psl || how did this slowburn happen

[coastal]

Comments

[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!! ]

[coastal]

But I got more done when my father stayed out of my business in the first place.

[EXILE WAS BARELY EXILE

BUT IT WAS MOSTLY NICE]

[unfriendliest]

[ ...sigh ]

Do you really think that will help?

[coastal]

I don't know yet... but it's an option eventually.

[she tilts her head]

I can't imagine who else I could be stuck getting married to - I can lead my tribe fine all on my own if it's just about that.

[unfriendliest]

I believe you, but your father might not agree. You'd probably have to convince him, right?

[coastal]

... probably.

[and she always struggles when it comes to her father...

well, she'll lead him out of the room and start heading out of the inn]

He's stubborn...

[it's the main trait they share]

[unfriendliest]

[ he raises an eyebrow, though lili probably can't see while leading them out ]

Is that where you get it from.

[coastal]

Very funny.

[she frowns]

At least I'm only stubborn about things that matter.

[is that so]

[unfriendliest]

[ hmmm he's not wholly convinced of that either but he'll drop it ]

Where are we going?

[ if he's going to be staying here, he might as well start learning about the place ]

[coastal]

We're headed back to the heart of town but - do you want to eat something at the marketplace or would you prefer a meal prepared by the palace chefs?

[they can do either, and lili doesn't mind either]

[unfriendliest]

...The market's fine. They'd probably ask too many questions at the palace, anyway.