[D2 EE] Perfectly Proper

[Shiba Jiro]

"I appreciate it," he replies. "As I appreciate everything about you really. So on top of beautiful, clever and heroic I can also include kind and generous when I think about the many reasons I enjoy spending time with you."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Yes, well, keep talkin' like that an' y'might wake up out t'sea..."

[Shiba Jiro]

In a playfully sarcastic tone. "Oh nooo, anything but that. Whatever would I do?"

He smirks.

"Though I suppose there could be worse fates, like not waking up out to sea."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"A fate I think we're both likely stuck with, at least for now..."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, here on land I'm at least not at a total disadvantage with you. Though to be fair, I think that your eyes and your smile are both more powerful than your ship, so it's not like you need it to capture me."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, th' ship's not for th'capture, it's for th'getaway!"

She sighed.

"A'course, you got some advantages, too."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I do, do I?" he says with a chuckle. "Well, any advantage I have, you can feel free to take."

He winks at her, before offering to put a bit more sake in her cup, and refilling his own. Though he's not rushing to drink it at the moment either, pacing and taking his time.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Can't claim yer polish."

Sip.

"Or yer artistic eye. Or yer class."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, I am definitely a fan of unpolished things. They're raw, they're exposed, and they're honest. There's nothing hidden under layers of polish. Just the pure, natural beauty. Though I don't deny that a good polishing can be lovely too. But I see it more as a change than an improvement. A wild flower that lives free is no more or less beautiful than one raised in a garden. It's simply different," he says.

"But I can help polish you if you like. Anything in particular you would like me to give you a hand with?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Uhm... alla it?"

She laughed.

"Dunno if ya noticed, but th'only place I didn' stick out too much was 'board ship today."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, to be honest, it's a little bit... I'm less polished than you might think. But I have been able to get away with certain things. Like, smiling while making eye contact and such. I'm not about to stop doing so, an I certainly don't want you to not avoid doing so with me. But in general, it's considered better to either hide expressions behind fans or avoid showing them at all. More advanced courtly training teaches one how to... suggest to others that you have an expression behind a fan."

He shrugs.

"But yeah. It helps create an air and suggestion of self control I guess. I can do so in more formal settings, I have that training, but it's mostly practice. I don't even have a fan though, since I usually don't worry about it. Do you have a fan?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Nope. Not 'zactly useful at sea."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Then I will have to rectify that," he replied. "Don't go picking one out. I will make something myself for you."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She cocked her head to the side.

"You keep givin' me stuff, I'm gonna have to learn how t'make somethin' in return."

[Shiba Jiro]

"I f you want to, I can show you something. But I like making things and it's better to have someone to make them for. It's not about exchange for me. It's about inspiration. And you are giving me that inspiration, which is already a rather lovely gift."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, good, 'cause all I know is knotwork. Well. And I s'pose I could try my hand at bonsai, but..."

She gave a sort of helpless shrug.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I think woodcarving might suit you and be something you could potentially do even at sea," he says. "And it's one of my favorite crafts."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, we got scrimshaw, an' we got whittling. Just not a trick I ever tried..."

[Shiba Jiro]

He holds his hands up to give a clear view of the nick scars and callouses. "It can be a nice way to spend time clearing your head. Even if you don't make anything. I once spent days on making a wooden ball that I just kept making smaller, until it was a bead. It was relaxing."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Sounds like Fujiwari-san on the Yukikaze. He's always makin' big sticks inta little sticks. Nobody much minds 'cause he gives th' shavings t'the cook."