[open] born to raise hell, born to raise hell

[odalinquent]

Who: A considerably smaller Nobunaga and You!
When: 11/21-11/27; I'll be using this as a catchall for the whole week.
Where: Prompts for now are @Caissa.
What: An angry ten year old with a gun she barely knows how to use decides to Make It On Her Own on the mean streets of Caissa.
Rating: None for now. Will mark threads appropriately in the subject header though, just in case anything comes up.



[1] 11/21; dusk

[As much as she wants to get right into the crux of the matter, lash out and demand to know what's going on and where she is...she can't right now. She refuses to seek help in a plain and straightforward manner, entirely mistrustful of the people around here simply by nature. For now, she needs to get her priorities in order; she's already covered herself up, but in lieu of actual clothing, she's merely wrapped up in some thin fabric she's carefully wrapped around her body into a makeshift, sleeveless top that goes down as far as her knees, a separate piece of fabric tied around her waist to hold it in place. They're...likely stolen, honestly.

And to avoid drawing attention, she's stashed her weapons elsewhere for now. She just wants something to eat, for the moment...so.

a) Congrats! You've just witnessed a theft which, were it not for you, passing bystander, would have been executed without a hitch. Nobunaga makes off with some fruit from an outdoor stall, hurrying off to enjoy her spoils. Maybe stop her if your morals are more on the scrupulous side.

b) Unfortunately, she's been caught in the act, but not actually caught. The stall owner yells for someone to intercept her escape, but Nobunaga darts and weaves in between the crowd around her with surprising athleticism. If you've decided to give chase, she tries to shake you off by ducking off into an alley ahead...

c) Or maybe you're just passing by a ten year old in a poor excuse for clothing, sat on the edge of the street and eating some fruit. The skins of what she's already eaten are to her left, while the remaining fruit she's yet to eat sits on the ground to her right. Linger too long and she might shoot you a glare, but that's about it. She won't say anything if you don't.]

[2] 11/21; night

[Well, when you're suddenly in an entirely different world in a manner not unlike some bizarre fairytale, your best bet at survival is to know what kind of place you've been brought to. Even she knew that. The only issue is that she's from a fairly tumultuous era in a wartorn land, on top of her own ornery and admittedly paranoid nature. She can't bring herself to just approach someone and ask for help, like some frightened, lost child...it may be an issue of pride too, on top of everything else.

So she waits. She waits until someone's by their lonesome in an empty street, using the cover of night to make her move as quietly as she can, and if all goes well it won't be until there's the sound of a click of a gun that the other person notices something's amiss.]

Turn around...slowly.

[The barefoot girl behind you isn't striking that much of an intimidating figure, sans the rifle in her hand which she is, unfortunately, holding up with one hand courtesy only of her strength granted via the class system. If she fires it like this the recoil would likely knock it right out of her hand; she hasn't had much time to figure it out...

But she somehow lacks the eyes of a child. Plain and simple brown eyes, but with the experience of three years warfare behind her. The eyes of someone who's taken more than her fair share of lives already.]

You're going to answer some questions for me.

Comments

[2]

[bowknot]

[ Is the saying something like "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight"...? Well, screw that because Shinano is a knife 100% of the time and only tantous can command the adorable miniature troops with tiny muskets. But maybe he should have been more wary out on this late-night errand. At least he didn't get the booze for Jiroutachi just yet. The man has fancy tastes and that's another kind of bullseye. ]

Oh... Okay.

[ The click sound is a good enough reason to obey, even if the tantou weren't already rather docile when he knew to be. Still, Shinano is never without either of his weapons. His weapon, Ki Utsuri is held close to his chest defensively but still sheathed as he turns around to the young, but somehow weathered-sounding voice for a girl. He looks a bit nervous, but there's another thing in his expression the young Nobunaga might not care for. It's sympathy, because Caissa's been overrun by youths thanks to the dungeon penalty and Shinano is still a brother. ]

Go right ahead, but... Promise that you won't shoot me if I do?

[odalinquent]

So long as you do exactly as you're told. [A beat.] But don't try anything clever. This weapon's really powerful.

[She figured that out, at least...but at the same time, she's kinda giving away how little she knows right now. The way she speaks of the rifle, it's as if it's a completely foreign object, something she's never seen or even heard of before now.

Which she hasn't.

But despite her servant class being a result of her rifles rather than wielding an actual bow, Nobunaga was actually a skilled Archer even in her youth. Even if the only thing a bow and a rifle share in common is their long range capability, her aiming skills are transferable at the very least. Provided she fires it without the recoil completely throwing her off (which is very likely, still) the weapon's clearly trained on his head, making for a bizarre display of both skill and inexperience at the same time.]

