video;

[helmsplitter]

Who: Doudanuki Masakuni
Broadcast: Video, Fleetwide
Action: Caprine, if interested
When: Now!

[Welcome to Doudanuki's Very Important PSA. He turns on the video and stands back, dressed in the Fleet provided beige jumpsuit. He has his sword sheathed in one hand and clears his throat.]

Alright, since I've had to explain this rusts know how many times just on the last planet, I figured I'd just show you all at once.

My name's Doudanuki Masakuni. I'm a war sword, and yes, I mean that literally. This body? [He points to the human form.] Is a manifestation. This body? [He holds the sword out in front of him.] Is my real body.

I'm a tsukumogami. I live in a sword. I have a human body 'cause my saniwa, my current master, used their powers to give me one. And in case you keep doubtin' me?

[He tosses his sword on his bunk behind him. Then he suddenly disappears in a flash of light just as the sword hits the bed.

A moment later he reappears in a flash of light and a shower of cherry blossom petals, dressed in his usual armor and black clothing. He's now holding his sword across his lap as he sits cross-legged on the bed. For a moment he looks disoriented, then he shakes his head, dislodging a few cherry blossoms, and looks at the camera again.]

If you got questions, I'll answer them today and today only. After that, don't tell me I can't be a sword or I'll punch you.

Comments

[stoccado]

[Oh... oh. She suddenly understands what he's getting at, albeit possibly without meaning to. And she gets it. Her and Kirito's house in the virtual world serves as a gathering spot for a lot of their friends. Dinner parties happen roughly once a week at least, and everyone's always smiling and laughing when they leave well after dark.

It's the feeling of camaraderie and belonging. Something about being able to eat with people makes someone feel closer to them. Things are somewhat easier for Asuna, since she has her most important person in the fleet with her. Doudanuki has no one. Or nosword. Whatever.

In reply, she simply reaches across the table to where he set the plate of mac and cheese and the fork. Stabbing into the vegetables, she takes a bite with a contemplative look on her face before swallowing.]

Pass the salt, please. These are a little too bland right now.

[helmsplitter]

[He nods in appreciation, glad that she understood him without his needing to say it really. He hates having to admit that he misses those idiots at home. But he does. He misses them almost as much as he misses his connection with his other selves. He could always deal with being the only one of himself at a Citadel because he had them, sitting somewhere in the back of his mind. But now they're all gone.

He passes the salt shaker over, propping his elbow on the table and chin in hand.]

How d'you know if somethin's bland or not?

[stoccado]

[Asuna takes it with a grin, then shakes some onto the vegetables, taking a test bite. Once she's satisfied, she places the salt back on the table and addresses his question.]

Hm, well, the stew you're eating is a little spicy, right? Salt is obviously salty. Some things are sweet or sour or bitter, too. I'd say bland would be a food lacking any sort of distinctive taste that you feel is missing something. These were vegetables, but nothing really set them apart from anything, so I added salt. Does that make sense?

[helmsplitter]

....

[He stares at the vegetables and thinks all of that over. He thought vegetables tasted pretty distinct, but then he didn't grow up eating them all the time. He remembers some of the first times they all tried to eat vegetables they grew - without cooking them first. It was kind of a bitter disaster until the Saniwa set them all straight.]

...So vegetables taste bland by themselves? Or is it just 'cause you had other food to go with it?

[He squints at this. Does that mean everything tastes bland without something on it???]