Beating back the tide...
Who: Kyle and Watari
What: A discussion on darkness
Where: someplace in Budehuc
When: Before Kyle's conversation with Alenia
Warnings: Depressing subject matter
Kyle: I feel your pain, Watari. Really, I do. *sighs*
Watari: It's all right. I should have expected it. I'm very out of practice. *sighs*
Kyle: Oh hey, I don't think we've ever talked. *offers hand* Kyle, Queen's Knight.
Watari: *shakes the hand, then bows* Watari, baker.
Kyle: Woah, you fight and bake? That's some serious diversification of skills.
Watari: *shrugged* I don't get to many job offers around here for my... fighting, so I needed another source of income.
Kyle: Point. So, you're a mercenary like Geddoe?
Watari: Of a kind.
Kyle: *takes in the ninja's usual dark attire and mask* ...of a deadly kind?
Watari: Glad I don't have to explain.
Kyle: *nods* We had some people in our army that were like ninjas? They didn't wear the dark clothing but you didn't mess with them.
Watari: Nor you Queen's Knights, from what I have heard.
Kyle: *grins* We get by. We all got different skills that balance each other out.
Watari: Though I also heard it didn't do much against Skald. The Admiral is skilled for his age.
Kyle: Well, he flipped me into a fencepost and it got me in the chest. Even through the armor, that's all it took. That's where I got hacked by Luca.
Watari: It seems many people suffered wounds in that battle. I arrived after it, I'm afraid.
Kyle: *nod* You missed a hell of a fight. *rubs the back of his neck* The way I hear it, I'm lucky I'm still here. So I'll take a little weakness in the chest to not feeling anything at all.
Watari: True enough. *quotes* Pain is good, it means you're alive.
Kyle: Well then I'm alive enough for this whole damn village.
Watari: *actually lets out a laugh/snort at that* You set half the castle on edge when Skald arrived and we found out he was Bernadette's father.
Kyle: Why? Were people afraid he was going to hurt me?
Watari: Yes. Parents are rather hard to deal with. *keeps to himself the parents he dealt with are the ones where he's been ordered to take out a family and they're protecting the kids..... he shudders at that, beating back the rattling of the chains of that cold part of him*
Kyle: Nah, Skald's okay. He's pretty cool, in a loopy sort of way. I haven't had any parents in forever, so she's lucky.
Watari: I suppose.
Kyle: So, what's your story? Everybody's got one to end up here, seems like. If you don't mind telling?
Watari: *well, most people from the war know, so eh, why not?* I'm being hunted by my former Clan. I'm here to seek sanctuary, and it's partially worked so far.
Kyle: Oh, this former clan, they don't like people who haul ass?
Watari: 'Haul ass'?
Kyle: Desert, I mean.
Watari: Ah - no, they don't. They also don't like it that I have several of their heads lined up on my kill list. Their own fault, really.
Kyle: Ah. So you don't screw around with a sword, do you?
Watari: They should know. They're the ones that made me into what I am.... was.
Kyle: *notices that difference* So...you're trying to fight some darkness too, hunh?
Watari: Sometimes I think it's beat. And then... and then they show up and I'm not so sure.
Kyle: Wait a second...this sounds familiar. This isn't that group that jumped Geddoe, was it?
Watari: One and the same.
Watari: Their formal name is the Kage.
Kyle: The Kah-gay? *working out the pronunciation* Damn.
Watari: In my tongue, it means 'shadow'. But yes, they are the group I was from and the one that tried to take out Geddoe and is still after my head.
Kyle: So this Shadow can cause a lot of people some grief. Hunh. Well, you're in the right place.
Watari: Have cause grief. Will, do, can. *shrugs* I did.
Kyle: Yeah. But it's "did" not "doing." Maybe your Shadow got you, but you escaped.
Watari: Not quite. Not if they know where I am. *shakes his head and rubs his temples, quieting the rattling of chains*
Kyle: Hey, your head botherin' you?
Watari: Hmm, no, it's all right. Just some bad memories... some bad dreams.
Kyle: So...you got it too.
Watari: It?
Kyle: That thing in the back of your head that just...sits there. Waiting for you to drop your guard.
