Sudden Death - Monologue 3
Aug. 4th, 2022 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shivalriesCW: insect death
Season: Autumn (past)
---
Location: Suou family garden - Day
Tsukasa: I have been observing these sakura ants of late.
Kohaku: Oh yeah? Sure got a lotta time on your hands if ya can sit out here givin' names to the creatures in the garden. Pretty carefree, I'd say.
Tsukasa: I am quite free these days... Ever since my parents inherited Grandfather's position, they've been too busy to pay attention to me.
Kohaku: I heard about that, yeah. They say your folks've been struttin' around all important-like, usin' the exact same methods that the guy before 'em used.
They really think the same ol' stuff's gonna fly even when everything's changin' around them?
Tsukasa: Mrgh! I cannot allow you to criticize my parents!
Kohaku: Heh, aren't ya thinkin' the same, though? Somewhere deep down in there, you're thinkin' things can't stay as they are right now, and now you're out here actin' all weird to blow off the anxiety you're feeli—
Tsukasa: I am not "acting weird"! This is a noble venture!
I have named these sakura ants as my representatives and am directing them to conquer this garden. Soon, they shall become the kings of this little world.
Therein lies the meaning of my experiment—it will serve as a good reference for when I shall one day rule the world.
Kohaku: You're plannin' to rule the world?
Tsukasa: At the very least, I have a duty to protect, nurture, and bring to glory the great, sturdy tree that is the Suou family.
Kohaku: Huh... So you're givin' these ants a boost 'cause you see your future self in 'em? "Don't give up, skinny frog, Issa is here!"—mighty cute of ya, sonny boy. [1]
Tsukasa: "Sonny boy"... Well, compared to "little lordling", it sounds less like you are mocking me.
Kohaku: Right? I wanna be on good terms with ya.
Tsukasa: Huh...?
Kohaku: Yeah. So I wouldn't wanna do anythin' ya don't like.
Tsukasa: I-Is that so? That is... um... a-a commendable effort!
Kohaku: What's with the stutter? ...So anyway, what about those "sakura ants", huh? Ya got 'em movin'. Did anything interesting happen?
Tsukasa: Ah, uh, yes! Haven't I told you? I discovered a truth of this world.
Look here, Oukawa. Of all creatures that inhabit this garden, the sakura ants are comparatively small and feeble.
Forget tanuki or birds—they are inferior even to other ants.
Kohaku: Ah... They sure are. These red fellas are the sakura ants, right? They're crawlin' along all bunched up together in a corner.
Tsukasa: Yes. For some reason, they are quite sluggish, making them prime targets for birds and other, larger insects.
However, fortunately for them, they have a powerful ally in me.
I have granted them my protection.
They are weak and not long for this world, but I, their god, shall shield them.
And all those who wish to harm them or steal their nourishment shall face my wrath—there ♪
And there, there, there... ♪
Like this, I shall exterminate their enemies from the heavens above!
With my might on their side, the sakura ants shall one day conquer this garden!
Kohaku: Ain't gonna be that easy. If the garden's crawlin' with ants, another god—somebody else from the Suou family—is gonna come in slingin' pesticides and massacre 'em all.
Ants are ants, y'know. They're no threat, but they're still gross.
Tsukasa: I will not allow that to happen! I will protect them!
Kohaku: ...No harm, no foul, I guess. Your folks left ya all on your lonesome, and now you're tryin' to forget about it by thinkin' you've accomplished something.
Tsukasa: Hm? What was that, Oukawa? You must enunciate!
Kohaku: Ya gotta forgive me. Haven't really had a chance t'talk with a live human outside o' my family.
Tsukasa: Eheh, is that so? You and I really are similar, Oukawa.
That's precisely why I think we'd make great friends.
Kohaku: Yeah... Be real nice if we could...
Seein' as ya so cruelly murder anythin' other than your chosen ones without a second thought, I gotta be careful not t'get on your bad side.
Tsukasa: ? I could never hate you though, Oukawa? We share the same blood—as family, right?
Kohaku: Sometimes your family're the ones that get in the way the most, ya know. It's easy t'crush 'em just 'cause they happen to be close by—a lot like the critters in this here garden.
Tsukasa: If you pity these creatures, you can offer your protection to them as well, Oukawa.
Choose one you like, and we can compete to see which will emerge supreme! ♪
Kohaku: I'll pass. Might sound odd comin' outta my mouth, considerin' who we are, but I've got no interest in playin' games with lives.
Tsukasa: This is no game. This is an important lesson on my journey to become an even better leader of the family.
Through these sakura ants, I can learn something I could never find in a textbook.
By observing this microcosm of society in our own garden, I hope to grasp the "correct" way to act within it.
Kohaku: That so? Well, do whatcha like.
Tsukasa: And so I shall. ...Thank you, Oukawa.
Kohaku: ? Since when did I do somethin' that needs thanks?
Tsukasa: You have taught me how to clear away the doubts in my mind.
Kohaku: ? What're you talkin' about?
Tsukasa: You told me, back when we first met at Grandfather's funeral. You said that if I still struggle to understand what life and death truly mean—
Then I should try handling real life for myself. Thus, I have taken your suggestion and tried my hand killing some of the creatures living in this garden.
I will not claim I have understood all that life is—in fact, its mysteries have only deepened. But I do feel refreshed, somehow.
Kohaku: ......
