[ thwapped!! his nose wrinkles, but he gives her a bigger, more familiar smile after that, and he nods, feeling a little doki. god. viola is dangerous. ]
I'm an okay skater. I can't do, y'know, pirouettes or whatever - [ that is not what they're called but he's trying ] - but I can at least stay on my feet. Let's go check it out. Maybe we can do cocoa afterwards, if you want.
I'd love to. [easily!] Maybe I can teach you a thing or two on the ice - but I'm relieved to hear that you can manage your balance. Though you can still hold my hand if you feel unsteady.
[she's mean. she's just being mean. but also it's a sincere offer because she doesn't want him to hurt himself.]
As for your question regarding the communication item... I don't think I can freely give you ideas - but there's more to communication than our phones, right? There's who we can or cannot understand, or what we cannot hear on our owns naturally. The phone doesn't even have all the specifications a typical device would, after all.
[ viola you are such a bully. he laughs, a little, rubbing his cheek. ] C'mon, save my dignity a little bit.
[ that's equally playful, though. he might end up having to take her up on that... but ichiro's pretty athletic so he'll probably fine? good, because this is all very embarrassing otherwise.
anyway! off they go! he tucks a little into the scarf, brows furrowing, thoughtful. ]
... So maybe... we could use it to talk to the Principal? [ a pause. ] Or - well, Lucretia-san and I were wondering if maybe we could use it to contact the, uh. Daycare.
Holding my hand would be an affront to your dignity...?
[she looks a little surprised at that - but she supposes that she'll accept it... maybe she really is rather unseemly...
but she hums thoughtfully at that]
I don't know if the daycare has a phone line...? But I suppose you could reach Principal Bear, yes. [though she'll turn to face him] Is there someone else you'd like to talk to?
No! [ BLURTS IMMEDIATELY ] No, like, the opposite of that? I mean, more like - I can probably do it by myself, but if you, uh, if you want to hold my hand that's - that's cool, I'd like that. That - that'd be awesome? That'd be cool.
he recognizes that he is being bullied here with the giggle, and gives her a little bit of a baleful look, cheeks flushing bright red. ichiro just looks like a scolded puppy, though, flustered and sulky... but he'll take the olive branch even if it's probably pity, and he does hold out his hand.
cool now that he's made a dumbass of himself and is holding a girl's hand! ]
...Jeez, Vi-chan, you're killing me... [ sigh
ANYWAY ] ... I guess it doesn't matter, with the communication items, because I don't have one. But... let's say I wanted to talk to someone who's here, but isn't... really here. You know?
[oh no..... she smiles a little bit at that - and she'll take his hand but also step closer to him, letting her other hand rest on the crook of his elbow as if she's being properly escorted. she gives his hand a squeeze.]
What are you making that face for? I'm in your debt, you know.
[no sulky....
though she hums at that]
What an odd question... I'm not sure. I'm afraid that if you specified I must've missed it - who do you want to talk to?
[ it's like a two second long sulk its okay. he gives her a little smile when she takes his arm all cute and proper, though, because he can't not smile at her, and focuses on the task at hand. ]
...Mmm. There's... [ ... ] There's this girl I'm worried about, who's been pretty pissed off at everything happening to this place. And to us, I think. And a couple of people have gotten to talk to her like that from our dorm, but.. I haven't, yet. And I think she wants to talk to us, but it's not that easy.
It makes her sound a little like a ghost. [ his nose wrinkles. ] ...she's way more than that, though.
[ (ichiro voice) how do i summon iris do i have enough primogems ]
Auugh, Vi-chan, I'm not smart enough for this! [ HE'S REALLY NOT ] It's - we talked to her before, we even know her name, it's just - [ wheeze ] ... nevermind... there's no ghost, I was just trying to beat around the bush about something.
[ which like he has the subtlety of a bus speeding down the highway so like why would he ever even try to do that. ]
There's not. I'd kick anybody's ass if they tried to break in.
