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[ateaist]

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video

[hoasen]

[THAT LAST ENCOUNTER, while fun since it was just girls in a hot spring, seriously, still raised a few questions on how Nobunaga was. Vietnam has met a few others who had some strange personality flips, so here she is, checking up on her new niece.

When Nobunaga connects--]

Nobunaga? How are you feeling?

video

[ateaist]

[While yesterday had drawn to a fairly enjoyable close, she brought herself back home loud and drunk to a miserable Bishamon, who stormed out without saying much. Then she woke up with a killer hangover.

Needless to say, the last thing on her mind is the hot spring incident, terrible as that was, when Vietnam calls to check up on her.]

Mmngh...[From the looks of things, she's still in bed. Her ridiculous amount of hair is a mess.] I'm dying, Vietnam. Make sure my obituary says nothing but nice things.

[hoasen]

[TOTALLY DID NOT EXPECT THIS KIND OF CHAOS.]

W-what happened?! [She's practically grabbing Flappy Bird right now just to get a better look. Somehow. Through this feed. What?]

[ateaist]

A high tolerance for alcohol and a group of very generous strangers is what...

[They were so surprised she held her drink so well they just kept going to see what her limit was.]

Umu...this is the end for me...my head's going to explode...

action? not here? | backdated to 06/09

[accoutered]

[ that night, bishamon wound up taken shelter within lapis' room, who had been kind enough to take the desolate former goddess in after she'd gone and thrown another tantrum and barged out of her own room. lapis had been kind, and understanding, but bishamon had no intention of taking advantage of the young woman's hospitality twice (though technically, this would be the third) and so the better half of the next day was spent coming to terms with her situation... and trying to figure out how to mend ties that have barely even been given the opportunity to form.

for better or for worse, these people are her comrades. unfortunate souls just like her, ripped from their worlds and called upon to fight a war neither of them had any business in caring about. she might not have appreciated nobunaga's attempts at cheering her up... but she could, at the very least, acknowledge them.

and so the evening of the following day, whenever nobunaga should come home, she will find a note on her own pillow. torn from what appears to be one of those journals, the kind you're likely to find in a stationary shop or in the hands of a fourteen year old girl, is a single page, folded up. the note itself reads: ]

No hard feelings?

[ unfortunately, there is no adorable cat plush to accompany the note (since the writer is currently f l a t b r o k e)

but in its stead are what appears to be attempts at fat black cat doodles crawling all around the margins of the paper... ]

video

[ateaist]

[She's fortunate that although Nobunaga had stayed home for most of the day, she had slipped out to get something to eat. Upon her return she happens upon the note, admittedly a little amused by The Real Life Actual Bishamonten doing something like this (the cats are cute) but it's not exactly surprising. Nobunaga had a keener sense figuring people out than one might expect from someone so outwardly foolish, so she picked up on her liking the cat fairly quickly...

But still.

She's nothing personal against this woman who she's never met; her attempt to destroy Buddhism and replace it with Christianity was all a political scheme. She can't have any kind of vendentta against gods she never believed in and if everyone's to be comrades, she's no trouble acting democratically with someone she once wronged indirectly...even if it didn't mean a thing to Bishamonten anyway, in that Nobunaga had failed to destroy Buddhism to begin with.

(Bishamon was probably too distracted by all her dead children at the time.)

But she's also not usually concernd with being liked anyway. If anything, she's comfortable with herself and goes with the flow; having an actual dedicated attempt to be on good behaviour spurned...well...]

I want to hear you actually apologise.

Then we're...even. You can even keep your gift.

[She gets in contact and that's all she has to say.]

video

[accoutered]

[ the scenery behind bishamon gives her location away fairly easily. she's in the courtyard, from the sight of the canal just behind her, but tsubasa has situated himself close enough that it's unclear what she could possibly be doing there.

there's some sweat along her brow, but it's very obviously from before the video started. not to say she looks any less awkward about it.

despite her divinity, bishamon knows how to be humble. has no problems with it, either, but there is something rather tenuous about doing so as a human that gets her feeling more self-conscious than she's ever felt before.

humans, unlike gods, are fallible. they make mistakes. they sin. bishamon has never known a life of such, though if she did, she was never held accountable for it. to apologize as a god is more an act of benevolence and mercy.

to apologize as human is incredibly, incredibly frightening. ]

...Very well. Will you hear it like this, or in person?

[ the propriety in her would have preferred to do it in person, but she's at least conscious enough that others might not agree. ]

[ateaist]

I'll come meet you; just wait where you are.

[Now that her hangover has subsided, she could use the fresh air anyway.

The feed ends without much of a chance for Bishamon to say anything in return; whether it gives her more time to think of what she'll say or anxiously await the arrival of Nibunaga, well, that's her. The Demon King doesn't give it much thought, more focused on simply getting down there to resolve this mess.

When she arrives she's dressed in her uniform, wearing pants in lieu of the skirt and donning the optional hat. It's a cute hat and she likes hats. Her carrier, a small clockwork bird, remains perched atop her hat as they arrive.

Nobunaga stops within a comfortable distance, crossing her arms. She isn't exactly that energetic woman who'd met her in Heroes the Gathering.]

Bishamonten.

[S'up.]

