piratejournal | 004. voice/action for the katabami

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004. voice/action for the katabami

[While unaffected by the strange magic swapping everyone's bodies, it would be extremely difficult for Mitsunari not to notice all that's going on, and he doesn't like the particular nature of this curse one bit.]

To be handed the opportunity to pretend to be someone else... given free rein to deceive all that you like...

I detest this.

[Was that the sound of the journal snapping shut? It sure was. Whether anyone's actually used this as a chance to assume another person's identity is irrelevant; it's the principle of the thing.]

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[His usual hair trigger temper aside, Ragna sure doesn't like the implication behind Mitsunari's words. It's kind of similar to when they spoke after April's Fools─ as much of a jerk as he can be, he doesn't like the charge of being dishonest, especially when he gets no say in what's happening to him.

Which is why the samurai will be getting approached by what looks like one very worked up Xun Yu.]

Are you stupid?! You think somebody's actually enjoying this shit?! I never asked for this, dammit!

[While Mitsunari's figured out by now that Xun Yu and Ragna have swapped bodies, it doesn't change how perturbed he feels seeing "Xun Yu" act so bizarrely.]

Do you believe someone out there isn't using this misfortune to their advantage?

[Mitsunari's faith in his fellow human beings is sorely lacking.]

Your idiocy will tarnish Xun Yu's repute!

[...If it's any consolation, he doesn't believe Ragna will intentionally obscure his true identity.]

[Let's be real here, he probably couldn't even if he tried.]

Who cares? As long as they're not pulling this crap on me, I don't give a damn.

[Selfish? Maybe so, but Ragna has way too much on his own plate to concern himself with some hypothetical situation out there. No, his faith in mankind isn't too high either, but it doesn't bother him quite as much.]

Hey! What 'bout my reputation?!

[... I don't think it's something you should worry about, Rags. ~~He also forgot to deny the idiocy part.~~]

[Truth be told, Mitsunari's own line of thinking isn't that different from Ragna's. A stranger is a stranger; he's not personally invested in the well-being of each and every person who's gotten their body swapped, and he doesn't think he should be, either. It's the concept itself that troubles him.]

Your reputation...

[This is something to consider carefully.]

She may give others an unreasonably high opinion of you.

[Judging from his tone of voice, you'd think the swap had been between Xun Yu and Kanbe Kuroda.

He's being a dick, but he's also serious. Which kind of makes it worse.]

[Hearing that, Ragna's frown deepens and he steps forward, though missing those 8 inches of his height makes it difficult to look threatening, among other things.]

... You wanna start something, dick?

[RAGS NO]

[This is surreal in so very many ways. Mitsunari glares at him in return.]

Let me remind you that is not your body.

[Which means he doesn't intend to fight him as long as this curse is in effect.

On some rare, magical days, even Mitsunari is capable of making responsible decisions...]

[Makes two of them, though clearly this isn't the day for Ragna.]

Like I need a reminder!

[Not realizing he may be missing the point of Mitsunari's comment, he points to himself angrily.]

You think I could forget something like that?!

My point is that you are not at liberty to use that body to fight nor to hide behind it as a shield, for when this curse ends, the consequences that befall it are not yours to bear.

[Stop him. Stop him before he starts ranting.]

And I have no intention of turning on an ally simply to waste my time with you. With all of the hatred in my accursed heart do I loathe betrayal.

[STOP HIM BEFORE HE KEEPS TALKING. BECAUSE HE WILL.]

[Why does it feel like they're having two entirely separate conversations?]

Cut the crap. I ain't hiding or some shit. And I'm not gonna fight you like this, either.

[For one, he wouldn't even know where to start with that, lacking his Ars Magus and Soul Eater, not to mention Blood-Scythe. Two, now that he thinks back to it, he made a promise to Xun Yu not to start fights in her body. And three... well, considering their relationship, it's no wonder he's a little surprised: "ally" is the warmest description of a person Ragna has ever heard from him.]

... Never knew you had it in yourself to like someone.

[Hello kettle, meet pot.]

[Mitsunari isn't offended, per se, but that does strike a bad chord.]

Because you know nothing of me.

