jigokulogs | ( closed ) 005

(He's looking. He's taking notes....)

I can wait.

(In fact, that's part of his new plan. Don't worry, Cain. Hizen has his revenge all figured out.

Anyway, focusing on what's going on now,)

That's the sword you got?

(Only because he's a sword himself... he can tell it's quality.)

[Sure, Hizen, sure. Keep plotting and scheming your evil plans over there. Anyway, it seemed that Hizen was content with waiting where he was-and until Cain was done for anything else-so he just continued as he talked.]

Yeah. I didn't have enough money for a better one. But, even if it's not as good quality, that's no reason to neglect my sword. It's my partner after all.

... Your partner?

(Wait. He isn't used to people talking about their swords like this. Yeah, a lot of people switch up how they talk once they know tsukumogami can be a thing but otherwise, everyone treats their weapons like... well, tools. Things.)

Yeah.

[Well, that was a bit of an odd reaction. But nothing Owen hadn't done worse with before.]

I know it sounds a bit silly, but I always have it with me when I go into battle, right? And I rely on its strength to protect me. So in that way, a sword is kind of like a partner.

[He still misses his old sword though...]

Hm.

(Just a "hm" and he finds himself looking at his own sword which he has leaning across his shoulder. It's different for him. His sword isn't his partner considering it's literally him but...)

If you take care of it, it'll take care of you. Even an average sword will do its best if cared for.

Yeah, exactly! You know what I mean. Though I have to admit I do miss my original sword...

[He did notice Hizen's glance to his own sword, though.]

Hey, did you still need to borrow my stuff? I've managed to find some more supplies so you can use whatever you want.

[He'd even offer to help out, but he knows some people can be very possessive of their swords.]

Though I guess I have to admit I want a look at yours. I've not really seen that type up close a lot.

(Cain is asking him something that is completely easy to answer. It's just a simple yes or no question... but he's quiet once more. Hizen really isn't much of a talker but this, in particular, requires careful consideration.

He thinks about what Cain said earlier. Well, it isn't like those words mean nothing to Hizen. If anything, he'd really resonated with them. Fingers wrap around his sword protectively and just when it looks like he's going to say no, )

Have you seen the spirits around the city? The ones that look like umbrellas and lanterns doing business?

(Shuten's most renowned smith, Jiro, is an umbrella spirit, after all granted, he's a little more human than some of the weaker spirits that hop around.)

[That was a bit of a more unusual response, Cain noted. The kid obviously treasured his sword a lot, so maybe he offended Hizen somehow? Thankfully, Cain was about done with taking care of his sword, just wiping off the excess oil on the blade before carefully putting it back in its sheath.

He'll leave the stuff out a little longer in case Hizen accepts.]

Huh? Yeah, I have met a couple of them. They're very interesting since we don't have anyone like that where I'm from. But what does this have to do with your sword?

Most of 'em are a type of spirit called "tsukumogami." That means they're kami of tools.

(Kami, spirits, gods, phenemonemon, there are all sorts of ways to translate it.)

When a thing reaches 100 years, it can get a soul and become aware. Those things become tsukumogami. They can be umbrellas or lanterns... there are strips of cotton and sandals and even music boxes and kimono. Anything can get a soul and become alive.

(He wonders if Cain is following along,)

... Even swords.

[Sorry, Hizen. He really does try but sometimes the implications of what's being said don't quite hit him at first. That story does sound familiar...]

Oh yeah, I remember the Sage telling us about things like that. We do sort of have stuff like that in our world, though I'm not sure there is any sort of time limit.

[Often it was either caused by the Calamity or some form of magic.]

So are you saying your sword has a spirit then?

(God.... Cain is so close. He's right there. He almost has it and Hizen just replies,)

Yeah, it does.

[he's doing his best and that's really all that matters, right? Still, Hizen's revelation definitely took him for a spin. The idea that his sword is alive was truly a wonderful one.]

That's seriously amazing! It must be why you cherish it so much. Does it have a name?

Hizen Tadahiro.

(Cain, please.)

[Huh? What a moment.]

But that's your name, isn't it?

[Come on, just a little bit more there...he's got it.]

OH!! You're the sword spirit!!

Ping pong.

(Which is like... a victory sound for "right answer." It's like going ding ding ding. Except Hizen is the flattest, most unenthused chime ever.)

Ya got it.

Oh.

[There might have been a small face journey that Cain makes as the realization that he's talking to a real live sword sets in. The idea that weapons could have spirits isn't a totally off the wall one, but the fact that he's talking to the physical embodient of a sword in making him practically vibrate in excitement.]

That's-that's amazing! I mean, talking to a sword itself is kind of hard to process. I guess that was rude of me to ask to see your-ah, yourself earlier? Sorry about that.

Someone must have really loved you for to become a spirit.

("Someone must have really loved you for you to become a spirit."

How interesting that Cain would say this. How interesting that this is the second time that love has come up when someone spoke to him about how others must feel about him. Hizen doesn't answer right away but he does look at Cain, careful not to give him any information that would confirm or deny it-)

Don't talk about things you don't know.