[ ... at least.. not during curfew. any of his normal bravado seems to falter just a little, with that, remembering last week, and he shakes his head. ]
...We can't trade these coupons we have in, can we?
[ we're batting like 0/6 on this plot thing but at least he got to hold viola's hand and be very otome with her today
he nods... ] I kinda don't, honestly. Lucretia-san gave me a couple tips for what to do if I get caught alone and I've got it to defend myself, but I'm not sure what to do with it otherwise, so... probably better if I can't. I guess I'll figure out something fun to do with it by the end of the week, cause I'm not about to hurt someone with it.
[ and then, eventually, a little more plaintively; ] I want to help, you know, Vi-chan? It feels like I'm just running into walls all over the place.
[ . . . . . she'll give his hand a small squeeze then, looking up at him as they pause by the ice rink.]
I'd rather not consider things like that - but I do hope that you'll be able to take care of yourself, no matter what comes. At least during the moments where I can't take care of you myself.
[she's so protective, it's just encoded in her. but she pauses at that]
... you can help. I'm sure of it. Gathering and disseminating information, trying to keep people safe and come up with ideas - they all lead to things. I know that it feels like results are slim now... but they'll surely come with all the effort you're putting in.
[ he looks down, feeling it when she looks up at him - and it's not so much frustration as it is just worry. viola's protective, but so is he, fiercely so, and it's not in his nature to ever stand still.
it softens into a little bit of a smile at the pep talk, though, and he seems pensive for a second. ]
I know. Hard, consistent work is what gets results for anything - there's never an easy way out that doesn't come with a cost. [ and god, doesn't he know it. ] After last week, I just...
I want to protect people the best that I can. That's what I do at home, too. Anyone I can, however I can.
It's kinda crazy that there are so many people in our group who can do wild stuff. Hope saving his vouchers up to heal other people with his magic instead of fixing himself - like, I just keep thinking about that. I can give him the ones I got to help, because I'm sitting on this little pool of 'em, now, and I can keep tossing those vouchers at people who are better suited to help, but...
...it's like we talked about on Saturday, at the trial. My mic's cool. It can do cool stuff, but the only way I've ever learned how to use it is to hurt. I can't heal people like Jakurai-san, or even make illusions like Ramuda, or do much of anything that isn't attacking with it. I've gotten really good at that, but not because I wanna hurt people, or anything - it's the opposite of that - but because it's the power I have that I can use to defend the little guy when the world's trying to pick on them.
I hate seeing people get beaten down, you know? No matter what it's by. Life, or people being assholes, or weird mind control - whatever it is. But I can't use that power to really do anything helpful, here, and it's the same with this elemental thing. I can't wake up in the middle of the night here and freeze some asshole trying to frame people in our dorm.
[ and that's hard to deal with! getting that power made him feel sort of trapped in it, too. weird not to want to be a DPS. what is this feeling, character development.
ichiro looks away, again. ] I dunno. I guess all I ever do is hurt people to help other people, and I don't know how to do different. Like I said, being delicate - I'm really shitty at it.
[ there's.
a pause, as he realizes what he just did, flushes a little, and shakes his head. ] Uh. Sorry. Didn't mean to unload that on you. We - gotta get skates, right? We should do that.
arguably, yes, it makes sense to get skates. but you know what's more important right now? ichiro. ichiro and everything that he's holding onto, all these complicated feelings in his chest, and everything that viola can hope to do in order to make them go away. she pauses at that and she brings her free hand up to his face once he's done shaking his head, guiding his cheek so that he has to meet her gaze again.
they're not dancing this time, but it feels all the more important to take his attention.]
I can give you that. If you want to be able to heal people - I can give you that, even if it's not something that you have at home. If it's something that you want now, you need only say the word, and I will give you the price, and you will be able to do more for people as your heart pleases.
Here, we are only limited by the scope of our imagination and creativity - you don't need to fall back on what you know if there's more that you want to be, Ichiro.
