piratejournal | [written]

[The memories dredged up here have been difficult and, in many ways, painful, but they are also somewhat useful -- he can feel Itachi's hands tensing further and finally remembers the way Mikoto used to give hugs, warm with comfort, undemanding, the smell of the kitchen and shinobi steel combined into her apron. There is still hesitation in his hands, but he pats Itachi's back a few times, tries to lose some of the tension in his own body.

The suggestion makes sense, though he has to eye the pile of blankets he's already made and the swinging hammock with some dubiousness.]

We can set up some kind of barrier so the movement of the ship doesn't roll us everywhere.

[A nod at that. Two of them wouldn't be able to occupy one hammock very well, and the ship rocking was definitely an issue.

It feels childish to ask, but he wants his brother to be able to sleep without freezing more than he wants to avoid it himself. If the other is willing to go along with it, it will be good for both of them.]

However I can be of help, I will.

[It's going to be as weird a night as he's ever spent, and he can't foresee himself actually sleeping through much of it with Itachi's chakra so close, but at least neither of them need to be freezing. He can say with certainty that he can't remember the last time he's shared space quite so closely, and the mechanics of it on a ship are going to be awkward already.

He glances around again and finally settles on a chest in the corner of the room. It's empty at the moment, Sasuke preferring to keep his very light complement of weapons on him, but it's solid wood and heavy enough.]

I'll move that over if you set up the blankets by a wall.

[It's not optimal, but it should do. No Uchiha is going to be killed by sliding cargo.]

We can hold the chest secure with some kunai between the floorboards.

[He wouldn't want to cause too much damage to the floor in Sasuke's chosen lodgings, but that shouldn't be terrible.]

I have a few if you do not.

I have only what I arrived with and barely a handful more.

[If he sounds disgruntled by this, it's because he is; there had been passable weaponry in that shop in town, but he'd only had enough of this world's money on him to buy a single set, and the Kusanagi is still missing, a weird lack of weight at his back.

He pushes the chest over, making enough room for two between it and the wall, and starts wedging kunai around it to keep it in place.]

[Itachi helps with this so that they can spend as little time on it as possible.]

You may have some of mine, if you want.

[A pause, and he looks to his brother again.]

Are you sure this is alright?

Edited 2014-01-07 23:12 (UTC)

It'll probably hold. It's not like we'll be killed by a chest, anyway. [He gives the chest an experimental shove with his knee, and though the kunai dig a bit into the wood it holds position.

The question makes him look up from the floor, surprised. People don't question whether he's doing what he wants anymore, and he isn't sure he can remember if Itachi ever asked him if sometihng was alright at all.

But -- this is as probably as weird to Itachi as it is to him, if he thinks about it.]

If it weren't, I wouldn't have agreed to it.

[His mouth twitches a little at one corner, unexpected even for himself.] Between when I was seven and now, brother, I stopped letting other people make me do things I didn't want to.

[Itachi nods, leaving his head bowed a little after. He should have known it didn't need to be asked. He's being too hesitant, the child with his older brother instead of the other way around.

It's not how he should be acting. He straightens up.]

Very well.

... I appreciate it.

[Looking over, and looking down, at his brother's bowed head makes Sasuke wonder what the Itachi he knew would have done in his place, faced with hesitation and this kind of situation. Taken charge, probably, found more information and hunted for a way to turn things to his advantage if not toward his own survival. Itachi was capable in a way Sasuke never was, doesn't know if he ever will be, and the part of him that had burst forth at the end (but you're perfect) hadn't lied.

This Itachi is young, though, hurts fresh, world turned upside-down. Sasuke has no experience taking care of others in any but the most detached way as the leader of a team, but this is his brother.

He lifts the two thickest blankets off the pile before turning to Itachi again, holding out two corners for him.]

I need your help to get all the blankets in place.

[Nodding again, Itachi takes the corners as they're held out to him. There's nothing new about making a bed, and it's a nice easy task to set about as he attempts to dissipate the awkwardness.

The haze of it will not leave them for some time, he's sure.]

I hope Draco will be alright.

[It's a sudden thought, but something more casual to discuss.]

He did not seem keen on the idea of physical contact with others.

[It's a mindless enough task, just enough to keep their hands occupied. Sasuke picks up the next blanket once these ones are set down, then glances up when Itachi speaks again.]

... Draco can figure something out. [He snorts, but there's something close to amusement in his tone when talking about the wizard. For all his risk-averse cowardice, Draco has managed to survive so far.]

There's another person from his world on board, isn't there?

I believe so. Harry.

[The name is pronounced poorly, Japanese accent strong. Translations work in odd ways.]

They can take care of each other, then. [He assumes it casually, having guessed from their attire that they seem to be schoolmates or belong to the same group in some way.]

[Itachi nods, though having spoken with Draco but not at all with Harry he can't automatically assume that the two are close.]

It was merely a passing concern.

... are you growing attached to our shipmates? [It's mostly an idle question, Sasuke fishing pillows out to throw into the corner now, but there's a note of real curiosity in his voice.]

If we are all to work together on this vessel, then it is fitting that we look out for one another. That's how a crew operates.

[He's not used to this sort of environment, and as much as he prefers working alone the only real course of action is to adapt.]

The cold hasn't killed anyone yet. [Unless Draco whines them deaf.

But he adds, tone thoughtful:] I guess it would be inconvenient if we were shorthanded.

Inconvenient. ... Yes.

[The smallest incredulous, almost amused smile is given in Sasuke's direction. Such loners they both are.]

[He doesn't notice the expression until he glances up from tossing down the last of the pillows, blinking once.]

What?

... Nothing.

...

I just found your reaction amusing, is all.

[He blinks again, confusing creasing his forehead.]

Amusing? How?

[He shakes his head.]

Sorry. I'm not sure how to explain it.

[He can't really figure it out, giving it up after a moment with a shrug and a last blanket over the pile -- and then he stands, arms awkwardly crossed, and wonders how to manage this situation.]

Had you planned on going to bed so soon? Or did you just want to make sure everything would work?

[It hasn't stopped being awkward, he knows.]

No -- [He hadn't, not really, but it had just been easier to do something rather than stand awkwardly in the enclosed silence of the room.]

... I guess it will work.

[written]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]