psl || since the beginning of everything

[unsaid]

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[preowned]

[ tsurumaru doesn't even know how to respond here. there's just a moment of silence as he tries to figure out what just happened, and when that gets him no answers, he just shoves his hand into his pocket to dig out his phone so he can open the retrospec app. ]

What... is going on?

[unsaid]

[ . . . Hm.

well, mikazuki settles for watching him for a moment before canting his head to the side in a mixture of confusion and concern.]

Are you feeling unwell?

[though, given that there are still workers wandering about - ]

Shall we move to the next room?

[where they're less likely to be overheard?]

[preowned]

[ he nods his head and starts to walk, stopping only once he realizes technically mikazuki should be the one leading since he. does not know what room would be empty.

it's startling. waking up in a younger body is too, of course, but he was asleep when that happened. the sensation of only a second passing before something changes drastically is... different. it feels a little more urgent.

tsurumaru continues to scroll through posts on the app as they walk. ]

Have you felt anything else unusual since we woke up?

[unsaid]

[there's a soft exhale of amusement as tsurumaru tries to lead - but as he's preoccupied with his phone, mikazuki will tuck the clipboard he has under his arm and his free hand will find its way to the small of tsurumaru's back

a gentle guide to another room that is more complete and therefore has less people running about. it's the recreation of the tea ceremony room because of course it is]

My tea was more flavorful, though perhaps that is merely a net benefit from this body.

[that's a no]

[preowned]

Did you know that the Date clan was founded in the 12th century?

[ he glances up from his phone and at mikazuki. ]

I didn't, until just now. Very strange.

[unsaid]

[ . . . hm.]

Well, that is rather the purpose of visiting a museum -

[to gain new knowledge, even though that is something that mikazuki knew, just given the nature of his job and personalities but.]

I take it that you mean something else.

[preowned]

[ he taps the side of his head. ]

Very suddenly, I just know... a lot about them? I am not sure how to explain it, but if you asked me a question, there's a good chance I may be able to answer it despite not knowing much about them before just now.

[ he pauses as he scans a post that someone put up a few weeks ago. ]

I'm definitely surprised!

I APPARENTLY NEVER SENT THIS TAG DESPITE WRITING IT WEEKS AGO

[unsaid]

[ . . . . . hm!

mikazuki blinks at that, surprised as well, judging by the expression on his face.]

... well that seems a bit unfair, given that I had to devote most of my life to study. How do you always manage to fly so far ahead of me, my dear crane?

[ . . . . on the surface, he imagines that's a fine answer though - something flickers in his gaze that's just a bit uncomfortable, unsettled.

he can't say he's particularly fond of something playing with tsurumaru's mind this way.]

[preowned]

I suppose you could potentially hire me now?

[ tsurumaru would be a horrible person to work at somewhere like a prestigious museum, actually.

but he goes quiet for another moment as he scrolls through the posts, before finally pocketing the device again.]

The mystery seems to deepen.

[ if anything, this new thing now makes this feel a little less temporary than it might have been. ]

[unsaid]

I believe that's called nepotism.

[he should probably keep his voice down? but it's fine, at least this area remains still a bit less populated than the rest of the exhibit.]

But it seems that they do... I wonder if we should hire detectives?

Or I suppose a few unoccupied old men could use a new hobby...

[preowned]

A detective may be useless if they can't even access the map. [ ... ] App?

[ please don't forget what it's called already ]

I may need to extend my stay here, if that is fine with you.

[unsaid]

Ha ha ha, an inaccessible map is no different from a hidden treasure map, is it not?

[don't just keep going with the incorrect name]

Hmm... I wonder if that is fine with me. Perhaps I should entertain the notion of 'rent'?

[HE IS SO RICH AND GAY, STOP JOKING AROUND, JIJI]

[preowned]

Rent... if the price is too steep for me, I may have to go look at apartments...

[ tsurumaru on the loose, trying to rent an apartment, asking if it comes with free weefee...

horrible.

but he'll take one of the exhibit's pamphlets and stuff it in his pocket, mostly to test himself later. ]

[unsaid]

Do you know how to?

[i need you to know that months later i read that as 'free weewee' and i was like i fucking hope that bathrooms are included in apartments yea]

Hmm... what should I charge for 'rent'? I am not familiar with the market value of my estate. Perhaps... your company for dinner each evening?

