psl || how did this slowburn happen

[coastal]

Comments

[unfriendliest]

We'll see.

[ but he's already reaching into his pocket to pull out two omamori - one in black, red, and gold, and the other blue, gold, and white. he'll hold the blue one out for lili ]

I asked the saniwa if they could make you one before I left. As long as you have it, you won't die - but it only works once, so don't be reckless with it.

[coastal]

[wh

she takes it and blinks in confusion, because she'd only seen these when minato made them? but he went out of his way to get something that would protect her. the idea of something keeping her from death is... interesting, to say the least. but she supposes that it can't be impossible, after everything else they've been through.]

... I'll hope I'll never have to use it.

[unfriendliest]

Me, too. But I wanted to get it for you, just in case.

[ she just gets into so much trouble ]

[coastal]

You worry over me too much.

[they already got attacked today on a fairly routine trip

but that's what lili gets for not bothering to hide her fancy hairpins even when she goes to the shadier parts of the capitol. either way she pauses for a moment before leaning up again to press a kiss to his cheek, since he said that she doesn't have to ask]

Thank you.

[unfriendliest]

You died once.

[ in case she forgot ]

[coastal]

I was corrupted.

[IT COULDN'T BE HELPED]

[unfriendliest]

You're reckless.

[ THAT PART CAN ABSOLUTELY BE HELPED ]

[coastal]

.... I've gotten better....

[has she?]

[unfriendliest]

[ please enjoy this unconvinced stare ]

[coastal]

[ . . . ]

Anyway, if no one else is going to bother acting to solve problems, then it's not like I can just ignore them! It's not like I ever waste my time on anything unimportant....!

[unfriendliest]

I never said you should ignore them - just to be a little more careful. Even trained soldiers get killed running into situations they aren't fully prepared for.

[coastal]

... I'll do my best.

[like she always does - ]

And then I'll try to do even better than that.

[if he's still worried about it]

[unfriendliest]

[ his face softens at that. this is why he likes lili. ]

Good.

[ and now he can be there to help, whenever she needs it ]

[coastal]

I still think you worry too much....

[she just moves to bump against him a little bit, nudging

but then she pauses]

Well, are you hungry? We ought to get something to eat before we travel in the morning. We can pack rations too...

[unfriendliest]

A little, yeah. I thought I'd cook later, but...

[ he shrugs. rations are the better bet if they're heading out soon, anyway. ]

[coastal]

... then I'll look forward to that when we come back.

[kara's cooking!!

she's missed! kara's cooking!]

[unfriendliest]

Then we'll cook when we get back.

[ he's just assuming lili will help it's fine ]

I want to try your seafood stew again, too.

[coastal]

Hmm.... we’ll probably have to go back to Suiko eventually. I’ll prepare it there, since the spices and fish will be better.

[she sighs]

You’ll have to meet my father eventually.

[unfriendliest]

[ ...ah. right. her father. kara frowns as he puts his omamori back in his pocket. ]

I take it he won't approve of me, since he's trying to arrange your marriage.

[ not that kara particularly cares but still ]

[coastal]

Well, the one to the king won’t work out regardless.

[she waves a hand]

He’s made it clear that there’s no merit in marrying me as long as our tribes get along.

[unfriendliest]

[ ...kara hates how relieved he is to hear that? it's not like it matters. this is just how nobility works. ]

He'll probably try to find someone else, then.

[coastal]

Probably but...

[she shrugs]

The king says that keeping me around means that people stop asking him about marriage. If it benefits him, I might as well let it benefit for me for a while longer too.

[she's like.

not in a rush to find another person to get arranged married to]

[unfriendliest]

[ for a sword that served nobility for centuries and knows, more or less, how they treat their women, he really doesn't like this. he doesn't need to know a monogamy to believe that lili should be allowed to make the choice on her own ]

...Whatever you decide to do, I'll support you, if I can.

[coastal]

It'd admittedly be easier if I really could run away from all the politics, but I'd hate to leave my tribe...

[she moves to stand, so they can at least head outside to look for dinner, but she'll take his hand in both of hers to try to help tug him up even if he doesn't need it]

Maybe I should see if I can have my father exile me again?

[unfriendliest]

[ he'll allow her to tug him along without much complaint, though he does take a moment to tuck his sword back into the scarf with a sigh ]

Don't go getting yourself exiled again just to run away.

[ lili is better than that!! ]