Event Seventeen.

[awashmods]

I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down to look for it And brought it home because I couldn’t find it.

he magical vines creep ever onward, slowly infringing upon the Town. No matter how many are chopped down, no matter how many are set on fire, they keep coming even so. And slowly, one by one, the people in the Town start to fall to the curse that they bring along with them. Stay and tend to the cursed? Venture out into the woods to find the castle at the source of these vines? Whatever you choose to do, you'd better decide quickly; the curse only seems to get worse and worse the longer everyone is afflicted. Welcome to Awash's seventeenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event! If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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[superioritis]

If you feel yourself becoming a burden, you are welcome to run.

[ Berkut does not trust Shen Qingqiu not to flee. Either way, he casts another amused glance at the teacher before he turns around. Perhaps this quest of theirs will keep the latter focused, though he rather doubts it. ]

It seems the vines are coming from the forest. We will investigate there.

[shizun]

This teacher has really given His Majesty a poor image.

[ But seriously!! You gotta run away sometimes! You just gotta! Don't hold your ground all the time! That is how a person ends up dead! If you can't win, run. Live to fight another day! With stronger forces! He can still hear his disciple calling to him from behind but follows after without missing a beat. ]

I see no issue with that plan. [ This is fine. Everything is fine! ] Still ... Prince Berkut, I am certain that you know that sometimes you must run away when the odds are against you, yes?

[superioritis]

[ While the irritated crinkle of Berkut's face goes unseen with his back turned to Shen Qingqiu, his tone is flat enough to carry his mood. ]

I was told similarly, once.

[ And he'd hated every second of it. ]

[shizun]

There is no shame in it.

[ He is quick to add, hearing the flat tone and understanding it. Sure! I've lost my face to you for running from a child puppet!! But!! I'm still alive. So, yeah! ]

It is not even that I doubt your skill or abilities. [ Better pepper that in real quick!! ] But sometimes, it simply is better to run. I hope that in hearing it twice that you'll listen to one of these voices telling you so.

[superioritis]

[ His voice quiets down, almost as if he means to talk to himself. No matter how many people tell him, he'll never accept it. ]

To run from mere peasants . . . Tell me, do you find honor in such a retreat?

[shizun]

[ If I say that he could die, he definitely will blow a gasket! I don't want to have that happen! While you're wearing that face, try to think of how that's affecting my heart that's terrified about a protagonist coming back to kill me, huh!?

He goes quiet as he thinks of a good answer. "Shizun. Shizun. You always answered me before, why won't you now?" I HEARD YOU THE FIRST FUCKING TIME! Shut up! You're not fucking helping things, either!! ]

If you lose a little face today, you can always regain it. You can make an even stronger force to crush your enemies, or you can think more on talking to them on their wrongs. [ His voice is gentle. Far more gentle than when he first spoke on this topic. It's the fault of the image! It's the fault of what he's seeing that he's talking in that yielding way like he would to his young disciple. ]

I readily admitted how wrong I was, didn't I? [ See?? It's a good strategy!! ]

[superioritis]

[ A stronger force? He huffs air out of his nose. ]

Do not insult Rigel's finest knights.

[ He must put that forth first. Berkut will not tolerate their honor being tarnished like this, especially when they are not present to face the implications head-on. ]

You are a commoner. [ Born without title, power, and noble blood. What can he possibly understand? ] A prince cannot afford to lose face.

[shizun]

[ Right, Rigel. Right. He makes a waving gesture behind him. Get behind me, Satan! Or well, stay the fuck behind me and be quiet!! I don't want to hear you yapping in my ear, anymore!! ]

I am a Peak Lord. My disciples look to me to be their strength. [ I may not know much about being a prince! The titles between us are way too different!! But I know something about faces and keeping and losing them!! ] But they also look to me to be their example. If I stand and fight every single battle, what lesson does that teach them?

[ A small nod. ] Yes, I will defend them. Yes, I will die for them. But I would rather they know it is both all right to be a shield and to flee. [ ... ] You can regain whatever you lose, but you cannot take back any of the lessons that you give to your people or your knights.

[superioritis]

[ Offense is the best defense.

No, that's wrong. In certain formations and terrains, the offensive approach can easily upset a troop's defenses. War is every bit a game of numbers as it is of strategy and skill. Yet, even armed with this knowledge, Berkut has difficulty swallowing this lesson.

Perhaps in a proper war, this would be reasonable advice. But what manner of shield withdraws from the point of a farmhand's rake or pitchfork? What lesson has he taught his knights by ordering a retreat, when they should have by all rights won? This stays Berkut's tongue.

Faced with this undesirable fact, he bites his lower lip and doesn't say anything. He marches on rigidly, his thoughts swirling in his mind. ]

[shizun]

[ His arms lift up as he pumps them in the air a few times. I did it! I did it!!

Shen Qingqiu believes that Berkut would start to argue with him, but instead goes quiet! That must mean that he's thinking over what he said and going to attempt to change tactics! Don't worry, don't worry! I'll definitely do my part to ensure your survival! I'm here for you!! Oven-bros! But the moment of silence has an after-effect that he does not realize.

His chin suddenly shudders as his throat trembles. Um, Your Highness, could you please say something? He knows he can't look behind him or else he'll add to his own confusion and may end up following the "wrong" Luo Binghe.

