pullmeoutalive | Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

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Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

[ she's no stranger to the idea. In times of war and strife, the heads of factions would most certainly not remain idle. Takane had known, and yet, she would have expected someone responsible for Oshu's well-being not to go about making idiotically reckless moves. And perhaps any other girl would be able to set it aside, realizing that for all of his bravado and skill and experience, Masamune was only nineteen.

But for someone who behaved far more responsibly than people twice her age, that wasn't an acceptable excuse. Any opposition wouldn't have seen it as one.

And truthfully, Takane's not fond of how it felt, knowing he'd risked himself to the point of being bed-bound for days, that he should have known better, that her chest squeezed - aching and sharp - whenever she went in to change bandages and exchange cool cloths, that she'd felt so helpless. Kojuro has probably already lectured him, but she's not the type to remain silent when she has things of her own to say.

Masamune should be mobile today. She's carrying a bucket of water to one of the vegetable gardens before she abruptly changes her course to seek him out.

At which point she will oh so subtly block his path. ]

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[ she's content to wait patiently - because he is the authority right now, and she's sure protesting won't work - while her attention drifts to the scrolls, expression softening discreetly. He wasn't the best at bedrest, but he'd held up remarkably well, for him. ]

[ masamune had found there wasn't much to comment about on takane's techniques this time. initially he had thought that perhaps he wasn't paying enough attention, but now he genuinely thought she was getting better. of course, she always had--that's just how it ended up.

... that, and maybe his mind was on other things sometimes, which only came around the time before or after a battle. not good, he'd like to admit, because splitting your mind between the current task and another task was never good, but takane had seen as much of his pensive side as kojuro had.

now, though, he's just sitting. quietly. there's no thought about the future, as he'd already thought about that--instead there's the silence and takane's breathing, one of his swords on the ground beside him.

he looks at her, and hardly misses a beat when she catches her stare. ]

Got something to say?

[ one towel: found. fortunately masamune isn't a messy person ( unlike popular thought, though things did tend to get less tidy as he got busier ), so the clothes are easily found next.

did someone say manry yukata? yes, they did.

he's got them in his hands all folded up as she looks around the room. were this anyone else, they might be sheepish at the state of the scrolls and everything else, but this is masamune so he only offers cock of his head and a slightly casual tone.

about as sheepish as masamune gets. ]

Proof I can stand still for a while. Tell that to Kojuro, next time. [ it's almost a joke.

but one that he doesn't stall for, since he's already handing the results of his ~treasure hunt~ to takane. ]

[ there would be a bevy of girls who might have trouble fumbling for a coherent reply under the Dragon's stare, but Takane is a bit of an anomaly among females. Rather than flush or fluster, she remains silent for an additional thirty seconds as she studies him. Nineteen or not, there's not a thing boyish about him. The producer looks younger than him, and she wonders fleetingly, how quickly he had to grow up. Most of it she knows, revealed on the pages of history. But there was a difference between the Masamune of old and the Masamune who barked out a laugh during practice, who spouted English at the oddest of moments, and who had earned her loyalty perhaps without even trying.

Finally-- ]

I have nothing worth remarking on.

[ her eyes lighten, just a tad; a sign of her amusement, though she'll politely refrain from chuckling. She accepts the bundle with a small bow, glancing around before she excuses herself with the slightest motion of her head and moves behind a nearby screen to change. No, she won't question the fact that she's about to put on his clothes. Why would she? He probably doesn't want her getting sick from that little stunt. ]

Would Katakura-dono believe me, were I to inform him of such startling developments?

Heh, like I can tell you what Kojuro will say. Tell it to him slowly, at least.

[ and any other man in the army might be tilting his head at the fact that the sole girl in their army was getting changed in the same room while talking to them, but he doesn't even blink.

ultimate comfort. he takes this moment to fully adjust, sitting dwn on the tatami floors and beginning to flip through the scrolls he had laying there. battle tactics. just all battle tactics.

they rustle. ] I need him in one piece.

Your Right Eye is not so fragile as to be shaken by mere words from one such as myself. [ or anyone, really. There's the whisper of cloth sliding against skin, the shifting of one adjusting to the fit (or lack thereof), but Takane has experience with yukata, managing after a couple of minutes. When she steps out, she has the towel in hand, unused for now, as well as the bundle of her previous clothing.

... Wonder of wonders, her new clothes are a tad big on her. Both hands and feet are hidden and it might be sliding off her shoulders a bit. Trying valiantly, anyway. She feels a little like a child. ]

[ . . . masamune would like to say that he knew takane well enough to instinctually know what was going through her mind at some moments, but takane was also takane, and he knew her well enough to know that there were moments where he just Wouldn't Get it.

This moment under her analyzing stare is one of them. He can do nothing more than meet her eyes and guess at what she's thinking, what she's going to say.

none of those guesses are close to what she says, though. he had known takane long enough not to be surprised but amused in these cases. the curiosity kept him on his toes, he'd like to think, but this time he's solely curious. ]

Huh. You've got nothing, or is it... [ what was that she used. ah, right. ] Classified?

You'd be surprised. He makes some fun faces, sometimes.

[ and here, ladies and gentlemen, the source of kojuro's headaches. masamune is back to adjusting scrolls after he speaks, and he's still doing so as he turns to the screen once more to make a comment--

-- on something he can't quite remember, because takane had come out and her appearance was something he wasn't quite used to. she didn't usually wear his clothes, after all, and it's no surprised they don't fit--

a chuckle. some almost-laughter. he still can't remember what he was going to say, and the scroll he had propped up on both of his hands rolls of his hands and to the floor. ]

[ that earns him one of her smaller, but fonder smiles. ]

To differentiate between the two would be classified, indeed. [ but she's reached her conclusion, and maybe it won't accomplish anything, but Takane rarely lets a possibility or a suggestion pass by untried, unless she deems it idiotic. No matter how awkward it might be. So suddenly, she moves forward, oddly intent, to-- ]

[ ... WHACK HER HEAD ON HIS HELMET OW.

