Chapter Text
Izumi: (Winter Troupe is gathered at Guy-san's bar…)
Homare: Let us play another session!
Hisoka: No.
Homare: Why!
Izumi: (It's just like the usual, isn't it?)
Azuma: Oh, it's Director. Welcome.
Izumi: What are you guys doing?
Tsumugi: Itaru-kun lent us a tabletop game.
Hisoka: Wastelands and Wyverns.
Izumi: I've heard of that! It's a very popular tabletop RPG!
Homare: Director-kun, join us in the next session!
Tasuku: We haven't decided whether we're gonna play again or not.
Hisoka: If we're playing again, we should ban poems.
Izumi: Huh? What happened in the previous session?
Hisoka: Arisu was really noisy and annoying.
Tasuku: We banned the Bard class for him to limit his poetry, but it only got worse.
Hisoka: Arisu chose the Barbarian class and went the Berserker path.
Izumi: (Homare-san as a barbarian… I usually see Homare-san as a bard so I'm extremely curious, but I have a bad feeling.)
Did Homare-san scream too much?
Tasuku: That aside, he managed to weave poetry into his character.
Guy: Arisugawa had a plausible reason for this.
Izumi: How? I thought barbarians are usually illiterate?
Homare: My character would like to say otherwise! Have you heard of Odin, Director-kun?
Izumi: The Norse god of war?
Homare: And poetry. Although warriors worship Odin for might and berserkers are heralded as Odin's special warriors, the deity dispenses the mead of poetry for mankind as well.
This beverage, made from the blood of Kvasir mixed with honey, grants its consumers immense wisdom and turns them into poets. It is also a metaphor for poetic inspiration.
Izumi: That's interesting!
Tsumugi: We really thought Homare-san wouldn't recite poems as a barbarian, but we were caught off-guard.
Azuma: Homare is very smart and creative.
Homare: That is the least I can do as a genius. Besides, playing a class that is nothing like my elegant self is an excellent challenge.
Tasuku: You still have poems.
Homare: This is my first time composing skaldic poetry, I will have you know.
Tasuku: That's not the point.
Tsumugi: Speaking of, why are you here, Director?
Izumi: I'm here to discuss the upcoming troupe play.
Tasuku: You're right. It's our turn next.
Izumi: Have you guys decided on the lead?
Azuma: If we're going by who hasn't been the lead for the longest time, it should be Homare, correct?
Tsumugi: Yeah, it's been a long time since "The Luminous Circus" run.
Homare: I shall be the lead then. I cannot wait what Tsuzuru-kun will come up with for the script.
Izumi: About the co-lead…
*door opens*
Tsuzuru: Sorry for being a bit late. Finishing my paper took longer than I thought.
Homare: Such a timing! We are discussing who should be the lead and the co-lead right now!
Tsuzuru: Have you decided on that?
Homare: The lead will be none other than I, Homare Arisugawa. I look forward to the challenge offered by your script!
Tsuzuru: As for the script, I haven't really thought of anything. Winter Troupe plays are known for elegance, but I think we should change things up a bit. I still wanna maintain the elegance though.
Izumi: Hmm, we can emphasize on the dark, melancholic atmosphere Winter Troupe plays usually have?
Homare: I have an idea!
Tasuku: What are you doing with that character sheet?
Homare: Please use this as a source of inspiration, Tsuzuru-kun!
Tsuzuru: A WnW character sheet?
Hold on! Arisugawa-san, you created a poetic barbarian?
Homare: Umu! The challenge of maintaining an air of elegance and refinement in such a feral role made my heart burn with passion and excitement!
Tsuzuru: I think I have an idea now. A poetic, philosophical barbarian hero sounds like a fun concept.
Homare: We have to thank everyone for banning the Bard class for me.
Tasuku: Uh, you're welcome?
Homare: It is thanks to my genius too.
Tasuku: Back at it again…
Azuma: We haven't decided on the co-lead, have we?
Izumi: Right, we haven't.
Azuma: Then I'll do it. I haven't led a play with Homare.
Tsumugi: It's been a while since Azuma-san plays a co-lead role too.
Guy: Yukishiro in this setting…
Izumi: It's kinda hard to imagine Azuma-san playing a wild role.
Azuma: Fufu, since Homare is so fired up, I want to give it a try too.
Speaking of, do you still remember our roles during "Die by the Sword", Homare?
Homare: Umu. We were husband and wife.
Azuma: What do you think? Will you be my beautiful husband again?
Homare: Why not? Please be my lovely wife once more.
Tsumugi: Ah, right. Winter Troupe plays often have romance elements, so why don't we keep those for this play?
Tsuzuru: Noted.
By the way, Yukishiro-san, do you have any combat skills? We'll certainly have action scenes in this setting.
Azuma: Of course I do. My acquaintances introduced me to a number of combat classes. However, I believe Homare's wild fighting style will shine brighter if I fight from the backline.
I'm good with bows by the way.
Izumi: I think I remember the incident with a toy bow…
Azuma: Fufu, would you like me to shoot you with that?
Izumi: No, thanks!
Tsuzuru: So, Yukishiro-san will play the role of a huntress, huh? That'll fit the setting well.
I think I know what to write now. Thanks for the ideas, everyone!
Homare: Umu! I look forward to the script, Tsuzuru-kun!