Susato Mikotoba 🌸 御琴羽 寿沙都 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
judicialassistant) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
dreamcrystals2022-02-02 09:03 pm
judicialassistant) wrote in dreamcrystals2022-02-02 09:03 pm
Entry tags:
[01] a dream is a wish your heart makes
Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Notes: Based on an AU idea and thus deviates from canon. Susato "inherits" Kazuma's resolve upon his mysterious death and faces some opposition in trying to take his place in Great Britain.
* * * * *
"Preposterous." The words were practically spat as the scene hazily came into view. An older male voice spoke, voice nasaly and unpleasant, though his features were obscured.
"Why?" A second man, recognizable to those in Reverein as Yujin Mikotoba, responded. His tone was more polite than was deserved.
"You know our laws."
"I know that women are subject to the same laws as we men," Yujin argued, "and yet none are afforded the same right to even set foot inside the courtroom to aid in their own defense. Why do you suppose that is?"
"It matters not, professor." The first man, now with a pair of glasses and other recognizable features, shook his head grimly. "A boy is dead. Now is simply not the time for her childish fantasies."
"That boy was like her brother," Yujin said, unable to mask the offense and growing irritation in his voice. "Susato has studied all the same texts, the same laws. She learned a second language in order to be able to assist him. Who better to take his place in the exchange and finish what he started?"
"We have plenty students of law at Yumei who would qualify. Male students."
"None with his resolve." Yujin spoke immediately with confidence, as he looked to his daughter with pride. "Nor hers."
Susato didn't react, remaining stoic as she accepted judgement. She was angry. First at her loss, and then that her hard work would be reduced to this, a petty argument to prove her worth. The more she showed that anger, though, the worse it would be, so outwardly, she only clenches her fist, tugging the edge of her kimono.
"...That is okay, father. I understand." Susato spoke calmly, as someone who has already made her decision. "I understand that they do not wish for me to practice law in Japan--but the way I see it, I am leaving anyway, so this argument is irrelevant. I do not expect to be back until I find the truth he sought."
The voice. Follow the voice, to Great Britain. Susato turned to leave, with Yujin reaching for her moments after, but both stopped at the same nasaly voice.
"Our agreement for the exchange still requires that you have an assistant!"
.
Yujin sighed, sensing the older man's desperation at bringing up such a trivial matter.
"Ah... as it so happens, I know just the young man," Yujin said. "Kazuma's best friend, in fact. I believe he was caught trying to board the steamship already..."
His voice seems to trail off, vibrating as the scene flickers. In the final moment, an image of boy in a black student's uniform appears with his signature wide eyes; but the image statics as Susato stirs in the real world.
Then it fades away abruptly as she awakens with a start.
* * * * *
[ Susato's eyes spring open to the familiar darkness in her room. Even as memories of the dream start to fracture and fade, she tries to make sense of everything she just saw. None of that actually happened, right? Yet somehow, it didn't feel too far off the mark, and she can't seem to decide whether she is thankful for that, or woefully disappointed.
She's never had her dream recorded before, but rather than act embarrassed or ashamed, she just shuts her journal with an apologetic sigh to no one in particular.
Instead, she grabs another journal--a normal one--along with a quill, and starts writing down anything she can remember. ]
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Notes: Based on an AU idea and thus deviates from canon. Susato "inherits" Kazuma's resolve upon his mysterious death and faces some opposition in trying to take his place in Great Britain.
"Preposterous." The words were practically spat as the scene hazily came into view. An older male voice spoke, voice nasaly and unpleasant, though his features were obscured.
"Why?" A second man, recognizable to those in Reverein as Yujin Mikotoba, responded. His tone was more polite than was deserved.
"You know our laws."
"I know that women are subject to the same laws as we men," Yujin argued, "and yet none are afforded the same right to even set foot inside the courtroom to aid in their own defense. Why do you suppose that is?"
"It matters not, professor." The first man, now with a pair of glasses and other recognizable features, shook his head grimly. "A boy is dead. Now is simply not the time for her childish fantasies."
"That boy was like her brother," Yujin said, unable to mask the offense and growing irritation in his voice. "Susato has studied all the same texts, the same laws. She learned a second language in order to be able to assist him. Who better to take his place in the exchange and finish what he started?"
"We have plenty students of law at Yumei who would qualify. Male students."
"None with his resolve." Yujin spoke immediately with confidence, as he looked to his daughter with pride. "Nor hers."
Susato didn't react, remaining stoic as she accepted judgement. She was angry. First at her loss, and then that her hard work would be reduced to this, a petty argument to prove her worth. The more she showed that anger, though, the worse it would be, so outwardly, she only clenches her fist, tugging the edge of her kimono.
