raijintosworn

[raijintosworn]

Dear Yuzu,

That is what I like to hear. Very well, should you ever wish to become my pupil, come and find me. I would assume saying this much is not against the rules. Consider it a challenge to seek me out, rather than an invitation.

As for my name, my parents were staunch royalists. So delighted were they that their son was born at the same time as the crown prince, they named me after His Highness. It is strange to share a name with royalty, I’ve come to realise. However, it isn’t a wholly unusual name in Hoshido, no? As I’m certain I have met some Sakuras, some Hinokas, some Takumis, and even some Kamuis.

The path of the samurai must be your own. I am relieved to hear that, in your case, that rings true. Within you, I believe you must hold the spirit of a samurai. What a joy it is to speak to a kindred spirit.

As for me, I live and die by the samurai’s code. If I am confident in nothing else, I know that I am confident in my abilities in the sword, and that my ideals do not waver. I am confident in the samurai’s path in ways I cannot speak of. I know that this is my path.

Yours respectfully,

Ryoma

are you there yuzu? it's me, ryoma

( non mission task — affluence )

[raijintosworn]

“Well, I had assumed they would allow us to keep our preferred weapons.” That was perhaps naive of him, thinking back on it. This was a demonstration of glaives, after all. Ah well, it would be a nice challenge, he told himself. Or he could die trying, but if fate had already decided once that wouldn’t happen.

“Ah, so you are already used to this sort of weapon.” Ryoma nodded throughfully. He didn’t comment on Ephraim’s dream, though he could see how that would colour his choice to join the hunt. Ryoma, however, had no specific interest in the lance.

“Well, I had not been told these were required.” He gestured at the lance. “My sister was far more skilled in these kinds of weapons than I am.” A naginata is much closer to these glaives than a sword would be. “I suppose I came in part because of her. But also, I was curious about the hunt itself; I thought it would never hurt to train more and become stronger.”

where hunters become prey

[anniversary 2024] lance+1

[raijintosworn]

“Maybe people are just busy?” Ryoma offers, though it’s not much. He looks down at himself, and over at Ena. He wonders what the adults are seeing. Are they seeing regular children, or are they seeing beggar children? Ryoma squeezes Ena’s hand tighter. Why would it matter if they’re beggars or not? They’re still people. Don’t they deserve respect, too?

Once his father retires, and once Ryoma takes the throne, he promises he’ll never let things like this happen. He shouldn’t have to play the prince card to be respected.

“Please don’t cry,” he says. “I promise, we will find Nasir.” Not that Ryoma knows what he’s looking for, other than a tall, blue man. In a sea of people, that’s quite difficult to find. Ryoma mustn’t give up, for Ena’s sake.

Ryoma spots something in the distance. That might be blue hair, but is it the right kind of blue? The person is quite tall, but they’re also far away. Ryoma can’t tell whether that could be an old man or not.

“What kind of blue is his hair?” Ryoma asks. “Dark blue? Light blue?” Or, knowing his luck, Ena is likely colourblind, and Nasir has green hair instead. “Do you think that person over there is Nasir?” He gestures with his free hand over in the person’s direction. He hopes so, if only to stop Ena from being upset.

big brother mode activated

( TOA anniversary board - any skill +1 )

[raijintosworn]

“All children are quite… rambunctious, regardless of species.” Still too young to understand rules, and young enough to believe they can and should test boundaries. “I wonder if animals enjoy teasing us as much as we enjoy teasing them.” Like tickling a cat’s belly, or pretending to throw a ball for a dog. If this pup is anything to go by, then yes, they do enjoy annoying humans.

Ryoma nods at the explanation of wolf knights. “I’ve learned much since coming to Garreg Mach. I find it fascinating what certain cultures will use as weapons, or even mounts.” It’s hard to believe these little wolves will one day grow big enough to ride upon. He can only imagine a regular-sized wolf.

He smiles at the annoyed pup, who bites poor Merric’s hand. “Yes, they’re certainly intelligent enough to bite their handler.” And smart enough to sit there, waiting for a treat. “I suspect this litter may be spoilt.” He says it affectionately, as if one could really spoil a puppy. He scans the room for a toy, before his hair is chewed away into an unsightly bob. He finds something, and offers it to the puppy. It stares blankly at him.

Spoilt, indeed.

“Ah, but do your students truly listen to your lectures, or do their eyes glaze over?” From Ryoma’s experience, even while his class is quite practical, there are still plenty of students who don’t want to be there. It’s quite a shame, really; there are many brilliant minds here, and many brilliant teachers, should students only listen.

“Even so, plenty of people still fear magic,” Ryoma says. “It’s powerful, and not many people truly understand it.” He certainly doesn’t understand it. “As a professor, I’d imagine you will disagree with me when I say magic is quite frightening.”

