The Journal [Inbox]

[chippedsoul]

Use this for any IC one-on-one contact and finishing any loose ends at songerein

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[chippedsoul]

[Her actions puzzled him for a moment. What would require her to take out the journal? And then it hits him before she even finishes writing. Made him chuckle.]

For him to give you that information, he must truly trust you. Quite an honor. [He leans back, crossing his arm.] Although, I suppose you have seen quite a bit between us.

[judicialassistant]

[ Noooooo, now she feels self-conscious?! For a moment she wonders if he's poking fun at her, but quickly realizes that isn't the case. Even so, the embarrassment is slower to fade. Having served its purpose, she shuts her journal and tucks it away again. ]

I don't know what, in that moment, made him feel like I deserved it, but it is an honor.

[ You wouldn't normally think that, with a name, but Susato really got that sense when the older man told her. ]

It feels... good. To be trusted. No matter how much I've seen though, I always find myself eager to know more. [ That goes for both of them... ]

[chippedsoul]

[. . .Why does it feel like he needs to be doing something here? Like he's put on the spot and needs to step up his trust game.]

I suppose he could see you genuinely care for him, working hard to keep him together. I'm certain he's been on his own for a long time, much longer than me. [He gets it, being able see someone they can rely on for once. He tilts his head, considering her words a little more.] Are you worried you can't be relied on?

[judicialassistant]

[ Putting him on the spot is not her intention, though she's aware enough that she senses the slight change in his demeanor. She doesn't... know how to answer, exactly. She's never been shy before about admitting her own incompetence and shortcomings, but the stakes feel bigger in Reverein, with magic and impossible things that she still doesn't understand. Maybe it's a matter of feeling small, knowing the world is so much bigger than the ocean she crossed, and the country that lay on the other side. ]

He is a soldier with impossible strength. [ It still boggles the mind, the kinds of things they must have done to him to achieve this. ] Father is an amazing professor, and a doctor. And you... you are an incredible swordsman with unwavering Japanese spirit.

If 76 feels less alone with all of us here, then I am glad for it. But I suppose I just wonder what place I could possibly have, standing next to you all.

[chippedsoul]

...Strength doesn't always come from what we can see. It can be the strength to help others from within. [He shakes his head.] You shouldn't try to compare yourself with anyone. We all became the people we are through different circumstances from your own. The only person you should be competing with, is yourself.

[He crosses his arms, thinking for a moment.] Here, you aren't bounded by the laws that restricted you, because you were born a woman. You can learn and discover something about yourself to your heart's desire, and maybe something may come of it. [A shrug.] Eitherway, I never once thought you were lacking in anything. You're the most capable woman I ever met. So I believe you can do whatever is you think you can do.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato goes quiet as he speaks, glancing to the side at his encouragement. It is all too easy for her to think he's just saying that to make her feel better, but she keeps that thought to herself.

Her time in Reverein has been one of self-discovery and experimentation, for her. She's done things she's never done before: learned to make a fire out in the woods, ate dinner somewhere not and a dinner table. Cooked somewhat professionally, for customers. Practiced martial arts with a longstaff. Which is to say nothing about her apparent affinity for the power of fire itself. ]

I always thought my path as your judicial assistant was set, that I'd never have to worry about being anything else. It was only after I found myself here, facing the impossible, that I started to feel like it was maybe not enough.

[ She pauses. ]

I took the next step though, once. Stood in the courtroom... did I ever tell you that?

[chippedsoul]

After coming here, you say? [Hmm. He leans towards her slightly, speaking in a teasing manner.] Didn't your heart decide to assist another prior? [She and Naruhodo did choose to return to Japan after everything, right?]

And no...you haven't actually. [He raises a brow, pondering as to what she means. Though, knowing her...she found a way.] How was that experience?

[judicialassistant]

[ .......Miserable! Thanks!

But she'll concede to his teasing this time without getting all huffy like before, despite the temptation. Even if they managed to form a council... well, she couldn't see them starting up a law firm here. ]

Terrifying. [ Though she's pretty sure she does remember telling him! At his grave. Oh, well. ] I had to pretend to be a boy... but you gave me strength, thankfully.

Well, both of you.

[ Him, Naruhodo... and, y'know, dear ol' dad. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He makes a sound, unintentionally. Susato, pretending to be a boy. Sure, she came up with her own martial art, but her mannerism is anything but "boyish".]

Ah, sorry. That must have been a difficult ordeal, pretending while also trying to defend someone. I'm glad to hear we were of some assistance, even if we weren't really there. [. . .] Although, what led to you to stand as a defense attorney? [Their country is lacking in defense attorneys, sure, but they really couldn't find anyone?]

[judicialassistant]

... [ She goes quiet for a moment. Even though she wasn't here, and there was no way for her to overhear, she still found it difficult to swallow that not one person would stand in her defense. ] Do you remember my friend, Rei Membami?

