[He's actually right, which is why she chuckles softly at first. Then stops because he's seriously about this.]
I agree that one must always put their all into working and their duty, it is also something I live by. But you are not on duty now, no? Life has balance. It puts things into perspective so that you can be stronger.
[Mitsutada of the future, though kind and easygoing, was far from soft. He must've learnt something along the way.]
[ After a while, it's evident that that is all he is willing to express on the matter. While it is true that he could relax now, it's not something that he can do easily. He had to be on edge at all times with Nobunaga, and that kind of intense awareness is not easily unlearned.
And perhaps it is his only good point, now that he had lost supposedly what made him so approachable. ]
[If he didn't outright deny this fact, then at least she can hope he'll put it into consideration. Besides, these things take time. It's a good few hundred years between now and then.]
Aside from this, how have you been?
[She knows this is just one thing that is different, and there is much, much more.]</small.
[ She should be used to the pauses he takes before he replies - though it is not out of a lack of confidence, merely that he chooses each word carefully. ]
Fine. [ Since he isn't really sure if this qualified as 'great'. ] Everything is as normal.
[ Which seems to be the best he can say at the moment. ]
[The million dollar question, really. Although her answer to it is much more simpler than even she would've thought. At least, she won't complicate things.]
Yes. But even if I did not know him before, I would still talk to you. You are one and the same. I am willing to get to know you all over again.
[How to answer "I find you a lot more than just interesting" without being a complete embarrassment. She starts twisting the ends of her ponytail with her fingers, wondering how to reply.]
I do. How to say...both you now and you of the future, put your all into every path you head down. It's rather uplifting.
[ He makes a sound of acknowledgement, indicating that he has heard her answer but has nothing to reply with.
Even if he had, he would not have said it - because there is a cry from where the tantous were playing a game, and the ball comes sailing towards them while most of the Toushirous look on in varying degrees of horror. He draws in an instant, and there is a flash of silver -
- but no sound if the ball puncturing. Instead, it rebounds off the flat of his blade (almost too fast to see) and the tantous all cheer.
Atsu catches it, heralding a chorus of 'THANK YOU' before going back to their game. He sheathes his blade, but continues watching them. ]
[He did move faster than expected, because she could've caught the ball too. She didn't even have time to react to his reaction, but all was well, and the tantous were happy. She claps instead, impressed by his show of sportsmanship as he returned the ball in a rather flamboyant display.]
More things I also find interesting. That was nice.
[Lucky for him, she's fine with silence. It's never awkward for her. What's awkward is talking in a neutral manner to someone you were supposedly with when he doesn't remember, but it's not so bad.]
On how to cook? [She cracks a tiny smile.] Plenty. What would you like to know?
He may have grown to be more confident, but Mitsutada's core has always been the same. It's strange, that she should feel relief, that no matter what, she'd still love him for everything he is. Even someone more emotionally constipated than she is. That's saying something.]
I'll teach you everything I know. We can do it now, if you want to spend time doing something on a day off.
[ He nods, stepping away from the wall and waiting for her response. For a moment, his expression changes - just a very subtle, slight smile, and all-too-easily missed by those not paying enough attention. ]
[She's paid attention to him enough to be able to pick it up. It was just a glimpse, but she stares, just a little, before she shakes it off and leads him to the kitchen. Seeing how in the future he will be very comfortable in it, she's sure he will be fine.]
---
[Days past since her next visit, but seeing how Mitsutada has opened up to her, just a little, she resolves to see him again. Although, this time, she was a little more hurried, as she was running late (at least, so she considered when she made her schedule), being held back by work with her older brother in a crucial trade meeting.
With a good part of reaching the Citadel requiring traversing by foot, she notes, while making her way closer to the edge of the lands, close to the fields, how she is far into the afternoon, and the visit would potentially be a short one. But she does not have much time to consider what other options she has when she picks up on movement around her.
All she does is quicken her pace, but she stays alert. Once she crosses into the Saniwa's lands, all should be well.]
It's not something be has been expecting, but it is something he isn't quite sure how to deal with. He knows that it could simply be some sort of mundane reason, but the route to the Citadel has been a little strange these couple of days. It was situated far away from civilization to allow the swords some peace, but its distance made it hard to reach as well.
So he's walking along the road out now, hoping to see if he could meet and escort her along the way. Anywhere with a high concentration of spirits tended to draw more of them - and not all of them are beneficial. ]
[Not every country is able to see spirits. But with greater power clustering around an area, it seems like she would be able to. In any case, she knew it was since it moved so fast that it cut her off.
And she couldn't even see its form properly when they found each other trying to find the other off. She wasn't sure if it was because of her own self not being quite human that she was able to fight it, but as long as her punches and kicks connect, she's not going to complain.
