Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out.
Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?!
Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix...
Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside.
Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.
Why does skin get that unpleasant, wrinkly texture after a while...? It's a shame.
It's not often one gets to see the other swords with their hair down, or up, or pushed back, as the case may be. So Tonbokiri blinks at the transformation that comes over Izuminokami's face when there's no hair falling past his eyes.
"Mm... Having your bangs back is a good look for you."
It makes him look handsome in a different way and younger-- although the sword likely wouldn't appreciate the latter.
"You look handsome no matter what, though. It is very much your nature." Even with his hair plastered about wildly. Even dropped in a watering trough. Tonbokiri is an honest blade, so Izuminokami will know it to be true, right?
While it was embarrassing to hear, he perks up right away. Handsome.... He said he looked handsome.
"Does it make me look more mature?" if he wore his hair back like that, would he look more like Hijikata-san?? He fidgeted in his spot, but he looked like he was absolutely vibrating with excitement.
Although Tonbokiri had already thought of the answer to this question, he does pause a moment to look like he's thinking about it. It's only fair to show Izuminokami that he's giving the question due consideration, even if it's a bit of pretense. And just look at how adorably eager the young sword is for praise-!
"Mm. Honestly, I feel your usual look suits you best. Although I don't understand all of how Aruji summons us, I think how we initially appear must be an image close to our hearts. I resemble my former master Tadakatsu in many ways." And proud he is of that.
Huff! Not an angry one mind you, but one of confidence as he pushes his hair back again out of habit. Apparently those are the exact words he wanted to hear from Tonbokiri because he was positively sparkling.
"Well of course. I'm a rather handsome man after all. My looks are part of my ever growing popularity."
Hahaha! Izuminokami has a similar pride, it seems. And doesn't hold back in showing it. (They might soon have to fish sakura blossoms out of the bath water, at this rate.)
"That's the spirit. Are you trying to become more popular than anyone in particular?"
In a silly way, even though he didn't look quite like his old master, he felt like this form is the form his old master would have been proud of. Big, tall, handsome, ect ect. So this form is how he wanted to stay. So hearing such words from Tonbokiri really just made him perk up even more.
"Not exactly. I just appreciate how handsome I am, and I feel those will too."
Or something like that. He's honestly just trying to sound cool.
"You just appreciate how handsome you are..." He repeats it back thoughtfully. "I certainly appreciate your perspective. I've not thought too much about whether I'm handsome or not."
Although he does have moments of seriously wondering about these sideburns.
"I don't know if my opinion on the matter is important to you, buuuut I would certainly say you bring a lot to the table that many swords can't in the looks department and the strength department. Strength is also incredibly important to ones looks, I think. Whether it's their physical strength or the strength of their resolve."
Yep, this was in fact Izuminokami taking attractiveness incredibly seriously. But if he were to ask him to go into his thoughts further, he might get an hour lecture on how his old master had everything in attractiveness.
Of course, Tonbokiri will listen to your opinion, Izuminokami! He tilts his head thoughtfully, trying to take in the sword's points. So... he's uniquely handsome, and his strength is a strong point?
"Thank you. I hadn't particularly thought of even mental strength being important to how handsome one is."
And you know what, Tonbokiri will ask further about it. He's got nowhere to be other than this bath, listening to the young sword speak with full enthusiasm about his former master.
Just, wrap it up once their fingers start to look like raisins, okay Izuminokami?
"Of course it is. Someone with intelligence and the ability to lead so many people is an incredibly handsome ability. It's not something everyone can do."
Please dunk him under the water Tonbokiri, he won't stop at this rate...
(Despite the mun's wish for a dunking,) Tonbokiri listens to Izuminokami with interest. He can even see the point in a way--
"I see. It's true that Lord Ieyasu was visually rather plain for such a great leader... Attractiveness through his other traits does make sense."
Tell him more, Izuminokami-dono.
And as he talks, they wrinkle. So after some (admittedly considerable) time Tonbokiri politely brings the conversation to a close by suggesting they get out.
He wanted to talk more about Vice Commander Hijikata, almost as if he felt like he hadn't even breached the surface of how amazing he was, but it really was getting to be pretty late and his fingers felt so weird after being in the water for so long.
"These human bodies of ours... I will always find something new to feel so confused by."
He chuckles understandingly as he climbs out of the hot water.
"I imagine there will be no full understanding of these bodies, no matter how long we may have them for. Ah, but as for your hands, you might find the oil I use in my hair will help them."
He's not forgotten that he's getting his hair braided again, and if he uses the oil before Izuminokami braids it, of course he'll get some on his hands.
