[D6, LA, expecting] Getting ready

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"On account of me being in danger if I got posted there...if we ended up matching?"
That was definitely a lot, and Rin sits in silence for a few moments, pondering it.

"That's real sweet of you, worrying about me like that. Even thinking 'bout maybes and possiblies with all of this going on. It's cute even."
Rin smiles gently
"Even if that did happen, and I definitely dunno what's gonna happen. But if it did well, look, not gonna say it wouldn't be dangerous, 'cause it is. But tens of thousands of samurai are out there facing that danger right now. And they all got folks who care about them, but they're doing it anyway because it's important."

Mitsuko smiles back, sad and proud at the same time. There's a sparkle in the corner of both eyes now that Rin didn't seem to worry, to shrink or even hesitate...

"I, um," Mitsuko says, having a hard time talking. I was just thinking that the danger to me... If I didn't come home to you..." She stops, closes her eyes and takes a series of deep breaths. After composing herself better, she says to the table, "I'm sorry. I am... This is all very foolishly too soon. I shouldn't have such thoughts. We, um.... We were figuring things out slowly." She takes a heavy breath.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko smiles back, sad and proud at the same time. There's a sparkle in the corner of both eyes now that Rin didn't seem to worry, to shrink or even hesitate...

"I, um," Mitsuko says, having a hard time talking. I was just thinking that the danger to me... If I didn't come home to you..." She stops, closes her eyes and takes a series of deep breaths. After composing herself better, she says to the table, "I'm sorry. I am... This is all very foolishly too soon. I shouldn't have such thoughts. We, um.... We were figuring things out slowly." She takes a heavy breath.

"We are."
Rin nods slowly
"You don't have to worry about me though...although it's nice when you do."

She looks back at Mitsuko at that last point.
"Well, you ain't allowed to not come home, that's a fact. Whoever you end up with, you better be coming home to them. You're tough, and you're smart, so they'll put you in charge of people and you'll be busy worrying about bringing them home and they'll be worried about bringing you home, folks'll look after eachother.

And tonight, you don't have to worry 'bout any of that, and I promise I won't if you won't."
Purposefully taking her cup and draining it.

"We got nice things to think about, don't we?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

...

And tonight, you don't have to worry 'bout any of that, and I promise I won't if you won't."
Purposefully taking her cup and draining it.

"We got nice things to think about, don't we?"

The Crab smiles brightly, squeezing Rin's hand and then taking a long drink of tea.

"Yes. Nice things like you, and your hair," Mitsuko says with evident anticipation, finishing the cup to match Rin and then setting it aside. She looks at the Suzume girl warmly. "Do you want to go first or me?"

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab smiles brightly, squeezing Rin's hand and then taking a long drink of tea.

"Yes. Nice things like you, and your hair," Mitsuko says with evident anticipation, finishing the cup to match Rin and then setting it aside. She looks at the Suzume girl warmly. "Do you want to go first or me?"

"Oh...uh....I'm not the best at this. So if you'd maybe do me first. That way I'll get some tips for help yah out."
Rin hunches her shoulders slightly subconsciously
"Don't...don't worry 'bout spending too much time on it though, only so much that can be done."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Oh...uh....I'm not the best at this. So if you'd maybe do me first. That way I'll get some tips for help yah out."
Rin hunches her shoulders slightly subconsciously
"Don't...don't worry 'bout spending too much time on it though, only so much that can be done."

The Kuni smirks as she strides over to grab a brush and a couple of simple pins, tucking them in her obi very particularly, and returns to stand behind the Sparrow.

"I might," Mitsuko says happily as she starts to undo the simple arrangement Rin had come in with, "know a bit more about how to manage hair than your typical Kuni." At first, Mitsuko does a bit of firm but painless brushing to get Rin's hair ready for her. Before she really gets started, she kneels by the Sparrow's shoulder, eyes only slowing drifting from the long brown hair to Rin's brown eyes.

"Is there anything you particularly like done with your hair? I can surprise you, but I want to make sure you'll like it." There's obvious excitement in Mitsuko's eyes that must seem terribly out of place for a very plain and practical Kuni girl.

