Conflict!! A ride on the youkai subway!

[dreamsincolor]

Who: Mitsuya, Takuro
Where: The subway. No, not that one, the other one.
What: Riding to school.
When: The morning after Iwata's lesson.


It typically didn't take Mitsuya long to adjust to changes in her life, even those that led to her riding the subway with tengu, oni, and an assortment of other folkloric and less readily describable beings that were as removed from the humdrum of her old everyday life as... well, night from day. And sure enough, it had only been a few days, but she'd become accustomed to being the only human on a crowded subway car.

But now, today, it seemed she wasn't. Someone else was getting on right now, in fact.

Ah, yes. She recalled him from the old school building. Iwasaki, the experienced one with the demon. His very normality made him stand out all the more, it seemed.

Comments

[amoralsensei]

"Araragi-san is right. That's terrible, Iwasaki-kun, and completely improper. It's demeaning! Isn't that why you have Kudou-san for anyway?" Iwata said, putting his hands on his hips. "But, well... yes and no. You can experiment with this sort of thing... more often than not, results will be logical. And tasty. Don't forget, potion making is just cooking in another way... Or bartending, ah-- but I'm straying. Where was I? Oh yes, you may also find recipes from youkai cook books, or perhaps punching the right people on the subway."

A pause. "And, of course, there's always asking... in a civile, polite way," he cleared his throat, holding up a finger, "Which IS what I encourage as your sensei. Let's try to be good citizens here, and only resort to violent beatings after the diplomatic process breaks down."

[fantasy_skies]

"Confidence is one thing, but not all potions would be for healing, right? There has to be- poisons, I guess, or potions that have bad effects. I'd rather have volunteers than just tricking people into trying them."

Takuro took another mouthful of yogurt, considering it. "...I'm surprised at how many problems in the magical work can be solved by 'punching people on the subway'."

[amoralsensei]

"Youkai, and most supernatural society isn't particularly concerned with the preservation of 'civility' as by human standards. It would be difficult to imagine, anyway," said Iwata, leaning back on his desk, legs stretched ahead of him. "I won't go into extremes, but let's put it simply: humans are a single species. Youkai, monsters, godly and demonic beings are easily hundreds. Some are born with a biological imperative to, say, nip your shadow and steal away a little bit of your joy. Some do the opposite. Some simply have a biological imperative that means anything else just... has to go. The long and short of it is that it's a miracle things actually go on in some reasonably amicable manner."

Iwata turned his eyes up to the ceiling. "Guess it goes to show that, at the end, progress and constructive thinking-- getting along, to put it simply, is such an appealing option that it even overcomes even the most pressing of biological and spiritual needs to act destructively." He paused. "Most of the time, anyway... thankfully. Everyone just wants to get on with their lives. And if you put aside the whole argument of species, humans may not be all that different."

He lingered in this thought for a moment, eyes gleaming with a hint of deep thought, and a crease on his face indicating just a bit of conflict from it. He pursed his lips. "And yet, undeniably... there's a sort of... purity to it, isn't there? No beating around the bush, no lies, just a terrible kind of violent honesty."

[dreamsincolor]

"Such a world has an appeal of its own."

The glint in Mitsuya's eyes showed no conflict, simply fascination. "Indeed, as you said, sensei, it's remarkable that such a world can exist--and yet it's right before our eyes. Though battle and death lie in wait around every corner...

"But saying that there are no lies surely isn't true, is it, sensei?" Her gaze fixed itself upon him, filled with curiosity. "If there are youkai as complex and selfish as we humans are, then no doubt there are some who go beyond that raw underbelly of life and take cover in the facade of deception we call 'etiquette' and 'civilization'."

[amoralsensei]

"That is true, and we really shouldn't be arrogant enough to think that we humans have a monopoly on such things!" Iwata said, smiling a bit-- exhaling heavily. "Ahh, if only classes could be about things like this. Useful life lessons, philosophy, history, extortion, that would make for a much better job..."