epidemiology | ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ︵ ┻━┻ { catch-all }

No, NO. Even if the thought of being tame really could get Matsunaga's interest to be lost is one that he could count on being true, Masamune can't stomach it. He can't stomach it because it's as if Matsunaga has been here watching all along in this goddamn room through its mirrors at everything that occurred while in Chantes. The small witch he's become borderline obsessively protective of, the princess that he's come to see as a real friend, the servant that filled Kojuro's shoes too as an advice giver when he needed it desperately, and the king that crushed this dragon's wings and claims ownership of to begin with.

Somehow, too, Matsunaga saying such things is far worse than anyone else. Is it because the elder man knows him much better-- even if that actually means very little at all (or so Masamune will time and time again declare)?

He has so many excuses to fire back at why Matsunaga is wrong, but he stops himself short when he opens his mouth, finally. If he becomes hostile and defensive, then... Of course, it proves Matsunaga right, doesn't it? Masamune lowers his head, his posture stiffening and fists clenching before he forces them loosen. Swallowing his anger, Masamune raises his attention back to the older warlord.

"Until just now, there's been no reason to carry my blades in the open while here and to where I was going."

Which was to go meet a girl but that got sidetracked a bit... Of course, Masamune is not entirely unarmed, either, his tantou is concealed in his jacket for any necessary defense. Kojuro has his swords rather than simply leaving them locked away with no one. It also helps that "their kind" are at the top of the food chain here thus far, powerwise, vying for the spot officially with the likes of Servants and gods.

"But, if you want to give up on them, be my guest!"

No love lost there.

"And, of course it matters! Do you really think I don't care that you could be slithering around in the shadows without me even being aware it's a possibility to begin with?"

"It's nice to know that someone's taught you how to speak to me." Here he thought that he would hear unintelligible words laced with anger and hate. He smiles to himself, a little more proud than disappointed now. A tame dragon is of little interest to him, but one that strains against the leash now upon him has some worth. "Those blades were once an extension of yourself. Your claws. If you see no reason to have them not with you at all times, you see no reason. I cannot make you see what you have forgotten."

He drops his hand away from resting it upon the hilt of his own sword. A message lost but it always is with the young. "As I told you once before, I only go for treasures. I have no use for swords." Blinking, he squints as he stares at a scene in one of the mirrors. Surprisingly "modern," like where they now find themselves. The lights of the building are dazzling and he wishes to know if anyone would mind if he should take it for himself. But he pulls his eyes away to make a thoughtful sound.

"Obviously, it does not. I could have arrived at any time until now, after all." He cants his head to the side. This is a much different outrage than having him point out how little a roar Masamune now has. "My, my... I have no idea what you are mad about right now. I am here now and I am to work with these people. These are facts we cannot avoid. I would feel the need to tell these people I have been a retainer for but one man, and it ended quite poorly for that person. Yet they do not seem to care. Results matter more than the person. The idea of changing history and time to what it should be ... as they see it."

A small shrug of the shoulders. "I appreciate the coldness of the organization that sees people as tools rather than as people. I would be very upset otherwise. But these people do not care about us or our wants. They only wish for us to complete a task and if we cannot, they will gather more bodies that can. I can respect such effectiveness, because eventually you will find a sharp enough tool to break through the wall. Even if you must dash dozens against it first." And that is why he is going along with this beyond wishing to see how far their hubris will take everyone.

Taught him how to speak to—

Oh, hell, did Matsunaga really just--? Masamune feels hot at the fury that shoots up through him suddenly, raking his insides across hot coals and goading him to drop his control. Control isn't something a person like this deserves and to pretend it's necessary is absurd, the little voice in his head declares. It tempts and hisses and laughs and pushes and Masamune clenches his teeth before resorting to biting his own tongue and bottom lip to have the temptation retreat for the moment. It's absolutely important, but to tell explain properly is basically screwing himself over. Being worried about what relationships he already knows of or that Kojuro's already here or anything like that pretty damn important to Masamune.

But, he's now become stuck between validating the importance at the sacrifice of negating the very reason it was important to begin with.

Shit.

(As for his claws, like he will ever leave his room again without them knowing that the other is here. This is bullshit--)

"...Are you basically telling me how asinine these bastards are, but its not so bad because you're OK with them?"

"No. I'm saying these people have an amazing amount of hubris for the power that they command. They're willing to alter all of time and space in order to achieve their goals for no other reason than some lofty idea that they're going to make things better, but what is better, One-Eyed ... ah, I'm sorry... what is better, Masamune?"

