(Kiku seems pretty content to stay in magpie form most days. The hood of his cloak is quite cozy, you know? Something about Kaeya's question seems to catch her attention though and she peeks out from his hood. It's only for a moment before she shifts forms, sliding down his shoulder and into his arms. She's an otter now. He carries her like she's his baby, patting her back as he skips ahead of Kaeya, head held up high,)
But it's true; I will rust!
(It's no secret that Tsurumaru has an #Aesthetic. He dresses in all white, his accents are gold and a dark, almost-black blue. But Kaeya is observant and might notice that his style even matches his sword.)
I think I might become like a pickled plum; all wrinkly and salty from the sea. And then I'll also rust and lose all of my beauty.
And in the end, regardless of which, I'll surely disappear.
[ tsuru skips ahead and kaeya gives a bit of a laugh, shaking his head. ]
As I said before, Tsurumaru. I simply will not allow that to happen.
[ he glances down at polaris who begins to trot ahead happily, making a quick little circle carefully around tsuru as kaeya catches up with him and begins to carefully walk backwards down the corridor. the dread from the dining hall is fading, and kaeya is determined to shake it all off. no one gets in his head, no one. ]
Like a sword, I will take care of you, if that's what you fear. That's my job as a knight, after all, it's what I've be sworn to do.
What an interesting choice of words. Tsurumaru can't tell if Kaeya is looking for answers or confirmation. Whether he realizes it or not, his words have a certain weight to them and it's enough to make Tsurumaru slow to a regular walk.
When he replies, he doesn't look back. He only raises his head and answers in his usual, light and airy tone,)
I wonder... are you the type that makes promises easily? Or perhaps you're one that lies naturally...
(His words are sharp but his voice is friendly. He's naturally distant, even when he lets others get close.)
Be careful of the expectations you set. You wouldn't want to let anyone down~
[ kaeya's fingers lace behind his head as he gives a slight stretch. the tone of tsurumaru's voice has veered and he can feel it, taut as a string drawn between them. he thinks about it a long moment, and in that instant he feels it--rain, cold, heat, all at once. it slides down his back, a shadowy memory in the backdrop as he gives pause. or perhaps you're the one that lies naturally... ]
Maybe if I were younger, and thought that lying was the only thing I could do to keep people close to me. If I were desperate or lonely. Heh.
[ he turns, sees that polaris has stopped to look at the both of them before training his eyes on kaeya. there's a moment where his ears have gone soft, flattened, tail low. he licks his maw softly over and over again. ]
But I'm a Knight, and I'm afraid that I've sworn an oath, not just to some distant city and it's people... [ softer: ] but to myself. So whether you believe me or not, I do intend to keep my promises.
(He stops to look back at Kaeya, gold eyes watching focusing on the knight. He's an old spirit, one that has been around others for a long time. Does he really buy what Kaeya is saying? Does he really believe what most people say around him? Hm.)
You're still quite young.
(He gently corrects Kaeya and turns on his heel, his robes billowing and twisting with the motion. Kiku begins to shift forms, freeing his arms and the long sleeves of his kimono look like wings. Everything with him is always for show, )
Did you know you can learn lessons from old stories? There are many stories but in every versionn, to break a promise with a crane ends with it leaving forever, never to be seen again.
(Beside him, Kiku stands in a form she has shown before but doesn't take particularly often-- a red crowned crane. She watches Tsurumaru, her wings tucked neatly at her side,)
Be careful.
(He rests a hand on his sword,)
If there's something you want to know, you should ask it.
[ the look causes kaeya to give pause. polaris stops just as well, watches as in a flurry of white, suddenly tsurumaru stands before him now with a hand resting on his sword at his side and kiku beside him, a magnificent crane. they stand in silence for a moment, the pressure of the hallway heavy, drawing inwards. but it's the sort of pressure that causes kaeya to lift his head a bit.
in a flurry of white, polaris bursts into a peacock form. tail sweeping around him. if there is a mask, it is coming off. ]
I know. You're ancient.
[ i've seen your profile. kaeya commits every strange elder to memory. but he tries to allow it to come out with time. tsurumaru swirls in delectable metaphor that reminds kaeya of old liyue poetry, from the tea houses where in the streets they speak of rex lapis and his mighty adepti.
leaving forever, never to be seen again. ]
Will you tell me what you are, Tsurumaru? I want to know.
