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]

[ 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!

[classifidol]

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.

[dragonizing]

[ 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.

[classifidol]

[ 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. ]

[dragonizing]

[ . . . 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. ]

[classifidol]

[ 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?

[dragonizing]

[ . . . .

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. ]

[classifidol]

[ 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? ]

[dragonizing]

[ 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. ]

[classifidol]

[ 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.

[dragonizing]

[ 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. ]

[classifidol]

...

[ 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. ]

[dragonizing]

[ 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?

[classifidol]

[ 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. ]

[dragonizing]

[ 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.

[classifidol]

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. ]

[dragonizing]

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.

[classifidol]

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. ]

[dragonizing]

[ 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.

[classifidol]

[ Takane could care less who looks (though her raised eyebrow might go unseen once they start making questioning noises at their leader), and sighs beneath her breath, half-resigned and half-stubborn. ]

I shall only grasp until I can confidently secure myself. You need not be concerned, Date Masamune.

[ I WILL MOVE IN THIS DAMMIT. ]

[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.