Where is this?...it can't be Japan...are we overseas or something?

[bowknot]

Yeah, those rifles are very dangerous in the right hands. So I'll be good, Miss.

[ There’s one sword spirit he knows who who actively uses a gun, and that's Sakamoto Ryouma's sword, Mutsunokami. Shinano is an old sword, while Mutsunokami is from the end of their time in Japan. Awataguchi swords are simple, good-natured like the lot of them.. even if a gun is pointed to him and Nobunaga may or may not be able to shoot him, he won't show if he's scared.

He shouldn't be scared, because then he'd be a terrible sword to protect people. His tone doesn't mock her, he knows guns are always a fearsome weapon, experienced user or not. But he certainly isn't acting like he's being interrogated. ]

This city is called Caissa, in the country of Blanc. It's not Japan, but I'm Japanese... Would you like help?

[odalinquent]

I don't need help. Did you hear me ask for your help? Of course you didn't; all I want from you is answers. Keep quiet and don't make useless suggestions.

[Harsher than she needs to be, even she knows that...the fact he's claiming to be from Japan as well is a good thing really, but not good enough to keep her interest. The boy she woke up with and promptly abandoned to his own devices is proof enough of that.]

Why are w-...[She shakes her head, changing her mind.] Why am I here?

[She doesn't care about anyone else.]

[bowknot]

[ Really now... Shinano doesn't say that out loud, but he sets his non dominant hand on his hip when he gets that sort of harsh remark. ]

I don't know the specifics of why, but we're in the middle of the war and meant to help out Blanc against Noir.

[ She looks like a kid from a war, honestly. Quite familiar, too, even if her eyes are brown like any typical Japanese child, not the fearsome red of a demon lord. He might as well confirm it while he's here at least. ]

I want to know your name. Can you please give me it?

[odalinquent]

[A war...yeah, she's familiar with war, but she's not about to throw herself into a war just for the sake of it. The more she feels forced into something, the less likely it is she'll cooperate...

Still, may as well get this out of the way. She can worry about war later.]

...it's Kipposhi. Of the Oda.

[She thought she was being clever giving her birth name over Nobunaga, she just wouldn't expect the clan name to give her away. All things considered, from her younger perspective, the name's fairly irrelevant.]

[bowknot]

Kipposhi? Cute.

[ Shinano says that gently. Against what's better judgement unless you're rather confident, he takes a few steps towards Nobunaga. ]

The Oda Clan, they're supposed to be pretty influential. You look like a runaway though. Or maybe their notorious heir... Nobunaga-sama.

[ He's aware of the more useless commentary, but he's in a prodding mood. His fingertips are right where the saya and tsuka of his sword meet, so hopefully his reflexes are better than Nobu's trigger finger with that modern rifle. ]

2

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh doesn't even flinch.

He hears the unmistakable flicker of a firearm being loaded, sure, but at the same time... he's Gilgamesh. Of course he isn't the slightest bit concerned for his own safety. He glances over his shoulder, though when he does so the girl will see for herself that she's cornered someone with sharp, slick eyes, red and dangerous as her own might be someday.

A small smile crosses his lips. It is not friendly.]

I think not.

[He answers coolly, and now he does turn to lay a hand upon the rifle, without a shred of fear.]

I think you should make yourself scarce, child, before you begin to anger me.

[odalinquent]

[She's intimidated. She can't lie to herself about that.

On the outside, she keeps her expression as steady as she can, but the feeling of his eyes upon her isn't something she can ignore. Not as she is. A mere human who's never known anything beyond mere humans, neither servant nor demon, who feels as if this man is something else entirely...

But.

She's proud, as well.

Too proud to back down when she feels challenged, and for him to lay his hand upon her weapon without hesitation, even trying to dismiss her so casually...she suddenly makes up for that intimidation with anger. Nobunaga pushes the rifle forward, pressing the barrel against his body.]

I'm warning you.

[She meets his gaze, despite how it makes her feel.]

[babbylon]

[The girl poses no threat; he could crush her in an instant. That's why, with that hand, he guides the gun down without fear of retaliation, even with it pressed so close to himself. Even at this distance, a gun can't kill him, and he doubts she has the resolve to follow through and fire anyway. She's scared and they're both more than aware of it.

Gently, he scolds her.]

Threats get you nowhere. I believe you know well enough already you cannot prevail over me.

[He shakes his head, offers an alternative.]

Ask. Politely. Then we shall see about answers.

[odalinquent]

[The moment he turns the gun away again she actually...pulls the trigger with little in the way of hesitation, but there's an underwhelming click rather than a bang, indicating she's lacking in the way of ammo, and from the mild confusion on her expression briefly afterwards, she had no idea. That it requires ammo doesn't escape her, much like a bow would, but she has no clue beyond that. How to check the reserves, or how to even reload the thing.]