Dog Therapy || Merric & Ryoma

[raijintosworn]

Ryoma can’t say he’s too familiar with Crest magic. The only usual magic he really understands is the magic held in his own veins: the blood of the Dawn Dragon. However, he’s never known how to use it, and it has never interested him much to learn. Questions he has no answers to enter his mind unbidden.

Have I returned to life because of the draconic blood? No; Father would be alive, too, unless it is something one can only survive once.

Still he cannot answer his own question. Still it bothers him. For as long as his lungs still draw breath, the question of his own life will plague him with no answer.

Mercedes’ explanation is quite harrowing. Indeed, he’s aware of the things people will do to marry off their children to important families. It’s a problem across all borders. However, to marry into a powerful family due to their blood? It feels more like eugenics to Ryoma. He cannot imagine marrying someone for their magic. (Though he does wonder why he’s never been married off: it’s a question to pose Mikoto later, should he choose to.)

“What, exactly, would be the idea? To force a divorce?” (Is that even possible here?) “To slowly drain away the woman until she dies, then marry off her more powerful wife to someone with a Crest?” Surely Crest children would be a lot harder to procure from a woman with no interest in men. “I apologise, this is all very new to me.” Though, he appreciates her explanations. 

“Regardless, we are working with quite an odd case, aren’t we.” He stares at the painting as if he hopes it will answer him. It just keeps smiling serenely.

the face of evil

( TOA anniversary board - reason +1 )

[raijintosworn]

Mitama is from Hoshido.

No, Mitama is from home.

She’s Azama’s daughter. Of course he remembers Azama; as if he could forget any of his siblings’ retainers. He feels terrible for not realising sooner, but how could he? But of course, they both understand what happened now. There’s a world where Azama had a family, then. He wonders which world that could be.

“I see.” He isn’t sure what to say to her. He hasn’t uttered a word of home to anyone bar the Nohrians. She knows he’s from another path. Ryoma can’t tell her there’s a path where Hoshido doesn’t win, but he’s certain she must have discerned that herself. He knows there’s a path where Nohr wins, a path where Hoshido wins, and a path whose end he still does not know. He’s never discussed that path with anyone else.

“This does explain a lot.” It explains why she knows him, and he doesn’t. Azama’s daughter. He scoffs at the thought, amused. He cannot imagine that man with a child, yet here she is. “I did think your name sounded like a Hoshidan name, but I didn’t want to assume.” The homesickness at the pit of his stomach sits there, a wound more severe than anything the war could do to him.

“We are quite far from home, Mitama. Please, you needn’t be so formal with me.” He’s no longer a prince, after all. She may see him differently, but he can no longer see himself as anything but a man now. “Here, I speak to you as your professor, not as anything else.”

ah yes me, my student, and our 200ft barge

( mission board - affluence )

[raijintosworn]

‘My intentions are not always meant to cause strife.’. Yet somehow, that seems to be all Leo does. With how the Nohrians are, he wonders if this is just how their courts work. They use snide jabs at each other and take down their opponent carefully with words. Though, Ryoma can’t say he knows too much about Nohr; he simply didn’t find the time to care about the finer points of their culture while Nohr ransacked his home.

“Yes, my family knew before you did.” Not intentionally, just as his meeting with Leo is unintentional. Still, he’s glad. He can spend his days with his family now, rather than constantly worrying over bigger and better things.

It’s selfish, leaving it all to Hinoka. He cannot return home. He cannot face all that happened, and all he had put them through. It’s better this way. Easier. He knows it is only easier for him, though. Despite his own pride, he is a coward at heart.

“However, I do find it strange seeing my family, and they don’t remember things as they happened. Yet you do.” Leo and Camilla, of course, but he’d rather not speak her name. He isn’t afraid of her, but she is more of a threat than Leo is. The worst Leo can do is throw tea in his face, without a tome on hand.

You Again?

[raijintosworn]

Strangely, Ryoma could believe there would be mistletoe here. This school was full of young people discovering urges, and full of professors who needed to indulge in urges. It wasn't appropriate, but he remembered being young and wanting to sate the curiosity of the human body and kissing at the same time.

These were not musings to have in front of Xander. Those thoughts should not even be in the same room as Xander of Nohr.

“No. No, I'm afraid you don't get to leave as you please, Xander.” No honorific. He knew he should, he knew it was the polite thing to do, but he would rather contend with his own blade a second time than acknowledge the man before him as a king or prince. No; here, they were on equal footing. Ryoma would not lose that edge so easily.

“I believe this is the perfect time to talk. As you can see, I can't stash weapons - nor can you.” It was the safest option, unless Ryoma felt like drowning him. If this were a different Xander, and if Kamui had not returned, then maybe his life would be forfeit.

