Day 4 [LA] Ride Out With Me (Expecting)

[Suzume Rin]

There's a dramatic pause, with Mitsuko silent for perhaps long enough that Rin becomes very concerned. Then her knees bump Mochi's flanks, and the round pony sidles up to Ikki calmly.

When she's close, the hat tips just enough for Mitsuko to look Rin in the eyes. Makeup or no, the Sparrow can see intensity in the Crab's eyes. With a wavering voice, Mitsuko says quietly, "I'm sorry. It was unfair... But... I like it when you call me Mitsuko. And... You don't look plain to me."

"Well that's alright! I know that-"
There's a pause as the last couple days worth of conversations and events fires rapidly through Rin's mind. All the rather obvious hints the Sparrow had missed, all the pauses, the suggestions. Rin's brow furrows, unforrows, then furrows harder as she meets the Mitsuko's gaze. Then Rin's eyes widen big as saucers.

"...Wait...Mitsuko-san, you uh...saying you um...and I'm probably getting this wrong. But uh...you saying you like when I call use yer name on account of you uh...liking...me?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Well that's alright! I know that-"
There's a pause as the last couple days worth of conversations and events fires rapidly through Rin's mind. All the rather obvious hints the Sparrow had missed, all the pauses, the suggestions. Rin's brow furrows, unforrows, then furrows harder as she meets the Mitsuko's gaze. Then Rin's eyes widen big as saucers.

"...Wait...Mitsuko-san, you uh...saying you um...and I'm probably getting this wrong. But uh...you saying you like when I call use yer name on account of you uh...liking...me?"

The Crab holds Rin's eyes for a minute, then looks down nervously. "I, um... I like you using my name because you're a friend, but also... I mean, I don't not like you..." Mitsuko takes of the hat and holds the edges with both hands, looking timidly over the top at Rin.

"I've never... I don't know how to..." She squeezes the edges of the hat and continues to hold it up like a shield, clearly worried about what the Sparrow is going to say next.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab holds Rin's eyes for a minute, then looks down nervously. "I, um... I like you using my name because you're a friend, but also... I mean, I don't not like you..." Mitsuko takes of the hat and holds the edges with both hands, looking timidly over the top at Rin.

"I've never... I don't know how to..." She squeezes the edges of the hat and continues to hold it up like a shield, clearly worried about what the Sparrow is going to say next.

"Well, don't not liking someone sounds a lot like liking someone."
Rin's nose and ears were continuing to turn very pink.

"I know sometimes it's complicated. I ain't gonna act like I'm an expert, I don't think anyone's every don't not liked me before."
A host of questions run through Rin's mind in the moment of silence that follows, most along the lines of 'why would anyone don't not like me?' and 'we sure use a lot of double negatives' but finally:

"Mitsuko."
She reaches across and lays a hand on one of the Crab's.
"You're gonna squeeze my poor hat to bits like that. And that would be a shame, since I think I like you too. You wanna maybe find a clearing for some food and we can talk about it? I bet you've got a lot to say, and I promise I'll listen to it."
She gently gives Mitsuko's hand a squeeze.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Well, don't not liking someone sounds a lot like liking someone."
Rin's nose and ears were continuing to turn very pink.

"I know sometimes it's complicated. I ain't gonna act like I'm an expert, I don't think anyone's every don't not liked me before."
A host of questions run through Rin's mind in the moment of silence that follows, most along the lines of 'why would anyone don't not like me?' and 'we sure use a lot of double negatives' but finally:

"Mitsuko."
She reaches across and lays a hand on one of the Crab's.
"You're gonna squeeze my poor hat to bits like that. And that would be a shame, since I think I like you too. You wanna maybe find a clearing for some food and we can talk about it? I bet you've got a lot to say, and I promise I'll listen to it."
She gently gives Mitsuko's hand a squeeze.

The Crab girl freezes, eyes wide, and then feels like her entire body is ablaze at Rin's touch. Without a sound, she passes the hat back, eyes locked on those of the Sparrow. Breathlessly she whispers, "A clearing... Yes..."