[ . . . ]
That said, who you are is - more than fine. You're wonderful, you know. You're clever, which is so much more important than being smart. And you're kind, which is infinitely more worthwhile than being naturally gifted in any particular field.
Your interests and mine align. Wanting to protect people, wanting to look after them. But there's something fortunate about this in the sense that if there is anything that you could possibly want, I will find a way to give it to you. You need only ask it of me.
If you're worried about not being able to handle what's delicate, then I can guide your hands until you get the hang of it - just like dancing.
[she drops her hand so that she can just hold onto his with both of hers then, cradling it gently]
We can get through this together easier than we can apart.
[ he feels - actually kind of bad for dumping that on viola, sort of jittery and all over the place because of it. it's been bothering him for days now, since he hung out with lucretia on friday and watched how upset she was, even if she tried to hide it, how she told him later on in the week - the thing about focusing on damage is that it will always leave you open.
his openness is one of his strengths. heart on his sleeve, eyes forward, ichiro's not afraid of anything, but lucretia had been right. it does leave him vulnerable, without his brothers by his side. it really leaves him vulnerable in a place like this, where so many factors are out of his hands that it's impossible to figure out where to even start. he's been relying on being the backbone of their dorm, but with the loss of rupert last week, even that was shaken.
pulling his face over does get him to look at her, stop-and-go eyes focused, if a little soulful, brows knit together in conflict. open and honest, as he always is, conflicted in feeling like he can't do things to make things right. patient enough for the long game, but only when people around him aren't dying; this pulls at his strength and tests his resolve. he's listening, though, focusing on her words, trying to take them to heart the best he can.
creative, imaginative. the things that make him good at the weapon he does have - his words are rapid fire clever in the heat of the moment, a quick thinker when the time's right, but clumsy when he's trying to get across how much he cares, or when he needs to stay calm and can't control his anger. ichiro wants to break down walls, wants to tear through injustice with his bare fists, but it's never that easy. it wasn't with chuuoku, and it won't be here. ]
...I know. [ to - to getting through it together, anyway. that parts easy. his brothers and his division have always been the source of his strength. here, the tight knit nature of winter dorm feels much like the same, a pulsing heartbeat that took a heavy hit this weekend. the kinder words she says resonate, too, and... viola really does remind ichiro of nemu, sometimes.
i have strength. something he's told himself a hundred thousand times in his life. i have it. he looks at the small, elegant hands holding his own, and tries to come back to what they were saying. tries to move forward instead of letting the bramble of complications stop him in his tracks. ]
... healing people is - [ ... ] - it's something that I think we have under control. [ this is going to be funny when i come back from cyoa i hope hes brutalized to all hell ] I don't know if that's - if that's what I'm supposed to do. I don't think it feels like it is.
[ quiet, for a second, as his eyes move back and forth, thinking. like he's trying to work over everything he's learned since he's gotten here. i can guide you, she says. ]
...I want to find a way to move forward. [ that - that feels like ichiro yamada. more than stagnating, more than just throwing vouchers to the wind and hoping someone with the capabilities to help stronger than his would find them. ] Whether it's at a trial, or - or beyond that. I think I want to help beyond that. I know - I know we're on the right path, but I wanna light up more steps of it, so maybe everybody else with the other abilities can help blow the roof off in ways I can't.
[ because he's not just an angry, trapped kid, not anymore. he's a division leader, with a neighborhood at his back. with a dorm at his back here, too. ]
[she watches him closely, observes the tension, and the hand that's holding onto his, just moves to covering the back of his hand, her fingers pressing against it just to try to ease some of the way that his nerves seem to be alight with frenetic energy. she recognizes it at least, knows it's familiar. but if she can hold onto this hand before it slams into another wall in anger, then that's the least she can do.]
Okay.
