aitou | catchall; aymeric

[ Aymeric accepts the tea!! It looks like he got bandaged up and also has a sling for one arm. Overall, looking better. ]

Well enough for conversation since I believe that is what you seek.

[ But the vibes are! Sad. Guilty. ]

[Well--it's true that he wants to know, but.]

We don't have to. I just wanted to be sure you were okay.

[He likes Aymeric a lot; he can't miss that whatever happened to them was clearly very relevant, but he's mostly here because he cares.]

... I know, Ser Yamatonokami, and I thank you for your care and concern.

[ There's a wave of gratitude above the sads. He knows that the trip is Sword related. ]

'Twould be remiss not to tell you of the trip when it mirrors your star. Does the Battle of Hakodate, June 20th of 1869, mean aught?

[Yasusada wasn't going to lie about it anyway, but even if he'd wanted to, the startled look on his face would give him away.]

That was... where Hijikata-san died. Our vice commander. [...Pain, then, though it's an old ache, not the sharp throb of a new wound.] The end of the Shinsengumi, and the era of swords.

[ HE DOESN'T KNOW SHIT OF WHAT YASUSADA SAYS, but he gets the gist that it was an important battle. Ends of eras always are. He nods because he recognizes the name. ]

We were dispatched to watch history march its course, but... 'Twould seem my sword had a different mind. I became a vessel for its emotions, dark yet sorrowful, and I did what I could to change fate.

That came with bringing harm to Prompto and Meteion. I had slain both before we returned.

[His emotions flare up into concern and alarm, then--because he knows what Aymeric is describing, even if he's never seen it happen firsthand.

Softly--]

...Corruption.

[ He only nods because Yasusada must know more than him? ]

... Shushu had told me of lost souls making the Retrograde army once, but not this.

[Yeah; Yasusada nods slowly.]

...It's different, I think. I don't know very much about it--I've never seen it happen myself. But it affects both the sword and their wielder.

... A part of me wished to have known, but it may have mattered not. At the backstage room, or I believe that's what they call it, I was enthralled to don on the clothing and take the sword provided.

[ Just frowning, obvious frustration. ]

'Twas not a choice.

[...Well all of this sounds terrible but he's a little confused--]

Backstage room...?

Aye, at the beginning we were performing for a concert... Odd as the stage and audience were, dangers were nil.

[ the WHIPlash is coming. ]

Edited 2022-03-18 18:54 (UTC)

[There's a little spark of fear in him at the word "stage", because sometimes you have CYOA trauma... but he nods, encouraging Aymeric to continue.]

We sang and dance at first for regular fans. They were... Zealous, I suppose. They cheered loudly and begged for Prompto's socks.

[ Hmm. ]

Then the audience changed to the elderly and we were expected to perform a number more traditional, despite one of us being knowledgeable in Japanese culture. The grandmothers, I think they were... More difficult to please yet overzealous. They climbed onto stage...

[ He stops and looks to a direction or two. ]

[His vibes are just more and more WHAT?]

They climbed onto the stage?!

[ One moment, his attention does come back. ]

... Aye, they did, and thought to help us with our art since we barely had an inkling. Instruments were provided, but we were improvising.

[ Massages his temples. ]

They were stretching Prompto like rope...

Traditional dances... [Onstage? Old people??? STRETCHING?????] Eh, do you mean like matsuri dances? Or like noh mai?

[ HOW WOULD HE KNOW! WHAT THOSE ARE! ]

... I had a drum, Meteion some bells, and I couldn't quite figure what Prompto had.

[ him just like ????????????? ]

The senior who approached me and started beating on the drum encouraged me to yell soran.

[LISTEN I NEVER SAID YAMS CAN THINK but at least that's obviously familiar to him, judging by his face.]

Soran Bushi. It's an old song--we sing it at festivals.

Then that would be it… [ Oh, it comes to him. ] ‘Twas a competition of sorts against regions. I represented the north.

The elderly also wanted Prompto’s socks… For what, only the Fates know.

[Why is "The elderly also wanted Prompto’s socks… For what, only the Fates know" the funniest and most dramatic line in the world]

Ah... we did something like that at the citadel, once. A lot of us, together.

You and yours must have performed better than myself and the other two. We must have looked like headless chickens on that large stage, the three of us.

Playing the drum... Was interesting. Naught what I had in mind or ever considered.