[ giyuu looks at shinobu a bit confused. isn't that what she has wanted? of course, they never really spoke about what her plans were... did she accept dimitri's invite then? he'll look away for a moment before he replies. ]
I can't ignore what I've been pulled from. I swore to myself that I would protect Tanjiro as he would protect me; I need to see it until the end. [ it's his duty as a pillar. it's what he wants to do as a friend. everything started because of of a single soft-hearted decision that he made and to turn away from it is impossible. he can't ignore it... ] However, there's no certainty that I'll survive until the end when I return.
[ they felt it when they shared the memory; his body ravaged from the fight—his hearing fading, the grip in his hands weak, the pain in his body from pushing it far beyond its limits... will that be the condition when he returns? or will the snake be kind enough to have him return in his current shape? he'll defeat that demon; he'll have to.
but. ]
If I would want to visit anywhere, it would be before returning home.
[ To go back to her family is what she wanted at the end of their time on the island. It's what she wanted right up until she learned what being a Wicket meant. It's what she still wants, but at the same time, she's done enough here by choosing death that she thought she could try choosing life this once. ]
I am going with Dimitri.
[ She smiles. ]
I don't know how time functions with how our scrunchies work, but if no time passes at home, you should take that chance to experience more things.
[ Pillars usually die young, if they don't get the chance to retire. They both know that. ]
You should have the will to survive.
[ After dying twice, after coming back to life twice, shouldn't he? It's not like Shinobu didn't want to survive her last battle. It's only because she couldn't decapitate that she had to consider using her death. ]
[ What's waiting for them all is inevitable—death and duty—and despite everything, Dimitri can't ask him to ignore his promise. Even if it means facing death, isn't that the risk they've all sworn to? To fight and protect always meant risk.
Even so, his voice turns firm, emphatic. ]
You'll survive. I'll make you swear on it, if I must.
[ He runs a thumb over the scrunchie at his wrist, thinking. If everything is really frozen and has been waiting for them, and they all have an uncertain fate ahead, then it makes sense that Giyuu would want to travel. To make the most of the time they have. ]
[ if there was any kind of protest that giyuu would have put up in regards to shinobu's decision none come to him. the idea that shinobu won't have to die again is palatable to him; he'll return to a place to their home where she'll no longer exist but at least she can be somewhere else and get a chance of a life neither of them had. ]
There's no reason to swear on it— [ visibly, he'll place his right hand over to the heavily patterned side of his haori and pull it clearer into view. dimitri may not know the significance of it, but he knows shinobu does. ] Someone else important to me has already told me that I can't die, and I need to make sure I haven't disappointed him more than I have until the next time I see him.
[ as for the place where he would want to go... nothing pops up. what is having a destination when you've never had to consider the possibility? ]
But I don't know. I thought about going to visit the world that Minako gave up her life to save—even if she isn't around, I'd want to see it. [ hmm. a short pause as something comes to mind. ] Wei Wuxian might demand I visit him if I mentioned this.
[ "demand" and not "suggest". there's an expression that's both exhausted and fond at the same time. ...mostly exhausted. ]
[ Don't erase her entire existence, Giyuu? It's because of her, [redacted] doesn't happen even though she's dead?
She glances at Giyuu's haori when he references it. She won't mention how it took him how may years to remember what this someone important told him. It's a kindness, and it's faint exasperation. That he is at least considering this is a huge step for him. She knows this.
She's a little amused. ]
How many promises must we make between us? [ None of their oaths are made lightly, at least not from Shinobu. ] But will you know how to navigate Arisato-san's world without her? [ Can he be a modern. Will the lessons he's had here be enough? ] But at least you should be fine visiting Wei-san.
[ That does make her wonder, though, and it is a sensitive topic that she broaches next. Her voice softens. ]
Did you two manage to talk more with those who had roles?
[ He looks a little amused too, but at least Giyuu seems to be on the right track to actually prioritizing life... and taking a vacation. It seems like he could really use one, but that's probably true of all of them. ]
...I did.
[ He doesn't sound upset about it. It's more bittersweet than anything. He wonders how many of these conversations are the end of something, and not a new beginning—from speaking to some of the obliged killers, he's not sure, but only time would tell. ]
I won't claim to have put everything to rest. [ He's forgiven—most everyone, not all—but not forgotten. ] Still, I think I've covered what I need to. Best to leave with as few regrets as we can.
[ Easier said than done, but it gives them some incentive to speak with who they need to. ]
[ do you ever just come back to something and??? anyway, he'll nod and release his hold on his haori and stand normally with his eyes going between them. ]
I don't intend to break this one promise, Kocho. [ is it a bad thing to double promise on a single promise? giyuu isn't sure but he leaves it there. they all have broken promises among them all and...well. none of that thinking right now. and much like dimitri, giyuu doesn't sound particularly upset either. ] ...and I did as well.