Then save three vouchers to buy from me come Sunday. We can't sell to the same people over and over again - so it's better if Winter Dorm comes up with a rotation. Share what you get, and give it to others. Maybe it'll help with the larger puzzle.
If you want something for trial - get clever. Ways to narrow down suspect pools, to highlight important pieces of evidence, to figure out what questions you need to ask so that you don't let any innocent person get expelled inappropriately.
Think of things like systems, rather than individual instances - and create systems that will allow for greater chances of success. If everything works in tandem, the pieces may align better.
[because this is what viola does - this is how she thinks. inventing, creating, manifesting things out of thin air because just because something doesn't exist doesn't mean that it shouldn't. there's a lot in the world that's still missing.]
[ okay. okay, this really helps. this is true guidance - viola really is good at this. for a moment, he looks appreciative, and it flashes across his face, before he nods. okay. okay.
three vouchers set aside for info? done. easy. that parts a piece of cake.
viola said be creative. systems. things they can reuse, things that help them. he looks down at her hands on his, and he thinks. there's a moment of quiet as he does, brows furrowed tight, but working something over in his head. they've already got plenty of ways to find truth - or, they've got at least a couple.
... ]
What about something to find a missing piece of evidence? An item. Like - we couldn't find Lan Wangji's guqin strings. [ was that a key piece of evidence? probably not, but it was something that stuck with him. he's trying to put his head in those old video games he liked - ap*llo j*stice style. ] Like... a divining rod, or something. Or a dog with a really strong nose.
[ gu yun? no that parts maybe a little bit more joking. some of that energy starts to focus, finding a fine point, his fingertips tapping against viola's. think. think. think. ] ...Or - well, we don't always miss things. Something we could use like a system...
...What about something we could ask a question or two? Like - one of those old magic 8 balls. You know what I'm talking about? You shake it and it gives you an answer. Something like "has the culprit gone out to investigate and look for evidence" and it tells you "ask again later" or "yes" or "no" or... something like that?
[she gives his hand a squeeze, her expression lightening]
Very good. I can give you either of those - one use only, 6 Vouchers base price, I can knock it down a little, and you can't stock them so you'll have to choose carefully. You can ask for another once you're doing using it, though. Be smart, but having a tool like that will already serve you well.
Others in Winter are looking into getting more powers back to help as well, so I think you're on your way to creating a good set of resources at your disposal.
See? [she seems pleased with his suggestions, expression calming with his ingenuity] You've got this, Ichiro.
[ he nods, and... though he doesn't quite light up, the smile that crosses his face is genuine, and warmer, slower to spread. ichiro's not one to give up on anything, but it feels - it feels good, to make something with your own hands, to make it come to life. it's like writing cyphers, the way he can twist words around to be bullets; the same ones used here to make next week in these damned trials go a little smoother.
ichiro's head ducks, again, and he nods. viola's praise stirs in his chest. ] ...yeah. Let me... let me think about it. I'll talk it over with Beau and Kon. [ and maybe caleb because his wizard dad is really smart. ] We got this. [ not just 'you', but we. as a whole. winter dorm, but the campus, and their beloved dorm heads included.] We got this. We're gonna do better, every time.
[ feeling emboldened, now, he nods a third time and squeezes her hands, and the smile gets more boyish, more familiar. ] You really are good at that. Being a guide. Kinda makes people feel like they can do anything, you know? With good people at their back.
[the way that his expression evens out manages to get her heart to settle, and she sighs in relief before she can really catch herself. she lets him squeeze her hands and smiles in response, tilting her head]
I mean it when I said I'd do whatever you all ask of me.
And that means being whatever it is that you need me to be at any moment in time. You're welcome, Ichiro - anytime, and anything.
[ You are about to go to war. Not with swords and shields, but with words and reputation. You know what happens if you’re to lose the upcoming inquisition. Your father will lose his position as Prime Minister, your fief will fall into turmoil as outside trade collapses, your corporation and every worker under your oversight will face financial crisis and risk so many innocent, good people losing their livelihood. Everyone is relying on you.
