avantgardes | Locked to deeprealm

Locked to deeprealm

[Another day in the castle, another day of chores.

Really, Mitama has so many better things she could be doing right now--she could be napping in a hay stack, she could be practicing her haikus, she could be contemplating her navel, she could be trashing her room further by attempting to find more of her haiku books...she could be doing just about anything right now, but nope. Her father had been becoming far more adamant in her using less of her time to sleep, and try as she might, she was stuck with a fair portion more chores than she expected. Not to mention that people kept checking in on her...it was frustrating, really, that she could barely enjoy any of her precious time.

The chore for this week is grooming the pegasi and cleaning the stables. Mitama was never all that fond of those creatures--they were horses that could fly and they could outfly just about anything, what kind of hideous force of nature produced them? She wasn't afraid of them, really, just not very fond of the idea of getting near them.

Still, a job was a job. She managed to finish cleaning out the stables, and that meant going up to these things with a brush and hoping for the best. Nice and gentle...hopefully the pegasus didn't mind as she tried to untangle the various knots in it's mane, and lord above, she sincerely hoped it wouldn't start flying...

Mitama sighed, looking at the creature before her.]

A horse gifted wings / your like are uninspired / I'd much rather nap.

[The pegasus seemed to respond to her with a sharp noise, and it caused Mitama to back away out of fear--don't tell her these godless heathens understand human speech?! ...It'd make the most sense, when she has the moment to think on it, due to being sent into combat so much, but jesus.

When Mitama looks back at it, it hasn't even raised any sort of fuss, and seems to be...looking at her? ...Huh.]

What? You've made your point. / Your equivalent of scorn / Is not lost on me.

[It made a noise again! It only seemed to stare at her, though, and that...caused her to tilt her head a bit.]

Do you enjoy this? / Never thought I'd find kin in / an equine-equse one.

[And it reacts again! You know what? Mitama could get behind this, seriously. She's never really had anyone to enjoy her haikus with before, and if this is what her life will be for the week...

Well, she can enjoy it. She goes back to brush through it's mane, smiling away.]

...Perhaps I was wrong / not so abominable / when we share a love.

[...This is probably how it's going to be for the next few hours, or until someone stops her--Mitama spouting haikus to the one audience that actually seems to enjoy her work. It's a shame that this is likely someone else's. They couldn't appreciate what a kind, kindred creature they had in front of them. She's found a new best friend.]

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You're welcome.

[He stands and returns to the pegasus he was working on, since he figures Mitama needs a moment.]

I'm almost done here; will you be reporting to your father soon?

[Mitama's thankful for that. He's embarrassed her enough for one day, and she's fine to go back and talk to Cerulean. It'd be nice if it were for longer, really, but her father's probably impatient as is.

She'll go back to Cerulean, doing her best to hide her face in the creature--she's already brushed any knots out of the mane, and everywhere else is free of dirt. Hopefully she enjoys it.]

Father would be cross / if I slacked further than believed. / I've not much choice, here.

[Mitama gently pets the creature, smiling away. ...Still...]

Does Cerulean have a favorite treat?

[It's very sweet of her to ask and Shigure sounds very happy when he responds.]

Carrots! It's a little cliché, I suppose. She's very fond of them though.

[Cerulean is also fine with brushing, she can be incredibly vain about it so this is perfectly fine!]

[Perhaps it's a good thing that she's not very fond of them--she never thought she'd have a use for getting rid of her vegetables that wasn't making the servants clean up the floor after her, but if that's what she likes, she's more than willing to oblige.]

How fortunate. I'll commit this to memory.

[Joke's on you, dad, for trying to make her eat carrots.

Her face feels a little less flushed, so she'll look to Shigure with a smile.]

...Thank you for assisting me, today. I truly appreciate that you were willing to handle the others--I confess that I'm not fond of the idea of getting closer to the others, but if I can spend time with Cerulean...

A job I enjoy? / It feels akin to heresy. / I, however, thrive.

You don't need to thank me, I'm happy to help! I'm usually in here anyway; I've always loved animals.

[He probably has some ridiculous disney princess stories about wandering into the woods as a kid and singing to the animals until they took him in so he wasn't eaten by bears or something, who knows.]

Cerulean really does seem fond of you. It's nice to see her make friends! It took her quite some time to warm up to my parents.

[But that might be because he often talked about how much he missed them, so maybe Cerulean was bitter about that.]

[Mitama looks up to Cerulean, laughing just a bit.]

