hotel: jiji

[shaft]

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week 0, saturday, courtyard

[shaft]

[ Claude is looking at the statue of Munechika. This is just your other prompt. ]

This has a striking resemblance to you.

[unsaid]

[this is just my other prompt

mikazuki looks up at the statue and smiles]

Does it? I feel like it lacks something...

[shaft]

[ Looks between the two. ]

Not up to your standards?

weekend 0, sunday

[unsaid]

[i'm going to guess that claude knocked or something - or he is just in the hallway when mikazuki begins to step out. it's like an hour after the rooms opened because mikazuki needed help getting dressed into his other attire and that's fine.]

Oh? Exploring, Claude?

Fufu, would you like to come in?

[if he does, he will see almost immediately that opposite the door, there is a grand view of the upper half of a crescent moon. that's not ominous.]

[shaft]

[ Claude is probably skulking about like a weirdo, and he'll take a second to blink and Mikazuki's very complicated looking outfit. ]

Well, if you're inviting me, it would be rude to say no.

[ Hey, is that a wholeass moon in your room. ]

[unsaid]

[it is a wholeass moon in the room.]

Ha ha ha, my space has a bit less to see than others. But you are welcome whenever you like.

[mikazuki's room is a very typical japanese-style room with tatami mats and shoji screens! in fact, it may be a bit difficult to place as a bedroom at first glance as the main pieces are a tea ceremony set-up, some seat cushions, and the way that the opposite wall seems to open up to reveal the upper half of the crescent moon. there is the illusion of the room extending out onto the engawa, so that you can have a seat to admire the grand view even though it looks like the world simply drops off beneath your feet.

off to the side there is a now-empty sword stand, and the primary decor consists artfully arranged ikebana pieces. a desk sits in the corner with all the regular amenities, and a one of the shoji doors will part to reveal a closet. inside there is his selection of clothes as well as a rolled up futon.

the aura of the room is simple, but everything is of the highest quality. it is truly just artistic minimalism and a moon.]

week 0, monday

[unsaid]

[ 20. You open the door and find yourself in a strange metal enclosure. It feels like you're moving, perhaps along a bumpy road; occasionally your surroundings will jolt you around. The sound of a loud, roaring engine fills your ears. You are stuck in here for what seems like ages, your surroundings getting smaller and smaller - although that seems impossible. Surely the backs of trucks can't shrink? But that's what it feels like is happening. Eventually, once your surroundings become overwhelmingly claustrophobic, you blink and find yourself back out in the hallway, disoriented and feeling a little carsick. Only four minutes have passed.

well this might as well happen.

mikazuki finds himself in the metal enclosure with claude, and he looks thoughtful for a moment before knocking lightly against the metal. it does nothing of course.]

Are you well, Claude? It seems as though we have become cargo.

[shaft]

[ So this is... different. ]

Evidently. I've been in carriages before but this seems more like a jail cell.

[ Give them windows at least? ]

[unsaid]

[mikazuki just laughs as he examines the space that they have available to them]

You say nothing untrue. To be transported against one's will is a memory I did not seek to relive.

[anyway he will let his hand rest upon the hilt of his blade - ]

Step back a moment?

[because he will be drawing it in the next breath]

week 0, saturday

[shaft]

[ Where is grandpa! Claude will look for him, concerned wherever he stumbles across him. ]

Hey. You get patched up?

[unsaid]

[he's in the courtyard, at the tea service. he's so reliable. his face is still bandaged, hilariously.]

Indeed, indeed. I have been fussed over very well.

week 1, saturday, vending machine

[shaft]

[ Hello Mikazuki, Claude is at the vending machine... ]

Would you like one?

[unsaid]

[hmm. mikazuki eyes the vending machine.]

... if you would be so kind.

[if he doesn't like it he's giving it to tsurumaru.

but similar to trial, he speaks softly and his voice comes with a slight scratch.]

week 2, monday

[unsaid]

[we're going to....

the simulations room!

mikazuki just smiles pleasantly]

I do not know what I am looking at.

[shaft]

[ Claude smiles back! He is made of fog today, wow. ]

Neither do I. Is there an instruction manual?

[ Noses around. ]

week 2, thursday, courtyard

[shaft]

[ Hello, sweet jiji. Peers at him. ]

You're not avoiding company still, are you?

