D5EM, A Messy Appointment (Expecting)

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai looks at her again, his eyes more probing this time.

Do I ask her if she has something on her mind? he wonders, only to be answered in the negative, the voice in his head saying that things must unfold in their own time. Cherry blossoms, especially.

He eats some more.

[Asahina Sakura]

She visibly flusters under his investigation before tilting her head to the side, listening to what's not heard as a bit of colour touches her cheeks.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai finishes his bowl.

"So," he says, "the sketches?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Hm? Oh! Right!" she sets down her chopsticks and nervously pushes the book towards him with a single finger.
Inside are a variety of traditional landscapes, inked repeatedly with obvious signs of being redrawn. Across most are splashes of colour and signals of motion. The drawings are ...satisfactory, they show scenes of an emotional connection to spiritual activity in each location.

Sakura watches the Seppun's face intently as he peruses, and then after he's seen a few, she reaches forward to trace a fingerpad along one wave of colour. "I try to capture what I see, to make sense of things."

EM5 - generic overall sketchbook quality! Void used cuz srs art is srs! | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai turns the pages slowly, taking in as much detail as he can from each.

"They're better than anything I could do, I promise you," he says, eyes flickering over to her over the top of the page. "You must be a credit to your School!"

The voice within notes that Urusai's got no way to tell. Doesn't mean I don't mean it, though, he thinks in reply.

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura smiled softly as their eyes met again.
"Thank you, they're just ...I mean, art and religion go hand-in-hand in my School?" her gaze slips to his hands for just a moment, "-though um, admittedly the Artificers teach more of, um, creating illusions and ritual ceremonies, while imparting the belief of guidance through faith, beauty, and peace?"

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai nods, noting that her gaze looks at his hands. He looks at hers, in turn, comparing them with the callused hands he has from time spent with bokken and other practice weapons, the knuckles flattened from unarmed fighting, the scars and blemishes on them. And some lingering ink-stains, as well.

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura considers how his hands might feel.
In contrast, her own are soft and pale, fingers long and delicate, gentle hands of a Crane maiden from a long line of Crane artisans and diplomats... though not unlike his, with traces of ink along the sides of her index finger and thumb of one hand.

"I- um," she pressed her lips together for a quick moment shyly, "-thank you for inviting me for breakfast, Seppun-sama."

[Seppun Urusai]

"Of course!" Urusai replies, freely. "Your company is...quite agreeable."

He leans in just a bit, resting his elbows on the table and his chin atop his folded hands.

"I hope to have more of it," he says, softly.

[Asahina Sakura]

She found herself leaning in closer to him as well.
"Me too... or rather, i mean, I enjoy this time with you. Any time with you, really."

[Seppun Urusai]

"We'll have to arrange for more of it, then," Urusai says, still softly.

The voice in his head tells him not to get too close here.

He sits up just a bit straighter.

[Asahina Sakura]

With a moments pause, she sits up as well. Really, Saku-chan...
"I don't want to impose, um, I'm sure your time is very valuable? And others here would be happy to get to know Seppun-sama?"

[Seppun Urusai]

"It's not an imposition," Urusai returns. "And I think I'd like to get to know you better. Truly."

[Asahina Sakura]

"You'll find I'm very much an open book," she said gently. "I don't see why I might want to keep anything from you."

[Seppun Urusai]

"I'll look forward to reading, then," Urusai replies.

The voice in his mind notes that she clearly likes him, and quite a bit.

He nods.

It's mutual, then, he thinks.

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura smiled at that and dipped her head, tucking white hair behind her ears and blushing ridiculously.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai smiles in turn.

"So," he says, "if we'll follow that metaphor, what excerpt would you think would get quoted most?"

He leans forward again, eager for the answer.

[Asahina Sakura]

She stutters, "Um!"

Well. You're not wrong... So insightful.
Shut up.
You do say that a lot.
Um...
He's looking at you, Saku-chan.
Um!
He's waiting.

[Seppun Urusai]

And he waits, the Seppun stillness settling on him again, and his eyes focus sharply.

It's not a deliberate thing, truly. But it happens, nonetheless.

[Asahina Sakura]

"Well, yes I do like him, and quite a bit, but I would not dishonour his status by devolving into impropriety," she says quietly, gaze lowered, bypassing Urusai's question to respond to his ghostly companion instead.

And then...

Saku-chan.
Yes?
That was aloud, my dear.
WHAT.

Her eyes widened as realization set in.

EM5 Trying not to stick her foot in her mouth? Air 3/Courtesy 1, Benten's Curse | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

1 opp used to -1 strife
1 opp used to "Act subtly to attract minimal attention in your efforts."