mordechai | 001. open post // quiet little burials.

Yes. Of course, since Hikaru was still around...

[Taking a swig.]

That just meant that he had to keep pushing against the walls of the Blade King's head, making him break down. Waiting. Everybody falls eventually, after all.

He's still standing. [ Brigade thinks of his Brother ] All he needs now is a little bit of help keeping his footing until... [ Brigade thinks on it. Alistair's is the first file he's seen about someone still wanting to separate Hikaru from Death. The first file he's seen of someone with a similar goal as him. Everyone else... well they all seem to have accepted that Hikaru being Death is the way of things ] Until someone finds a way of getting Death out of his head... out of his life.

[Stopping. Staring at the man hard. Measuring.]

You do realize that getting rid of Death is the last thing that he wants to do now, right?

[ Brigade knows this. That Hikaru wants to keep the thing in check, so that no one else has to deal with it. That things will be worse off if he doesn't keep Death at bay. ]

Yes. [ He sighs ] But that doesn't mean it's what's good for him. Neither does it mean that we should all just stop finding a way and let him go through this [ Hikaru's voice comes to mind: "If I do lose it. If you're certain that there's nothing left of me in here." The footage of his 27th Awakening and the damage and death it brought flashes through his thoughts. Akihiko dying at his hands. Kasumi crying. Hikaru refusing to be separated from his father's dead body. Alistair pulling him away. ] forever.

Finding a way to separate him and Death isn't about disrespecting his choice, sir. It's about being ready to save him, to pull them apart, in case it becomes too much for him and Death is sure to take over. [ That's what he fears most really. Death going loose and... and doing what? Going wild after having experienced emotion and humanity through Hikaru? No longer content to be a neutral, abstract force in the Universe? Of it being a malevolent being that will take everything? ]

[ Brigade takes a swig ] Honestly, sir, I think it's already way past too much, really. What he's been through. He shouldn't have to carry that thing. He should never have had to.

Well, he isn't carrying it alone.

[And it's actually kind of funny how somehow? This is bringing them together. Teaching them lessons. Making them see things that they had all been so idiotic about and constantly missed, or ignored.

He's been with the Blade King for a very long time, and he has never seen so many people willing to stand with him, before him, behind him... wherever they could be.]

Word of advice, Brigade.

[Looking at the man again.]

Drop it. Walk with him, insist on being there even when he's trying to keep you away, be ready for anything. But keep the current solution that you have in mind as a last resort. Something that shouldn't even be an option.

[He'll explain if he has to.]

[ "Drop it" is said with such weight that Brigade didn't really expect ]

You know I already am, sir. [ insisting on not leaving him ] And I do hope it never has to come to that point [ Or that we can find a way that he never has to have terrible Awakenings anymore ]. But just for peace of mind: Is there a way? Already, I mean.

I won't force it on him, sir. [ Brigade means it. He respects his Brother. It would have to be, as Alistair put it, the "last resort" before he forced anything down his Brother's throat. ] But I just want to know if there's a way to drag him out of it [ Russia flashes in his mind. The video feed Jessie Vice showed them of the 28th life cycle comes after. ], to save him, in case he goes over the edge.

Cause I'm not just going to turn my back on him, sir. I'm not going to leave him to live a life as Death's puppet. I know you won't either, sir. And I know so many people like you and I as well.

And if there isn't a way yet: then I'm going to find one. Cause I'm not going to be found half-cocked when the time requires it.

Edited 2014-02-12 08:14 (UTC)

There are ways. They've already been looked into, and we have Hikaru's blessing to execute them when we feel that it's necessary.

[He and Tala Vega have had many a long conversation on this in the past. Elias Tagabigay was there for some of them, along with a few others.]

He is not Death's puppet, you know. Their agreement is real. [Eyeing Brig again.] Tohru hasn't told you this yet, but the awakening he had in this cycle was the best that he's ever had. The lifetime before that? Necessary, as will all of the other periods where Death is going to be in control.

[He's speaking with certainty because he has seen the records. Contrary to popular belief, he was watching.

Phone calls come to mind.]

It was a challenge. Death 'stooping down' to our level, Hikaru 'rising' to His. Now it's a balancing act.

[And from what he can see, Hikaru is winning.]

[ Brigade's still torn at the thought of a life cycle where Death takes control. Remembers Hikaru's white hair and emaciated features. ]

[ But the knowledge that there are (more than one at that!) contingencies and that Hikaru has acceded that they be executed when needed, calms the tide in Brig. He doesn't worry about "when we feel it's necessary". He trusts the judgment of men like Alistair Mordechai and Father Aidan Clayce. He knows these people love Hikaru just as much as he does. ]

[ The confirmation from a Malice King that "they agreed to walk together" wasn't some lopsided euphemism is even better news. ]

I hope... I know Hikaru will hold on. I told him myself the other night. That Death will never take him completely. [ He remembers Hikaru making the request. He remembers just taking his head into one arm. ] That I know there will always be something of him in there.

[ Brigade takes a swig of his flask ] Maybe one day Death will be the one afraid that Hikaru takes over completely. Or maybe call him Brother too.

Edited 2014-02-12 08:42 (UTC)

There is no 'maybe' there. It will happen.

[The smile on Alistair's face speaks of pride tempered with nostalgia and a little regret, but it's as certain as certain comes.]