[ She'll pause, giving him a moment to consider, but she'll continue and confirm his suspicions after a moment. ]

She found herself on the dock, accused of murder, but father and I couldn't find an attorney to agree to take her case. They were all too concerned, given the political climate at the time. [ Blah blah blah treaty blah blah. ] ...So father and I came up with the idea.

[ ......... ]

Apparently I am quite gallant and dashing in a boys' uniform.

[chippedsoul]

Your friend was on the dock? [Why is he getting the odd sense of deja vu here...? He gives her an amused look when she adds how gallant she looked. She didn't need to, but apparently it meant something to her.]

Perhaps we should ask Ryunosuke, if we can borrow his student uniform. So that I may see for myself.

[judicialassistant]

[ NO...... is what she would say, and is probably what he wants, but she knows when she is being teased, okay. She elbows him lightly with a grin. ]

In your dreams, perhaps.

[ It happened once. Twice--though the first time with Lord van Zieks barely counts. ]

[chippedsoul]

In my--well, that wouldn't be too difficult with where we are. [Thank you Susato, you got him to laugh. Let's not think about how hellish Kazuma's dreams can get though.]

But see...if you can do something like that, you are capable of anything if you put your mind to it here.

[judicialassistant]

[ It's hard not to think about it when there have been nights she can hear him, terrified to the point of weeping. Strong, proud Kazuma. But he's already made his thoughts clear on that long ago, hadn't he, so all she can do is quietly congratulate herself for making him laugh.

She smiles proudly herself, feeling slightly less useless today after all his encouragement, though in the end, she'd wager nothing about her had changed. ]

Thank you. I should get back to work before the dragons get restless, but I will still make you that tea, if you'd like to come with me to the kitchen.

[chippedsoul]

Ah, yes. I'll come help, since we're a man down. [He moves to stand, extending his hand out to her.]

Thank you again, for the gift by the way.

[judicialassistant]

[ She stands up as well, taking his hand as she glances over at the bottle charm she'd made full of a rainbow of origami cranes. ]

You're welcome. It suits you, even better than I imagined.

[ Maybe it's just the rainbow, though. Almost as if an afterthought, she adds, as they walk-- ]

Speaking of the dragons--do you think we could name them?

[chippedsoul]

[Are you saying the rainbow suits him because he's gay for Ryunosuke]

I don't see why not. Although I feel like more of them appear every so often. It may be difficult to come up with enough names for them all. [A pause, recalling a memory.]

I had a dragon once actually. Sort of a watch dragon for the previous tavern.

[judicialassistant]

[ If the necklace fits ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You WHAT? Susato nearly stops right in the middle of the garden as they make their way through, though she just barely manages to trail behind him in her surprise. ]

A watch dragon? [ Of course she'll imagine an eastern dragon from Japanese legend. ] Was she very large? Did you name her?

[ Was she even a girl? ]

[chippedsoul]

[Ah oh. He stops cause that was quite the reaction.] Not as big as Blue when I last saw her. Her name was Fang. [. . .] Technically, I didn't name her at the time though. It's complicated. [Complicated being Hyde.]

She was white as snow, her tufts of fur accented with red. Looked sort of like the spice and garnish dragons here, but bigger.

[judicialassistant]

[ We Don't Talk About Hyde^tm. But she does kind of wonder what that means though... because how is it complicated? Either he named her, or he did not.

She lets out a bit of a breath to reel herself in, not intending to react so animatedly. ]

She sounds beautiful. [ Can't help but seem wistful, or a bit disappointed that they aren't likely to meet. ] Maybe we can train the spice and garnish dragons to watch over your home, too.

[ Strength... in numbers...? They would definitely need names then. ]

[chippedsoul]

Hm...I think I should look into bringing her here sometime. [He's trying to think how those little dragons would defend this place. Blind them with spices? Make them sneeze? It's a funny thought really.]

Maybe, but they're not really tied to this place. I think they just go where there's food and drinks being made and eaten.

[judicialassistant]

[ Listen, they may not be trained for combat, but she believes.

That statement also gives her hope that meeting Fang may not be as far out of the realm of possibility as she thinks. It worked with Blossom, after all--why not a dragon, too? She wonders if she and Blue would have been friends.

And on that note, she opens the door to the kitchen, feeling a wave of heat pour out. ]

Well, then they've come to the right place, haven't they?

[chippedsoul]

Hehe, they certainly have. [He follows after her into the kitchen. The spice and garnish dragons that stayed behind were lazing about in various spots, waiting patiently for something to do.] What are we preparing back here anyway?

[judicialassistant]

I've been using the fish that Blue has been leaving at the house to make stew.

[ By now, Susato probably has a notebook of notes full of recipes and tips she's consulted 76 about. Either way, she greets the dragons with affectionate pats on the head. ]

But let me brew you that tea I promised, before we get too busy. [ She pauses, looking him over. ] Are you certain you want to stay and work?

[chippedsoul]

Sure, all right. [As he leans against the nearby counter, he glances at the little dragons, cooing at getting headpats. A few of them are still wary around Kazuma, but others have started to warm up to him.]

We're down a man, and I should learn my way around the kitchen. [Can't be sleeping on the job.]