[that's not money]

[preowned]

[ i hate you

but he seems to be considering it seriously, as if this is an actual business venture that needs to be thoroughly thought over. and then he finally nods, smiling. ]

My dear, I would give that to you for free.

[ gay ]

[1/2]

[unsaid]

[ah - his expression warms at that and he can't help his smile, automatic and easy. he cants his head to the side as his hand comes up again to let the backs of his fingers brush against tsurumaru's hair]

Then it would be remiss of me not to seize the opportunity. I'll have the staff prepare a meal for two each evening for the foreseeable future.

[unsaid]

[ . . . he hums]

Though it seems we are still without rent.

Ah, I'll think of something later, perhaps.

[don't let the joke die]

[preowned]

Ahahaha, I'll have my lawyers look over the agreements.

[ he doesn't have a lawyer when he probably should considering what he gets up to

but it's fine. ]

What else do you have to do here today?

[unsaid]

Hm.... [mikazuki spares a glance down to the paperwork in his hand, doing his job for once in his life before - ]

Just one more room - we've been able to procure imagined facsimiles of swords whose existence are more uncertain in history. I would rather like to see them for myself, since they just arrived today. It's a bit more of a whimsical exhibition than we normally allow - but it's a rather fun philosophical exercise, isn't it?

[about what it means to exist, to leave a mark upon history -

he begins to walk in that direction, and to his credit only lightly tilts his head when he thinks he hears an echo of two voices, measured steps continuing]

[preowned]

[ and tsurumaru follows after him, any previous concern about their current situation now gone from his expression. ]

Well... does something have to really exist in order to become history? [ a pause. ] Like Santa Claus.

[ he just compared santa to imanotsurugi yea ]

[unsaid]

[hey fun question why is it always santa claus with you]

Ha ha ha - while that sentiment has some truth to it... Saint Nicholas possibly existed - they have his bones at different cultural sites throughout the globe.

[the facT THAT I HAVE TO REFER TO SANTA'S GOO BONES ICLY BC THERE'S NO REASON WHY JIJI WOULDN'T KNOW THIS?????]

[preowned]

[ i can feel santa's goo bones in this chili's tonight

but he looks (haha) surprised at this news, moving a little more quickly so he can now walk, backwards, while in front of mikazuki. could he do this as an old man? no. he is getting too comfortable with the freedom of movement. ]

Is that so? Can we go visit those places?

[ bone goo hunt ]

[unsaid]

[tsuru is about to knock over a really expensive vase like this is fucking ouran host club.]

My, to think that you'd become such a world traveler in your old age... Though I don't see why we wouldn't fly to wherever your wings might be able to take you.

[the mystery? of your elderliness? hello? apparently will be put on hold for gay vacay

- though mikazuki will reach out a moment after, letting his hand loop behind tsurumaru and rest on his lower back]

Careful.

[to keep tsuru from bumping into a display case with a tantou and spear inside

he didn't need to catch him like that but it's cool sometimes you're gay and touchy]

[preowned]

[ oh. that at least gets him to stop, and he turns around enough just so he can get a good look at whatever it is he just almost broke. ]

Is this it?

[ his position makes it difficult to read any plaque that may be there, but he at least can see the two weapons that are stored. ]

The Santa Claus of ancient Japan...

[unsaid]

[mikazuki opens his mouth to respond with a gentle correction, that these are instead two famed weapons said to belong to yoshitsune of the minamoto and his retainer benkei when -

A waning crescent moon.
(Silently, silently)
While knowing that its fate is to fall,
(Silently, silently)
Now, the sorrowful flower bursts into bloom.

- something that can only be a memory, as odd and far-fetched as it may be, stains the edges of his thoughts. he pulls his hand away from tsurumaru, though a moment too late as his fingers had already frozen and stilled for just a beat too long.]

.... well, I'm sure these two in particular would be delighted to be tied to the myth of Saint Nicholas.

[even though his eyes fall upon the case in a mixture of apprehension and uncertainty: despite the name plaques stating that these are imanotsurugi and iwatooshi, are they truly?]

... hmm.

[he turns then, going to inspect the rest of the items in the room without much further explanation]