---
[1] Reference to a haiku by Kobayashi Issa, where the speaker cheers on the frog as if cheering himself on as well. ↑
---
< Monologue 2 || Masterlist || Monologue 4 >
Season: Autumn (past)
---
Location: Suou family garden - Day
Tsukasa: I have been observing these sakura ants of late.
Kohaku: Oh yeah? Sure got a lotta time on your hands if ya can sit out here givin' names to the creatures in the garden. Pretty carefree, I'd say.
Tsukasa: I am quite free these days... Ever since my parents inherited Grandfather's position, they've been too busy to pay attention to me.
Kohaku: I heard about that, yeah. They say your folks've been struttin' around all important-like, usin' the exact same methods that the guy before 'em used.
They really think the same ol' stuff's gonna fly even when everything's changin' around them?
Tsukasa: Mrgh! I cannot allow you to criticize my parents!
Kohaku: Heh, aren't ya thinkin' the same, though? Somewhere deep down in there, you're thinkin' things can't stay as they are right now, and now you're out here actin' all weird to blow off the anxiety you're feeli—
Tsukasa: I am not "acting weird"! This is a noble venture!
I have named these sakura ants as my representatives and am directing them to conquer this garden. Soon, they shall become the kings of this little world.
Therein lies the meaning of my experiment—it will serve as a good reference for when I shall one day rule the world.
Kohaku: You're plannin' to rule the world?
Tsukasa: At the very least, I have a duty to protect, nurture, and bring to glory the great, sturdy tree that is the Suou family.
Kohaku: Huh... So you're givin' these ants a boost 'cause you see your future self in 'em? "Don't give up, skinny frog, Issa is here!"—mighty cute of ya, sonny boy. [1]
Tsukasa: "Sonny boy"... Well, compared to "little lordling", it sounds less like you are mocking me.
Kohaku: Right? I wanna be on good terms with ya.
Tsukasa: Huh...?
Kohaku: Yeah. So I wouldn't wanna do anythin' ya don't like.
Tsukasa: I-Is that so? That is... um... a-a commendable effort!
Kohaku: What's with the stutter? ...So anyway, what about those "sakura ants", huh? Ya got 'em movin'. Did anything interesting happen?
Tsukasa: Ah, uh, yes! Haven't I told you? I discovered a truth of this world.
Look here, Oukawa. Of all creatures that inhabit this garden, the sakura ants are comparatively small and feeble.
Forget tanuki or birds—they are inferior even to other ants.
Kohaku: Ah... They sure are. These red fellas are the sakura ants, right? They're crawlin' along all bunched up together in a corner.
Tsukasa: Yes. For some reason, they are quite sluggish, making them prime targets for birds and other, larger insects.
However, fortunately for them, they have a powerful ally in me.
I have granted them my protection.
They are weak and not long for this world, but I, their god, shall shield them.
And all those who wish to harm them or steal their nourishment shall face my wrath—there ♪
And there, there, there... ♪
Like this, I shall exterminate their enemies from the heavens above!
With my might on their side, the sakura ants shall one day conquer this garden!
Kohaku: Ain't gonna be that easy. If the garden's crawlin' with ants, another god—somebody else from the Suou family—is gonna come in slingin' pesticides and massacre 'em all.
Ants are ants, y'know. They're no threat, but they're still gross.
Tsukasa: I will not allow that to happen! I will protect them!
Kohaku: ...No harm, no foul, I guess. Your folks left ya all on your lonesome, and now you're tryin' to forget about it by thinkin' you've accomplished something.
Tsukasa: Hm? What was that, Oukawa? You must enunciate!
Kohaku: Ya gotta forgive me. Haven't really had a chance t'talk with a live human outside o' my family.
Tsukasa: Eheh, is that so? You and I really are similar, Oukawa.
That's precisely why I think we'd make great friends.
Kohaku: Yeah... Be real nice if we could...
Seein' as ya so cruelly murder anythin' other than your chosen ones without a second thought, I gotta be careful not t'get on your bad side.
Tsukasa: ? I could never hate you though, Oukawa? We share the same blood—as family, right?
Kohaku: Sometimes your family're the ones that get in the way the most, ya know. It's easy t'crush 'em just 'cause they happen to be close by—a lot like the critters in this here garden.
Tsukasa: If you pity these creatures, you can offer your protection to them as well, Oukawa.
Choose one you like, and we can compete to see which will emerge supreme! ♪
Kohaku: I'll pass. Might sound odd comin' outta my mouth, considerin' who we are, but I've got no interest in playin' games with lives.
Tsukasa: This is no game. This is an important lesson on my journey to become an even better leader of the family.
Through these sakura ants, I can learn something I could never find in a textbook.
By observing this microcosm of society in our own garden, I hope to grasp the "correct" way to act within it.
Kohaku: That so? Well, do whatcha like.
Tsukasa: And so I shall. ...Thank you, Oukawa.
Kohaku: ? Since when did I do somethin' that needs thanks?
Tsukasa: You have taught me how to clear away the doubts in my mind.
Kohaku: ? What're you talkin' about?
Tsukasa: You told me, back when we first met at Grandfather's funeral. You said that if I still struggle to understand what life and death truly mean—
Then I should try handling real life for myself. Thus, I have taken your suggestion and tried my hand killing some of the creatures living in this garden.
I will not claim I have understood all that life is—in fact, its mysteries have only deepened. But I do feel refreshed, somehow.
Kohaku: ......
---
[1] Reference to a haiku by Kobayashi Issa, where the speaker cheers on the frog as if cheering himself on as well. ↑
---
< Monologue 2 || Masterlist || Monologue 4 >
