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31_days2011-11-23 04:05 pm
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2011-11-23 04:05 pm
[Nov. 23] [Suikoden III] Kin-Nyang Magpie
Title: Kin-Nyang Magpie
Day/Theme: Nov. 23, 2011 "magpies"
Series: Suikoden III
Character/Pairing: Sasarai, I. Sakurazaki
Rating: PG
Author's comments: Oh, look! That's actually Sakurazaki with me in this icon.
The practice yards of Kin-Nyang's training grounds were unusually loud in the early hours of the evening. Through the many layers of noise, Sasarai separated the various sounds: boots on dirt, sand, and gravel, the buzzing of the wind through Kin-Nyang's towers (as well as the surrounding dry desert grasses and the ocean of colorful dunes to the south), military men (and a few women) of various ranks directing their troops in both elaborate maneuvers and fast-paced weapons practice, and the distance drone of a desert flute being played in some part of the fortress with an open window.
Sasarai wasn't exactly sure what he was here to see, but, despite the strategic downside to his delayed arrival on the Higheast border, he wasn't going to complain about this final stopover along the way. His last experience in the Dunan region had not been pleasant enough to make him desire a repeat. "Things will be different this time," Hikami and some of the other bishops told him, steady and sure, with maps and tactics and troop movements on their minds, but Sasarai had been the only one of them who had actually fought for Highland during the war.
He was the only one who had been wounded, shaken up by what he had seen on both sides of the conflict, who had to deal with the first-hand repercussions of another battle where Harmonia had ended up on the losing side. And he knew it hadn't had to be that way- something other than token support could have propped up Highland's bellicose King Luca, or they could have waited and backed the sharp young brother-in-law who followed him to the throne. He had been young himself at that time. Too young to have the full reasoning behind that miniscule show of friendship explained to him by the men and women who had made the decision. Now he was a major participant in those same sort of discussions, but he often found himself expressing the minority view. The tall man striding ahead of him was one among those who helped to override him.
As Kin-Nyang's bishop and general, a man who had made his career out of excellence on the battlefield (and nothing else), it was only natural that "Mage General" Ihzak Sakurazaki would have a greater tendency to move for war than the other, more socially, politically, and economically savvy bishops. It didn't necessarily mean that he liked war more than the others (Sasarai was not very close to him on a personal level, but he had a rational and reasonable view of battle constructed by more field experience than probably the rest of the current Counsel members combined), but it was easier to see what he had to gain by heading to the front.
Sakurazaki led the way along the open back porch of the compound main office building. Despite being rectangular, not round, the layout of this building bore a striking resemblance to the main structures of the Circle Temple. Sasarai wondered if it were intentional (architecture did not usually number among his interests). He spent a good deal of his off time sitting on a covered porch quite similar to this one looking out onto the Temple gardens behind his quarters during the warmer parts of the year. Unless one had a strong desire to view Kin-Nyang's troops training, the view from this open pathway was not as good (of course, considering the location, Sasarai was relatively safe in assuming that it was used more as a walkway than a place for casual sitting).
Sasarai appreciated the noise provided by all the activity. It was excellent camouflage for his dreary silence. Sakurazaki was fond of it as well, although for different reasons. Silences had never left him with a feeling of discomfort. His men were loud and active and that was a testament to their strength and energy. To fight and to command were his pleasures in life. He tolerated his other duties as a bishop because they were what were required of him. Though his tenure as a Counsel member predated the elections of most of his current colleagues, it was still generally known that he had been pushed into his high post by their predecessors during a previous war to circumvent the authority of other, anti-war, bishops who wanted to keep him home.
"I'm glad that you'll be coming to Higheast, Sir Sakurazaki," Sasarai spoke up at last.
The general turned part way around to glance over his shoulder. "Why's that?" he gave Sasarai a little smile, his thick, dark bangs covering the greater portion of his narrow eyes (this was the normal appearance of Ihzak Sakurazaki, caped and veiled by cloak and hair).
"Because I know that you'll have my back," Sasarai answered sincerely. "And if the political tide turns somehow, you'll still have my back."
"That's..." Sakurazaki paused on the path and scratched at his scalp just behind his left ear. "That's... Very kind of you."
"I mean it sincerely. Your personal morals are the sort I think I can depend on and your mage troops are without equal."
"I don't think it ever occurred to me quite how endearing you are," Sakurazaki replied.
It was an awkward statement, leaving Sasarai feeling a somewhat childish and strange, but perhaps his own words had been off-key enough that it was normal for them to engender the voicing of such sentiments. "Thank you?" he asked.
