01: Exploring!

[drakenguard]

Who: Yamato Hotsuin and YOU
Where: Libra Area
Summary: Yamato exploring the surroundings of where he lives. Stop being a hermit, Yamoeto.
Warnings: Verboseness None!



It had taken some internal coaxing, but Yamato finally decided to explore the surrounding area. He could hardly reside in a place where he was ignorant of the local geography after all. What are the main buildings, what is the population of people, what is the strategic and defensive capabilities of such an area, etc, etc...

Normally his subordinates carried out such checks, but Yamato knew how to do it himself. It was strange to do it without a gaggle of peons at his heels, though, clucking and chattering about this and that. He actually felt a bit...naked without them. He never realised how vulnerable he felt without them.

Not to say that he couldn't defend himself. He could. It still just felt odd not to have his usual resources at his command. To begin from scratch... although not that Yamato was planning on starting from scratch. What was the point...? This wasn't Japan, and he had no stakes in defending this strange place from threats - not unless it was to preserve his own renewed life.

Without a purpose...it was both terrifying and liberating. He could choose his own purpose now, although Yamato hadn't the slightest clue on where to begin.

So he wandered Libra's streets, hoping he would stumble across something at the very least.

Comments

[blitzkriegzwei]

"I'm doing something similar- looking around the area, that is." Ludwig acknowledged Yamato's statement with a nod. "I'm looking to see if there's a gym anywhere around here. And... also to see if any places are hiring." It was difficult for Ludwig to just sit and do nothing; he was one of those people who needed a job or some sort of responsibility all the time.

[drakenguard]

"Hm, yes, the funds given to us are limited, aren't they?" Yamato murmured, his brow furrowing slightly. He had never handled money in his life, since JP's got everything they needed when asked, and of course, as Yamato lived in the JP's headquarters, he never had to pay for food or utilities.

A job was necessary for funds, he knew that. Yamato didn't know what he could do though. He wasn't exactly built for manual labour, and he had heard that official credentials were necessary for works regarding intelligence...

"A gym, you say? Ah, yes, your physique is well built," Yamato said after a pause, looking Ludwig up and down.

[blitzkriegzwei]

"Well, it never hurts to have more." Money had rarely been a problem for Ludwig (except, of course, when it was a problem for the entire country), but he insisted on earning his keep. He knew some of his fellow nations didn't. "Ideally, I could work on the police force, or perhaps as a mechanic. I've had experience in both those fields." He was hoping that Yamato wouldn't question how he'd been able to pursue both career tracks. Meanwhile, he just sort of ignored the last sentence. What was he supposed to say to that? Yes, it was a fact, but... well... he just couldn't think of what to say to it.

[drakenguard]

Don't worry. Yamato just isn't used to socialising with people, so he will say weird, uncomfortable remarks at times.

"Hmm, those two careers are quite varied from one another," Yamato noted. "You are a soldier as well."

[blitzkriegzwei]

Uh oh. Ludwig, did you just slip up? Now how was he going to justify this? "Um... I've had some opportunities over the course of my life. My life has been... a bit unique." Ah, screw it. If this kept up, he might as well just spill the beans. It's not like his nationhood was exactly a secret at home anyway. He just hadn't told anyone here because he doubted that they'd believe him.

[drakenguard]

Yamato just stares blankly.

"If you are hiding something there is no need to stutter or hesitate. I have no interest in it." Yamato said. "I was merely making an observation, not asking a question."

[blitzkriegzwei]

"Hm. Very well, then." Explanation averted. Ludwig found himself wishing that he hadn't been shut down again, though. "It sounded a bit like questioning. But if it's just an observation, as you say... well, then we'll leave it at that."

[drakenguard]

Yamato twitched his shoulders in a shrug, and allowed a long awkward silence to foster between them. Well, it was probably awkward for Ludwig. Yamato was content in simply staring at the taller man with a long, even stare.

"...is there anything else you require from me?" Yamato asked, the bland smile back on his lips.

[blitzkriegzwei]

Augh. Awkward silences. Ludwig hated awkward silences. Fortunately, this time he had another topic in mind to break it. "I don't 'require' anything from you... but we were on the last mission together, correct? You stayed behind to protect Ideo. How did you fare?" He was always curious to hear how his fellow fighters had done in battle.

[drakenguard]

"Well enough," Yamato said, and there was another pause where it seemed as if that was all he was going to say. He sighed and added, "Ceu was pleasant enough to talk to, and I learned a great deal."

