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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[ . . . 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?

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ ... 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.

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?

...

[ 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. ]

[ ... 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?

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ . . . 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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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? ]

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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?

[ it's different, she reflects, vaguely amused for the simplicity of the thought. But holding his hand is different, his palms larger, his fingers rougher, the gesture itself making her much more aware of him.

... Which is strange, but her voice is smooth enough, and her thoughts seem to have assembled themselves properly. ]

Your original sentiment... is not unreturned.

[ he kind of pulls her closer--maybe this is by accident, but the fact that the distance crossed does not create contact seems to imply that it was, indeed, on purpose. and he'd fully admit it.

no smirk, no cockiness, but there's a sort of atmosphere there that implies the same kind of comfort. ]

Guess I'm screwed. [ but he can, of course, still add in that one joke. ]

[ he pulls-- and normally, she pushes back, but this time, Takane allows for the subtle tug to draw her closer, making it all too clear by the lift of her chin and the directness of her gaze that she is knowingly allowing this.

Her eyes take on a trace of confusion however, and she tilts her head. ]

Is it such a condemnation?

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