[D4, EM] Reflections (Expecting/Open)

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh neither am I, I have never beaten Jiro or our mother at Go and I lost a game rather badly to Kakita Yuji-san a few nights ago. Though to be fare I was also drinking sake for the first time. Do you drink?"

"Bit more'n I prob'ly should, of late."

She chuckled.

"So yeah. I'd suggest playin' sober. Don't think I ever gave it a try th'other way, an' I lose often enough as it is."

[Shiba Haru]

"Bit more'n I prob'ly should, of late."

She chuckled.

"So yeah. I'd suggest playin' sober. Don't think I ever gave it a try th'other way, an' I lose often enough as it is."

"Maybe we should play some time, it could do us both some good if we played someone we could beat."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Maybe we should play some time, it could do us both some good if we played someone we could beat."

"Got a travel set I brought with me. Sounds like a good way t'kill an evenin'."

[Shiba Haru]

"Got a travel set I brought with me. Sounds like a good way t'kill an evenin'."

Haru dives in headfirst without checking for rocks.

"How about tonight, got a place in mind?

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Haru dives in headfirst without checking for rocks.

"How about tonight, got a place in mind?

Since her player had already stuck Kasumi into the sake house in the late evening, and into a shopping trip in the early evening, a compromise suggested itself.

"Why wait that long? How 'bout over lunch, right after whatever the hell they have us doing today?"

[Shiba Haru]

Since her player had already stuck Kasumi into the sake house in the late evening, and into a shopping trip in the early evening, a compromise suggested itself.

"Why wait that long? How 'bout over lunch, right after whatever the hell they have us doing today?"

"Uh, sure!"

Not wanting to sound desperate he added.

"I don't believe I have any plans yet, what would you to eat?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Uh, sure!"

Not wanting to sound desperate he added.

"I don't believe I have any plans yet, what would you want to eat?"

"Well, ah.... ship life taught me not t'get too picky. You got a favorite spot?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Well, ah.... ship life taught me not t'get too picky. You got a favorite spot?"

My room. Your room. A bath house.

"Have you been to the Poisoned Water Sake House? I've heard that the food there is good and I need to see if it is the right place for a get together I am planning."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Have you been to the Poisoned Water Sake House? I've heard that the food there is good and I need to see if it is the right place for a get together I am planning."

"Huh, well... never had the food there, so sure."

And it'll do me good to visit and not drink.

[Shiba Haru]

"Huh, well... never had the food there, so sure."

And it'll do me good to visit and not drink.

"Oh so you have been there, that works well then you can tell me yours thoughts on it. The reason I asked about you drinking is because Suzume Rin-san and were thinking about having a little get together with some people at the end of all this. She has never drank before and I just the once and it will be nice to relax a little and celebrate the end of our childhood while still being under the protection of it's lower standards. You know, incase something...unbecoming happens. Does that sound like something you would be interested in?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh so you have been there, that works well then you can tell me yours thoughts on it. The reason I asked about you drinking is because Suzume Rin-san and were thinking about having a little get together with some people at the end of all this. She has never drank before and I just the once and it will be nice to relax a little and celebrate the end of our childhood while still being under the protection of it's lower standards. You know, incase something...unbecoming happens. Does that sound like something you would be interested in?"

"Hell, 'unbecoming's' probably gonna be my post-gempukku name at this rate. But I s'pose I can look after a few less-experienced tipplers if it comes t'that."

[Shiba Haru]

"Hell, 'unbecoming's' probably gonna be my post-gempukku name at this rate. But I s'pose I can look after a few less-experienced tipplers if it comes t'that."

"Look after? No no no, my brother will be there to handle that, he's a very motherly caring type. He will probably try to forcefeed us all tea to make sure we don't get too drunk."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Look after? No no no, my brother will be there to handle that, he's a very motherly caring type. He will probably try to forcefeed us all tea to make sure we don't get too drunk."

"Huh, he hardly seemed th'type th'other day..."

Oh, fuck ME.

[Shiba Haru]

"Huh, he hardly seemed th'type th'other day..."

Oh, fuck ME.

"Oh?"

The word was pleasant and mild in tone, neither surprised nor expectant.

"I hope my brother has been good company."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I hope my brother has been good company."

Very, very much so.

"Very much so. Perfect gentleman."

Brilliant, Kasumi, fucking brilliant.

Flail for recovery.

"I understand his intended is also here?"

[Shiba Haru]

Very, very much so.

"Very much so. Perfect gentleman."

Brilliant, Kasumi, fucking brilliant.

Flail for recovery.

"I understand his intended is also here?"

"she is, has he not introduced you to Isawa Natsuko-san yet? She's a lovely and devout woman, I think they will make a wonderful family together. She has these piercing blue eyes that he seems to be quite fond of and with his way with words I'm sure he will tell her all about them. He's very gifted with his tongue."

What are you doing trying help him or hurt him? What ARE you doing?

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"she is, has he not introduced you to Isawa Natsuko-san yet? She's a lovely and devout woman, I think they will make a wonderful family together. She has these piercing blue eyes that he seems to be quite fond of and with his way with words I'm sure he will tell her all about them. He's very gifted with his tongue."

"Haven't had th'pleasure. Blue eyes, y'say? Thought that was more of a Crane thing..."

[Shiba Haru]

"Haven't had th'pleasure. Blue eyes, y'say? Thought that was more of a Crane thing..."

"Well the Phoenix and Crane are close allies, lots of marriages between them over the years."

Now that's a professional level excuse.

"You have lovely eyes as well I must say but I'm certainly not the first to tell you that. For a moment when you were running up I imagined you were a big cat. With big full eyes and the way you move is smooth and powerful it's like a predator ready to pounce. I guess it comes from a life on the water. All that rocking back and forth, back and for makes for a keen eye and a tight core."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well the Phoenix and Crane are close allies, lots of marriages between them over the years."

Now that's a professional level excuse.

"You have lovely eyes as well I must say but I'm certainly not the first to tell you that. For a moment when you were running up I imagined you were a big cat. With big full eyes and the way you move is smooth and powerful it's like a predator ready to pounce. I guess it comes from a life on the water. All that rocking back and forth, back and for makes for a keen eye and a tight core."

Do all these Phoenix guys talk so pretty?

"Spent what feels like half my learnin' cruise aloft because'a these eyes."

She tapped a cheekbone.

"Good vision gets y'sent aloft. So I do plenty'a climbin'."

She chuckled.

"Plus, my brother Ichiki was showin' me how t'run the ratlines practically soon as I could stand. So I s'pose I move like someone who hasta climb like a damn monkey when the cap'n says so."

[Shiba Haru]

Do all these Phoenix guys talk so pretty?

"Spent what feels like half my learnin' cruise aloft because'a these eyes."

She tapped a cheekbone.

"Good vision gets y'sent aloft. So I do plenty'a climbin'."

She chuckled.

"Plus, my brother Ichiki was showin' me how t'run the ratlines practically soon as I could stand. So I s'pose I move like someone who hasta climb like a damn monkey when the cap'n says so."

Pfft, and he thinks my tree climbing is dangerous.

"I doubt any monkey would look as good doing it thought."

Oh shit did that come out?

"Sounds rather exciting though and I love a bit of danger, I wonder if the Phoenix have a navy I can join."