Everything that you’ve spent years building - your land, your work, your peaceful town that was never meant to lose to the capital - could be ripped from your hands.
And for what?
A false accusation. A suggestion that the orphanage that you created was wrong because it stole property from none other than God. You know in your heart that even for all your attempts at peace, there are people who simply cannot stand to leave you be.
Isn’t it shameful to have an existence that only causes turmoil? That only causes trouble for everyone around you, no matter how hard you try to do everything right?
Even after Dean - a confidant, whipsmart and brilliant - gives you a piece to save everything, you find yourself being pushed to the very edge of your composure.
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I'm an okay skater. I can't do, y'know, pirouettes or whatever - [ that is not what they're called but he's trying ] - but I can at least stay on my feet. Let's go check it out. Maybe we can do cocoa afterwards, if you want.
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[she's mean. she's just being mean. but also it's a sincere offer because she doesn't want him to hurt himself.]
As for your question regarding the communication item... I don't think I can freely give you ideas - but there's more to communication than our phones, right? There's who we can or cannot understand, or what we cannot hear on our owns naturally. The phone doesn't even have all the specifications a typical device would, after all.
So... think along those lines!
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[ that's equally playful, though. he might end up having to take her up on that... but ichiro's pretty athletic so he'll probably fine? good, because this is all very embarrassing otherwise.
anyway! off they go! he tucks a little into the scarf, brows furrowing, thoughtful. ]
... So maybe... we could use it to talk to the Principal? [ a pause. ] Or - well, Lucretia-san and I were wondering if maybe we could use it to contact the, uh. Daycare.
Or... [ ... ] --well, nevermind.
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[she looks a little surprised at that - but she supposes that she'll accept it... maybe she really is rather unseemly...
but she hums thoughtfully at that]
I don't know if the daycare has a phone line...? But I suppose you could reach Principal Bear, yes. [though she'll turn to face him] Is there someone else you'd like to talk to?
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No! [ BLURTS IMMEDIATELY ] No, like, the opposite of that? I mean, more like - I can probably do it by myself, but if you, uh, if you want to hold my hand that's - that's cool, I'd like that. That - that'd be awesome? That'd be cool.
[ AAAAA ]
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but she just giggles faintly, one hand curling up in front of her mouth to try to obscure that.
and then she'll hold her hand out to him to take]
Okay. You know, it is rather slippery with all the snow out. If you wouldn't mind being my anchor, I'd appreciate it.
[there.]
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he recognizes that he is being bullied here with the giggle, and gives her a little bit of a baleful look, cheeks flushing bright red. ichiro just looks like a scolded puppy, though, flustered and sulky... but he'll take the olive branch even if it's probably pity, and he does hold out his hand.
cool now that he's made a dumbass of himself and is holding a girl's hand! ]
...Jeez, Vi-chan, you're killing me... [ sigh
ANYWAY ] ... I guess it doesn't matter, with the communication items, because I don't have one. But... let's say I wanted to talk to someone who's here, but isn't... really here. You know?
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What are you making that face for? I'm in your debt, you know.
[no sulky....
though she hums at that]
What an odd question... I'm not sure. I'm afraid that if you specified I must've missed it - who do you want to talk to?
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...Mmm. There's... [ ... ] There's this girl I'm worried about, who's been pretty pissed off at everything happening to this place. And to us, I think. And a couple of people have gotten to talk to her like that from our dorm, but.. I haven't, yet. And I think she wants to talk to us, but it's not that easy.
It makes her sound a little like a ghost. [ his nose wrinkles. ] ...she's way more than that, though.
[ (ichiro voice) how do i summon iris do i have enough primogems ]
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[what is going on]
Erm... If that person can't talk to you though, I don't know if you'd be able to use a communication coupon to reach them...?
[this is such a funny conversation when it's phrased like this she has no idea how to help]
Well... I hope you get a chance to talk to her soon...?
