Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out.
Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?!
Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix...
Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside.
Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.
He wouldn't exactly call this 'for fun'... But Muramasa is this kind of sword. Perhaps he should simply be glad to spend time with him, odd though the situation may be.
His wry smile at that turns into an outright laugh at the horse's antics.
"I agree, you won't be beat with assistance like that."
Still, he tugs at his obi. It wouldn’t do to let that become horse feed—the Citadel’s budget is tight enough as it is.
“Anyway, our friend here seems quite agitated. Would you mind…?” You’re better with animals here anyway, Brother—or at least you’re not half as likely to get chewed up for your troubles.
"Muramasa-- you're going to get yourself misunderstood again." That's enough flirting with the horse, please.
But as asked, he does come closer and pets the horse on his head, speaking to calm him.
"Now, now, Hanakouji. Please let Muramasa go. Mm, are you trying to stop him, or encourage him, I wonder..." Perhaps this horse is as capricious as the Heian swords who are from the same era. And like those swords, perhaps he can be distracted with a snack. As if performing slight-of-hand, Tonbokiri reveals a small, thin carrot that he'd picked up on his way to help Muramasa.
"Either way, I hope you like the taste of carrot more than that of obi."
"It is true, they have little attention for such things. As do I."
He's demonstrated over and over again that he's not put off by Muramasa's legend. But having Sengo Muramasa believe better of himself is another matter.
Tonbokiri returns to the bench and sits down on an edge that is not taken up by his drying yukata.
"Mm. I wonder if I should ask something in return for rescuing your obi."
Not that affecting nonchalance does much when he’s perfectly willing to go above and beyond, anyway. But some swords just can’t help putting on a spectacle sometimes.
"Oh? I best take advantage of this favourable wind, then."
It is a rare chance indeed to ask something of the capricious sword, but with the situation upon him, he is coming up blank for what to do.
Well. Muramasa was undoubtedly skipping his chores again, so perhaps the obi is worth a little work in exchange.
"Then, would you brush down one of the horses for me. I can't do it until I dry off, and you might curry favour with the horses if you help groom them."
The horses still won’t talk, brother. Do your worst.
Although as far as favors go, this one is pretty tame. Sure he’d rather be outside nude and flexing in the rain, but his fate is not to be. And so he shrugs and picks up one of the brushes.
“It’s good to spoil my brother every once in a while, even if he’s the one keeping me from having a little fun today.”
"Oh, this one is honoured." He says it lightly, just as he knows that Muramasa is being light-hearted now as well.
Propping one arm on his leg, he rests his chin on his hand as he watches Muramasa pick up the brush.
He wonders if it's just the situations he's been in recently, but he's now noticing how often Muramasa calls him 'brother'. Being alone together is a relatively rare occurrence the more swords Honmaru gains, and the atmosphere between them is good right now so... Perhaps now would be a good time to ask about it.
"Muramasa..." Mm. Actually, broaching such an uncharted topic is a bit challenging, isn't it. But nothing for it but to be straight-forward. "...When you call me 'brother', do you have any particular meaning in mind when you say it?"
“‘Meaning’?” he pipes up, pausing in his work for a moment before a soft whinny of protest from the horse spurs him to continue. In any case, there’s no rule against chatting while working.
“Do you mean, if I consider you a ‘brother’ in the human way?” He knows the word can sometimes be used to comrades-in-arms or very close friends, after all.
“Huh…I’ve never really thought much about it myself.”
He wouldn't say 'bothered'... It's not like he only talks about things that bother him. (Right?)
That question though-- Of course there is no need to even think 'why would you say that?' He definitively answers,
"Not at all."
But he does have to pause a beat to think about what he does think of.
"When you call me 'brother' or 'family', it confirms to me that we are comrades with a especial bond. Something different from my unit members, or the other Great Spears."
“A bond created by our ‘father’, you mean?” he replies, giving the horse a pat on the back now that he’s done with that particular chore.
“Or a bond formed by our masters over the years?” Of course the answer to that is plain. Sengo hasn’t referred to any other sword within the Citadel as his “brother.” He shrugs.
“Well…whatever the case. I’m quite interested in seeing how this ‘bond’ develops. The humans have come up with so many different kinds…”
Muramasa is rather diligent with a given chore, once he puts his mind to it.
Between those two questions, Tonbokiri also thinks that the answer is plain, so he makes no comment.
His posture shifts slightly and he smiles into the fist propped on his chin when Muramasa says that he is interested in seeing how the bond develops. It's... somehow reassuring to know Muramasa wants him around that long to find out.
He then sits up straighter, and allows Muramasa to see his smile in reply.
"That is very true. The longer we experience being in human form, the more we are likely to find as well."
Hey, it’s not like Tonbokiri will leave him alone and unsupervised…!
“Huhu, and we’ll have quite a long time to figure that out.” He leans back against the horse, treating it like a backrest for the moment, but despite having been brushed down it’s taking none of his shit. It quickly moves away, swatting at him with its tail as it does so. Sengo can only stumble for a moment and laugh.