Hisahide does not wait for the young man to explain what he believes if the "better" timeline. "If Nobunaga did not attempt to take control of the entire country, none of the others would unite to fight him. You would not have met or done any of the things you had. In fact, with your desire to reach for the sky... you could have become the Demon King." He chuckles. What a hilarious thought. "Nobunaga is an evil man. He gave up his humanity in order to achieve what he needed to... do you understand his thinking at all? No, you can't."

His hand rests on his own hip as he leans forward just enough to appear as though he is bowing. "After all, it appears as though these people gave you one of the Tiger Cub's cherished possessions." A huffed laugh. "That's very sweet. And you would not have that sentimentality if not for Nobunaga. And so I wonder what these people think is the right timeline. A time where he never decided to give up his humanity. I knew him back then." A beat. "He was very boring."

No, he does not mind or care what his words may do to the other. Why should he? His opinion has been asked and so he is giving it.

Masamune furrows his brow as he listens and, of course, he catches that refusal to address him as a dragon. It makes his fingers twitch terribly, and they itch like they haven't in some time for the swords that are currently not at his disposal. It's amazing how easily one personal can twist an entire mindset to the other side. Whereas he came here mostly not even thinking on whether or not he had his six, now all be can think is how they aren't there and his hands feel bare without them.

Shit.

There is a slight stiffening at the older man's observation and immediately one hand comes to curl around the six coins almost defensively. That wasn't for Matsunaga to notice. That wasn't for anyone to notice.

( He's already getting taken in circles by this conversation alone; he never intended to have it and yet somehow the other has dragged him in anyway, and, thus, he feels a need to counter in any way possible. )

"Then it's a good thing they aren't screwing with our timelines." He's fine with this one; even with all the shit that didn't go right and the losses suffered, he doesn't like thinking on the possibility of his fundamental world changing. It's absolutely true that they all became as they did due to Nobunaga.

In fact, Matsunaga's observations are sound—It's just the fact it's Matsunaga saying it that makes it difficult to stomach.

"Some of that is just horse shit," he sneers-- in particularly, about the potential in a timeline that he could have become what Nobunaga did. "Besides, these timelines we go to seem more screwed regardless than having any hopes whether we interfere or not."

What is Masamune engaging in this topic for, suddenly? He doesn't know, but it all stems from a constant feeling of being defensive of their own timeline; that Matsunaga would bring it up so casually and how it could well fall apart to people like this.

He cannot help but breathe out another laugh at how Masamune clutches at the six coins. His shoulders tremble a little in his mirth before it abruptly ends. Turning back to look to the mirrors, he focuses his attention once more upon the more modern time periods. The weaponry that they have now. It should be something that might be a problem. Interesting, interesting.

"Only because we are useful tools to them." A pointed response, even though he is looking and thinking of other things. "Do you not think that people would not come to our world and believe the same? Everyone scrabbling over their own lands. War always on the horizon. Or do you look upon your own time with such rose-colored glass that you do not see the faults in it?"

Hisahide cannot keep himself from smiling. "It seems as always I am the adult in these situations. It seems as always I must educate you children. Our world is a place where bloodshed reigns supreme. The one who will rule our country is the one who is covered in red. Do not forget that, Masamune. We are all killers. There is no glory in what we do, only corpses to pile into mountains." A beat. "Ashikaga understands that well. And yet..."

He frowns. An owl bows before the sun. A phrase he repeats once more in his head. The man is a fascinating one, and he wonders what Ashikaga would do in this place. Would he laugh? Would he call everyone his friends? Even though he could easily cut all these fools down? Even though he stands on the highest pile of dead? Indeed, that man may always smile despite what is before him. There is worth in someone who is able to see what they are and hide behind nothing. There is worth in someone who smiles honestly with all the cold knowledge and wisdom the world has to offer.

"And yet I would call him 'friend.' Even before Nobunaga." This is not a kind-hearted statement nor one that is meant to draw them closer. This is merely showing just how far the tamed one truly is from achieving anything of worth.

Edited 2016-03-14 02:46 (UTC)

Masamune is silent, but only in sound. He may currently be declawed, but that doesn't mean he has to succumb to this, right? He can't be falling behind in a place like this while Kojuro is here.

Ashikaga... Masamune makes a face, his bitter confusion and resentment of the shogun's decision to simply throw it all to the wind and dissolve his position because he could and sending the land into chaos as it still is, as a result.

