Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You watch the unit seeking to fulfill this mission - in order for the mission to succeed, Taira no Masakado cannot win. You stand by, a bow held in one hand and an arrow in the other.
Bodies fall one after another until finally he declares, “I am the new emperor!!”
The unit is too far - they cannot assist. Taira no Masakado lives, when history dictates that he should not.
The ground beneath your feet quakes. The world slows to a stop. All humans are frozen - until they reanimate moments later… but they hardly retain their humanity. Their words are traded for screams, anguished and distorted. Their blades are turned upon one another without care or concern. What will follow will be endless bloodshed until not one human remains on this planet - they will lead to their own destruction.
The time government has made its decision. This timeline has been lost.
☽
It is March 25th. The year is 940.
Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You approach him.
“Who are you?” he asks, and you offer nothing more than a crescent of a smile.
“A friend,” you say, for you always introduce yourself the same way. “To those who must play a tragic role in history.”
Those who must die, for the sake of humanity. Those who must betray friends and family, for the course of the future. Those who are regarded as villains, who perform the most treacherous acts of all, because if they did not - they will destroy everything that comes after them.
Those who do not have the choice to be kind - not until you arrive.
You tell him that he will lose, but he must fight - for that is history. To even bear this message is the greatest taboo to be committed. Humans should not know of you Touken Danshi - you Sword Warriors - and instead be puppeted by strings outside their control in order to fall in line with history on their own.
(How could you accept that?)
“Do you tell everyone who must die that their fate is coming?” he questions you, but his grin is all teeth. A man backed into a corner - told his future and yet still intending to rebel.
(Good, you think. Rebel. Claim your life as your own.)
You do not answer him, and only smile instead. Though from his next laugh that follows, you imagine he must read the truth in your eyes.
“Oi… You’re too kind, Mikazuki,” he says then. And with the audacity that could only belong to a dead man walking, he tells you, “If you get too close to the losers, before long, you’ll share their fate.”
Despite what you have said, he continues to question the logic of your current system:
“What exactly is history? Old documents? Old artifacts? The fragrance of flowers, songs and poems. If something isn’t handed down, did it never exist? Of course not.”
It is a bold statement to make to you - the most beautiful blade to have never seen battle. To be so regarded as a treasure that you were kept longer than almost all else. Your existence is certain. Your mark on history is never in doubt.
But there are so many people - so many lives - that can be so easily lost.
You shake your head and begin to leave - but a thought occurs to you. A flash of a face appears in your mind’s eye… and you remember of this bold young sword. Suishinshi Masahide.
‘I don’t know how much I can do, but back then, Mikazuki Munechika’s eyes shone with a sadness. If possible, I would like to save him.’
To be saved… Is such a fate in reach for you?
Something in your chest aches - even now, you are still cared for. Even now, no matter the blood upon your blade and the rebellion in your heart.
How does kindness always manage to cut so deeply?
“‘Why did you rebel and name yourself the New Emperor.’ … Someday, someone will appear to ask you that question,” you tell Taira no Masakado as you turn to leave. “When that time comes, please answer them honestly.”
This is what little you can do.
Even this much - you have nearly been broken for it before, and you imagine that you will not stop until you are broken for good. But you are Mikazuki Munechika, and in the darkness of the ties of fate and tragedy, isn’t the little light of the crescent moon better than nothing at all?
☽
It is March 25th. The year is 940.
Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You watch the unit seeking to fulfill this mission - in order for the mission to succeed, Taira no Masakado cannot win. You stand by, a bow held in one hand and an arrow in the other.
Bodies fall one after another until finally he declares, “I am the new emperor!!”
This time, you loose your arrow. It finds its target upon his skull.
[ When you awake to your senses, it's filled with nothing but pain. Your body has been torn apart again and again- enough to cause your mind to break down. Despite this shock, your body was still alive. Your party members were shocked by your miserable appearance but they shouldn't stop. It is not meant to be for you to live. You stare at your loyal and dependable companions, exhausted and tired. Forced to fight you despite not wanting to, pressured to by your words and encouragement. Each of them filled with despair, that they would have to strike you down just to live. However, it had to be this way. If not you- then who else? It was better that it was you that was in this position. ]
Con... tinue.
