video; un: eraserhead

[eyedrop]

[ Aizawa's lolling against some tree somewhere. Terrible, slumped posture; hair wild about his face. His expression is neutral, bordering on irritable, and his voice is an exhausted monotone. He sits with one leg folded over the other, idly tossing a cat figurine from hand to hand. ]

Hey. Myself and a few others did some looking around. Apparently, both the sea clan and the mountain clan have their allies--but they're not within easy reach. In the case of the sea clan, the empress's brother is married to some far-off queen. The mountain clan's allies aren't too nearby, either.

[ He shifts minutely. His eyes flutter briefly shut, and he sighs. ]

Point being, war between these two would be irrational. The old man we spoke with said no one really wants to start anything, but I don't know how true that is. I haven't tried to approach the nobles.

[ He really doesn't look or act the part, and he knows it. Nor does he have an escort. ]

If you've spoken to any of them, what's the mood? What do they want?

[ He cards a hand through his hair, frowning slightly. ]

They're the key to this, I think. Certainly the key to actually meeting that empress of theirs. So if you've got info, or if you've made any connections, spill it.

Comments

[eyedrop]

Why not? We're already putting a team together. We don't need the negotiators to form an intimate relationship. We just need to bend a few ears.

[ He shakes his head. ]

What you're proposing puts us--and the people of this world--at risk. You can't dismiss this culture just because you don't like it.

[boxedcrook]

I never said I didn’t like it! [He growls in frustration.] If we’re fast, they’re gonna call us good for nothing. If we’re slow, we’re just gonna waste time with all their formalities.

[eyedrop]

You're certainly quick to dismiss their traditions.

[ Which yes: the society is not logical, and the way they do things is ridiculous. But such is the way of most cultures, and one must still work within them if one wants to achieve results. ]

Heroes don't just rush in and hope everything works out for the best. You have to think it through.

[boxedcrook]

[???????????]

Who said anything about being a hero?!

[eyedrop]

[ Listen ... ]

I don't see these missions as any different from my usual work.

[ And maybe he's been teaching a long time, besides. ]

[boxedcrook]

What’s that supposed to mean?! You wanna be a hero or something about all of this?

[eyedrop]

It means that's my job.

[ He's got a license and everything. ]

Or. It was.

[boxedcrook]

[There's a "gimme a break" under his breath despite... the fact... he's projecting his voice.] Great.

Guess we get to hear a lecture about doing the right thing all the time.

[eyedrop]

These days I mostly teach high school.

[ In other words ... yeah, probably. He seems unperturbed by Inuyasha's opinion about it, either way. ]

[boxedcrook]

Well, how about hurrying up and finding us a way to talk to the Empress, Mister Hero.

[eyedrop]

We've already got a plan. If it doesn't work out, we can revisit your 'run in and get people killed' idea. Sound fair?

[boxedcrook]

It'll be too late by then, but whatever. Try your dumb plan.