aerialassault | Appointments

Mmm, a lot can still happen in a few days. [It had taken them over two weeks to arrive in Kyoto from Edo on foot - the idea of making the trip in days was fascinating. Could it even be done with that engine thing Cliff talked about? How could something be faster than light? He wasn't even aware that light travelled. Souji tilted his head back and let his neck rest against a cool rock, dissipating some of the heat from the bath. He closed his eyes as he brought back the memories of the war he'd been fighting four years ago - so distant now that it almost seemed imaginary.]

No, I think you would have survived. The leaders of the rebellion are smart - they'd have wanted to keep men like you alive and well even if you went after a fight where you didn't need to. So long as you never came up against the captains directly, I'm sure you would have survived.

[He would at least have out-lived Souji, that was for certain.]

We never tried to pick fights with the ronin who came to the capital. It wasn't our job. We just watched and managed, kept tabs on them and eliminated the ones who posed immediate threats.

Oh, trust me. I know.

[While he insisted on face-to-face meetings like an old fashioned fool, it still took time to get the people together in the right place. Anything could go down in the interrim, but the possibility of future agreement was worth the risk. There was no way that anyone could trust another in war if they didn't expose themselves first; an act of faith was necessary to stop anymore lives from being ruined.

He glanced down at Souji, studying that peaceful, relaxed expression he wore in that moment, and wondered what sort of battles he was imagining.]

Not picking fights is a good policy to have, but not everyone follows that. Someone tried doing that with me, once...

[He remembered that trap, and a certain young woman's refusal to cave, and smiled a little.]

Let's just say it's a miracle I cam out of it alive. Annoy the wrong person enough, and anything's liable to happen.

No, not everyone does - but I'm glad you lived through it. [He opened one eye and smiled.]

And by the wrong person - are you referring to the grumpy bears in skirts and spiky hair I was teasing the other day? Or to someone else?

Albel and Vegeta? [He chuckled at this.]

Yeah, those two have sensitive egos. You might wanna be a little careful with how badly you tease them!

Vegeta-san seems reeeally sensitive about the wrinkles in his forehead. [The mischievous smile stayed on his lips as he closed his eye again, relaxing back into the water. He could feel the ripples from the wooden bucket as it floated lazily on the surface, as well as the ones bouncing back from Cliff at his side. It was relaxing, more relaxing than anything he'd done in a long time.]

Maybe he should come here - it could help him stop being so angry. Both of them, actually, but probably not at the same time. They'd probably fight.

Definitely not at the same time. And not like this-- they're both really sensitive about their personal space.

[He had encountered the both of the during that Shift at the end of December, and was completely unsurprised by their respective reactions to it. He didn't want to know how they would react to being as open and exposed as they would be in an onsen.

Sighing, he downed the rest of his sake and leaned back as well. The duration of his stay in Luceti had been something of a vacation for him thus far, but he hadn't tried enjoying it quite like this.]

[The water moved and Souji opened his eyes, automatically reaching forward for the heated serving bottle to refill Cliff's cup.]

Yes, somehow I don't think they'd enjoy the baths quite like this.

[He smiled, squeezing Cliff's hand under the water.]

Would you like more?

Nah, it's fine.

[Shaking his head a little, Cliff squeezed his hand in reply.]

I'm happy just being in here with you.

[He shifted, studying Souji fully for the first time since they shed their clothes.]

...Have I ever told you how gorgeous you are?

Edited 2014-01-29 03:14 (UTC)

[He leaned forward to put the bottle back and paused when Cliff suddenly complimented him. Souji had been getting the feeling that the Klausian had been trying to look anywhere but him during the baths, but apparently he'd been wrong. The words made him laugh a little, his cheeks reddening as he leaned back against the rocks.]

I don't think you have. But isn't it more conventional to tell someone they're handsome? You are, after all. [He laughed again and reached up, ruffling Cliff's long hair and fingering the ends of one long strand.] Handsome, I mean.

[The opposite had been Cliff's intention the entire time; he simply didn't want to seem to obvious in his wish to admire his partner's manner and appearance. As much as he liked to joke about it, such things were never a high priority for him...

He glanced off when Souji spoke up, feeling a little sheepish about the compliment.]