“Well, we’ll get along better than the horses do, anyway.”
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His wry smile at that turns into an outright laugh at the horse's antics.
"I agree, you won't be beat with assistance like that."
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Still, he tugs at his obi. It wouldn’t do to let that become horse feed—the Citadel’s budget is tight enough as it is.
“Anyway, our friend here seems quite agitated. Would you mind…?” You’re better with animals here anyway, Brother—or at least you’re not half as likely to get chewed up for your troubles.
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But as asked, he does come closer and pets the horse on his head, speaking to calm him.
"Now, now, Hanakouji. Please let Muramasa go. Mm, are you trying to stop him, or encourage him, I wonder..." Perhaps this horse is as capricious as the Heian swords who are from the same era. And like those swords, perhaps he can be distracted with a snack. As if performing slight-of-hand, Tonbokiri reveals a small, thin carrot that he'd picked up on his way to help Muramasa.
"Either way, I hope you like the taste of carrot more than that of obi."
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“But I can assure you—the only one misunderstanding is you. The horses do not care for reputations.”
Of course, he can’t say the same about a lot of the other members of the Citadel, since their identities tend to be founded on (in)famy. But still.
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He's demonstrated over and over again that he's not put off by Muramasa's legend. But having Sengo Muramasa believe better of himself is another matter.
Tonbokiri returns to the bench and sits down on an edge that is not taken up by his drying yukata.
"Mm. I wonder if I should ask something in return for rescuing your obi."
no subject
Not that affecting nonchalance does much when he’s perfectly willing to go above and beyond, anyway. But some swords just can’t help putting on a spectacle sometimes.
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"Oh? I best take advantage of this favourable wind, then."
It is a rare chance indeed to ask something of the capricious sword, but with the situation upon him, he is coming up blank for what to do.
Well. Muramasa was undoubtedly skipping his chores again, so perhaps the obi is worth a little work in exchange.
"Then, would you brush down one of the horses for me. I can't do it until I dry off, and you might curry favour with the horses if you help groom them."
(Curry favour! Hahaha~)
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Although as far as favors go, this one is pretty tame. Sure he’d rather be outside nude and flexing in the rain, but his fate is not to be. And so he shrugs and picks up one of the brushes.
“It’s good to spoil my brother every once in a while, even if he’s the one keeping me from having a little fun today.”
no subject
Propping one arm on his leg, he rests his chin on his hand as he watches Muramasa pick up the brush.
He wonders if it's just the situations he's been in recently, but he's now noticing how often Muramasa calls him 'brother'. Being alone together is a relatively rare occurrence the more swords Honmaru gains, and the atmosphere between them is good right now so...
Perhaps now would be a good time to ask about it.
"Muramasa..." Mm. Actually, broaching such an uncharted topic is a bit challenging, isn't it. But nothing for it but to be straight-forward. "...When you call me 'brother', do you have any particular meaning in mind when you say it?"
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“Do you mean, if I consider you a ‘brother’ in the human way?” He knows the word can sometimes be used to comrades-in-arms or very close friends, after all.
“Huh…I’ve never really thought much about it myself.”
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"That's all right. I haven't given it much thought either." Not much, but a little. They are partially human now, after all.
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“So tell me, Tonbokiri: what do you think of when I say that word? Are you ashamed that I would be so familiar?”
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That question though-- Of course there is no need to even think 'why would you say that?' He definitively answers,
"Not at all."
But he does have to pause a beat to think about what he does think of.
"When you call me 'brother' or 'family', it confirms to me that we are comrades with a especial bond. Something different from my unit members, or the other Great Spears."
no subject
“Or a bond formed by our masters over the years?” Of course the answer to that is plain. Sengo hasn’t referred to any other sword within the Citadel as his “brother.” He shrugs.
“Well…whatever the case. I’m quite interested in seeing how this ‘bond’ develops. The humans have come up with so many different kinds…”
no subject
Between those two questions, Tonbokiri also thinks that the answer is plain, so he makes no comment.
His posture shifts slightly and he smiles into the fist propped on his chin when Muramasa says that he is interested in seeing how the bond develops. It's... somehow reassuring to know Muramasa wants him around that long to find out.
He then sits up straighter, and allows Muramasa to see his smile in reply.
"That is very true. The longer we experience being in human form, the more we are likely to find as well."
no subject
“Huhu, and we’ll have quite a long time to figure that out.” He leans back against the horse, treating it like a backrest for the moment, but despite having been brushed down it’s taking none of his shit. It quickly moves away, swatting at him with its tail as it does so. Sengo can only stumble for a moment and laugh.
“Well, we’ll get along better than the horses do, anyway.”
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Of course, he can't help but chuckle and sigh at the antics between Muramasa and the horse.
"I should hope we will. So long as you don't try to use me as a backrest either."
And he should hope they will have a long time to figure it out, too.