A Bustling Castle Greeting | 039

[cavaliering]

[It's a dark and rainy night.

Seriously, who thought traveling in weather like this was a good idea...?

Thankfully, at the end of the road, there's always the Clarines castle, inviting to those who need to get out of the storm. Inside is certainly much brighter, bustling with people doing their own tasks and doing them well.

Everyone can be found here, if you look around hard enough. There are even snacks set out, so surely someone intended to eat those but perhaps got sidetracked--

Just don't make a mess. Prince Izana won't be pleased.]

Comments

[succinct]

And in order to ensure his safety, what should we be focusing on, Mitsuhide?

[ she might actually be smiling. ]

[cavaliering]

[And he just sighs.]

You're right as usual...

[Swordwork, but also--he slides his sword into its sheath with a clack, offering her a smile.]

But as well as our swordwork, we should also focus on our health. Come on, Kiki, let's go inside.

[succinct]

[ she can't say she hasn't had a good work-out-- so she concedes with a short nod this time, sheathing her sword and moving over to join him. ]

Sometimes even you make sense.

[cavaliering]

[...... yeah okay he pouts at that, even as he starts towards the castle.]

It isn't that rare...!

...Is it?

[succinct]

That you even have to ask me...

[cavaliering]

[...]

You're so hard on me...!

[whine whine whine.

at least they're going in where it's warm.]

[succinct]

You'd be offended if I went easy on you, wouldn't you?

[ ... and boy are they dripping. ]

[cavaliering]

...I suppose it wouldn't be you if you went really easy on me. So no, in that case, I wouldn't want that at all.

[things are better when Kiki is Kiki.

But Mitsuhide just. Drips for a moment.

And then starts off towards the place where the linens are kept, nodding cheerfully to the servants as they go even as he drips.]

[succinct]

Good. I was beginning to wonder if you'd caught something.

[ but she trails after him, nodding silently to the servants and doing her best to drip water in a straight path at least. ]

[cavaliering]

[awww, kiki. That's almost like concern or something. Regardless, when he makes it to the linens closet, he just tosses her a towel first before reaching for one of his own.]

Don't be silly. I never get sick.

[because idiots don't catch colds--]

[succinct]

You mean all of the idiotic things you've said over the years have come from a coherent mind?

[ she catches the towel, eyebrows lifted. ]

Impressive.

[cavaliering]

[.......... :(]

H-hey! That's so cruel, Kiki!

[he's not whining, he's not-- okay yeah he might be whining a bit in the last syllable of her name.]

[succinct]

I'm impressed, and you're insulted?

[ as she drapes her towel over her head for some calmly vigorous rubbing. ]

[cavaliering]

[.......he can't win this argument, can he--

okay right. He just takes a deep breath and when he lets it out, he's smiling. It wouldn't be Kiki if she didn't tease him like this.

And so he tries his most solemn expression and bows his head, though the smile keeps peeking through.]

Then I thank you for your compliment, Miss Kiki.

[succinct]

[ who are you, Shirayuki--

Kiki almost snorts at his show of formality, but that would just be humoring him. He's already failing at masking a grin, and from the shadow of her towel, her own small smile likely goes unseen. ]

You're welcome. I'll have to remember to make sure I don't do it too often, so you don't become overwhelmed.

[cavaliering]

[That's what he was going for, was it too cheesy-- but he grins, even if he doesn't see her smile. He has a creeping suspicion that it's there, after all, and that's what matters.]

I knew that you're always thinking of my well-being.

[He means it humorously, but--well, it's probably not untrue, at least from how it's true for him when it comes to her.]

[succinct]

[ and it's only because it's Mitsuhide that Kiki answers him honestly. ]

I need my partner in one piece.

[cavaliering]

[And honestly, he's touched.

Which is why he doesn't tease her, and doesn't bring it up, instead moving to dump their makeshift towels in the dirty pile.]

I suppose we ought to get changed now, before Prince Zen wonders where we are.

[more like "before prince zen gets used to not having shadows tail his every move"]

[succinct]

I don't know, he might be enjoying this time with Shirayuki.

[ but yeah, getting changed sounds like a good idea. ]

[cavaliering]

Haa...in that case, shouldn't we be extra sure to interrupt them?

[being all lovey-dovey is fine but not so much behind closed doors and zen can forget himself sometimes and make shirayuki uncomfortable and the both of them are terrible at taking care of themselves and--]

[succinct]

Mitsuhide, you're acting like a mother again.

[ stop that. ]

[cavaliering]

I am not!

[. . .]

Maybe I am a little, but someone must think of Prince Zen's reputation, and Shirayuki's as well!

[succinct]

Do you honestly think Zen hasn't considered that? Or Shirayuki, for that matter?

[cavaliering]

I think they both have...perhaps too much, honestly.

But focusing too hard on something can lead to rash decisions just as much as not thinking at all.

[And they both know Zen wasn't thinking straight when he kissed her the first time.

...So honestly, it's hard to say what he's more worried about. What they actually do, or what it looks like they're doing, or what they don't do.]

[succinct]

[ Time to lift a fist and thump it between his shoulder blades. ]

So what now? You charge in to protect their virtues?