September 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

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While an official announcement hasn't been made yet, it is all but guaranteed that each faction will be sending out forces into the Wasteland to confront Iron Bear for that 100 Billion Bounty. Meanwhile, though...

1. SHUTEN CLAN

Training Day

The street gangs in the area continue to be of note. Normally, this would be a cause for some concern among the Shuten Clan. However, they're good news this time around. The glory of the bounty has caused several of the old gangs to disband and swear up with the Shuten Clan, instead of being a thorn in Toraguma's side. With new recruits, that means it's training day again. Get the new guys into shape by showing them the ropes. Team up among yourselves and instruct these unruly street bros what it means to be a member of the Shuten Clan!

Training day is expected to be rough, but hopefully it's a nice change of pace to be the one barking orders. Initiation rituals can range from hardcore drinking contests, to tests of physical strength, all the way to old reliable: fighting it out. You have a long lead on how creative and demanding you want to be. It's your clan too, after all.

Tools of the Trade

The bounty has just boosted the Shuten Clan's numbers, it has also triggered an increase for demand in weapons and arms. The Shuten's are seeing increased profits in their smuggling business. Sellers are being met with both would-be bounty hunters, and average citizens who are feeling anxious about the state of the world. Currently, Shuten arms shipments are a target to both thieves and the police. They need your protection. Thieves are not necessarily unaffiliated, the other factions would like in on this profit margin.

The Shuten Clan is calling on their lost souls to help transport, protect, and sell weapons. They want you to get these arms into the hands of anyone with the cash. To make your sales, you may want to demonstrate the unique benefits of the different options available. Clients come from all factions, so be on your best behavior to impress, and don't get caught up in a stupid sting operation. The Clan is not interested in losing money bailing you out.

OOC note; Any character outside Shuten can post a top-level trying to obtain Shuten weapons, either purchasing or attempting to steal them. Enma characters can also post top-levels related to this prompt.

2. TAMAMO CLAN

Bottom's Up

The fervor surrounding the bounty and the Wasteland is stressful. The Tamamo Clan specializes in stress relief of all kinds, and they are offering up some new potions just for the occasion. Some of these shady products are little more than placebos, while others might have actual effects. No one can really tell which is which, they all taste the same (read: bad). They might make you feel relaxed, or they might make you even more stressed out. That stress might even end up radiating onto the people around you. Who knows what they'll do, really. It's a dicey option, but maybe the distraction is worth it.

As this is the Tamamo Clan we're talking about, some of these potions will be aphrodisiac in nature. Hey, it's a form of stress relief. Still, the quality and intensity of these potions varies greatly, you don't entirely know what kind of ride you're signing up for.

The big gaps in quality of these potions is due to their rushed creation. Like all the other factions, the Tamamo Clan has other priorities right now as they prepare to head out...

OOC note: This is another "anyone can post a top level related to this prompt" one. We do ask if you're leaning towards the aphro option to properly label your top levels with the appropriate warnings!

Ancient Arts

Even the relaxed Tamamo Clan is feeling the tension in the city. Tenkohime has ordered mandatory weapons drills with the magical weapons in the Clan's armory. She's preparing for war and wants everyone to be at their best. You need to know every tool at your disposal. There are seals, explosives, traps, and more; some stranger than others. Test them on each other and maybe the unsuspecting members of other factions... Just try not to actually kill each other.

Weapons drills will be conducted where lost souls are encouraged to experiment with how different seals will interact with different weapons and abilities. Those who opine that the Tamamo Clan is merely the clan of "fox bitches" will be in a for a rude awakening when all the smiling threats become reality. Tenkohime herself, along with the old fox Kinsei, will be supervising training. Hunter Anna, who works alongside Kinsei in the armory, is also available to share a wealth of knowledge and tips.

They are all watching you with high expectations.

3. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

Jigokucho's Got Talent Part 2

While the last-minute help with filling holes in various clubs bookings was appreciated, a more permanent solution for Moonday's unfortunate hiatus is needed, urgently. One can't just replace the most popular band in the city overnight! It's time to look for Jigokucho's next top performance act to begin in earnest. And that means auditions.

All factions are encouraged to stop by Konoha to audition, but all the acts are judged solely by Alliance swear-ins. Your fate will ultimately come down to whether Sutoku can even tolerate you in their clubs, though. Hope your reputation doesn't precede you. Will you become a hit, or will you get the gong? The only way to find out is to try!