Yeah, I guess you're right on that one. But, I wasn't lying when I said you could pass for a badass babe-- you really are as gorgeous as you can be dangerous, a lot like a very good friend of mine.

Not your boss, I hope. [It would be weird to be compared to someone he'd kissed, even if it was a Shift and a Malnosso created effect. Souji laughed and let Cliff's hair go, the strands trailing from his fingers. He reached up behind his head, pulling the jeweled hairpin out slowly to let his hair down. He didn't want it to touch the water, but he wanted to make a point and toyed with the pin, rolling the sharp point around his hair again into a tighter hold.]

My friends used to tease me that I was too feminine, but I never minded. No one expects someone who looks like me to be able to disarm and kill them in under three seconds. It's an advantage.

[He gave Cliff a smirk and pinned his hair back in place.]

Is that what you mean by dangerous?

[Cliff cracked a grin at the commentary, even as he kept a careful eye on where that pretty pin was going.]

Her name's Mirage, [He said, clearly fond of this person.] She's another Klausian, and she's my teacher's daughter. She's beautiful, but...[He chuckled.] It's like you said-- no one expects someone that pretty to wipe the floor with them.

That's exactly what I mean by 'dangerous'.

[Mirage - Souji wasn't sure if he'd heard the name before, but he had heard that description. Bit by bit, he was finding out more about the people in Cliff's life. Fayt, Maria, Albel, Nel, and now Mirage. An entire group of people he was also missing, possibly fearing for, just like Souji did. Cliff, however, didn't seem like the sort to worry, but that likely just meant he did it below the surface, where others couldn't see. As straightforward as the Klausian could be, he also had his secrets and parts of himself that he couldn't or wouldn't explain. At least, not yet.

Souji smiled back as he relaxed against the side of the hot spring.]

So I take it she wiped the floor with you and taught you a lesson about underestimating the pretty ones then. [Souji tried not to laugh as he leaned in toward Cliff.] That explains a lot about your tastes in people, you know.

What-- that I like knowing my friends can take care of themselves?

[He laughed, brushing off that idle little comment. While he had a feeling that Fayt had a few suspicions about his track record with Mirage, he didn't want too many other people around knowing about how regularly Mirage threw him-- nor did he want Souji getting any more ideas than he already had.]

Edited 2014-01-30 21:40 (UTC)

That's one way to put it.

[Lifting his arms out of the water, Souji stretched them out in front of him, watching droplets slide off. He was lucky to be as clear of scars as he was. In the right light, he could still see where that shadow creature Pride had stabbed him through the hand - small light lines to mark the puncture wounds all up his arms.

He tilted his head, wondering if he could really handle himself against creatures like that. He certainly hadn't run from it, a mark of pride, but if Pride hadn't stopped, he would have died there that night. He had almost died so many times in battle, and yet the only thing to have killed him here or anywhere was the cough. His head tilted the other way of its own volition as he silently considered that he'd never have a warrior's death. How strange.

His arms slipped back under the water and Souji checked his fingertips.] Or that you have a thing for dangerous people. [He smiled a little.] I wouldn't judge you for it - I like them, too. They're more interesting.

Like attracts like, [Cliff said, relaxing against the cool stones that surrounded the pool,] I like to think I'm a little dangerous too.

[A dangerous man living a dangerous life. After spending years attracting all of the wrong kinds of attention, being tortured, nearly being killed, Cliff counted himself lucky that he didn't have any lasting marks. The wonders of space-age technolgy truly were astounding in a few respects...]

What sort of interesting and dangerous peope have you met? They can't all be old and grumpy.

[He smiled, not saying yes or no to Cliff's self-evaluation. He was dangerous, of course - a formidable fighter and a leader of a rebellion in his own way. To say he was anything but dangerous was a lie, but that was why Souji didn't feel like he had to hide anything around him. Only dangerous people weren't afraid of him, people who were like him in some way or another.

He leaned his head back and looked up at the stars.]

....It's been so long now, I don't think I could tell you about them all before we turned into prunes in this water.

[He chuckled softly at the joke, but recognized the words for what they were.]

I don't mind turning into a prune today. It's been way too long...

[He stretched his arms as he spoke and shifted so that he sank deeper into the water, not caring at all if his hair got wet in his determination to just enjoy the outing.]

... We can talk about something else if you'd like. It's just nice being here.