[There's a pause.]

What of Lord Hideyoshi? How do you think I regard him?

Guess I don't.

[Not that he sounds disappointed by it in the slightest.

Ragna takes a short moment to consider that, somehow not surprised by Mitsunari bringing his lord up. As someone who is on the receiving end of the obsession of several people, the Grim Reaper can only hope he's not the topic of their every conversation.]

That one's more like a dangerous obsession. [What is brain to mouth filter and why would he need that.] ... Dunno, it feels like you like the guy so much there's no room for anyone else.

[At first he thought Ragna's opinion was that he doubted Mitsunari's loyalty to Hideyoshi, but now he's not sure what to say. Most people might accuse him of being obsessed with Ieyasu, and he might not even deny that. But Hideyoshi?

No room for anyone else...?

Mitsunari may not be a people person by any stretch of the imagination, but hearing this makes him feel like he needs to clarify something.]

If you believe my loyalty to my lord is a dangerous obsession... think whatever nonsense you like. It matters not. No opinion of yours will sway me. There is no fault whatsoever in my devotion to Lord Hideyoshi.

But he is not the only man I have sworn myself loyal to.

Lord Hanbei Takenaka, who dutifully remained at Lord Hideyoshi's side as his second in command, whom my lord trusted above all others... I respected Lord Hanbei. His wisdom could not be matched! I have not forgotten his knowledge, that which I inscribed into my very being. His dedication, and what he meant to the Toyotomi forces; that has not died with him. His influence remains. For even as he grew ill, his resolve did not waver.

And you, do you think -- all because of Ieyasu's villainous schemes and endless fountain of lies -- that I wanted this? To be bereft of allies as I am?

[He's stopped talking to Ragna and is more talking at him. He... does that sometimes.]

[Needless to say, that is not what Ragna expected to hear. Sure, he wouldn't be surprised if Mitsunari continued to sing praises about that lord of his or whatever, but instead he... decided to tell him about another person he holds great respect for? While even the Grim Reaper can recognize how much the people he's describing meant to him (and a part of him considers that to be one of Mitsunari's few good traits), he really fails to understand the other man's apparent need to voice his feelings on the matter. He's never seemed like a talkative type, much less towards Ragna, and yet...

"To be bereft of allies as I am?"

That may be the part that stands out the most from the entire rant, to Ragna at least. Both of those "lords" of his─ from what he said, it sounds like they're dead. So he lost people he cared for and was left alone? ... It's something he could probably sympathize with, but─]

... You done yet?

[The Grim Reaper asks with a scoff, giving Mitsunari a somewhat bored look.]

[So absorbed in his thoughts as he was, Mitsunari first reacts as if he's been jolted out of a trance. Then, he's furious.]

Have you no respect for the memory of the dead?! Consider yourself fortunate I cannot turn my blade against you now!

[Ragna's disinterest would irritate him even if they were discussing something as bland as the weather, let alone a topic as important to Mitsunari as one of his lords.]

[Ragna can't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. As far as he's concerned, he wasn't disrespectful in the slightest─ compared to the usual, anyway.]

I didn't say a single thing 'bout 'em, y'know.

[He does have a point there. True, he's not overly interested in Mitsunari's relationship with some dead people, but considering how he usually behaves, that comment was almost tactful.]

Your dismissal is an insult.

[There isn't really anything Ragna could have said (or not said) that would have been deemed an appropriate response.]

[Honestly, at this point Ragna is beginning to suspect him still breathing insults Mitsunari on some level. Thankfully, it's not his problem.]

... You keep getting your panties in a twist over everything related to those "lords" of yours, don'tcha? Calm your tits.

[The fact these words are coming out of Xun Yu's mouth makes it more than a little bizarre.]

Wh--?!

[Saying he's taken aback doesn't quite sum it up.]

Shut your rotten mouth, cretin! Immediately!

[Or else!

Or else... well. There's not much he can do aside from be outraged.]

[The Grim Reaper rolls his eyes, clearly unimpressed with Mitsunari's outburst.]

And what are you gonna do, bore me to death?

[He's doing a pretty good job at that, at least.]

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004. voice/action for the katabami

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