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... The very first?
[ Sierra... that's honestly kind of amazing?? ]
[ Sierra... that's honestly kind of amazing?? ]
No... but I thought I should say it.
[ Not that she knows Damian is actually astounded by this, but still. ]
[ Not that she knows Damian is actually astounded by this, but still. ]
[Well, he can hide the surprise, but he can't hide the embarrassment, not completely. Flustered, his silence is telling, and he turns his head in the opposite direction as he leans off his hands and sits forward.]
I'm alive. I don't plan on dying any time soon. Especially not to your caretaker.
I'm alive. I don't plan on dying any time soon. Especially not to your caretaker.
[ ... Damian, why are you even flustered about your friend telling you she's glad you're not dead, you weirdo. ]
I really don't think she'd try to kill you. She knows you're important to me, and she really is nice...
[ Even if he doesn't believe her. ]
I really don't think she'd try to kill you. She knows you're important to me, and she really is nice...
[ Even if he doesn't believe her. ]
Mm, when I told her I went into the forest with you. She... wanted me to tell her more about you.
[ He's going to get embarrassed if she continues, though. ]
[ He's going to get embarrassed if she continues, though. ]
[Yeah. Yeah, he's going to get embarrassed.]
I see. Pre-emptive questioning before her issue of a duel. You realize you could have given her the upper hand by allowing her to have information about me.
[Except he's still full of so many surprises.]
If her intent had been to kill, she could have.
I see. Pre-emptive questioning before her issue of a duel. You realize you could have given her the upper hand by allowing her to have information about me.
[Except he's still full of so many surprises.]
If her intent had been to kill, she could have.
I-I didn't tell her anything that would have helped her in a fight!
[ Kisa seems panicked by this more than anything, waving her hands quickly in front of her. ]
I just...! I said you frowned a lot!
[ KISA. ]
B-b-but that you were always helping me! And that you were amazing...! That's all!!
[ Kisa seems panicked by this more than anything, waving her hands quickly in front of her. ]
I just...! I said you frowned a lot!
[ KISA. ]
B-b-but that you were always helping me! And that you were amazing...! That's all!!
[Slowly, one of his sharp brows lifts. This would be the perfect opportunity to tease her some, but he's a little flustered himself the more she keeps clarifying and adding. Geez.]
Frowned a lot. [It's quiet, deadpan, and, as expected, he frowns exactly as she described.] You told her I was "amazing"?
[Wow. No wonder Sierra came to heckle his ass.]
Frowned a lot. [It's quiet, deadpan, and, as expected, he frowns exactly as she described.] You told her I was "amazing"?
[Wow. No wonder Sierra came to heckle his ass.]
[ He sure is frowning and Kisa would point that out, but she's now the embarrassed one gently averting her gaze. ]
Mm. It wasn't anything... I hadn't already said to you.
[ So it's fine, isn't it? ]
Mm. It wasn't anything... I hadn't already said to you.
[ So it's fine, isn't it? ]
[For some reason, he doubts this. Not in the sense she told Sierra anything new, but perhaps the way Kisa had delivered it. Great. Sierra got the impression they were... potentially an item.
It explains the unexpected test of skill.]
I wasn't aware I would be the center of gossip between you and your surrogate. [He frowns, though not badly. Slightly exasperated maybe. There's a pause, and maybe he softens some.] Does she really mean a lot to you?
It explains the unexpected test of skill.]
I wasn't aware I would be the center of gossip between you and your surrogate. [He frowns, though not badly. Slightly exasperated maybe. There's a pause, and maybe he softens some.] Does she really mean a lot to you?
She does. She... really helped me when I first came here and didn't know anyone... and I didn't talk, but she just... accepted me.
Here... she's the closest thing... I have to a family.
[ Not a mother, or a cousin... but something like a big sister. ]
Here... she's the closest thing... I have to a family.
