Day 77 - Closed

[individuates]

Who: Kaoru Hitachiin and Seimei
Status: Closed ._.
When: Day 77
Where: Seimei's pad.
What: Worried Kaoru is worried, and stalks follows Seimei back home.
Style: Action
Warnings: Nope?

[Once the discussions end, Kaoru slips away again, making his way in the the same direction Seimei had gone. His attention was probably completely unwanted, but... Seimei had seemed so troubled when he had left. Kaoru couldn't just stand by and leave him to it. So here he was, trailing after as usual. He was always the one following behind like a lost puppy. Did that make him the kind of person who could only survive by attached himself to someone else? Wasn't that just futile, given how this place had already proved how fragile these attachments could be?

But this wasn't about him and his issues. Kaoru was just worried. He just wanted to check in - even if Seimei told him to leave, at least Kaoru would have tried. And even if Kaoru couldn't help... at least he could listen. That counted for something, didn't it?

He hesitated, approaching Seimei's lean-to, and called before he had a chance to change his mind-]

Seimei-san? Seimei-san. [He admonishes himself quietly. He can't help it, it's still a little weird to drop the honorific when addressing an elder] ...Seimei, are you there?

Comments

[yinyangfox]

I am so used to traveling through life in a perpetual state of calm. [ He remarks, clearing his throat softly and gently extricating his hands from Kaoru's, cheeks pink as he turns to the side and tucks his palms into his sleeves. ]

I did not realize these feelings were creeping up on me. Mounting pressure was crushing my reason and crippling me with doubt. Likely I will continue to slip into these moments of fear...but I suppose that is simply the task at hand, dealing with one's humanity. Perhaps I should take this from another angle, change my perspective and find pleasure in exploring an aspect of myself that has forever been overshadowed by the yokai in me?

Thank you...Kaoru. I did not really know that I needed to speak to anyone.

[individuates]

[Kaoru lets Seimei pull away with a small smile, and starts them walking again, gently throwing back Seimei's own words from several days earlier]

A delightful pastime? Or a frightening challenge?

[yinyangfox]

[ eyebrows shoot up, lips pursing in an O before laughter tumbled out, the last of the tension trickling away. ]

Oh, very clever, my friend. Very clever indeed. How about "yes"? Certainly both. I suppose anything worth doing is never one dimensional.

[individuates]

[he gives an easy laugh, slipping his hands in his pockets] Well, I wish you luck, then~! [his own delightful challenge is waiting for him at home. Not so much as a wobble yet, but then he has no idea how long it's going to take]

By the way, speaking of challenges. I wanted to ask you. About those sleeves of yours...

[yinyangfox]

Hm? Yes? What about them? [ He asks, tilting his head slightly. It didn't occur that Kaoru might be referring to the frayed edges and and fading designs. Considering how no one else wore sleeves like his, he imagined it was something to do with the excessive size. ]

Ah yes, the egg. I should write you another warming charm to make certain it keeps well. [ Of course he doesn't care to mention the added enchantment to assist in Kaoru's sleeping, like a gentle sedative. ]

[individuates]

You should let me fix them up sometime. In fact, I might be able to make you something new, if you can stand the possibility of losing the entire layer... [He's no genius - he can't really replicate the clothing from scratch and so he needs a template of some sort to do it. He'd have to take the layer apart to figure out a pattern, how much fabric he might need, and there was no guarantee of him being able to piece it back together exactly how it was. But the sacrifice of one item would mean endless possibilities for more. The only limitation would be the time it would take for Kaoru to execute the designs]

[he pouts slightly] I would be able to work a lot faster with a sewing machine, it's time-consuming, piecing stuff together by hand. If I were a lazier person I might have been swayed to vote for electricty...

[yinyangfox]

[ Cheeks puff briefly as forming words fell apart when the state of his clothing as called into question. He fell silent a moment, uncertain how to respond. Embarrassment flooded his face as he looked away and nodded. ]

I suppose there is little purpose in keeping it, if it is so threadbare as to draw attention.

[individuates]

[teasingly] Only to an expert, Seimei-san~! I wouldn't have known, but since I was close enough to hold your hands, I saw all I needed to see.

[yinyangfox]

[ And then he was reminded of their impropriety. Cheeks colored again and he turned even further to the side, tessen suddenly in his hand, snapped open and covering most of his face. ]

Of course. Then I will defer to your expertise in the matter.

[individuates]

[if anything, that makes the smile even wider. Impropriety, you say? Pah!]

I can see how red you are, Seimei. Stop trying and failing to hide from me.

[yinyangfox]

[ Shoulders twitched, eyes drifted to the side and Seimei fanned himself lightly. Why...why on earth would anyone point that out? It was unheard of! Politeness dictated...ah, but they were from different worlds entirely. ]

I....I am not hiding anything.

[individuates]

Oh no? [that voice certainly carries a good deal of suppressed mirth. Hold it together, Kaoru. If you start laughing like an idiot, that's just gonna make Seimei feel worse. He conposes himself before asking as innocently as possible- ]

Why, what's that behind your fan, then?

