bando: first blood

[bypartisan]

... tell me, is there an award for earliest, most ignominious death in a jaunt? Because I think I may have won that anti-prize.

Those of you in Nakamiyo, tread lightly around Gyakusatsu Izanami. And see if you can hide my body? I'm on the outskirts of Mibu Village, on the disused path near the Sentai clanhouse. If I'm lucky enough that no one but Izanami knows I died then perhaps I can slip back into my overlay's life.

[Sorry, By. That's not going to happen. Given that it took about a day for you to resurrect in Liminal--must have been Bai's fate as a pincushion that caused the delay--not only do all the Sentai siblings know about your death, but so should most of Mibu Village.]

Comments

[bypartisan]

... better, anyhow. I'm not entirely sure if I've reach 'all right' yet.

[fearinahandfulof]

I'm sorry it happened that way. Or at all.

[She remembers the rain of blades falling on her as her comrades had cut her apart. She wouldn't wish the knowledge of how that feels on anyone.]

[bypartisan]

So am I. [There's the mental equivalent of a sigh.] I don't know why I keep Infiltrating in these martial settings lately. I was attempting to avoid that path of traditional masculinity for most of my life.

[fearinahandfulof]

Traditional masculinity...? So the men fight in your world...

[She's not sure why that still surprises her even now. It's not as if men don't fight in her world, but their role is limited.]

[bypartisan]

Well, there's also a Women's Auxillary now, but yes. Military service is considered the most honorable profession for the men of my world.

[fearinahandfulof]

There are human men in my world who fight, but they can't become warriors. It's too dangerous.

[bypartisan]

Ah. On my world it's been historically the opposite. That said, the women of my caste have traditionally worn bootknives.

[fearinahandfulof]

[Cassandra is quiet for a moment. Then:]

The first generation of warriors was male. They all Awakened. The Organization only used girls after that.

[private]

[bypartisan]

[Byerly immediately switches the conversation to private.]

Is that what it's called? Being Awakened? You said, months ago, that it's possible for your warriors to lose control of their powers.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

Yes. Warriors who Awaken are called Awakened Beings. Number Ones who Awaken are known as Abyssal Ones.

[private]

[bypartisan]

Number Ones?

[Abyssal Ones? Oh hell, that's not disconcerting at all.]

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

The Organization fields forty-seven warriors at any given time. Each one is assigned a rank based on her strength and skill.

[private]

[bypartisan]

Ah. Hence the very sinister title for your out of control leaders.

Which number were you, incidentally? Ah, if you're all right with sharing.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

[For a long moment, Cassandra is silent.]

...One.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

[Although Cassandra can't see it, Byerly's mouth form an 'O' shape at that reply.]

I'm not sure if I should congratulate you or not.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

Nothing good came of it.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

Ah. Then I'm sorry, then.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

You didn't know.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

No, but I feel I ought to have suspected.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

Why?

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

Because everything about your Organization sounds rather dreadful.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

Oh.

[Honestly, she can't argue with that assessment. She doesn't think there are very many warriors who would.]

When... when they brought me back, the current generation was rebelling against them. All of them, I think, or almost all.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

Good. I hope it succeeds.

[private]

[fearinahandfulof]

I think it did. I wasn't... I don't know what happened after. But they were determined and they were working together.

Re: [private]

[bypartisan]

Which, while it isn't a guarantee of success, does rather increase the odds of it.