Mitsuko looks down, demure or terrified or both, but then looks back to Rin's eyes, determined to follow her. The Kuni nods her head, not realizing she's holding her breath.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab girl freezes, eyes wide, and then feels like her entire body is ablaze at Rin's touch. Without a sound, she passes the hat back, eyes locked on those of the Sparrow. Breathlessly she whispers, "A clearing... Yes..."

Mitsuko looks down, demure or terrified or both, but then looks back to Rin's eyes, determined to follow her. The Kuni nods her head, not realizing she's holding her breath.

Rin smiles as she takes the hat back and gives Mitsuko one final pat before looking back down the stream
"I don't know this area too well, but there's definitely a little clearing a way up and on the right where some trees came down, reckon that's as good a spot as any."

Rin leads the two there, maybe with a slightly faster pace than before and it's not long until they find the small clearing running down to the edge of the stream. A couple fallen trees nearby seemed to have been brought down in a storm. She leads Ikki up and dismounts with a happy sigh, stretching for a few moments before seeing to Ikki and looping his reigns around a branch after a rub and a pat, close enough to the water he could drink undisturbed if he wanted.

"Nice and quiet isn't it? I know I definitely think best with less distractions."
Turning back to her saddle to start unbuckling her snack box

"So um, if there's anything you wanna say. Now's probably a good time, I mean, only if you want. I promise to listen real seriously."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

...

"So um, if there's anything you wanna say. Now's probably a good time, I mean, only if you want. I promise to listen real seriously."

After seeing to Mochi as Rin saw to Ikki, and pacifying him with an extra treat, Mitsuko pauses facing her horse. She knows that when she turns, she's going to be facing Rin and...

"I just..." Mitsuko says, turning and sighing. "I've never..." She takes a deep breath. "Back home," she begins quietly, "everyone is either family or a soldier I may command. Here... And you, especially..." Mitsuko clasps her hands together and bows her head.

[Suzume Rin]

After seeing to Mochi as Rin saw to Ikki, and pacifying him with an extra treat, Mitsuko pauses facing her horse. She knows that when she turns, she's going to be facing Rin and...

"I just..." Mitsuko says, turning and sighing. "I've never..." She takes a deep breath. "Back home," she begins quietly, "everyone is either family or a soldier I may command. Here... And you, especially..." Mitsuko clasps her hands together and bows her head.

"Hmm? Me especially?"
Rin looks quizzical but supportive as she extracts a bean bun for herself and offers the box to Mitsuko, pausing for a moment as she realises she's offering it to someone with their hands together and head bowed.

"It must be really different. I guess I sort of know what you mean, back home I've known everyone since I was little, they're all family one way or another."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

...
"It must be really different. I guess I sort of know what you mean, back home I've known everyone since I was little, they're all family one way or another."

Mitsuko sighs, opening her eyes with head still bowed. Somewhat timidly, she begins.

"It is. There are... People here feel like friends. At least I think, because I, um... People back home don't really want to be my friend, but here..." The Crab squeezes her hands together and then puts them at her sides. With a deep breath she looks intently at Rin.

"The others are nice, and having people feel like friends is special, but, um, there's something more that I feel when I'm with you... or thinking about you... It's... something," she says faltering, still not sure or not able to name the feeling. Her fists clench by her sides, but she stands firmly, not willing to back away from this moment.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko sighs, opening her eyes with head still bowed. Somewhat timidly, she begins.

"It is. There are... People here feel like friends. At least I think, because I, um... People back home don't really want to be my friend, but here..." The Crab squeezes her hands together and then puts them at her sides. With a deep breath she looks intently at Rin.

"The others are nice, and having people feel like friends is special, but, um, there's something more that I feel when I'm with you... or thinking about you... It's... something," she says faltering, still not sure or not able to name the feeling. Her fists clench by her sides, but she stands firmly, not willing to back away from this moment.

"O-oh. More than friends...with me?"
Clearly Rin found the last part the most surprising

The Sparrow absentmindedly puts her bun back in the box, buns must come later as buns were no more than friends.

"I've never had anyone like that... who was more than a friend."