"I'm not that naive."

Masamune's words are stubborn coming from his mouth and his grip tightens momentarily on the six coins. If he's not naive, then what is he? Soft? Lost? Without another soul to drive him to his fullest land maintain it, day after day?

Tch. It's not really good enough even for himself as an answer.

The young Date lord looks up again, though. 'Friend', huh. "I can't imagine your definition of that word to be very orthodox."

"I have given you a lot to think about, Masamune."

Already, he can see how it makes the gears in the young man's head turn. That is not necessarily his wish or what he wants out of the conversation, but it is enough. He steps closer to one of the mirrors and reaches out to have the tips of his fingers brush over the glass. No good.

"Of course, it isn't." A hum. "Is that supposed to upset me? My relationship with others cannot be defined so easily. Would you like me to define your relationship with the Tiger Cub and your Right-Eye?" His smile turns considerably colder. Ashikaga is someone that he will not forget easily. Someone interesting that he will eventually kill. Maybe. Perhaps, the man will kill him and that, too, is an acceptable end. But not yet.

"For example, what do you think that Cub would think of you clinging to those six coins of his? Do you intend to embarrass him?" A beat. "Do those here know of your attachment?" His eyes move from looking at the mirrors to the young lord's face now. He wonders what sort of expression that the man will have. Do you have it in you to roar still?

Of course he goes for the kill.

Masamune's good eye narrows. "Just because you think you can put words into my mouth, don't you dare think you have any way to define my own personal relationships, either," he snaps back, a very decisive and dangerous clipping to his tone. This little dragon's teeth aren't nearly big enough to do the trick that method of communication and body language would suggest (a very good display of threatening fangs without actually feeling the need to try and intimidate quite so directly.

It's suggestive, though.)

Masamune laughs, but it's not a friendly one. "Ha! What Sanada Yukimura and I share isn't possible for you to get-- nobody else can, either. Not his ninja and not Kojuro, either, so shut your mouth on it. If I'm holding onto something important of his, naturally I'm going to do everything to keep it for him until he gets it back."

Even if it's not truly his (Masamune believes, anyway) so much as a likeness to them. The dragon appreciates having them as a reminder—that he has reason to go forward and survive but that dying need not be feared, either.

He has payment in hand, after all.

As for Kojuro, it's not so much that he has nothing to say but Kojuro is here and Yukimura isn't. The issue is a lot more sensitive to be played and he will keep silent on it with it not being asked.

"But that makes no sense to you, right? Holding onto to something without it ever actually being yours."

He also doesn't confirm what is known about Yukimura and himself by others here. No one knows anything about Yukimura in regards to him here that isn't from their world (if they even get it, he's done well enough to keep these out of sight as much as possible to never have to answer even innocently curious inquiries.

"Thank goodness." Hisahide looks back upon the reflection of a futuristic world. "With how you have been acting, I feared you would curl your tail between your legs upon even hinting at the Tiger Cub's feelings."

Ah, that Yukimura reminds him of his youth. Though, his eyes were never as rose-shaded as the young warrior's. He is reminded of his relationship with Nobunaga. What a boring man that he was. Only time that he became interesting is when his hand was forced, when he had to destroy a treasure that he did not yet wished destroyed. And then after when all the humanity was drained out of him.

"It is amusing to see history repeat itself." He let out one final sigh. "It is terrible to get so nostalgic." Turning away from the mirrors, he starts towards Masamune, the poor tamed dragon. His hand settles on the hilt of the sword at his side, drumming his fingers against it in thought.

"Stand tall, tamed dragon. You still have a roar left in you, do you not?" Yes. He heard some of it just now. And he pauses as he starts to continue on past. "You are right. I do not hold onto anything that is not mine. I do not hold onto anything that is someone else's. And with how you speak, the Tiger Cub is yours, isn't he?"

A brief pause. "The coins are but holding onto his collar until he comes back to you. Perhaps then... you will remember yourself. You would not wish to disappoint, now would you?" As before, he cants his head slightly at the young man before he continues walking on.

"Much to think on, Masamune, but I wonder if you have it in you to find the answers." His hand falls away from the sword but his stride does not break. Time to leave these mirrors; he has seen what he must and will say what he shall. Like asking for one to come retrieve the little lord whose roar has become so quiet.

Edited (Come on, phone.) 2016-03-14 18:30 (UTC)

Masamune doesn't even speak a word, not even when the other starts to walk away. There's a lot to take in, perhaps it's not all that unusual to be left in silence.

