(no subject)

[skilful]

Date & Time: 26th-29th December
Location: Japan during the late 16th century!
Characters: A whole bunch of people!
Summary: Saving rice, fighting insects!!
Warnings: None yet!

Summer at its height: a middle-sized village on the outskirts of a province in the midst of a famine with almost wilting half-grown rice crops after their river for some reason ran dry.

With taxes to pay and war nearing or already at their borders, the people of the village though friendly are weary and in despair over their future.

For now.

Comments

Japan: 26th

[skilful]

[ Settling in, trying not to blow covers, watering plants, searching for the lost water, deciding how to sleep or spend the night, making plans for tomorrow...? ]

closed to totsuka

[redsea]

[ The paddy fields weren't looking good. Kougyoku did not often get the chance to travel and see more of the Kou Empire but this much she knew. The children were gaunt, the river dry, the cattle lean, and she had to wonder: did these conditions exist in the empire, too? Famine was a demon, but it was one people only told stories of, one she never thought she would see.

When she and Totsuka arrive, she surveys the area, brows furrowed. ]

Tatara, I think it will take more than my magoi to water the fields alone. I could use my Extreme Magic, but...

[ She's never tried it inland before. ]

[skilful]

[ Having spoken to countless villagers, the sight of the fields don't surprise him. Still, to see countless rows of barely surviving plants like this...

At Kougyoku's words, he turns his head towards her curiously. ]

But?

[redsea]

[ She shakes her head. ]

It's nothing. [ Using the magic will take a toll on her, but more than wanting to complete the missions, she wanted to prove Totsuka right. ] I can do it.

[ Beat. ]

But how will we explain this to the villagers? Magic doesn't exist in this world.

[skilful]

[ He studies her for the briefest of seconds then smiles as if nothing's wrong, holding out a victory sign with his hands. ]

I took care of it! [ He lets it hang for dramatic tension and then. ] I explained we were carrying lots of water with us.

[ He points to a barrel. The barrier he'd insisted they take along. It's not the best explanation but it did its job. ]

With Kusanagi-san and the rest entertaining [ distracting ] them, it's up to us!

settling in?! idk, but it's open

[ex_longanimity327]

[ Somehow they ended up being dressed appropriately for this time, thanks to a certain someone. And they've managed to put up a couple of tents—one for the girls and one for the boys—as well.

Izumo here is looking at the soldiers stationed near the village borders. ]

We need ta' talk with 'em if we're gonna complete this mission.

[capitulated]

Okay.

[ but isn't talking your thing, kusanagi. eric will just, you know, stand nearby. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ pats Eric's head ]

You and Fujishima okay with stayin' here while some of us talk with 'em?

[capitulated]

[ dducking his head down a bit. ]

I'm fine. [ --staying here. he won't speak for fujishima, though. ]

[battering]

... should we talk differently so they don't get suspicious? Kusanagi-san, can you do an accent?

[ It made sense, okay. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

I already have an accent—it's not makin' it obvious is the thing.

[ in fact, he's mostly adopted a neutral accent since their arrival. ]

Negotiations will hafta' do, hopefully they'll listen.

[skilful]

[ Totsuka walks up, peering over and then looks at Kusanagi, waiting with a smile for information of any kind that the latter's collected. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ nooot looking at Totsuka. ]

There's a lot of 'em, we need ta' talk with 'em if we're gonna find where the water is and help the village.

[ crossing his arms, but still looking at the soldiers in the distance and addressing Totsuka at the same time. ]

Think we can make up a cover story for our presence here?

[skilful]

[ midnight: arms folded, head tilted towards the night sky and the stars shining above.

suddenly, he breaks the silence, chuckling. ]

[battering]

[ he doesn't feel like sleeping and instead follows totsuka's line of sight when he laughs, trying to see what was funny up there. ]

[skilful]

[ there's nothing -- just stars. ]

Can't sleep?

male tent (any of the nights!!)

[skilful]

[ ...suddenly in the middle of the night you feel someone, skin cool to the touch, suddenly curling up against you. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ the instant he feels another body curling up to him, Izumo opens his eyes—he's mostly a light sleeper—and turns his head to see...

............

Totsuka cuddling. ]

Idiot.

[ gently tapping the other man's cheek with a finger. ] Hey.

[skilful]

[ he shakes his head slightly as if to shake that finger off, eyes still closed and breathing even.

only, very suddenly, he murmurs: ] Kusa...nagi-san...

[capitulated]

[ no this is fine. this is. totally fine. he'll just.

not move and pretend he's not there or. something!! ]

[skilful]

[ noooope, totally here. breathing slow and completely relaxed.

then he shifts a little, inching closer. ]

[clansman]

[ the tent's too small.

a lump of something fluttering and soft flumps onto totsuka's face just as his victim rolls over, summarily elbowing in the arm -- only half by accident.

tl;dr - cover yourself more with those blankets, you fool, and stop cuddling people in the dark!! ]

[skilful]

[ he jerks awake in surprise, lifting the blankets off his face in confusion, eyes squinting trying to adjust to the darkness at suddenly being woken up ]

...King?

settling in @ the girls' tent

[therealrisette]

[Having temporarily abandoned her cute modern outfits for more traditional Japanese garb, Rise has retreated to the tent for the evening rather early. It's technically even still afternoon, but she's done her best to help with the plants and she's just... unusually tired.

When and if Carol or Kougyoku come in, she'll be lying back on whatever passes for bedding in the tent, just staring up at the tent and lost in her thoughts. Or maybe one of the guys didn't realize the tent was currently occupied or accidentally went to the wrong tent?]

[notpeterparker]

[Carol enters the tent some time later, after staying in the village. She announces herself in a cheerful, bright voice.]

I brought food!

[Under her arm is a basket. It's not very large, so she didn't bring much, but it should be enough in there to share with her current roommates. Her eyes land on Rise, not noticing how tired the other girl looks right now.]

Is it just you right now, Rise?