011 ♫ (video)
[Motochika sits in his living room, his shamisen resting on his lap, idle. His expression is placid; when he speaks his tone is thoughtful.]
Vatheon's streets are bustling again. Like their older counterparts, these newly-arrived locals have no voice. [Metaphorically, of course.]
Casting that matter aside:
[A beat -- and then Motochika smirks, ( Read more... )
Vatheon's streets are bustling again. Like their older counterparts, these newly-arrived locals have no voice. [Metaphorically, of course.]
Casting that matter aside:
[A beat -- and then Motochika smirks, ( Read more... )
My Lord.
[He shakes his head, but smiles afterwards.]
Was that really necessary?
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[He stands back up and looks at Motochika.]
This spot will do wonderfully.
[Mitsuhide strolls back over to the sapling and the equipment, taking a few moments then to move everything he needs next to the place he has picked. No point wasting time, right? The sooner the tree is planted, the sooner it can start growing.]
[That done, he kneels once more and begins to dig.]
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There is an easier way to do much of the work.
[He withdraws his hand.]
You'll want to stand back. I have no wish to dirty your kimono.
[He has noticed, of course, that Mitsuhide is dressed in blue today -- a beautiful shade of blue, for an exceptionally beautiful man.]
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Alright.
[He stands, and moves away to what he thinks is a suitable distance.]
Is this far enough?
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[It should be, at least.
What Motochika has planned quickly becomes obvious: once he's made sure all tools and the sapling are safely out of the way, he concentrates, gathering both musou and spirit. He then brings the dou of his shamisen down on the spot full force, and lets the water jets do the hard work for them -- as they burst out of the ground, they blow out the earth in their way, leaving a small (messy) crater once they subside. It only needs a little additional digging now.]
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[That's... certainly an unusual way for Motochika to utilise his most powerful musou attack. Mitsuhide waits for the jets of water to subside before walking back over. The newly formed hole in the ground will do wonderfully, with just a bit of adjustment.]
That was very dramatic, my Lord. How like you.
[He raises his hand to his mouth and laughs quietly.]
Next time I need to cut through a large piece of wood for my craft, perhaps I should follow your example and draw my weapon.
[He's not being serious... even if doing so would create a perfect, clean cut.]
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[Motochika says with a hint of challenge as he straightens up, resettling his shamisen into a comfortable hold. He moves away from the hole and turns to face it, looking it over speculatively. He smirks after a moment. He really does enjoy being dramatic from time to time.]
That shall do nicely.
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[Mitsuhide falls quiet then, and gathers his tools together before planting the tree properly. It does not take too long, and when he is finished the young samurai walks around it a few times before nodding with satisfaction.]
This will be a strong, healthy tree one day.
[He sounds thoughtful.]
Even if we disappear from this place, it will remain.
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A resounding note from our private legacy.
[He replies, smiling at Mitsuhide in wordless invitation before he returns to the blanket.]
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[For a moment he is silent, gaze on his tree before he moves his head to look at his lover instead.]
So... what else do you have hidden in that basket?
[Mitsuhide's smile is exceptionally warm.]
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[Motochika sweeps a hand to indicate to the picnic basket.]
See for yourself.
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[He says it in a joking manner; Mitsuhide does not dislike alcohol, per se, but it takes barely one serving of wine to get him drunk. He tends to avoid it, except for small amounts on certain occasions.]
[Opening the basket, Mitsuhide checks through the contents and then helps himself to some of the juice he finds within.]
This is much better. For me, anyway.
[For Motochika as well, in truth; Mitsuhide has not forgotten the curse week he spent drunk. It could not have been easy for the other man.]
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No alcohol. I intend for you to have a clear memory of this day.
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Do you remember when I had my first taste of wine, when I came to Tosa during my younger years?
[He'd been a teenaged boy, excited about trying something he'd always heard good things about and completely unaware of the effect it would have on him.]
The details of that night are mostly fuzzy now, but I remember the morning clearly enough. I woke up on the roof of a building in your family home; how I lasted the night without falling off, I do not know. It was so strange... I don't remember anything about how I got there in the first place, either!
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From what snatches of the evening I retain... I am certain that we tried to cure your sunburn with moonlight.
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[Mitsuhide tilts his head and fixes Motochika with a confused look, before shaking his head slightly and chuckling.]
The mind can become a truly strange place, when one is drunk.
[He tries to examine his memories of the night more closely, and something occurs to him.]
I... think we roamed your mansion looking for sheets that night, as well? I seem to recall hiding away in a training room at the sound of your father's voice, a few of them in our arms.
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