He hadn't noticed that before, but he realized if he actually thought a little on the matter, Tonbokiri's hair was a bit different in that regard. He wondered if he should use these oils too, but his hair was very important to him. What if he didn't like the oils, or if they didn't smell nice....
He frowned thoughtfully to himself as he goes through the process of drying himself off and everything. At the very least, he seemed less shy about his body since the two of them had spent so much time in the bath together.
Between two men, there is nothing to be abashed about! Tonbokiri goes about his usual routine of drying and getting dressed.
Once dressed, from a high shelf he pulls out a basket, in which he keeps some things for the bath. He takes out a comb and an unadorned white porcelain bottle. Sitting before the mirror, he starts combing out his hair, but makes a gesture towards the bottle in answer to Izuminokami's indirect question.
"It is good to use a little oil in your hair. It makes it smooth, shiny, and easy to comb. Muramasa and I use tsubaki oil, but there are many different kinds."
He's a little surprised that Izuminokami doesn't already use oil, for his hair was quite nice. (Must be a benefit of being so young? Does it work like that?)
He took a lot of care in his hair, but for the most part he was just lucky. His hair was naturally thick and somehow it didn't tangle unless he went a day without combing it which didn't happen often. Still, he was a little curious now. If Tonbokiri's hair always looked so nice because of this oil, how nice would his own look if he tried it...
He leaned in a little, giving the bottle a nervous glance.
"I suppose if it did, I would have found something else to use. But no, I don't think it smells bad. However it is just like with the actual flowers themselves- one will like the scent of some blooms over others."
He gives Tonbokiri a suspicious look, almost as if it were some kind of trap Tonbokiri was trying to lead him into. But even if it was, he does finally take the bottle from his hand and lean in to give a little sniff. It... wasn't what he was expecting. It was a strange smell that's for sure, but it wasn't terrible.
Tonbokiri looks rather embarrassed at the question, as it brings up memories of him and Muramasa making that mistake...
"Ah, you will know. Your hair will feel too oily and become lank, and it will take some time to wash out the excess oil. It's such a waste... You can always add a little more to your hair if you need to, but you cannot take it away so easily."
Izuminokami makes the most disgusted look at the mere thought of his hair being bland and lank. His hair was one of his best features!... Well actually if one were to ask him he'd pretty much list all of his physical features as his best features, but that didn't change the fact that he didn't like the idea of his hair being boring and lanky looking! So of course he takes Tonbokiri's words seriously and only takes a few drops of oil to begin working through his hair.
He even had such a seriously look on his face while he did it....
"Who would have guessed, keeping up one's physical appearance this way would be just as difficult as training our physical bodies..."
Hahaha, his clear disdain at even the idea of having lank hair... But he's glad that the warning is taken seriously. He is always appreciative of a serious approach.
"It is a little difficult, but perhaps we only notice it more, since we are no longer solely on the receiving end of maintenance."
Tonbokiri's expression becomes a distant as he uses his fingers to comb a couple drops of oil through his own hair. Resting upon Tadakatsu's lap, the man idly fondling his ornaments or diligently sharpening him... Ah~ For all he loves this live he has now, he does miss those past times.
"You know... I sometimes remember the way I was held before... the way I was cared for by Hijikata-san... and I miss those times. Perhaps this is what it means for a human to carry a heavy heart...?"
He wasn't looking at Tonbokiri as he said it though. Just idly combing his fingers through his own hair. He didn't show it half as much as Yasusada did in his love for his old master, but every little thing he did, he tried to imitate his own master, perhaps if living like he did might keep that close feeling...
His eyebrows raise in surprise and his hands pause in their work when Izuminokami speaks his thoughts.
"I was... just reflecting on a similar thing," he admits quietly. "Our memories of those times can feel heavy upon this heart, can't they. But how we are now is surely influenced by our former masters, so it is a little reassuring to carry them close to us in that way, isn't it."
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It's not often one gets to see the other swords with their hair down, or up, or pushed back, as the case may be. So Tonbokiri blinks at the transformation that comes over Izuminokami's face when there's no hair falling past his eyes.
"Mm... Having your bangs back is a good look for you."
It makes him look handsome in a different way and younger-- although the sword likely wouldn't appreciate the latter.
"You look handsome no matter what, though. It is very much your nature." Even with his hair plastered about wildly. Even dropped in a watering trough. Tonbokiri is an honest blade, so Izuminokami will know it to be true, right?
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"Does it make me look more mature?" if he wore his hair back like that, would he look more like Hijikata-san?? He fidgeted in his spot, but he looked like he was absolutely vibrating with excitement.
