[ Lucky for Lalli, he has no interest in explaining what a Servant is; talking about his own death would eventually lead down the path of just how the hell he's aware of that and other strange things he knows. A topic to completely avoid for practical reasons.
Izō practically puffs up at his praises, though. If there's one thing he's proud of, it's his swordsmanship. ]
I've always been good with a sword ever since I picked one up. I was called a genius of the sword because I could memorize any move just seein' it once. It's nothin' for me. [ His smile turns almost sad for a moment. ] Ryouma was th' one t'say it first....We were jus' kids, but...hey, he wasn't wrong.
[ It gave him something to focus on, something to work towards. A way of proving himself when he came from almost nothing. It's all he had going for him, so he had to be good at it. ]
['You should specify that you kill those monsters from your world, not people.'
'Why would I need to specify that?'
'...Child.'
Suddenly Lalli seems a bit annoyed. But the sudden onset after a brief lull in conversation is probably familiar by now, given the sheer amount of body-sharing in this city.]
'Kissa' says I should tell you I'm good at killing trolls, not people. It's stupid, why would a person kill another person if they didn't have to? We've only ever had to do that when an infected person turned up during their quarantine.
[ A familiar lull, really. After some unfortunate incidents, he's learned to keep his arguments with Karasu inside his head finally.
Izō averts his gaze for a moment. They come from two different worlds and that's never been more evident than now. He hesitates to answer, if only because he's suddenly worried that the truth will push Lalli away. Who wants to be friends with a manslayer, anyway? Who should be friends with one at all? ]
...I never told ya what I do, did I? [ Maybe it's the alcohol or maybe it's his desire to rip the bandaid off and put an end to the silly fantasy he could ever have friends -- whichever it is, he barrels forward with the truth. ] ...I killed people for a livin'. They called me Manslayer Izō back in Tosa.
[That awkward pause is Lalli realizing just how different their worlds are. Attacking other humans like that is pointless as far as he is considered, because there's so few people left in the Known World anyway. Why kill one of a couple hundred thousand? That will just end humanity sooner.]
Why?
[No judgement, just curiosity and a desire to understand his friend.]
[ Lalli is still here and still curious -- he's grateful for that, but also a little confused. Whatever, may as well keep talking. ]
...Yeah and 'cause I'm good at it. I killed a bunch'a important people in th' name of divine punishment. [ "Tenchu", the rallying cry of those allied with Takechi Hanpeita. ] A few of 'em were from when I was a bodyguard, though.
[ He huffs a short laugh through his nose. ]
Endin' one life so another can live...Kinda fucked up, huh?
[Lalli has seen people like Izo before. They were so excited to be out there killing trolls and clearing the land of any trace of the Rash. Lalli doesn't quite understand that attitude himself, personally. He kills trolls and exorcises ghosts, but he doesn't get any enjoyment from it. It's just a job, like how you have to wash your clothes or cook your food. It's not something done for fun, you do it because you have to.
But even though he doesn't get it, it's still something that is important to Izo. So.]
We had to do that sometimes, if someone was sick with the Rash. I guess it's a little messed up. But you do it because you have to, right? For bodyguarding, or divine punishment.
[ Izō isn't very smart and those he worked for used that to their advantage. It's easy to get him to do what you want if you're enthusiastic enough and give him enough praise. He's not that different from a particularly violent dog, really. ]
Yeah...Not like I was good at anythin' else. Had to do somethin' to eat, y'know?
[ And there goes to last of the sake bottle. For once, he doesn't feel miserable...Talking with Lalli is nice. He occupies a space no one else has managed to get to yet. To think he'd talk so openly about his life instead of keeping someone at arm's length. ]
Sorry for, uh, the whole threatenin' ya thing... [ Because he hadn't properly apologized for that whole mess. ] Ya got nothin' to fear from me like that ever again...In fact, ya ever need someone or somethin' dealt with...Jus' say th' word.
[It's why he's a scout, after all: it's something he's good at, and it lets him eat. It's a perfectly valid reason to choose a specific job.
And sometimes it's easiest to deal with your problems by talking them through with someone else. Especially if that someone else proves to be an effective sounding board.
Izo finishes the whole bottle in the time it takes Lalli to finish one cup, which is about the right speed in his mind. He'll set the cup down as Izo finishes his own drink.]
You threatened me because you were being attacked. Anyone would have done it, it's not your fault.