Of course, it's supposed to end there. Of course, Masamune won't let that insult go. Even if something way deep down in a tarry black pit of darkness in the far recesses of his mind seems to shake its chains at Matsunaga's assessment, the One-eyed Dragon still has too much respect for his rival to simply let it go. Even if every single thing turned out to be true (what belongs to them, what doesn't, what an action really can mean even when on the outside its a simple gesture), Masamune will not tolerate hearing it spoken by this son of a bitch.

He is indeed without his claws, but he's not without his breath-- the sharp sizzling hiss of electricity is the only thing that offers a hint before there's a chain of lightning hurling itself towards Matsunaga's retreating form. It has only one direction so what doesn't hit its target (or something else on the way) will crash into the wall.

"That's not for your tongue to speak."

It is his own fault. Hisahide is an adult enough to admit his failings. He has grown used to his little crow protecting his back and it builds complacency.

His armor softens the blow but not by much. A hot fire burns as he tilts his head to acknowledge The pain the same way one would a foreign sound. Electricity crackles off his shoulder before it dies away to smoke in the air. He flexes his fingers as blood runs down the tips, flicking bits of red onto the mirrors.

"It seems as though I must once more be an adult and teach a rowdy child that he should not have such tantrums." Unsheathing one of the swords (surprisingly not the one he had been teasing with earlier), he clicks his tongue as he turns to stalk back toward the little tame dragon.

Edited 2016-03-14 20:00 (UTC)

Despite the life she's come to lead within these last few years, Olivia remains a wanderer at heart. It is in her blood, as instinctive as the need to move with passion and melody whenever she has the chance to. It's what gets her moving now, drifting from room to room within this wide, expansive castle, floating along like she hasn't got any ties to keep her down. That is a foolish, childish thought, of course; though she may have no family or fellow Shepherds here, she does have responsibilities. Promises to keep, and people to protect.

(It is what keeps her moving in another way.)

However, while her need to drift has her wandering close by, it is her curiosity that has her coming closer and into the room. Voices she had heard filtering from the narrow halls that lead down here, rising in pitch and volume and passion. By the time she's pushed the door open to peek in, she has identified one of the voices.

Imagine her shock to find it belonging to a man she hadn't expected to see attack first.

"S...Stop this!"

She shouts before she thinks to, and though she makes no real intimidating figure, there is, at least, a large iron sword in her hands, aimed rather deftly at the both of them.

He's so stuck in this moment of rage that despite managing to hit Matsunaga, as well as see the other turn and advance as a threat, it doesn't shake him from the induced blindness. Even if they were equals when equipped equipped (which, Masamune begrudgingly has to admit, is not the case), this is a thrown battle to engage in such a manner.

He doesn't seem to care, though, and the element crackling idly about his raised arm and hand, as if simply lying in wait for orders, does not melt away. His words are venomous and piercing. It's definitely a fury of the great beasts. But, this is the same type of fury that his Right-Eye keeps in check, that Masamune gets consumed hopelessly by and knows normally that once he falls to this level he has lost, regardless. Still, there's nothing to suggest that knowledge is presence&mdaah;if it is, the dragon whipping its tail is merely obstinate even to facing its own obvious fate. "Just try it, you—"

The sound of a third party screaming stops Masamune mid-sentence, the undeniable fury that's spurning his tantrum being split apart as realization comes over him. By no means is he suddenly lacking his anger, but what was almost a blind possession (and a very meaningful death wish), but he's at least in control as he spares a glance past Matsunaga to see the girl demanding a ceasefire.

"Olivia..." Shit. He doesn't know if her arrival is a good thing or a bad thing. "...Olivia, leave!" What he does know, however,is that he's not going to assume good graces suddenly when the price for being wrong could very well be her.

"Olivia?"

He repeats the name first before he looks over his shoulder toward the tiny flower threatening him with a sword. His eyes travel down the blade as he sees little worth in it, and the one that he has in his own hand is of far better steel. Shifting his eyes back to Masamune, he stares at the dragon turned pet. He lets all of his malicious intent be felt by the tamed child. For the one who carries no claws, for the one who calls out to the little dove, how fast could Masamune move to do anything? Would he soon see the iron sword cut in half? Would he see Hisahide run the girl through, lifting the delicate body up in the air to show just how futile everything is?

No. He won't.