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Auugh, Vi-chan, I'm not smart enough for this! [ HE'S REALLY NOT ] It's - we talked to her before, we even know her name, it's just - [ wheeze ] ... nevermind... there's no ghost, I was just trying to beat around the bush about something.
[ which like he has the subtlety of a bus speeding down the highway so like why would he ever even try to do that. ]
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I see....?
[she doesn't. she pats his arm consolingly though.]
.... please let me know if there's a security issue in Winter Dorm.
[if they can talk to someone who doesn't... exist? and shouldn't be there?]
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[ ... at least.. not during curfew. any of his normal bravado seems to falter just a little, with that, remembering last week, and he shakes his head. ]
...We can't trade these coupons we have in, can we?
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No... I'm afraid they can't be exchanged or given to others. They do expire this Friday so I hope you can find some use for yours...
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he nods... ] I kinda don't, honestly. Lucretia-san gave me a couple tips for what to do if I get caught alone and I've got it to defend myself, but I'm not sure what to do with it otherwise, so... probably better if I can't. I guess I'll figure out something fun to do with it by the end of the week, cause I'm not about to hurt someone with it.
[ and then, eventually, a little more plaintively; ] I want to help, you know, Vi-chan? It feels like I'm just running into walls all over the place.
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I'd rather not consider things like that - but I do hope that you'll be able to take care of yourself, no matter what comes. At least during the moments where I can't take care of you myself.
[she's so protective, it's just encoded in her. but she pauses at that]
... you can help. I'm sure of it. Gathering and disseminating information, trying to keep people safe and come up with ideas - they all lead to things. I know that it feels like results are slim now... but they'll surely come with all the effort you're putting in.
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it softens into a little bit of a smile at the pep talk, though, and he seems pensive for a second. ]
I know. Hard, consistent work is what gets results for anything - there's never an easy way out that doesn't come with a cost. [ and god, doesn't he know it. ] After last week, I just...
I want to protect people the best that I can. That's what I do at home, too. Anyone I can, however I can.
It's kinda crazy that there are so many people in our group who can do wild stuff. Hope saving his vouchers up to heal other people with his magic instead of fixing himself - like, I just keep thinking about that. I can give him the ones I got to help, because I'm sitting on this little pool of 'em, now, and I can keep tossing those vouchers at people who are better suited to help, but...
...it's like we talked about on Saturday, at the trial. My mic's cool. It can do cool stuff, but the only way I've ever learned how to use it is to hurt. I can't heal people like Jakurai-san, or even make illusions like Ramuda, or do much of anything that isn't attacking with it. I've gotten really good at that, but not because I wanna hurt people, or anything - it's the opposite of that - but because it's the power I have that I can use to defend the little guy when the world's trying to pick on them.
I hate seeing people get beaten down, you know? No matter what it's by. Life, or people being assholes, or weird mind control - whatever it is. But I can't use that power to really do anything helpful, here, and it's the same with this elemental thing. I can't wake up in the middle of the night here and freeze some asshole trying to frame people in our dorm.
[ and that's hard to deal with! getting that power made him feel sort of trapped in it, too. weird not to want to be a DPS. what is this feeling, character development.
ichiro looks away, again. ] I dunno. I guess all I ever do is hurt people to help other people, and I don't know how to do different. Like I said, being delicate - I'm really shitty at it.
[ there's.
a pause, as he realizes what he just did, flushes a little, and shakes his head. ] Uh. Sorry. Didn't mean to unload that on you. We - gotta get skates, right? We should do that.
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arguably, yes, it makes sense to get skates. but you know what's more important right now? ichiro. ichiro and everything that he's holding onto, all these complicated feelings in his chest, and everything that viola can hope to do in order to make them go away. she pauses at that and she brings her free hand up to his face once he's done shaking his head, guiding his cheek so that he has to meet her gaze again.
they're not dancing this time, but it feels all the more important to take his attention.]