Watari: Ah, yes. That.
Kyle: *lets a long relieved breath* So I'm not crazy.
Watari: Why would you think that?
Kyle: Because no one I've seen around me seems to have that monkey on their back, so I thought I was just "special" that way.
Watari: Hardly. *pauses* I actually don't know how I developed... 'that monkey on my back', as you say.
Kyle: I put even money on your training. So then you just have to hold it check, right?
Watari: Sort of. It's easier when Kinnison's around.
Kyle: Oh a friend of yours?
Watari: Of a sort, yes.
Kyle: *opens his mouth and then has to think about that* ...you mean how like Geddoe and Sigurd are "good friends"?
Watari: I am so glad you're one of the smart ones here.
Kyle: *laughing*
Watari: *arches a brow, but beneath his mask there's a tiny smile starting*
Kyle: Yer all right, Watari. *grin*
Watari: As are you. *pauses* If you don't mind me asking... do you also have control of the... 'monkey'?
Kyle: I...*sobers*...not really. I mean, I'm lucky because you can't really tell I have one.
Watari: It might not be my place to offer advice but... well, do you ever have strange dreams? They can be indicators of what the problem really is, to an extent.
Kyle: Well...you got some time, man?
Watari: Enough. Should I sit down for this?
Kyle: Yeah, probably. *takes a seat himself*
Watari: *seats himself, tucking his calves beneath him and looking at Kyle with his one visible eye*
Kyle: After Luca hurt me and I was recovering, I started having flashes of memory. They became really sharp whenever I grabbed a sword.
Watari: Logically.
Kyle: I'm not sure if what I did next was smart, but I tried to hang onto a sword as long as I could to see what my head was trying to remember. I went on a little trip north with no one around to clear my head.
Watari: Ah, that span of time you were gone and Bernadette seemed rather distressed?
Kyle: *nods* I just had to try to get my head straight. And I found out I have this darkness...do you know what a rip tide is?
Watari: In theory, I suppose. I've ever seen or experienced one.
Kyle: People who usually drown in the ocean and big lakes, anything with breaking waves, get pulled by rip tides. It's this current that's really fast and heads toward the water, away from the shore.
Kyle: They get caught in this thing and panic and try to fight it and it's physically impossible to swim against it. Once it has you, you're pushed along.
Kyle: That's what this thing is in me. My rip tide.
Kyle: The only way to escape an actual rip tide is to swim parallel to the shore until you break through the current. I'm not sure what I can do myself to equate that in my head.
Watari: Mine, is sort of like that. Different, but like it.
Kyle: Really? I've got it to the point that if I use my glaive, I'm fine, but if I just wrap my hand around any sword, it slowly starts to carry me along.
Watari: Mine depends on the situations I'm in, to be honest. And I was lucky. I had dreams, so I figured out a way to push it back.
Kyle: *nods* I know enough that I've really let it loose twice in my life. And when it's loose, people die. *matter of fact* Although... each time involved avenging someone close to me.
Kyle: I think it came loose -because- someone died.
Kyle: But now it kind of sits there all the time. I don't know if it's because I'm old enough to try taking it on or if it's changing...
Watari: Hope for change. For years I was trapped in mind, chained beneath a sea of blood. Forcing my way to the surface was... painful.
Watari: But...I'm glad for the change.
Kyle: ...I guess I should be thankful that my killings could be seen as justified. But I don't think I can be so lucky a third time. So I have to figure out what my limits are and what it does. And I have no idea how to do that.
Watari: Have you tried self analysis and meditation?
Kyle: That's what the trip was in a way. I don't usually do that a lot so I'm not sure how well I did. I know that there's -something- that shows in my eyes when I'm caught by the rip tide. That's the only clue I have that I'm in serious trouble.
Kyle: I don't want to never use a sword again but it's too dangerous for me to try to use now. So I'm kinda stuck.
Watari: Never using a sword might actually only make the problem worse.
Kyle: *steeples his hands over the bridge of his nose, eyes worried* I know. But what can I do?
Watari: Have you attempted to fight with someone USING the sword?
Kyle: Not since I found out I have a rip tide, no.
