elibe | damaged

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damaged

inspired by this comic!

(It's after a particularly rough sortie and after everyone's been looked over and evaluated. Most of them might be able to get by with just some light repairs and rest but some are not as lucky. Rest alone won't be enough and they'll have to go in for more serious repairs. It could take all day at best or more at worst.

Serious repairs are exactly what they sound like-- serious-- but there's always that extra element that makes them a little more hesitant to surrender their true forms and enter the repairs room. Without their swords and reeling from heavy damage, they're perhaps in their most vulnerable state. It's times like this, alone with just their thoughts for company, that their years really begin to catch up with them. For some, it isn't too bad. There are a lucky few who are blessed with shorter histories or brighter lives but the unfortunate truth is that for many of them, the years have not been kind.

But this is their situation! And it can go one of a few ways right now...)

A.

(After some light harassing, Mutsunokami has managed to convince someone to get repairs! Would it help if he went with them? He doesn't mind, really and he'll even hold their hand as they stand in front of the room.)

Ready? (He gives their hand a firm squeeze,) It'll be over before ya know it!

(Or maybe Mutsunokami is the one that's here for heavy repairs. Mutsunokami is one of the luckier swords in question, someone with a shorter and much more pleasant history compared to others. Honestly, he finds repairs more boring than anything. Of course, he uses his blessings to focus on his companion right now. Being stuck in this room sure is boring! Sorry to get you dragged in here with him, heh heh... And sometimes he dozes off because being damaged is exhausting.

Repairs are pleasant enough for him but his damage is a little heavier today than usual. It's not something he's really used to and it shows when he suddenly jerks awake from a short nap, looking around the room in an alert sort of daze before relaxing.

Huh... strange.)

(Wildcard, give me your own prompt, talk to me, maybe theyre both in for repairs or something instead.)

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[Repairing oodachi with heavy injuries is always a long process. Not as long as for some of the rarer or more delicate swords, but still at least sixty hours and a good deal of resources as well.

So there's the slight guilt about taking up both time and valuable resources away from others. But through the haze, there's also the memories filtering through.

A man, a human, wielding this monster of a sword, and his hands slowly letting go. Hitting the ground, and crying out in a desperate voice no one could hear.]

Master... don't leave me behind...

( He sure has been here for awhile, hasn't he? Of course, he's taken a few breaks, dipping in and out to grab snacks or check on some of the other swords that are waiting getting milder repairs. Even if he's here for support, it's good to give Taroutachi some space too.

Right now, he'd been playing at the saniwa's tablet (something he'd been graciously allowed to borrow since he had nothing to do for now and the lighting in the room was too dim to write or read). Tarou begins to stir and he sets down his tablet, leaning over to pat Taroutachi on the shoulder, )

He'll be right back. ( Not the same master, but the saniwa. He can take a guess about what Taroutachi is remembering right now and it's important to remind him that he's in the present and not back then. ) Don'tcha worry.

[There's a voice he doesn't remember, cutting through the fog.]

'He'll be right back.'

[Of course not. Master is dead. Dead because Taroutachi was too long and too heavy to properly wield in battle. Everyone said so. They were right.]

I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you...

Hey, hey!

( He's loud when he calls out to Taroutachi but not too loud. This is, after all, a place for rest. )

What'd I say? Don't worry. ( He's never really sure exactly what to do in these sort of situations and he isn't particularly close to Taroutachi. If they hadn't been in the same squad before all of this happened, he probably wouldn't be here at all. Maybe Jiroutachi would be here instead but he isn't so he has to make do with what he can. ) Remember how ya got here in the first place, Taroutachi?

( Reaching to brush aside some of Taroutachi's hair from his face and just generally keep him comfortable a the memories catch up, )

Ya made sure we all got back home and master was right there to greet all of us. Well, maybe ya don't remember that last part...

( The injuries had been pretty severe. Was he even conscious? )

[No, he definitely doesn't remember that last part. Or much of the parts before that, for now.

His eyes are hazy and unfocused as he turns towards the voice. He can't really make out the face of whoever is talking to him in the dark.]

... Have you come to pray?

[He remembers that too. The endless line of people holding their hands out, bringing offerings, imploring in front of him.]

It's... useless. I have never seen... any gods... I can't help you...

Nah, I'm just here to talk.

( So he's still pretty out of it, huh? Well, he'll just roll with it for now. He's good with doing that. )

You can listen, right?

... Talk?

[He sounds a little surprised. No one ever came to the temple just to talk to a holy sword. They always had something to ask for. Some wish to be granted.]

I can... listen. There is nothing else for me to do anyway.

[The faces become a blur, day after day. Always asking for the same things. better health, more money, good crops... love. As if he could do anything about it.]

But I can't... grant your wish.

