BLADE ✴

[calamitish]

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[calamitish]

Hahahaha! That wasn't me, by the way.

[ ish looks at the umbrella curiously. ]

I was gonna say if you hadn't heard anything then you're fine buttttttt—you'd have to ask him not me.

[ a beat. ]

I think it's a him anyway.

[baebladie]

...This is the only time I've believed you unequivocally, pretender.

I don't even know how you can tell these things.

[ ...

Then as he looks to the umbrella, he asks: ]

Why did you do that?

[lesmodsalouette]

That was for making me watch.

[It’s a low voice, maybe a little staticky, but even so the flat lack of amusement comes through. Somehow.

The umbrella tilts back up.

Blade gets the feeling he’s being contemplated.]

What do you want?

1/???

[baebladie]

What do you mean—

2/???

[baebladie]

[ Wait...can it be...??? ]

3/????

[baebladie]

[...]

4/5

[baebladie]

[ The seven stages of grief. ]

5/5

[baebladie]

[ ..................

...

Blade has no idea what do people even ask others things he usually leaves this to other people. ]

...I don't know. If I can call you something - a name or title - that first?

[calamitish]

"Making me watch"? Wowwww, you all really are busy!!! I thought I sensed some of that, but those aren't the matters of the heart I specialize in.

[ turning to blade. ]

Don't worry, you're far from the only ones going at it. [ he says this with all his usual bravado but I will say he's not in the mod ceiling, but he can read Vibes. ]

1/2

[lesmodsalouette]

[The umbrella tilts distinctly in Ish's direction, though it doesn't repeat its physical admonishment.]

Don't act as though you didn't have a hand in it.

[It sounds serious but is the matter really that serious. Anyway.]

2/2

[fillintheblanket]

[There's a brief clearing of the throat and then the umbrella straightens, seeming to stand on ceremony -- however a wagasa in cotton candy colors can do so.]

My name is Yamanbagiri Kunihiro. Remember it. This isn't my true form, but a whim of this world. I am a sword forged as a duplicate of the original Yamanbagiri at the request of Nagao Akinaga, of Ashikaga Castle.

1/2

[baebladie]

[ Side-eyeing Ish. He has something resembling shame. ]

Urgh...insufferable, crass, and incorrigible.

[ He did get vibes people are probably close but he can't tell if. You know. ]

2/2

[baebladie]

[ More importantly, though...what are the chances...? He's looking at Yamanbagiri. ]

...A sword. I wish I could see you in your true form.

Your craftsmanship must have been notable.

[ Swords requested to be forged, duplicate or no, must have had immaculate work done. For a moment, he even looks at his hands. A man who was once a blacksmith (a craftsman who made many weapons, and other works) coming across a sword - and now a swordsman himself.

What are the chances? ]

You know my name. It must be strange and unfortunate to be trapped here. Not in your true form.

[ Can't believe Mikazuki is causing a loop again. Nah, just kidding. ]

[calamitish]

I didn't tell them to screw each other, but to murder each other! They're both high born emotions, though so...

[ that's his useless commentary, go on. ]

[fillintheblanket]

Hmm. Don't set your expectations too high. I am a masterpiece of a duplicate, but also just a duplicate.

[It's said lightly, despite the jumble of contradictions in two sentences. Almost rote, in a way.

Blade gets the feeling he's being looked over once again, with umbrella-eyes of some sort.]

... I know a little about all of you. You have even less luck than me.

[Is Mikazuki causing loops really worse than their local clown causing loops.]

[baebladie]

[ Dead-eye stare for Ish...stoic man version as if to silently judge. Ish is always worthy of being judged, but this is a new judgment.

Then, looking back at Umbrella-Yamanbagiri. ]

I simply acknowledge that there would have been enough effort placed in your forging to be notable. I would have to verify anything else by seeing the real you.

[ But he is sure he'd be still noteworthy - funny for a sword to seem to be ready to be quite hard on himself. Though, being a duplicate must come with its challenges. He's definitely heard of legends of living blades, after all - travel enough as a Stellaron Hunter and there'd be enough out there (nevermind the Xianzhou's...particular ones. Not all remembered, granted, but pertinent regardless.) ]

I'm used to nothing going right. The rest of us, maybe not so much.

Did you automatically turn to an umbrella as soon as you arrived, or was it a gradual change?

[calamitish]

[ this time ish says nothing, merely tilting his head as they banter back and forth.

👂 ]

[fillintheblanket]

I guess we have a few things in common.

But this wagasa... is hard to describe. I don't understand much about the mechanisms of this -- place.

[Put that ear away. Yamanbagiri hasn't forgotten about their audience of one and a bouquet of snakes; after a moment the umbrella folds, punctuation marking the closing of their impromptu gab (gossip?) session.

There is a parting statement, however.]

Much like your host. Anyway, make sure to store this properly. I'm not always awake, but I will be now and then.

[baebladie]

Hm. I wonder what else.

[ His life has been painful, so...anyway. ]

I'll make sure.

[ Blade has kept his questions more simple because of the listening in of the host. Any more in-depth ones will be for later. He just gained more incentive to work harder somehow, I guess...how did this happen. ]

We will speak again, Yamanbagiri.

[calamitish]

Well that was real cute. Do you have any questions for me, or are you gonna run off with your new best friend?

[ bright and chipper. ]

[baebladie]

...it was mostly about him.

[ But, in light of that... ]

Why aren't you concerned about unaccounted for elements showing up in this place?

[calamitish]

If he's not going to try to mess things up, I don't really care. He's an anomaly yeah, but unlike the last one I dealt with, he's not trying to eat me.

If anything I'm more surprised it took this long for one to show up.

[ blade may get the impression that this entire thing is held together by ducktape, gum, and a prayer, but you know. we do what we must. ]

I also can't really grab his heart, and it's not worth the effort to do more than that when he just stands around all day.

[baebladie]

Not...eat you. What exactly was trying to eat you in here?

[ Did you piss off a dragon, Ish? Though there are other entities out there. He just hasn't expected to hear of another anomaly that tried to eat him.

But, yes, he is getting the impression it is - and Ish himself may be the glue that is holding it together. ]

...What do you mean by grab his heart, anyway?

[calamitish]

Not here, back in Ecumene. You should be happy it didn't follow me, because that thing doesn't discriminate.

[ it's fine, don't worry about it.

he smiles, more of a grin. ]

I've touched all your hearts. How do you think I've done everything to you that I have?

[baebladie]

Your world.

...everything that involves you seems to be trouble.

[ Blade wonders if Ish beyond his irritating clownery and disturbing, twisted attitude is actually also cursed.

Also he's talking about touching their hearts...what does he even mean? Blade has to take a moment. ]

I don't know. It seemed like a variety of magic at play. Though, it explains how you manipulated our emotions that week.