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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[ the only sign of disapproval is the barest hint of tightening around her mouth. She'd noticed, of course, because there wasn't much that Takane didn't notice on an outward level. She could tell when people were upset, if something weighed heavily on them, if something dangerous was drawing close... but she couldn't always ascertain the reason why.

Like now. The thoughts that occasionally darkened the dragon's one eye couldn't always be equated to thoughts any other general might have had. He wasn't them. But he had to have known her well enough by now, to know that Takane didn't discuss other people's matters with anyone else but the person in question. She'd known even before his men had started whispering. ]

My blind areas are limited, and I stand before you of my own accord.

[ . . . .

did he want to say something? maybe he didn't. maybe it was best that he didn't, given how takane reacted to his laughter. look at that, he's actually thinking. ]

Nah. I'll keep it at that. [ and also staying quiet. someone call kojuro. ]

[ he's... quiet?

But it's an odd time to suddenly fall silent, and from the cover of her towel, she's surreptitiously looking him over, to make sure nothing's started bleeding or if he's looking at all strained. Are his injuries acting up? ]

[ he can guess why she's scanning him. he might've been reckless, silly, or a bad decision maker sometimes, but he was by no means dense.

that was more yukimura's job.

either way, masamune's staring back for a moment. he could stay quiet. jeez. ]

What? [ it's a little bit clipped as he looks away. both for childish reasons and... well, whatever. ]

[ hm. maybe that wasn't the right thing to say. he can at least get the hint there--it was a tease that wasn't quite one yet was one, because he wasn't sure what to think of a question like that? it wasn't quite like anyone had ever really asked him outright if he was troubled--some instinctively knew (Kojuro) and others played into his act of false bravado sometimes (his army), which is how sometimes how he just set it out to be.

he's not exactly sure how to vocalize things like this. ]

Right. [ there's some kind of implied apology there for inferring towards things she didn't do. his voice is quieter than it usually is--that's probably the first hint. ] I ain't troubled.

[ not that he would admit otherwise if he was, but right now he's not. ... pensive, maybe, but not troubled. ]

[ she allows herself a smile; Kojuro had said something once about winning a staring contest being the first step to winning a battle. And Masamune looks a little mulish now.

Well, she'll keep her amusement to herself for now. ]

My gratitude for your consideration. I wished to express it.

[ as much as Takane will claim a proficiency with humor, her experiences with teasing consisted of a lot of falling for the twins' outlandish claims. And the subtle banter she'd developed with Masamune; she realizes now it was partly this when his voice isn't at its usual level, and that he's apologizing for a jibe he hadn't intended.

He's not troubled. No, not right now, not currently, but when Masamune was bothered, people generally knew. Or at least suspected it, whether he was actually angry or just irritated. Battling helped, she knew, focusing on something besides your thoughts... any one of them could have been the same.

And she's concerned.

In her own manner of apology, she clarifies. ]

Heavy thoughts arise during times of conflict, though they are not always present. I was unable to...

[ and she trails off, thoughtfully, before she speaks up again. ]

May I be so bold as to request that you remove your helmet?

[ now "remove your helmet" wasn't really a request he was expecting, especially with the way the prior sentence was leading. all he understood was that she had, perhaps, both received and acknowledged his apology. that was one thing.

the other?

where was takane going with this?

but he does nothing more than toss her a bit of a quizzical look before quietly removing his helmet in response, laying it down beside himself. ]

[ somehow, he feels like he's being made fun of.

or well, perhaps not made fun of, but. a target of amusement, once more. with some people, that would be a cause for offense--in some other cases (like this one), he can almost fondly join along. almost.

his gaze is only from the corner of his eye. ]

. . . No problem. [ or something. ]

[ she's grateful that Masamune generally isn't the sort to ask WHY of her requests - as though she hasn't had people baffled at her choices and actions - because that makes this easier.

Slightly.

The truth of the matter is that Takane's hugging experience has been limited to her fellow idols, the ones who had known affection and physical contact, the ones with siblings and best friends and sweet-natured enthusiasm. While she'd grown accustomed to the moments where they'd drag her into embraces, the amount of times she'd initiated such a thing could have been counted on one hand.

But she moves now, unwavering (because it's awkward and it's bound to be uncomfortable, but Takane never hesitates), and it occurs to her that this is nothing like hugging Hibiki or the Futami twins, but the thought slips in while her arms are already wrapping around him in as unobtrusive a hug as possible. ]

...