Hear me out first!

( Gee, talk about depressing. Not that he's surprised at all. A lot of guys here are pretty messed up and have their own luggage to carry around. )

The other day, I was real happy. My master chose me to do something real important. It was a real difficult task and he was really counting on me. So I took a bunch of guys out to take care of everything and it was all going real great! ( He speaks lightly and casually, careful to not muddle his story with too many details. He doesn't want to cause Taroutachi any unnecessary stress, ) 'til it got hard all of the sudden. We underestimated our enemy real bad and got caught up in a surprise attack... We managed to get out in one piece but a lot of guys got hurt.

( He frowns, wondering how much more he should continue, )

Talk about a real lousy first impression with some of those guys. And I let my aster down too! ( Even if he sounds cheerful, he's more bothered by this than he really wants to let on. ) One of 'em got hurt real bad.... he's still recovering, ya know? I'm not gonna ask ya for any miracles or anything like that 'cause this is all on me.

But how about some advice, huh? How can I make it up to him?

[Even the simple version is a bit hard to follow in Taroutachi's state. But he does his best to concentrate.

There's a nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he knows this story, but he just can't put his finger on it, somehow.]

You were not the one who hurt them, were you? So... why would you need to... make it up to anyone?

(It's the kind of answer he'd expected but it's not the most satisfying one.)

Because I led them there in the first place. (Even if that was the whole point of the mission. It's not his fault they were attacked by surprise but maybe if he'd dedicated more time to scouting or something...) Even if I didn't hurt 'em, they were my responsibility.

[What heavy repairs! She's pacing outside the room, just before the time he is assumed to be completely repaired. And then she's going to have to text her brother the news.

Peeking through the door now, just in case it's not yet over--]

Mutsunokami...?

( It's not quite dark in the room but more dim thanks to a few low lights. It's supposed to be a room where they can find rest so it makes sense. There should be a futon in the center of the room and in fact, the mattress is still there but the blankets and Mutsunokami himself are on the other side of the room, opposite of the door. He's sitting up right, half wrapped in his comforter when Vietnam looks inside and he jumps again, tensing when the door slides open and can't help but give her wary look at first. It's almost like he still hasn't caught his bearings after waking up and he looks at her anxiously before realizing who she is and where he is. )

Hey...

( He manages a smile but it's tired and he sounds so hesitant. )

Not worried, are ya?

( He's not so out of it that he's completely lost in his memories right now. )

[Considering their size, tantou are the cheapest and fastes among the sword types to repair, as far as resources concerned. Sayo originally want to wait, because his teammates would need them more than him. But since Mutsunokami mentioned his brothers, he comply and went for repairs.

He doesn't want to worry his brothers... and being damaged would make it hard to seek revenge.

Feeling Mutsunokami's hand, which are big enough to envelop his own, squeezes, Sayo looks at him and slowly nod.]

... Okay.

[Time to go in.]

And you brought... all of them back... didn't you?

[Okay, so some people got hurt, but they're alive, right?]

As long as you are not broken, you can keep going. Your master trusted you. I don't think they were wrong to. So you have to pick up the pieces and go back to the battlefield.

[A small wince. The limit between reality and memory is hazy.]

I'm too big. I can't be wielded by human hands, even if I wish to. If i can't be used to fight, do I even exist?

(Of course he'd put it that way. That's exactly how everyone else has put it when he touched base with them. How did he luck out with such a good squad? Well, it's not surprising when you consider how many good guys are at the citadel.)

Yeah... (They all came back alive, even if they'd all seen better days. He'll have to ask Taroutachi about all of this again when he's in a better state of mind. Just to make sure. Would they all follow him back out there?) Yeah, I guess ya have a point.

(But Taroutachi winces and Mutsu sits up straighter, giving the other sword his full attention,)

So what if you're too big for most guys, huh? You'll just have to carry yourself.

(He's worried about Sayo. He can't help but be given the condition he's in and his history. He knows this isn't going to be as quick and easy as he's promised but he'll make sure Sayo gets out of it.

Leading the way into the dimly lit room, the timer starts. A little under a day but still a large part of it. They can do this.)

... D'ya wanna lay down?

[Repairs are boring. It's the sort of boring that lets most of their kind to reminisce and remember things both good and bad. Some avoided this room because their histories were drenched in things better left forgotten. Doudanuki avoided it simply because it was all too muddled and foggy and it left him with nothing to do for hours at a time.

But after that last sortie, all of them were being sent regardless of whether they thought they could do with just a bandaid and some hard liquor to ignore just how much it goddamn hurt. He's been in here long enough to sleep a bit, but with so little to reflect upon, he's left staring at nothing much in particular at the far wall.