[Suzume Rin]

The Kuni smirks as she strides over to grab a brush and a couple of simple pins, tucking them in her obi very particularly, and returns to stand behind the Sparrow.

"I might," Mitsuko says happily as she starts to undo the simple arrangement Rin had come in with, "know a bit more about how to manage hair than your typical Kuni." At first, Mitsuko does a bit of firm but painless brushing to get Rin's hair ready for her. Before she really gets started, she kneels by the Sparrow's shoulder, eyes only slowing drifting from the long brown hair to Rin's brown eyes.

"Is there anything you particularly like done with your hair? I can surprise you, but I want to make sure you'll like it." There's obvious excitement in Mitsuko's eyes that must seem terribly out of place for a very plain and practical Kuni girl.

"Well....gosh I feel bad for saying this."
Rin's hands ball on her thighs

"I never really have a reason or time to make it...kinda complicated. It's usually just whatever I can manage while half awake. So uh...if you've got some impractical styles or something all different like...that's be real nice. But I'm happy with enough, truly."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Well....gosh I feel bad for saying this."
Rin's hands ball on her thighs

"I never really have a reason or time to make it...kinda complicated. It's usually just whatever I can manage while half awake. So uh...if you've got some impractical styles or something all different like...that's be real nice. But I'm happy with enough, truly."

"You never need to feel bad for saying things to me," Mitsuko near-whispers, then she smiles and stands to get to work.

"I don't have a lot of practice with fancy styles," she admits, "that not being a priority in Hida schools." She starts to gently divide Rin's hair, making sure she has enough to do what she's thinking of trying. "I, uh, don't want to get too ambitious and have it... not work out."

Mitsuko scowls at her choice of words but at least Rin doesn't see that. The Kuni's hands start to braid on the left side of the Suzume's head, firm enough to hold but not so tight as to feel strained. The sort of braiding to expect from a future commander who doesn't have time for the distraction of braids coming loose or of tugging because they're too tight.

"You help your siblings with their hair but probably don't get much help for yours, hm?" She asks lightly as the braiding progresses.

[Suzume Rin]

"You never need to feel bad for saying things to me," Mitsuko near-whispers, then she smiles and stands to get to work.

"I don't have a lot of practice with fancy styles," she admits, "that not being a priority in Hida schools." She starts to gently divide Rin's hair, making sure she has enough to do what she's thinking of trying. "I, uh, don't want to get too ambitious and have it... not work out."

Mitsuko scowls at her choice of words but at least Rin doesn't see that. The Kuni's hands start to braid on the left side of the Suzume's head, firm enough to hold but not so tight as to feel strained. The sort of braiding to expect from a future commander who doesn't have time for the distraction of braids coming loose or of tugging because they're too tight.

"You help your siblings with their hair but probably don't get much help for yours, hm?" She asks lightly as the braiding progresses.

Rin blushes furiously but focuses on keeping still so Mitsuko can do her work.
"Oh that's the way of it. When they were little I'd pretty much have to line them all up and speed brush and wash as I went down the line to make sure everyone was presentable before we started the day. Much easier if they were in a good mood and if they weren't there was an awful lot of wrangling going on."

Still, the Sparrow smiles at the memory
"As they got older they'd want to get ready on their own. 'Course, they had different ideas of what ready meant. We'd look like a pretty motley bunch sometimes heading up to the dojo."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin blushes furiously but focuses on keeping still so Mitsuko can do her work.
"Oh that's the way of it. When they were little I'd pretty much have to line them all up and speed brush and wash as I went down the line to make sure everyone was presentable before we started the day. Much easier if they were in a good mood and if they weren't there was an awful lot of wrangling going on."

Still, the Sparrow smiles at the memory
"As they got older they'd want to get ready on their own. 'Course, they had different ideas of what ready meant. We'd look like a pretty motley bunch sometimes heading up to the dojo."

