❀ Kim Kitsuragi

[cranelike]

Comments

[cranelike]

You said you can't see up close, right?

(Pointing to his own eyes for a second here.)

And your glasses fixed that.

[voltadomar]

Yes... It's called hyperopia, or farsightedness.

... Why do you ask?

[cranelike]

(ANNOUNCES FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO HEAR but this is a PC so only Kim will hear,)

I want to see your glasses!

[voltadomar]

...

What, like... to try them on? For someone who doesn't need them, it would just be like looking through a fishbowl.

[cranelike]

It isn't for me!

(And he puts both hands on his waist and holds his head up high,)

I want someone else to see.

[voltadomar]

[...?

He squints.]

You want to put my glasses on someone else...? Why? And who?

[cranelike]

Because they can't see.

It's hard for them to read and when I'm close, they only see my color.

(Who would have thought that conversation 7 weeks ago would be relevant now wow.)

And they don't want anyone to know what's wrong after so long.

(So their identity is... a secret?)

[voltadomar]

... You think they might be farsighted.

[He thinks about that, his brow furrowed. Seriously, how is it that this is coming up again like this?]

Okay... I'm not unsympathetic to that.

But I can't just lend you my glasses. I'm completely blind without them, and if anything happened to them...

[cranelike]

(Nods fastly,)

And if they know, then they know how they can be better.

(He crosses his arms now and thinks,)

Without them, you're vulnerable, right?

[voltadomar]

[Oh, boy. He doesn't like that wording, and he hesitates to answer... but after considering it, he'll finally just say:]

Extremely.

[cranelike]

(Just say it like it is, Kim.

He's quiet for a moment and then he nods before reaching for the sword at his side. He unfastens it and holds it out,)

Then we'll trade. Until I return, you can hold me.

(Did he have to word it like that? Yeah.)

[voltadomar]

[Kim looks at the sword, a little surprised. He doesn't reach out to take it right away, but it gives him pause. He has some inkling as to the gravity of the offer.]

As I understand it... you're a "sword spirit"? I'm not sure what that means, exactly.

[cranelike]

You're a clever man. I'm sure you can figure enough.

(A sword spirit is the spirit of a sword!)

I am Tsurumaru Kuninaga, forged over a thousand years ago by the master smith, Gojo Kuninaga. I've belonged to many leaders and have been coveted throughout history. I've even been robbed from graves and stolen. And even after all of these years, they say I'm one of the greatest swords in all of Japan-- a treasure that represents the nation and its imperial family.

(A national and imperial treasure.)

And this is my true form. (The sword in his hands,) In some ways, it's not unlike your relationship to your dear companion.

(His Daemon. And Tsurumaru makes sure to say "your" instead of "our" because well... Kiku isn't here! Hah.)

But in my case... this sword is the true me and "I" am the extension.

[voltadomar]

[Well... that's certainly enlightening. If this was a few weeks earlier, Kim might have been skeptical, but hearing it now? He nods, accepting the explanation.]

I understand.

All right. If it's worth that much to you...

[He takes the offered sword with his right hand, the gloved hand. With his left, he removes his glasses and offers them out. Firmly:]

You won't get this back until you return them to me, fully intact.

[cranelike]

(He makes sure Kim has his sword first before he reaches to take the glasses with both hands,)

You should consider yourself lucky. Most people don't get to see me, let alone hold me.

(He holds the glasses carefully in his hands though... and raises them up to his eyes real quick to see,)

... Ah. This is bad!

(He can't see at all like this? It's funny because Tsurumaru also probably needs glasses but he would be nearsighted.)

[voltadomar]

[Kim can't see shit but he just Knows what Tsuru tried, and he sighs.]

I told you. Like a fishbowl. You'll get a headache if you try it for too long.

[He does hold the sword carefully, and finds himself a place to sit down and make himself comfy for the next little while. Kim's not going anywhere like this.]

[cranelike]

(I would say please appreciate the imperial treasure and precious antique Kim is holding but remembering he can't see things up close makes thsi truly unfortunate.)

I'll be sure to return it. Don't worry. You'll be safe here.

(And he's just going to... run off? He'll be back in like an hour. It's fine.)

[voltadomar]

[Yeah, he's just got this blurry stick that feels vaguely valuable. Very cool.

Kim will just lean back and close his eyes for a bit, sword in his arms. Cecile will huddle up against the sword as a little seabird-loaf to make sure it doesn't move.]

[cranelike]

(And Tsurumaru will return in like an hour? Here he is running back looking very excited.)

I've returned and with good news!

[voltadomar]

Hm?

[Kim blinks awake. Cecile stirs, fluffing her feathers and hopping away so he can move.]

Good news...?

[He'll sit up straight and look vaguely at the white-ish blur before him.]

[cranelike]

Mhm! (He nods, not that Kim can see.) I was right.

(And he positions himself in front of Kim)

Stay still.

(He'll put the glasses back on him?)

[voltadomar]

[Kim sits still and allows this. He blinks a few times, raising his gaze to meet Tsurumaru's eyes with a quizzical look.]

You mean, they actually helped?

[cranelike]

(Nodding!)

I let them try and they could read. I knew they could. They just always needed help before.

(He's very proud.)

Thank you.

[voltadomar]

They must have been dealing with it for a long time, for it to get that bad...

[Even knowing almost nothing about the situation, he's kind of sympathetic.]

... Anyway, a deal's a deal. [He rises to his feet and offers the sword back.]

[cranelike]

Ah, there's no reason to be sorry. They don't seem bothered. But now, I hope they can find a way to live better.

(He doesn't take the swordback just yet, though,)

You couldn't see before, right?