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[atlas_shrugged]

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Comments

[atlas_shrugged]

What do you mean, sir? It wasn't a shield before?

[ Brigade wonders the history of the shield. And the history of Gintoki after he died, cause it seems there was. It wasn't in the files. ]

[ferricwill]

[Shaking his head.]

Gintoki was killed defending Heimdall during Operation Nyx. There was nothing left of him but a small stone that Hikaru found when no one else was able to. And now...

[He reaches out, and places his hand on the shield.]

I suppose it grew while I wasn't looking. Hikaru agreed to hold on to it for me after the Black Christmas.

[atlas_shrugged]

It... turned into this? [ Brigade makes a mental note to ask Hikaru what happened between the time it was a stone till it became a shield. He wasn't about to speculate with Sensei An'yu and wrack his brain over something which could be first ironed out. ]

Maybe... he's not dead, sir? Maybe he's still in there fighting to live? [ Brigade feels a sudden sadness for the shield ] Maybe he's... still trying to walk his pilgrimage to redemption?

[ferricwill]

It's possible. As things stand, it'd be something that he would do. He's always been... stubborn.

[Said with much fondness.]

[atlas_shrugged]

Sir, I read in the Arcanum about the Bestowment called the Scrutiny. I know it's really for Prometheans and Alchemists, but Gintoki sounds like he was more Promethean, more human, than Pandoran really.

Is there a way [ Brigade thinks hopefully ] that we might be able to reach into the shield? See if he, or anything, is inside? Do we have any Alchemists with that Bestowment?

[ferricwill]

[Nods.]

I will need to borrow the shield. It's going to take a while.

[This was Gintoki, after all. The sheer amount of power that was radiating from the thing was already interfering with An'yu's senses.]

[atlas_shrugged]

It's yours, sir. Anything to bring him back. [ I wish I could bring her back. I wish I could have saved her. ]

[ferricwill]

Yes. We both have to do what we can.

[And then...]

Thank you, Brig. For asking me about them.

[atlas_shrugged]

Thank you too, An'yu-sama. [ Brigade holds out his cup for a toast ] I didn't have the honor of meeting them. But I at least know their story now, and have the honor of drinking to them.

[ferricwill]

[Indulging that with a smile.]

True enough.