[yinyangfox]

My fac--ah, I see what you mean... [ He murmured, lowering the fan slowly. He had at least schooled his expression to something less telling. Only just, however. ]

I apologize. It is...only that in my time. We - people - do not usually touch one another so casually.

[individuates]

[he raises an eyebrow slightly at that. Yes, some people in Kaoru's life - he can think of one in particular - are very free with their touches, but Kaoru himself is not one of them, at least not with strangers. He touches the people he cares for or feels protective over. If he's not particularly bothered about someone he generally keeps his hands to himself. Thus far, Rin, Tama-chan, and now Seimei are the lucky few.]

[Anyhow. He flashes a grin] Yes, your face. Precisely my point.

Well, in mine we don't wear so many layers or carry fans to hide behind.

[yinyangfox]

It is the fashion of Kyoto! [ He protests almost indignantly. ]

The Mikado, or women of status, wear even more layers. I happen to dress unseasonably light. However...considering how everyone else dresses, and the need to conserve supplies...

[ The onmyoji shifts uncomfortably, looking down at his sleeves, then up at Kaoru. ]

Is there a middle ground?

[individuates]

[raising his hands defensively] I know, I know, and I don't have a problem with it, well not much anyway, I mean it's a perfectly fine way to dress if you're from as far back in the past as you are, but yes, considering supplies are limited...

...we may have to negotiate a little.

[yinyangfox]

I do not think I could dress as the others, or you. Could...is there. [ He huffs a faint sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. ]

Is there a way to maintain the core elements of the noshi? Maybe not six layers but...at least something familiar?

[individuates]

We can discuss it. The main thing is that at least the lowest layer, you could probably do with multiples of, right? At least a pair, so you can wash one and wear the other. As for the rest... I may not be able to manage all the layers, but the ones I can... they`ll take up a lot of fabric, but not all of it will suffer wear-and-tear. So how about when you`re done with them, you bring them back to me to repurpose into something else?

Not that I`m a fan of recycling but it would be better than just throwing them away.

[yinyangfox]

I could dress in peasant fashion. [ He remarks with a sniff and sigh, long suffering surrender to the inevitability of compromise. ]

Considerably less layers. More freedom of movement. It is simply more practical. I can wear it if I must. If it is simpler for you I will do so, and you may use my robes now as material for what you need.

[individuates]

Whoa, hey, stop, let's... let's not go that far. [It's going to be hard work, but he's not just going to stick you in any old random junk. Nobody more than Kaoru wants people to maintain at least a decent dress standard in this place.] Let me see what I can do before you give up completely, all right? I wouldn't put you through that kind of indignity...

[yinyangfox]

Kaoru, I assure you, no greater indignity can I suffer than the one I did in arriving here, and never sensing there was anything wrong before it.

[ The onmyoji sighs, plucking at one sleeve and frowning at the fabric. ]

You are right. For me to dress like this is absolutely indecent. I am misrepresenting myself. Whatever you can do, Kaoru, I submit to your superior knowledge.

[individuates]

I'll do my best for you. [he's beginning to realise the challenge he's taking on though. Even regular hakama are a pain - no, no, challenge to make. Sashinuki-bakama mean more panels... more fabric... but if he does it a little at a time, he'll gradually get it done.] To begin with, we might be able to alter what you have to make it last a little longer. It's the cuffs of your sleeves that are in the worst state. I can take them in a fraction, or take a small strip from the inside to bind the edges. They're not ready to fall apart just yet!

Ne, Seimei? How are those chickens doing?

[yinyangfox]

[ Looking at his hands briefly, forgetting the sleeves for a moment, the onmyoji allows himself a small smile, eyes tracing the paths Kaoru's thumbs had taken. Blinking twice, his gaze flicks up and fixes on the younger man's face with a faint nod. ]

As I said, I defer to your judgment. If I may, however, I would like to make a personal request?

[ Teeth press briefly against his lower lip before that familiar glitter in his eyes rises to the surface - that gentle amusement. ]

Make some for yourself as well? I would like to see you in....respectable clothing.

[individuates]

[Kaoru blinks, momentarily surprised by the question. He is dressed quite respectably, considering he has had to make do with materials and clothes he has found. The trousers had been just a touch too baggy when he found them, but he had tailored them himself. And the weather isn't too warm or too cold either, so he's quite comfortable in a short sleeved shirt hanging open over a vest.]

[he does a little turn on the spot, as if to look himself over - what did he miss?!] H-huh? Is something wrong?

[yinyangfox]

No, I suppose not. Not at all, when you are from, I imagine. I am...merely curious what you would have looked like in my own era. With your hair and eyes. I cannot decide if you are a summer or an autumn. I find myself interested in the idea of you in Heian fashion. Is that so strange?

[ He asks, arching a brow and cocking his head with that small smile of his. ]

Besides, I would feel odd being the only one dressed in such a manner. It would help me transition into something less ostentatious?