There's a long pause

"So! How'd yah want to do it? Do we hold hands and hug? I can go by the stories I know but that seems to involve a lot of sweeping off feet or long years of back and forth and it seems a might bit complicated. I'm not sure I'm any good at more than a friend stuff, but I'll try my best!"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"O-oh. More than friends...with me?"
Clearly Rin found the last part the most surprising

The Sparrow absentmindedly puts her bun back in the box, buns must come later as buns were no more than friends.

"I've never had anyone like that... who was more than a friend."

There's a long pause

"So! How'd yah want to do it? Do we hold hands and hug? I can go by the stories I know but that seems to involve a lot of sweeping off feet or long years of back and forth and it seems a might bit complicated. I'm not sure I'm any good at more than a friend stuff, but I'll try my best!"

"I, um..." Mitsuko swallows hard, then takes a couple halting steps closer to Rin.

"I've never..." She stops and takes a deep breath. "I don't know anything about any of this. Even less than what you know from stories. So, um... I think. That we. Just..." The Crab steps beside the Sparrow, shoulders touching and hands right next to each other, but doesn't immediately do anything else. She exhales a long, nervous breath, leaning the faintest amount against the other girl, but stopping there. Very softly, she whispers, "Maybe, just... Figure it out slowly?"

[Suzume Rin]

"I, um..." Mitsuko swallows hard, then takes a couple halting steps closer to Rin.

"I've never..." She stops and takes a deep breath. "I don't know anything about any of this. Even less than what you know from stories. So, um... I think. That we. Just..." The Crab steps beside the Sparrow, shoulders touching and hands right next to each other, but doesn't immediately do anything else. She exhales a long, nervous breath, leaning the faintest amount against the other girl, but stopping there. Very softly, she whispers, "Maybe, just... Figure it out slowly?"

"Slowly...yeah, I think that's a good way to do it. Everyone seems to figure it out eventually, so we definitely will."
Rin looks over and cocks her head, beaming.

"This is real exciting, never even thought of something like this happening at the Topaz."
Rin bits her tongue slightly as she concentrates to just barely brush Mitsuko's hand with her pinky, the Sparrow clearly taking this 'go slow' approach extremely seriously for the Crab's sake.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Slowly...yeah, I think that's a good way to do it. Everyone seems to figure it out eventually, so we definitely will."
Rin looks over and cocks her head, beaming.

"This is real exciting, never even thought of something like this happening at the Topaz."
Rin bits her tongue slightly as she concentrates to just barely brush Mitsuko's hand with her pinky, the Sparrow clearly taking this 'go slow' approach extremely seriously for the Crab's sake.

The brush of Rin's finger is even more shocking than the squeeze of her hand before, because now they're so close, and the words have been said, and the intent is real. Mitsuko inhales sharply at that tiny touch, exhaling heavily as her eyes partially close and she tries to calm.

"Maybe just, um..." Slowly she presses the back of her hand to the back of Rin's and just lightly intertwines their fingers, squeezing gently. The squeezing seems to calm the Kuni a little, and then she says, "Just a little hand holding? And a story?"

[Suzume Rin]

The brush of Rin's finger is even more shocking than the squeeze of her hand before, because now they're so close, and the words have been said, and the intent is real. Mitsuko inhales sharply at that tiny touch, exhaling heavily as her eyes partially close and she tries to calm.

"Maybe just, um..." Slowly she presses the back of her hand to the back of Rin's and just lightly intertwines their fingers, squeezing gently. The squeezing seems to calm the Kuni a little, and then she says, "Just a little hand holding? And a story?"

Rin is both very pleased and very red at all this, but the mention of a story snaps her back to reality.

"A story...well...Oh! Uh... a good story."
Rin casts her eye around the clearing until she spots-

" D'yah know the story of the Cherry Blossoms? It's a very old story, my mom told it to me when I was only little."
Smiling at the memory

"So, this was a looong time ago, even before the Kami came to Rokugan. Back then there was all sorts'a fightin' across the whole land. But there was one place where nobody ever fought, the Kitsune Mori. See, it was such a beautiful forest and its bounds so full of animals and spirits that nobody could bring themselves to fight within it or even use the wood."

