7 ❀ Assignments

[konnosuke]

1. Internal Affairs Perhaps the most mundane of assignments but someone has to help keep this citadel running, right? There are hoses to be fed, fields to be weeded, and don't forget the other odd duties here and there. With this many spirits inone citadel, someone has to help make sure everyone has dinner and the laundry is done! Hopefully you have a good partner helping you today but as some might know, sometimes the bigger question isn't who they are but where they are... Someone has to do the dirty work! So where are you?! 2. Expeditions Not everything is about fighting. Sometimes there are assignments to gather intel or help clean up after another squad. There are small things that can be done to make sure history follows its course and some fo those things include feeding the hungry after a disaster or just making sure the right people meet after their paths were thrown off. Expeditions are perfect for the new addition that needs to be eased into missions before being sent to the frontline. 3. Frontlines - Before Whether you're ready or not, it's time to go out to the frontlines. There's a big mission everyone needs to do and history is wildly off course. A squad is gathered up and sent to a difficult time and a battle is inevitable. Is this moment painful for you? Well, such is the nature of a touken danshi, right? Don't get too close to "That Person" and don't get any funny ideas. ... Also, where's [insert name of problematic sword boy that was assigned on this mission for some god unknown reason]? Or maybe it's been 20 years and you're still on this mission! Sometimes missions last longer than a few days or weeks. They can drag on for months and those months sometimes become years. How have you been keeping your cover and making a living in this era? Remember, don't stand out or cause too much trouble. Are you homesick? When was the last time you saw the saniwa or your friends back home? Will this mission ever end?! 4. Frontlines - Battle Finally, it's time to fight! Everything you've done has prepared you for this moment and it's time to resolve it once and for all. Did you gather enough information to prepare for all of these enemies? You didn't get any funny ideas that might put you on the wrong side of this assignment, did you? Regardless of what happens, it would appears that [That Person You Keep Losing] has finally decided to show up when you needed them the most so at least you don't have to worry about that anymore. 5. Frontlines - After The battle is finally over and it's time to go back home. Was the mission a success or a total failure? Maybe you're coming back home with a +1 in your party. Regardless, it's time to get yourself checked out now. You've worked hard and it's time to get those repairs in. Hopefully they aren't too severe! But those with heavier injuries can expect to be down for a few days. Don't worry, there will certainly be plenty of bedside visits. 6. Wildcard This is basically an open post to deal with swords doing miscellaneous assignments whether it's mundane chores or mission based assignments. Feel free to come up with your own prompts for things like "babysitting the problematic sword boy," "have you seen Mikazuki Munechika?," and anything else you can think of.

Comments

[oncealifetime]

Sorry, Sengo, you’re just not his type. Go strip for someone else.

“Only superficially though. Now, Sengo-dono, will you please try to think of a more constructive solution to our current problem,”

[nakedsteel]

Oh, should he have tried a more direct approach after all? These old-timers can get really stuck in their ways, after all…

“‘Superficially’?” he chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. He understands why most people refuse to take him seriously, but geez. He shrugs.

“Well, if you’re so keen on going home, I’d suggest checking the river, then.”

[oncealifetime]

Don’t you dare try a more direct approach, Sengo. He will end you.

“Yes. You”ll never get to know what a person is really like by judging them from appearance alone.”

He looks in the direction of the river. “The river? The troops are attracted to water?”

[nakedsteel]

“Exactly,” he mutters, feeling a pang that he’d just lost something with this conversation. But after all, Ichigo means business, and flippant moron though Sengo might be, he’s not an asshole.

He leans back against the trunk of the tree, crossing his arms over his head as he does so.

“But it’s hot out today. They’re probably playing in the river, where the current isn’t too rough on them.” He grins. “Huhuhu, at least some of us are willing to undress here.”

[oncealifetime]

Ichigo nods. That kind of makes sense? He starts moving towards the river, but then he pauses and looks back at him with a frown when he sees him just sitting there.

"Aren't you going to help look for them, Sengo-dono?"

Do you expect him to do all the work? And going to ignore the undressing comment for now. He's also starting to feel a lot of pity for Tonbokiri...

[nakedsteel]

If he had a hat he’d even tip it over his face for a truly picturesque image of laziness. Alas, all he can do is shut his eyes, before letting one open to peer up at his ever-responsible partner and his query.

“They’ll get bored eventually,” he responds with another shrug. “And here I thought you’d be a lot more eager to get away from me, Ichigo-dono.”

[oncealifetime]

“And they’ll just run off to do something else. We need to catch them before they leave!”

Ichigo just looks at him for a moment then sighs.

“You are my responsibility right now, so I can’t just leave you here.”

[nakedsteel]

“Hah…your responsibility, is it?” He really can’t help a chuckle at that. It wouldn’t be the first time anyone’s seen him that way, given his reputation around the Citadel, but…

“It’s kind of an odd thing to call someone who gives your brothers piggyback rides.”

[oncealifetime]

“Yes.” He is older after all and also because you are Tonbokiri’s brother and Tonbo has become a good friend of his.