OOC note: Again, this prompt is more or less open to everyone. Sutoku characters are the only ones who can play the part of talent judge.

Running with Wolves

The White Wolves have concerns about the physical fitness of the Sutoku Clan. If we're going to the Wasteland, you need to be able to survive out there! The solution? Exercise drills! Mandatory ones! Yes, this means all you chain-smokers out there. You must pass the White Wolves' extremely high standards. Hope you like push-ups. And sit-ups. And pull-ups. There will also be a lot of running, sprinting, leaping, and other field sports.

Every single Sutoku swear-in is expected to participate. Even if you're an officer. Especially if you're an officer. No excuses will be accepted. And, look: even the Daitengu is participating. They seem to be having fun. You can try to weasel out of it, but good luck. The White Wolves are always vigilant, and they have perfected the disappointed puppy dog face. It will rend your heart in two more effectively than any swipe from their giant swords.

If you are looking for an example of White Wolves' standards, look to your resident junior member: Megumi.

4. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

Friendly Reminder!

Despite the Department's best efforts, the unaffiliated bounty hunters continue to be a problem. There are just too many jerks out there looking for a payday, and the Enma's Department just can't handle them all. They may be the arbiters of law and order in the city, but they can only be in so many places at once. The manpower just isn't there for a full crackdown. But, at some point, inspiration strikes:

A memo circulates among department members instructing them to create several Public Service Announcements to dissuade these miscreants. Come up with creative setting ideas, involve the other members of the Department, and maybe some other factions, too. The best PSAs will receive a small token of the Enma's appreciation: a one-of-a-kind commemorative mug. Show these bounty hunters that their behavior will not be tolerated!

Toys for Good Children

The bounty hunters rounded up thus far have provided the Department with something useful: all of their confiscated gear. Melee weapons, guns, survival tools of all shapes, and a large collection of swords. The big item on the menu is weapons and ammunition, a lot of it. So much so that the storage at Kaigo no Bou is starting to burst at the seams.

Their weapons and tools may prove useful to the Enma...Well, once everyone figures out just what this stuff does. Some of it is your standard weaponry, some of it defies explanation. Sort through the gear and find what's useful, and what isn't. Anything that isn't too dangerous can be sent right back out on the streets. Give it to some thugs as a gift, they'll be grateful and maybe cause problems for the more chaotic factions. It's not your problem once it leaves your hands. And if you happen to get something in return for your generous donation? No one saw a thing.

OOC note; Another prompt where mostly anyone can participate, at least in the "letting the weapons filter back into the streets" aspect. Have your character cut a deal with a Department member to get a cool weapon!

5. ALL FACTIONS - WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE

During the evening news, the anchorwoman is visibly sweating and looking increasingly panicked. She goes on in a trembling voice to say that they have been sent a message from... Iron Bear.

They play the tape...

"I'm disappointed in all of you. You've become fat off of the raven's labor, amassing ill-gotten wealth and resources. I will not stand idly by while what is rightfully mine is disgraced by tainted, swollen fingers. None of this is yours and I will be the one to reclaim it.

But know what is coming next will not be done by us.

When this city is in ashes, it is by my redeeming hand you will rise. Only I will be able to rebuild this world, and restore its glory.

They cannot save you.

We are the holy chosen of this realm, and we know who you are!"

When the tape has concluded, there is a sudden and impactful rumble in Shuten territory. One of their weapon storehouses, namely one that contains plenty of volatile materials, explodes violently. It scatters fire into the nearby streets. Shuten forces will need to rush in to help clear anyone out, but anyone nearby is expected to help. Most of the area is non-residential, so casualties should be minimal, if rescue efforts are quick. But that's just the start of it...

The Iron Bear's words ring true. The bomb couldn't have been planted by his followers, not completely unseen. Someone else planted that bomb. Worse, there are more bombs throughout the city that need to be defused. Time is ticking down quickly, and no one knows whom to trust.

The factions have already begun to sabotage each other. The Iron Bear delivered the first blow of this new war without lifting a finger. Things are looking rough...

Welcome to the mini event!

• If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
• FOR THE PURPOSES OF REWARDS, since all of these prompts tie into the main plot in some way, we will count all qualified threads in this post as 2 point threads!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Comments

SASAKI KOJIROU • Fate/ • Tamamo

[hiryugaeshi]

bottoms up, face down (look it's the potentially nsfw prompt)

[ Kojirou was very used to being functionally immune to mind-altering substances like the drugs laid before them. It was one of his Personal Skills, a fact of life grafted onto his person not because he had any special resistance to poisons and magic in life, but because he had achieved something akin to enlightenment after years of dedicated martial training. He simply refused to be distracted and believed his blade would cut true.