[ If they didn't do it now, there wouldn’t be another chance.
[A few constellations have noticed your sacrifice.] [Many constellations are amazed by your will.]
However, if there was one person you could rely on to finish the job, it was him.
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Jonghyuk had risen from the stone wall and was watching you.
You almost laugh at the expression he makes. He can't change what has already happened, and he knows that. Because it's Yoo Joonghyuk, he has already accepted that he would have to kill you. That's what you think even as you can see that he believes it should be him in this spot and not you.
When Yoo Joonghyuk rushes to you, every hit with his blade against your body makes you feel weaker and weaker. He doesn't say anything but his despair is conveyed every time the blade cuts you. You know this isn't enough. You know it and he knows it. You usher him to use the proper blade- he hesitates with a response, gaze hard as he stares at you.
"...If I use this, you can't be ressurected."
Yoo Joonghyuk thinks too much and you know this. You know he's worried about the scenario being ruined, however now was the time to use that blade. It had to be done if they hoped to win. Text appears on the screen beside you in that moment.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ feels despair.] [The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is sighing deeply.] [The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is holding her breath.]
Yes... you're aware that by that blade, all of your chances of coming back may be gone. This could be your final farewell.
The party members were running. They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming towards you. Your vision gradually diminishes and all the characters became the landscape. You saw them and laughed.
「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most. 」
You had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is looking at you.] [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at you.] [The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you.] [The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at you.] [The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards you, a story was running towards you. Parents, friends and lovers were all stories. This wasn’t the Ways of Survival you knew but— It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.] [All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was your story. You laughed as Yoo Jonghyuk's sword pierced your heart.
[ Your fate has been realized. ]
Your body slowly sinks down and you can feel Yoo Jonghyuk hold onto you. “Kim Dokja.” You choke a bit on blood, spilling from your lips as your peer at the man with a smile. ]
It was a really great story, isn't that right?
[ Yoo Jonghyuk stares down at you silently. You couldn’t find any words and just watched. It was as if you had always been meant to do this. That's what you believe.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.] [You can no longer resurrect.]
You finally look up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the center of the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus... You would never forget what they had done. Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to your will.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ doesn’t wish for your death.] [The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ doesn’t wish for your death.] [The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
You look at the sky and laugh. Due to these guys, you hated the constellations but you couldn't hate the story. ]
Let's meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.
[ The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength drained from you. A small black hole appeared in the air behind you. Your body was slowly being sucked into it. Your legs, your torso, your arms... it's a strange sensation as they turned into powder and were slowly being sucked in.
"Kim Dokja! No! Kim Dokja!"
At the last moment, he tightly held you by the neck. However, it was already too late.
Your vision turns black and you are sucked into an empty void. ]
it is a despair that resonates. mikazuki munechika's common visage is one that appears unflappable, light-hearted in the way that he has seen everything. almost nothing could surprise him.
even this... does not surprise him.
that does not change that it saddens him, leads to a deep pain flashing behind his crescent moon eyes.]
... Kim Dokja.
[in a way, he wants to ask if this was his last memory before arriving. it is a point of curiosity.
at the same time, he knows that the question means little - for it was a tragedy that happened regardless, and that is what is so painful]
[ Dokja glances over, catching that look and smiles lightly in response. He can only guess what he wants to ask. When this memory was shared once before in his previous game, he had gotten similar looks, inquiring questions that... ]
It happened a long time ago. [ a pause, considering. ] At least for me it has. I lost my Incarnation body then but had ascended into a Constellation.
I've gone through numerous Scenarios since that one.
[ his attention lingers on the memories that he does not recognize. of the ones that he knows to belong to the sword beside him. just like the kind of memories he had taken in on their excursion. ]
Is that what you're tasked with? Restoring history?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week 3, monday
[a greeting anD THEN STARDUST
It is March 25th. The year is 940.
Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You watch the unit seeking to fulfill this mission - in order for the mission to succeed, Taira no Masakado cannot win. You stand by, a bow held in one hand and an arrow in the other.