...

[Politely, he says...]

Where am I?

[Surely asking without a threat qualifies...]

[babbylon]

Lost.

[So helpful. Perhaps it would be worth trying again.]

[odalinquent]

[jesus christ if she had ammo maybe she'd just shoot this guy as much as she could

Even if it wouldn't kill him, it'd be immensely satisfying.]

Where am I please thank you you miserable scoundrel.

[It's said hurriedly, flatly and with quite a bit of #attitude. It couldn't be any more insincere.

An attempt was made.]

1 c!

[hoasen]

[When Vietnam notices the girl, she's unusually familiar. There she is, just eating fruit, but her manner, just the way she stares...

But there's something missing. Like something nags at her, like this isn't quite the same--

Vietnam approaches.]

They look delicious.

[odalinquent]

[She's not quick to respond, having picked out a segment from her orange beforehand and fully intending to eat it first. Only after she's done does she offer a rather curt:]

Get your own. These are mine.

[Cause why else would she bring it up right???]

[hoasen]

[Because she just saw it?! Now that she thinks about it, she did look suspicious.]

N-no, I wasn't about to take it! I was just curious.

[odalinquent]

[This is not the look of a person who believes you, viet...

In fact, she picks up her remaining haul and dumps it into her own lap as a precaution.]

If you say so.

Whether or not that's true though, so long as you don't get any bright ideas about taking what's mine, there won't be a problem.

[hoasen]

[...Man this little one is sassy. Not that she blames her. Vietnam doesn't close the distance for this very reason. Nothing is gained when you barge straight in.]

I do not take what it is not mine. I do not need to take your fruit, as it is yours already. Only you decide what you wish to do with it.

[odalinquent]

Then you're nothing like any of the adults I know.

[She stops eating her fruit and just kind of...stares at it.]

Back home, you fight tooth and nail just to keep what's yours. Taking it, or taking it back...that's even harder.

[2] you monster.....

[littlebyte]

[Hakuno has had quite the misadventure. She shouldn't be out on her own, but she's so curious, and nothing is right. It's so fascinating. Something deep within her, pure and unrefined urges her to—

record

—take in all the new sights and sounds of this place. She has nothing to compare it to, but it's all so fascinating. It's important. Her chest swells with something warm and bright when she sees this place, and she wants to know why. Or at least, she did before. But now it's cold, and dark, and she doesn't know how to get back to the man who had first tried to take care of her. She's been teetering on the brink for quite some time, and then this happens.

She turns to stare up at Nobunaga.]

...

[Slowly, her large, dark eyes spill over, and her thin little shoulders shudder in a silent sob.]

...b-but... I-I have... I have, lots, too...!

YOU CHOSE THIS...

[odalinquent]

[If she were just a few years older, perhaps her affection for her own younger sister would soften her a little to this. She'd know what to do, or say, and while she is not a responsible older sister she will, eventually, at least be a surprisingly reliable one. Her adult self's interactions with some of the people she'd met here was proof of that.

As she is, with Oichi not being born for another three years, she's just...

Confused, honestly. She's made a small child cry and, while she doesn't feel too bad about it, she can recognise it was pointless to do so. Clearly lost and confused, there's nothing she could get out of Hakuno as she is anyway, and even if there were she likely wouldn't need threats to do it.

So for now, she just lowers the gun.]

Hey-[what to do...]-knock it off, will you? I'm not gonna hurt you.

you made it possible

[littlebyte]

[Hakuno scrubs at her cheeks with a sleeve, still trembling like a rabbit in front of a wolf.]

But... but I'm still lost, and, and I don't know this place, and that man who took me home with him...

[Her eyes tear up again.]

He'll, he'll be mad I left, right...?

[odalinquent]

If he's gonna be mad anyway, there's point in worrying about it.

[But maybe not everyone is flippant towards their guardians. Lord knows old man hirate has tried every trick in the book and she still won't settle down for the guy.

Still...she approaches Hakuno with her gun lowered, at least trying to appear non-threatening.]

But I guess we're both lost then.

[littlebyte]

...mm...

[Hakuno squeezes the hem of her dress, frowning faintly at the ground. Nobunaga isn't wrong, really.]

We... are? Is, is that what you were going to ask me?

[odalinquent]

It's not as if I was looking to get back home or anything...but if I'm going to be staying here I wanted to know what this world is like.

I guess you're the last person I should've confronted.

[and to be fair, she mostly couldn't make out in the dark that this was a literal small child, until it was too late.]