“Come, Xander. We'll go together.” It wasn't a question. It wasn't a request. It was barely below a demand. He stepped forward, his eyes cutting a glare to Xander. “Unless you're feeling cowardly. I would call you many things, Xander, but I would not wish to add coward to that list.”

bed bath and beyond pissed

from here

[raijintosworn]

Takumi knew something was wrong.

As Sakura knew something was wrong.

Perhaps in Ryoma’s new life, he had forgotten entirely how to lie to his siblings. Takumi, unlike their sister, had mercifully not pressed the matter. What was he supposed to say, exactly? Before his own death, Corrin had told Ryoma that Takumi was missing. He had fallen from a window, and his body was not found. One of Ryoma’s last thoughts before his death was of Takumi’s own demise. How else was he supposed to react to seeing Takumi?

“I promise you, I'm fine.” He was fine, all things considered. His life was easier, gentler. He had long forgone the armour he used to wear, though he still had it stashed in his room, hidden away where he couldn't see it but he knew it was there. It was a reminder of his failures, after all.

He clasped a hand on Takumi’s shoulder. “I have been here for quite a while now.” While he didn't visit many of the academy's facilities himself, he knew where they were. “I suppose I can show you the training grounds first, hm? Ah, which class are you in?”

Was Takumi even a student? Ryoma couldn't guess. Most of the Nohrians had taken on teaching positions, but Ryoma struggled to imagine Takumi as a professor.

big b(r)other

[raijintosworn]

Mikoto stood dressed in a maid outfit, its petticoat making her frilled skirt flounce around her as she handed out fliers. "Excuse me," Mikoto waved to get the passerby's attention. She moved to fall into a curtsy, then realized just who it was she had hailed: her son. "Oh, Ryoma!" She flushed in embarrassment but kept her smile. "Ah, I'm handing out fliers for the maid café. Please, take one." And she offered it to him.

Ryoma was hailed down by a woman in an… interesting outfit. It took him a moment to recognise her, but when he did, he couldn’t help the outraged “Mother?!” that escaped from his mouth. She was cute, yes, that much was undeniable. However, he still didn’t want to see his own mother in that. He took the flier politely, though looked anywhere but at Mikoto.

“Th- thank you,” he said, wishing he could be anywhere else. Whatever interest he could’ve had in that café died the instant he learned his mother would be there.

“I must go now, er… staff meetings,” he mumbled awkwardly, stashing the leaflet into his pocket to throw away later. “I wish you luck, Mother.” He walked off, hoping it looked like a walk and not like a sprint.

[raijintosworn]

As Ryoma feared - and hoped, with all that he had, he hoped - Takumi didn’t know.

The Takumi he knew was likely dead. He jumped from a window, and his body was not found. The idea of his little brother, gone so easily, it made his stomach turn. For his siblings, there was nothing he would not do. Yet he had failed them. He had failed his family in ways he was too ashamed to speak about, yet he was forced to work alongside the reminders of his failing.

The Nohrians. His family, who knew nothing - except Mikoto. He was beginning to hate Fódlan.

Takumi’s words brought him back to reality. No, Takumi did not know what happened. Just like Sakura, he would tell them nothing. He must collect himself. He took a moment to breathe in, collecting himself, steadying himself. Takumi was alive. At least in another world, another lifetime, he was alive. Ryoma could know this much, at least.

He released Takumi, and gave him a small smile. “Can I not be relieved to see my younger brother?” he said. “I wasn’t expecting you here so soon. I hope your journey here was pleasant.”

He hoped Takumi didn’t notice the quick pivot. He hoped Takumi would never asked.

@shatteredbullseye

big b(r)other

[raijintosworn]

big b(r)other

[raijintosworn]

Her steps are wobbly as she approaches her next victim, but even with wobbly steps she's no less of a dangerous predator. She had yet to speak to the man since the ball.

Perhaps she was being too cruel... After all, the war was over. They should be... well she's not certain he would trust her to be friends but at the very least they could be polite.

But she couldn't deny how fun it was to at least toy with him.

"A very happy new year to you." Camilla slotted herself next to the fallen prince, leaning in close to his ear.

"Enjoy it."

She pressed her lips against his cheek, just enough to stain it as wine dark as her lips.

Ryoma did notice Camilla approach, but assumed she'd want nothing to do with him. After all, the feeling was very mutual. His distaste for the Nohrians, despite being forcibly exposed to them, had not lessened.

However, Ryoma should know a predator better.

She made a space for herself beside him. Ryoma did not budge: as always with the eldest three, he stood his ground. Her voice so low made his skin prickle. Her poisoned lips touched his cheek, and his expression tightened.

"Well Lady Camilla, I'd argue you've had too much to drink, if you're mixing friend and foe like this." He pulled away. "I do wish you a happy new year."