"Yeah, you're welcome." Sakurazaki straightened up, prouder than he'd been just seconds before, and continued on his way.
Day/Theme: Nov. 23, 2011 "magpies"
Series: Suikoden III
Character/Pairing: Sasarai, I. Sakurazaki
Rating: PG
Author's comments: Oh, look! That's actually Sakurazaki with me in this icon.
The practice yards of Kin-Nyang's training grounds were unusually loud in the early hours of the evening. Through the many layers of noise, Sasarai separated the various sounds: boots on dirt, sand, and gravel, the buzzing of the wind through Kin-Nyang's towers (as well as the surrounding dry desert grasses and the ocean of colorful dunes to the south), military men (and a few women) of various ranks directing their troops in both elaborate maneuvers and fast-paced weapons practice, and the distance drone of a desert flute being played in some part of the fortress with an open window.
Sasarai wasn't exactly sure what he was here to see, but, despite the strategic downside to his delayed arrival on the Higheast border, he wasn't going to complain about this final stopover along the way. His last experience in the Dunan region had not been pleasant enough to make him desire a repeat. "Things will be different this time," Hikami and some of the other bishops told him, steady and sure, with maps and tactics and troop movements on their minds, but Sasarai had been the only one of them who had actually fought for Highland during the war.
He was the only one who had been wounded, shaken up by what he had seen on both sides of the conflict, who had to deal with the first-hand repercussions of another battle where Harmonia had ended up on the losing side. And he knew it hadn't had to be that way- something other than token support could have propped up Highland's bellicose King Luca, or they could have waited and backed the sharp young brother-in-law who followed him to the throne. He had been young himself at that time. Too young to have the full reasoning behind that miniscule show of friendship explained to him by the men and women who had made the decision. Now he was a major participant in those same sort of discussions, but he often found himself expressing the minority view. The tall man striding ahead of him was one among those who helped to override him.
As Kin-Nyang's bishop and general, a man who had made his career out of excellence on the battlefield (and nothing else), it was only natural that "Mage General" Ihzak Sakurazaki would have a greater tendency to move for war than the other, more socially, politically, and economically savvy bishops. It didn't necessarily mean that he liked war more than the others (Sasarai was not very close to him on a personal level, but he had a rational and reasonable view of battle constructed by more field experience than probably the rest of the current Counsel members combined), but it was easier to see what he had to gain by heading to the front.
Sakurazaki led the way along the open back porch of the compound main office building. Despite being rectangular, not round, the layout of this building bore a striking resemblance to the main structures of the Circle Temple. Sasarai wondered if it were intentional (architecture did not usually number among his interests). He spent a good deal of his off time sitting on a covered porch quite similar to this one looking out onto the Temple gardens behind his quarters during the warmer parts of the year. Unless one had a strong desire to view Kin-Nyang's troops training, the view from this open pathway was not as good (of course, considering the location, Sasarai was relatively safe in assuming that it was used more as a walkway than a place for casual sitting).
Sasarai appreciated the noise provided by all the activity. It was excellent camouflage for his dreary silence. Sakurazaki was fond of it as well, although for different reasons. Silences had never left him with a feeling of discomfort. His men were loud and active and that was a testament to their strength and energy. To fight and to command were his pleasures in life. He tolerated his other duties as a bishop because they were what were required of him. Though his tenure as a Counsel member predated the elections of most of his current colleagues, it was still generally known that he had been pushed into his high post by their predecessors during a previous war to circumvent the authority of other, anti-war, bishops who wanted to keep him home.
"I'm glad that you'll be coming to Higheast, Sir Sakurazaki," Sasarai spoke up at last.
The general turned part way around to glance over his shoulder. "Why's that?" he gave Sasarai a little smile, his thick, dark bangs covering the greater portion of his narrow eyes (this was the normal appearance of Ihzak Sakurazaki, caped and veiled by cloak and hair).
"Because I know that you'll have my back," Sasarai answered sincerely. "And if the political tide turns somehow, you'll still have my back."
"That's..." Sakurazaki paused on the path and scratched at his scalp just behind his left ear. "That's... Very kind of you."
"I mean it sincerely. Your personal morals are the sort I think I can depend on and your mage troops are without equal."
"I don't think it ever occurred to me quite how endearing you are," Sakurazaki replied.
It was an awkward statement, leaving Sasarai feeling a somewhat childish and strange, but perhaps his own words had been off-key enough that it was normal for them to engender the voicing of such sentiments. "Thank you?" he asked.
"Yeah, you're welcome." Sakurazaki straightened up, prouder than he'd been just seconds before, and continued on his way.