driftfleet | voice;

In my country we have a lot of stories of famous historical figures - some whose tales have grown as they have become more legend than person.

Take, for example, the Tale of Musashino Benkei. He was a rugged monk and ascetic who grew to a monstrous height. Benkei was famed for his feats of strength and decided to gather 1,000 swords by defeating 1,000 samurai as they crossed a bridge. He fought day after day, defeating famous, feared warrior after warrior and collecting 999 swords.

But then, one day, a young man came across his bridge. Benkei challenged him to a duel as he had with countless braver, bigger men before him. The boy took out a flute and accepted the challenge.

And soundly beat Benkei.

The boy was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who having been raised by the tengu, was endowed with their skill in the sword. Benkei was so taken in by the young man that he pledged his loyalty to him forever. Benkei and Lord Yoshitsune fought many trials together as they tried to reclaim the Minamoto's birthright.

However, the Lord and his retainer were betrayed by Yoshitsune's older brother, Yoritomo, who feared Yoshitsune's popularity and skill would cost him power. He chased Lord Yoshitsune and Benkei across Japan, cornering them in a mountain castle. Knowing that there was no escape, Yoshitsune retreated to the innermost castle to commit seppuku while Benkei, ever loyal and fierce, guarded the only entrance - a single bridge.

He killed dozens of men trying to cross and take Lord Yoshitsune's head. Defeating each as easily as he had back on that fateful day when he first met his young lord. Lord Yoritomo's forces grew afraid and were ordered to take Benkei down the only way they knew how - with arrows. They loosed flight after flight at him, enough to darken the sky, and yet he still stood, his weapon at his side to protect the bridge.

It wasn't until they ran out of arrows that they realized...

Benkei had died long ago, but his valor and his loyalty had kept him upright, giving Lord Yoshitsune time to commit seppuku rather than be taken by the enemy. His story is still told today, in my time, as a symbol of true loyalty and devotion to a cause a person.

[He takes a deep breath after speaking for so long. It whistles a little in his lungs, but he manages not to cough.]

Do you have any such stories? Famous people or groups? I'd love to hear them. It would be a nice break from all the loud music.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There's a pause as Vash is still thinking of Lord Yoshitsune and Benkei. Being unable to see it as anything but sad. Although he can tell Okita does not feel the same way and in the end decides not to press on it.

So he smiles and answers the question instead.]

Because every single heist he's pulled has always bigger and better than the last. He won't steal in a sneaky or swindling sort of way. If you're going to steal something you should be upfront about it. Being a thief is more like a professional job to him. You have to steal something even better or even more guarded and then spend all the money you make into the next heist. Otherwise what's the point?

[He knows it's a sad story, but he also knows that there are far worse ones out there. At least this one is noble, full of fights that end sadly, but not poorly. Benkei is forever remembered as a hero.]

Oooh, that sounds so daring! Can you give me an example of a "heist" he pulled? It sounds so flashy.

Hmmmm. [Vash taps his chin for a moment. The one most people like to talk about was when he stole a Plant, but Vash really doesn't want to explain what a Plant is.]

Well, there was a bank once on my planet. People said it was the only secure bank on the whole planet. It's security was filled with guns, spikes, locks, chains, moving walls, and lots of explosions. Before him no one had ever even gotten past the first part of the security, but Gasback had everything timed so well he made it look easy and walked his way right through.

Luckily, because Gasback had no problems with leaving witnesses, he allowed the people in the bank at the time to live. They say after the heist that the men Gasback brought with him for this job turned on him. Despite being shot he managed to send off a mass of rockets that knocked down the bank allowing him to get away to steal again!

[So what he didn't get away with the money, his traitorous crew did, not to mention in the end the theft was blamed on Vash as being the mastermind. Which really wasn't fair as his donuts got ruined during that heist!]

[Oooh! So not only a heist of a nigh impregnable locale, but a betrayal as well? How fascinating! Gasback's ability to plan and time his jobs had to be impressive to do all that.

Unfortunately, his ability to choose his men wisely was lacking.]

Wow! I can see why you think Gasback-san is such a good thief!

And I'm sure the betrayal and his escape only served to increase his reputation?

Well, some thought he had given up for awhile. He went silent for twenty years after that. Even with a 300 million bounty on his head no one heard anything about him. Then suddenly he came back. Robbing at first three seemingly unrelated people. Then in the end it was found out that those three people were his old crew that had betrayed him.

He even told the last man ahead of time that he was coming. Bounty hunters from around the world came to try to stop Gasback for the bounty but he still couldn't be stopped and all three of those men lost all their fortune they got from that last heist and were arrested.

[Did that seem vague and lacking finer details? It could be because Vash was trying to make sure he kept himself out of the story.]

[Whoa, he hadn't expected the story to take twenty years to resolve itself. How old is Gasback????]

What happened to Gasback after that? Wasn't he quite old at that point?

He was pretty old at that point, but he took very good care of himself during his time hiding under the radar.

He did manage to steal what he set out to steal, but ah, after he got away he did end up getting stopped by ah-- [There's a very brief pause as Vash then laughs as he realizes he has an out.] --you probably won't believe this, but his daughter of all people.

Once she stopped him he then allowed himself to be arrested peacefully. As his men were already exposed for their lies and lives ruined which is what he ultimately wanted by then.

Edited 2017-05-20 14:48 (UTC)

I do believe it actually. Family is the one we least expect.

Although it sounds as if he didn't wish to run any longer once his goal had been accomplished.

...

Was he executed?

Well, I think he if he could have brought himself to hurt her he might have been able to get away. Once he found out he had a daughter he was more willing to turn himself over.

And no, he's not going to be executed. We're actually really bad at executions. Most just get put away in jail for a long time.

[By long time he means escaping eventually. Although, it's one thing he likes about his planet. That they're bad at executions.]

Oh! He didn't know she existed? What a wonderful twist to the story then!

[Although wow, no wonder you have crazy criminals on your planet, Vash.]

Are no prisoners ever executed on your world?

Well, he had heard his wife had died and didn't realize his daughter still lived. Thought she was dead so didn't go back to check. So he hadn't seen or heard from her for her entire life.

[Vash hums as he gives it a thought.]

I wouldn't say we don't have none. They're just not common. I never followed them myself when they were announced. [Made him uncomfortable.]

Oh...That's so sad! I'm glad they could reunite in the end though. I'm sure it made his final revenge much sweeter, knowing that she had survived.

Are you uncomfortable with the idea of executions though? [it's not unusual. most normal people didn't find them especially interesting.]

Yeah. I think he'll really turn over a new leaf once he's released from prison. [Or escapes.]

I don't like executions at all. Everyone has the opportunity to change and to learn from their mistakes. To execute someone takes that chance to change away.

Mm, I suppose that's true of some people.

[But he's also seen some really CRAZY people who honestly just want to see the world burn. He doesn't think they can be saved.]

You must be an idealist then?

[Vash can't help but to break out into a smile and laugh.] Haha! Well, you wouldn't be the first or dare I say the last who would use that word to describe me.

It isn't a bad thing. The world needs more idealists.

[To balance out the wanton murderers like himself.]

Yeah? Hey, thanks! [As most people tend to belittle him for his ideals.]

Of course. [He smiles because he's honest about his praise - idealists are rare.]

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