The Crab carries on, smiling and making small affirmative noises as Rin talks. She finishes the first braid, then begins work on the Sparrow's right side, describing a little about how she's braiding in case Rin's unfamiliar with the style. Mitsuko's ancestor had helped a Crane develop the approach years before, though it wasn't commonly noted that a Kuni man had anything to do with it - for various reasons. After a time, Mitsuko fetches a pair of hand mirrors from the table, to show what she's been able to do.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab carries on, smiling and making small affirmative noises as Rin talks. She finishes the first braid, then begins work on the Sparrow's right side, describing a little about how she's braiding in case Rin's unfamiliar with the style. Mitsuko's ancestor had helped a Crane develop the approach years before, though it wasn't commonly noted that a Kuni man had anything to do with it - for various reasons. After a time, Mitsuko fetches a pair of hand mirrors from the table, to show what she's been able to do.

"Golly!"
Rin carefully reaches up to feel the braid, as if not quite believing the reflection.

"I dunno how you managed that, I look almost half decent!"
Turning her head side to side

"Hopefully won't look so bad on your arm now."
The Sparrow takes a few moments to really enjoy the style before looking up at Mitsuko, determination in her eyes.
'Course, I'm gonna do an even better job on your hair. You just tell me what you want and I'm coming at it with everything I got."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Golly!"
Rin carefully reaches up to feel the braid, as if not quite believing the reflection.

"I dunno how you managed that, I look almost half decent!"
Turning her head side to side

"Hopefully won't look so bad on your arm now."
The Sparrow takes a few moments to really enjoy the style before looking up at Mitsuko, determination in her eyes.
'Course, I'm gonna do an even better job on your hair. You just tell me what you want and I'm coming at it with everything I got."

"You look way better than decent, Rin-chan," Mitsuko says with a mix of pride and affection, kneeling and then gently brushing her fingertips over the hair as she reviews her work. She smiles, realizes she's very close to the Sparrow when she looks in her eyes, and forgets what else she was going to say. After a pause lost in the girl's brown eyes, Mitsuko blinks and clasps her hands together in her lap. "Um, ah, I'm excited for you to do what you want with it," she says, not thinking, and then biting her lip quite firmly when she realizes what she'd said.

"Um, I mean, if you like it loose, then something more down than I usually do, like a long braid down the back? You know, something elegantly simple, like y--uh, like you would like to look at for the night." The Crab blinks in what she hopes is an attractive way, rather than calling more attention to her verbal troubles.

[Suzume Rin]

"You look way better than decent, Rin-chan," Mitsuko says with a mix of pride and affection, kneeling and then gently brushing her fingertips over the hair as she reviews her work. She smiles, realizes she's very close to the Sparrow when she looks in her eyes, and forgets what else she was going to say. After a pause lost in the girl's brown eyes, Mitsuko blinks and clasps her hands together in her lap. "Um, ah, I'm excited for you to do what you want with it," she says, not thinking, and then biting her lip quite firmly when she realizes what she'd said.

"Um, I mean, if you like it loose, then something more down than I usually do, like a long braid down the back? You know, something elegantly simple, like y--uh, like you would like to look at for the night." The Crab blinks in what she hopes is an attractive way, rather than calling more attention to her verbal troubles.

"Well...it ain't just about what I want. Gotta be good for you too."
Replied Rin, not even remotely realizing what she's said, but too distracted by Mitsuko to notice.

"Long braid down the back is a classic, and it'll let folk appreciate your nice features I reckon."

Reaching up a hand to the Crab's cheek to gently turn her head so Rin can get to work.

"It's going to be the best braid I can manage, since it's for you."
Rin bites her tongue slightly as she works, doing her best to never jerk or tug, but still ensuring everything is appropriately firm.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Well...it ain't just about what I want. Gotta be good for you too."
Replied Rin, not even remotely realizing what she's said, but too distracted by Mitsuko to notice.

"Long braid down the back is a classic, and it'll let folk appreciate your nice features I reckon."

Reaching up a hand to the Crab's cheek to gently turn her head so Rin can get to work.

"It's going to be the best braid I can manage, since it's for you."
Rin bites her tongue slightly as she works, doing her best to never jerk or tug, but still ensuring everything is appropriately firm.

