IC INBOX | OKADA IZOU

[goei]

@Izou

manslayer

---

ABOUT ME

The strongest, most genius swordsman to ever haunt the streets of Kyoto! That's me! So you better think twice before crossing me, ya hear?

NOTE

As long as you don't get in my way I won't kill you, probably.

Message @manslayer

Comments

[beathollow]

( she's happy to listen to his introspection, up until he turns it around on her. that- gets an uncharacteristic flinch from her and she falters. )

... It... I don't... ... Everyone says that I should stop that. And- I'm tired. But mistakes hurt.

[goei]

I mean, sometimes. But a lotta the time people understand and let you off the hook. It's just that yer mom's a b-

[WAIT HE SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.]

A.... I mean she was bein' super crazy about shit.

[beathollow]

...

Nii-san, I really messed up in a palace, recently.

[goei]

[Squints in confusion.]

I mean ain't that just how it always goes? Shit that happens in palaces don't count against you.

[beathollow]

I...

( she's quiet for a moment. )

I got Atem killed. It's only by Sou's grace that it wasn't permanent.

[goei]

[Well it sounds to him like it's fine then, but also;]

What d'you mean you got him killed? What happened?

cw body horror

[beathollow]

His palace recreated the situation that he was in- a dozen strangers with some connection here and there- who had to escape dangerous traps and vote... who among them had to die to proceed, with abstaining not being an option.

The votes were based on his memories, and I- I knew it was the wrong choice, but I pushed for a vote for a more... generous option, instead of the practical but cruel choice.

Atem died for it- a- ( her voice wavers and she can feel hot tears forming again. ) -dozens of small needles stabbed into him and drained him into a husk in minutes- he was catatonic for hours after, even after being brought back.

[goei]

[Izou's like "damn no idea who this sou guy is but that sounds fucked up" because he's bad with names. But more importantly;]

And when he woke up proper, what'd he say to you about it? Was he blamin' you for it?

[He feels like probably no, but also if yes then he'll just have to go kill a pharaoh.]

[beathollow]

I- no... he didn't acknowledge it at all, but he only came to when Maizono and I were in a death trap. ... We got out fine.

[goei]

Well then I'm stickin' with what I said! Palace stuff is palace stuff! It ain't like you were tryin' ta get him killed. I'm sure he ain't mad.

[A pause, before he frowns.]

Unless... yer assumin' that because that's how you feel? You ain't still mad about the time I stabbed you, are ya?

[beathollow]

Wh- no, no, of course not! You were mind controlled.

...

But I wasn't. I was deliberately making a terrible choice to make myself feel better, and I pushed others into making it, too.

[goei]

Right, I forgot yer some sorta iron fisted dictator.

[Flat. A joke.]

If the others really hadn't wanted ta go with you on that choice, if they really all thought you were wrong, you think they wouldn't speak up?

[beathollow]

YOU WEREN'T THERE-

( it's an outburst probably neither of them were expecting, and mafuyu is instantly mortified with herself. )

I- I'm sorry-

[goei]

[Izou's postures shifts to something defensive reflexively, but then;]

No! That's good! You oughta yell more, Mafuyu!! You ain't gotta act how ya think people want you to anymore!!

[beathollow]

( weakly, face in hands: )

I don't want to it makes me feel sick.

( ... take a breath there, girl- )

[goei]

[Patting her back. There there.]

Obviously that just means ya need more practice. Yelling rules.

[beathollow]

( there's a soft grumbling whine as she leans against him. )

....

I just... I keep- having nightmares about it...

[goei]

About the yelling or the thing with Atem gettin' juiced in the palace?

[IZOU]

[beathollow]

...



The latter.

[goei]

[Fair but he had to check.]

I mean, I guess I'm the last person who should be sayin' this since I had ta have a whole palace ta figure this out myself, but wouldn't it just be better fer you ta talk to him rather than just assuming he hates you or whatever?

[beathollow]

Its not just that? I don't-- before, things were... Normal. Maybe I'm not used to violence, but- its easy to adjust to the magic, too- or at least to reason it out. Things burn. Things freeze. Things cut, and I can whisk away the harm with a spell. This was... it was just hellish.

I can't get it out of my head.

[goei]

[Izou, who's seen so much violence and death that it's gotten sort of rote to him, sturggling to empathize with this even though he understands it's normal.]

I mean, it'd be weirder if ya could, I think. I still remember what the first guy I killed looked like, it just don't really bother me anymore. And I don't want ya to get to that point anyway.

But none of that's real helpful ta say, is it....

[beathollow]

... The fact that you don't want me used to this sort of thing is nice, at least. It makes me feel loved.

[goei]

You are. Me and Celeste and Arven and everyone else that's your new family now, we love you.

[Even if it's slightly EMBARASSING to say!!! Also don't tell Arven he actually does remember his name.]

I don't regret becoming a manslayer and getting used to violence like that, but even when I was your age I wasn't kind and gentle the way you are. Yer meant to light up the world with that singing of yours.

[beathollow]

...

( mafuyu stares for a moment, heart warming more and more before she pulls izou into a hug, hot tears welling up with joy and love instead of fear for the first time since shin's palace- )

And I love you too.