Edited 2014-01-31 02:10 (UTC)

[He laughed a little and ran his hands over his arms under the water, feeling the slide of the minerals under his fingertips.]

You rarely give yourself a chance to relax, do you? Tinkering with this or that - giving lessons to all the children in the village.

[Souji smirked at the last remark and leaned in toward Cliff again.]

I wonder how I'll ever win your attention with how busy you keep yourself.

[He chuckled softly at the jest and leaned closer himself, resting his head on top of Souji's.]

You've already won it, [he said, without any hint of teasing.] You're one of the more interesting things around here, yanno.

[Souji is surprised by the feel of Cliff resting up against him, but he doesn't stiffen or flinch like he thought he might. Maybe the water was doing more to relax him than he thought. He reached up, fingering a strand of blond hair that had fallen in front of his face.]

Is it because I'm a mystery? Or because I tend to explode into glitter every so often?

[He glanced down, as if trying to look at Souji from his vantage point, and grinned.]

Can I just go with 'all of the above'? [He asked, his voice was light with laughter. Relaxing into the moment, Cliff reached for Souji's hand once more.] You're something else. I just wonder, what made someone like you go for an old guy like me?

Mmm? [He didn't move his hand away when Cliff reached for it; instead turning his palm up so they could actually hold hands more naturally. Somehow, being here, with the water and steam and privacy, Souji thought it might be okay to be affectionate. So long as no one saw them, it was fine, right?]

There's more to you than just 'an old guy,' you know.

Besides... [He gently twisted the strand of hair in his fingers, twirling it together.] I could ask you the same thing.

[Despite knowing what Souji was, Cliff still wanted this. Most would have been scared or intimidated, but not him. In his own way, Cliff was very unique. His personality was attractive and his straightforward nature was different from everything Souji knew. Even if he might eventually leave to go back to his own war, Souji knew he wouldn't regret what happened between them. After giving up on ever finding anyone to care about him, Cliff had shown up out of the blue like a shock of lightning. He was different - special.]

You'd just laugh at me if I told you why.

Nah, I don't think I'd laugh, [he said, squeezing that hand nestled in his-- all affections were fine while they bathed in the privacy of the steam and each other's company. There would be no giggles between voyers and conspirators later on.]

But, if you'd rather hear my side of things first...

[Cliff pulled back and dared to look at Souji straight in the eyes.]

...You're funny, and your fierce like some kinda wild animal sometimes. You know how to make someone's day no matter how rough it is...

And you're strong. I don't need to worry about you getting hurt or falling behind. Even if you do, I know you'll give 'em hell and do what you can to make 'em regret it.

[He smiled. The very things he listed were the very reasons why he bothered with trying to find love back in his world. There were few that he could trust to be strong enough and self-sufficient enough to manage with him and his chosen line of work. While Quark wasn't an established party in Luceti, the dangers and risks with the nature of this world were the same-- and Souji, who had been here for five years and who seemed so broken and fragile sometimes, still managed to keep moving forward with a smile on his face despite these and any odds.

Cliff admired that strength, and his strength as a warrior.]

[When Cliff suddenly pulled back and looked him right in the eyes, Souji was a little stunned. It wasn't often that he found himself on the opposite end of such an intense gaze and he'd never been told things like what Cliff said. Wild animal aside, of course. He'd been called that, but never in a good way and Souji could barely hide his wide-eyed surprise at how Cliff was opening up to him.

He was wrong about one thing though; Souji wasn't strong. He was barely holding together enough to make himself seem normal, and yet Cliff was calling him strong. But Cliff was smiling and Cliff didn't know about how Souji spent his early mornings or what happened to books that would never interest him. It was a small part of his life that he couldn't really share because no one would ever really understand. It was insanity - even the Hijikata from the other world had called it that.

But Cliff didn't know, and so Souji smiled back, raising a hand to touch the Klausian's cheek.]

You think too highly of me, Cliff-san. But thank you.

I wish I could tell you all the reasons why, but there are so many and I've never been very good at this. [He turned his hand around, running the back of his fingers down Cliff's jaw slowly.] But you are important to me, more important than I've let anyone become since I left home. I would fight by your side and die for you, if you asked it of me. In our own way, that is how samurai define our affections.

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

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Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

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Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs

Jan. 10th | 3pm | Hot Springs