next to him. She turns her face, burrowing it into the pillow next to him and a small hand reaches to hold onto his robe. She won't cry-- she rarely ever does-- but today was a trial all the same.

It doesn't take long for the tension in her shoulders to relax, her hold on him begin to slip, and her breathing becomes soft and regular. Mikazuki was right. She needed to rest and she finds it easily. )

[Once he can feel she is truly asleep, Mikazuki gathers his Master closer, putting an arm around her. there is very little chance they will be attacked again so soon, now that they are on guard, but just in case, he will be able to shield her if anything happens.

That thought sustains him, prevents him from straying too far towards Tsurumaru. Where is he now? What is he thinking? Do they really have a chance of bringing him back?

That can wait for later. For now, he just needs to rest to, and he closes his eyes, lulled to sleep bu her gentle breathing by his side.

(There's a certain room in the citadel. It's the saniwa's office but she doesn't use it very often. It's stuffy and dim, close off from windows and natural light. There are so many books that she can not begin to understand on her own. The furniture all feels so big. Maybe some day she'll grow into it but for now, the room makes her feel to small to use comfortably.

She takes a select few people. Of course, there's the most senior Konnosuke but then there is her secretary, her first sword, and someone to represent the first squad. There will be a private conference with some officials who have heard about the attack the day before. When she rounds up the first two swords to take with her, she approaches Mikazuki,)

I'm sorry to ask before you've had time to recover but if it isn't too much trouble... Would you come with me?

(The others that she can find aren't exactly the best speakers. It's nothing against them but some of them simply don't have the patience for the politics involved. Or don't have a full grasp of the little things in the conversation or don't seem to care. For other conferences, it doesn't matter too much but for something this serious, it's important to choose the best swords to represent her.)

Of course, Aruji. It is no trouble.

[Mikazuki, like most of the tsukumogami, has no lost love for the Time government officials. Thy are disconnected from the realities they face every day, and look at a bigger picture that seems nebulous even to them. They don't seem to care much about the hurt and hardships they impose on the Saniwas and their troops.

Unlike most of the tsukumogami here, though, Mikazuki has had dealings with them before. It is not small feat for their master, still young and inexperience,d to have managed to summon one such as him. And from the first day, he has been fiercely protective of her. They all are, but Mikazuki feels even more of a responsibility.

And given the situation, he expects nothing good to happen, and he is on guard more than ever.

He grabs her small hand and squeezes it softly.]

We are by your side, Aruji. And on your side.

( It's no small feat at all to summon a spirit like Mikazuki. Or many of the others at the citadel for that matter. But Mikazuki had been the one that truly caught their attention. Either this child was lucky or had some potential they had to watch. )

Thank you.

( Truly. She's relieved.

The video conference begins nicely enough. Saniwa are valuable and Hana is young. They ask if she is well to which she replies that she and the others are fine. They ask for a report and she does her best. It is simple and factual. She asks Konnosuke to give numbers and he begins to report some numbers and statistics. It's after this that the questions become more difficult. The identity of the traitor is confirmed? How did this happen? Isn't he the same sword from before? Were there not any signs? Does he know anything?

There are other voices at the council, kinder voices that try to soften the interrogation. Of course, their attempts seem to mean turning the blame onto the sword in question. Tsurumaru Kuninaga must be a difficult sword. What was his history? Yes, with a history like that, he must have been susceptible from the start. It's almost like the other speakers forget Hana and her swords are still listening as they debate how to handle this.

He's a national treasure so he can't simply be destroyed. --But it would appear he can't be saved either. Security outweighs value. This is a threat to the very fabric of their history. Who knows what damage he's out causing now. It's in their best interest to just destroy him and cut their losses now instead of risking another betrayal! Besides, they could always create a new one; one clean from whatever taint that has clearly grasped this one's spirit.

Hana is a mild mannered girl, one who is always polite and respectful towards others. She rarely raises her voice, even with her most troublesome spirits. Even now, she keeps quiet though it's clear there are many things that she wishes to say. She can tell that the swords she brought with her are also struggling to keep quiet for much longer. Mutsunokami and Hasebe aren't fools. They can tell that their master is being regarded harshly and set up for failure. To destroy an imperial treasure would be...

Both of them look ready to snap at any moment and if they do, it won't be in a calm manner.

All the while, their saniwa sits calmly. She's much like an obedient child, sitting quietly while adults argue around her. )

[Mikazuki has so far remained silent, listening to everything. he too, is not overly happy with the way these people are calmly talking of destroying Tsurumaru.

And of course, he can read the mood in the room as well. Mutsunokami, their starter sword, is a good man and a great person, but he has little patience for fools, and Hasebe will blow up at the slightest indication that someone is attacking their master. And this will not help right now. Even if Mikazuki himself is boiling under the surface as well. how dare they blame Hana? How dare they blame Tsurumaru when they don't even know what happened?

He takes everyone by surprise when he suddenly stands up, the heavy silk of his robe whispering as he does.]

