Waking the Dead 2.0 || May 16, Shin Yamatai || Coming Home.

[icarusalsoflew]

[He had been... vague, whenever they had asked him exactly where they were going. Lenneth had known the moment he had oh-so-casually mentioned a detour now that the Hounds were done with their route. It had been in her eyes.

At least she is loyal. At least she respected him enough to say nothing.

He leads the War Hounds through a forest in the far reaches of the island, and they end up stepping out to a waterfall. A little further down, along the river, there's a beautiful house there. It's been restored to its former glory, properly furnished, renovated and modernized wherever it had to be. There's a garage, for one.

He takes just one moment out take the sight of it in, and try not to think of the ghosts. It never gets easier, coming back here, and yet...

Turning to them with a smile now.]

So. This was my old house. I think we can take a break here for now.




[OOC Notes:
+ The Shinta House is your typical traditional Japanese home from like, centuries back - furniture is all old and traditional. Yes, there are photos from lots of different life times here and there; if you want deets, lemme know. There's a garden out back, a small training hall, and a path into the forest that actually leads to the graves of his parents.
+ Feel free to make your own threads if you guys want to explore on your own and talk to each other! You're also welcome to tag Hikaru's thread, which I've put down there just because.]

Comments

[bostova]

[ She glances at him, then promptly looks away. ]

I will not protest if you do.

[icarusalsoflew]

[Chuckles.]

So, if I DO have you assigned here, let's say that you keep the cool armor if as long as you're always in a kimono when you're off-duty.

[:D]

[bostova]

I want to learn how to fight in kimono, first.

[ As horrible as you are kind, as always, Blade King. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

I'll tell my mother. Granted, that might mean joining the Whisperers.

[...Which he is actually kind of okay with because wew, Yulia? Doing Whisperer work?

Mm. Yes.]

[bostova]

[ She pauses for a second to think about this. ]

I would not mind that. Your mother is admirable. I would love to learn from her also.

[icarusalsoflew]

She'll have much to teach you. Her and Kanna.

[Two people he still clung to very tightly, for better or for worse.]

[bostova]

I look forward to it.

[ And she's very serious about it. Sure, the decision was pretty much on the fly, but this is Yulia, and she's made up her mind. ]

I might even enjoy it. [ ???! ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[That's enough to make Hikaru's smile look a little curious now, complete with an arched eyebrow.]

You know... [Should he? Yeah, okay sure.] it's really nice to see you easing up around everyone. You seem happier these days.

[bostova]

[ That makes her frown, just a bit, eyebrows scrunching down. ]

What do you mean?

[icarusalsoflew]

Nothing, really. Just calling it as I see it.

[Putting his chin down on his hand. Still smiling.]

[bostova]

[ She'll just look away, flustered, and focus on finishing her stick. Of course the very mention of being even a bit happier makes her go back to her old sour disposition. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[As expected. Chuckling a little now.]

Too soon for me to say something like that, huh?

[bostova]

[ It's only after a quiet moment that she speaks again, pouting only just slightly. ]

...Do I really look happier?

[icarusalsoflew]

Yes, and that's a good thing.

[Gentle, reassuring.]

[bostova]

If you say so.

[ She's quiet again, resorting to just huffing, and puffing, and lighting another cigarette.

Was she happier, though? Maybe. A little. A tiny bit.

There were things that still made her want to hurt people badly, but she had herself under control. (mostly.)

But if the Blade King said it was a good thing... ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[In the meantime, he's going to look back at her just once with a small amount of satisfaction and fondness before turning towards the river and focusing on his cigarette.]

You look good like that, by the way.

[Not that she didn't already look good even with a lack of effort on her part to be presentable, but... she kind of looked like she belonged in armor, really.]

[bostova]

[ It makes her cheeks flush, to hear that from Hikaru. Of course, at the same time, she suddenly feels ridiculously self-conscious in the armor. ]

T-thank you. [ Why does it feel like her throat's all tight? ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[And even though it's dark (eternal night and all that), he's noticing her embarrassment --

-- and promptly pretending to not notice a thing. This is how things are between them, for the moment. He's not ever going to push her unless he really needs to.]

It's a shame that Lenneth isn't going to let you keep those. She's a little... particular.

[bostova]

Ah... Pity. I have grown fond of it.

[ She's pouting now, because she really has grown fond of the armor. It was nice, and she liked how it fit her. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[Man. He really, really wishes that he could call her out about that. So cute...]

Well, if you really want something like this, you could always have something made?

[bostova]

What use would that be if I do not get to use it?

[icarusalsoflew]

I don't know. Halloween?

[Heh. Yulia dressing up for Halloween.

Heh.]

[bostova]

[ She turns her head to look at him flatly. Halloween? Really? Really? ]

That would be a waste.

[icarusalsoflew]

Oh, not at all. [Blinks innocently.] Especially since Halloween for operatives is always crazy with engagements.

[bostova]

[ She isn't sure if Hikaru is kidding or not. She was never good at that, so pardon her if she's a bit skeptical. ]

It is still waste if I only get to use it once a year.