futurology | audio; un: PARTY.

Three things.

The first. I'm requesting if you know anyone of our group that was transferred during this mission at any point, whether it was already announced or not, to list them here. If you knew anything about them, particularly unique to them—information, capabilities, whatever—I'd ask you disclose the information, as well. [ he may be able to get the first part, at least, by looking it up but it helps to have confirmation from files that are not documents provided by ALASTAIR. ]

The second. I'd like to know of any of you that are of leadership status back where you come from, particularly if you are responsible for the lives of others. Militarily, politically, socially, whatever. [ not the time to be picky. ]

Lastly, what's the value of a life to you? Both your own and others around you and how far does that value extend? They say there's a time to kill and a time not to kill: what're yours? [ it'd be nice to know who the self-sacrificers are versus the kill-happy. and then everyone else in between. ]

...Allow me to introduce myself, if you don't know me: I'm Date Masamune, a daimyo from the north.

[ yes, he's got a different tone to this from the last time he addressed the network, but the serious nature seems necessary, if not because of the content but because of what they're all sitting in the middle of while they wait to leave chantes. might as well be somewhat productive. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ arthur? user name is... merlin. huh..! ]

Pendragon? Are you the same Merlin at his side? [ he's read stories from the west...! also forgive him for totally changing the subject..! ]

That's right.

[Merlin's fairly used to this sort of reaction by now, though he's always been surprised when his name is also known.]

I might not be quite the same as you're thinking, though. Arthur's not yet king where I'm, and I don't have a long white beard.

[That one's popular for some reason.]

[ he laughs. how neat! someone masa's read about before rather than hearing people have read about him. ]

I guess when they write about you, they never think about you having been young once, too. The same seems to apply for me.

How old are you, anyway? [ this is just chatter but Masamune likes small talk with people, especially when he can relate to them. he can relate to merlin's situation here. ]

So people knew you too when you arrived? Or of you.

[Date Masamune. Well now he's curious, wants to read about him himself or talk to others who have.]

Me? I'm twenty, as of this past spring. How old are you?

Yes, a few, oddly enough. I don't believe them, though. They are all from the same place and one of them doesn't shut up about things I haven't done.

Even still, it's not the same, though. The times of Camelot are so epic.

You are still young, then, before most of the stories portray you. Fascinating. I'm 23, as of this past autumn.

I don't know, people have told me similar things, about things I can't imagine doing or happening. Stories...sometimes they take on a life of their own, I think.

[Still, some of it would be nice. Becoming Arthur's adviser instead of his servant, his magic accepted.]

Are you a famous warrior? Is that what a dai myo is?

[ SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS HIM... finally.... ]

I like to think I'm trying to make a name for myself back home, but it's never as easy as people make it sound, right?

Ah, yes, about that. Daimyo are like lesser warrior kings. We rule and have command of an army and fight alongside those that serve us, but we do not rule an entire country such as how it is done in the west. [ they aren't exactly like lords that rule fiefs, either, though. so it's tricky to really describe it accurately without having a boring story time of the government rulings in japan during his time.

...Actually, now just recently we are technically separated into different territories as the one most equivalent to a real warrior king, as your King Arthur will one day be, has dissolved his position of power. We were second to his command.

[A warrior and a king, which is something that's always relevant to Merlin's interests. He folds his arms at the table he's sitting at, clinging to every word. Merlin might still see if he can find some stories on him, just out of curiosity. But there's no better source than the man himself.]

By choice? Why did he do it? Not that being a king is as great as most people make it out to be. I don't think it's a job that I would fancy much.