(It looks like they're both showing themselves, or at least, showing a facet,)
Oh, I'm not quite that old.
(But he is, undeniably, old.)
After a life of service, an object receives a soul. Therefore, when an object reaches its 100th year, it becomes alive and aware. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later; it depends on the service.
(He speaks plainly, as if this is normal. Because it is. It's just how things are.)
Tsurumaru Kuninaga, forged a thousand years ago in the Heian Era and passed down through the years from master to master. I'm quite well known where I'm from.
(He taps the sword at his side once more, drawing attention to it,)
Some even consider me one of the greatest swords in Japan.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But it's true; I will rust!
(It's no secret that Tsurumaru has an #Aesthetic. He dresses in all white, his accents are gold and a dark, almost-black blue. But Kaeya is observant and might notice that his style even matches his sword.)
I think I might become like a pickled plum; all wrinkly and salty from the sea. And then I'll also rust and lose all of my beauty.
And in the end, regardless of which, I'll surely disappear.
no subject
As I said before, Tsurumaru. I simply will not allow that to happen.
[ he glances down at polaris who begins to trot ahead happily, making a quick little circle carefully around tsuru as kaeya catches up with him and begins to carefully walk backwards down the corridor. the dread from the dining hall is fading, and kaeya is determined to shake it all off. no one gets in his head, no one. ]
Like a sword, I will take care of you, if that's what you fear. That's my job as a knight, after all, it's what I've be sworn to do.
no subject
What an interesting choice of words. Tsurumaru can't tell if Kaeya is looking for answers or confirmation. Whether he realizes it or not, his words have a certain weight to them and it's enough to make Tsurumaru slow to a regular walk.
When he replies, he doesn't look back. He only raises his head and answers in his usual, light and airy tone,)
I wonder... are you the type that makes promises easily? Or perhaps you're one that lies naturally...
(His words are sharp but his voice is friendly. He's naturally distant, even when he lets others get close.)
Be careful of the expectations you set. You wouldn't want to let anyone down~
no subject
Maybe if I were younger, and thought that lying was the only thing I could do to keep people close to me. If I were desperate or lonely. Heh.
[ he turns, sees that polaris has stopped to look at the both of them before training his eyes on kaeya. there's a moment where his ears have gone soft, flattened, tail low. he licks his maw softly over and over again. ]
But I'm a Knight, and I'm afraid that I've sworn an oath, not just to some distant city and it's people... [ softer: ] but to myself. So whether you believe me or not, I do intend to keep my promises.
no subject
You're still quite young.
(He gently corrects Kaeya and turns on his heel, his robes billowing and twisting with the motion. Kiku begins to shift forms, freeing his arms and the long sleeves of his kimono look like wings. Everything with him is always for show, )
Did you know you can learn lessons from old stories? There are many stories but in every versionn, to break a promise with a crane ends with it leaving forever, never to be seen again.
(Beside him, Kiku stands in a form she has shown before but doesn't take particularly often-- a red crowned crane. She watches Tsurumaru, her wings tucked neatly at her side,)
Be careful.
(He rests a hand on his sword,)
If there's something you want to know, you should ask it.
(Maybe Kaeya should just try asking directly!!!)
no subject
in a flurry of white, polaris bursts into a peacock form. tail sweeping around him. if there is a mask, it is coming off. ]
I know. You're ancient.
[ i've seen your profile. kaeya commits every strange elder to memory. but he tries to allow it to come out with time. tsurumaru swirls in delectable metaphor that reminds kaeya of old liyue poetry, from the tea houses where in the streets they speak of rex lapis and his mighty adepti.
leaving forever, never to be seen again. ]
Will you tell me what you are, Tsurumaru? I want to know.
no subject
Oh, I'm not quite that old.
(But he is, undeniably, old.)
After a life of service, an object receives a soul. Therefore, when an object reaches its 100th year, it becomes alive and aware. Sometimes sooner, sometimes later; it depends on the service.
(He speaks plainly, as if this is normal. Because it is. It's just how things are.)
Tsurumaru Kuninaga, forged a thousand years ago in the Heian Era and passed down through the years from master to master. I'm quite well known where I'm from.
(He taps the sword at his side once more, drawing attention to it,)
Some even consider me one of the greatest swords in Japan.