That is to say that:
1) It is not something that can be fully taken away just because the Lost Souls come in depowered
2) It is not that he does not feel fear, or stress, or all of the other potentially debilitating feelings. It is that he knows how to put them aside when the need is great, like when a mountain of meat and stone is barreling at you with murderous intent.

So here is what happened: he had tried a bunch of the potions, but been dragged off to do weapons training before he could decide if they worked at all.

They had. And that evening, after everyone had packed up, the excitement of the terror attack over, Kojirou can be found alone, wandering Jigokucho area with an aura of intense... Something radiating from him. ]

Hrmmmmmm. [ The samurai walks a lonely road, grumbling like an engine. His prized haori is tattered and torn, his long hair slightly singed. He is clearly Dealing With Things. ]

You. [ The wild and tired looking Assassin points at the first Lost Soul he meets. ] Will you be the one to sate me?


Tamamo Training

[ Flashback to earlier in the day, when he was still ignoring the cocktail of juices stirring dark thoughts in the back of his mind.

Kojirou is looking through the pile of magical weapons before him, giving each one a suspicious shake and turn over before putting them back down. ]

Parlour trick. Parlour trick. I heard we were going into the wastes, what are we going to do this this? Have you lost your senses, giving this to untrained users?

[ He does not seem to be in a good mood, that's for sure. ]

Why don't you prove you can swing a stick before you try pointing one of those at anyone?

[ Is he threatening an NPC? Bothering you? Either way he is here to extol the virtues of a simple length of wood. ]


Toys, toys, toys!

[ Later, before the bombs go off but after Kojirou is done with the training, he can instead be found digging through police surplus. Like military surplus, but more corrupt!

Most of the truly dangerous items seemed to still be locked up in an evidence cell somewhere, and that was probably for the best. He could at least trust an Enma operative to give him a half decent fight with one of them, not watch a small-timer chop off their arm with some sort of magic chain swordchuck.

Besides, he was looking for much more boring and sturdy stuff. ]

This, and this.

[ He picks up a spool of rope and an extremely boring hunting knife, satisfied with himself.

Try to ignore the fact that his idea of a "police surplus sale" seems to be ambushing a bunch of low rent thugs after an Enma officer had "leaked" the weapons back into the streets and pocketing them himself, or that he's been leaving a trail of destruction but leaving all the good stuff just lying there on the ground. ]

wildcard
[ anything else? Want to discuss first? Hit me up at either Ski#0479 or on Plurk @ Skiiage ]

T o y s

[sisterlyshield]

[Kisara is finding that she's got some issues with how some things are being handled. She's also coming to find that her opinions and beliefs on how some things should be approached are becoming rather unpopular ones. It's troublesome, but she's beginning to see why exactly those in the Enma aren't exactly seen positively.

One person can't change all of that, but she can try.

She'd love to keep dangerous implements out of the hands of people who might just misuse them, and she's done what she can to attempt fostering something akin to diplomacy, though she's suspecting much of that is a lost cause when other Enma members are just undervaluing any of her attempts. She's sure there's more than a few, but it's not stopping her from trying to reclaim some of what's been released.

Which is... exactly how she happens upon Kojirou in the midst of whatever... he may be doing. Something potentially questionable. Hard to say when she's happening upon it the way she is.]

...What are you doing?

[She settles a hand to her hip as she watches him from where she stands, careful not to approach any closer than she feels she ought to. She considers him a friendly face, but Kisara oft wants to see the best in others. If she can.]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ Standing atop a metaphorical pile of corpses is never a good look for anyone, even if it's technically much closer to a bunch of youkai groaning in pain all across the street with mostly bruised egos and ribs. One or two of them might have lost fingers, but those can be sewn back on... probably, if they get it checked out immediately or magically healed. ]

I had heard that weapons were being handed out to the ruffians in the city for a steal, so I was merely doing my duty as a good citizen and reminding them that merely having a weapon does not make one a fighter.

[ Technically... true...? Kojirou is always on the lookout for a good fight, and the thugs that had bought the weapons leaked by the Department sure looked like they wanted to test them out. Alas, it was not to be. They were frankly disappointing as opponents, even five against one. ]

[sisterlyshield]

[Kisara... is not entirely convinced. She doesn't have proof otherwise, though, so she can't exactly say he's not telling the full truth. She does, however, get the feeling that he might not be telling the whole truth. At least it's just a bunch of youkai who are making sounds? No, she supposes she can't think like that either.

