trashprince | scawwy: pc: iwatooshi

Imanotsurugi is the protective sword of my master's lord, Minamoto no Yoshitsune. We've spent many years together, and fought in many battles. He is my precious friend.

[ a pause as iwatooshi watches the same place he claimed imanotsurugi stood, expression falling. ]

...He knows that I wasn't truthful with him. [ ... ] And they say we don't belong.

[ caelus' gaze returns to iwatooshi's face ]

You don't seem like someone who lies a lot. And you always talk about your friends as if they mean everything to you. Do you really believe someone you call 'precious' wouldn't let you explain?

I tried. But we were interrupted before I could tell him the truth, and then he found out on his own.

I just didn't want him to be hurt. [ his eyes flick over to where the others are apparently sitting. ] But they're right. If he was hurt, it's because I didn't have the courage to tell him sooner.

Then it was bad timing.

[ a big sigh before he sets both hands on his hips. caelus raises his voice when next he speaks: ]

Hey! Whatever is imitating Iwatooshi's friends--if you don't stop right now, I'll be forced to deal with you myself.

[ the hallucinations probably ignore him, but he's being obnoxious on purpose. ruining the atmosphere for those insidious voices. ]

Maybe, but I still should have...

[ pausing, iwatooshi looks back at him in surprise. ]

Caelus-dono?

I don't believe the people you care about would appear here just to pick a fight. Maybe it's a heliobus or a spirit or a trick, but I'll help you tell them to back off.

[ fists tight, clenched. he will protect iwatooshi and their sand castle from these awful vibes. ]

So, wait until you see your friend again and hear it from him how he feels.

[ the fuck is a heliobus.

caelus's intentions are very sweet, and iwatooshi does appreciate it. he nods slowly, but still doesn't smile. ]

I know it isn't real, Caelus-dono. As much as I miss Imanotsurugi's laughter, he wouldn't act like this. And the others... I might have expected this from them, once, but I know better now. They're much kinder than this.

[ he crosses his free arm over the one holding his naginata with a soft sigh. ]

It isn't like them. But they haven't said anything wrong.

[ caelus doesn't hide the relief he feels when iwatooshi agrees these visions can't be real. but there's more to it than that. knowing something is fake on its own isn't enough. ]

You know...

[ reaching out a hand to take iwatooshi's if he'll let him. affection week lives on. ]

I've been lied to a lot of times, and I'm not always angry, but I always want to know why someone did it. If you choose to tell me, I'll hold onto it until you get a chance to talk to your friends again.

[ even if it weren't affection week, iwatooshi wouldn't pull away, though he doesn't return the gesture as cheerfully as he might, otherwise. instead, he takes a deep breath, nodding as if to reassure himself before speaking.

but instead of an explanation, he poses a question. ]

Caelus-dono. Have you ever questioned your existence?

[ that question. caelus squeezes the hand in his, an immediate seeking of comfort as the walls close in. ]

Now and again.

[ iwatooshi nods again, automatically squeezing back. ]

It's been on my mind a lot, lately, since my first mission. I tried to ignore it while I could, but... when our master summoned Higekiri-sama and Hizamaru-sama, I couldn't any longer. Especially not when Imanotsurugi asked me about his existence...

[ something in his expression cracks, as his eyes flits back to the space beside him. ]

I wanted to protect Imanotsurugi. I thought that the truth would hurt him, so I told him that he wouldn't be there with us, otherwise. [ ... ] I didn't know what else to say, at the time. But it still feels wrong to have said what I did.

It's not good to play around with the circumstances of someone's existence.

[ doing so maliciously or for giggles would be really fucked up, right? ]

But you wanted to protect him. You didn't lie to cause him suffering.

[ there is very little iwatooshi could do at this point to convince caelus he's not a good person. ]

I'd forgive you.

No, but I did. He should have heard the truth from me, that... [ he hesitates, shaking his head. ] If I'd had the courage to tell him, then maybe it wouldn't have been so difficult when his beloved master didn't recognize the name "Imanotsurugi."

[ he closes his eyes, as if that could shut out the hallucination's laughter. true, it meant that history wasn't affected. shouldn't they be relieved for that?

but iwatooshi will never forget the look on his face in that moment, how imanotsurugi tried so hard to keep smiling, even through the heartbreak. ]

I know it wouldn't have been easy, even if I had told him. I just can’t help wondering if it wouldn’t have been as hard as it was if he’d already known that we don’t exist in the true line of history... but there's nothing to be done about it now.

[ caelus does understand, deeply, painfully, and at the same exact time, he doesn't get it at all. iwatooshi has shared with him that he is a weapon--ancient with quite a number of battles under his belt. he's spoken fondly of a master and friends.

but this is the first time he's shared the idea of a timeline malfunction. of not existing in the 'true line' at all.

caelus can't accept iwatooshi's sorries for imanotsurugi. yes, he'd forgive, but that's how trailblazers are (maybe). can't say the same is true of living blades. can't know any of that for sure. ]

When we escape from here, will you go back to the true line of history or the one that has your friend?

There is only one place for us to go, and that is our current master's side. Even if we don't exist in history, we exist in the imagination of humans... we exist for our master, because of them.

So... I will return to the citadel to wait for Imanotsurugi's return. And then we'll talk and go from there. There are no other options.

[ wait, so the swords are just [redacted] from honkai??? caelus pieces this together behind the scenes. wowza. ]

Imaginations are powerful. [ literally where he comes from ] You seem real enough to me now. I can talk to you and touch you. It's better to exist differently than not at all.

[ isn't it? ]

I'll do what I can to help you see your friend again

[ what is redacted help me. maybe!! i don't know!!

to that, though, iwatooshi dips his head slightly in acknowledgment. ]

I exist for now. I am real, for now. My memories and emotions are real to me, and that's what matters. All I can do is cherish each moment I have, with everyone I can, before the day comes that I'm no longer here.

[ though he wonders what the answer will be, for imanotsurugi. how he'll grow and move forward, knowing what he knows.

but iwatooshi can't know that until he returns home, so for now... he gives caelus a small, pained smile. ]

Thank you, Caelus-dono. I only hope that I can return the favor.

scawwy: pc: iwatooshi

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