[unsaid]

[mikazuki has changed - into a different kimono, still beautiful but less elaborate. however its long sleeves still work to obscure his arms and the fabrics drape over his legs as he sits - so it's a little hard to tell that he was on cyoa.

except his voice is a little raspy when he speaks]

.... for now.

Though... do take care.

week 3, tuesday, dojo

[shaft]

[ For once they're not hanging out in the courtyard! For their trouble, they'll get a memory launched at them.

There's barely a beat between the knock at your office door and Hilda's voice as she steps inside, "Claude? You're still at it?"

You're in your office at the Riegan manor; a place that's more familiar to you than your bedroom these days, your chair well worn by your constant weight, and your desk growing ever messier as you compile notes and reminders. Right now, you have a map of Derdriu in front of you, chess pieces sitting atop it as though you were playing a particularly morbid game.

Your eyes are dry when you raise them toward Hilda, and you think you've probably been staring too hard.

"Just making sure that I haven't missed anything," you answer, tapping the map on your desk.

She only sighs in response, shaking her head. "You're not going to be in great fighting shape if you don't get some rest, you know."

Tomorrow, Edelgard's army will reach your city, where you'll make your last stand. You've evacuated Derdriu in anticipation of the battle, but your thoughts are spiraling still wondering how to minimize the casualties. Your country has already surrendered so many lives to this war, windows and orphans made by your hand. You can't pretend to be noble with your hands this bloodied, but still. You want to protect whatever you still can.

"... Hilda." Your voice is grave when you speak again. "Tomorrow, if you see that the tide is turning against us, I want you to escape, okay? I don't want you to throw your life away for a losing battle."

"Claude... do you really have so little faith in us?"

Not in them. But it feels a little late for faith now. You couldn't keep the Roundtable from fracturing. Lords defecting to the Empire because they believed the Alliance was doomed under your leadership. You couldn't keep the Great Bridge, letting the Empire march into your lands. Why would things change now, when the country has been steadily breaking around you for so long?

"I'd never doubt you. I just want to make sure that we account for all possibilities if my little scheme doesn't work out tomorrow."

"Maybe your plans would go better if you told us about them," she shoots back, and she's probably right.

But you don't relent. "Just trust me. And promise me that you'll escape if it comes down to it."

You can see her expression shift, not disappointment like you expect, just... sadness.

"I do, but you know you're a leader now, Claude. You need to trust others for them to trust you."

The memory starts to go dark there, and you don't hear your response, just the thudding of I can't, I can't beating alongside your chest.

Claude's brows are furrowed when the dojo comes back around them, a bit of remorse colouring his features. ]

Ah, sorry about that.

[unsaid]

[ . . . . . mikazuki munechika lets the memory sweep over him - and finds it oddly nostalgic. a battlefield. a strategist. a last stand.

when he looks over at claude, his expression is only mildly curious.]

... what is it that you think you need apologize to me for?

week 4, tuesday

[unsaid]

[starts this before i disappear for meetings gurgles tiredly

anyway mikazuki will move to approach claude this fine tuesday. the way he does so is that once they make eye contact and claude is close enough to touch, mikazuki will reach out to let his fingertips brush against his cheek]

Might I have your attention, Claude?

[shaft]

[ HELLO

squints at him, and reaches up to gently push his finger into Mikazuki's forehead ]

Depends if you'll make it worth my while.

week 5, monday, ballroom

[shaft]

[ hello! they're in the ballroom.

before discussing the cool new room, claude just glances over at mikazuki. ]

Did you ever discover anything more about those flowers you received?

[unsaid]

Mm, I did, I did.

[he admires the ballroom, curious]

My crane and Estelle both received bouquets - meanings of good luck, gratitude, and one particular flower that meant 'Sweet Be Thy Dreams'. Ultimately, we determined they were likely from the departed, and so we arranged flowers upon their graves last Wednesday. Shortly afterward, dear Estelle received another bouquet of similar well tidings.

So I do believe they are endeavoring to communicate with us - let's see what this new week brings, shall we?

week 7, tuesday, jiji's favourite place...

[shaft]

[ glances at him! ]

Are you alright, Mikazuki?

[unsaid]

[it's always the courtyard

though at the question, he looks a little confused? there's a tilt of his head, but he's still pleased to see claude so he's smiling]

Is there a reason why I would not be?