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.
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."
He smiles over at him with gentle reassurance. "I would like to think so. Although they didn't see us as human, they still loved us and took especial care of us. We were with them wherever they went. We were their treasures. And now, in turn, we treasure the memory of them, and their history."
There was a soft smile on his face as he listened to Tonbokiri's words. Everything he said, it really touched a place inside of him. Who knew one's heart could be so embarrassing like this...
Returning to combing his fingers through his hair he muses with a smile, "There are more difficult things to having these human bodies than wrinkling fingers. But, like hot baths, it's still worth it."
"I wonder if we will ever truly master the human way we now live. Much like the way they master their own blades."
He chuckles softly to himself, continuing to work with his own hair. He could truly feel the silkiness of his hair now because of this oil. It was a nice treat.
He considers that seriously, and gives a thoughtful hum.
"Have you ever seen a master of the sword completely satisfied with his technique? I feel that... as even masters strove for more skill, so we will always be striving for deeper understanding." He abruptly laughs, adding, "And doesn't that sound like a very human thing to do?"
That honestly gets a decent laugh out of the younger sword as well. "I suppose you have a point there. If there is nothing left to strive for, we wouldn't be using our full potential, which I am most certain our old masters would agree with..."
It was strange, no matter the topic, whether it was a silly one starting with hair care, or one that was more deep and thought provoking, Kanesada really did enjoy these little talks he had with Tonbokiri. He almost felt wiser himself.
Likewise, Tonbokiri enjoys the company of Izuminokami. The sword is sometimes confident, sometimes fumbling, but always manages to pull through in the end.
It's a pleasure to make him laugh, and help him, and even soothe him a little. Tonbokiri will certainly reflect upon this day fondly, and look forward to the next time they might spend such a time together.
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no subject
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.
no subject
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."
no subject
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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He paused for a moment, fussing with hair a little before looking back toward Tonbokiri.
"Ah... that is to say... these feelings we carry for them, is it possible they once carried the same for us?"
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"You're absolutely right... Thank you."
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Returning to combing his fingers through his hair he muses with a smile, "There are more difficult things to having these human bodies than wrinkling fingers. But, like hot baths, it's still worth it."
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He chuckles softly to himself, continuing to work with his own hair. He could truly feel the silkiness of his hair now because of this oil. It was a nice treat.
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"Have you ever seen a master of the sword completely satisfied with his technique? I feel that... as even masters strove for more skill, so we will always be striving for deeper understanding." He abruptly laughs, adding, "And doesn't that sound like a very human thing to do?"
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It was strange, no matter the topic, whether it was a silly one starting with hair care, or one that was more deep and thought provoking, Kanesada really did enjoy these little talks he had with Tonbokiri. He almost felt wiser himself.
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It's a pleasure to make him laugh, and help him, and even soothe him a little. Tonbokiri will certainly reflect upon this day fondly, and look forward to the next time they might spend such a time together.