Watari: Well, then you'll never figure out what's wrong.
Kyle: But what if I hurt that person because I can't control it?
Watari: Then choose someone who is your equal or better, someone who can knock you out of it, or otherwise escape the situation.
Kyle: *nods* ....hey. You're probably pretty good at disarming people, right?
Watari: More or less. I favor surprise attacks, but that does involve disarmament, yes.
Kyle: *puts his hands together and inclines his head toward the ninja* -Please- help me.
Watari: *looks at him very seriously* If you loose control, I will not guarantee your safety.
Watari: If you understand that, I'll spar with you.
Kyle: -Yes.- Yes I understand. I would have asked Geddoe for this but...I sparred with him and I actually won. And I found out he's no where near as agile as me.
Watari: Now the question is when do you wish to do this? I personally think the sooner the better.
Kyle: Starting tomorrow? I...I don't want to be anyone's burden or put anyone at risk. What if I'm put into a position that I can't use my glaive? I'd have to use a sword and things could go wrong.
Watari: I can spar tomorrow. I usually spar in the mornings, if you can handle that.
Kyle: Yes, sir!
Watari: *nods* I usually work in the dojo, but I think we'll move this outside. Meet me in the field next to the dojo tomorrow morning.
Kyle: Thank you, Watari. Thank you.
Watari: We'll see if you thank me. *rises* If you'll excuse me, Kyle, I need to get to the bakery. I'd feel guilty if I left Wyatt with a swarm of those girls and their ludicrous orders.
Kyle: Ludicrous orders? Like what?
Watari: They order massive amounts of treats for their little parties, and want them in like an hour when we have six others with about the same. They usually order the same, so we have trays prepared, but still. *shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, briefly revealing his duel scars over his eyes* And we have special order cakes we need to do as well.
Kyle: *wisely does not comment about the scars* Wow, that is pretty crazy. I'll -gladly- let you get back to that. And I'll be ready tomorrow morning.
Watari: *sort of gives him a look, but doesn't be mean about it* See you then, Kyle. *rises, bows, and heads off to work*
What: A discussion on darkness
Where: someplace in Budehuc
When: Before Kyle's conversation with Alenia
Warnings: Depressing subject matter
Kyle: I feel your pain, Watari. Really, I do. *sighs*
Watari: It's all right. I should have expected it. I'm very out of practice. *sighs*
Kyle: Oh hey, I don't think we've ever talked. *offers hand* Kyle, Queen's Knight.
Watari: *shakes the hand, then bows* Watari, baker.
Kyle: Woah, you fight and bake? That's some serious diversification of skills.
Watari: *shrugged* I don't get to many job offers around here for my... fighting, so I needed another source of income.
Kyle: Point. So, you're a mercenary like Geddoe?
Watari: Of a kind.
Kyle: *takes in the ninja's usual dark attire and mask* ...of a deadly kind?
Watari: Glad I don't have to explain.
Kyle: *nods* We had some people in our army that were like ninjas? They didn't wear the dark clothing but you didn't mess with them.
Watari: Nor you Queen's Knights, from what I have heard.
Kyle: *grins* We get by. We all got different skills that balance each other out.
Watari: Though I also heard it didn't do much against Skald. The Admiral is skilled for his age.
Kyle: Well, he flipped me into a fencepost and it got me in the chest. Even through the armor, that's all it took. That's where I got hacked by Luca.
Watari: It seems many people suffered wounds in that battle. I arrived after it, I'm afraid.
Kyle: *nod* You missed a hell of a fight. *rubs the back of his neck* The way I hear it, I'm lucky I'm still here. So I'll take a little weakness in the chest to not feeling anything at all.
Watari: True enough. *quotes* Pain is good, it means you're alive.
Kyle: Well then I'm alive enough for this whole damn village.
Watari: *actually lets out a laugh/snort at that* You set half the castle on edge when Skald arrived and we found out he was Bernadette's father.
Kyle: Why? Were people afraid he was going to hurt me?