I beg your pardon, your Excellencies, but if I understood you correctly, you are asking us to destroy an Imperial Treasure? Without even an attempt at salvaging him?

Edited 2019-01-21 18:08 (UTC)

(There's a half second of silence when the others realize that someone else is suddenly speaking who is not among them. Turning towards the screen, facing Hana's office, they search to see who has spoken. Well, at least Mikazuki made it easy by standing. They regard him for a moment, wondering which one will speak,)

"...If necessary."

(There is a clear hesitation. For a council so concerned with things like value and status, the idea of destroying an imperial sword doesn't sit easily with them. Emboldened by someone else speaking first, someone else continues,)

"Haven't you tried to salvage him before? It clearly didn't work so it's best to start over."

(There are murmurs of agreement but another voice, one of the more reasonable ones, argues,)

"Come now, could anyone have truly seen this coming? Or are you implying there are those among us who knew but chose to stay quiet and let this happen?"

(Again, the council seems to break out into arguing among themselves. It's a complicated issue, one that has never happened before, and no one is completely sure how to handle this. The arguing becomes more frustrated, "He can't be saved!" "Do you think anyone can?" "We can't afford to waste time on chances." "Even as we speak, who knows--"

Next to her swords, Hana remains quiet and still but there's a thoughtfulness in her expressions. It's a lot to follow but she thinks she understands enough. Like Mikazuki, she also rises. It's easier to make herself noticed this way than to raise her voice and risk sounding like a child yelling for attention,)

We will bring him back. (She does not believe he is a lost cause like some people might think. One of the softer voices speaks, "But maybe it's best to let someone older and more experienced handle this, Mori-san...") If I need help, I'll ask for it. Please, give us one more chance to make this right. (There's a pause where she wonders whether to continue or not.) ... I know I'm a child. But if I'm not given the chance, I'll never grow.

(She's only saying what is on everyone else's mind right now.

Behind her, Mutsunokami and Hasebe also rise, stepping close to their saniwa.

The one who seems to be in charge relents. One more chance. When it comes to the nature of spirits, there are still many things that humans don't understand. What has happened could have happened to anyone. So this is the last chance: Don't let it happen again. But the task of retrieving the rogue sword is for this citadel alone. Should the rogue spirit cause problems for any other citadel... there aren't any promises.

The conference ends and the young saniwa doesn't relax. There's no time to relax. Such is the nature of being a saniwa; she must grow quickly.)

[No sooner has the feed cut off that Hasebe explodes? Who do these old farts think they are? What right do they have to come in here and act all high and mighty?

He probably could rant like this into the night, so Mikazuki simply cuts in quietly.]

Heshikiri Hasebe. That's enough.

[He might be saying what they are all thinking, but actually agitating the whole Citadel like that is not helpful right now. It's how Hasebe is, though, and he is about to snap at Mikazuki when he sees the look on the tachi's face and suddenly shuts his mouth.

Mikazuki's eyes have darkened, the crescent moons in them glowing softly.

Even Mutsunokami knows better than to mouth off.]

We will find him. But first, we need to make sure the Citadel is repaired and our defenses are strong enough.

( Even Mutsunokami knows when to close his mouth but he isn't happy about it. He'll probably meet with Hasebe and Mikazuki to complain later but now isn't the time. He's been at the citadel long enough to know when his words best reach the sage who summoned him. Right now, she's too tense and giving her too much would only cause anxiety. )

"Those guys got some nerve, though..."

( Asking him to be completely silent is asking for too much. He sits back down, settling down and it's all a show to help get everyone to relax. )

"We got everyone working where we can already but we gotta work something out." ( Something more organized than "Do what you can and try to keep it together for now." They'll have to assign specific touken danshi to certain areas. It's like a whole new set of assignments on top of their ordinary chores. ) "Shokudaikiri and Ookurikara've been out looking for Tsurumaru since yesterday."

( Konnosuke chimes in. According to the Konnosuke with them, they'll be returning by the end of the evening. They'll have a report by tonight. Hasebe also adds that he'll begin to assign tasks to the others and try to get things to return to normal. Even if it's difficult to pretend like nothing happened... normalcy will help everyone recover faster.

There are some things the swords cannot do and Hana understands where they're beginning to lead her, )

... I'll strengthen the barrier in case he comes back. ( They can't be caught off guard y another attack. Of course, it'll take more of her energy to do that. ) Konnosuke, please call back anyone that was out. Mutsunokami-san, we need to be ready for their return.

( There were some squads out on expeditions or sorties. They likely have no idea what's happened back at home and while they'll certainly want to help, they'll have to rest after returning from their assignments. It's important to regroup and recover right now. )

And everyone, ( She lowers her head, ) Thank you.

[It's enough for the three of them to silently agree to what each of them will be doing. Even if they meet later to confirm it.