[Is he trying to comfort Izo there? It's hard to tell. Lalli can be blunt with his words sometimes, so it's hard to know if this is him just saying his opinions or if he's trying to be helpful. It's probably a bit of both.
But regardless, he's being honest here: there's no hard feelings over what happened in the dream.]
But if I need help, I'll ask.
[He'll try to ask. He's still learning about that 'speak up' part. Usually when he does ask for help, it's when he's drowning in problems. Maybe someday he'll learn to speak up before then.]
[ No hard feelings is good. Alienating his currently only friend is the last thing he wants to do. Izō reaches out and ... stops before punching Lalli in the shoulder in an affection gesture. Instead, he draws his fist back with a little grin. That's what he offered before, right? ]
Even if ya don't ask...If I know you're in trouble, I'll do whatever I can t'help.
[What is it with people and the shoulder-punching? He's lost count of how many times that has happened, and nobody ever did explain it to him. But Izo stops short, and Lalli lifts his own fist to tap it against Izo's.]
If I'm in trouble, everyone is in trouble.
[He's just stating that out loud since his usual MO is to avoid trouble entirely.]
[ Violence is all he knows and that's just a form of violent affection, isn't it? ]
Yeah, yeah...With th' way ya run off at the first sign of it and all.
[ This whole little talk has been...nice, really. Izō half-expected to be a mess by the end of it, given his issues speaking frankly about his emotions and his past. Much better than most nights he drinks a bottle of sake by himself. ]
...This place ain't so bad with someone like you here.
[But speaking of which, Lalli is going to reach into his pocket and pull out one of the many maps he has made of the area. The apartment building is clearly labeled, and the streets around there have friendly locations circled and dangerous ones Xed out.This map is going to be offered to Izo.]
It's better with a friend, yes. It gives me time to think of how to explain all of this to Onni.
[ A map...? He takes it with a slight tilt of his head. Not...an expected gift, but it's good to have. Izō looks up with a grin. ]
Shit, this how ya keep yourself busy, huh? [ A beat and his expression softens to something a bit more sober. ] For when ya go back home, yeah? Gonna have a helluva story for 'im.
You're like me, ain't ya -- alone in this place? [ A sigh. At least he's the right level of drunk to be having this conversation. ] D'ya really want someone ya know showin' up here?
[ As lonely as he felt without his Master or a familiar Servant around, he doesn't really want them here. Getting possessed by a youkai isn't exactly an experience he wants to share with someone he cares about. ]
[Now there's a sad look. But a moment later he shakes his head.]
It's better none of them are here. But...I've never been alone before. I'm the youngest. And I don't understand people. Onni and Tuuri always looked out for me and tried to make things make sense for me.
But even if it's difficult being without them, I don't want them to come here.
You're doin' pretty well for yourself, I think. Might not have 'em 'round, but...ya ain't alone.
[ Enough of that. Ugh, look at him having normal feelings and talking about them. It's weird! ]
I gotta couple people back home I don't want showin' up here, either... [ He's dancing around mentioning his Master for any number of reasons. ] I'm fine without 'em, anyway. I can handle myself...'m used to bein' on my own.
Onni always worried about people watching out for me. He thinks I can't take care of myself.
[The truth of that is. Debatable. Lalli likes to think he's been doing fine but the fact that 'Kissa' has been there to guide him is probably a complicating factor.]
He would probably be happy that we're friends and can look after each other.
[ Hey, he's still alive, right? Good enough proof he can take care of himself, with or without the assistance of a youkai. ]
Somethin' tells me he might have a problem with someone like me, but...that's a problem for later. I'll make sure nothin' happens to ya as long as I'm able.
[Let's see if my friend ends up apping Onni or not to come and judge Izo forever.
Then again, he might appreciate that Izo is looking out for Lalli.]
...thank you.
[Lalli? Saying thanks? This must be the first time all game he has said that! And he's going to show his thanks by immediately going back to his habit of stating opinions like they're facts.]
Drunks should sleep it off.
[He's going to stand up and go over to Izo's kitchen, on a quest for some kind of cup to get some water for Izo.]
[ Oh...Thanks isn't something he usually hears from, well, anyone. He's not exactly the most helpful person in the world, to say the least. He almost gets a reply out when ... Lalli does his Lalli thing.
A laugh comes out instead. ]
Yeah, yeah... [ Another laugh. ] If you're so worried, jus' get outta here and lemme sleep it off, then.
