USER: #A5211F - BACK & DEFENSE FORCE

[swordfucker]

(color)

First thing's first: I heard we got another batch of people while I was missing. Sorry I couldn't help out. If any of you still have any questions, maybe I can help answer some of them.

My name's Guren Ichinose, leader of the Defense force here. It's a group made to protect all of us in this town, and to work together towards getting home. If you're interested in joining, message me. For those of you already in it, our meeting will be later this month to make up for my absence.

I was missing for a few days. I can barely remember what happened, but I do remember someone else mentioning something similar before. I wandered into the forest in a daze, apparently, and came back a few days later without my shoes. I don't remember what happened in the forest, but I do remember more things that happened back home. You can ask me questions about it, if you want, but I'm fine.

I'm sorry for any of you I worried. And for anyone I let down.

Also, Yuu's not here anymore. It's not letting me send any messages, so he must have gone home. That's all.

[Gets back from a canon update and immediately goes to work... Of course. This is how he copes. He's not having a good time.]

(ooc: Anyway! For new and old players alike, if you want to join the defense force, just send me a message! List is here that I try to keep updated, and I will refresh/swap up the squads at the next meeting which I've moved to later in the month to let more new players join in! Another thing coming up with that will be training match ups that will not require you to be in the force. I THINK THAT'S IT but let me know if you have any questions!)

Comments

[withwisdom]

I'm well enough despite the weather shift starting to take a toll. I could do without the mirrors, but comparatively there have been worse things to happen.

[ like sirens, werewolves, starvation as directed by birds - a mirror that talks back isn't too bad. ]

Someone from my realm just arrived recently actually. If he deigns to join the guard, do treat him well.

[swordfucker]

Don't say that or worse will come.

But really? Who's that?

[withwisdom]

That's only superstition, but fine.

His name is Link. You saw him in one of my memories, remember?

[swordfucker]

Oh, right. Your boyfriend. The one you said I was like.

[He's wording it like that to Tease, see, he's fine]

[withwisdom]

[ YELLS ]

I'm glad to see you're well enough to type with your bottom on the keyboard! It must take a lot of work to do but you always manage well!

[ god she hopes link doesn't see this, this is advanced rudeness ]

[swordfucker]

Hahaha.

But seriously, Zelda. There's something I need to talk to you about in person. When are you free?

[withwisdom]

Closer to the evening would be better.

[ he's a huge pain as ever, but when he's serious he means it. ]

[swordfucker]

I have someone I'm meeting with at sunset for defense force things, but I can message you when I'm done with that and we can meet somewhere.

[He's very aware she might not want to come to his place anymore, so.]

[withwisdom]

[ yeah, she's not quite there yet and she appreciates it. ]

Maybe town hall? I can bring some lanterns so we aren't in darkness.

[swordfucker]

Sounds good. We can ignore the mirrors. I'll message you when I'm ready.

[withwisdom]

Acknowledged.

[ she hopes it's nothing too dire. ]

[swordfucker]

[So, time passes, and only after he's done with his meeting and finished enough on his post does he message Zelda.]

I'm heading there now.

[And, without waiting for an answer, he does. He's got spare shoes on, so at least he had that, and a winter jacket and scarf over his uniform to help with the cold. He's waiting inside, leaning against a wall, arms crossed, eyes closed.]

[withwisdom]

[ and zelda comes not so long after, lantern lit as she travels down to the hall. she peeks inside the dark building, only vaguely illuminated by the moon, and the lantern quickly helps her spot his tall figure. he actually came ahead of her for once! ...that may not be a good thing though. ]

Guren, it's me.

[swordfucker]

[It takes him a few seconds, a noticeable delay as he stirs and opens his eyes like it's nothing, glancing over her way.]

Hey, Zelda.

[Uncrossing his arms, he stands up away from the wall, doing a quick glance over to make sure she really is doing okay. Their mirrors can be ignored— he doesn't pay them any mind.]

Sorry to call you out in the cold.

[withwisdom]

[ ...did he fall asleep? no, she must be imagining things. ]

It's no trouble.

[ she takes a step forward and stops, her eyes darting down as she feels something underneath her boot. it's the mirror of course and she just carefully pushes it away in a slide with the side of her foot. bothersome thing away, she looks back up at him. ]

What do you need?

[swordfucker]

I'll cut right to the chase. It's about the defense force.

[He doesn't say anything about how he'd been just moments ago, placing a hand on his hip and focusing on what he needs to say, instead.]

If anything happens to me again, like I disappear, or I turn into a statue— I want you to decide what happens to the force. You can take care of it for me, or end it, or whatever you want.

But if you'll accept that responsibility, I want to leave it to you.

[withwisdom]

...

[ she sighs, and brings a hand up to rub her brow with the tips of her fingers. ]

You could stand to not be so straight-forward sometimes.

[ which is her way of saying she didn't expect this at all. ]

[swordfucker]

I didn't want to bother anyone with this, so I didn't say anything. I wasn't any sort of exception, though. I vanished, just like anyone could.

[He sighs, rubbing at his head with his free hand.]

Sorry. I know it's a lot. But I know you can handle a lot, too.

[withwisdom]

[ she lets her hand go back down to her side as she looks to him again, gaze more stern than before. ]

It isn't a lot. It's practically everything. I feel like I'm being named second-in-command in the event the first is killed.

[ or vanishes, rather. still the feeling carries the same connotation. ]

...If you're serious about this, you should put it in writing. I rather not go in front of a large gathering without some backing that is this your wish. Though I'll tell you now, the force isn't going to disband even if you aren't around.

[swordfucker]

[Silently, he pulls a folded paper out of his jacket and passes it over to her. Sure enough, written in his signature color from his quill, is a formal declaration of him letting Zelda decide and asking everyone to go with her decision.]

I made it back, so maybe I won't wander off again. But we can't be sure. It's an option for you to decide and communicate. I won't force you to hold meetings or lead a group of so many kids. So handle it however you want, if that time comes. That's all I'm asking.

[He sighs.] You're the only one who I think is ready to handle something like this, if it happens. I hope you never have to.

[withwisdom]

[ maybe she shouldn't be surprised that he already prepared such a note, but she is. she takes it without reading and she feels certain that she won't open it unless the time comes that she must. thinking about not seeing guren again... it hurts in a way she can't describe.

still the way he sighs as he talks about it makes her smile a little. ]

I appreciate your trust, truly Guren. So don't make it sound like a burden to carry upon.

[swordfucker]

Why not?

[At least Zelda was able to smile, but Guren still looks tired, and his grumpy act pushes through to make it a little lighter, instead. He waves his hand in the air.]

It's a pain in the ass. You have to babysit a bunch of kids, and adults who act like kids.

[withwisdom]

[ hmm! ]

If that's how you feel, then just hand it over to me right now. You can finally go have a nap if you do.

[ what a wonderful dream to aspire to. ]

[swordfucker]

Haha. No way, it's mine.

[He tries to sound like a child with that, waving his hand some more before he drops it away.]

Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. You can go back to whatever else you were up to.