Ideally, she wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, youkai or non-youkai, though she doesn't really understand the official relationship between those two ideals.

She looses an unimpressed sigh, shaking her head.]

I'm sure there was another way to teach that lesson. Feel like handing over anything to me that you found? I'm pretty sure I can guess how these got here, but I'd like to take them back into custody and keep them out of hands that shouldn't be using them.

[Because she's supposed to be keeping the peace, not giving people (or youkai) more reasons to instigate altercation.]

[hiryugaeshi]

They did not seem the type of listen to well-meaning warnings. Some lessons must be engraved in flesh.

[ A fight is more fun than a lecture anyway. Even if the ones he got tonight were more than a little lacking in elegance or beauty. ]

I suppose there is nothing I can do to stop you from taking these back, but considering they were released by members of the Department in the first place, I wonder if it is the sort of action that would have any meaning?

[ Any weapons picked up here would likely be cycled back into the black market, and all any of them have really done is give the corrupt officers another chance to make a profit. Is that truly worth it? Not Kojirou's call to make.

But he does want to keep the hiking gear, so it's in his best interests if Kisara doesn't pursue the matter too far. ]

[sisterlyshield]

[She doesn’t like hearing it, but he might not necessarily be wrong. As much as Kisara wants to believe that force is not the end-all, be-all, some situations can only be moved forward by way of it. Not… that she’s interested in giving him the satisfaction of hearing her make such an admittance. Kisara is always looking for another way. Her head tips as she listens, uncertainty crossing her features.

When he continues, her posture straightens a bit, though she doesn’t make a move toward him.]

You could always return them to the Kaiga no Bou willingly.

[Not to say they won’t end up back out on the streets. Again. It feels like such a slap in the face. As if nothing she does, or wants to do, matters.]

If you choose to relinquish some to me, maybe I can find a way to keep it out of hands that shouldn’t be using it. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think brutality should be a first approach to anything. I just wish I could convince others to recognise the merit in that.

[But things here make it extremely complicated to do so and she understands why.]

[hiryugaeshi]

I could, I suppose. But have the Department earned enough of my trust for that?

[ This is, after all, a man who decided to disappear up a mountain for most of his life instead of choosing to deal with the samurai and their endless warmongering. He is not yet ready to make a moral judgement on the various clans, but he has no real inherent bias towards authority either. ]

On the other hand, if you are suggesting that you can personally keep these weapons safe, then I suppose I have no objections.

[ After all, he might not be able to judge an entire clan, but he is quite sure he knows Kisara well enough. They have crossed blades, and while it might not have been to the death, where he can truly see everything there is to know about someone, he is still fairly confident in what he found.

He trusts her enough to know that she believes what she's saying. ]

But how sure are you of that?

[sisterlyshield]

[Kisara doesn’t respond immediately. It’s a good question. Based on what she’s learned from people like Norimune, she can guess the answer is probably a resounding no. She’s left dealing with the pieces to a department that have allowed bad habits to form and are, frankly, making people like her, who genuinely want to protect and make things better, suffer a poor reputation.

She can’t help being slightly annoyed by it, though she tries to crush most of that under the resolve that she wears on the outside.]

I’d like the ability to do that, yes.

[She agrees, wondering where she might put such a thing. Couldn’t… she just keep it with her? Her place of residence is run down, because of course it is. She can’t afford anything greater just yet. It’s a place, she supposes, though she doesn’t spend much time there to begin with. Maybe these kinds of items would be fine to keep there.]

To be honest, I don’t know what the likelihood is of someone breaking into my place. I’d like to think they wouldn’t, but if someone knows I’m an Enma and just assumes I’m going to make trouble, it’s not like they need a profound reason to make that happen. I’m not really using my place that much, but it might be worth putting these there for now until I can find someplace more fitting. But I’m not going to take anything back to the Kaigo no Bou.

toys......

[disagree]

[ ah, now this guy looks familiar. at least this one makes a good enough impression on eula in the app that she even bothered to remember what he looked like. there's no mistaking that long ponytail, is there?

she's not even sure why she's enlisted in this kind of duty in the first place, though she supposes that she'll learn a great deal about the more unfamiliar-looking weapons. thankfully she knows a liiiittle bit about guns thanks to her usual work partner, but when she spots kojirou selecting the more mundane items from the available stock, she has to raise a brow. ]

And you're doing what with them, exactly?