Don't mind her, Masamune. She'll just recoil with an unusually tiny pained squeak and just barely refrain from doubling over. Not that this stops her from gingerly cradling her head. ]

[ she's chagrined, really. Except when Takane is chagrined, her default is POKER FACE. And oh is she POKER FACE-ing it up as she silently treads forward and crouches down carefully to retrieve the scroll with her free hand. ]

Is this such an amusing sight, Date Masamune?

[ you'll find it's hard to talk to someone when they bump into you, and the impact of takane's head on his helmet makes retaining his train of thought difficult, considering his head bounces backward at the impact. takane really was too good at surprising him sometimes, considering he had never ever expected something like that.

he's too confused to even laugh, at this point, so he'll just stare. after a moment of discerning whether or not that little stunt earned her some permanent damage--

--before bringing a hand up to the point of impact on his helmet. ]

That classified too?

[ she failed. She failed, and now her head hurts, and Takane retains at least enough sense to prevent herself from answering rather stupidly. She's experiencing some strange reticence at the thought of moving her fingers just yet. A soft, somewhat strained murmur-- ]

... Please inquire no further.

[ seeing her up close makes the sight even more realistic. masamune hasn't sunk into laughter just yet, but the chuckles and tone in his voice seem to imply that he still find this entire thing entertaining. not in a malicious way, of course, but there was something about seeing takane in his clothes that he can't get over.

yes, it's his fault. ]

Not a look I'd expect to see on you, Shijou Takane. [ ... it'd be a surprise if he did, actually, but it's just a tease. ] You wear a dragon's robes pretty well!

A compliment I could only hope to accept, were it true. [ the look she gives him is more than mildly approving, even as she settles into a proper seated position and arranges herself as primly as a princess.

In oversized robes. ]

I suspect, however, that your smile stems not from admiration.

[ ... he leans forward the slightest bit, if only because her reaction seems strange and she still seems rather dazed. the doesn't do much of anything, though, so instead he's not getting up to stand beside her, arms crossed and his presence a mixture of what the heck is going on and...

what the heck is going on. ]

Not open for questions, I won't ask them. [ despite his curiosity he was sure takane had her reasons for hiding her motivation behind such an act. ] Think that's the first time someone's ever hit me like that, though.

[ one more count to takane's firsts. ]

[ she's honestly not sure whether that's affection or dizziness accompanying her thoughts of Masamune at the moment. She's grateful that, like her, he isn't nosy or demanding when it comes to other people's reasons or motivations. But the dizziness goes with the increased respect towards his helmet.

Ow. ]

Admittedly, that... was not my intention.

[ oh there it goes. that comment does make him laugh, and he does so for a short while before calming down a tad. the smile is still on his face, when he continues with his speech, but this time starting with only a chuckle.

thaaat was enough laughter. ]

I'd be lying if I said that's all there was to it. [ which is his way of confessing to the fact he's half-laughing at her, half-not--though really, the laughing was all he needed to do. ] Heh, but I'd take that compliment at face-value.

Can't think of a reason for why you'd intend to do something like that. [ but again, takane was quite capable of proving him wrong on several occasions, so perhaps an intentional concussion off date masamune's helmet was something that had been on her bucket list.

either way, it had been striked off. ] How's that turning out for you?

[ sensing that there's no need to reply - and still highly unamused, as much as she likes the rough sound of his laughter - Takane decides not to. She can't exactly fault him for finding entertainment in this, as there is no way she can traipse around in men's clothing and still look as dignified as her usual.

So she settles her clothes by her side, unfolding the towel to get to work drying off her hair. Yes, Masamune, you are getting ignored by an eighteen-year-old girl. ]

...

[ poorly, if she had to admit it, and she'd prefer simply excusing herself and leaving instead of trying to salvage the situation.

But that was running, and Shijou Takane did not run from anything. Even this. It's what prompts her to rise to her feet, finally lowering her hands and turning to face him squarely. ]

Date Masamune... [ oh she's going to have a bump. ] You lose your troubled self in the heat of battle, do you not?

[ yes, Takane, that is answering the question. ]

[ . . . oh. well, he's not used to that. being ignored, that is--especially not by an eighteen-year-old girl.

it's not an awkward thing, except it kind of is. at the same time, though, he knows what she's doing and where she's coming from. so maybe he shouldn't have laughed... except it really couldn't have been helped, could he? at least he doesn't look to be laughing anymore. instead, he's just going to stare at takane with some kind of... straight-faced curiosity.

chin leaning against his palm. ]

[ she's well aware of his stare, hands continuing their methodical rubbing as her glance turns inquisitive beneath the shadow of the towel. She's not the sulking type, either removing herself from a situation she doesn't particular want to endure, or enduring it with her usual quiet acceptance. So after a few minutes-- ]

Did you wish to say something?

[ ... well, he didn't quite expect a straight answer anyway. he looks at her for a moment, taking in her words and considering them beyond the actual question.

it was quite a question in itself to ask, really. something he didn't expect out of her, but he did, at the same time. something he didn't really think about, because really, why would he ever think about that? so he says the first thing that's on his mind.

he doesn't really have a response. ]

Someone told you I was troubled, huh? [ studying her for a second more. of course, he knows that won't really do anything. ] Or did you come to that conclusion on your own?

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Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

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