The sword clicks back into its sheath as he turns to face the young miss. There is no worth in beating down a beast that is but straining against its chain. "What an embarrassing scene for such a little flower to come and see." He clenches and unclenches his hand, feeling the blood continue to drip down his fingers. It splatters almost silently against the floor. "To raise your voice so adamantly to stop this... I see no reason why I should not. Why? Because the child has already learned to cool his head. If he continues to draw blows, I would have to answer, would I not?" Even as he stares at her heart-shaped face, this is a question not meant to Olivia but to Masamune.

"You would have to get involved further, would you not?" He nods. Straightening his posture, he calls back behind him. "One of those who has taught you manners, I see. I see. I shall withdraw from this affair before it becomes more... violent, little flower. Well, then." Stepping around the sword pointed at him, he tips his head a little -- is it in apology or farewell? -- as he continues on his way. The knife has been twisted violently within the little dragon and that is a far better injury than what his sword could do. Look, tame dragon... look and know it is but my disinterest that kept your flower safe.

Her breathing is so quick, so sharp, she's surprised she's getting any air at all. Then again, maybe she isn't. Maybe that's why she feels so dizzy when both men suddenly look at her, when she finds her shout noticed and sharp, critical gazes meet her own. She doesn't feel frozen, but heavy — like her limbs suddenly weigh ten tons and it's taking all she's got to keep both her arms and her sword steady, to not show how terrified she is that she has spoken out of her turn, gotten in way over her head.

When the man is gone, walked far enough out of their reach that she can no longer feel the chill of his gaze and his voice in her spine, Olivia releases a deep, shuddering breath. Just like that, whatever adrenaline had been in her body seems to shake out of her, and suddenly her limbs feel like jello. The sword drops to her side like excess weight, but her gaze fixes itself back on Masamune, wide and sharp, despite her nerves.

"Are you hurt?"

While her knees will fail her, Masamune, at least in this instance, will not. Olivia won't drop to the cold stone of the floor, but sink slowly as he catches her mid-drop and decides to give her a moment to regain herself.

In the meantime, Masamune is staring over her shoulder, perturbed, keeping one arm around her back protectively even while the situation has passed. His nerves are frayed and he is ashamed he let Matsunaga provoke him to do something so stupid, but he is fine. Masamune offers a small shake of his head before swallowing.

"No, I'm fine. Are you?" He knows she wasn't even touched, but the young daimyo is no stranger to the types of feelings that encountering that man result from.

This is bad, though.

It's his own fault, too. Shit.

For all the drama that had transpired just moments ago, Olivia's smile is soft and gentle when she looks up at him. As if nothing at all had happened. (A closer look would show that her smile is a little frayed around the edges, though; strained and put upon for his benefit, not hers.)

(Well. Maybe a little bit for her.)

"I'm fine," she assures him, reaching out to gently pat his shoulder. Still, she leans against him a bit more than one who is supposedly "fine" might, but that may or may not be just an excuse for her to check on his own being. Quickly, her eyes pass over him, trying to asses how much of that blood is his or not.

"Who... was that, Mr. Masamune...?"

Olivia needn't worry, none of the blood is his. Masamune is spooked, at worst.

"...Matsunaga Hisahide. A warlord that lost interest in the warring times and no longer involves himself. He 'collects' things now; things of worth or other importance belonging to others that he also considers valuable—'treasures.'"

Creasing his brow, Masamune finally looks down towards her, having pulled her a little closer at her leaning into him rather than trying to get away. He doesn't come off as someone that could give off a very protective feeling to someone in his embrace, but he is surprisingly good at it when he desires to be (or is unconsciously feeling overly protective). Taking a deep breath, he lets it out slowly as he glances once last time in the direction Matsunaga went in order to make sure the other is truly gone.

"Our piss matches come from mostly the fact he's after my dragon claws and my Right Eye. Or—" The young Date lord closes his eyes in slight annoyance as he reassesses what he just said. "—correction, he said he doesn't care about the swords, anymore, but that means jack-shit since he's still very much interested in the other one.."

Edited 2016-03-30 03:52 (UTC)

Olivia struggles to understand, but it's proving difficult with the faint hum of energy still coursing through her. Like electric fire, she still feels charged, as if ready for something — fight? flight? It's difficult to say.

Still, she struggles to think past it, to focus instead on his words. At the mention of his eye, she reaches up tentatively touching the edges of that eyepatch.

"Your eye...? Why would he want that?"

ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ︵ ┻━┻ { catch-all }

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ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ ︵ ┻━┻ { catch-all }

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I need to invest in angrier icons

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ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ︵ ┻━┻ { catch-all }