fightingvirtue

[No video, but Ryuubi sounds much better than last time, fondly amused even. He loves all you hilarious crazy people.]

Maybe I should have woken up sooner. We've had quite a week, haven't we? I hope no one is suffering too serious side effects. It's understandable that people don't always act their right mind here - really, best remember that it can happen to you next time, and just move on.

If I've learned this city's tendencies properly, we should have a few clear days, now. Would anyone wish to join me by the lake tomorrow? I have a land survey to do.

Hawke, I'm coming home. I'll do my best to pick up something nice for you along the way.


( Private to Alphonse//unhackable )


( Private to Yuca//unhackable )

[Ryuubi sounds distant - strange and distant, as though partway gone into the strange half-dream, half-memory state that hounds him sometimes. Not completely, though, he's making sense. He's clearly addressing the city.]

There will not be another wave of angels. Yuca Collabel is not making any more of them. Our only worry now is the ones already loose, and the infection.

There may be the basics, or at least the notes for a serum that paralyzes them in Captain Kurotsuchi's lab, where he worked. It might have all been destroyed, but we should search, nonetheless.

[He pauses for a moment before continuing, even more softly.]

Yuca himself is at the Southeast Quarter, at [x,y].

[Another pause - this one longer. So long that it almost seems that he's finished talking, and only his quiet breathing betrays that the PCD is still on. He all but forces himself to talk.]

After this is over, I think I am going to let myself go for a while. To be someone else. I'll be at the Temple of Heaven if you need me. Don't be concerned if I don't recognize you at first. I'll come back. It's all perfectly normal.


((OOC: After this conversation..))

I'm sure I don't have to say, to most of you, at least, that infighting and petty arguments are going to be the ruin of us all and that if you absolutely have to be venting your anger at someone, go out there and find a monster - there are plenty. You're all mature enough not to have to be lectured. Obviously something bad is blowing through this city lately - and these things will keep happening unless we all rally up and do something productive together. So please. Before your next angry post or comment, take a moment and think about the people you care for, here. I'm sure you all have someone you want to see safe. Think of them. And then talk.

But I do think you are on to something, Mr. Inugami, even if there is another direction I'd rather take at it. Quite possibly, I'm being naive here, but trying won't hurt.

I understand that there are some of you out there who couldn't care less what happens to the rest of us. You have your grudges, your own agendas, you dislike peace or the status quo for whatever reason - that is all good and well. We won't change you, and I doubt we'll be able to contain you, in the long run. All right, then: let's talk about other solutions. I refuse to believe that there is any one among you - any of you - who doesn't want something, even if it's only a decent fight. So why don't we both take the easy track at it, and find a way to get you what you want without all this hassle we keep having to go through? Because, believe you me - when neither death, nor time makes any difference, even war gets boring eventually.

How and when do we plan to act regarding the current crisis? It's clear to all, I think, that this is not going to simply blow over. The people need to hear some sort of voice to reassure them that action is being taken - every day of uncertainty that passes makes things worse.

Please don't think that I'm accusing you or your group of inaction here, Captan Unohana. I mean no such thing. Your position is understandably difficult. Hence I think it's apt that we step in and assist.



((Roy's crew here refers to the people Ryuubi met on meetings: Roy, Hawkeye, Hughes, Kakashi, Ed and Al, Urahara, Unohana, Ukitake, Raven, Squall, Jr. and of course Hawke. Hitsugaya gets excluded due to overwhelming emotional involvement, sorry Mr. Chibigami X_X))

[It's amazing what turning into a woman would do to your mood when you're secretly a mythological sex fiend. Which is to say the feed clicks on to a Ryuubi in all her genderbent glory stretched out across her bed, draped in a thin blanket for the sake of all those kids running around, but evidently without anything to back that blanket up. She's grinning. It's that sort of grin. Then she tosses her long, luxurious hair and leans back and gives the camera a cheery wave.]

Now, the way I see it, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity here, ladies - we should make it as educational as possible. We owe it to the women in our hopefully rich and varied futures to do some heavy exploring, here. Learn just what goes where and what does what, hmmmm?