And a terrible hangover. That, however, was a wish he kept to himself.

[raijintosworn]

🎄 //i love putting other muses in situations almost as much as i do soren

tis the season

There are times when Ryoma holds classes indoors - generally when it’s too impractical to train in poor weather. While Ryoma doesn’t mind more traditional teaching, it can be difficult finding topics at the last second.

He’s quite glad when class lets out. He knows he’ll have to switch to the next classroom after lunch. He gathers his materials from the desk and goes to leave, but he isn’t quite paying attention. A book nearly slips from his grasp, and as he adjusts it, he bumps into someone.

And of course, just to add insult to the whole mess, he already knows someone has hung mistletoe by the door.

The poor professor in front of him does not look impressed at all. Ryoma hardly thinks it would be appropriate to bump into them and then demand a kiss; even he is not so brazen. He looks up at it, then back down at the person he’d just bumped into.

“I’d offer a kiss, but surely that’s bound to bring more bad luck than good.” He hums. “Or, perhaps you would take a rain check?”

[raijintosworn]

🎄

tis the season

Ryoma isn't surprised when he finds another bunch of mistletoe. At this point, the students have had far too much fun hanging these all over the place, though he does wonder if some of the faculty and knights may have had perhaps too much fun with the mistletoe, too.

Ryoma can admit, it has been quite interesting seeing who he has been matched with by the universe. He can comfortably say he doesn’t mind this little tradition.

But he is surprised when he ends up under the mistletoe with Geoffrey.

Ryoma remembers him. It’s hard to forget the man he had nearly frozen to death with. The memory feels so distant now, such a ridiculous argument. “Ah, Sir Geoffrey. It has been a while, hasn’t it?” Ryoma says. “I’m glad to meet you under better and warmer circumstances.” He casts a look up at the mistletoe. “Though, I suppose it is under strange circumstances again, hm?”

They absolutely must stop meeting under such close quarters, though, lest Ryoma start believing the gods are trying to tell him something.

Regardless, he decides he’ll indulge in this tradition once again.

He cups his hands around Geoffrey’s jaw. He pulls the man in closer, and presses his lips to Geoffrey’s. The kiss lasts for perhaps a second or two, before he finally lets Geoffrey go.

“Happy new year,” Ryoma says.

[raijintosworn]

🎄 A pesky pegasus flies overhead, mistletoe clenched between its teeth. She can’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“Sorry to bother you, kind sir, but I think our equine friend is feeling rather mischievous today.”

tis the season ; accepting

Well, this is certainly new. Ryoma raises his eyebrows at the absurdity of the situation, but, well, it is kind of funny, isn’t it? Even the mounts are feeling the festive spirit. Though, this particular fellow is feeling quite bold.

“Oh, please do not worry. It's quite funny, isn't it?” He assumes the pegasus likely isn’t hers; he can’t imagine anyone would send out their mount to matchmake. This woman seems lovely enough that she wouldn’t need the extra boost. Still, he’s rambling. It does feel quite strange to kiss a stranger, but as he’d been told - while in Fódlan, right?

It’s certainly one way to break the ice.

He’s careful as he tilts her head up. He presses a gentle kiss to her lips, before letting her go. Just like that, the pegasus is gone. He clicks his tongue in mock annoyance.

“I hope that isn’t your pegasus. There are much easier ways to flirt with strangers.” Not that he thinks anyone would truly flirt with him.

[raijintosworn]

🎄🎄🎄

"Brother!" she recognised him from behind, affecionately and playfully placing her hands on his back, waiting for him to turn. "Do you like the decorations placed alla round?" she giggled, pointing with her index finger the mistletoe above their heads.

"It's a huge help for shy couples too!" she almost whispered it, as if she didn't want to being heard or noticed.

tis the season ; accepting

Ryoma turned around the moment Sakura touched him. Of course he had seen the mistletoe around, and he knew about the tradition. Though, he wondered how many of them Sakura had hung up herself.

“Ah, is there someone you're hoping to meet under the mistletoe?” He kept his voice low and conspiratorial. It was cute, and it was nice to see Sakura spreading her wings, as it were. “Don't worry, I won't ask who. At least, not here.” Perhaps somewhere less open. He couldn’t help but be curious about who could capture his dear sister's heart.

“We certainly aren't a couple, but it doesn't feel right leaving you without a kiss.” Come to think about it, how often had he kissed his little siblings? Perhaps those silly little plants were a blessing in disguise, even if Ryoma has had some… interesting encounters under them.

He leaned down, and touched a small kiss to his sister’s cheek.

“Though if you ask me, you don’t need the mistletoe to kiss someone. I believe you’ve grown strong enough not to need it anymore, don’t you?” He ruffled her hair. Oh, how endlessly proud he was of Sakura.