Of Princesses, Dragons, and Conquest

[classifidol]

[ 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. ]

Comments

[dragonizing]

[ ah right, this was shijou. masamune's not paying much mind to the soldiers, only giving them an occasional look that seems to imply that they should probably move on. ]

Once that happens, should we get to putting you in dragon scales more often?

[classifidol]

Your scales suit you better, do they not?

[ you just like her wearing your clothes. ]

[dragonizing]

Hah, of course. No one wears 'em quite the same way.

[ well, d'uh. but he's not saying that. ]

Yours isn't bad.

[classifidol]

To ease into your garments would require certain changes of my own, while mine do remain more fitting, I believe.

[ she's not as big as you are, Masamune. ]

[dragonizing]

. . . Huh.

[ like this is actually a point he needs to mull over. it's very obviously, but...

YOUR SOUL IS LARGE, TAKANE SHIJOU. ]

Guess there's no changing that part, is there.

[classifidol]

[ she actually chuckles, bringing that hand-covering sleeve to her mouth. ]

Change may be inevitable, but my changes will most likely not consist of the physical.

[dragonizing]

[ takane's fine how she is but...

he's not going to say that... ]

Heh. If it comes to that point, we'll try it then.

[classifidol]

One dilemma remedied. [ still with a touch of gentle humor. ] You truly are prepared for the unexpected.

[dragonizing]

No surprise.

[ he tosses her a look, a lazy grin. ]

I'd have a hard time keeping up with you if I wasn't.

[classifidol]

You seem to have maintained your pace rather ni--

[ wow Takane tripping is not what ladies do. ]

[dragonizing]

[ woah there-- good thing masamune's got some war lord reflexes, because he's reacting almost immediately and reaching to catch takane mid-fall.

there's a sentence in his mouth… something like "that just makes one of us", but that was kind of his fault in the first place. ]

Kept it there, too.

[classifidol]

[ good thing Takane doesn't blush.

Or that if she does, it's very pale pink and hardly noticeable. ]

I should like to aspire to achieve much the same. [ without having to run around in his clothes, probably. ]

[dragonizing]

[ he'll notice it... one day... the elusive takane blush.

but he pulls always from her, stays close, and looks toward the direction of the gardens. ]

Take it one step at a time.

[classifidol]

[ a gentle sigh, little more than a breath, and she straightens.

And steps slowly, deliberately. It's good advice, after all. And those poor plants have surely been waiting. ]