Which is why his gaze snaps to attention as soon as Mutsunokami stirs. He's got more of a story to him, less blood but more pain, and Doudanuki watches to see if he's actually awake or just rolling between consciousness. When he sees that Mutsunokami is looking around though, Doudanuki shifts his position where he's leaning up against the wall, crossing his legs the other way.]

So you're up finally, huh?

[Mutsunokami was nowhere to be found. At least, that was her first thought when she saw that the futon was empty and he had already located himself all the way over to the other side of the room, wrapped up and easily startled.

That only worries her more.]

Ah, yes? Actually, I'm very worried!

[She's not even denying it? Either way, she rushes over, trying to look him over to see how he's looking.]

Does it still hurt anywhere?

[She places her hands, well, hovers them, over where his shoulders would be under the comforter. It looks comfortable, at the very least, but he does not.]

[Sayo see the timer at the corner of his eyes, before he looks at Mutsunokami. Most of the day... just knowing how long he'll be in repairs is making him feel... anxious, compared to waiting for new orders.]

Yes, I do... I feel tired.

[And sore. If he lay down on the futon, it'll probably be hard for him to sit up until it's over. The futon itself is simple and neatly set out in the middle of the room. Sayo looks over at it, his fingers curling up inside Mutsunokami's grip.]

( It's comfortable but it's so, so warm and she can probably feel some of the heat radiating from him. It's almost like he's burning a fever but it's probably more because of the comforter. Or is it? )

Nah. ( Not true. He's still sore and reeling from the last battle but he's never one to admit to others the things he's really going through. ) I feel better already.

There's nothing to worry about.

( Really. )

( If Sayo wasn't injured, Mutsu would pick him up and tuck him right in! But this is a more delicate situation so he'll lead the way to the futon and take a seat right next to it, crossing his legs. This is a good way to level himself to the same height as Sayo (more or less because Sayo really is small). He's still holding Sayo's hand-- he won't let go until Sayo does. )

I'll stick with ya 'til your brothers come back.

( From whatever mission they're on. )

You're gonna get better so don't worry.

[He's warm--wait, he's too warm. That's strange, because while he's healed, it's almost like this heat radiates like he was just forged using this very body. That can't be right...can it?]

Mmm.

[She pokes him in the forehead.]

If you're trying to act tough, now is not a good time. I know you wouldn't want others to worry, but we care enough to want our Mutsunokami to be very healthy. After all, you were injured, and I have yet to punish you for that. [Punish?!]

So, tell me how best to help you. I can try to make your futon more comfortable? Cook you something nice to eat to ease recovery! And also, I won't leave your side. [She says this like there is no room for debate.]

( Hot. Punish him well.

But also his forehead is very warm to the touch and he winces when she pokes at him. )

I'm not.

( Whining.

He isn't trying to act tough except he definitely is. It's less acting tough and more trying to not let others worry about him. But he's tired still and leans his head back against the wall, taking a deep breath as he tries to get himself to relax. He knows that he's tense right now and he isn't putting up a very convincing argument.

Outside the room, someone runs by. It must be one of the tantou running after or away for something. It's harmless, really and it passes and goes quiet again but right now, it makes him groan and he closes his eyes tight, curling up more within himself and mumbling, )

Quiet down...

[She going to punish him so thoroughly, he'll be asking for seconds. (Wait.)

Goodness, his forehead is also warm. He's sore, tired, from the way he's acting, but also unusually warm. Is this meant to be part of the process, or is he running a fever? She touches his forehead again, this time a lot more gentler as she tries to get a feel for his body temperature.

Still, she immediately stops talking when she hears his request and the patter of feet against the tatami mats. They didn't wander in, at least. But then that leaves them completely alone.

It's even worse to be alone here when it comes to Mutsonokami, who is usally so excitable. As requested, she's already quiet, so she then leans against the wall right next to him.]

Here. [It was barely louder than a whisper, because of how he didn't want to be overwhelmed by every sword in the citadel. And then pats her shoulder.]

Rest your head here, if you do not wish to move just yet.

( He doesn't argue, accepting her offer and leaning against her easily enough. He even buries his face in her shoulder, trying to hide away from whatever it is that's bothering him right now. He could really use some physical contact right now so this definitely helps. But when his memories are hitting their peak point.

A dimly lit room, a sound outside the door, someone-- Ryouma-- yelling at whoever it is outside to quiet down. Ryouma standing to yell outside the room while Mutsu waits back and--

He flinches again, curling up next to Vietnam as he pulls he comforter closer around him. )

Ryouma... ( He sounds weak, desperate, and there's a pain in his side. Or is he just remembering it? ) Stop it...

( As vivid as the memory of that night is though, another memory begins to bleed in-- one that is warm and makes his head feel fuzzy, like it's full of smoke. )

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b and okay fast one while i have time

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