audience: nico di angelo

[becomemod]

Comments

[resumed]

Believe me, Will and I are probably going to keep going over it tonight and probably tomorrow. [ this is half-mumbled into the couch, but he's still looking at them. ]

...I thought staying with Will again would at least stop it, but they managed to grab him, too. So I haven't figured out why this is happening. And this time, the other group of people were taken somewhere else entirely. I don't get it. Unless the man in the moon is causing all of this so we can get his clues and solve his dumb riddles.

[ he means the man in white, but still. ]

[becomemod]

Don't work too hard. You need to rest, too.

[ balance in all things, nico. ]

Maybe it's something to test your heroism. [ that's a joke. a bad one, but a joke. ] I don't know if that's simple, though. We didn't find any pages when it happened to us - only after the big battle.

[resumed]

I've rested, like, twice since we've been back. That's pretty good for me. [ gremlin child. ]

All things considered I would believe that. So far it's been consistent that every group who goes finds something. Now it's up to us to share and hope the information doesn't fall in the wrong hands. Easier said than done.

[ and here, he is just...staring at them critically for a second. ]

[becomemod]

Is that enough for Will?

Easier said than done. [ echoing him, because phoenix agrees. ] So how do you plan to proceed?

[resumed]

Of course not. [ now you see here, he doesn't always have to listen to will!! usually. god. ]

I'm still deciding. I'm going to share the notes with anybody I think needs to see them and might not have yet. Go back over the evidence for Satan and see what we may have missed from other people. And prepare for whatever next week is because it's bound to be annoying.

[ he pauses again, and this time he kind of pushes himself up a little to be more upright. ]

...can I ask you something not entirely related?

[becomemod]

...Partners can be overbearing, but sometimes they should be listened to.

[ they nod along as nico speaks. ]

Solid plans, for what you have to work with. Maybe try talking to people you wouldn't normally, too, to get their perspective on things. Sometimes you'll find that you both hold the key that the other is missing.

Go ahead.

[resumed]

I listen to him plenty. [ it's grumbled though so whatever. ]

...you want me to go up to people I don't actually know and just ask them about who they think killed the guy? I mean...maybe, but...kind of seems a little rough to start a conversation that way. It's solid advice, I get what you mean, but...maybe that's for one of the others to work on and I can keep doing the background work.

[ he's good at that. but he pauses, and he sort of squints. ]

...are we still at the part you have to keep wearing your mask, or can we ditch it? [ ...wow rabbit lied to him this is still awkward. gods. ]

1/2

[becomemod]

[ anyway ]

Less that, and more about aspects of the murder. You can still work together to solve it, and I'm sure most of the others want to know just as badly as you do, especially those on Satan's team.

[ ...ah. they laugh. ]

I was waiting for you to ask, that's all.

[ so they reach up to remove the mask... ]

[becomemod]

[ and shakes out the ponytail as he sets the mask aside with a soft sigh. ] When Tama asked, I told her that I wanted one of you to see my face first. You took long enough. [ a little exasperated, but not in a bad way. ]

[resumed]

[ hello beautiful binch. that's me, not nico, except nico is definitely taking a second to look him over, like he's surprised that that actually worked. ]

--in my defense, I didn't know I could ask until Rabbit started talking about your face. I sort of thought it was a private thing. [ he'll get back to murder thoughts in a bit. ]

[becomemod]

[ a valid response ] Not really. It was someone's idea to protect our "secret identities," and I may be used to that sort of thing, but the masks are new. I don't like them. [ this face is too beautiful to hide behind a mask!! ]

[resumed]

Has anyone ever said it's a very stupid idea? We're already out here, and it's not like the public can come into our dorms. [ he's just pouty, don't mind him. he thinks the masks are stupid, too. ] Kind of feels like they'd make it harder to do anything if you have to remember to hide all the time.

[ ...there's a soft hum of thought though as he looks him over. ]

Do you want to still be called Crimson Phoenix?

[becomemod]

[ he waves a hand. ] Doesn't matter that much, does it? You've seen my face now, so it's fine. And like I said, having to hide isn't new, only the masks are. You can still call me that, if you want to. But my real name is Izuminokami Kanesada.

[resumed]

Which means we can ditch the mask every time we talk going forward, right? Please say that's a thing. [ but he is way more attentive now, hi. ] I think I get where you're coming from though.

[ that is. a mouthful. but he seems to contemplate it before he nods. ]

I might stick with Phoenix just so I don't slip up in public, but it's a pleasure to meet you officially. [ a tiny grin. ] Rabbit said you were waiting for an excuse to show yourself.

[becomemod]

Yes. There's no need to keep it on. Fair enough. It's nice to officially meet you, too. [ he bows his head a bit. ] And why shouldn't I? I am beautiful and charming. I deserve to be seen.

[resumed]

[ thank god. also he just rolls his eyes. ]

Uh huh, I'm starting to see exactly why you guys are friends. [ he tilts his head a little though, very obviously examining kanesan carefully. ]

I feel like it's a trap if I agree or disagree either way though, you know?

[becomemod]

[ hm? tilts head. ] Why would it be a trap? It's not an opinion, it's fact. I'm no Mikazuki Munechika, but people used to come from all over to see me for a reason.

[resumed]

[ he's not going to address that because now he's actually immediately distracted. ]

...to see you? [ listen he uses swords and i'm sure he has some knowledge of history but japanese history is wobbly for a demigod. ] See you where?

[becomemod]

In the museum.

[resumed]

[ the gentlest of dubious squints. ]

Is it rude if I ask what you are, exactly?

[becomemod]

I am Izuminokami Kanesada. [ which is honestly an answer in and of itself, but nico doesn't know that. so he continues. ] I'm the finest blade of the samurai era, created by the twelfth generation Kanesada. I'm the sword famous for being wielded by Hijikata Toshizou of the Shinsengumi.

[resumed]

[ :o this sounds impressive, actually. but. ]

...is this like...Kogitsunemaru? [ wait, he's thinking this through. he's made the connection...he's doing it. ] A tsukumogami. When we talked about spirits before, you made it sound like your experience was a little different than mine.

[becomemod]

Exactly like that. There is a Kogitsunemaru at the citadel I was summoned to, but I don't know if he is the same one. And he is much, much older than I am - I was one of the last to be born, just before the era of swords ended.

But yes. We are tsukumogami.

[resumed]

[ well. that's weird but also he's not going to touch it since it's not his business. if there are timeline shenanigans, then whatever. ]

So you're like a young sword. [ he hums in thought, trying to decide what he wants to ask. ] ...was that something you were able to choose? I guess what I mean is how are tsukumogami born?

[becomemod]

As swords, we don't have the freedom to choose.

[ smiling, without a trace of humor. once upon a time, he might have been bitter about that, but it's a simple fact. spirit or not, swords are tools, and they don't get a say in how their masters use them, or don't use them. that's how it's always been. there's a whole song about this. ]

I don't know exactly how we're born, but it may have something to do with the legends surrounding us and our masters.