[007] - [Text]

[wavesoakedlegs]

More familiar names belonging to unfamiliar people, from worlds both extremely close and very far in nature from the one I know. I do not think it is something one could ever get completely used to.

Sometimes I wonder if-

[And at that point Mitsuhide trails off, leaving little dots of ink after his last words, because without really thinking about it he has pulled a certain sweet from the bowl that has appeared in the Koumyou's island camp. Distraction makes the magical urge to do so very hard to resist; it makes the urge to obey the heart-shaped sweet's message even harder to ignore.]

[So a few moments later, Mitsuhide adds, in a slightly less neat kind of script:]

Lord Motochika, I love you.

[...yeah, he's just going to leave it there. Whatever he was going to say beforehand has been unsurprisingly washed from his mind by sheer embarrassment.]

Comments

[Action]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Somewhere near - but not quite inside - the camp, there is giggling. A lot of it.]

[Action]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide doesn't look over at the place from whence that giggling came, because he is too busy burying his face in his hands. He does say something, however:]

Must you?

[The samurai sounds utterly mortified. WHY?]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Aiichiro peeks out from behind a tree, and he bites back more laughter when he realizes just how upset Mitsuhide is. He creeps forward into the camp proper, looking a little like he might turn and run any second.]

I-I think it's sweet.

[wavesoakedlegs]

[If it wasn't for one fact, Mitsuhide would be 'merely' highly embarrassed rather than upset. Instead he looks at Aiichiro between his fingers, and mumbles:]

I have not said it to his face yet.

[Saying it to everyone before he said it privately to his lover was... not good, in his opinion.]

[Not that having done so would have made his cheeks any less red, but there you go.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Oh.

[He turns that over in his mind a little. He knows, of course, but... how would he feel? Not that he'll ever likely have a lover, male or female, but... still. If it were someone he loved, how would he take it?]

Don't you think... he'll probably just be happy anyway? To know you feel that way for sure? If you feel bad about it, you can always say it to his face soon.

[voice]

[rebellions]

... I sure hope you mean the other guy and not the Sea Devil.

[Because otherwise he'd have to judge your poor life choices. Not that it makes the confession any less dumb in his head, but still.]

[voice]

[wavesoakedlegs]

I do.

[He sounds utterly mortified right now, for many reasons. What on earth had come over him? Surely it was a curse. Surely.]

It was not something I meant to share, regardless...

[voice]

[rebellions]

Yeah, that's some stupid shit. [They can agree on that.] But hey, whatever floats your boat.

[... what a terrible pun, all things considered.]

[voice]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Such language! Mitsuhide doesn't actually say as such, but as a prude and overly polite sort he has to remind himself that he's not in his home world anymore, and people often talk very differently from what he considers acceptable.]

It has to be a curse. It has to be. I would never share such private thoughts through my own choice alone.

[Mitsuhide sighs, deeply frustrated.]

Maybe it was the odd sweets...

[voice]

[rebellions]

[Honestly, Ragna doesn't give a damn if it was intentional or not and would consider himself done here, but the word "curse" catches his attention without fail.]

Sweets? ... You mean they're on your ship, too?

written

[fistingbonds]

[While he figures it's for the other Motochika (because honestly, who would even say that to Brotochika in the first place?)...]

Wouldn't it have been best to make note of which Motochika you speak of?

written

[wavesoakedlegs]

I didn't put that much thought into it, Lord Ieyasu; the urge to merely speak of my love was all I could think of, in that moment.

[Because under no circumstances would Mitsuhide want anyone to make THAT mistake. Sorry, Aniki.]

This is some kind of curse. It has to be.

written

[fistingbonds]

I only thought to mention in case...

[Intentionally trailing off there because you know. In case Aniki were to catch this.

But wait, 'curse'?]

....a curse, Lord Mitsuhide?

written;

[wavesoakedlegs]

It would not be the first time curses have affected the behaviour of the people in this world.

[This is at least a merely embarrassing and awkward one compared to some in the past, but...]

There is a bowl of strange sweet things within the camp. At first we assumed they were similiar to the never ending feast we had for a time, but now I do not believe that is the case.

written

[fistingbonds]

[Ah, does he know the truth to that, having witnessed the possession deal.

Though the mention of the sweets does catch his attention.]

Ah, your crew as well? One must wonder what the reasoning behind sending crews such things.

[Though, while he has Mitsuhide's attention (and maybe get his mind off this entire awkward and embarrassing event)...]

Could I ask you something, Lord Mitsuhide? I've learned some things recently and I wish to gather as much information as possible.

[Voice]

[sharkasm]

What the...?

[Guess who's probably the only person on board who didn't see that coming?]

[Voice]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide doesn't manage much beyond a strangled noise in response to Rin's reaction.]

Ah, I...

[Really, what does one say to such words? The samurai is embarrassed enough as it is.]