To be enjoyed by / such a wonderful creature? / Truly, I am blessed.

[It's a high compliment, at the very least. Animals at best were neutral to her, so to have one with mutual adoration...

...It's a wonder she doesn't ask if she can take her off Shigure's hands, lbr here. Though, Mitama pauses for a bit once that's said, letting the silence hang in the air a bit. Why is this prevalent in her head? ...Well, in the land of the mute, no one gets anywhere, so...]

Were you interrupted, in coming here? From your own chores, I mean.

Oh, no. I had already finished them and I was going to help Caeldori out, but...

[Well, it probably goes without saying that she wasn't just done with her chores but she'd managed to reorganize the armory, fix the schedule for everyone, and restock the cooking supplies. It's actually a bit embarrassing how efficient she is...]

Well, that doesn't matter. You didn't interrupt me, don't concern yourself with that!

[...Help Caeldori out?]

Did Caeldori get injured, recently? I could understand if she were, but she could probably do the entire army's chores and still have time to train...

[There's literally no other explanation. Granted, maybe they're just trying to make sure that she's not working herself to an early grave.]

Perhaps I should, though? / You did more than half the work / while I made a friend. It seems a tad uneven...why don't I help you with something, in return?

[...]

I could shake an interesting story out of you yet.

[There's the teasing tone, making it's return. Granted, it's not the only reason, and that's...not quite what she wanted to ask, but maybe it'd just be better to slack and see if he keeps coming, in the future...]

Ah, no, she didn't! I just thought...

[Well, he's her big brother. He should be able to help her with something, but she really is perfect. She takes after father more than he ever could.]

Never mind. I really don't have anything I need assistance with right now, but I wouldn't mind working with you again, Mitama.

[Though that gets him to glance away with another awkward laugh.]

Ah... I'm really not sure you'll find anything...

[h e l p]

I'll keep that in mind for the future, then.

[Ohhhhhh, here we go again. She's not in the stable this time, she doesn't have to worry about falling flat on her face again.]

You must have something rather intriguing to hide, then. And I will not rest until I find it!

Like curious cats / searching for life's mysteries / I will find something.

[Or simply keep teasing him like this. This works just fine too.]

I assure you, I really don't! It'll just be a waste of your time!

[Maybe he should just... hide in the woods for awhile or something. That would be less embarrassing...]

I don't see what you find so fascinating about this...

[He's trying very hard to ignore how pink he's getting, okay.]

No man, woman or child has never done something embarrassing. Everyone has a story, and if I am to become a poet, I need to learn how to put them all into words. Good ones, bad ones, embarrassing ones...

[Or simply haikus, in her case. If anything, managing to get her life's story down to a haiku would be an achievement in and of itself, but...]

You deny basics / curiosity piques more / it's quite endearing.

[...Hopefully that last bit flies over his head. Mitama looks down to the kerchief again, and the blood seems to have stalled for the time being.]

Would it make you feel better if I said that not even I am exempt?

Edited (youdidn'teventry.jpg /facepalm) 2016-04-03 21:43 (UTC)

Oh, I'm not foolish enough to believe that you only write about others' misfortune! But this is still...

[He trails off there before shaking his head.]

I'm not sure you'll get what you're looking for from it, to be quite honest.

[Shigure is by no means perfect, but having Mitama see him in an embarrassing situation is something that's a bit too much for him right now. He's steadily going from pink to bright red.]

Are you worried that I won't be amused?

[Mitama's not quite sure what he's getting at, there, but still, his face...]

Flushed red as lilies / from quaint possibilities / I have found something.

[...And really, it's kind of cute, and she finds herself simply smiling at him from where she is.]

[Oh gods, he really is blushing as badly as he thinks he is. Shigure has no idea what to do with this and it's obvious. He doesn't look at Mitama and instead finds the perfect excuse to ditch.]

Ah, father! Excuse me, Mitama, we'll have to continue this discussion at another time.

[AND OFF HE GOES man he's putting that speed to good use. Anything to not be this embarrassed anymore.]

[The rest of the day is normal, really--Mitama certainly enjoyed herself, and sees herself out of the stables soon after Shigure flees. It takes a tiny bit of explaining (about the accident, about Shigure getting called by his parent, just quite a few lies to keep her on this), but she's kept on the chore for this week--and if what Azama said is any indication at her (feigned) disdain, she's likely going to be doing this for a while. Fine by Mitama, in that case! The rest of the night is spent at her leisure, though she does spend a little bit of time cleaning the blood out of the kerchief--no use in wasting a perfectly usable gift, really.

