jigokulogs | ( closed ) 005

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.)

[When 'master' does it....this meant that Hizen probably did have a master at some point. And now he was stuck taking care of himself. He knew the guy would scoff and balk at Cain's feelings, but something about that was almost...lonely.

Still, he hadn't quite expected Hizen to agree so easily, so for a moment he's left holding the sword dumbfounded. That quickly evaporated as he held the blade in his hands, feeling the weight and balance.

It really was a beautifully made sword, and Cain could see someone like Hizen wielding it. Even with what little magic senses he had, it felt like him. Well, it made sense with what he was told.

He did move to go sit down back where his own sword and supplies lay, carrying it in his grasp almost like he was holding something incredibly precious. To Cain it kind of was; not just someone else's sword, but the sword itself. It honestly felt like a fairy tale even to a wizard.

Looking curiously back up at Hizen one more time in case he somehow snatched himself back and decided he didn't want this after all, he started wiping the blade down. His movements seemed nervous at first, but quickly fell into the practiced routine he knew.]

Did you uh, wanna sit down over here too while I did this?

(Don't ask Hizen about his masters because it sure does get complicated for different reasons.

He will, in fact, take a seat without saying a word. When he sits, he crosses one leg so his foot is in the chair, too. He seems... nervous; at least, at first and watches Cain work carefully. He can feel that Cain is also nervous and he thinks to himself, good because that means he'll be careful. After a short while though, once Cain has settled into the rhythm and routine of it all, his posture relaxes and he closes his eyes. He isn't sleeping but it's clear that he's relaxing.

It feels nice, he thinks, to let someone take care of him. It isn't the same as the saniwa but he it doesn't feel bad. It's been awhile since he'd last someone skilled handle him.

As for his sword, there's really nothing special about the process! It goes as well as a normal cleaning would go. The luster of the sword begins to return. It doesn't look like it was anything difficult or unusual to take care of... it was just worn out.)

[Well, he didn't seem to be hurting Hizen at all. He got more confident until it was just the normal routine of cleaning and polishing a blade. It felt kind of nostalgic for reasons he couldn't place.

Cain did take more time to admire the sword though, as it became more wellgroomed and even easier to see its form. It was an absolutely gorgeous blade that nobles would probably pay handsome fees for, though it almost seemed sad if something like this just ended up on display and never touched again.

But Cain wasn't going to ask any questions about that. Hizen was the type where he couldn't push too hard, and he's glad that the man trusted him enough for this. He almost started looking over at where Hizen sat, because he'd never seen the guy so relaxed before. He smiles, regardless of whether Hizen can see it or not as he puts the finishing touches to the sword.]

There we go, good as new. You really are a beautiful blade-I'd love to spar against you sometime. But here.

[And now he's-very gingerly-handing the sword back over to Hizen.]

Really, if you ever need me to do that, just hit me up. I'd be glad to do it any time for you. Just make sure you keep taking care of yourself in the meantime, right?

[And his words implied not just the condition of his blade.]

(Cain is too easy to impress. No one would want Hizen, especially a noble, as far as he's concerned. There are other swords far superior to him.

(And yet, the fact that he was allowed to be called "Hizen" was proof that he was good enough to represent the ruling clan. Of all the swords in Hizen Domain, he was good enough to bear the name... so Cain isn't wrong.)

He's quiet at first. It looks like he's probably gone to sleep sitting up but after a second, he starts to shift and opens his eyes. The treatment is complete and... Hizen feels refreshed. He looks refreshed. His eyes are naturally dark but the lines beneath them seem lighter and less pronounced. Though he still seems largely the same he just seems... better, like someone who just had a good nap or a nice spa day.

He looks at Cain's smile and he listens to his praise. He doesn't seem very impressed or moved by either. If anything, he's as deadpan as ever as he reaches to take his sword back, bowing his head just slightly in gratitude. If anything, he's being rather formal about the whole thing now that it's over.

Cain's charms have no effect on him... seemingly.

He's usually grumpy and quick to anger. The fact that he's staying calm and letting Cain speak freely is proof that Cain has had an effect on him.)

Mhm. (He sort of grumbles. Sort of. It's pretty weak.) I'll think about it.

(Sword back at his side now--)

Thanks.

(And outside, there are footsteps coming up the stairs to their apartment! And keys jingling in the door. It sounds like someone is coming home now maybe? Yuuji? That's who Hizen had come to see right?

Except he's already getting up and heading right back the way he came-- from the window.)

Tell Itadori he missed me.

(He's not sticking around. He slips onto the balcony, down the rails, and... disappears into the street below.)

( 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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