therewerefifty | [Action all over]

[Action all over]

[It's not so much that Makie has a clean bill of health-- she needs to keep taking this medication for another four months or so, by the clinic's reports. But she hasn't had a coughing fit in weeks and feels pretty healthy, all things considered-- just a little drained, that's all. And now, she's passed the bar of her illness. She's no longer contagious.

Which means she can stop holing herself up in her room and start going forward with plans to actually, you know...

...live a little.

What a concept.

She still doesn't go out until the afternoon though, tracking down Saori (and other house members if they're around) to inform them of a decision she's made during her convalescence. And then likely packing what very few things she has, and putting haru-no-okina through some well-needed maintenance out on the sunny rooftop. But in the afternoon she goes to several places, shamisen in hand:

Seventh Heaven, to ask after her old job;

The tea house, because it's been a while;

The forge, to request a weapon;

The Welcome Centre, to find out what apartments are still free;

And finally, back to the battledome to investigate it more thoroughly. (She keeps an eye out for Konan on her travels, mindful of an offer made a long while ago. Just in case.) Once she knows sufficiently enough (or someone programs it for her), she steps into one of its rooms for the first time, shamisen neatly tucked to the side out of harm's way, and experiences it for herself. (The program name of the day: Shift Hunters. How fitting, that they're like giant wild dogs.)

...probably stays in there a little too long, though, since her stamina is kind of shredded right now.

Catch her at any of these places or anywhere in between.]

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Not as hard as you would think. My father told me that more or less to discourage me. He assumed the knowledge was enough that I would lose interest in the dojo.

I had other lessons that were more important, so my time in the dojo was purely to satisfy a young girl's curiosity.

Oh? What lessons were those?

[She knew Makie valued training, she identified as a fighter, so the statement made her curious. What would a younger Makie value that much?]

[To Makie they weren't quite so much important as they were important to her family. Before a certain day. The dojo was more fun, she remembers. Then, she didn't take it seriously at all. That was her brother's job.]

I was the daughter of a samurai household with great expectations placed upon it. The only role for a woman such as myself would be as a wife her husband could take pride in.

[That's something that draws a faint laugh from Saori. Her own father, her entire family even, had been so different from that. Even though she knew a bit about Makie's past, it always struck her as off.]

I'm not so certain I'd agree with your family's logic there. The tradition of Onna-Bugeisha was certainly nothing to dismiss. Maybe the traditions changed over time, but that's still nonsense.

Mm. I know that tradition had more prominence in earlier times. That my father agreed to teach me at all is a mark of it-- I would still be expected to take up arms in defence of my household. But... [She searches for the words, and her thoughts turn to Kagehisa.] Form. Decorum. Tradition. Where the country is at peace, so much of these parts of our society have been highly ritualised. Women have little place in such things anymore.

Were I not from a samurai bloodline, it may have been different. [Ironically. Still, as that day with the dogs confirmed for her, to be rescued by a girl was considered too degrading.]

[Saori snorts at the thought. The tradition of war, the ritualization of it, that was something that'd always somewhat amused her for one reason or another. Granted the time she'd been a child, her life as mortal, had been during a wilder era. It was simply expected for nobility to learn to defend themselves, and then there was the matter of gempukku.]

Strange to think how much a few centuries can change a society, isn't it? I wasn't much older than you when I changed, but it sounds as though the life I had was so very different.

I suppose it's perhaps the difference between a time of war and a time of peace. Some say we've had too much peace... certainly a samurai's life now is far different than it would have been even in my grandfather's time.

Some people would say that there's no such thing as too much peace...but I'm afraid I can't quite agree with that. Life needs the spice of battle, or something at least, to make it worth living.

[Says the easily bored immortal...shut up Saori]

[Makie smiles faintly at that, looking down at her hands in her lap.]

I suppose everyone needs something different in their lives. If battle is what makes it worthwhile for some...