I can give you that. If you want to be able to heal people - I can give you that, even if it's not something that you have at home. If it's something that you want now, you need only say the word, and I will give you the price, and you will be able to do more for people as your heart pleases.
Here, we are only limited by the scope of our imagination and creativity - you don't need to fall back on what you know if there's more that you want to be, Ichiro.
[ . . . ]
That said, who you are is - more than fine. You're wonderful, you know. You're clever, which is so much more important than being smart. And you're kind, which is infinitely more worthwhile than being naturally gifted in any particular field.
Your interests and mine align. Wanting to protect people, wanting to look after them. But there's something fortunate about this in the sense that if there is anything that you could possibly want, I will find a way to give it to you. You need only ask it of me.
If you're worried about not being able to handle what's delicate, then I can guide your hands until you get the hang of it - just like dancing.
[she drops her hand so that she can just hold onto his with both of hers then, cradling it gently]
We can get through this together easier than we can apart.
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his openness is one of his strengths. heart on his sleeve, eyes forward, ichiro's not afraid of anything, but lucretia had been right. it does leave him vulnerable, without his brothers by his side. it really leaves him vulnerable in a place like this, where so many factors are out of his hands that it's impossible to figure out where to even start. he's been relying on being the backbone of their dorm, but with the loss of rupert last week, even that was shaken.
pulling his face over does get him to look at her, stop-and-go eyes focused, if a little soulful, brows knit together in conflict. open and honest, as he always is, conflicted in feeling like he can't do things to make things right. patient enough for the long game, but only when people around him aren't dying; this pulls at his strength and tests his resolve. he's listening, though, focusing on her words, trying to take them to heart the best he can.
creative, imaginative. the things that make him good at the weapon he does have - his words are rapid fire clever in the heat of the moment, a quick thinker when the time's right, but clumsy when he's trying to get across how much he cares, or when he needs to stay calm and can't control his anger. ichiro wants to break down walls, wants to tear through injustice with his bare fists, but it's never that easy. it wasn't with chuuoku, and it won't be here. ]
...I know. [ to - to getting through it together, anyway. that parts easy. his brothers and his division have always been the source of his strength. here, the tight knit nature of winter dorm feels much like the same, a pulsing heartbeat that took a heavy hit this weekend. the kinder words she says resonate, too, and... viola really does remind ichiro of nemu, sometimes.
i have strength. something he's told himself a hundred thousand times in his life. i have it. he looks at the small, elegant hands holding his own, and tries to come back to what they were saying. tries to move forward instead of letting the bramble of complications stop him in his tracks. ]
... healing people is - [ ... ] - it's something that I think we have under control. [ this is going to be funny when i come back from cyoa i hope hes brutalized to all hell ] I don't know if that's - if that's what I'm supposed to do. I don't think it feels like it is.
[ quiet, for a second, as his eyes move back and forth, thinking. like he's trying to work over everything he's learned since he's gotten here. i can guide you, she says. ]
...I want to find a way to move forward. [ that - that feels like ichiro yamada. more than stagnating, more than just throwing vouchers to the wind and hoping someone with the capabilities to help stronger than his would find them. ] Whether it's at a trial, or - or beyond that. I think I want to help beyond that. I know - I know we're on the right path, but I wanna light up more steps of it, so maybe everybody else with the other abilities can help blow the roof off in ways I can't.
[ because he's not just an angry, trapped kid, not anymore. he's a division leader, with a neighborhood at his back. with a dorm at his back here, too. ]
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Okay.
Then save three vouchers to buy from me come Sunday. We can't sell to the same people over and over again - so it's better if Winter Dorm comes up with a rotation. Share what you get, and give it to others. Maybe it'll help with the larger puzzle.
If you want something for trial - get clever. Ways to narrow down suspect pools, to highlight important pieces of evidence, to figure out what questions you need to ask so that you don't let any innocent person get expelled inappropriately.