Mikazuki appears to be lazy and taking it easy most of the time. Given both his value and his level now, he gets sent out when they need heavy hitters, which is not always very often these days. And while he was secretary for a time after he arrived, he's happily relinquished the position to someone else. Mutsunokami is much better at keeping everyone motivated and happy, and Hasebe is much better at organizing the day-to-day happenings at the Citadel. Mikazuki's strengths lie elsewhere, in his long experience and even longer memories.

These books and records that are still too complex for Hana to grasp completely, he will have to delve deep into them. Hopefully, he'll find some information that is worthy of reporting to their Saniwa... or to exploit himself, even without her knowledge if absolutely necessary.]

Aruji, please take a little rest. Someone will bring you a meal. We will be calling back everyone who is out as per your orders and assigning work as needed. Once Shokudaikiri Mitsutada and Ookurikara are back, we will have a clearer picture of where to start looking.

[And right now, he wants her out of the office so he can start snooping around. She doesn't need to be here to work her magic on the forcefields, and in fact it might be best for her to do it from her room so she can rest as soon as she is done.]

Off with the two of you as well. We have work to do.

(One thing Mutsunokami and Hasebe can agree on easily is that Hana should rest and they chime in. There's some breakfast still and lunch is taken care of so rest up and one of them will bring her something to eat.

She shakes her head, though.)

There's no time.

(To rest. Besides, how could she? There are still injured spirits to tend to and though it's difficult to admit out loud... she needs to check on the wellness of the others at the citadel. She'd missed the darkness that had festered within Tsurumaru's spirit. Was he the only one? Or were there others? There's much they don't know about how this darkness works and they can't wait to find out...

But when she looks up at Mikazuki and the others, she smiles. She'll surely be tired later... she's tired right now. But there's no need to worry. She'll do her best.

Mutsunokami and Hasebe both leave to tend to their duties. Hana follows behind them to see the out but she doesn't quite leave. Turning back to look at Mikazuki curiously,)

What will you do, Mikazuki-san?

(She listens to her swords when they speak and as she recalls... Mikazuki hadn't said what he would do exactly.)

[Well, he tried. He knows she won't be resting now. but he will be sure to pick her up later and insist she eats in peace and quiet, at least.

And well, as usual, she is sharp. Sharper than one might expect in someone so young still. But Mikazuki can be cagey with the best of them when he wants to, and he just smiles.]

I should probably rest more as well. It will still be a little while before my injuries are healed completely. Do not worry, Aruji, I don't over exert myself.

[Reading doesn't require much physical strength, after all.]

( She isn't completely convinced. There's a look in her eye as she looks around the study as if to ask, "In here?" Not that there's really any problem with that. She doesn't really use this room and... she trusts everyone to not go through the desk where her own important papers and reports are slowly beginning to collect. The things that are really important are usually recorded with the Konnosukes and they know better than to give that information out freely.

She's seen Mikazuki reading before but more often than not, she couldn't really figure out what or why. He isn't the only one either. Sometimes Hasebe or Mutsunokami will also become curious and turn through the pages of recorded history in this room. She should try to read more too, she thinks... but it's difficult. There are so many old characters and the so much complex grammar... )

Can you really read everything here?( She's genuinely curious. It would make sense that someone as old as him would be able to parse through the old writings here. She gives the room a look once more, ) ... I've been learning how to read.

( From Ishikirimaru and Kasen and so many others. The books in here sill seem intimidating, though. )

I can, yes. And I know you have. Those are still difficult for you, of course, but you will be able to read them too one day. In the meantime, you can always ask us and the Konnosuke. They also know what's in there.

[Mikazuki can give a good summary of what he reads when needed. Right now, though, he's not quite sure of what he's looking for. he has a memory niggling at the back of his mind, but it's vague, which is why he'll need some time to find the right volumes again.]

If there's anything you'd like to try and read, we can try it together one day, Aruji.

[But not now, not when they need all hands on deck. No, when the peace and quiet are back and they can once again spend long, lazy afternoon watching their small master grow, that is when they'll do it.

For now, Mikazuki has a crane to hunt. Most probably, the First Unit will have to be dispatched for this once Tsurumaru is located.]

( It's not a new offer. Others have always offered to help her with her lessons and duties. Even if they're swords, they're more than just swordsmen. It's interesting how so many of them are willing to help her grow. Sometimes she wonders how things may have been in the past if their old masters had been aware of the loyal spirits close to them.

Instead of leaving, she heads further into the room, coming to meet Mikazuki. Stopping in front of him, she raises her hand, beckoning him to lean down. When he does, she'll pet the top of his head gently. It's a habit she picked up from her earlier days when it was just her, Mutsunokami, and Sayo. )

I'll check on you later. But if it starts to hurt, come find me.

( No matter what she's doing, she'll make time. But knowing Mikazuki... she knows he likely won't come to her for something like that. Most of them don't so she has to be more proactive. )

... We'll bring him back, Mikazuki-san.

( He's spent all of this time reassuring her, she should return the favor. After all, Mikazuki has known Tsurumaru longer than she has. )

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