antumbrac | After Trial Mingle

[ Speechlessness continues though Mikami at least doesn't look like he's about to break down anymore and is slowly regaining some semblance of control over his facial features. Phrases like 'you've judged me enough already' come to mind as being appropriate responses here, but he's somehow not feeling it. ]

I would not go back even if it was and even if I... [ ~~was sentenced to live by you...???~~ ] I wouldn't go back.

In that sense, it does not matter to me. But ideally we seize her power of interdimensional travel for ourselves and return those of you who want to go back. I'll be putting my energy towards that for the time being.

Ideally, yes. I can't imagine being content here, personally, so if I can go back to Terca Lumireis I have every intention of doing so.

[...That isn't to say this hasn't been interesting, but god, he wants to leave.]

But if it's your world that wants you dead and you're removing yourself from it, there isn't any sense in removing yourself from all others as well.

[...]

...It matters little to me what you end up doing, but watching potential waste itself tends to annoy me.

[ Mikami swallows dryly and nods. ]

I'll have ample time to keep thinking about this. And I will hold you to your promise of judgment, regardless of whether or not I end up heeding the advice.

[ He's not fallen so low from his usual self that he'd put up the opinion of Cumore on any sort of pedestal, but he is... maybe curious to see what will be made of the man he is now, judged only for actions he's taken past his failure in his world. ]

The situation has... certainly changed from when I was merely in my world and didn't suspect the existence of any others.

As Captain of the Imperial Knights, it's well within my right and my authority to condemn and execute criminals if I see fit to do so. I won't hold back my judgment for the sake of anything inane like sparing your feelings; you of all people should know by now that I'll tell you if I believe you to be worthless.

It's a bit of a shame that I won't get to play with you if that ends up being the decision. But I don't think most here would let me get away with it.

[so, you know. sadist's gonna want to be sadistic no matter how much fun he thinks you are, but at least he'll be blunt with you regarding judgment itself.]

The important thing is that we're both alive at the end of this. I can handle that much if you can.

[ Ah. There it is, something familiar to latch onto. Cumore's sadism is appreciated as much as it is condemned here, because it makes Mikami roll his eyes in disdain and that makes him feel almost like a person. ]

I will be there. You can count on it.

[ And frowning: ] I may strongly advocate harsh penalties, but I have too much dignity left to let you play. Which is a disgusting word choice.

Truly, you wound me.

[He laughs a bit, though. You're cute, Mikami.]

You're welcome to think it's repulsive. But it's precious if you think any of my toys are in a position to give me permission. The condemned don't really get much of a say.

Don't worry, though. I'll be nice and I won't do that to you, I promise.

[ Brrr, that's creepy. Mikami makes a face kind of like he stepped into something gross. ]

One can always die before you have your way.

[ Unless they're too pathetic to do that, too busy begging.... Yeah, Mikami doesn't actually have a lot of compassion to spare either. He's not a good person, he just doesn't think torture is appealing. ]

Whatever 'your way' may entail.

I suppose they could, but not everyone is as hardened as you like to be.

[zero empathy brigade represent, tbh...]

That's their bad then. They could exercise their power over themselves to get away from you and choose not to.

[ Is he arguing against Cumore's bragging? Against the convicts? Both? All? Who knows. ]

Granted, I also usually don't give them the opportunity. Many of my arrests are for things like high treason; I'm rather good at capturing people who have gone to great lengths to ensure they won't be found.

[Skills: hunting.]

After all that, it would be a waste to let them get away from me in any capacity.

There's always a way if there is the appropriate determination.

[ He didn't even know he had strong opinions about this, but projecting? is a thing now. On this. Somehow. ]

But I see, that's the kind of crime you usually deal with. I had been wondering. I specialize in common violent crime rather than political matters, for the most part.

It depends on what's happening within the Empire at the moment. I prefer political matters, but sometimes I'll be expected to deal with pettier things if nothing is demanding my time at the moment.

[And sometimes Alexei tells him to go kill what amounts to a giant talking turkey in the desert because...Reasons? Because Alexei is mildly insane? Who even knows.]

I see. Your form of government appears to be structured fairly differently from what I'm used to.

[ No wonder if you're from 'guns are unreliable and we love bow and arrows' land. ]

There used to be Empires in my world but that was before I was even born. Political matters these days tend to be structured more localized.

...How do you get anything done.

[like seriously you can't usually get your average three people to agree on what we're having for dinner tonight

much less larger entities]

A lot of paperwork.

[ Oceans of paper, Cumore, oceans. Not that Mikami dislikes this, he finds forms calming to fill. ]

Everything is subject to strict filing and documentation processes on every level. It takes time and storage area, but it ensures that decisions remain comprehensible and hold up to scrutiny even years later.

That seems like such a waste of time. In Terca Lumireis, the Empire owns most of the world; the only reason things get inconvenient for us at the moment is if there's some sort of rebellion, which is usually easily crushed, or if the Council and our Commandant can't come to an agreement. We don't have an Emperor currently, so that latter one tends to cause...well. As you mentioned, a large amount of paperwork.

You want to become Commandant. Why not Emperor?

[ Not that he thinks Cumore would be a very good emperor, but it seems like the kind of megalomaniac thing he'd aspire to - especially with the position vacant. ]

Unfortunately, that's not how it works. The Emperor has to be descended from a certain bloodline - direct descendents of the Goddess, more or less. There's an entire ordeal made out of verifying that they're legitimate, involving holy relics and all of that. Even if I were to attempt, I'd be rejected by the stupid sword. There wouldn't be a point.

[ 'Unfortunately', huh? Well, good to know he's got Cumore more or less right. ]

Does your council just intend to leave the position empty forever then? I assume it's vacant now because nobody of that bloodline exists anymore.

The problem isn't that we have no heirs. We've got two of them, actually. Lord Ioder and Lady Estellise.

The problem is that someone stole the damn sword.

[...He sounds so done.]

........ oh.

[ Mikami blinks. Not the explanation he expected. ]

Hinging your whole government on a single object certainly has its security flaws.

You can say it, it's insipid. I won't be offended.

Good. It is.

Not that I am against respecting holy relics on principle, but if their absence shuts down the intended form of government, something is wrong.

There's no argument from me there, but it isn't as though I can do anything about it. Perhaps someday, but for the time being appointing anyone at all would be an improvement. Things are a bit tense with the Council and all.

After Trial Mingle

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