[it's fine!!! higekiri's eyes light up at that though, and he just smiles brightly in response]
How can one win a battle of the stage without a bit of excitement?
[just saying!!!!
but then he'll do much of the same, timing to chuuya's actions so that he can let his leg lift behind him in time with his chest rising - an arabesque in the middle of a ddr song
[higekiri just laughs in return, perfectly pleased. he's about to answer but - well, he'll blink when he notices the additional item and goes to stand in front of chuuya out of protective sword habit]
Mm, I do.
Keep it a secret if I accidentally unleash more stuffed animals?
[because he's going to wander off to go see what it is!!]
[he's wandering right along with him, because protective sword habit or no, chuuya doesn't need someone to be a shield for him? he'll be fine, he has his gravity on his side.
since higekiri is the first one checking it out, though... it's a simple blue bracelet, left on a game cabinet.]
[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.]
the desire to protect - a void being filled with a purpose, something so simplistic and yet so powerful. higekiri thinks back to when he asked chuuya - why did he choose to murder? for what reason did he kill? was it worth it, and was he happy? higekiri shuts his eyes as he takes in this memory that isn't his.
even if he doesn't remember the details, he'll remember the feeling.
and so when faces chuuya - he crosses his arm over his chest and bows at the waist]
... I've been wondering if you would ever answer my question.
I apologize - that this place was too impatient to let me hear it from your lips by choice.
[he feels just a bit bad - that he finally learned, but in such a way]
[he shakes it off, gesturing for higekiri to straighten-- there's no need to bow, to apologize. this wasn't something he minded higekiri seeing, after the way things have gone.
there are other memories he'd be unhappy about, but this one...]
I think you're one of the few here who'd understand it best.
no subject
How can one win a battle of the stage without a bit of excitement?
[just saying!!!!
but then he'll do much of the same, timing to chuuya's actions so that he can let his leg lift behind him in time with his chest rising - an arabesque in the middle of a ddr song
because that's just how tonight is going]
no subject
You really are good at this, huh?
[we're going to say higekiri wins this round, he's played recently and chuuya hasn't?
but as he turns to step off the pad, he frowns, gesturing to a nearby set of machines with something out of place sitting on one.]
-don't tell me this place is still haunted... you do see that too, right?
no subject
Mm, I do.
Keep it a secret if I accidentally unleash more stuffed animals?
[because he's going to wander off to go see what it is!!]
no subject
[he's wandering right along with him, because protective sword habit or no, chuuya doesn't need someone to be a shield for him? he'll be fine, he has his gravity on his side.
since higekiri is the first one checking it out, though... it's a simple blue bracelet, left on a game cabinet.]
no subject
anyway here's hige!!]
Oh my...? A prize?
[probably not
but like
he's going to reach out to investigate it anyway!!]
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.]
no subject
the desire to protect - a void being filled with a purpose, something so simplistic and yet so powerful. higekiri thinks back to when he asked chuuya - why did he choose to murder? for what reason did he kill? was it worth it, and was he happy? higekiri shuts his eyes as he takes in this memory that isn't his.
even if he doesn't remember the details, he'll remember the feeling.
and so when faces chuuya - he crosses his arm over his chest and bows at the waist]
... I've been wondering if you would ever answer my question.
I apologize - that this place was too impatient to let me hear it from your lips by choice.
[he feels just a bit bad - that he finally learned, but in such a way]
no subject
[he shakes it off, gesturing for higekiri to straighten-- there's no need to bow, to apologize. this wasn't something he minded higekiri seeing, after the way things have gone.
there are other memories he'd be unhappy about, but this one...]
I think you're one of the few here who'd understand it best.