[blitzkriegzwei]

Okay, they were starting to cross a threshold where Ludwig was becoming aware that the shortcomings of this conversation were not all his fault. Yamato was legitimately just a difficult person to talk to. At least Ludwig gave decent responses when spoken to! "Ceu... that was one of the fairies there, correct? What did she have to tell you?" He had a feeling this was going to end up shut down again.

[drakenguard]

Strangely, Yamato was a bit open this time. "We conversed about, hm, what was his name, Ideo's attempts to allow humans to make contracts with demons for protection," a brief pause, "We also discussed the fickle nature of humans and their emotions, and how they hinder them from making logical choices like allying themselves with demons if the situation requires it."

[blitzkriegzwei]

"Ah, that's right. Someone I was fighting alongside during the mission had the ability to use contracted demons. It proved to be quite useful." Ludwig had grown somewhat used to the idea of using supernatural means as defense; blame being bathed in the idea for at least a day straight, if not several days. "If worst came to worst... I think I would sooner ally with demons than watch my world be destroyed. The demons I've seen seem to be just creatures, not necessarily evil."

[drakenguard]

Yamato nodded. "Demons are chaotic beings, however that does not mean that they strive to destroy everything they come in contact with. Truthfully, I trust them more than humans. Once contracted, demons are incredibly obedient and loyal. Humans, however, are far more fickle."

[blitzkriegzwei]

Ludwig wasn't entirely sure what to think about Yamato trusting demons more than humans. He must have great experience with supernatural forces to trust them so... "Yes, once contracted. But I imagine it can be a bit of a mess actually getting them into a contract, or at least it sounds like it would be."

[drakenguard]

"You just have to know how to deal with them," Yamato explained. "Depending upon their class, you can easily deduce their temperaments, and how to navigate negotiations. They are demons after all," he smirked slightly, "know how to talk to them, and they will willingly throw themselves into the pyre for you."

[blitzkriegzwei]

"You're quite well-versed in demon interactions," Ludwig noted. "Then again, I'm not surprised. You did tell me that you had demons assisting you in battle, after all. You must know a lot about them to use them effectively."

[drakenguard]

"Of course. The Hotsuin family have dealt with demons for generations," Yamato said. "It would be a disgrace if I didn't use that accumulated knowledge to effectively utilise perfectly good pawns."

[blitzkriegzwei]

"Pawns?" Ludwig would have preferred the term "soldiers," but did contracted demons really count as soldiers or an army? "Well, I suppose that's one way to put them. They seem to make good soldiers, if they count as such."

[drakenguard]

"Indeed. Powerful, loyal, and obedient. Much more useful than the common rabble," Yamato hummed. Humans were too unpredictable and wilful to control at times, such as Hiro - or even Makoto. She too had been getting restless, and Yamato half-expected her to refuse his commands at certain times.

She never did though. Loyal to the end, that one.

[blitzkriegzwei]

"...Define 'common rabble.'" Uh oh, they were getting a little close to one of Ludwig's buttons. "Do you mean ordinary human soldiers?" Ludwig was a little too close to his people to just dismiss them as "rabble." He had a feeling that some other nations might have, though.

[drakenguard]

"I mean ordinary people in general," Yamato corrected. He crossed his arms. "The vast majority of humans are fickle beings who allow their emotions and values to distract them from their higher purpose. Humans are beings that grow and advance beyond limitations, something that is unique as a species, yet they waste their talents on corruption and fools, letting our society stagnate!"

He growled. "It's rotten. The useless plebeians do as they please, without a care in the world...ahahaha," he suddenly laughed. "Even after the responsibility of it all is dropped from my shoulders, it still agitates me to know that I was once their pawn. It seems I am just as illogical as them."

[blitzkriegzwei]

Ludwig was initially left without words. What was all this about now? He had no idea what to think about all this stuff about a higher purpose and the stagnation of society. "The 'common people' aren't quite so useless. They affect everything and are affected by everything." He said this as a being whose common people were his bottom line. If something was affecting the people at large, it was going to affect him too. "I can't say I'm sure I understand what you're going on about."

[drakenguard]

"Hrn..." Yamato closed his eyes, scoffing slightly. It seemed that he wasn't as at peace as he thought with his loss and death - if even the slightest mention of the state of the world sparked that rant. How irritating...

"It is nothing. Excuse my words just now."

[blitzkriegzwei]

This man was thoroughly impossible to read. One minute he was going on and on about people not reaching their full potential, the next minute he was dead silent. Ludwig acknowledged the ending of that train of thought with an "If you say so."