Akechi Mitsuhide (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wavesoakedlegs) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
vatheon2012-03-21 07:41 pm
wavesoakedlegs) wrote in vatheon2012-03-21 07:41 pm
Entry tags:
when the heavens opened
Who: Akechi Mitsuhide and anyone.
Where: The abandoned village on the island.
When: Daytime.
Style: Starting in prose, but follow on as you wish. ♥
Status: Open!
~
It rained.
Mitsuhide had wandered the village for some time, the purple parasol he held keeping his head dry. There was no particular aim to this wandering. He simply went wherever his legs took him, listening to the rain and his own thoughts as he did so.
There was almost too much to dwell on right now. His head was full of regrets, guilt and sadness, dulled only slightly by that quiet strength he didn't know he had. That Hideyoshi's presence in Vatheon, and the force of the man's hatred, hadn't sent him into a state worse than this was a testament to that strength, as well as the steps he had taken since first being brought to the enchanted city.
Still...
After something like an hour he stopped beside one of the abandoned houses. It had a porch that would serve as shelter, and so he stepped upon it and dropped his parasol.
Glancing down, it became evident that the bottom of his hakama was soaked through.
Mitsuhide sighed.
"To be expected... I was foolish to come up here today," he said, looking back up and across the village. At least the view was beautiful; there was something appealing (if lonely) about heavy rain.
Where: The abandoned village on the island.
When: Daytime.
Style: Starting in prose, but follow on as you wish. ♥
Status: Open!
It rained.
Mitsuhide had wandered the village for some time, the purple parasol he held keeping his head dry. There was no particular aim to this wandering. He simply went wherever his legs took him, listening to the rain and his own thoughts as he did so.
There was almost too much to dwell on right now. His head was full of regrets, guilt and sadness, dulled only slightly by that quiet strength he didn't know he had. That Hideyoshi's presence in Vatheon, and the force of the man's hatred, hadn't sent him into a state worse than this was a testament to that strength, as well as the steps he had taken since first being brought to the enchanted city.
Still...
After something like an hour he stopped beside one of the abandoned houses. It had a porch that would serve as shelter, and so he stepped upon it and dropped his parasol.
Glancing down, it became evident that the bottom of his hakama was soaked through.
Mitsuhide sighed.
"To be expected... I was foolish to come up here today," he said, looking back up and across the village. At least the view was beautiful; there was something appealing (if lonely) about heavy rain.
no subject
"The great Zartas, the invincible, the beacon, is always right."
Then again, Gorthan knew the true meaning Zartas' last poem, "The Warrior King", and how it invalidated nearly everything that the late poet had written before. But that, too, had to remain unspoken, at least for now.
Gorthan's expression softened into a neutral one as he moved a few steps towards Mitsuhide.
"Perhaps I should explain. The entire society of Evron would not exist and function without CoolFlames, our slaves from the planets we have conquered. They are at the very bottom of our social structure. Right above them are Evronian common soldiers. And above them, there is our caste system, comprising a Lower Caste, a Middle Caste - where I was originally born -, and a Higher Caste. And even the Higher Caste answers to the Imperial Council, which I am part of, and even the Council answers to the Emperor... Our entire world is built on absolute, unquestioning obedience of every instruction that comes from above."
I'm on stellar form this morning 8'D
Mitsuhide looked rather horrified at that suggestion. His own land was not without its social structures; the peasantry, the nobles, the samurai, the royals, but... not to the degree that Evron did. The idea of a society resting entirely on the shoulders of slaves, forced into a role that would no doubt overwork them and shorten their lives, made him feel vaguely ill.
"Oh good heavens," he muttered, eyes sliding shut. "Unquestioning obedience, so in essence one being's word dictates all? One soul's judgment? An entire society across many worlds catering to the whim of one.... even in Japan, a daimyo can never wield absolute power."
Which is what Nobunaga would have done, no doubt. That thought surprised Mitsuhide, but why did it? He knew his former Lord would have formed a tyranny... and that, once, he had obeyed the man without question himself.
"I... no, I cannot agree with you. That is not right. Everything dictated by one, everything supported by souls forced to go against their will... could anyone know happiness?"
no subject
"Happiness is impossible for us. Myself included."
He moved a few more steps towards Mitsuhide.
"And nothing we do is against our will. Our will is singular. Those who were not born to lead, were born to obey. We act as one. I am told there is an insect species on your planet whose colonies are organized similarly to our society. Bee, I believe the name is."
He paused, taking a deep breath of the humid air.
"I have met your daughter. And that man, whose presence, according to her, upsets you so much, too. Actually, we appear to live in the same building. On the same floor."
His tone is very casual. None of this is a threat, though it is probably what it sounds like.
no subject
Mitsuhide tilted his head, a frown gracing his features.
"That makes no sense. You clearly have your own will, an individual identity. One seperate to your race as a whole, my Lord. I knew that was so that day in the library. If I may be blunt, you seem to... almost struggle with that fact..."
He trailed off there, biting his lip. Perhaps that was a little too much? Mitsuhide had many thoughts on this matter, but some were perhaps best kept back. At least for now.
"Forgive me. Perhaps that was inappropriate."
The other's next words definitely caused a reaction in Mitsuhide, though not a threatened one; it was slow, sad, not dramatic at all. He did not keep this part of himself secret, nor did he expect Hideyoshi not to speak his mind.
Which was obviously why Gorthan knew about his history, now.
"His presence does not upset me," he said, after a short time. "Mine upsets him, I know this. He looks at me and sees his Lord's killer, a traitor, a sinner. I am all these things. That is what disturbs me. I cannot say I do not deserve it."
He shook his head; there was a thread of strength in his voice, however, when he added:
"Nevertheless... I would not change what I did. I know that now. I could not let him form a tyranny."
no subject
Standing next to Mitsuhide now, Gorthan made his umbrella twirl in his hand.
"Then perhaps you should make your daughter privy to that clarification. She seems to be directing a good deal of her emotions towards him. I am sure that, as her father, you would rather avoid that she act on those emotions."
A long silence followed, in which Gorthan looked away from Mitsuhide, pondering whether to tell him that he was guilty of the very same crime.
no subject
He sighed, deeply, and wrapped a hand around his stomach. Gracia's hatred... such a thing should not taint such a bright, pure soul. In a way he blamed himself for that.
"Of course I do."
Mitsuhide tipped his head back.
"She will not stop directing her hatred towards him. In her world, my counterpart was lost and my Lord Motochika killed at a battle against Hideyoshi. Gracia blames him for that. All I can do is try and stop her from acting on it, and I have done all I can in those regards. What remains is to see if she can reign herself in."
no subject
He stared off into the distance, in the direction of the sea. That sea so much like the one that had caused him to stop and think...
"Youth is impetuous, Mitsuhide. Your daughter is young, and yet, so are you. Allow me to say that it would be unwise to advise her against recklessness, only to do something reckless yourself. I have no personal experience of the affection that ties a family together, of course, but I know that she must wish for your safety as much as you wish for hers."