[open] because i can only be me

[simulatio]

Who: Goro Akechi and YOU
What: catch-all for august
Where: heavenly blanc, wall market; others tbd
When: yes
Content Warnings: threads with p5r spoilers will be tagged as such! please toss a comment on my spoiler opt-out post if you'd like me to avoid mentioning any p5/p5r spoilers in tags with your character.

Comments

[bridge_princess]

Hmmm... I wouldn't disagree, no. They're extremely good at ruining their own lives pretty effectively. And making the weapons to do it with. [A shake of the head followed.] Nice of you to offer, but I think if I were to pick up that sort of skill, I'm much more of a knives kind of girl, not a sword sort.

[simulatio]

Knives...

[Akechi brings his free hand to his chin, nodding at the assessment. It aligns with someone who's familiar with using her own hands (claws) as a weapon, along with the knowledge of using a tanto.]

I can't claim to be a specialist myself, but both Ren and Cole-san are. Ren is quite naturally gifted, and Cole-san has this odd desire to "help" those around him. Phrase it as he's helping you, and I'm certain he'd be willing to teach you, if you're interested.

[Both of them have a desire to help those around them for no obvious personal gain: Akechi can't fathom it.]

[bridge_princess]

[As he guessed, a woman of noble birth who was not one of the rare samurai-ko was usually trained only in the use of a tanto, possibly a polearm or bow, but likely only the knife. So it was definitely much more familiar to her, especially with the claws since those days.]

It's in Cole's nature. I would expect no less of him than to want to help everyone he meets. [Spirit of compassion. Yeah, she was certain of that.] He'd probably teach me without even me manipulating it.

And I'd rather keep an eye on him anyway.

[simulatio]

That's right... he is a spirit of a sort, isn't he?

[Spirit, demon, ghost... sometimes, Akechi can't be entirely certain he's not, in essence, a Shadow, but at the very least he's not an overtly hostile one.]

Are you concerned?

1/2

[bridge_princess]

What? Why would I be c...concerned about a sp...spirit of c...

[She clamped her mouth shut and glared at Akechi like he'd done something wrong. AHEM. there was a grumble in the back of her throat, but afterwards she cleared her thought, eyes narrowing and getting her composure again.]

2/2

[bridge_princess]

Ok, yeah. Obviously I'm a little concerned. [Hmmph.]

We're both spirits and I think of him as a vulnerable type. He brings out a bit of a rare emotion for me to experience. I get a little protective. I don't want to see him stop being what he is, even if I'm always more than a little jealous.

World needs spirits like him. So... yeah, a little.

[She actually, know it or not, had that in common with Solas, a lot. Spirits of compassion were these precious little things that could get broken and, for as nasty as the queen of envy could get she was protective of the existence of something like that. And around here? They needed compassion.

But she was also little stingy with that detail, despite the fluster. It was the protective side coming out.]

[simulatio]

[Oh. Well, Akechi's own surprise shows in the widening of his eyes as she gets obviously flustered. He'd meant "keep an eye on" in the event that he became a threat, not literally watch over to protect.

It's an unexpected side of her, and he can't help but chuckle, covering it behind a polite hand.]

My apologies. It's just... unexpected. I thought perhaps you might see another spirit as competition, but that's clearly not the case.

[Goro "why can't I be the only special one" Akechi at it again.]

[bridge_princess]

Eh.... I'm jealous of him, how pure he is, how kindhearted, how everyone who can remember him seems to like him, how easy it all seems for him. But...

No. I get jealous of everything. Rivalries and the like, competition? That's mostly for other Hashihime. [There was an uncomfortable look.]

You don't want two of them here. One's more than enough.

[Easier to explain without another of them present.]

[simulatio]

Hm.

[He hums, nodding as she speaks. When she puts it that way, he can understand. It's not unlike certain aspects of his relationship with Ren, after all, though rivalry and competition is certainly at its core. Envy of his kindheartedness and how everyone seems to like him? Well, that he has in spades.]

I suppose that's for the best for us mere mortals, then, [he observes with a slight grin, said in the tone of voice that implies he thinks it'd be rather interesting to see, actually.]

[bridge_princess]

[She caught that tone. She didn't say anything about it, but she caught it. A grunt followed and she nodded.]

well, a lot less bridge wars, at the very least. For now everyone's behaving. Might be best to keep it that way a little longer.