"...That is okay, father. I understand." Susato spoke calmly, as someone who has already made her decision. "I understand that they do not wish for me to practice law in Japan--but the way I see it, I am leaving anyway, so this argument is irrelevant. I do not expect to be back until I find the truth he sought."
The voice. Follow the voice, to Great Britain. Susato turned to leave, with Yujin reaching for her moments after, but both stopped at the same nasaly voice.
"Our agreement for the exchange still requires that you have an assistant!"
.
Yujin sighed, sensing the older man's desperation at bringing up such a trivial matter.
"Ah... as it so happens, I know just the young man," Yujin said. "Kazuma's best friend, in fact. I believe he was caught trying to board the steamship already..."
His voice seems to trail off, vibrating as the scene flickers. In the final moment, an image of boy in a black student's uniform appears with his signature wide eyes; but the image statics as Susato stirs in the real world.
Then it fades away abruptly as she awakens with a start.
[ Susato's eyes spring open to the familiar darkness in her room. Even as memories of the dream start to fracture and fade, she tries to make sense of everything she just saw. None of that actually happened, right? Yet somehow, it didn't feel too far off the mark, and she can't seem to decide whether she is thankful for that, or woefully disappointed.
She's never had her dream recorded before, but rather than act embarrassed or ashamed, she just shuts her journal with an apologetic sigh to no one in particular.
Instead, she grabs another journal--a normal one--along with a quill, and starts writing down anything she can remember. ]
no subject
[Also he sees an opportunity here and he's going to snatch it--]
He mentioned that Mr Naruhodo is his best friend. But alongside that, he seemed to care about you a great deal.
no subject
Ah. Well... [ Sure? Of course he does. Her father raised him like his own. It's like an unwritten rule or something that he must care. Obligation.
...Still, she can't help but worry that he may have commented unfavorably on her performance at the Wild Harvest. Even though that would like, make no sense, because Vigil clearly implies that he said something good. Having self-doubt is really great. ]
Did he say something about me?
it's still Vigil's nice writing but also i have to use these icons
He did, in fact.
He was worried that you were overworking yourself.
lmao gossip!!!! smh
No, she couldn't possibly. She'll just be mildly relieved. After all... ]
That cannot be helped, when we are down one man in the kitchen. I hope he knows I worry about him, too. [ Kazuma is not one to talk about overworking. ]
no subject
[With all the worrying and overworking she does!! You know what, he's just going straight for it--]
Do you just view him as a brother figure?
no subject
She is sheltered, but she is also a teenage girl who had gone to school, so she can guess what he means. ]
To view him as something more would be highly inappropriate of me.
[ A pause. The more she thinks about it, the more the idea sinks in, confusing her as she remembers allowing him in her room just now--something she's never done before for another boy. Not to mention the other soft moments they've together. ]
That said...no one has ever asked me that before.
no subject
sigh......
Except.
Oh ho.]
There's nothing wrong viewing someone in a different manner than before, especially as you grow into your own person.
1/2
Then... I must have more growing to do. [ "Because I don't know." ]
no subject
When you met Ms Evie, did you know?
no subject
And oh, he's being asked about Evie now... that's fine, he doesn't mind at all recounting his first encounter with his lovely wife.]
I was entirely enamored with her when we first met, and I only found myself loving her more the longer we got to know one another.
no subject
Did she feel the same? Did you have to woo her?
[ . . . ]
Was there some sort of sign?
no subject
[Considering they've been married for a while now with two children.]
I'm not entirely sure there was any specific sign, but I always felt happier when she was near.
no subject
I see. I'm sure she felt the same, which is how she came to realize that she returned your feelings.
I just wonder if there is a difference between the happiness that you two share as a married couple, and the warmth you would feel with family. [ Like... a brother. ]
no subject
Family is something you're born into and treated with love and affection. ...I'd hope that's the expectation, at least.
When you find someone-- someone special, you want to share the rest of your life with them. But ah, you have to find and develop those feelings on your own with the other person.
1/2
What if the other person doesn't develop those feelings? Did you ever think that Ms Evie might reject you during your courtship?
no subject
But whoops. Even without thinking about Vigil lying, she still feels bad getting so personal. Almost instantly: ]
I'm sorry. That was rude of me.
no subject
I've certainly had those thoughts before. If Evie never returned my feelings, I would've moved on. You can't force someone to love you and I'd hate to have someone be in such a relationship with me.
no subject
I would hate that too. [ She doesn't know what else to say. The feeling of betrayal she would feel if someone faked those kinds of feelings for her would be immense. ] I think I have troubled you enough for one night, Mr Vigil. You should get some rest.
no subject
You haven't troubled me at all, but please, get some rest as well.
no subject
I will try. Good night... I shall see you at the Wild Harvest again sometime.