lili & kaoru need less money

[coastal]

Comments

[coastal]

He could stand to be less....

[ . . . ]

Less.

[that's her answer]

[twinsightful]

Less. Less. [God.]

Anyone who looks like that ought to know the effect they'll have on people. [...a grin.] Are you embarrassed?

[Is this actually something that flusters her? This is immediately interesting.]

[coastal]

No...!

It's just - ugh, it's...!

[DOES SHE HAVE A WORD FOR IT

she's going back into her blanket cocoon]

[twinsightful]

You act as if you've never seen an attractive man before. [Teasing~ But he's also looking at his book again since watching a blanket cocoon isn't too interesting yet.]

[coastal]

Of course I have.

[she harrumphs at that]

General Geun-Tae exists.

[twinsightful]

[...does he push her buttons? Does he leave it alone? Does he whine about the dull throbbing of his broken leg???]

I bet he wasn't that good-looking then.

[coastal]

[she GASPS AND SITS UPRIGHT IMMEDIATELY IN HER COCOON]

You take that back—whoa!

[she's dizzy]

[twinsightful]

[He's sitting upright and looks like he's ready to move but doesn't? Because no?? They're both stupid whatever.]

...swooning just thinking about him? [Still a joke but also now he's worried about her blacking out, jesus.]

[coastal]

If you saw him, you would too...!

[there's a slightly pained quality to her voice - but she just blinks a few time with her remaining eye to try to clear the spots from her vision]

General Geun-Tae is the most fearsome warrior in all of Kouka Kingdom! He's strong, handsome, and feels so strongly about protecting his lands that he told the king to his face that he'd risk treason!

That's a man!!

[is it any wonder that she has a thing for the guy who keeps pointing swords at the npcs]

[twinsightful]

[Oh my god this is actually. A lot. This is so much and like once he's done worrying about her fucking eye he's just staring at her? So Lili likes strong bara types...

Nope. Can't really relate, but.]

I see. [DOES HE.] And so...you're into really strong men who know how to fight. And you're only just now realizing Ookurikara's an attractive man? [Like. Lili, are you okay? That should have registered for you a while ago if you're busy fawning.]

[coastal]

It's not really just about knowing how to fight... I know plenty of soldiers, you know? They're all strong men who are capable of holding their own. That's not all it takes.

[she seems irritated that he thinks she'd be that EASY

but she just huffs]

... but he's been...

[nice to her... and strong... and has an excellent sense of morality....]

It's just hard to ignore now - how I end up feeling.

[twinsightful]

[...ah.]

What makes him different from other soldiers you've met? Besides his abs and the fact that he's still slightly intimidating?

[coastal]

He's not that intimidating.

[for the record

but she'll just shrug a little bit at that]

... he doesn't treat me like I'm fragile.

[twinsightful]

That's because you're also sometimes intimidating. [Not to him, but like. To other people, probably. On the other hand that's also an answer to both why she doesn't find him intimidating and why he doesn't treat her like she's fragile.]

How well do you know him? You've spoken frequently? [They're idle questions, but he's also. Thinking.]

[coastal]

I am...?

[don't sound hopeful at that, lili

but she pauses]

He's teaching me how to cook, and how to use a sword. I see him everyday at this point since I help prepare meals...

[she's

really expanding her knowledge here]

Why?

[twinsightful]

[There's a thin smile.] Just wondering, that's all.

[He's going to draw his own conclusions, it's fine.]

[coastal]

Enough of this topic - it's just going to depress me since he's not interested.

[SIGHS]

Do you have anyone you like?

[twinsightful]

Did you ask if he was interested? [Binch. We're not changing the subject!!]

[coastal]

There's no point for me, I already told you why.

[LOVELESS MARRIAGE, HERE SHE COMES]

[twinsightful]

Your father's not here and we're not in Kouka so I actually don't see what that has to do with anything.

[coastal]

I'm still going home after all this, Kaoru.

[she's going to

gently flop over on their bed

girl talk is super happening apparently]

[twinsightful]

So am I. [Making her question irrelevant and a reason he doesn't have to answer it, so there. Why is this happening? He'll just tilt his head back and stare at the ceiling.]

...but so what? Even if you go home, would you rather not bother doing what you want here and think about it later, or at least pursue it and see what you can do anyway?

[coastal]

Nothing's going to come of it. I don't care if he knows, but I'm not going to delude myself into thinking I have a chance when I don't.

[lili is so ready to get rejected it's funny]

Why? What about you?

[twinsightful]

[An eyeroll.] Don't be a coward. You just told me you haven't even asked.

[Insulting her is definitely the way to get her to do something, sure. And also, no, not him!]

[coastal]

I'm not a coward - and it hasn't come up, shut up.

You're also avoiding my return questions.