Bodies fall one after another until finally he declares, “I am the new emperor!!”
The unit is too far - they cannot assist. Taira no Masakado lives, when history dictates that he should not.
The ground beneath your feet quakes. The world slows to a stop. All humans are frozen - until they reanimate moments later… but they hardly retain their humanity. Their words are traded for screams, anguished and distorted. Their blades are turned upon one another without care or concern. What will follow will be endless bloodshed until not one human remains on this planet - they will lead to their own destruction.
The time government has made its decision. This timeline has been lost.
It is March 25th. The year is 940.
Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You approach him.
“Who are you?” he asks, and you offer nothing more than a crescent of a smile.
“A friend,” you say, for you always introduce yourself the same way. “To those who must play a tragic role in history.”
Those who must die, for the sake of humanity. Those who must betray friends and family, for the course of the future. Those who are regarded as villains, who perform the most treacherous acts of all, because if they did not - they will destroy everything that comes after them.
Those who do not have the choice to be kind - not until you arrive.
You tell him that he will lose, but he must fight - for that is history. To even bear this message is the greatest taboo to be committed. Humans should not know of you Touken Danshi - you Sword Warriors - and instead be puppeted by strings outside their control in order to fall in line with history on their own.
(How could you accept that?)
“Do you tell everyone who must die that their fate is coming?” he questions you, but his grin is all teeth. A man backed into a corner - told his future and yet still intending to rebel.
(Good, you think. Rebel. Claim your life as your own.)
You do not answer him, and only smile instead. Though from his next laugh that follows, you imagine he must read the truth in your eyes.
“Oi… You’re too kind, Mikazuki,” he says then. And with the audacity that could only belong to a dead man walking, he tells you, “If you get too close to the losers, before long, you’ll share their fate.”
Despite what you have said, he continues to question the logic of your current system:
“What exactly is history? Old documents? Old artifacts? The fragrance of flowers, songs and poems. If something isn’t handed down, did it never exist? Of course not.”
It is a bold statement to make to you - the most beautiful blade to have never seen battle. To be so regarded as a treasure that you were kept longer than almost all else. Your existence is certain. Your mark on history is never in doubt.
But there are so many people - so many lives - that can be so easily lost.
You shake your head and begin to leave - but a thought occurs to you. A flash of a face appears in your mind’s eye… and you remember of this bold young sword. Suishinshi Masahide.
‘I don’t know how much I can do, but back then, Mikazuki Munechika’s eyes shone with a sadness. If possible, I would like to save him.’
To be saved… Is such a fate in reach for you?
Something in your chest aches - even now, you are still cared for. Even now, no matter the blood upon your blade and the rebellion in your heart.
How does kindness always manage to cut so deeply?
“‘Why did you rebel and name yourself the New Emperor.’ … Someday, someone will appear to ask you that question,” you tell Taira no Masakado as you turn to leave. “When that time comes, please answer them honestly.”
This is what little you can do.
Even this much - you have nearly been broken for it before, and you imagine that you will not stop until you are broken for good. But you are Mikazuki Munechika, and in the darkness of the ties of fate and tragedy, isn’t the little light of the crescent moon better than nothing at all?
It is March 25th. The year is 940.
Taira no Masakado begins his siege upon the central government. There are a great number of theories as to why he pursued his rebellion. Some believe it to be to protect the common folk against tyranny. Others to say that it was done to gain independence. He is a fearsome warrior, with enough strength to rival even you Sword Warriors. He is gallant, and awe-inspiring. Any would be honored to have him for a master.
You watch the unit seeking to fulfill this mission - in order for the mission to succeed, Taira no Masakado cannot win. You stand by, a bow held in one hand and an arrow in the other.
Bodies fall one after another until finally he declares, “I am the new emperor!!”
This time, you loose your arrow. It finds its target upon his skull.
“Goodbye, my friend.”
