(no subject)

[undyingcrow]

[A message appears on the network one morning, not long after a certain Ren appears.

Not long after it goes up, some parts are edited out.]

Attention, "Crow" and "Joker."

With the arrival of my Ren, we formally challenge you over your precious codenames. Let us prove to you that we are the ones worthy of the titles, while you are mere variations from a simpler, happier world. despite the power you wield.

You may have seniority within this space, but we were forged in the fires of our hardships and have emerged on the other side of Maruki's reality.

You two have likely grown soft from your domesticity. Perhaps you'll find us worthy opponents after all this stagnation. They say the spirit of competition can bring out one's best and their worst.

[Is it bold to proclaim the challenge over the network? Yes. But he'd have it no other way, really. Everyone deserves to know how serious they are.]

As for the rest of you, I'd like to start a little bonding exercise.

Tell me something about yourself, and I'll tell you something about me in turn. Won't that be fun?

[It should be a simple way to start and prove that he's just as capable of "bonding" as Ren is.]

[ooc: Original parts of the message in strikethrough, with the edits after, if you want your character to have seen the original version.]

Comments

[paysforall]

Looks like I'm the only 'Crow' who isn't invested in reclaiming the name.

Oh well, I don't get enough chances to be looming and cryptic around here, and I need enrichment. Your fun fact:

'Shrike' is literal.

[pheasantboy]

You literally hang up the corpses of your victims from thorns? That's rather a lot.

[paysforall]

...No, but that's an impressively dark angle to take. (ᓀ ᓀ;;) Is everything alright at home, Sparrow?

[pheasantboy]

Why wouldn't it be? There's no escaping the dark ways of birds, you know.

[On the whole, he decides not to mention the contrast between them and people back home. Too complicated.]

[paysforall]

Because you're usually a ray of sunlight, enlightened as a Buddha and free of such dark and vicious concerns as plague the rest of our name. ╮(︶▽︶)╭

But no, it isn't that. Though I have been known to get perhaps a bit too aggressive with my chopsticks at times... Hm.

[pheasantboy]

You see, that's why I value your friendship so much. You say the nicest things to me. That and the bird facts.

[And the time he almost singlehandedly put Ren back together.]

There are worse things in life than bad table manners.

[paysforall]

Who else would appreciate the fact that flamingos are extremophiles with me?

True, though I don't know how much Sae-san would appreciate it if I impaled something off her plate.

[pheasantboy]

Or that fulmars have weaponised projectile vomit with such panache?

Though perhaps this isn't the best example, if we're to talk about our pleasant dinners with Sae-san.

[paysforall]

Or that the red color of a bearded vulture isn't natural, but because they roll around in red dirt as a cosmetic?

True. I'm not sure that even she could be magnanimous enough to forgive me if I were to bring up owl pellets or the like while she was eating.

[pheasantboy]

It will be good to see her again, when I return.

I didn't know that, about the vultures. Do they really?

[undyingcrow]

[...This is Sparrow?]

Careful. You might be Raven's next target.

[pheasantboy]

I should hope not. Raven-kun and I are good friends.

[Raven might disagree, of course. Also yes, this is Sparrow.]

[undyingcrow]

My, is there anyone here he doesn't know?

[pheasantboy]

To my understanding, no. You'll get used to it in time. At least, so people assure me.

[undyingcrow]

You don't sound so sure.

[pheasantboy]

[Ah.]

Well, I'm not quite like everybody else. But for you, I'm sure it will hold true.

[undyingcrow]

A moment ago, you said you were friends.

I'm simply puzzled by the discrepancy.

[undyingcrow]

A pity that bit about thorns wasn't true. It would make quite the impression.

Well then. Are you a butcher, perhaps? Butcherbird is another name for them.

[paysforall]

It's certainly dramatic! Perhaps I should incorporate them into my aesthetic more.

Afraid not, though I have wondered about that association plenty of times. As I'm sure you know, my previous employment qualified for the metaphorical sense.

[Sparrow probably can't read that last sentence. Sorry, Sparrow.]

[undyingcrow]

So, like the Grim Reaper, or Death itself.

[paysforall]

I do wear the title of Reaper with pride, though it's not so grim as all that.

[Everyone can see what he did there.]

Regardless, although I do miss my time time as 'Crow,' I can't say that that particular bird is central to my self-image anymore. When the matter of distinguishing Akechis by code names first came up, Shrike was the obvious choice and I swooped upon it without hesitation. And I was the only one who wasn't a corvid for quite some time.

[undyingcrow]

[Oh, lovely. Puns...]

Was it a statement about how different you were from the others, then?

[paysforall]

Nope. I said it was literal and I meant it. You guys just haven't figured out how yet. ☆(>▽​ｏ)

Besides which, a lot of my differences come from being older and having been forced to learn to rely on others. I hope that more of you DO get the chance to grow up into any kind of person at all, but especially one who isn't so closed off from the world as I was before I died.

[undyingcrow]

Well, you've given me quite the compelling riddle, if nothing else.

I would say that I'm a work in progress. One doesn't simply change in the blink of an eye, but I have made some progress, however small.

[paysforall]

You have the desire, which is the most difficult part. It's difficult to change those who don't desire to, and next to impossible to change those who don't think they HAVE to. The old saw about horses and drinking holds very true about us.