It is just incredibly irritating to be unarmed for such a moment.]
What are you? Do you want to hurt them?
[If anyone is in the premises, they would be able to hear her demanding answers. She can't die, but it doesn't mean this wasn't going to hurt.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
I agree that one must always put their all into working and their duty, it is also something I live by. But you are not on duty now, no? Life has balance. It puts things into perspective so that you can be stronger.
[Mitsutada of the future, though kind and easygoing, was far from soft. He must've learnt something along the way.]
no subject
[ After a while, it's evident that that is all he is willing to express on the matter. While it is true that he could relax now, it's not something that he can do easily. He had to be on edge at all times with Nobunaga, and that kind of intense awareness is not easily unlearned.
And perhaps it is his only good point, now that he had lost supposedly what made him so approachable. ]
no subject
Aside from this, how have you been?
[She knows this is just one thing that is different, and there is much, much more.]</small.
no subject
Fine. [ Since he isn't really sure if this qualified as 'great'. ] Everything is as normal.
[ Which seems to be the best he can say at the moment. ]
no subject
That is good, that you have been adapting best you can, with just everything happening at once.
no subject
And because he is curious (with no one around them), he asks a question in return. ]
You said you knew him. Is this why you speak to me?
no subject
Yes. But even if I did not know him before, I would still talk to you. You are one and the same. I am willing to get to know you all over again.
no subject
Do you find me that interesting?
[ It's a neutral question, more than anything else. ]
no subject
I do. How to say...both you now and you of the future, put your all into every path you head down. It's rather uplifting.
no subject
Even if he had, he would not have said it - because there is a cry from where the tantous were playing a game, and the ball comes sailing towards them while most of the Toushirous look on in varying degrees of horror. He draws in an instant, and there is a flash of silver -
- but no sound if the ball puncturing. Instead, it rebounds off the flat of his blade (almost too fast to see) and the tantous all cheer.
Atsu catches it, heralding a chorus of 'THANK YOU' before going back to their game. He sheathes his blade, but continues watching them. ]
no subject
More things I also find interesting. That was nice.
no subject
[ While his expression doesn't change, he sounds a little less serious. Maybe just a little. ]
Have you not seen these things before?
no subject
[She manages a smile before she stops clapping.]
What do you mean? Seeing your katana skills in action?
no subject
Yes.
no subject
Yes, I have seen it before. Well, not in battle, but in duels and practice. Your knife work in the kitchen is also impressive.
no subject
I see.
[ Is this a good thing? ]
no subject
A-ah, I meant that you are really good with cooking, and it shows in your blade work too.
no subject
[ A pause, because conversation is hard for him too. ]
Do you have any advice?
no subject
On how to cook? [She cracks a tiny smile.] Plenty. What would you like to know?
no subject
[ He didn't expect any less from himself. ]
I... want to be useful to everyone.
no subject
He may have grown to be more confident, but Mitsutada's core has always been the same. It's strange, that she should feel relief, that no matter what, she'd still love him for everything he is. Even someone more emotionally constipated than she is. That's saying something.]
I'll teach you everything I know. We can do it now, if you want to spend time doing something on a day off.
no subject
[ He nods, stepping away from the wall and waiting for her response. For a moment, his expression changes - just a very subtle, slight smile, and all-too-easily missed by those not paying enough attention. ]
no subject
---
[Days past since her next visit, but seeing how Mitsutada has opened up to her, just a little, she resolves to see him again. Although, this time, she was a little more hurried, as she was running late (at least, so she considered when she made her schedule), being held back by work with her older brother in a crucial trade meeting.
With a good part of reaching the Citadel requiring traversing by foot, she notes, while making her way closer to the edge of the lands, close to the fields, how she is far into the afternoon, and the visit would potentially be a short one. But she does not have much time to consider what other options she has when she picks up on movement around her.
All she does is quicken her pace, but she stays alert. Once she crosses into the Saniwa's lands, all should be well.]
no subject
It's not something be has been expecting, but it is something he isn't quite sure how to deal with. He knows that it could simply be some sort of mundane reason, but the route to the Citadel has been a little strange these couple of days. It was situated far away from civilization to allow the swords some peace, but its distance made it hard to reach as well.
So he's walking along the road out now, hoping to see if he could meet and escort her along the way. Anywhere with a high concentration of spirits tended to draw more of them - and not all of them are beneficial. ]
no subject
And she couldn't even see its form properly when they found each other trying to find the other off. She wasn't sure if it was because of her own self not being quite human that she was able to fight it, but as long as her punches and kicks connect, she's not going to complain.
It is just incredibly irritating to be unarmed for such a moment.]
What are you? Do you want to hurt them?
[If anyone is in the premises, they would be able to hear her demanding answers. She can't die, but it doesn't mean this wasn't going to hurt.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)