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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[ it's true that they understand each other on various levels, that it was politeness and her own upraising that had kept Takane from answering to Masamune's wishes, the ones he wouldn't have spoken. Whatever their relationship, it wasn't one of dominance and subservience. He trusted her to do what she wished. She trusted him enough to find a sense of loyalty in, to want to remain by his side and to find herself perturbed and restless when she had to stay behind.

Unpleasant, to say the slightest. But Takane didn't bother making assumptions about Oshu's One-Eyed Dragon, admitting only that he was someone worth trusting in. She'd made the request, rather than the outright imperious demand, because of that trust. That respect. And if he had said no, she would have honored his answer.

Her eyes lift to rest on his single blue one and the expression on her face is briefly uncertain as she studies him. She can read enough from his look, the way his lips are turned up and the almost triumphant tilt of his smile. But there's seriousness there, and Takane understands. He's not granting or acknowledging this lightly. They both know the risk. The danger. She's safer here, but she isn't caged. And she doesn't intend to be.

Kojuro may have Masamune's back.

Takane will fight for the rest. And with that, the uncertainty fades and she finally, truly, smiles. ]

That honor... I believe I must claim it as well. [ you're welcome. ] Please continue to clear the skies above, Masamune.

[ her smile knocks the expression off his face for a moment. it isn't a bad silence, but an observant one. when that small bit of observation is over, however, he returns the smile. it has the smallest bit of cockiness in it (what was a masamune smile without that?), but it was dominated by... fondness. ]

Heh. I don't plan on stopping. [ but she didn't need him to tell her that. she was--from the moment he had met her--someone under the skies of this dragon, too.

and with a bit of thought, he lays a hand on her shoulder. his face makes it seem like he registered something just then, which he makes clear with what he says next: ]

. . . And you don't plan on drying, do ya?

... [ her head tips ever so carefully to one side as she looks momentarily blank-- just before her expression clears. The heavy feeling between them is still dissipating - and something tightens at the sight of his smile - but she can relax a little more now. At the very least, she'll be able to be productive. ]

In due time.

[ "in due time". he imagines kojuro might scold him for letting takane go with an answer like that without making an effort to correct her predicament; he also quite can't let himself do nothing in the face of... well, a soaking shijou.

so he removes his hand and turns his back, looking over his shoulder and craning his head in a symbol of follow me before he moves across the compound. ]

[ she stands there, looking laughably like a lost child for the span of twenty seconds, but she understands the signal well enough, and there's not really a reason to disregard it.

... She does pick up the bucket first before she follows him, though. ]

[ he almost wonders whether she is going to follow him when she doesn't initially move, but that's merely because masamune is just special that way. when she does, however, he's moving along the corridors to his room--the one where he had kind of been for a whole century, recently.

he just needed to get her something dry. maybe going to her room was a better way to go through with it, but he's not exactly thinking that far just yet. ]

[ Takane has to raise an eyebrow when she realizes which direction they're headed-- and oh does she know this layout well, having walked along it for days to her destination. It's slightly relieving to have his back ahead of her, though. Proof he's upright and fine. Still that proud, reckless dragon.

... Who, by the looks of it, isn't going to let her handle her drying on her own. ]

[ it's one-half "kojuro will kick my ass" and one-half "she got wet because of me, bad dragon manners" or something like that, but masamune's by now shoved the particulars out of his mind and is only focusing on getting to his intended location.

... and once there, quite quickly propping open the sliding door into the room with a whole lot of scrolls on the ground. when masamune was bored, masamune was bored.

messy or not, though, he's just going to look for something to dry takane off with.

and maybe clothes too big for her. wasn't that usually done when the person didn't live around here? but first the towel. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

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. ]

[ 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?

[ 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.

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ . . . 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?

[ . . . .

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. ]

[ 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.

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