That causes him to blink a bit before he frowns. “...piggyback rides...?” Surely they are perfectly innocent and Sengo is just trying to get a rise out of him, but still Ichigo can’t help feeling quite concerned.

[nakedsteel]

“They get bored when you’re not around, sometimes.” He shrugs. Seems the little ones are the same no matter where they are, but Sengo doesn’t mind. In any case, he hasn’t once tried to rile Ichigo up since they started this mission—at least not on purpose. And he certainly won’t try to do so now.

So he does rise to his feet like a good boy, making a mental note to himself to find out some other way of entertaining the troops once they get back into the Citadel. For now, he has to attend to the responsible one…

“Anyway, after you, Ichigo-dono. They’re more likely to listen to you, anyway.”

[oncealifetime]

Ichigo studies Sengo for a moment longer, before deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, for now, that the piggyback rides are really just that. Tonbokiri did warn him that Sengo tends to say or do things that may be misconstrued after all...

"I see. I suppose I should thank you for keeping them entertained then."

Ichigo waits to make sure Sengo really is coming along before turning to lead the way. "I do hope so. This is certainly the first time I've ever encountered such irresponsible troops."

[nakedsteel]

Sengo is indeed following behind. His gaze might wander here and there, but he remains for the most part on the course Ichigo takes.

“I’ve heard that they take on some aspect of whoever forged them,” he says conversationally. “And if I had to take a guess…either Mutsunokami or Mikazuki-dono himself could be responsible for this batch.”

[oncealifetime]

Good Sengo! You deserve a headpat later!

“They do...?”

And now he can’t help imagining the runaway troops as lots of tiny Mikazuki! But that does explain why they might have just run off like that without warning! He sighs.

“If only we had tea to bait them with then....”

[nakedsteel]

“Huhuhu, I’m sure you’ll do fine as their bait.”

…Does that mean his good boy license is now revoked?

[oncealifetime]

Revoked! Such a pity, you were doing so well!

A light blush colours his cheeks when he hears that. “No-no, I won’t.”

[nakedsteel]

Dammit!! And here he thought that was a good idea too…!

Sengo places a hand on Ichigo’s shoulder.

“I was joking.” Probably. “But they won’t take you seriously if you get all flustered trying to order them around, you know.”

[oncealifetime]

He reaches up to cover his cheeks a bit, trying to will his blush away. He can’t help it! Mikazuki makes him flustered even if he isn’t here! And now the thought of the troops being lots of tiny Mikazuki.... and Sengo talking about using him as bait...!

“I... That’s true. Just... give me a moment...”

[nakedsteel]

It’s really sad for Sengo that he can’t be privy to Ichigo’s fantasies right now. Whatever’s making him blush?

Still, maybe Sengo can wring it out of him yet. He doesn’t even miss a beat at the other’s reply—

“To undress?”

[oncealifetime]

... he hopes no one ever knows what he's thinking about right now!

Shut up, Sengo! You are not helping! The intensity of Ichigo's blush goes up several notches!!

"Sengo-dono! What-what are you talking about?? I told you the troops aren't interested in-"

But if they really are affected by Mika- No! He must banish the thought! And he's never ever stripping in public! Never!

[nakedsteel]

“Then what are they interested in, Ichigo-dono?”

It’s not like Sengo knows Mikazuki quite as well as a certain wife does, after all! But his ignorance is a small price to pay to see Ichigo get all flustered like this. The love between the elderly sure is something…

[oncealifetime]

Ichigo cries out in frustration and embarrassment.

“I... I don’t know!! But I’m sure it’s anything but seeing me nak- Why are we even talking about this??”

[nakedsteel]

Hey, Sengo warned him to leave well enough alone.

…Not to say that it totally wasn’t worth it to follow Ichigo along and get him all flustered like this. Heh.

But despite his little eccentricities, Sengo does care about his elders and knows that whatever’s going on between Ichigo and Mikazuki isn’t really any of his business. So here’s a way out:

“Does Mikazuki-dono have a favorite song, perhaps? Or some line of poetry that’s likely to get his attention?”

[oncealifetime]

Asking about poetry Mikazuki likes does not help, Sengo!

Somehow the blush on Ichigo’s flushed cheeks manages to turn a shade brighter! “The... the type of poetry he likes is not suitable for public recitation!”

He then turns away abruptly and matches onwards. “Maybe the troops are perfectly normal and nothing like him...! This is all just your speculation after all!”

[nakedsteel]

Sengo snorts in an attempt to suppress another chuckle. In spite of his efforts to be considerate, he still ended up making things worse. As expected of a Muramasa blade!

“So it seems that Mikazuki-dono is fond of undressing despite all his layers, huhu. I’m a little jealous.”

Why yes he’s just going to ignore that perfectly reasonable second statement. This is more important, Ichigo!!!

[oncealifetime]

“No, he-“

Actually that is kind of true, maybe, considering how Mikazuki did strip in front of him when they were reunited.... but, but that was only because the weather was so hot!!

“No, he doesn’t.... well, not usually... he...” A pause and a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. “Can we please stop talking about this, Sengo-dono?”