(He speaks as plainly ever but there's something sharp-- almost defensive-- under it all.)

It makes you look stupid.

(He's always been a prickly spirit but it feels especially so right now.)

[The tone in Hizen's voice didn't go unheeded, and Cain winced. He'd just spoken how he'd felt but it was clearly a point of contention for Hizen. The thought of not loving your sword that you kept around for years...]

I-I'm sorry, it's not in my station to speak about things like that. I haven't lived very long, and haven't even had my sword that long, but I cherish it deeply. If I knew it had a spirit-someone like you, I'd feel overjoyed.

[But it could be that...his owner-his partner-was not? Or perhaps Hizen was way older than he appeared and suffered countless heartaches.]

Please ah, please forgive me for my baseless assumptions. I'm honored to know one such as you regardless.

(Squints is eyes at Cain because how old could you be!! He knows you wizards aren't human. He wonders if this means Cain is like Mutsunokami. A couple hundred, maybe? He wouldn't be surprised. Mutsunokami is also the type to run his mouth and say stupid things like that.)

Tch.

(Whatever. He won't dwell on it.)

It ain't that big of a deal. (He is just a humble sword.) Knock it off.

(But moving on!)

... Do you still wanna see?

[Well...it does seem like he was forgiven. Cain's at least grateful for that, even if he still feels bad for blurting out whatever he thought. But Hizen's question had him perking up like a dog that had just been given attention.]

Yeah, I do! I mean, if it's okay with you.

[That definitely means Hizen forgives him, right?]

(Does it mean he's forgiven or does Hizen just see an opportunity worth taking... maybe it's a bit of both. He's willing to forgive Cain if he can help him with this.

He reaches for his sword and sets it down on his own lap for a moment. He seems to really consider if he wants to do this but after a moment, he draws the sword slowly from its sheath. Right away, Cain might notice that it seems to be lacking luster-- it seems faded and worn like it could definitely use a good polish. Otherwise, the sword is clearly well made-- there's a good weight for it despite its size, the blade is still sharp despite its worn condition.)

No one's really seen it since I got here.

(Months ago, back when the cherry blossoms were in bloom.)

... and last month was...

(Rough.)

[Either way, Cain will take it as a sign of trust that Hizen is still willing to show himself to the wizard. The thought of not loving your own sword that you kept around for 100 years....there was more to the story, and it was obviously not something he wanted to talk about.

His attention was however, drawn by the blade that Hizen unsheathed in front of him. Cain's hand reached forward out of reflex, stopping well before he ever reached the sword. That would be such a huge breech of personal space, wouldn't it?

But he could tell it was a masterfully made blade, beyond almost anything he's seen before. Even without most of his magic, he could tell it wasn't normal, there was some sort of link between it and the kid standing here, something inherently magical.

But the condition...]

Oh wow, you're really pretty...that's definitely not a make I've ever seen before. And it definitely feels like magic...but you were asking about sword supplies before. It's gotta be for this, right? Have you been taking care of yourself at all??

("Oh wow, you're really pretty.")

Shut up.

(He's snapping but he's missing some of his bite. It's obvious he's just embarrassed and throwing the compliment right back at Cain, sorry for being a tsundere asshole.)

I know how and 've been doing what I can but... can't really do everything by myself.

(It's hard to really explain but the sword is definitely infused with some sort of magic. No matter how well Hizen takes care of it on his own, he'll still need someone to really help him recover. Ideally, someone with some sense of magic to infuse with their care but sometimes you just need someone else to treat you right. It's about the spiritual care as much as the physical. Feeling someone's wish for him to be better does amazing work.)

[Cain just smiled at Hizen's brush off of the compliment. He's dealt with more than enough anti-social bastards would couldn't take a compliment to save their lives, and it was very cute. But as for everything else he said...Hizen sounded more than capable enough of dealing with it. So why did he look like that?

Perhaps it was something about how the sword was an embodiment of himself. Maybe there were rules behind it? But no, he had to offer.]

There here. Let me help you. Do you like, need someone else to do it cause you're the sword?

[He has his hands out and open, hoping that Hizen can trust him enough. Cain also did kind of want to see the sword up close, to be able to admire it properly, but he wasn't going to do anything disrespectful.]

(He looks at Cain's open palm and considers it one last time. This is it. The moment of decision.... and slowly (cautiously) he passes the sword to him, setting the blade down gently in Cain's hands.

A sword that might seem on the shorter side of things for Cain but still with a good weight and balance to it. For someone of Hizen's size and build, it looks like it has the perfect reach for striking an opponent. It's light enough that it won't wear Hizen down but heavy enough that do some serious damage. It shouldn't be surprising that a sword spirit's blade would... be a perfect extension of his self.)

... It doesn't feel the same like when master does it.

(And he tries to figure out the best way to explain,)

'S like cooking. Y'know how to make something but it's better when someone else makes it for you.

(And no matter how much he tried to polish away the dullness, he just felt exhausted trying. Like he couldn't be bothered to really make it better. Even when he came back to it another day, it always felt draining.)

( closed ) 005

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hizen let him care you!!

ITS CAIN'S TIME TO SHINE

he got u hizen

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