[Yup, someone's definitely recovered his (her?) joi de vivre.]

[Even on voice feed, it's clear that Ryuubi isn't fully back to himself yet; he sounds tired and dispirited, though certainly better than before. And he's trying, you can hear that too.]

Hello, everyone. Two orders of business today.

As part of the efforts to facilitate greater building of community, Colonel Mustang and I have come up with the notion of writing up a calendar of sorts, making note of various holidays and other special occasions that people around the city celebrate. We could all benefit from sharing in each other's traditions, and no one should be alone on an important day. How about it? I know the calendars on the PCDs are different from some of the ones we keep in our own worlds, but I'm sure we can work out the parallel dates.

On the other matter, I know there are a few agricultural projects being carried out in the city by various residents. I'm not yet certain how much manpower or expertise we have between us, but if you are involved in such a thing, I'd like to talk to you. This is exactly the sort of thing on which we should band together, and the sooner the better.

Thank you, and be safe.


( Private to Hawke//unhackable )

[As the feed clicks on, Ryuubi is kneeling in the center of his new haunt at the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, staring at the PCD. He looks frightening, as though in almost the week that has passed since the visitors disappeared, he'd been neither eating nor sleeping properly. His eyes are hollow, face ashen. He grips the device with cracking strength, and calls - calls the one he misses with all the names he knows.]

Sleeping Dragon... Koumei... Kongming... Liang, please - !


[When even this most secret, most intimate name gets nothing, something in him snaps. He surges to his feet, forgetting the PCD, and throws a helpless fist upward, shouting with all his might:]

No - no, no! Not him! You have no right! It's written, fated, he is mine, mine! My water, my wings! Give him back to me!


[But nothing happens. Nothing changes. Only his voice echoes back to him, furious and broken, as he stands flinging useless curses at an uncaring sky.]

[Koumei's PCD, being Koumei's, does not turn on accidentally; Ryuubi's PCD however has no such qualms, and sputters to life at what is definitely a bad moment.

Ryuubi and Koumei are in the former's bed, very much undressed, still tangled up in sheets and each other. For once, Ryuubi is fast asleep - smiling even in his sleep, utterly content - while the strategist lies awake, studying his lord's face by the soft light of candles. Unaware of the recording, he sits up, draped in the blanket, and reaches out to tenderly slip a hand into Ryuubi's hair. His face is unreadable, but his voice, when he speaks, is a low murmur of deepest sadness.]


And so once more, I surrender to you - flesh and soul, once more, I am yours. Every life anew, I hide, I refuse and reject... and you find me, wake me. Your water, your wings. Across worlds and time, the dragon comes to crouch at the feet of the Son of Heaven.

Is this also fate, my lord? Do I struggle with my fate, or am I fated to struggle?


[He sits immobile for a moment, lost in thought. Then, with endless care not to wake the other man, leans close and kisses the crown of his head.]

Wisdom bows to love. That, too, is as it should be.

[Sitting on the porch of his lakeside house, Ryuubi is positively glowing, eyes and smile brilliant with joy. He glances back before speaking - off in the background, on a random pillow in the sun, Koumei is dozing away.]

I'm sorry, I ought to have done this sooner - if there are still newcomers who need someplace to stay, my house is open, and we'll be glad for the company - just try not to be too loud around Koumei. Please, don't hesitate to ask any questions or help if you need it. The likeliest sources for food supplies, besides the shop, are the orchard at [x,y], and the river and lake - though, watch out for the giant squid! And don't pet any kittens or bunnies. They are not, in fact, cute. The fruit cows are rather friendly, although don't forget to boil the milk before drinking it. If you simply must spar, please make sure no one lives nearby.

And of course - I won't outright tell you to avoid the Inner City, but really, you've nothing to look for there. Believe me.

[He thinks for another moment, then laughs. Yes, he's a bit out of it. In a happy way.]

Right, yes. I knew I'd forgotten something. I'm Ryuubi Gentoku. It's a pleasure to meet all of you.