Watari: Yes. Parents are rather hard to deal with. *keeps to himself the parents he dealt with are the ones where he's been ordered to take out a family and they're protecting the kids..... he shudders at that, beating back the rattling of the chains of that cold part of him*
Kyle: Nah, Skald's okay. He's pretty cool, in a loopy sort of way. I haven't had any parents in forever, so she's lucky.
Watari: I suppose.
Kyle: So, what's your story? Everybody's got one to end up here, seems like. If you don't mind telling?
Watari: *well, most people from the war know, so eh, why not?* I'm being hunted by my former Clan. I'm here to seek sanctuary, and it's partially worked so far.
Kyle: Oh, this former clan, they don't like people who haul ass?
Watari: 'Haul ass'?
Kyle: Desert, I mean.
Watari: Ah - no, they don't. They also don't like it that I have several of their heads lined up on my kill list. Their own fault, really.
Kyle: Ah. So you don't screw around with a sword, do you?
Watari: They should know. They're the ones that made me into what I am.... was.
Kyle: *notices that difference* So...you're trying to fight some darkness too, hunh?
Watari: Sometimes I think it's beat. And then... and then they show up and I'm not so sure.
Kyle: Wait a second...this sounds familiar. This isn't that group that jumped Geddoe, was it?
Watari: One and the same.
Watari: Their formal name is the Kage.
Kyle: The Kah-gay? *working out the pronunciation* Damn.
Watari: In my tongue, it means 'shadow'. But yes, they are the group I was from and the one that tried to take out Geddoe and is still after my head.
Kyle: So this Shadow can cause a lot of people some grief. Hunh. Well, you're in the right place.
Watari: Have cause grief. Will, do, can. *shrugs* I did.
Kyle: Yeah. But it's "did" not "doing." Maybe your Shadow got you, but you escaped.
Watari: Not quite. Not if they know where I am. *shakes his head and rubs his temples, quieting the rattling of chains*
Kyle: Hey, your head botherin' you?
Watari: Hmm, no, it's all right. Just some bad memories... some bad dreams.
Kyle: So...you got it too.
Watari: It?
Kyle: That thing in the back of your head that just...sits there. Waiting for you to drop your guard.
Watari: Ah, yes. That.
Kyle: *lets a long relieved breath* So I'm not crazy.
Watari: Why would you think that?
Kyle: Because no one I've seen around me seems to have that monkey on their back, so I thought I was just "special" that way.
Watari: Hardly. *pauses* I actually don't know how I developed... 'that monkey on my back', as you say.
Kyle: I put even money on your training. So then you just have to hold it check, right?
Watari: Sort of. It's easier when Kinnison's around.
Kyle: Oh a friend of yours?
Watari: Of a sort, yes.
Kyle: *opens his mouth and then has to think about that* ...you mean how like Geddoe and Sigurd are "good friends"?
Watari: I am so glad you're one of the smart ones here.
Kyle: *laughing*
Watari: *arches a brow, but beneath his mask there's a tiny smile starting*
Kyle: Yer all right, Watari. *grin*
Watari: As are you. *pauses* If you don't mind me asking... do you also have control of the... 'monkey'?
Kyle: I...*sobers*...not really. I mean, I'm lucky because you can't really tell I have one.
Watari: It might not be my place to offer advice but... well, do you ever have strange dreams? They can be indicators of what the problem really is, to an extent.
Kyle: Well...you got some time, man?
Watari: Enough. Should I sit down for this?
Kyle: Yeah, probably. *takes a seat himself*
Watari: *seats himself, tucking his calves beneath him and looking at Kyle with his one visible eye*
Kyle: After Luca hurt me and I was recovering, I started having flashes of memory. They became really sharp whenever I grabbed a sword.
Watari: Logically.
Kyle: I'm not sure if what I did next was smart, but I tried to hang onto a sword as long as I could to see what my head was trying to remember. I went on a little trip north with no one around to clear my head.
Watari: Ah, that span of time you were gone and Bernadette seemed rather distressed?
Kyle: *nods* I just had to try to get my head straight. And I found out I have this darkness...do you know what a rip tide is?
Watari: In theory, I suppose. I've ever seen or experienced one.
Kyle: People who usually drown in the ocean and big lakes, anything with breaking waves, get pulled by rip tides. It's this current that's really fast and heads toward the water, away from the shore.