Rin's gentle touch on her cheek and the perfectly innocent but still meaningful way she said "for you" make Mitsuko's cheeks flame so bright she thinks that even through her makeup it must be visible. She sits silently for a bit as Rin works, then she finally responds - much too late to seem like a response to the Sparrows words - in a quiet but excited voice. "I am honored to get your best work," the Crab says, with genuine conviction. "Truly honored."

[Suzume Rin]

Rin's gentle touch on her cheek and the perfectly innocent but still meaningful way she said "for you" make Mitsuko's cheeks flame so bright she thinks that even through her makeup it must be visible. She sits silently for a bit as Rin works, then she finally responds - much too late to seem like a response to the Sparrows words - in a quiet but excited voice. "I am honored to get your best work," the Crab says, with genuine conviction. "Truly honored."

"You ain't even seen it yet, might be feeling honoured for needing a new hair stylist."
Rin's hands aren't exactly the softest after a lifetime of hard work, but she clearly makes the effort until she's elegantly (well, mostly elegantly) braided Mitsuko's hair into a long foxtail all the way down her back.

"I'm just pleased you let me work on yah, you sure you're feeling alright? Your cheek was near scalding hot."
And with a fine gentle pull Rin nodded with satisfaction, grabbing the mirrors to show Mitsuko.

"Hope it ain't too bad, I've really only had practice with my sisters, and that's a bit more rough and tumble."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"You ain't even seen it yet, might be feeling honoured for needing a new hair stylist."
Rin's hands aren't exactly the softest after a lifetime of hard work, but she clearly makes the effort until she's elegantly (well, mostly elegantly) braided Mitsuko's hair into a long foxtail all the way down her back.

"I'm just pleased you let me work on yah, you sure you're feeling alright? Your cheek was near scalding hot."
And with a fine gentle pull Rin nodded with satisfaction, grabbing the mirrors to show Mitsuko.

"Hope it ain't too bad, I've really only had practice with my sisters, and that's a bit more rough and tumble."

Mitsuko beams. She would be happy regardless of the results, but she feels genuinely pleased at Rin's work. It's very respectable by Crab standards, and the metaphorical rise-colored glasses on Mitsuko wouldn't let her be critical even if she could.

"I am very pleased with it," she says, trying to keep emotions in check. Dammit, I should have known the sister thing would get me. "I, um... I'm in the most dear company, and I wouldn't..." Mitsuko gets stuck there, then finishes in a much weaker voice. "I'm just really honoured." She swallows hard and then takes a deep breath.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko beams. She would be happy regardless of the results, but she feels genuinely pleased at Rin's work. It's very respectable by Crab standards, and the metaphorical rise-colored glasses on Mitsuko wouldn't let her be critical even if she could.

"I am very pleased with it," she says, trying to keep emotions in check. Dammit, I should have known the sister thing would get me. "I, um... I'm in the most dear company, and I wouldn't..." Mitsuko gets stuck there, then finishes in a much weaker voice. "I'm just really honoured." She swallows hard and then takes a deep breath.

"Makes me all warm to hear you say that. I've honoured folks in a lot of ways before, but never by get their hair right. Could be the start of a new path for me."

Rin chuckles at her own joke, unconsciously resting a hand on Mitsuko's shoulder now she's done.
"You know...I'm feeling pretty good 'bout the party now. Guess your company and something to do with my hands has helped settle me. This was a great idea."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Makes me all warm to hear you say that. I've honoured folks in a lot of ways before, but never by get their hair right. Could be the start of a new path for me."

Rin chuckles at her own joke, unconsciously resting a hand on Mitsuko's shoulder now she's done.
"You know...I'm feeling pretty good 'bout the party now. Guess your company and something to do with my hands has helped settle me. This was a great idea."

Mitsuko is practically glowing with the amount of heat she's radiating from the combination of happy, embarrassed and raw excitement. And Rin's hand is on her shoulder! The Crab girl realizes she probably can't speak, even if she could figure out words, so she just breathes. And Rin's touch is a comfort, and Mitsuko starts to relax and just be happy in the moment, not really noticing that her head is tipping until her cheek is brushing the Sparrow's fingers.

