seasonality ✦ tsuyukusa

[commandertoolbelt]

Comments

[commandertoolbelt]

Well, keep in mind that this place was literally made for drama. That's what a story is, especially one involving murder.

[ wonder if amatsuki is the same way... ]

It's not over yet, though. We can still kick its butt for all it put us through.

[branches]

... Yeah. Though I keep thinking about the yakou. It wasn't obsessed with making a "story" in the same way, but. It was lonely. It tried to talk down to me, about how Byakuroku wasn't my real father, and I think it was because it was jealous.

[What if the story is lonely too?]

[commandertoolbelt]

I guess that would be a question for that voice they keep talking to. What would we even do about that, though? We all have somewhere to go home to, so it's not like we can stay just to keep it company.

Guess that would explain it wanting a sequel, though.

[branches]

... Yeah. That's true. I... I'm not really the type for pity but... Shinonome eventually managed to realize that was the issue. And he turned it back into the original thing he made was, that was benign.

[commandertoolbelt]

You? Pity? Perish the thought.

[ a bit of gentle teasing as he listens to what tsuyu has to say. ]

Sounds a little like Festus - like something went wrong with the parts, and it lost its way. But things like that can almost always be fixed. Or at least, repurposed.

[branches]

[Nodding... He actually seems to be perking up.]

Then maybe once we're all back together, between you and him... You could find a way to reason with it?

[commandertoolbelt]

We can definitely try. Kon will have the advantage because he's familiar, but I don't need to be familiar to help out a machine in need. Between the two of us, we could probably figure out what it needs to make it better.

[branches]

Yeah. I don't like him, but I know he's smart. And so are you. Plus there's Futaba that knows about computers too? And Caleb who knows a lot about magic.

[Hmph!!! There it is, his huffy confidence is back.]
They picked the wrong people to mess with, basically.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ there's the tree we all know and love. ]

You got that right. If anyone can figure it out, it's the people here. We've got this, Tsuyu.

[branches]

Yeah. And if we need to kick it's ass first, I have my staff.
[He says even though it is nowhere to be seen???]

[commandertoolbelt]

...Do you? I thought the profile said it was broken.

[ what is the truth ]

[branches]

Oh, right, you weren't at trial. I used my vouchers to get back my ability to conjure it. I guess since we're heading back soon for the final battle I could get it out now.

[He does want to show off for Leo. So he pulls out a... twig?]

Wanna see?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ twig... ]

Sure. Show me what you've got.

[branches]

[Don't underestimate his twig!]

Alright.
[And he stands up so he has enough room, as the twig suddenly, impossibly grows into a full sized staff, complete with a metal head and jingly rings.]

How's that?

[commandertoolbelt]

[ and of course his eyes widen in surprise. it's almost like seeing the transformations from his friends' weapons, but from a twig? that's different. ]

Very cool. How do you fight with it - do you just whack people or what?

[branches]

Yeah? What else would I do with it? The metal end is pretty heavy so it packs a punch.
[He twists it in his hands with the casual confidence of someone finally handling their preferred weapon. From the way it moves you can tell there's a significant weight to the end as he says.]

[commandertoolbelt]

I don't know; it's not like I've ever fought someone with a staff.

[ he is watching how it moves with the eye of someone who knows weapons, though. ]

You could really do a number on someone with that if you hit them right, huh? [ so that's how otome died? ] How often do you have to use it? I thought you were supposed to be some kind of doctor.

[branches]

No? It's my job to protect the forest and the ayakashi that live in it. There's always some onmyoji sniffing around trying to "get rid of the threat" that ayakashi pose.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ what's an onmyoji? ]

...But you guys aren't, like, actively hurting them, are you?

[branches]

No. I mean, some are but they're generally either defending their territory or corrupted by the yakou?

Onmyoji are humans that are trained in fighting ayakashi. Some of them even capture ayakashi and use them to fight against their will.
[Now you see why he was mad about pokemon.]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ oh. yea that makes sense now. ]

That's... not cool. Shouldn't they just focus on the ones being controlled? On helping them?

[branches]

They don't care. They think all ayakashi are a threat.


Or well, that's what I thought. And maybe that was the case for most of them. Because we never tried talking.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ sounds like lux's world. ]

Well. That's one way to handle things, I guess. Can't say I wouldn't fight back if someone just attacked me out of nowhere, either.

[branches]

[Nodding.]

Most of them still suck but... There was one I met that... well she had an overprotective big brother too.
[So they bonded.]

[commandertoolbelt]

Was that Lili?

[ trying to keep all these threads straight jeez ]

You must be pretty good at this protector thing to handle all that stuff. Big strong tree vibes, huh?