Getting wrapped up in the story, which tends to involve some arm waving, interlinked or not!

"And deep within the forest, right at the middle, there was this one tree all on his own. He was really lonely too because no other trees grew next to him and he couldn't even bloom. Every spring all the other trees would show off their colours and new leaves, but he just sat there. No grass grew near him and no animals would nest in his branches. Well, this went on for a long time until one day a spirit of the earth took pity on him."
Her voice suddenly more helpful

" 'Lonely Tree, I have seen you standing here all alone. I cannot bring you friends, but I can give you the chance to go out and find them, if you wish.'
The tree, he was so tired and sad. But this was his chance, and he told the spirit that he would accept their offering.
'Very well, I can turn you into a human for 20 years. Use that time to venture into the world and find companions'

So the tree turned into a man and he went out into the world to explore. But it wasn't what he expected since the tribes were still fighting outside of the forest. All he found was hate and war, and he felt even more lonely than before. That is, until one day he was standing by the bank of a stream and he saw a girl collecting water for her house. Now, she was a very beautiful woman but more than that she was kind to this stranger. And when he helped her carry water back to her home he stayed and they talked long into the night. It turned out the both of them were fedup with all the wars going on and just wanted the fighting to stop.

Now, then she did the normal thing and asked his name. And he had to think of one, so he went with 'Yohiro' since that means hope. And the he asked her name and it was 'Sakura' which is still a nice name all these years later. Well, the two became great friends. Every day they're meet just to talk, or sing or share stories. Yohiro loved being by her side, and when he wasn't he'd be counting the time until he returned again."

Fling both arms up
" 'Cause he was in love! And who wouldn't be? This Sakura sounds wonderful. So he told her everything, how he felt, that he was actually a tree, and that he didn't have much time left. And-"
Dropping her voice
"-Sakura was so shocked she just looked at him in silence. He begged her to say something, anything. But she didn't have the words. So Yohiro left. And now he was even more miserable than before! It was one thing to be lonely, but now he'd known love and he'd lost it, which was worse.

He walked all the way back to his forest and back to his clearing where nothing else grew, and he turned back into a tree. And just as he'd finished Sakura came running up! And she wrapped her arms around the tree and told Yohiro she loved him right back. She loved him so much she wished she could be with him forever. And that same spirit heard her and they worked their magic and merged Sakura into Yohiro. And for the first time ever the tree bloomed. And every since then every spring their love makes the Sakura tree blooms and people come from far and wide to see them, so they're never lonely."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin is both very pleased and very red at all this, but the mention of a story snaps her back to reality.

[Then a heck of a story]

Mitsuko blushes similarly, her heart fluttering to see how red Rin has turned. She releases the other girl's hand as her storytelling gets animated, and listens with rapt attention to every word that the Suzume says. Through all the twists and emotions of the story, Mitsuko's eyes say there's nothing happening in the world besides Rin's performance. When the Sparrow finishes, the Crab steps right in front of her and catches Rin's right hand with her left. Mitsuko's eyes are bright with adoration as she squeezes Rin's hand firmly.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko blushes similarly, her heart fluttering to see how red Rin has turned. She releases the other girl's hand as her storytelling gets animated, and listens with rapt attention to every word that the Suzume says. Through all the twists and emotions of the story, Mitsuko's eyes say there's nothing happening in the world besides Rin's performance. When the Sparrow finishes, the Crab steps right in front of her and catches Rin's right hand with her left. Mitsuko's eyes are bright with adoration as she squeezes Rin's hand firmly.

Rin fairly beams, squeezing back.

"So you liked it? Feels like you liked it. Gosh you're such a good listener Mitsuko-san, makes me feel like I'm actually telling it alright."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin fairly beams, squeezing back.

"So you liked it? Feels like you liked it. Gosh you're such a good listener Mitsuko-san, makes me feel like I'm actually telling it alright."