Mitsuko freezes, not sure how to proceed from here, though her eyes are open and she's staring forward, worried both about rubbing against Rin's hand and suddenly shying away from it.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko is practically glowing with the amount of heat she's radiating from the combination of happy, embarrassed and raw excitement. And Rin's hand is on her shoulder! The Crab girl realizes she probably can't speak, even if she could figure out words, so she just breathes. And Rin's touch is a comfort, and Mitsuko starts to relax and just be happy in the moment, not really noticing that her head is tipping until her cheek is brushing the Sparrow's fingers.

Mitsuko freezes, not sure how to proceed from here, though her eyes are open and she's staring forward, worried both about rubbing against Rin's hand and suddenly shying away from it.

Rin keeps on for a few more moments.
"Can't wait to see what events they have. It's a Crane party so I bet they're all really sophisticated, maybe we all have to write poetry about birds or somethin'. Doesn't matter though, think the company will more than make up for it."

Then she cottons on that Mitsuko hasn't replied and that the Crab seems frozen with her cheek just brushing Rin's fingers.

Now the Sparrow has the same predicament, she can hardly jerk her hand away, but if Mitsuko is frozen the hand needs to freeze too.

"Ummm....hmmmm. This is nice, really nice."
The Suzume thinks quickly, using all her courtly etiquette
"...Gosh my hand was so cold, thanks for warming it right up."
It's not cold, in fact Rin's hands are very, very hot.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin keeps on for a few more moments.
"Can't wait to see what events they have. It's a Crane party so I bet they're all really sophisticated, maybe we all have to write poetry about birds or somethin'. Doesn't matter though, think the company will more than make up for it."

Then she cottons on that Mitsuko hasn't replied and that the Crab seems frozen with her cheek just brushing Rin's fingers.

Now the Sparrow has the same predicament, she can hardly jerk her hand away, but if Mitsuko is frozen the hand needs to freeze too.

"Ummm....hmmmm. This is nice, really nice."
The Suzume thinks quickly, using all her courtly etiquette
"...Gosh my hand was so cold, thanks for warming it right up."
It's not cold, in fact Rin's hands are very, very hot.

The Crab murmurs happily in agreement about how nice it is and puts forth great effort to suppress a snuggle of the Sparrows hand. She can feel the situation as clearly as Rin can, and she knows this is her one chance to right the situation properly. With incredible will, she forces herself to say, "Right, warming, mhmm," in the most dignified way a Kuni maiden can while trying to elegantly rise. While drawing not too quickly or too slowly away from Rin's hand. From kneeling, closer to the table than she'd realized. And while accidentally stepping on the cushion.

It's a valiant effort, but the unexpected footing mishap is more than the flustered Crab can manage in this moment. As a result, she finds herself almost eyeball to eyeball with Rin, grasping the other girl's forearms for balance, and recalling from the back of her mind some saying about travel, the searing pan and the fire.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab murmurs happily in agreement about how nice it is and puts forth great effort to suppress a snuggle of the Sparrows hand. She can feel the situation as clearly as Rin can, and she knows this is her one chance to right the situation properly. With incredible will, she forces herself to say, "Right, warming, mhmm," in the most dignified way a Kuni maiden can while trying to elegantly rise. While drawing not too quickly or too slowly away from Rin's hand. From kneeling, closer to the table than she'd realized. And while accidentally stepping on the cushion.

It's a valiant effort, but the unexpected footing mishap is more than the flustered Crab can manage in this moment. As a result, she finds herself almost eyeball to eyeball with Rin, grasping the other girl's forearms for balance, and recalling from the back of her mind some saying about travel, the searing pan and the fire.

"Careful now!"
Rin had of course, leapt forward to balance Mitsuko and felt the present situation was at least her fault.

"Um..."
The tip of Rin's rapidly pinkening nose rubs the tip of Mitsuko's as the Sparrow freezes
"That was close...somethin' bad coulda happened. I gotcha though...and looks like you got me."

She just....needed to stop staring into Mitsuko's eyes....proper thing would be to look down....but then why'd it feel so nice?