[Here, water! It is tap water but it's better than nothing.
Lalli also takes a moment to at least move the sake cups and the bottle to the counter. He's not going to actually clean them but they're less likely to be broken up there.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 05:24 am (UTC)Izō practically puffs up at his praises, though. If there's one thing he's proud of, it's his swordsmanship. ]
I've always been good with a sword ever since I picked one up. I was called a genius of the sword because I could memorize any move just seein' it once. It's nothin' for me. [ His smile turns almost sad for a moment. ] Ryouma was th' one t'say it first....We were jus' kids, but...hey, he wasn't wrong.
[ It gave him something to focus on, something to work towards. A way of proving himself when he came from almost nothing. It's all he had going for him, so he had to be good at it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 05:30 am (UTC)A sword is good. It's quiet and doesn't use ammunition. It's a very good weapon for killing trolls.
Can you learn anything by seeing it once? Not just fighting?
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Date: 2021-01-13 05:44 am (UTC)[ If he'd been more disciplined and trained in a particular school, he may have been famous for his swordmanship and not just his assassinations. ]
I ain't good at much else but fightin' and killin'.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 05:50 am (UTC)['You should specify that you kill those monsters from your world, not people.'
'Why would I need to specify that?'
'...Child.'
Suddenly Lalli seems a bit annoyed. But the sudden onset after a brief lull in conversation is probably familiar by now, given the sheer amount of body-sharing in this city.]
'Kissa' says I should tell you I'm good at killing trolls, not people. It's stupid, why would a person kill another person if they didn't have to? We've only ever had to do that when an infected person turned up during their quarantine.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 05:59 am (UTC)Izō averts his gaze for a moment. They come from two different worlds and that's never been more evident than now. He hesitates to answer, if only because he's suddenly worried that the truth will push Lalli away. Who wants to be friends with a manslayer, anyway? Who should be friends with one at all? ]
...I never told ya what I do, did I? [ Maybe it's the alcohol or maybe it's his desire to rip the bandaid off and put an end to the silly fantasy he could ever have friends -- whichever it is, he barrels forward with the truth. ] ...I killed people for a livin'. They called me Manslayer Izō back in Tosa.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 06:27 am (UTC)[That awkward pause is Lalli realizing just how different their worlds are. Attacking other humans like that is pointless as far as he is considered, because there's so few people left in the Known World anyway. Why kill one of a couple hundred thousand? That will just end humanity sooner.]
Why?
[No judgement, just curiosity and a desire to understand his friend.]
Was it because people ordered you to?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 06:25 pm (UTC)...Yeah and 'cause I'm good at it. I killed a bunch'a important people in th' name of divine punishment. [ "Tenchu", the rallying cry of those allied with Takechi Hanpeita. ] A few of 'em were from when I was a bodyguard, though.
[ He huffs a short laugh through his nose. ]
Endin' one life so another can live...Kinda fucked up, huh?
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 06:33 pm (UTC)But even though he doesn't get it, it's still something that is important to Izo. So.]
We had to do that sometimes, if someone was sick with the Rash. I guess it's a little messed up. But you do it because you have to, right? For bodyguarding, or divine punishment.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 07:41 pm (UTC)Yeah...Not like I was good at anythin' else. Had to do somethin' to eat, y'know?
[ And there goes to last of the sake bottle. For once, he doesn't feel miserable...Talking with Lalli is nice. He occupies a space no one else has managed to get to yet. To think he'd talk so openly about his life instead of keeping someone at arm's length. ]
Sorry for, uh, the whole threatenin' ya thing... [ Because he hadn't properly apologized for that whole mess. ] Ya got nothin' to fear from me like that ever again...In fact, ya ever need someone or somethin' dealt with...Jus' say th' word.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 07:58 pm (UTC)[It's why he's a scout, after all: it's something he's good at, and it lets him eat. It's a perfectly valid reason to choose a specific job.
And sometimes it's easiest to deal with your problems by talking them through with someone else. Especially if that someone else proves to be an effective sounding board.
Izo finishes the whole bottle in the time it takes Lalli to finish one cup, which is about the right speed in his mind. He'll set the cup down as Izo finishes his own drink.]
You threatened me because you were being attacked. Anyone would have done it, it's not your fault.