"Shizun, Shizun!" He attempts to shake his head. No, no, I just went through this! This is Berkut looking like Binghe! This is Berkut!! Don't think you can catch me making the same mistake! You think I'm gonna keep falling for it, fucker?! This is...

The voice keeps calling to him, sounding more and more upset. His steps quicken so he can step in front of Berkut, looking him over in concern. ]

Are you hurt?!

[superioritis]

[ When Shen Qingqiu steps in front of him, Berkut stops mid step, abruptly snapping out of his thoughts. Whatever he expected, it wasn't a question about his well-being. He blinks, then scowls. ]

No. [ Why ask? Ah, he has a suspicion. ] Perhaps I should not bring you any farther. Your hallucination is already proving to be troublesome.

[ That, and he simply isn't in a good mood. When is he, these days? ]

[shizun]

[ You don't have to be so fucking honest!! ]

I merely had a moment of confusion.

[ Don't roast me so hard! ]

[superioritis]

[ He stands there, strongly considering just leaving Shen Qingqiu behind. In the end, he sighs. ]

Fine. Tell me, what would allow you to distinguish between mirages?

[1/2]

[shizun]

[ Oh. Shit. Good question. ]

[shizun]

Could you find some topic of interest to you? If you are talking, then when that voice talks, I know it can't be real.

[ I'm a fucking genius!! ]

[superioritis]

[ He arches an eyebrow. What an inefficient method. ]

I will not prattle for the sake of it. Ask me a question, and I shall answer as I see fit.

[shizun]

[ That's not helpful!

But he thinks that he is always bothering Berkut with heavy, painful questions and thoughts. It would be nice to have a conversation with him where he can just smile easily. ]

Your uncle is someone you said deserves all the respect in the world. Could you describe him more to me? I wish to know of the person that you look up to so much.

[superioritis]

[ And smile, he does. If it is his uncle, Berkut has no qualms with speaking at length. He resumes their march to the forest. ]

His Majesty Emperor Rudolf is a wise ruler of considerable strength. From a young age, he claimed numerous victories on the battlefield and came to be renowned throughout the land. None can compare. If anyone is to gather the Valentian continent under a united banner, it is His Excellency.

[shizun]

[ His heart warms at seeing such a smile. It is on the wrong fact, but it is good to see it all the same. Yeah, boy!! I'm not yet disqualified from coming along!! ]

I see. [ Oh, but?? ] And as an uncle? [ Come on! You got all the juicy stories!! ]

[superioritis]

[ What about it. ]

The same. His Excellency is as fair as he is wise.

[ In other words, he doesn't receive special treatment. Rudolf the Emperor and Rudolf his uncle are very much the same person for Berkut; however, it is their familial tie that allows Berkut to trust so deeply in the man. ]

[shizun]

[ That's the public talk! Come on! You can honestly tell me!! Did I not share something embarrassing -- ah, ah, let's forget it! Let's absolutely forget it! Especially since he's starting to hear his voice yet again. ]

Surely, there were times that he was not His Excellency but simply Uncle Rudolf?

[superioritis]

[ Berkut considers this. His uncle was emperor long before his birth, so it's difficult to think of a time when he might have separated the roles. ]

I suppose there were, in my childhood. But I've since grown and learned what my responsibilities are.

[ These days, the only times he would refer to His Majesty as uncle would be out of fear. A crutch, so to speak, that he isn't proud of using. ]

[shizun]

[ Oh.

His expression falls. Seriously?! Somehow, his heart ends up feeling stuffy about the idea that an emperor could not take the time to be an "uncle" even when Berkut is grown and could remember. It is good that you set an example, but being a soft uncle to a nephew wouldn't kill ya, either!!

Speaking of, what about Berkut's parents? Ah, but if he's a cannon-fodder villain, his parents are probably already passed. That's just what happens to the family of villains and protagonists! At least, we're all equal in that right. But he can't get the stuffy feeling to leave his chest. I'm making a lot of assumptions, but if that is the case... Berkut! Shouldn't you be a little angrier about this?! ]

I see. Did you always live in the palace, then? [ Kings and royalty have to live in palaces, right?? ] With your parents and tutors teaching you all on your responsibilities?

[superioritis]

[ Then he hesitates, the pause growing longer by the second at the mention of his parents. That matter is too close to his heart to share as a throwaway topic to separate hallucination from reality, so he says nothing. A few more beats pass before he answers. ]

Yes. But I've a detachment of my own to command. I seldom linger within the castle.

[ Not as luxurious as a palace, but vastly more fortified. He wouldn't have it any other way. ]

[shizun]

[ I FUCKING KNEW IT! The pause is damning enough. In many ways!! He lifts his hand to press his palm over one ear as he feels relief at the answer that he gets -- relief more that Berkut is talking again than the answer itself.

Emperor Rudolf! Your nephew loves you this much and you couldn't even give him a soft face to look upon?! I can't fucking believe this shit! At least, this is a topic that Berkut enjoys even if Shen Qingqiu feels like he is about to throw hands. ]

Your own detachment, huh? That must have been a great honor to receive. Your uncle must have such high hopes for you. [ I'm not gonna talk shit about someone's loved one to their face, so I'll say this instead!! ]