[D2ME] A Fresh Track

[Usagi Rei]

The corners of Rei's lips curled up. "Tell me." He encouraged them.

He leaned back against the couch, but his eyes were interested.

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi paused again giving Rei a look and then shrugged "Well the most obvious answer is to venerate our patron Kami Bayushi who donned his own mask during the tournament of the Kami." They said interlocking their fingers over their top knee.

"And this is true to a degree. But their deeper meaning is that we all wear masks. Masks of virtue, masks of honor, masks of peace. The Scorpion simply decided to take it that one step further and wear a physical mask to remind ourselves, and everyone else, of these invisible masks."

[Usagi Rei]

"I see." Rei said, smiling. He took a sip of his drink. "I've heard it before, of course. Both the historical version and the philosophical one. But I was curious to hear your take on it. Thank you." He inclined his head.

Then, smiling, he spread his hands, not letting go of his drink. "I can't disagree with it. That would be hypocritical; I'm quite aware of the masks I wear, in fact." His smile had gone rather wry.

Then he looked at Kazumi, eyebrows going up. "But all masks come off sometimes, right?"

[Soshi Kazumi]

Kazumi shifted a little one hand coming up to their chin and elbow resting on the knee "hmmmm well now Usagi-san that is the question isn't it?" They asked half thoughtful half amused "when one wears a mask for long enough, becomes comfortable in it when does it stop becoming a mask, or better yet when do the lies we tell ourselves become a sort of inward mask? Where we believe it when we tell ourselves we are something other than what we are."

"If a man does bad thing with good intentions again and again at what point does he become a bad man that simply believes he is good? To give a bit of example."