I'd start with those and see how things go-- they seem easy enough to handle, perhaps with the exception of Julius-kun. I don't mind him, but I don't know him terribly well either.
[He watches the white cat investigating her as he speaks-- close up, it's clearer it has differently colored eyes, one of which is clouded. After she rolls over, it just lays down next to her, seemingly content with her company, and he sounds amused when he continues.]
... it's a shame cats don't count. You're the only person Isame's liked so far, besides myself.
We considered ourselves to be as one. Partly out of necessity-- twins are considered a curse, where we came from. He was meant to be killed when we were born, but Mother hid him instead.
[Maybe it's the years of hiding his existence that led to wanting to be able to speak of him now-- maybe it's just reminiscence now that he's dead. Either way, she's probably the only person who'll hear this from Shirasu.]
I was able to fulfill the desires he couldn't, being unable to come out of hiding-- and he had what I couldn't have, myself. Together, we were whole.
[ Well that's messed up! Somehow it's difficult for her to wrap her head around problems beyond the ones she's used to. The world is scary enough when it's just her own ordinary world, but things like thinking twins are cursed and the tradition is killing one... ]
You were the one that wasn't in hiding. What... Did he have that you didn't?
[Welcome to the messed up backstory, Akane, it doesn't get much better. He's quiet a moment before answering.]
...After I had my rite of passage, Mother was always more attached to him. He's the one who had her love, and I was the only one of us who could fully join the clan.
[Another brief pause, there.]
But when we put an end to the rites, we did it together. We've both been the clan head for a little over a decade.
[ Or, wanted to be one. Akane, maybe don't make remarks like that to someone who has killed and is doing you the favor of being willing to help you kill. ]
... That's what's important though, right? That in the end, you're the ones who get to be in charge.
[Fortunately, he likes Akane? That comment startles a faint laugh from him, and he shakes his head.]
...I suppose we both were. But yes, you're right about that. The old Head was more concerned with himself than with revitalizing the clan-- he'd have left us in decline to preserve his own power. He killed anyone who dared challenge that, turned us against each other so only the most exceptional were left to serve him. There was much to do to try to rebuild, after his rule.
[There's more distaste when Shirasu speaks of him than there has been before, even when speaking about people he dislikes here.]
What I failed in doing was ensuring things changed to suit us. Bringing back an era in which we would thrive, rather than continue to fade. I lost a number of our people, including Isame-- and I was brought here right after.
[So, you know, he has basically not been okay at literally any point in the last 5 weeks! Great.]
As the remaining Head, it's my responsibility to try to change the results of that error, but if I can at least reverse his death...
-no, it was recent. The plans had been made over the last ten years. There shouldn't have been any flaws when it all came to fruition, and yet--
[An irritated exhale, there. Maybe he shouldn't have been surprised that family could put a stop to it, but the failure (and its consequences) still sting.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-07-08 12:56 am (UTC)[he's sure been there.
in the meantime, though, the other cat wanders over to Akane-- a little hesitant, but still there to investigate her.]
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Date: 2019-07-08 01:05 am (UTC)Akane rolls over onto her back but doesn't make a move towards that second cat. It can come hang out if it wants to. ]
... Anyway. Namine is earth. Valvatorez-san is fire, or Minato-kun. You for water...? Maybe Julius-kun for air. Ugh.
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Date: 2019-07-08 01:41 am (UTC)[He watches the white cat investigating her as he speaks-- close up, it's clearer it has differently colored eyes, one of which is clouded. After she rolls over, it just lays down next to her, seemingly content with her company, and he sounds amused when he continues.]
... it's a shame cats don't count. You're the only person Isame's liked so far, besides myself.
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Date: 2019-07-08 01:43 am (UTC)[ Hope you like having Akane just. Laying on the floor. This is where she lives, now. ]
Really? They seem so friendly.
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Date: 2019-07-08 02:24 am (UTC)[Akane can live on the floor as long as she wants, and the cats will just chill there, tbh.]
My brother always was a little difficult in that regard.
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Date: 2019-07-08 02:31 am (UTC)You have a brother?
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Date: 2019-07-08 02:35 am (UTC)[It's still a little hard to correct himself to past tense, but he manages.]
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Date: 2019-07-08 02:41 am (UTC)... Were you close?
[ Akane is an only child, so she doesn't really know how having siblings... Works...? Can you be... Not close? ]
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Date: 2019-07-08 02:50 am (UTC)[Maybe it's the years of hiding his existence that led to wanting to be able to speak of him now-- maybe it's just reminiscence now that he's dead. Either way, she's probably the only person who'll hear this from Shirasu.]
I was able to fulfill the desires he couldn't, being unable to come out of hiding-- and he had what I couldn't have, myself. Together, we were whole.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 03:07 am (UTC)You were the one that wasn't in hiding. What... Did he have that you didn't?
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Date: 2019-07-08 03:13 am (UTC)...After I had my rite of passage, Mother was always more attached to him. He's the one who had her love, and I was the only one of us who could fully join the clan.
[Another brief pause, there.]
But when we put an end to the rites, we did it together. We've both been the clan head for a little over a decade.
[given that he's only 26 now? yeah.]
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Date: 2019-07-08 10:53 pm (UTC)[ Or, wanted to be one. Akane, maybe don't make remarks like that to someone who has killed and is doing you the favor of being willing to help you kill. ]
... That's what's important though, right? That in the end, you're the ones who get to be in charge.
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Date: 2019-07-09 12:03 am (UTC)...I suppose we both were. But yes, you're right about that. The old Head was more concerned with himself than with revitalizing the clan-- he'd have left us in decline to preserve his own power. He killed anyone who dared challenge that, turned us against each other so only the most exceptional were left to serve him. There was much to do to try to rebuild, after his rule.
[There's more distaste when Shirasu speaks of him than there has been before, even when speaking about people he dislikes here.]
What I failed in doing was ensuring things changed to suit us. Bringing back an era in which we would thrive, rather than continue to fade. I lost a number of our people, including Isame-- and I was brought here right after.
[So, you know, he has basically not been okay at literally any point in the last 5 weeks! Great.]
As the remaining Head, it's my responsibility to try to change the results of that error, but if I can at least reverse his death...
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Date: 2019-07-09 02:28 am (UTC)[ She does not really understand this, obviously, but she does automatically sympathize with Shirasu. ]
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Date: 2019-07-09 02:32 am (UTC)[An irritated exhale, there. Maybe he shouldn't have been surprised that family could put a stop to it, but the failure (and its consequences) still sting.]
And yet here we are, I suppose.
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Date: 2019-07-09 02:34 am (UTC)[ Either because there shouldn't have been any flaws or because he wound up here right after. ]
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Date: 2019-07-09 02:41 am (UTC)[Another slight shake of his head, there. There were other factors, but--
He's already shared a lot. It's difficult to want to keep going.]
It seems to have continued here, at least.