It's just a part of life. What is it without some measure of conflict? I know you understand what I mean.

[She does. She just...wishes it was different.]

Living a life without conflict... means you don't hurt anyone.

Maybe. Or maybe you're just the person being hurt. Either way, wouldn't it make for a limited existence? There's only so much people can do on their own, and they will always disagree. If everyone agreed on everything, where would we be?

[Saori has no illusions about that sort of life. Conflict is in her nature, as a living expression of nature. She almost craves it, at times. The pull to destroy and take is strong, almost a need. She's good about holding that instinct in check, but a storm is still a storm.]

[Makie has a lot of thoughts on Saori's point of view. On a base level, she knows very well what the world is like. But she can also see how much pain she's inflicted on those she knows and cares about. Including herself. Just by existing.

Luceti is a gentler touch than home ever was. Here, it feels...permitted to be herself. Home is different. So very different.

She is different.

Limited existence.]

...

I think such a world is incapable of existing. Even the laws of society themselves cause conflict...

[...]

It would be nice to keep my memories of this place.

[It's sort of on the same subject.]

[For a moment, she's quiet. The idea of a place like that simply didn't appeal to her, and she could absolutely agree there. Society created conflict, and even then it was just the way of the world. She's a being with a violent nature, so her mind is skewed. Peace would be a nice reprieve but making it permanent and lasting would mean the death of so many things, herself included.

The final comment, though, snaps her attention back.]

Would you? I think...maybe that might be where you and I differ. There are some things I would never ever want to lose. But there are so many things I just want to forget. Shifts and loneliness wore on me for so, so long.

This place is...

[She pauses. She's unsure if she wants to go this far in confession, but...

...]

This place is a refuge for me. Nothing is required of me. It means...I can live for me. Or I've learned how to.

[Sort of.]

I'll go home, and I'll forget that.

[Saori's eyes close and she smiles sadly.]

I suppose I can understand that. I don't know how many memories I'd want to keep, but I'd hate to go home and forget about my friends here. [Makie included. And she has a confession of her own, at that.]

But I honestly don't want to leave. Not yet. I...don't know if you saw it in the tunnels, but I've been here before. I-I was experimented on here in the past, but I have no memory of it. So I want to stay. I want to remain long enough to put a stop to this, to keep people from coming back. And to find a way home through my own power.

It has to be possible, someway. And if that's true, then maybe we can find a way home with our memories intact.

[Mention of the tunnels confuses her, with Makie so distanced from the journals in general. So she doesn't actually know what Saori is talking about. The confusion may flicker on her face, before she follows the gist of what Saori is really saying.

Experimented on...

She closes her eyes.]

I would help you with that, if I could.

[If Makie doesn't know, Saori isn't really inclined to share. Not that much, not with the wound being so fresh. She doesn't elaborate, but instead reaches out to gently squeeze her friend's shoulder.]

You can. You will. You'll be well soon enough, and this isn't going to be a fast thing, I feel.

Then... any time you need me. I'm not very smart. [Not technologically savvy is what she really means, but.] There are other ways I can help.

You're plenty smart. Just keep your eyes open and watch for opportunities. Even if you and I aren't very smart...there are still ways we can help.

Yes. Always.

[She smiles.] I really have enjoyed being here. In this house. It's been... good for me.

Good. I'm glad that we could help you find your feet. You're welcome any time. The wards will let you pass, and you can keep the key. If you find yourself wanting company, we'll be here.

I still expect you to come by sometimes to play together, after all. We've gotten so good at harmonizing, now.

I will make sure to stop by often.

[And casually invite herself into house 44 posts.]

And I'll let you know where I settle. I was thinking of just taking an apartment.

Good, good.

[Casual invitation seems good]

If you need anything, you know how to reach me.

Yes. [A ghost of humour.] I even know how to use the journal without alerting the whole village now.

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windandrain - 2013-10-12 15:48 (UTC) - Expand

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