The next day is more of the same, really--get up, heal some soldiers, spend as long as possible in the stables...well, actually?

She manages to balk up and both clean the stables, and brush out all of the pegasi--she just has to bide her time now, doesn't she? Mitama says a silent prayer to whatever god is out there, that he'll come by again. He's fun to tease, and she hasn't quite forgotten the kindness he displayed yesterday--it's silly, really.

But she's not entirely heartless. Maybe hearing some of her bad haikus will make him feel a little better...]

Come now, you're not supposed to react to these, Cerulean! These are absolutely terrible! They've no sense of the syllable rule at all and they feel so lifeless...

[Still, Mitama happily pulls a carrot from one of her bags and feeds her. It's going to be a bit of a long day today...]

[Shigure never has any problems with his chores, though to say he's perfect like his father or his sister is doing them both a great disservice. He accomplishes his tasks quickly and efficiently, but he's certainly not breaking any records with it. Once he's made sure the kitchen is spotless and no one needs him anywhere else, he makes his way to the stables. He does prefer spending time with the animals when he isn't busy, and while Mitama is probably going to be there that's not a terrible thing.

Hopefully she won't tease him again...

He listens to the haikus for a bit before approaching, once again smiling.]

Good afternoon, Mitama. It seems Cerulean is fond of all of your poetry.

[Ah, there he is!]

Pah! Perhaps too fond / of poetry that would make / scholars laugh aloud.

[She sighs, closing the book and turning to Shigure with a smile. How she wishes the language barrier could be broken, so she could properly understand how terrible it is...]

I was waiting for you, actually. Are we on a time limit for today? I'd like to make up a bit for yesterday's hubris, if you're so inclined.

Oh, you don't need to make it up to me, Mitama. It really wasn't anything to be concerned about.

[He laughs and it's a little less awkward than yesterday so... progress?]

I don't have to be anywhere today though. I'm free for as long as you'd like.

[Though if it gets into teasing territory he might come up with an excuse... It's not like he dislikes Mitama, after all. She's an interesting person when she's not teasing him!]

When you run away / like a scared, headless chicken / concerns, and humors.

[...Because she's not even going to lie, that was totally hilarious even if he was redder than a tomato at that point. She does laugh at the second bit, though, smirking and turning away.] Careful, Shigure / you give me free reign like that that / at your own peril.

[...Still, she'll opens up her book and go right for the topmost haiku, trying not to cringe inwardly.] Sun shining like some diamonds / clouds passing through like our old friends / what a super perfect day. [...] ...You know, it's a wonder I don't burn this book, that was terrible.

Edited 2016-04-04 22:12 (UTC)

[He's red by the time she opens the book, but thankfully Mitama is content to move on. He still feels embarrassed by his actions the other day, but at least they're not the focus anymore.]

That was... Well, it was obvious you had a great deal of passion for your subject matter!

[HE TRIED SO HARD, MITAMA...]

Passion doesn't necessarily mean anything when it's all so explicitly mortifying to look back upon, years later.

[God, why is this all full of emoshit.

...No, she knows pretty well why, but she thought she picked a more amusing book than this. The frustration's probably clear...and then something kinda hits her all the same.]

...I suppose I owe you an apology, now that I have some perspective--I imagine anything that you must have put yourself through at that age would be just as mortifying to you.

Well, that's true. My old paintings are terrible... I'm surprised my parents kept them.

[Do you know how mortifying it was to go see mom in her room and see those paintings hanging up?]

But it does show us how far we've come. That's a nice feeling, isn't it?

Well, I suppose if I've come farther than 'Old gray rat running through / scurry scurry it goes / someone please take it out', then I should be celebrating to some degree...

Once many hours / pass us by, perhaps I too / can embrace your thoughts. As it stands, however...

[...Back up for a second, though, Mitama quirks a bit at Shigure once the words finally hit.] Wait, you paint? ...That was not supposed to rhyme, excuse me. Just how many arts have you mingled into?

[She's at least a little aware that his mother sings, so she figured that was his medium...]

Oh, not too many! I sing of course and I've taken up painting, but there's nothing else I do seriously. I've never had any talent for writing, so I find it fascinating that you can come up with poems so easily!

[He's a bit pink at that. It's certainly no secret that he paints, but Mitama makes it sound like he's picked up all sorts of arts. He's certainly not that good!]

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