[Voice]

[sharkasm]

[There's a long silence as Rin wonders what to even think about this. It's not like he minds - it's none of his business, and it's not like it's a bad thing, necessarily. In retrospect, all right, maybe there have been signs. Like, one or two. Possibly. But how is he supposed to know how ancient samurai normally act around each other?

It's still a concern in that this may compromise what they're supposed to do here; they should focus on finding those stupid shards. But... Rin has been forced to switch his priorities around a bit, lately. He doesn't like that, but... he's not going to ruin someone else's happiness just because reality blows.]

... Just tell him to his face. I doubt he's going to mind.

[Voice]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Hearing that kind of sentence from Rin is a surprise. Mitsuhide pauses, then sighs softly.]

I know he won't, he already knows that I... knows how I feel.

[This has been going on for quite some time now, after all, and Motochika is quite happy himself to point out how easy it is for him to read Mitsuhide. Their relationship is one of mutual affection; the only issue here really is that Mitsuhide can find romantic words incredibly hard to just say.]

It's just that I've never explicitly said the words to him before.

[Voice]

[sharkasm]

Then it's about time, don't you think?

[There are a few reasons why Rin is still sticking to talking through the journal. First and foremost, he can't be arsed to go back to camp - or find Mitsuhide, wherever he is - but a good second is the fact that playing nice gets to be a massive strain on his patience. It's still there in his voice, barely, but he can manage to sound more bored than anything; trying to keep a polite expression would be a lot more work.]

If he knows anyway, you have nothing to lose.

action;

[behisstrength]

[Damp from swimming in one of the larger pools, wearing only his fundoshi with his clothes draped over one forearm, and his boots gripped in his hands, Motochika enters their Sweetwater camp. He drops his dry clothes and footwear down in a haphazard pile before he raises his gaze to the still figure of Mitsuhide --

-- only to blink in surprise when he registers Mitsuhide's expression. His mouth curves into a smirk.

Of course he recognises the look of embarrassment on his lover's face.

Highly intrigued by this turn of events Motochika strides over, his gaze lively, and crouches before Mitsuhide. Extending out one hand, he brushes his fingertips down Mitsuhide's cheek, then gently lifts Mitsuhide's chin. His gaze roams over Mitsuhide's exquisite face.]

What has caused this expression of yours, Mitsuhide?

[He drawls with keen interest. He reaches for his lover's journal with his free hand, though his eyes remain fixed on Mitsuhide.]

action;

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide should not have been able to flush any harder, but somehow, he manages it right now. The timing of Motochika's arrival, and his current state of dress, really isn't helping with Mitsuhide's current state of embarrassment.]

[For goodness sake, the other samurai is barely dressed! Only the smallest amount of fabric hides his modesty at all, and to top it all of, Motochika is also dripping wet? That's hardly fair; it's not like he needs the extra shine to draw attention to his abs. Is the one responsible for these curses trying to make things as awkward as possible for everyone? Mitsuhide has to close his eyes and take some deep, steadying breaths before trying to speak.]

It's... oh, oh goodness...

[Well, that wasn't much of a success.]

[It's clear that Motochika has not seen the journals yet, but that's no comfort, because he will soon enough. Mitsuhide doesn't even notice his lover reaching out to grab the item in question; it's hardly the focus of his attention at this very moment.]

A curse, it has... it bade me speak of something private.

[He opens his eyes and bites his lip. Maybe that would do.]

[behisstrength]

[Motochika seizes the opportunity and takes Mitsuhide's journal. Another curse, hmm?]

Deeply private, was it? The vibrant shade of your cheeks is telling.

[He touches his thumb to Mitsuhide's bitten mouth before he drops both his hand and his gaze to concentrate on the journal. He turns the journal around and proceeds to read the open page, raising his eyebrows. his lips part. For all that he knows how Mitsuhide feels for him, it's not what he expected to read, and he reads it over again intently, greedily. A moment passes before he raises his eyes back to Mitsuhide's face.]

How unexpected.

[Motochika breathes, holding Mitsuhide's gaze for as long as his lover allows it.]

A public declaration of your love.

[He could say so much more -- instead Motochika waits, giving Mitsuhide the room to speak his mind first.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide holds Motochika's gaze for a short while, but eventually glances to one side... though it's notable that his gaze shifts to his lover's lips before settling on the grass.]

Yes.

[That's exactly what it is, after all. Mitsuhide had eaten the sweet and the desire to mention what was in his heart had become overwhelming, pushing aside all embarrassment until after the words were written.]

That bowl of sweets with the messages on... I ate one without thinking and was overcome with the urge to, ah... speak of my feelings.

[behisstrength]

Hmm.

[Motochika hums thoughtfully, his eyes momentarily flicking to the nearby bowl of sweets. He shuts Mitsuhide's journal and then sets it aside, before placing his palms on top of Mitsuhide's knees. He affectionately smoothes his hands up Mitsuhide's thighs.]

Look at me, Mitsuhide.