History is restored. ]
no subject
- - - - -
[ When you awake to your senses, it's filled with nothing but pain. Your body has been torn apart again and again- enough to cause your mind to break down. Despite this shock, your body was still alive. Your party members were shocked by your miserable appearance but they shouldn't stop. It is not meant to be for you to live. You stare at your loyal and dependable companions, exhausted and tired. Forced to fight you despite not wanting to, pressured to by your words and encouragement. Each of them filled with despair, that they would have to strike you down just to live. However, it had to be this way. If not you- then who else? It was better that it was you that was in this position. ]
Con... tinue.
[ If they didn't do it now, there wouldn’t be another chance.
[A few constellations have noticed your sacrifice.]
[Many constellations are amazed by your will.]
However, if there was one person you could rely on to finish the job, it was him.
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Jonghyuk had risen from the stone wall and was watching you.
You almost laugh at the expression he makes. He can't change what has already happened, and he knows that. Because it's Yoo Joonghyuk, he has already accepted that he would have to kill you. That's what you think even as you can see that he believes it should be him in this spot and not you.
When Yoo Joonghyuk rushes to you, every hit with his blade against your body makes you feel weaker and weaker. He doesn't say anything but his despair is conveyed every time the blade cuts you. You know this isn't enough. You know it and he knows it. You usher him to use the proper blade- he hesitates with a response, gaze hard as he stares at you.
"...If I use this, you can't be ressurected."
Yoo Joonghyuk thinks too much and you know this. You know he's worried about the scenario being ruined, however now was the time to use that blade. It had to be done if they hoped to win. Text appears on the screen beside you in that moment.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ feels despair.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is sighing deeply.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is holding her breath.]
Yes... you're aware that by that blade, all of your chances of coming back may be gone. This could be your final farewell.
The party members were running. They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming towards you. Your vision gradually diminishes and all the characters became the landscape. You saw them and laughed.
You had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards you, a story was running towards you. Parents, friends and lovers were all stories. This wasn’t the Ways of Survival you knew but— It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.]
[All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was your story. You laughed as Yoo Jonghyuk's sword pierced your heart.
Your body slowly sinks down and you can feel Yoo Jonghyuk hold onto you. “Kim Dokja.” You choke a bit on blood, spilling from your lips as your peer at the man with a smile. ]
It was a really great story, isn't that right?
[ Yoo Jonghyuk stares down at you silently. You couldn’t find any words and just watched. It was as if you had always been meant to do this. That's what you believe.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.]
[You can no longer resurrect.]
You finally look up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the center of the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus... You would never forget what they had done. Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to your will.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
You look at the sky and laugh. Due to these guys, you hated the constellations but you couldn't hate the story. ]
Let's meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.
[ The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength drained from you. A small black hole appeared in the air behind you. Your body was slowly being sucked into it. Your legs, your torso, your arms... it's a strange sensation as they turned into powder and were slowly being sucked in.
"Kim Dokja! No! Kim Dokja!"
At the last moment, he tightly held you by the neck. However, it was already too late.
Your vision turns black and you are sucked into an empty void. ]
no subject
it is a despair that resonates. mikazuki munechika's common visage is one that appears unflappable, light-hearted in the way that he has seen everything. almost nothing could surprise him.
even this... does not surprise him.
that does not change that it saddens him, leads to a deep pain flashing behind his crescent moon eyes.]
... Kim Dokja.
[in a way, he wants to ask if this was his last memory before arriving. it is a point of curiosity.
at the same time, he knows that the question means little - for it was a tragedy that happened regardless, and that is what is so painful]
no subject
It happened a long time ago. [ a pause, considering. ] At least for me it has. I lost my Incarnation body then but had ascended into a Constellation.
I've gone through numerous Scenarios since that one.
[ his attention lingers on the memories that he does not recognize. of the ones that he knows to belong to the sword beside him. just like the kind of memories he had taken in on their excursion. ]
Is that what you're tasked with? Restoring history?
no subject
Even still, it does not change that such a thing happened - and the scars that it had left behind.
[on yoo joonghyuk. on his companions. what must kim dokja himself think?]
... all Touken Danshi - we Sword Warriors - are expected to protect history.
[so. yes. and. no. jiji does his own thing,]