Think of things like systems, rather than individual instances - and create systems that will allow for greater chances of success. If everything works in tandem, the pieces may align better.
[because this is what viola does - this is how she thinks. inventing, creating, manifesting things out of thin air because just because something doesn't exist doesn't mean that it shouldn't. there's a lot in the world that's still missing.]
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three vouchers set aside for info? done. easy. that parts a piece of cake.
viola said be creative. systems. things they can reuse, things that help them. he looks down at her hands on his, and he thinks. there's a moment of quiet as he does, brows furrowed tight, but working something over in his head. they've already got plenty of ways to find truth - or, they've got at least a couple.
... ]
What about something to find a missing piece of evidence? An item. Like - we couldn't find Lan Wangji's guqin strings. [ was that a key piece of evidence? probably not, but it was something that stuck with him. he's trying to put his head in those old video games he liked - ap*llo j*stice style. ] Like... a divining rod, or something. Or a dog with a really strong nose.
[
gu yun? nothat parts maybe a little bit more joking. some of that energy starts to focus, finding a fine point, his fingertips tapping against viola's. think. think. think. ] ...Or - well, we don't always miss things. Something we could use like a system......What about something we could ask a question or two? Like - one of those old magic 8 balls. You know what I'm talking about? You shake it and it gives you an answer. Something like "has the culprit gone out to investigate and look for evidence" and it tells you "ask again later" or "yes" or "no" or... something like that?
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Very good. I can give you either of those - one use only, 6 Vouchers base price, I can knock it down a little, and you can't stock them so you'll have to choose carefully. You can ask for another once you're doing using it, though. Be smart, but having a tool like that will already serve you well.
Others in Winter are looking into getting more powers back to help as well, so I think you're on your way to creating a good set of resources at your disposal.
See? [she seems pleased with his suggestions, expression calming with his ingenuity] You've got this, Ichiro.
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ichiro's head ducks, again, and he nods. viola's praise stirs in his chest. ] ...yeah. Let me... let me think about it. I'll talk it over with Beau and Kon. [ and maybe caleb because his wizard dad is really smart. ] We got this. [ not just 'you', but we. as a whole. winter dorm, but the campus, and their beloved dorm heads included.] We got this. We're gonna do better, every time.
[ feeling emboldened, now, he nods a third time and squeezes her hands, and the smile gets more boyish, more familiar. ] You really are good at that. Being a guide. Kinda makes people feel like they can do anything, you know? With good people at their back.
...thanks, Vi.
[1/2]
I mean it when I said I'd do whatever you all ask of me.
And that means being whatever it is that you need me to be at any moment in time. You're welcome, Ichiro - anytime, and anything.
[ - but isn't there a price to that?
to always being what people need.]
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Everything that you’ve spent years building - your land, your work, your peaceful town that was never meant to lose to the capital - could be ripped from your hands.
And for what?
A false accusation. A suggestion that the orphanage that you created was wrong because it stole property from none other than God. You know in your heart that even for all your attempts at peace, there are people who simply cannot stand to leave you be.
Isn’t it shameful to have an existence that only causes turmoil? That only causes trouble for everyone around you, no matter how hard you try to do everything right?
Even after Dean - a confidant, whipsmart and brilliant - gives you a piece to save everything, you find yourself being pushed to the very edge of your composure.
”You think that if I cry and ask for help some prince on a white horse will show up?!”
It is a far, distant cry from your usual grace. You know the face you’re making must be pitiful and ugly.
Lady Iris, the Duke’s Daughter. Lady Iris, the CEO of the Azuta Corporation. Lady Iris, the invited guest of the Dowager Empress.
Lady Iris, crumbling under pressure. Lady Iris, cowardly, spiteful, useless. Lady Iris - will never be good enough.
Doesn’t it feel inevitable then, that everyone will leave you behind again? ]
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cw for ear trauma just in case
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