[Is he trying to comfort Izo there? It's hard to tell. Lalli can be blunt with his words sometimes, so it's hard to know if this is him just saying his opinions or if he's trying to be helpful. It's probably a bit of both.
But regardless, he's being honest here: there's no hard feelings over what happened in the dream.]
But if I need help, I'll ask.
[He'll try to ask. He's still learning about that 'speak up' part. Usually when he does ask for help, it's when he's drowning in problems. Maybe someday he'll learn to speak up before then.]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-13 08:53 pm (UTC)Even if ya don't ask...If I know you're in trouble, I'll do whatever I can t'help.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-14 04:13 am (UTC)If I'm in trouble, everyone is in trouble.
[He's just stating that out loud since his usual MO is to avoid trouble entirely.]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-14 05:35 am (UTC)Yeah, yeah...With th' way ya run off at the first sign of it and all.
[ This whole little talk has been...nice, really. Izō half-expected to be a mess by the end of it, given his issues speaking frankly about his emotions and his past. Much better than most nights he drinks a bottle of sake by himself. ]
...This place ain't so bad with someone like you here.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-14 06:39 am (UTC)[But speaking of which, Lalli is going to reach into his pocket and pull out one of the many maps he has made of the area. The apartment building is clearly labeled, and the streets around there have friendly locations circled and dangerous ones Xed out.This map is going to be offered to Izo.]
It's better with a friend, yes. It gives me time to think of how to explain all of this to Onni.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-14 07:04 pm (UTC)Shit, this how ya keep yourself busy, huh? [ A beat and his expression softens to something a bit more sober. ] For when ya go back home, yeah? Gonna have a helluva story for 'im.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 04:35 am (UTC)[He's not strong, he's not much of a fighter, but he can do this much at least.]
I'm not telling anyone from home about this place, or 'Kissa'. They'll kill me if they know about her.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 05:53 am (UTC)[ As lonely as he felt without his Master or a familiar Servant around, he doesn't really want them here. Getting possessed by a youkai isn't exactly an experience he wants to share with someone he cares about. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 06:07 am (UTC)[Now there's a sad look. But a moment later he shakes his head.]
It's better none of them are here. But...I've never been alone before. I'm the youngest. And I don't understand people. Onni and Tuuri always looked out for me and tried to make things make sense for me.
But even if it's difficult being without them, I don't want them to come here.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 06:33 am (UTC)[ Enough of that. Ugh, look at him having normal feelings and talking about them. It's weird! ]
I gotta couple people back home I don't want showin' up here, either... [ He's dancing around mentioning his Master for any number of reasons. ] I'm fine without 'em, anyway. I can handle myself...'m used to bein' on my own.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 01:16 pm (UTC)[Just. Pointing that out too.]
Onni always worried about people watching out for me. He thinks I can't take care of myself.
[The truth of that is. Debatable. Lalli likes to think he's been doing fine but the fact that 'Kissa' has been there to guide him is probably a complicating factor.]
He would probably be happy that we're friends and can look after each other.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-16 03:27 am (UTC)Somethin' tells me he might have a problem with someone like me, but...that's a problem for later. I'll make sure nothin' happens to ya as long as I'm able.
[ And then, a self-aware laugh. ]
Shit, I'm too drunk if I'm gettin' like this...
[ But he means it. ]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-16 04:00 am (UTC)Then again, he might appreciate that Izo is looking out for Lalli.]
...thank you.
[Lalli? Saying thanks? This must be the first time all game he has said that! And he's going to show his thanks by immediately going back to his habit of stating opinions like they're facts.]
Drunks should sleep it off.
[He's going to stand up and go over to Izo's kitchen, on a quest for some kind of cup to get some water for Izo.]
no subject
Date: 2021-01-16 04:24 am (UTC)A laugh comes out instead. ]
Yeah, yeah... [ Another laugh. ] If you're so worried, jus' get outta here and lemme sleep it off, then.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-16 04:37 am (UTC)[Here, water! It is tap water but it's better than nothing.
Lalli also takes a moment to at least move the sake cups and the bottle to the counter. He's not going to actually clean them but they're less likely to be broken up there.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-16 05:01 am (UTC)Ya don't gotta clean up after me -- I ain't a clumsy drunk
[ So he says. Drunk people say a lot of things, of course. It's his way of saying thanks; turns out he's bad at that, too. ]
But fine...Water and then sleep. [ A huff. ] ... Thanks. Again.
[ Well, maybe not that bad. ]
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