View source for Logs:But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.

{{ Logs
| cast = [[Akihiro]], [[Leo]]
| summary = "I wish I was fucking with you."
| gamedate = 2020-10-24
| gamedatename = 
| subtitle = 
| location = <BOM> Front Porch - Ascension Island
| categories = Akihiro, Leo, Brotherhood of Mutants, Ascension Island, Mutants
| log = 

The front porch of the lodge unfurls its way across the entire front length of the building. Stained in a dark reddish finish, it seems to have been refurbished somewhat recently, the sturdy wood rather less weather-beaten than many of the buildings on the island. A half-height railing edges most of the porch, with a wide gated staircase centrally leading to the heavy front door, and ungated ramps at either side end. Protected from all but the most driving of rains by a sloped roof, the porch has been furnished with an assortment of furniture. Wicker rocking chairs, a pair of small square aluminum tables, a hammock at the far right end, a bench swing at the left. Despite the solid locks on the doors and windows, the front door holds a cheerfully flower-edged mat reading WELCOME.

It's a quiet morning, early enough the dew still glitters on the grass and the island is still waking up. Out on the main cabin's front porch, Leo is seated in one of the rocking chairs, barefoot, in crisp, fitted blue jeans and a soft chambray button-down, a mug of coffee cradled in his hands. One foot pushes sloooowly against the deck, rocking the chair creakily back and forth at a very leisurely pace. His phone lies quiet in his lap, eyes fixed off to the treeline where a small black and yellow warbler is picking though leaf litter.

Akihiro quietly rounds the side of the cabin, moisture clinging to his face and exposed arms. He's dressed in a pair of dark blue hakama over a matching kimono with a stained red bokken hanging from his hip. He makes it up most of the stairs before drawing the wooden sword and turning to sit on the top step.  "Hey. You doing alright?" He doesn't turn to face Leo, choosing instead to also focus his attention on the treeline.

Leo pulls in a slow breath, his eyes tracking Akihiro as he approaches. His eyes drop from Akihiro to the sword, brows pulling together. "Is someone going to attack us here, do you think?"

"No, I don't," Akihiro assures Leo, "I was just training. Don't want to get rusty." He sets the sword next to himself and pats it gently.  "Might sound counterintuitive, but it's also how I relax."

Leo's eyes stay fixed on the sword, lingering there as Akihiro sets it aside. "No," he decides at length, "I don't think it sounds -- counterintuitive. Lots of people exercise to relax, right? And there's something --" His lips press thinly together. "Some kind of relief. In being prepared."

"For most people." Akihiro rests his forearms on his thighs. "It's all I knew up until a few years ago, so it's mainly habit." He finally looks over his shoulder at Leo, "If you ever want to try just let me know."  He turns to look back out to the treeline again, "I've been meaning to pass my way of the sword down to the next generation. Might open a school when the world settles down."

"What?" Leo glances up from his coffee, eyes wide and a startled laugh escaping him. "Sorry, I just mean -- what? I think," there's a faint flush of color in his cheeks, "that if you wanted to train a new generation of fighters, you could -- do a lot better than me." He tips his eyes back down to the coffee, a small twitch at the side of his mouth. "Though," he acknowledges, softer, "it would be nice not to -- need ''guardians'' when I'm out. I don't know how practical a sword is, daily, though." He dismisses this thought with a quick shake of his head and a sip of coffee. "If you're waiting for the world to settle, you might be waiting a long time. If you want to teach, why not teach now?"

"I think you might surprise yourself." Akihiro shrugs gently.  "The short sword is slightly more practical, if you aren't being shot at anyway. Could teach you how to shoot too if you want, have a few unregistered guns floating around here." He pauses,  thinking over the school.  "All of my fake identities are useless right now. It'd be my luck I'd  get everything sorted out,  then get my door knocked by a big Russian with a metal arm. "

"That," Leo comments mildly, his brows hitching up, "is ''very'' specific."

"Well, I'm not worried about anybody else doing it." Akihiro says with an unseen grin. "Man puts up one hell of a fight. "

Leo's eyes are falling back to his coffee; he sits up a little straighter, the chair ceasing its rocking. There's another pause before he ventures, uncertainly, "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Mostly just reminiscing. " Akihiro's hand drifts back down to rest on the sword.  "He's an assassin I've ran into more than a dozen times,  but I doubt he's in New York."

"Huh." Leo's eyes stay veeeery steadily fixed down, though they've grown just a touch wider. "Why have you run into an assassin so often?" he asks first, and then, "is that -- something you just tell ''everyone''?"

"Pretty much,  actually. I'd rather get it out on my terms." Akihiro's grin finally drops.  "We were in the same line of work, usually ended in a knife fight whenever we ran into each other."

"You were an assassin." There's a cautious distance in Leo's voice as he echoes this, his thumb running in slow circles against the side of his mug. "That's -- very --" This just falters. He's still frowning down at his mug. "I don't actually know," he says finally -- almost, even, hopeful, "when people around here are trolling me."

"Concerning?" Akihiro offers unhelpfully. "I wish I was fucking with you. You don't have to worry though,  I'm not.." Dangerous? "I don't kill for fun or anything, it was more like being in the military.  If the military didn't pay you."

"Huh." Leo's hands have curled very tight around his mug. He's slow to get up from his chair, slow to take another sip of coffee. "The military's spent a long time trying to have me..." He trails off, shaking his head slightly. He doesn't actually ''excuse'' himself, just dips his head in a small nod to Akihiro, offers a very quiet, "-- have a good morning," before slipping off across the grounds.

"You too." Akihiro waits a few moments before letting out a dejected sigh and taking his bokken back up, "Just us again,  huh?"
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