[ that's so sus, man... ]

[hiryugaeshi]

[ And sometimes a police surplus sale is a police surplus sale. ]

What else does one do with a hunting knife? I may carry a sword, but the blade of a katana is too finely honed to waste on skinning a beast or cutting through foliage.

[ Besides, it's a very nice looking knife. All modern ergonomic grip and shiny stainless steel.

He's still holding the rope in his other hand, but it's fine. It's fine. ]

[disagree]

You don't seem to be a man who would be facing beasts in closer combat.

[ yeah where's your laundry sword, kooj

and she's also eyeing the rope with a raised brow. is he really going to hunt out there...? ]

[hiryugaeshi]

Oh? Where else would one face a beast then?

[ The sword is still on his back, okay? It's just really long and a pain in the ass to draw for things that aren't worth its attention. ]

I don't spend all my time challenging beautiful women to fights. Sometimes a man needs to hone himself, and sometimes that means going into the wilds where a wild boar might run at him at any time.

[ Being so handsome and cool and good at swords doesn't come naturally to him, okay? It took a lot of work.

Kojirou then notices where her gaze is landing, and chuckles. ] Don't worry about this, I'm not going to tie up the lady Ringo. Not unless she asks really nicely. You just never know when you need a length of rope when adventuring.

Tamamo Training

[peninhand]

[ Monika had been in the process of choosing a weapon for herself when this happened. She was the picture of someone untrained with absolutely no knowledge of how to properly use a weapon. This didn't stop her from picking something that looked like a gun from the pile though. ]

Would you rather I be left defenseless?

[ She had very little patience too. With what had happened those past couple days, her mood was spent. ]

The wastes, no, this world is dangerous. [She sighed.] Are you going to rush at my defense if someone threatens me? Or should I be able to fend for myself?

[hiryugaeshi]

A complete amateur would be defenseless regardless.

[ They never believe that, but Kojirou has to say it anyway. ]

But with one of those in hand, [ he jerks his thumb at the weapon in her hand ] you might shoot me in the back, and even the barest proficiency isn't something anything can teach in a few hours.

[ Even in the modern day, boot camp lasts for months. In his day, samurai spent most of their lives preparing for war, and the infantry that stood between them were largely simply expected to die with spear in hand. ]

[peninhand]

So what's your alternative?

[ She understood his reasoning- But then, what? A poorly trained person with a weapon still had a better chance at fending off an attacker than a poorly trained person with no weapon. An 1% chance was better than a 0% chance in her mind. ]

Not everyone can spend their lives training. [They had very busy jobs.] Nor can they wait for someone to come to their rescue.

[ She tilted her head to the side. ]

Would you rather they have no weapons at all?

[hiryugaeshi]

I suppose it would be too much to expect to have all of you simply stay home?

[ It almost certainly is. They all have their own contracts to fulfil and telling anyone to sit down and sit this one out when they're raring to go almost never leads anywhere good.

But it would certainly be Kojirou's preference. ]

All this messy business of fighting and dying should be handled by professionals.

[ Unfortunately they don't live in such an ideal world. Nevertheless he has to try to get his point across. ]

Have you ever killed anyone? It stains your soul. [ Even if they are already in hell. ]

[peninhand]

Indeed. [She nodded.] It is of utmost importance I see my contract fulfilled. Vital, even.

[ If she stayed home, she could give up on every getting her payment. And to her? Getting that second chance at life meant everything. In the real world, not in a virtual reality. Still, to his question she didn't give a direct answer. ]

There are things worse than death. [She marked a pause.] Worse than dying or killing.

[ She looked at the gun she had picked. She hated firearms. Weapons as a whole. But the question was: what else could they do? ]

I would agree with you, were we not in a world where danger is rampant and we all have something precious we need to get. I don't want to wield a weapon. I don't want to think of how I'll feel if I have to pull the trigger. [She closed her eyes.] But then what? Do I sit home and give up on my contract? Do I accept death should I ever be cornered by the wrong sort?

[hiryugaeshi]

You will not see your contract fulfilled if you end up with a talisman blowing your arm off either. Your life's work will not be completed in a day, or a week, or even a year.