[ all right, she has to chuckle. She can't help it. It's not a lie to say that Takane greatly admired Masamune as a general and as a fighter, but what makes him endearing is his moments where she's reminded that he's got his stubborn, childish moments too. The ones where he really is nineteen. ]

[ . . . ah. so that's what she was doing.

to say contact was foreign to masamune would be false, but also true--he's not unfamiliar with people in his space, because ultimately that's where people placed themselves while fighting. pats on the shoulder? occasionally. an assisted walk. a lean of support.

this isn't anything like that.

he can't quite recall the last time he's ever gotten a hug. he never even fathomed receiving one from takane, who he imagined as quite similar to himself in the mindset of "implied words and actions were stronger than the more direct displays of affection".

he's half-amused, half-confused, half-thinking she smells nice, maybe, before he lets out a couple of words-- ]

Heh. Telling me to take my helmet off was the bold move?

[ it's calm. ]

[ her reply is equally composed, though of course inwardly is an entirely different story, where she's wondering if her initial suspicion was correct, that regardless of how much his men seemed to believe hugs from the fairer sex would help, it really had nothing to do with comfort-- ]

You hold no obligation towards me, least of all an act akin to disarming yourself.

[ and Takane starts to draw back, uncertain if she even did this properly. ]

[ ah, the chuckle he had been waiting for. so she was thinking things.

he stands, and makes a move towards the door. it's not annoyed or malicious but an extension of those small moments of nineteen-year-old. with a glance over his shoulder, one hand still on the door: ]

On track for something else before this happened, weren't you?

[ she rises (carefully) and steps (carefully) to join him, after she's retrieved the bucket yet again. ]

Katakura-dono has been preoccupied of late, so as to diminish his duties... [ yeah, she has no problem watering plants. ]

[ she's been doing a whole lot of "diminishing his duties", since she'd been keeping him on track too. not that he would admit that. she's not a right eye just as much as kojuro's not a princess.

... should she be walking out in tha-- actually, no, trying not to think about that. ]

Pegged you to be the type to water 'em out in the dark.

[ and in a strange moment of impulse, in one of those moments where masamune's body just kind of acted in accordance to what he wanted before his mind even catches up--

-- in that moment, he catches takane's wrist. he's not really sure what he's saying, though, or what he's doing… but. ]

I got it.

[ --wait, why is he holding her wrist again. ]

The nights call my attention to more than the plants, and Katakura-dono seems to prefer that time with them.

[ it's about as direct as Takane gets. It's a tad difficult to help out when he beats her to it.

... It really is a miracle she hasn't tripped yet. ]

[ she doesn't flinch or startle, but from the way her fingers involuntarily flex and the quick blink of her eyes from her wrist to his face, it's clear Takane wasn't expecting that. It's her usual soft tone that answers him, colored by perplexity. ]

Oh?

[ got what? Understanding? Her hand?

... Why? ]

Don't think there's anyone that could beat Kojuro to that place. Doesn't even need a horse.

[ at that, he only laughs. takane had her love with the moon to drag her away from the garden, and kojuro had his love for his garden to drag him away from everything else.

... trying to keep his eyes off of her. ]

Guess it'd be weird to see your face looking at the ground instead of the sky, anyway.

[ ah, he was doing things again. he's caught her off-guard; were it any other time he might feel a bit smug that he got oshu's ojousama, but maybe it's appropriate that the one time he catches her off-guard is the one time he catches himself off-guard.

... but. but?

he almost sighs. ]

Guess it's better to say you got me.

I am not particularly fond of looking down. [ she almost looks rueful. ] Though I can...

[ and her usual pace is nearly disrupted by one step on an overly-long hem, which not only forces her to take a few quick steps to correct her balance, but calls the attention of a few soldiers across the hall. ]

... certainly grasp the necessity of the act at times. [ ... w-well. ]

[ that's simultaneously concerning and off-putting, and while Takane's grasping for something to say in response that won't indicate how truly surprised she is by that answer, her eyes fully settle on his hand.

... No, she thinks, maybe there had been merit to the men's idea after all. In that case, it was give and take, wasn't it? He'd lowered his guard, but she'd had to drop hers first. This feels a little more natural, the way her wrist turns seamlessly in his grip - he's left her enough room - and her fingers slide against his. Not quite as intimate as an embrace, but for her, it's more than she'd generally offer. ]

That is quite the feat.

[ unexpected, she doesn't add. He already knows he's startled her. ]

[ well excuse him as he unconsciously edges more in front of takane, kind of covering her from the unsuspecting view of those soldiers.

okay, perhaps this wasn't working. ]

Going to be doing a whole lot of grasping, it looks like.

[ wow, he's scored.

--ah, no, this isn't teddie. but really, the movement in his hand is yet another surprising thing; it's a new dynamic to their frequent heart-to-hearts. he doesn't need to look at her eyes to know he's probably getting more than she's ever shown.

they're in the same situation.

he doesn't squeeze, but there is a slight movement of his hand that indicates he doesn't reject that gesture. quite the opposite, actually. ]

I can say the same on my side too, yeah?

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Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

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