EE7 In search of the elixir of life

[Asahina Sakura]

"No? Not your type, is it?"
Colour hit Sakura's cheeks just a bit, but was it the coffee?
She had another sip.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi gave a suitably piratical grin.

"Aye, that's about th'right of it!"

She relaxed into a more natural smile.

"Ship's a rough place for idealism most of th'time."

[Asahina Sakura]

"I um, I guess so..." she recalled their earlier conversation.
"Want to walk?" a tilt of her head.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Sure, think..."

She pondered how her week had gone.

"Think I could do with someone clear-headed t'talk to."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Oh?"
Then she realized, and her eyebrows shot up. "Ohhhh. Of course, Kasumi-san! What's, um, troubling you?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"How'd you go about... breakin' off somethin' that neither party's even a little tired of, but which ain't good for either one?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Oh... I mean, I don't have experience? But um... A gift? is always...? Um. You mean, to part ways with someone who um, means something to you?"
A look of concern washes over the Crane's features. "Are you alright? Or going to be?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, I'll be fine, Asahina-san."

She chuckled.

"It's just a crush. Neither of us has illusions 'bout that, we've only known each other 'bout a week."

A sigh.

"Gonna be rough, but it was always gonna be rough. So. A gift."

She paused.

"Not much good at... fine things, though."

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded slowly, not that she really understood the turmoil of the Mantis, but she was empathic nonetheless.
"It's someone here? Another contestant?" Her brow furrowed. "Can I... help? um? be of assistance?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Aw, no, no Asahina-san, seein' as he's betrothed elsewhere, it's best y'don't get mixed up in it."

She smiled sidelong.

"Not a situation that's gettin' fixed by anything but time, I reckon."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Oh," she nodded... and then further realization hit at who it might be the other girl was talking about, "Ohhhhh!" she could've facepalmed.
"I'm sorry, Kasumi-san. I um, I... I'm, I really am. I only know of heartbreak through poetry and sad stories, but I imagine it's miserable."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Ah, nothin' for you t'be sorry 'bout, and Benten's not in th' business of apology, so..."

She sighed again, then chuckled.

"This does help, though. Talkin' it out."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Ha, tell me about it," in reference to Benten's humour. "I'm um, happy to be an ear for you? Or a shoulder? Whatever you need." she tried to be reassuring.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"More'n an ear or a shoulder, Asahina-san. Just... a friend. Always got a need for more'a those."

[Asahina Sakura]

A true smile grew, "I'm happy to be that, too."
Sip.
"You can call me Sakura?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"As y'like, Sakura-san. Well. Are y'gonna change your name at gempukku?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Uh. Yes... I have this ancestor that I'm, um, well acquainted with." Her gaze lowers, "-and I thought, you know, he's been so influential in my life so far that, um, it'd be nice? To take a version of his name? But um," she flustered, "-I don't know what it is? His name, I mean. He'll tell me before my gempukku.. Um.. But until then.." A slight shrug. "Are you?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Been workin' that one out meself. Think I've got somethin' with th' right amount of brass for a proper Mantis."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Is that right?" she raises an inquisitive brow but doesn't press. "That's good!"
She sipped from the cup again and idly chewed her lower lip in thought.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"So, uh, friends help each other. Seems t'me you've been doin' all th'helpin, Sakura-san. Any angle on things I could a hand with?"