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"Mm. Honestly, I feel your usual look suits you best. Although I don't understand all of how Aruji summons us, I think how we initially appear must be an image close to our hearts. I resemble my former master Tadakatsu in many ways." And proud he is of that.
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"Well of course. I'm a rather handsome man after all. My looks are part of my ever growing popularity."
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"That's the spirit. Are you trying to become more popular than anyone in particular?"
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"Not exactly. I just appreciate how handsome I am, and I feel those will too."
Or something like that. He's honestly just trying to sound cool.
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Although he does have moments of seriously wondering about these sideburns.
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Yep, this was in fact Izuminokami taking attractiveness incredibly seriously. But if he were to ask him to go into his thoughts further, he might get an hour lecture on how his old master had everything in attractiveness.
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So... he's uniquely handsome, and his strength is a strong point?
"Thank you. I hadn't particularly thought of even mental strength being important to how handsome one is."
And you know what, Tonbokiri will ask further about it. He's got nowhere to be other than this bath, listening to the young sword speak with full enthusiasm about his former master.
Just, wrap it up once their fingers start to look like raisins, okay Izuminokami?
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Please dunk him under the water Tonbokiri, he won't stop at this rate...
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"I see. It's true that Lord Ieyasu was visually rather plain for such a great leader... Attractiveness through his other traits does make sense."
Tell him more, Izuminokami-dono.
And as he talks, they wrinkle. So after some (admittedly considerable) time Tonbokiri politely brings the conversation to a close by suggesting they get out.
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"These human bodies of ours... I will always find something new to feel so confused by."
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"I imagine there will be no full understanding of these bodies, no matter how long we may have them for. Ah, but as for your hands, you might find the oil I use in my hair will help them."
He's not forgotten that he's getting his hair braided again, and if he uses the oil before Izuminokami braids it, of course he'll get some on his hands.
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He hadn't noticed that before, but he realized if he actually thought a little on the matter, Tonbokiri's hair was a bit different in that regard. He wondered if he should use these oils too, but his hair was very important to him. What if he didn't like the oils, or if they didn't smell nice....
He frowned thoughtfully to himself as he goes through the process of drying himself off and everything. At the very least, he seemed less shy about his body since the two of them had spent so much time in the bath together.
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Once dressed, from a high shelf he pulls out a basket, in which he keeps some things for the bath. He takes out a comb and an unadorned white porcelain bottle. Sitting before the mirror, he starts combing out his hair, but makes a gesture towards the bottle in answer to Izuminokami's indirect question.
"It is good to use a little oil in your hair. It makes it smooth, shiny, and easy to comb. Muramasa and I use tsubaki oil, but there are many different kinds."
He's a little surprised that Izuminokami doesn't already use oil, for his hair was quite nice. (Must be a benefit of being so young? Does it work like that?)
"Would you like to try some?"
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He leaned in a little, giving the bottle a nervous glance.
"Does it smell bad?"
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"I suppose if it did, I would have found something else to use. But no, I don't think it smells bad. However it is just like with the actual flowers themselves- one will like the scent of some blooms over others."
He hands the bottle over. "Have a smell."
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"I suppose I could give this a try."
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But he is glad that Izuminokami is interested to try it.
"By all means. Ah- be careful though. A tiny bit goes a long way. Even for your hair, you would only need four or five drops."
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Teach him, Tonbokiri-sensei! Teach him your ways in the art of hair care!
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"Ah, you will know. Your hair will feel too oily and become lank, and it will take some time to wash out the excess oil. It's such a waste... You can always add a little more to your hair if you need to, but you cannot take it away so easily."
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He even had such a seriously look on his face while he did it....
"Who would have guessed, keeping up one's physical appearance this way would be just as difficult as training our physical bodies..."
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"It is a little difficult, but perhaps we only notice it more, since we are no longer solely on the receiving end of maintenance."
Tonbokiri's expression becomes a distant as he uses his fingers to comb a couple drops of oil through his own hair. Resting upon Tadakatsu's lap, the man idly fondling his ornaments or diligently sharpening him... Ah~ For all he loves this live he has now, he does miss those past times.
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He wasn't looking at Tonbokiri as he said it though. Just idly combing his fingers through his own hair. He didn't show it half as much as Yasusada did in his love for his old master, but every little thing he did, he tried to imitate his own master, perhaps if living like he did might keep that close feeling...
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"I was... just reflecting on a similar thing," he admits quietly. "Our memories of those times can feel heavy upon this heart, can't they. But how we are now is surely influenced by our former masters, so it is a little reassuring to carry them close to us in that way, isn't it."
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