Last I checked, in fact, they do call each other 'Brother'.

[ The things Brigade has become privy to today ] It's very good to hear that, sir.

I apologize if I've been presuming the worst. It's just how I've been trained. [ Brigade can't help himself. The respect for Alistair Mordechai has increased exponentially. This is a man he would follow. He does a full salute for a second or two, before taking a military at-ease stance ] Thank you for sharing this information with me, sir. I will keep it classified and speak to no one of it without your leave.

[ Brigade pauses before adding ] Yes, sir, I believe in him too. There is no "maybe". Brother Hikaru will succeed. And there will come a time when his relationship with Death is no longer strained.

Edited 2014-02-12 10:56 (UTC)

[Nods. He is realizing, more and more, why Hikaru seems to like this one. Why Aidan trusts him. Why Riley is not concerned.]

Don't worry about it. As things stand, I'm impressed that you spoke your mind on it. Most people in your position are content to let us do our work and won't bother questioning.

[ Brigade just feels comfortable opening it up ]

Sir, when Inquisitor Hawke went on the mission to stop the Nazi genetic Daywalker project, he didn't come back. [ Brigade remembers rushing into the war room when the news arrived ] We were told that no sortie to rescue him would be made. Because if Hawke wasn't able to handle it with a full contingent of his troops, then anyone else we'd send in would probably end up MIA as well.

[ He remembers how angry he was at the order to stand down. ] I knew it was political. Big Boss had been getting very influential with the troops. Some of the brass wanted to get him out of the picture. They tied... everyone's hands. Even his second's; his woman. [ Politicians. Stupid, chess-playing politicians. ] I went AWOL, sir. Broke out of the house-arrest we were all placed in and went to save him on my own.

[ He breathes heavy at the memory ] It was my first lesson in questioning authority, sir. The second was when I got back and they didn't want to give him a proper funeral. Wanted to strike him off the rolls and make him just another blackops casualty no one would ever know about. I spoke my mind then, sir. Got him a posthumous promotion.

I've been very cautious of authority since.

Edited 2014-02-12 11:29 (UTC)

[And even as he is listening, he's remembering the day the Committee came together in the 1300s. The day they were discussing Hikaru Shinta's case. The Weapon they made.

He remembers walking out of that meeting, marching right into his room, gathering all of his things. He remembers threatening several people, at knife point, to back the fuck away or die.]

I think I understand you a little better now. Authority's only as good as the people who hold it.

[ Brigade takes a swig from the flask ] I was afraid, sir, after my first mission with Netsach, that I may have fallen in with the wrong people. [ He remembers shouting at Chief Eli that he was surrounded by killers ] But I have no regrets or worries, not anymore. [ Having been given the opportunity to speak with most of the Malice Kings, to meet and work with their operatives, Brigade's seen that they all really just put a strong face on at first. Faces which mask truly good people ] Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.

[ He pauses, and adds tentatively ] Can I file a request, sir? With your permission of course.

Tell me what it is first, and I'll think about it.

[He's not about to make promises. He's just that kind of guy.]

Edited 2014-02-12 15:45 (UTC)

[ Brigade expected nothing less. And would have worried had that not been the answer ] When I finally earn the rank and the right to it, and with Hikaru's leave and the acquiescence of the Malice Kings, I would like to be included among those who are tasked with executing the contingencies [ He pauses and adds ] and in anything that may help Brother Hikaru, in any little way, succeed in his goal.

Granted.

[On a related note...]

You might want to consider becoming a Warden of the Wolf.

Thank you, sir. [ Brigade smiles ] And I already have. [ He raises the flask in a mock salute and takes a drink from it. ]

[Drinking as well.]

Granted, that's going to place you in close proximity with Tohru. He can be difficult to get along with.

[Saying that casually, like it's nothing. He wants to see Brig's reaction properly.]

[ After the Measuring ceremony, there isn't anything but respect for Tohru Fukuzawa. Not just in his abilities. Definitely not out of fear or intimidation. But because of his unfailing love and fealty to his son and brother ] Some people have said that about me as well, sir. And Hikaru. I'm sure we'll find a way to get along. [ Brigade respects Tohru Fukuzawa's decision in the matter. He only had in mind what was best for Hikaru ]

[I know you're listening, Fukuzawa.

There is no response on the other end. There doesn't need to be. Alistair is familiar with the Assassin's ways.]

I'm pretty sure, at this point, that you're going to try to find a way. He can be a bit of a bastard.

[ Brigade laughs, genuinely ] I've come to take words like those, sir, as compliments ever since I settled in with the Conspiracies. [ He thinks of Jessie Vice - "that dick", Shane Duskrider - "that old bigot", An'yu Oyama - "Brother Dumbhead", Hikaru himself - "fucking idiot", and so on and so forth. ] I'm actually already wondering how everybody else describes me in that manner.

Edited 2014-02-12 17:29 (UTC)

Trust me: you'll hear it floating around for yourself the moment somebody comes up with something good.

[Falner and Kibo are both tiny, tiny places when it comes to gossip.]

[ Brigade chuckles at that and proceeds to drink and smoke ] I'm actually looking forward to it, sir.

001. open post // quiet little burials.

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Threshing out the Hawke mission background. Just tell me if I should delete it and change it.:)

This is fine! ♥

He's so Hugh Jackman. I love it. hahaha

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