[and when he does, there goes the barrier! chuuya immediately regrets his decision to stay close to higekiri, because there's no hope of dodging it-- he just comes right up against it when he tries, with a frustrated curse.
once the barrier is up, their vision shifts. this memory takes place in chuuya's office, though it doesn't seem to be chuuya's right now-- he's standing, speaking with a man in a sharp black coat and a red scarf, and his own voice sounds a little younger.
"I-" chuuya pauses, there, a hand resting on a wound in his abdomen that still stings. "I was the leader of the Sheep, but what I gave them was just dependency and unease. I'm fine following your orders, but tell me one thing. What does it mean to be a leader?"
the man before him-- mori, according to memory-- stops smiling at that, closing his eyes and opening them once more when he speaks.
"Being a leader means standing at the top of the organization, and also being its slave. If it's for the survival and prosperity of the organization, they'll happily put themselves through any manner of filth. Nurture their subordinates, place them where they best fit-- and if need be, use and discard them. If it's for the organization's sake, a leader will gladly carry out any atrocity. It's all..."
a pause, there, as he looks out the window and onto the city below.
"All to protect this organization, and this beloved city."
chuuya listens silently, but that stirs something in him, squeezes his chest, and he can't help but think-- that's it. that's what was missing in me.
he kneels, then, his head bowed, hat held in his hand. that blue bracelet is still wrapped around one wrist.
"Then I'll give my blood and everything that I am to you... Boss."
back in the arcade, everything clears for a moment, just long enough for chuuya to shake it off. one hand lingers where that wound had been in his memory.]
no subject
once the barrier is up, their vision shifts. this memory takes place in chuuya's office, though it doesn't seem to be chuuya's right now-- he's standing, speaking with a man in a sharp black coat and a red scarf, and his own voice sounds a little younger.
"I-" chuuya pauses, there, a hand resting on a wound in his abdomen that still stings. "I was the leader of the Sheep, but what I gave them was just dependency and unease. I'm fine following your orders, but tell me one thing. What does it mean to be a leader?"
the man before him-- mori, according to memory-- stops smiling at that, closing his eyes and opening them once more when he speaks.
"Being a leader means standing at the top of the organization, and also being its slave. If it's for the survival and prosperity of the organization, they'll happily put themselves through any manner of filth. Nurture their subordinates, place them where they best fit-- and if need be, use and discard them. If it's for the organization's sake, a leader will gladly carry out any atrocity. It's all..."
a pause, there, as he looks out the window and onto the city below.
"All to protect this organization, and this beloved city."
chuuya listens silently, but that stirs something in him, squeezes his chest, and he can't help but think-- that's it. that's what was missing in me.
he kneels, then, his head bowed, hat held in his hand. that blue bracelet is still wrapped around one wrist.
"Then I'll give my blood and everything that I am to you... Boss."
back in the arcade, everything clears for a moment, just long enough for chuuya to shake it off. one hand lingers where that wound had been in his memory.]