[ he spoke to a handful of people but those were the people that mattered to him. those who didn't say anything were ]
But I'm sure we can manage in Minako's world; there were a handful of places that resembled something that she was used to that we could experience here. We both speak the same language and we'd be able to translate anything written for Dimitri.
[ PROBABLY??? if the mechanics are the same. he's gonna go with the same. i'm going to decide. at the worst, they can be three oles wandering in a modern world. ]
The thing we would have to worry about is our clothing. [ flashbacks to ryuji calling him a cosplayer. ] Probably.
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no subject
[ giyuu looks at shinobu a bit confused. isn't that what she has wanted? of course, they never really spoke about what her plans were... did she accept dimitri's invite then? he'll look away for a moment before he replies. ]
I can't ignore what I've been pulled from. I swore to myself that I would protect Tanjiro as he would protect me; I need to see it until the end. [ it's his duty as a pillar. it's what he wants to do as a friend. everything started because of of a single soft-hearted decision that he made and to turn away from it is impossible. he can't ignore it... ] However, there's no certainty that I'll survive until the end when I return.
[ they felt it when they shared the memory; his body ravaged from the fight—his hearing fading, the grip in his hands weak, the pain in his body from pushing it far beyond its limits... will that be the condition when he returns? or will the snake be kind enough to have him return in his current shape? he'll defeat that demon; he'll have to.
but. ]
If I would want to visit anywhere, it would be before returning home.
no subject
I am going with Dimitri.
[ She smiles. ]
I don't know how time functions with how our scrunchies work, but if no time passes at home, you should take that chance to experience more things.
[ Pillars usually die young, if they don't get the chance to retire. They both know that. ]
You should have the will to survive.
[ After dying twice, after coming back to life twice, shouldn't he? It's not like Shinobu didn't want to survive her last battle. It's only because she couldn't decapitate that she had to consider using her death. ]
no subject
Even so, his voice turns firm, emphatic. ]
You'll survive. I'll make you swear on it, if I must.
[ He runs a thumb over the scrunchie at his wrist, thinking. If everything is really frozen and has been waiting for them, and they all have an uncertain fate ahead, then it makes sense that Giyuu would want to travel. To make the most of the time they have. ]
...Where would you go?
no subject
There's no reason to swear on it— [ visibly, he'll place his right hand over to the heavily patterned side of his haori and pull it clearer into view. dimitri may not know the significance of it, but he knows shinobu does. ] Someone else important to me has already told me that I can't die, and I need to make sure I haven't disappointed him more than I have until the next time I see him.
[ as for the place where he would want to go... nothing pops up. what is having a destination when you've never had to consider the possibility? ]
But I don't know. I thought about going to visit the world that Minako gave up her life to save—even if she isn't around, I'd want to see it. [ hmm. a short pause as something comes to mind. ] Wei Wuxian might demand I visit him if I mentioned this.
[ "demand" and not "suggest". there's an expression that's both exhausted and fond at the same time. ...mostly exhausted. ]
no subject
She glances at Giyuu's haori when he references it. She won't mention how it took him how may years to remember what this someone important told him. It's a kindness, and it's faint exasperation. That he is at least considering this is a huge step for him. She knows this.
She's a little amused. ]
How many promises must we make between us? [ None of their oaths are made lightly, at least not from Shinobu. ] But will you know how to navigate Arisato-san's world without her? [ Can he be a modern. Will the lessons he's had here be enough? ] But at least you should be fine visiting Wei-san.
[ That does make her wonder, though, and it is a sensitive topic that she broaches next. Her voice softens. ]
Did you two manage to talk more with those who had roles?
no subject
...I did.
[ He doesn't sound upset about it. It's more bittersweet than anything. He wonders how many of these conversations are the end of something, and not a new beginning—from speaking to some of the obliged killers, he's not sure, but only time would tell. ]
I won't claim to have put everything to rest. [ He's forgiven—most everyone, not all—but not forgotten. ] Still, I think I've covered what I need to. Best to leave with as few regrets as we can.
[ Easier said than done, but it gives them some incentive to speak with who they need to. ]
crawls back here.......
I don't intend to break this one promise, Kocho. [ is it a bad thing to double promise on a single promise? giyuu isn't sure but he leaves it there. they all have broken promises among them all and...well. none of that thinking right now. and much like dimitri, giyuu doesn't sound particularly upset either. ] ...and I did as well.
[ he spoke to a handful of people but those were the people that mattered to him. those who didn't say anything were ]
But I'm sure we can manage in Minako's world; there were a handful of places that resembled something that she was used to that we could experience here. We both speak the same language and we'd be able to translate anything written for Dimitri.
[ PROBABLY??? if the mechanics are the same. he's gonna go with the same. i'm going to decide. at the worst, they can be three oles wandering in a modern world. ]
The thing we would have to worry about is our clothing. [ flashbacks to ryuji calling him a cosplayer. ] Probably.