route_1065 | Retainer bonding happy fun times

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Retainer bonding happy fun times

Who: Katakura Kojuro and Ishida Mitsunari
Where: Outside Violet City
When: November 3rd
Summary: samurai bonding over swordfighting
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Log:[Kojuro is running through his daily training regimen with Negetsu at his side, mimicking his movements as best he can. He's fashioned a makeshift wooden sword that he's been using since arriving in Johto, and Negetsu is using his leek as always. The pokemon is having a little trouble keeping up at the moment, as Kojuro is less focused on training the Pokemon in his sword style and more on getting his own stress out. He finds a special sort of zen in honing his skills with a blade, though he still did miss the familiar weight of a proper katana.

Kojuro and his pokemon aren't too far out of town, so it wouldn't be too hard to stumble upon the two of them.]

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[And stumble upon them he does. He didn't plan on it, not at all, because he himself was looking for a way to relieve stress and get away from the mess of a situation that was Violet City. Training had already been done for the day, and so his Pokemon had been relegated to Pokeballs, but regardless he needed out of the city and away from his two biggest, current annoyances--Masamune and Ieyasu.

Stumbling across Kojuro was an accident, that's for certain. He's still not sure how he feels about the other since he smashed him in the face (justified or not), so he hesitates, watching for a long moment, eyes automatically, of course, drawn to the sword in his hands, wooden or not. He and Ieyasu had not yet finished fashioning one for Mitsunari's use, and he most certainly missed the comforting presence of one.

...And he knew much better than to interrupt something like this; he was almost of a mind to turn around and go back, though something kept him there watching for a moment longer.]

[Leekduck being far less focused than Kojuro, notices Mitsunari and lets out a quack, brandishing its leek at Mitsunari in warning. It takes Kojuro a few seconds to notice that the Pokemon had been distracted, but when he does he stops and turns to see Mitsunari. He's mildly surprised, and understandably a little apprehensive given their last meeting.]

Ishida Mitsunari.
[His tone holds his usual coldness but it's completely calm. As Masamune felt he had settled his score with Mitsunari, Kojuro had no reason to fight him either.]

[There's a similar pause on Mitsunari's end--but ridiculous, he has no reason to hesitate!--that he can't quite immediately brush off.

...]

Right Eye of the Dragon.

[At the very least, he won't butcher your title, Kojuro. He might massacre Masamune's, but that's neither here nor there to his mind.

His eyes are again drawn to the sword, but it's clear that he is interrupting.]

[Seeing that Mitsunari was responding calmly as well, Kojuro motions for leekduck to settle down, which he does, albeit still eyeing Mitsunari warily. Kojuro of course notices where Mitsunari's eyes are drawn. He pauses for a moment before pulling another wooden sword resting at his hip (he's used to having the two of them, after all, and he had the time, so he made a second one.) and holding it out to Mitsunari.]

Care to join us?
[It was an unusual move on his part, but he felt a sense of solidarity with Mitsunari due to their shared values, and a feeling of lonely desperation of a man without his lord, a feeling he couldn't help but empathize with.]

Edited 2011-11-04 01:42 (UTC)

[It was most certainly an unexpected move, as Mitsunari had been quite ready to leave and cease interrupting practice, which he knew to be very important as well.

So he pauses at the offer, gaze falling to the sword. He'd come out here in the first place to calm his thoughts and settle his mind, hadn't he?

So he accepts the sword with a short nod of thanks, because he won't insult Kojuro by second-guessing his actions. He merely weighs the sword in his hand for a moment--and it does make him relax, posture slumping ever so slightly, because he has not held a sword in three weeks.

Everything is still wrong with the world, but at least some things were improving slightly. He supposes, though, if he's going to be barging into someone else's practice he might as well ask.]

What is it you are doing?

[What sort of practice are they looking at here, anyway?]

I find the simple act of perfecting my form to be a suitable activity to help clear my mind and work off stress. It keeps my skills sharp as well, even if it is a wooden sword. I try to save some time for it each day.
[A faint smile comes across Kojuro's face as he talks. He is the most chill right now.]

And sometimes Negetsu likes to try and follow along.
[He looks down at his Farfetch'd, who shows off an immitation of one of Kojuro's moves to Mitsunari, dropping it's leek in the process, eliciting a dismayed quack from the Pokemon.]

[Mitsunari nods again in understanding--it sounds like a proper use of time, and he approves of that.

But then his gaze is drawn to the Farfetch'd, who is clearly trying but fails nonetheless and--

...

Well, despite common misconceptions, Mitsunari is not humorless, and there might be just a bit of humor reflected in his tone.]

It looks like he will need more practice before he has mastered his swordsmanship.

[Kojuro can't help but be amused as well, the tone in his voice equally subtle. Meanwhile leekduck has recovered his leek and retreated to Kojuro's side.]

Indeed he does. He is quite eager to learn though, to the point of recklessness, just as Lord Masamune was when he was young.
[Kojuro tenses slightly as it occurs to him that perhaps he should not have mentioned Masamune around Mitsunari.]

[...Yeah probably not. He does tense, clenching the hilt of the sword more tightly in his hand, for Masamune still has not regretting his words about the Toyotomi and Hideyoshi, which is unacceptable--

But he has not yet found a way to punish Masamune. It grates, but he merely turns away for a moment, thinking, hand still clenched tight...

And dismisses the comment.

If he cannot punish Masamune yet, he will not waste his time thinking about the snake.

