丸井ブン太 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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synergetic2023-10-01 06:36 pm
volleygenius) wrote in synergetic2023-10-01 06:36 pm
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Prince of Fire Emblem: Calm Before the Storm
The sunset that bounced light off the fire opal of Lissa's ring has long disappeared, overtaken by the melancholy night. A cool breeze prefaces the mass of storm clouds on the horizon, steadily rolling towards the castle and swallowing the stars. Bunta exhales into a gum bubble as he gazes at the moon from his recline against the roof of the Kuwahara inn. A lot happened today.
"Hey," he prompts his companion. "Today's meeting... What did you make of it?"
It's deliberately an open question. Jackal has always complemented him so well, strong where he was weak. Picking up the ball wherever Bunta happened to drop it. That meeting had a lot to unpack in it. For all that Bunta saw and responded to in it, there would be just as many things Jackal saw and reacted to, and with only partial overlap. It would be good to get his perspective of things.
"Hey," he prompts his companion. "Today's meeting... What did you make of it?"
It's deliberately an open question. Jackal has always complemented him so well, strong where he was weak. Picking up the ball wherever Bunta happened to drop it. That meeting had a lot to unpack in it. For all that Bunta saw and responded to in it, there would be just as many things Jackal saw and reacted to, and with only partial overlap. It would be good to get his perspective of things.
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"She can't have two!"
Could she? He'd heard things... about the Valentians... and the Nohrians...
Jackal took a deep breath to try and get back on track.
"What are you going to do for the king, then?"
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Sitting back up, Bunta offers him an easy smile, and returns that punch to the arm.
"That's it."
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Punch him...? He'd almost like to see Bunta try... Yukimura would eat him alive, once for lunch and once for dessert.
"What do you want me to do, then?"
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"We support each other, like always, right?"
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"That much goes without saying..."
He would watch and wait for the moment Bunta needed defense. Waiting for whatever he did to rebound on him.
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"...I don't think pretending is what Yukimura-kun really wants me to do."
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His full attention immediately goes to Bunta.
"What did he tell you? And what do you really think?"
A little apprehension sneaks in, but Jackal isn't fearful.
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"Nothing the rest of the room didn't hear. Just..."
Just what? How do you translate a message that lacks words?
"This protects Lissa, is what he said. What if he's thinking he might not be able to himself much longer?"
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"I..." comes out before he can stop it.
Jackal falters, trying to parse that.
"Yukimura's the strongest person I know, even if you discount him being the king," he said, slowly. "If he couldn't protect her, I... would he even still be himself?"
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A long, dark silence falls, because Jackal has nothing to say to that.
"Even when he was first healthy again, he... It was good to see the way he moved, but he wasn't moving like himself. Not at all."
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It's a thought that makes his chest feel numb and cold inside. The man they all loved more than air was like a ghost, even when he stood right in front of them.
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"...The timing is too..."
Jackal can feel his stomach dropping.
"We let Mizuki off too easy."
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"What do you mean?"
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"I mean I think we were played," Jackal said, calm, but with anger starting to thread in between his words. "Mizuki and his miracle cure is... is where the change started, right? He was different while he was sick, but not the way he is now. He was angry, but he wasn't..."
He was running out of words, he thought ruefully. Or he just didn't want to put any to the guilt he was starting to feel. Because their job had been to give Yukimura the information he needed to make the decision soundly, and they'd failed.
"His anger made sense, there were reasons for it. There's no reason for him to be so... careless with us and the princess. What's... what is it that he's struggling with? What's... imprisoning him?"
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The questions it was raising, though, those were a distraction as far as Bunta was concerned. Reaching out, he plants a companionable, steadying hand on Jackal's shoulder.
"Well, what we should focus on is what we can do about it. Let's leave the diagnosis to Yanagi. What's our strength? How can we support him? That's the question we should answer."
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He smiles in spite of everything. Part of him feels guilty for it, but he feels like he can deal with this happening to Yukimura better than he could with Bunta-- if it only because it meant Bunta was on his side to do it with him.
"Those are questions I should be asking you. You're the one he's giving new responsibilities to."
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"I already know what I'm doing, though."
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"I don't think I'll know what I need to do until it's time do it," he said honestly. "Or until I see what you do first."
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The air doesn't last. Remembering the promise he made, and what it meant, is bittersweet. It's a loss of its own flavor to displace Yukimura from his status as Bunta's Most Important Person, and that change is one he's still working through. Grief isn't regret, though, and his conviction that this is the right choice, true both to Yukimura's wishes and to his own values, keeps his expression steady and his voice confident.
Subconsciously, his fingertips gently curl against the firm muscle in Jackal's shoulder anyway.
"I'm gonna do this properly, Jackal. Being a fiancé."
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Jackal looks at him over the same shoulder, almost contemplative.
"Neither the princess nor the king deserve less," he said, still a little confused. "I mean, are you going to act like you're really in love with her? Does she know that?"
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"No, I don't think there's going to be any confusion about that. But..."
Awkwardness stops him from finishing that sentence. His smile relaxes, and becomes a little wistful.
"Well, in all likelihood it won't change anything. Yukimura-kun already looks out for her more than anyone. I'm just the failsafe, right?"
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"Yukimura has no weaknesses, and no need of failsafes," Jackal corrected. "If he gave you a task, it's because he had perfect faith in you."
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So he doesn't. He meets Jackal's eyes and lets his grin grow back to its usual wild confidence.
"As he should."