Kyle: They get caught in this thing and panic and try to fight it and it's physically impossible to swim against it. Once it has you, you're pushed along.
Kyle: That's what this thing is in me. My rip tide.
Kyle: The only way to escape an actual rip tide is to swim parallel to the shore until you break through the current. I'm not sure what I can do myself to equate that in my head.
Watari: Mine, is sort of like that. Different, but like it.
Kyle: Really? I've got it to the point that if I use my glaive, I'm fine, but if I just wrap my hand around any sword, it slowly starts to carry me along.
Watari: Mine depends on the situations I'm in, to be honest. And I was lucky. I had dreams, so I figured out a way to push it back.
Kyle: *nods* I know enough that I've really let it loose twice in my life. And when it's loose, people die. *matter of fact* Although... each time involved avenging someone close to me.
Kyle: I think it came loose -because- someone died.
Kyle: But now it kind of sits there all the time. I don't know if it's because I'm old enough to try taking it on or if it's changing...
Watari: Hope for change. For years I was trapped in mind, chained beneath a sea of blood. Forcing my way to the surface was... painful.
Watari: But...I'm glad for the change.
Kyle: ...I guess I should be thankful that my killings could be seen as justified. But I don't think I can be so lucky a third time. So I have to figure out what my limits are and what it does. And I have no idea how to do that.
Watari: Have you tried self analysis and meditation?
Kyle: That's what the trip was in a way. I don't usually do that a lot so I'm not sure how well I did. I know that there's -something- that shows in my eyes when I'm caught by the rip tide. That's the only clue I have that I'm in serious trouble.
Kyle: I don't want to never use a sword again but it's too dangerous for me to try to use now. So I'm kinda stuck.
Watari: Never using a sword might actually only make the problem worse.
Kyle: *steeples his hands over the bridge of his nose, eyes worried* I know. But what can I do?
Watari: Have you attempted to fight with someone USING the sword?
Kyle: Not since I found out I have a rip tide, no.
Watari: Well, then you'll never figure out what's wrong.
Kyle: But what if I hurt that person because I can't control it?
Watari: Then choose someone who is your equal or better, someone who can knock you out of it, or otherwise escape the situation.
Kyle: *nods* ....hey. You're probably pretty good at disarming people, right?
Watari: More or less. I favor surprise attacks, but that does involve disarmament, yes.
Kyle: *puts his hands together and inclines his head toward the ninja* -Please- help me.
Watari: *looks at him very seriously* If you loose control, I will not guarantee your safety.
Watari: If you understand that, I'll spar with you.
Kyle: -Yes.- Yes I understand. I would have asked Geddoe for this but...I sparred with him and I actually won. And I found out he's no where near as agile as me.
Watari: Now the question is when do you wish to do this? I personally think the sooner the better.
Kyle: Starting tomorrow? I...I don't want to be anyone's burden or put anyone at risk. What if I'm put into a position that I can't use my glaive? I'd have to use a sword and things could go wrong.
Watari: I can spar tomorrow. I usually spar in the mornings, if you can handle that.
Kyle: Yes, sir!
Watari: *nods* I usually work in the dojo, but I think we'll move this outside. Meet me in the field next to the dojo tomorrow morning.
Kyle: Thank you, Watari. Thank you.
Watari: We'll see if you thank me. *rises* If you'll excuse me, Kyle, I need to get to the bakery. I'd feel guilty if I left Wyatt with a swarm of those girls and their ludicrous orders.
Kyle: Ludicrous orders? Like what?
Watari: They order massive amounts of treats for their little parties, and want them in like an hour when we have six others with about the same. They usually order the same, so we have trays prepared, but still. *shakes his head and runs a hand through his hair, briefly revealing his duel scars over his eyes* And we have special order cakes we need to do as well.
Kyle: *wisely does not comment about the scars* Wow, that is pretty crazy. I'll -gladly- let you get back to that. And I'll be ready tomorrow morning.
Watari: *sort of gives him a look, but doesn't be mean about it* See you then, Kyle. *rises, bows, and heads off to work*