Measure Once. Cut Twice.

A Hanzo Shimada roleplay blog affliated with Arietta

[ryuuyumi-blog]

kiitaryuu

As expected.

His heart, beating mechanical, might have hurt had he not expected that. When they were younger it would have pained him. Now he’s not sure what he owes that numbness to; time, separation, his robotic nature? A combination of all three, more than likely.

He gesticulates as he speaks, “I’m suppose wondering how much you know about this place, if I have to come to you with something at all.”

Confusion passes through Hanzo's expression before he hardens it; braces himself.

"How much do you know?" He deflects, unwilling to admit his ignorance. Yet, he knows this question to be a sort of admission. What Hanzo knew were fragments of a much larger scene. Talking animals, an endless forest, how he had entered this realm without weapons, yet Stormbow had materialized in his hands the second it was required.

Hanzo might have thought the Genji before him to be a sort of apparition had he not had such a solid presence; so distinctly different from the Genjis who had haunted him in dreams past. Still, the question lingered. This world was uncertain. It could be an carefully constructed trap.

"What is preventing me from assuming you are a creation of this world?" Then, a bitter scoff, "Perhaps even the culprit who spirited me into this realm; masquerading as a memory."

[ryuuyumi-blog]

aetaisrex

Siegbert’s brow furrows in distress at Hanzo’s sharp response, but he had not expected a favourable response. After all, how in the world would he, a gangly youth having been caught doing something so shamelessly juvenile have any platform to stand on.

Still, he presses forward with the conversation. Hoping that some of his Father’s sturdiness and quite charisma has rubbed off on him

“My sincerest apologies if I’m mistaken, but are you not Hoshidan? Your current King being Lord Ryouma and his heir, Shiro? I would not claim friendship with those people without the utmost certainty it was returned. ”

Shiro had made sure of it. Something he thanked the bolder boy for.

His eyes slowly follow Hanzo’s back up to the bird, not shifting out of his stance he lets out of a soft sigh.

“Unfortunately, I found myself separated from my companions and being in a state of panic the bird was able to take the broach from him.” he pauses, knaws on his lower lip and he debates whether or not to add this last fact, “It…has sentimental value. It’s a gift from my mother. Otherwise, I would have simply laughed at my own clumsiness.”

The fact that Siegbert continued to press on despite the arrow staring him down clued Hanzo in on what bravery (stupidity) he possessed. Yet, as Siegbert continued, Hanzo felt his patience wane. Hoshidan? Talks of kings and heirs? It was all nonsense to Hanzo. He noted it with some curiosity, but decided to withhold any questions until his safety was secured. Perhaps Siegbert was trying to distract him by posing nonsensical questions.

"Then apologize. You are mistaken. I have no king." His tone is curt, but his interest returns as Siegbert explains what led him to this current dilemma.

No assassin would be so sloppy as to willingly tell his prey he was not traveling alone; much less announce that he was separated from the pack. Still, the information was a cause for concern. The situation could escalate should one of the boy's friends arrive into the scene and retaliate against Hanzo. Depending on the size of the group, it could prove a challenge.

"If it is such precious trinket, then properly treat it as such. To think a mere bird could outsmart a human." Hanzo says this as his gaze drifts back towards the crow, still keenly watching.

In a simple, fluid motion Hanzo shifts aim to the crow, releasing the arrow a breath later. An attack primed and fired in mere seconds yet the arrowhead stuck only the branch behind the crow. The creature having flown away at an near impossible speed, dodging the arrow with ease. Settling quickly back onto a different branch, unharmed, it ruffed its feathers once then looks down on them.

[aetaisrex-deactivated20170818]

@ryuuyumi

Siegbert flashes an awkward smile at the Hoshidan-looking man, raising his hands open and palms forward in a gesture of submission. There is little you can do else when you’ve been caught - sans weapon - cooing at a crow in an attempt to get a gold pin back and have a bow pointed in your face.

Bowing his head slowly, copying the respectful greeting he was taught during diplomatic relations as best as he can under the circumstances.

“I-uh, I mean you no harm. In fact I believe I am a friend of your future King, if your assumption about your origins is correct.” 

He hopes desperately this is enough to calm the bowman and get him to lower his weapon.

[ryuuyumi-blog]

“King?” Hanzo scoffs, responding to the other’s harmless smile with a cruel glare. “Know that spouting nonsense will grant you no favor, boy.”

While Hanzo could not sense any hostility from the younger man, the thick armor he wore peaked Hanzo’s interest. Few aspects were like those worn by the Crusaders in Northern Europe. It also lacked the proper structure to even be considered a type of power suit. Bulky and utterly medieval, Hanzo could hardly imagine what threat the young man could pose. Still, Hanzo kept his bow readied, aimed at the other’s face. Caution is what had kept him alive to this point, afterall.

Nearby, resting on a branch observing the scene was a crow; with dark eyes that seemed to glimmer with amusement bright as the golden object clasped in its beak.

“…Did you wish to claim that creature’s treasure as your own?” He gestures to the crow with his chin, eyes still searching for any tells that his opponent would finally launch his attack. “Or have you been bested twice in a single day?”

[kiitaryuu-blog]

@ryuuyumi

For all the training Genji has had, nothing has really prepared him for this place. Not that its something he can’t adapt to. What really has him perplexed, however, is the talking animals that seem to know all the curves and paths like the backs of their paws.

It comes to be that he’s running as fast as he can through the trees, jumping over roots and bushes, pursuing something … Incredibly ridiculous.

It was a deer.

A deer that spoke like it knew the secrets of the place, the way to more; more questions for his vagabond heart, and answers to those questions. He finds it very odd, how fast this deer is moving, but as he moves closer to a clearing — large and well-lit — he finds that he can’t detect the damn thing. Like it vanished into thin fucking air.

He stops at the edge, eyes trained on a familiar sort of figure at the other edge. Genji knows he doesn’t need to do anything to get his brother’s attention; he’s already been sensed and seen; more than likely, anyway.

It might be fun to throw a shuriken past him, though, but he’ll save the pranks for … later.

If there is a later; who knows, with him, with them.

“You look … not as out of place here as I do, brother.” he tries, voice even and almost cautious. This might come to bows drawn, sword unsheathed, knowing them.

[ryuuyumi-blog]

Storm bow had been raised the very second Hanzo noticed something amiss; arrow notched and fingers resting on the string. Expecting some sort of assailant or animal to emerge, he crouched low in hopes of catching some sort of advantage. Yet, the moment Genji haults at edge of the clearing, Hanzo sharply rose to his full height.

Brother. Hanzo’s shoulders tense before he can repress the reaction. It is such a foreign term to him now, another piece of his life meant to remain in the past. To Hanzo, the cyborg was right in only one respect: he did look out of place, with that metallic body clashing against the serene settling of the forest.

Hanzo could simply loose a warning arrow – make it known that his only desire was to continue their unfinished bout at Shimada castle. And yet, his more rational side insisted he interrogate what information he could out of Genji (Genji? No, Genji was dead; the man on the opposite edge could not be considered his kin.)

Instead, Hanzo chose to stare down the cyborg with an icy glare, seeking to communicate that one wrong step would be viewed an invitation to battle.

“You were a fool for displaying such cowardice during our last meeting. Know that if you seek to claim my life in earnest, this shall be your final chance.” A quick scan finds no swords drawn or even a battle ready stance, but memory recalls how the cyborg managed to drawn shuriken in a breath. Lowering his voice, Hanzo continues, “If your intentions are anything else, state them succinctly. I do not wish to waste my time.”

[jibadojo]

Beyond the arrow