In reality, even Mitsunari can be tired, and the opportunity to breathe and use a proper sword again is enough to steady him...for now. So he does ignore Kojuro for a moment, and while his posture is terrible, he slides into a basic form effortlessly and wickedly fast, if not as fast as he would be back home. And when he has finished, lowering the sword for a moment, he is more calm than he was, though still tense when he turns back to look at Kojuro.]

[Well Kojuro can't say he wasn't surprised by Mitsunari's speed. Certainly he had expected Mitsunari to be very skilled, though, to have bested Masamune, after all. He remains quiet at first, leekduck can only let out a soft quack.]

... Your form is... quite impressive.

[The compliment surprises him--he wasn't expecting anything of the sort. So he blinks, lowering the sword and looking back at it before answering.]

...It is the power Hideyoshi-sama has entrusted in me. It is good that not all has been taken by this wretched world.

[Well no wonder Mitsunari's so miserable with an attitude like that.]

You might find that this place is not so bad if you just view it differently. Instead of considering it as a setback, consider it a challenge, an opportunity to grow as a person and as a warrior.

Training these creatures can be quite rewarding if you allow yourself to enjoy it.

[....what are you talking about, papajuro.]

Of course it is a setback! I cannot do my duty here.

[:V]

There is no purpose to remaining in a place such as this.

[Maybe you're just grumpy because you're hungry.

Go eat a sandwich, Giselle.]

There may not be a purpose to remain here, but until you find a way to leave, you may as well make the best of it.

Make the best of it.

[He scoffs.]

For what purpose should I 'make the best' of a situation like this?

[NO I DON'T WANT YOUR SMELLY SANDWICH. :V!!!]

[Wow fine be that way Mitsunari. No seriously, Kojuro is done trying to convince Mitsunari because he can see he is not getting anywhere.]

... It is up to you whether to heed my advice or not. I cannot force you to change your perspective. I can only tell you what I think would be most beneficial for you and Lord Tokugawa.

[Sorry, Kojuro, he is a stubborn brat.]

...

Your advice has been noted.

[He then turns the sword around in his hand with a quick twist of his wrist, offering it back to Kojuro with the slightest of bows of his head.]

Your blade was appreciated.

[He's honest, at least. It did help to hold a sword again...even if there's a tenseness in the air again.]

[After pausing for a moment, Kojuro gently pushes the sword back towards Mitsunari.]

Why don't you hold onto it for a while? Lord Masamune and I will be moving on to Goldenrod City in a few days, you can return it when you and Lord Tokugawa catch up to us.

[He doesn't understand at first--he blinks, surprised and a tad bit confused.

People don't tend to give him things. And by that I mean people don't give him things period.

So he stares at the sword, before glancing up at Kojuro. He wants it, he really does--while he rarely desires anything for himself, he can't deny that the weight of his sword was sorely missed.

And so...though he does hesitate, he doesn't resist Kojuro pushing it back towards him.]

For what purpose...?

You look like you have a lot of stress to blow off. I'd think you could put it to good use.

[He's also hoping that a calmer Mitsunari would be less likely to try and attack Masamune again.

He knows there is a certain risk to giving the man trying to kill his lord a weapon, wooden though it may be, but Kojuro felt that Mitsunari may not be a pleasant person, but he was honorable.]

... But please do not use it for anything other than practice.

[...It's an uncomfortable pause.

His instinctive reaction is to refuse it. He does not need Kojuro's charity--he does not need the charity of the Date, though he appreciates the weight of the sword in his hand and feels that much better with it there--

He merely bows his head and offers it back once more, eyes narrowing.]

There is no need. Again...the use of your blade was appreciated.

[But that is all. He can't accept it from Kojuro.

Though there is a part of him that appreciates the offer--it's not something he has ever encountered before, and nothing he had expected from Kojuro. It's certainly not something he will soon forget.]

[Kojuro seems momentarily surprised but quickly adjusts. He can't say he is incredibly surprised by Mitsunari's reaction, if not a little disappointed.]

If you are certain.
[And he takes it back, sliding it into the belt at his waist. He turns to leave, beckoning for his pokemon to follow.

And leekduck waddles up, but stops before Mitsunari, looks up at him, quacks, then holds up it's leek to him.]

[...He stares.

And stares some more.

What does he even--

Blink. Blink.]

That...will not be necessary...

[It's a little weaker than he tone normally would be, though. He's kind of...seriously baffled.]

[The farfetch'd quacks indignantly, whapping Mitsunari's shin with the leek repeatedly

bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap

He is relentless!]

[...as,kdjansd WHAT EVEN.

He steps back a few steps quickly, resisting the urge to kick Leekduck away (for Kojuro more than anything; he does owe him some vague gratitude).

!!!]

[Leekduck is about to follow after him when Kojuro intercepts him and scoops him up. Leekduck quacks indignantly and struggles to free himself from Kojuro's clutches to no avail, and even tries hitting Kojuro in the face with his leek.

bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap bap

Kojuro is ignoring it.]

... I apologize for his behavior.

[He...doesn't really get it, but hey. The duck was offering him its leek. Kojuro offered him his sword.

...

There's a lot he doesn't entirely understand here.]

...Keep better control of your creatures.

[But there's not a whole lot of bite behind his words, unlike normal.]

[Clearly they are already in the Christmas spirit

even though they don't know what Christmas is.

Shhh.]

I will make certain of it.
[He bows his head slightly.]

Give Lord Tokugawa my regards.

[and mitsunari would be a scrooge either way.

shhhhh.]

...Very well.

[He inclines his head as well, slightly. And then he turns and walks off without another look.]

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Retainer bonding happy fun times

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