minutemen | 7 ❀ Assignments

7 ❀ Assignments

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.

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Missing Ichigo's quiet arrival, he gives a slight start at the comment, and abashed busies himself with adjusting the chairs.

"I'll try chamomile, please. ...Do you think it's true, that a watched pot never boils?" He'd just been zoned out while staring at it, but he's very pointedly not looking at it, now. "I'd regret having delayed the tea."

He notices that and quickly apologises as he comes closer.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you, Tonbokiri-dono.”

He nods and hands Tonbo the packet of chamomile tea leaves.

“Mn? Well, I’m pretty sure it’s just a saying. As long as there’s a flame under the pot, the water will eventually boil.”

He shakes his head- it was his fault for so uncharacteristically letting his attention wander.

"Right? I believe so as well." While still embarrassed to have asked such an inane thing, it is oddly very relieving to him to have Ichigo so straight-forwardly answer.

He turns his attention to the packet, peering inside. The little yellow and white flowers look so cheerful, and the fragrance that comes from them so mild, he feels a little better already.

"It smells nice." (Not the most inspired comment, but it's true.)

And still waiting for that pot to boil...

“It’s a really relaxing smell, isn’t it? I hope it does help you sleep.”

(Not looking at the pot, not looking...)

"My thanks. I hope so as well. ... Not that I feel like going back to sleep any time soon, but rest is important to these bodies."

He hands the packet back to Ichigo as he offers, "Shall I warm the cups?" From the sound of the water, it shouldn't be much longer before it comes to a full boil.

"Yes, especially since tomorrow is probably going to be a long day.."

Ichigo takes the packet back for now and nods with a little yawn. "Sure."

Again, he is so sorry to keep Ichigo up this late.

Swirling the hot water around the cups in a practised motion, he then hands the cups to Ichigo, to allow him to fix the tea.

"Do you think the enemy will finally show themselves tomorrow? ... Or it will be another long day of scouting?"

He can't quite keep the sigh from his tone - scouting is fine, but it's not his strength.

“Thank you.”

And he goes about preparing the tea.

“I hope so. We seem to have been on this mission for forever now... I suppose if we don’t find them by tomorrow, it’s probably best to just turn back.”

He hums in agreement that this mission has felt like forever.

"I would hate to turn back at this point. It feels too much like giving up. And, to be honest, I would like to think that the enemy is the cause of my unusual nightmares. ... However, Aruji did say that there was a small chance they would not appear... So it is not impossible."

He hands Tonbokiri his tea. “Here you go. I hope it’s to your liking.”

He takes a sip of his tea. “True, but we are all beginning to feel fatigued and it’s affecting our morale ...”

He sets his tea down. “... the enemy is the cause of your nightmares...? What makes you think that?”

He takes a small sip as well, and smiles at the mild flavour. Again, not the most inspired comment, but, "It's nice."

He also sets his cup down at the question, although he keeps his hands wrapped around the warmth of the cup.

"Nothing much more than coincidence, actually. Which is why I haven't put the idea forward. But this is the third time now we've moved the exploration northward, and each time my nightmares grew worse. I think... I simply voiced my idea just now because of the intensity of my dream this evening, and that three times begins to be too much for coincidence.

"But even so, even if there was some fact behind this inkling, how could the enemy do such a thing? I have no idea what mechanism they could possibly employ that would make nightmares enter the mind." He shakes his head and takes another sip of tea.

Ichigo sets his cup down and carefully considers what Tonbokiri has told him.

“... that goes sound very troubling... what exactly are your nightmares about? Have they all been the same nightmare? Is there any link between them?”

Tonbokiri frowns, his eyebrows drawing together as he's asked to recall those dreams and analyze them.

"...It makes me uneasy, as if speaking of it will give it truth. However I shall do my best.

"At first it was being quietly threatened in the dream. Formless enemies in a suffocating atmosphere. A sense that they were surrounding me with blades. The second time, there was the addition of them holding my allies at swordpoint. No matter how I moved... someone's throat was cut. It was unsettling and upsetting to be sure, but still shrouded in the fog of a dream.

"This third time, however, was by far the most vivid. ... The Ichigo in my dream had been corrupted, but because I did not know, I allowed him close as to face down those formless threats together... Perhaps when you touched me to try and wake me, that is when I felt like I was being pinned." He shakes his head and takes a long drink of the tea, breathing in the steam slowly.

"It was so vivid... I shudder to think of what would have happened to me should I have been killed in the dream. It surely would have been only a moment longer."

Ichigo is silent for a long while before he utters a single question in a serious tone.

“I was the only one who was corrupted in all your dreams so far?”

Tonbokiri frowns at the question, but doesn't have to reflect long before nodding.

"You were."

It is a natural question to ask, but he wonderers if there is some futher reason for Ichigo asking.

Ichigo sighs. Does this mean that deep inside, he might (still) have subconscious desire to change the past?

“... perhaps we really should head back. I... am quite fatigued and perhaps it might put me in greater danger of... turning out like in your dream.”

Tonbokiri continues frowning, still not liking the idea of a retreat, but nods slowly as he understands the wisdom of it.

"I trust you. However if you feel like that... I cannot disagree. Perhaps Aruji could send a fresh new unit, now that we have come so close to pinning down the enemy's location. It will give them a chance to relocate, but still... it would be better than a fatigued unit facing them."

“Yes, a fresh unit would be best... if we insist on pushing forward, your nightmares might become reality. I shall go contact Aruji now and take all responsibility for the retreat.” Since he is the captain.

Ichigo finishes the rest of his tea, then gets up. “I will take my leave now, Tonbokiri-dono. I’ll bid you goodnight.” With that he turns to leave the room.

"Ichigo-dono..." Tonbokiri speaks out to make the sword not leave yet, but he hesitates, for a moment not sure why he stopped him. Perhaps-

"...Thank you. For everything tonight." From helping him through the nightmare, to the walk and the tea, to listening about the dreams, to taking responsibility for voiding the unit's mission.

He tries to smile his gratitude, although his heart feels heavy somehow. "Good night."

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7 ❀ Assignments

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