[accoutered]

[ bishamon, too, is dressed in her uniform, but that isn't much of a surprise, given it's one of the few things she owns now. but as nobunaga draws near, she'll see the slight modification the blonde woman has made to them for the purposes of her task that evening — the pants she favored so much the other day now disregarded for the skirt, the jacket still missing, and the red top button down to the middle of her chest, where her sleeves are ignored and tied tight around her chest. the slight sheen of sweat on her skin highlights the bruises and cuts visible there, telling of a long day of rigorous work out. but when nobunaga enters the space, exhaustion is cast aside for propriety, and bishamon stands straight at attention once more.

it is only when nobunaga stops and greets her that bishamon speaks in return. ]

Nobunaga.

[ there is only a brief moment of hesitation, and then she is leaning forward, just low enough that her gaze falls on the other woman's feet rather than her face. ]

Please allow me to apologize for my behavior the other day. You were... attempting to console me, and I wouldn't hear any of it. I am... sorry. For walking out on you.

[hoasen]

Oh...oh. You were at a drinking party.

[She nods sagely. SUDDENLY IT ALL MAKES SENSE.] You need a lot of water right now. You are at your room, no?

[ateaist]

K104.

The door is open, but try not to make a lot of noise...

[Well.

If coming over wasn't Vietnam's intention...]

[hoasen]

[She gestures vaguely to show she'll do just that.]

I'll be very quiet. I will take just a short while, I may go to the kitchen first to collect a few things.

[ateaist]

Take your time...ah, I knew I could count on you, Vietnam...mmgnh...that's why I love you...I'll see you soon...

[What a child...]

[hoasen]

[A-AW...how can she resist Nobu being cute. Prepare to be pampered, warlord niece! SHE LOVES YOU TOO!!!]

I will see you soon, rest well, Nobunaga.

[And she ends the feed so that she can retrieve everything for Nobunaga. Tea, ginger, probably something to air out the room a bit.

And when Vietnam comes, she does at Nobunaga told her to do: JUST WALK ON IN.]

[ateaist]

[She's always prepared for that...

Either way, just as she said the door was unlocked for her to come in. There're two made beds, one that looks like someone was sitting on it and the fourth...

Ah, there's a warlord shaped lump under the covers of the fourth.]

Unless you're Vietnam, go away...ill kill you...

[Even that muffled threat is sounding a little halfhearted.]

CARRIER MAIL

[hiryugaeshi]

[ One day, Nobunaga's Carrier will cough up a gift: A tankard, carved from a whole dragon's tooth, the size of Nobunaga forearm. It's not elaborate, more function than form, the polished silver hinge on cap and the Oda mokkou the only decorations, but some would argue that dragon ivory being hollowed out and turned into a big drinking mug is inherently excessive.

A note is attached: ]

Not all birds sing songs
Some bring down only fire
Still they captivate

- Sasaki Kojirou

1/3

[ateaist]

[Well, it most certainly was an apology of acceptable quality. Humble, taking the blame on for herself and without a single hint of insincerity. It'd be enough to placate even the sturdiest of hearts, surely.

Nobunaga gives Bishamonten A Look throughout the whole thing, just a few notches above being expressionless. It's certainly an intense stare, but it doesn't give off much of an impression of how she's taking the whole thing.]

[ateaist]

[She approaches, closing the distance between them...]

[ateaist]

[And gives her shoulder a quick, encouraging pat from the side, smiling.]

No hard feelings.

[accoutered]

[ she glances back up when she feels that hand on her shoulder. she hadn't seen the look the other had been giving her, but she had certainly felt it. something akin to a hand at her throat, a blade to her jugular.

but the weight on her shoulder is light. almost warm.

when nobunaga smiles at her, she can only look back in mild wonder. ]

So very little seems to get to you, [ she winds up murmuring in idle thought as she looks the smaller woman over. there is a strange feeling in her chest — light but hazy. relief? ]

It is...

[ she sighs a bit, letting her eyes fall shut. almost as if in defeat. ]

Admirable.

[hoasen]

[Ah yes, it must be the fourth lumpy one. The one that's talking.]

No need to kill anyone and get more sick for exerting yourself. It is Vietnam.

[And she approaches carefully, so that Nobunaga doesn't get jostled suddenly.] I brought some water, can you sit up?

[If not, she'll help her up!]

[ateaist]

No, no, I'm not completely helpless.

[In fact, she's being a little overdramatic...like she is at all times about everything, too, but.

Either way the mysterious, warlord shaped lump begins to stir beneath the covers, rising to reveal it is none other than..............................

Nobunaga, surprise. Who would've guessed. She sits on the edge of her bed, keeping a hold of the cover around her on the inside, mostly to keep herself wrapped up because she sleeps naked...and considering Vietnam was kind of apprehensive about the hot springs at first, she's guessing maybe she ought to keep herself covered up.

She could get dressed, but she's hoping she won't have to, so maybe this'll do...]

[ateaist]

Of course! After all, I'm an admirable woman.

[Still...

She's sure if she just carries on as usual, Bishamonten's just gonna be all irritated at how perfect Nobunaga thinks she is.]

...ah, but I suppose I can't take the high ground. I mean, I wasn't acting altruistically or anything.

[accoutered]

[ that's a valid assumption, nobunaga, but trust in miss petty here to probably think of some other reason to be irritated... probably.

in any case, that just causes bishamon's brow to crinkle. it almost sounds like a trap, to be honest, but her curiosity gets the better of her. ]

What do you mean...?

[ateaist]

Well, that sour attitude of yours was on a fast track to killing my own mood. That's all.

[But is that true? Is she just hiding the fact she was truly concerned??

No, not really. Otherwise she would've actually asked what the problem was.]