003 ▽ [voice] ; December 6th

[reverencing]

[There's a few moments of silence as Mitsunari steels himself, preparing for what he must say. At first he didn't want to entirely believe it but at this point, there was no mistaking it. His vigil outside of his lord's door was at its end - no one would be returning. With all this talk of people disappearing, it's about time he made this

Comments

Voice

[purewhite_crane]

Oh. *What do you say in this kind of situation ...? She can't think of a good phrase or words. So she just settles for.*

What a shame.

Voice

[reverencing]

[Is that all she can say?! Mitsunari scowls, jaw clenched as he bites back his rage. Of course it's all she can say - she could never understand his pain.

He's thankful that the video is off - it gives him time to compose himself before responding, swallowing the biting comments he'd like to make and keeping a neutral tone.]

...That it is.

Voice

[purewhite_crane]

*I mean she does want to say something comforting, but this is Mitsunari-san we're talking about! She was sure he would growl and say something mean again.*

I suppose the air here really didn't fit him after all.

*a pause*

Will you be okay?

Voice

[reverencing]

[He could snap. He could scowl and argue that she has no business asking him such a question - but his rage would be misplaced. As great as his dislike for the oracle is, he's lucid enough to recognize that directing his ire at her would change nothing.]

I will manage.

video; filtered

[reverencing]

[Mitsunari is quick to turn his head away, grimacing at Magoichi's comment. Had she come to taunt him? No - he knows better at this point. This Magoichi is one that has pledged and proven her loyalty to him... She would not be so quick to mock his pain.]

I am not grieving.

[He's in a glass case of emotion]

video; filtered

[reverencing]

[He exhales a sigh, turning back to face her on the screen.]

What good will that bring about? It will not bring Lord Hanbei back to me... It will not return Ieyasu to this land and it will not reunite me with Lord Hideyoshi.

To let loose my emotions in a flurry would be nothing short of childish.

[But that is exactly what he is going to do when the frustration of it all finally reaches its boiling point.]

video;

[forbearanced]

You have my gratitude for informing us.

video;

[reverencing]

[There are many scathing comments Mitsunari could make - but like he did with the oracle, he bites his tongue. The Dragon's Eye is offering up at least a base amount of respect in his words and doesn't patronize him with false sympathies. Mitsunari, begrudgingly, owes him the same respect.]

I would expect the same, should your lord be taken.

video;

[forbearanced]

It will be granted. [Measures Mitsunari with a look.] The need for a meeting remains.

video;

[reverencing]

[Mitsunari opens his mouth to reply, only to close it again as he registers what Kojuurou is telling him. He gives a curt nod, a light hmph escaping him.]

He has finally returned, then?

voice;

[foxwithafan]

[He's been quiet and isolated himself for a while, but this catches Mitsunari's attention. He doesn't reply immediately, thinking about what is appropriate, but finally settles on, simply:]

A great loss indeed.

voice; filtered

[reverencing]

[It takes him a moment to decide how to respond - if anyone understands this pain, it's his other self. He should not be afraid to share his thoughts with him as logically, the thoughts they would share are the same on this matter, are they not?

Finally, he speaks, ensuring the response is filtered.]

There is no home waiting for him to return to - I should have seized the opportunity to learn more from him. [He never anticipated that Hanbei would be taken from him for a second time]

BREW is mocking me.

voice; filtered

[foxwithafan]

[No home? Ah. Mitsunari frowns to himself. That makes the situation a good deal more... well, distressing. It could not affect him as strongly as his counterpart, but he's far from happy, which is reflected in his voice.]

You could not have anticipated that it would send him back so soon.

[A snort.]

BREW brings us here to assist in this war, yet gives us no constant grounding. Not even a warning for when our allies are about to be sent away. It is... indeed ridiculous.

[Lord Hideyoshi might turn up one day. Either of them. Any of them. From any point in time. Mitsunari both wants and fears that situation.]

voice; filtered

[reverencing]

[There's silence from his end now, though not an awkward one. It's a pensive silence, a rare occurrence from this one.]

...All we can do is adapt and continue on. That is precisely how Lord Hanbei would've had it.

[Not here]

[anchorsurfs]

[Motochika just stares in disbelief at his communicator. Takenaka Hanbei was here?! He curses the missed opportunity to get even with that damned strategist.

Let's go smash some furniture.]