"I thought it sounded wonderful, Rin... san," the Crab says softly, hesitating and balking at calling the girl something more affectionate. "I don't know if that's exactly how the story goes - you'd know better than me - but I do luhh--uh really like listening to your stories." Mitsuko's adoring eyes bat warmly, her heart thankfully far enough from the other girl that it can't be heard racing. Calm down, Mitsuko. Slow, just like you said.

[Suzume Rin]

"I thought it sounded wonderful, Rin... san," the Crab says softly, hesitating and balking at calling the girl something more affectionate. "I don't know if that's exactly how the story goes - you'd know better than me - but I do luhh--uh really like listening to your stories." Mitsuko's adoring eyes bat warmly, her heart thankfully far enough from the other girl that it can't be heard racing. Calm down, Mitsuko. Slow, just like you said.

"Well that makes me feel..."
Rin searches for the appropriate word
"Real nice! Better than real nice, all warm like. Oh but look, I've been yabbering without giving you a chance to speak your piece. Do you have a story of your own? Or maybe just something simple but you? Figure I should know as much as I can about you so I can buy the right gifts and think up the best things to say."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Well that makes me feel..."
Rin searches for the appropriate word
"Real nice! Better than real nice, all warm like. Oh but look, I've been yabbering without giving you a chance to speak your piece. Do you have a story of your own? Or maybe just something simple but you? Figure I should know as much as I can about you so I can buy the right gifts and think up the best things to say."

Mitsuko's face flushes and she can't immediately say anything.

"Gifts? Er, I mean... Well, sure, but you don't need to..." The anxiety makes her look around, avoiding eye contact and sounding a little concerned - until her eyes fall on their hands, still together, fingers intertwined. Mitsuko stares at their hands briefly, gives a little squeeze, and then gently pulls so that they rest on the lapel of her kimono. It's above her heart - which now isn't thundering, as the touch of Rin's hand calms the Kuni - and really closer to her collarbone than anything, but it feels right to Mitsuko.

"I like reading," she says warmly, no longer frightened. History - genealogy especially. The more obscure the better." She looks into Rin's eyes, calmly this time. "I guess we both love stories, just... You're better at telling them." She gives the Sparrow a wide smile, happy in the moment.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko's face flushes and she can't immediately say anything.

"Gifts? Er, I mean... Well, sure, but you don't need to..." The anxiety makes her look around, avoiding eye contact and sounding a little concerned - until her eyes fall on their hands, still together, fingers intertwined. Mitsuko stares at their hands briefly, gives a little squeeze, and then gently pulls so that they rest on the lapel of her kimono. It's above her heart - which now isn't thundering, as the touch of Rin's hand calms the Kuni - and really closer to her collarbone than anything, but it feels right to Mitsuko.

"I like reading," she says warmly, no longer frightened. History - genealogy especially. The more obscure the better." She looks into Rin's eyes, calmly this time. "I guess we both love stories, just... You're better at telling them." She gives the Sparrow a wide smile, happy in the moment.

At this Rin finally turns completely, fully, tomato red.

"G-golly!"
she replies, unhelpfully
"Umm...uhhh" For once she was tongue tied as she looked at her hand and back to the Kuni then back to her hand.

"Genealogies? That's um...I'm sure I can find one... I just...oh I can feel your heart thundering."
Pause
"Oh...no that's mine going on like that. Sorry, it's just real loud in my ears."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

At this Rin finally turns completely, fully, tomato red.

"G-golly!"
she replies, unhelpfully
"Umm...uhhh" For once she was tongue tied as she looked at her hand and back to the Kuni then back to her hand.

"Genealogies? That's um...I'm sure I can find one... I just...oh I can feel your heart thundering."
Pause
"Oh...no that's mine going on like that. Sorry, it's just real loud in my ears."

Mitsuko's smile turns just a little playful, Rin's reaction priceless in her eyes. She squeezes the other girl's hand again, a little longer and slower this time.

"Your hand helps calm me," she says softly, like she's making sure not to scare Rin. "But, um, my heart is pretty loud too..." Mitsuko's eyes look deeply into Rin's and she quietly suggests, "I, uh... could let go." Her face is all happiness as she watches for the Sparrows reaction.