[ So Kojirou says, but he also knows that it will never be completed if they don't take every possible opportunity to gain merit and pay off their side of the bargain. It's not a fight he can win, and he doesn't feel like trying for the rest of his life to craft the perfect argument. ]

If you are to learn how to protect yourself, then you will have to learn. All of these [ He tilts his head at the pile of magical weapons and tools behind them. ] cannot be relied on. Magical tools are dangerous, and we only have them by the grace of that vixen. If you do end up cornered in a dark alley, then we need to begin with something you will always have on hand.

[peninhand]

So, like a gun?

[ No magic was required for a gun, right? Training was important of course, but at close range so long as you could aim it would be helpful. ]

You know, some of us really don't have a choice. [She looked down for a moment.] How many here do you think are dead or dying in their homeworlds?

[ She wasn't talking about herself in particular- She was sure many more were in her predicament. They had nothing to lose. Except a second chance. ]

Is your problem only with the magical weapons?

Tamamo Training

[anindomitablewill]

[ While he wasn't entirely lacking with the talents to use a weapon, it wouldn't hurt to get acquainted and try some new things with what they had here. So here Vanitas was, content to just practice with various types of bladed weapons curiously until he'd heard loud voices nearby and glanced over to the source.

Hell, he was content to watch for a moment before sighing and walking over to the other man before he completely intimidated the poor soul. ]

My. I know stress levels are high, but you keep that up and they might not even want to fight at all.

[ He shrugged a little, one hand on his hip. ]

Either way, if that's what they want to use, who are you to tell them otherwise? You could be helpful and offer to show them if you're really all that worried about it.

[hiryugaeshi]

Anyone who would be discouraged by this much should simply not fight.

[ Unfortunately he sees no problems with Vanitas' prediction. He isn't comfortable with the idea of drafting soldiers in the first place, especially not when it's pulling from a clan of pleasure seekers. ]

There isn't a quick path to proficiency, much less mastery, and I would not trust an amateur swinging a magical tool around behind me not to just scorch me as well.

[ He has extra investment in making sure people don't blow their arms off with these magical tools! He'll probably end up in the blast radius! And quite frankly his senses aren't what they're used to, so dodging around them will be more difficult than before. ]

I could teach them, but if I did it would be a month before they graduated to training shinai.

[anindomitablewill]

[ Such a response is enough to have Vanitas raising an eyebrow, but he at least heard the older man out. He'd expected perhaps a more rash answer but this worked better for what it was worth. ]

Even the bare minimum of experience is better than letting them go into battle with nothing, don't you think?

[ Though he did understand the risks involved with using magical weapons and if mishandled would cause many more casualties. ]

In times like these, most won't have a month for proper training. You never know when something might happen.

[hiryugaeshi]

I fear nothing more than a beginner who thinks they have had training.

[ They get all overconfident and think they are immortal, then get an eye stabbed out or accidentally kill one of their friends.

Not actually speaking from personal experience but he lived in the Sengoku era, he knows what war is like. ]

In truth I would prefer that those who are not prepared to fight simply stay out of my way. Besides, these are mostly ladies of the night, not killers. Why stain their souls with murder?

[ He knows they're going to come along anyway, but he's still going to be the grumpy old man here to make his point. ]

[anindomitablewill]

As long as it was established that they don't be reckless after a couple of sessions, and they aren't idiotic enough to think they know everything? I wouldn't have a problem.

[ Vanitas shrugged his shoulders, glancing to the knife in hands just before beginning to twirl it expertly by it's handle. If it wasn't completely evident, this wasn't at all his first time with a weapon. ]

If they get hurt because they got ahead of themselves, it's their fault. Life's about learning to handle your own mistakes.

[ Something he knew VERY much from experience. Either way, he paused to consider what'd been said and hummed a bit under his breath. ]

...People getting their hands dirty with killing usually isn't intentional but sometimes it can't be helped. No matter who or what you happen to be.

[hiryugaeshi]

I would love to agree with you, but it seems as though we are a team. One of us dying horribly would be one to many, especially if it ends up being one of the children.

[ Random people dying all the way over there? He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to care about them. He'll drag them out of a fire if he sees them, but he's not going to take any responsibility for them. The ones that are supposed to be a squad with him though? It would be a bit more callous than he cares to be. ]

We have to get them to that point, and getting there means starting from the basics.

[ Which means the boring stuff. The drills, the swinging of sticks, the lectures from stern old men that nobody really wants to listen to. In the clan of hedonistic pleasure it won't be easy to get anyone to do that. ]

And then there's the killing... It may be a necessary evil, but it is evil nonetheless.