Ishida Mitsunari | Saika Magoichi | 010

[unbending]

[This is just going to be an all-purpose post for my darling Gabe at this point because Mitsunari already dominates my musebox.]

Comments

[unbending]

[He just 'hmphs' right back.

And then.

Silence.

Immobile silence.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

[redbelltolls]

[ ...

...

... ]

Mitsunari.

[ Gah she needs to do something or she will explode. ]

What is your favorite meal?

[unbending]

[Well they are off to a good start with this.]

I do not have a favorite meal.

[redbelltolls]

There is no meal you prefer over another?

[ What a wonderful start. ]

[unbending]

Why should there be? I derive no enjoyment from the task.

[ie eating.

freak.]

[redbelltolls]

[ ... ]

Ah.

[unbending]

[....

............

And then he feels the Judgment.]

What.

[redbelltolls]

Just means speaking of it is a bad choice for things to do to pass time.

[ She taps her foot idly against the wall of the box. ]

[unbending]

[...he just scoffs, falling silent for a long moment.

And then--]

The green tea Hideyoshi-sama occasionally served.

[It's not a food but...]

[redbelltolls]

[ ... huh.

Tea is a surprise. As is the fact that... he actually accepted her attempt to make conversation. ]

Really? Do you drink a lot of tea, or just that kind?

[unbending]

[...his words are slightly reluctant, but he answers nonetheless.]

I am an occasional practitioner of chanoyu.

...It was of importance to Hideyoshi-sama.

[...... :c]

[redbelltolls]

Is that so? Do you enjoy the practice? I never got the point, myself.

[ Granted most of her knowledge about the tradition came from Motochika whining about having to participate when they were children. ]

[unbending]

[...does he...enjoy it?

He honestly can't say. There's something peaceful about it, but that's not why he does it. Not at all.

He does it solely because it is of importance to Hideyoshi-sama and his position.]

It is a proper act of reverence befitting of my lords.

[that's...really all there's ever been to it.]

[redbelltolls]

Ah. Just a duty then.

[ Magoichi sometimes has to wonder if Mitsunari gets enjoyment out of anything. ]

[unbending]

No.

[The response comes before he had even thought through what he is saying--but it's true.]

It is not just a duty.

[Of all things--this certainly is not.

But he doesn't know how to explain it or even why he bothered to correct her, so he'll just fall silent.]

[redbelltolls]

[ Magoichi lifts her head, curiosity piqued. ]

Oh? Then what is it?

[unbending]

[He remains silent, because he honestly doesn't know how to describe it.

...

It was something Hideyoshi had allowed him--honored him with the right to assist in.

It was something that...he could partake in and honor the lords of the Toyotomi even though they were now gone.

...

No, he doesn't know how to put any of that into words, so he remains silent for a long moment.]

...It is unimportant.

[redbelltolls]

... I am curious.

[ She states it in a tone more gentle than she is apt to using, simply offering the fact that she is interested -- not particularly in the tea ceremony, nor the Toyotomi, but in Mitsunari himself, his thoughts and feelings. ]

[unbending]

[Hm.

Eventually, he does respond, staring into the darkness contemplatively.]

It is a great honor to be allowed to do so.

[It was an honest gesture--a reminder of what he had been to Hideyoshi. A reversal--Hideyoshi was his everything, but perhaps Mitsunari had been something to Hideyoshi as well.]

[redbelltolls]

[ An honor.

Magoichi is quiet for a moment, caught up in her own thoughts. ]

That... I believe I understand.

[unbending]

[He is silent for a moment at the assertion before he offers a scoff in return.]

You could not understand. Do not be so condescending as to assume you could.

[It's lacking in any sort of bite though; he's saying it because...that's what he's always said. That's what he's always found to be true.]

[redbelltolls]

[ Instead of getting angry, Magoichi ends up smiling to herself. She has known him long enough now that she guessed that would be his answer. ]

Is that so? I, too, once had a Master.

[unbending]

[...h-huff.

He knows this, theoretically.

But...knowing Magoichi as he does, it's somehow hard to imagine.

Very hard.]

...You could not comprehend my relationship with him.

[It has to be that way, because the last person he thought could understand, perhaps, had been Ieyasu, and look at what Ieyasu had done--]

[redbelltolls]

Perhaps not.

[ Magoichi stretches a little, her voice softening as she continues to speak. ]

I remember being asked, once, why I took the task of cleaning my Master's guns so willingly. It is not the most pleasant work, leaving one covered in oil and grime, and there are many small parts on a gun one must pay close attention to get properly clean.

My answer was easy to me, though it seemed to surprise those who had asked. That my master trusted me enough with the responsibility to clean the weapons he used on the field, the very objects that decided his life or death on the field... what greater honor could there be than that?

[unbending]

[He listens quietly, intent in the silence.

And then, equally quietly, a tad bit soft--]

...There is no greater honor than to be able to serve one's lord in such a way.