[ Not a mother, or a cousin... but something like a big sister. ]
Edited 2019-01-18 16:02 (UTC)
[Hm. Honestly, he's glad there's someone here like family for Kisa. He's glad it isn't just him she's using as a crutch to get her groundings. He's glad... if something did happen to him, whether good or bad, she would have someone else to look after her.]
I see. Good.
I see. Good.
... Were you worried about me?
[ Nonsense, why would Damian worry about the girl he found at the bottom of a pit from the beginning ]
[ Nonsense, why would Damian worry about the girl he found at the bottom of a pit from the beginning ]
[WOW. This is a loaded question for sure. If he says yes, he'll be caring and worried. If he says no, he'll be one of the biggest assholes. Damn!
He stares at her a moment with his mouth open like he's trying to decide how to respond. Lord, he wants to just say no and save face. Would she cry? No, she'd just give him that sad, kicked puppy look. The one thing he hates to see.]
I wasn't worried, merely... concerned.
[Same thing.]
He stares at her a moment with his mouth open like he's trying to decide how to respond. Lord, he wants to just say no and save face. Would she cry? No, she'd just give him that sad, kicked puppy look. The one thing he hates to see.]
I wasn't worried, merely... concerned.
[Same thing.]
... Isn't that...
[ No, never mind. He'll insist they're different. Kisa will just let him have this. ]
That is... I'm okay. You don't have to be... concerned.
[ No, never mind. He'll insist they're different. Kisa will just let him have this. ]
That is... I'm okay. You don't have to be... concerned.
Someone needs to be.
[Might as well be him. Nevermind the fact everyone who knows Kisa would probably die for her because she's a small, sweet girl.]
I know you trust her, but if anything happens, don't keep it to yourself. And don't stay. Even if it's something... she can't control. Especially if it's something she can't control.
[He was worried.]
[Might as well be him. Nevermind the fact everyone who knows Kisa would probably die for her because she's a small, sweet girl.]
I know you trust her, but if anything happens, don't keep it to yourself. And don't stay. Even if it's something... she can't control. Especially if it's something she can't control.
[He was worried.]
[ Hopefully no one ever actually dies for Kisa or she will not be happy. ]
... If something like that happens... I'll get help.
[ Instead of, you know, letting Sierra chew on her. ]
... If something like that happens... I'll get help.
[ Instead of, you know, letting Sierra chew on her. ]
[(x) Doubt]
Good. I expect nothing different. [He glances away slowly, and then he turns and rolls up to his feet. He fixes his clothes more as if he's glad to have them back on than the fact they're a bit disheveled.] Don't leave the house for a while.
We don't know how long this will last. [He knows this stops nothing.] If something does happen, don't go wandering off.
Good. I expect nothing different. [He glances away slowly, and then he turns and rolls up to his feet. He fixes his clothes more as if he's glad to have them back on than the fact they're a bit disheveled.] Don't leave the house for a while.
We don't know how long this will last. [He knows this stops nothing.] If something does happen, don't go wandering off.
[Tonbokiri is out and about at least once a day, in order to check on Mikuniguro at the stables. As it is the midst of winter, he doesn't often see other people on his way. However this overcast day is happily different.
Even though it has been so long since he's spoken to her (literally- she hadn't said a word), it is easy for Tonbokiri to recognize the slight girl wandering towards him on the path worked in the snow.
Holding up one hand in greeting, as the other is holding his spear as always, he calls out gently,]
Hello, Kisa-chan. Have you been doing all right?
[He has a moment of great thankfulness towards Arisato-dono for having told him the girl's name some time ago. This encounter would have been much more awkward otherwise.]
Even though it has been so long since he's spoken to her (literally- she hadn't said a word), it is easy for Tonbokiri to recognize the slight girl wandering towards him on the path worked in the snow.
Holding up one hand in greeting, as the other is holding his spear as always, he calls out gently,]
Hello, Kisa-chan. Have you been doing all right?
[He has a moment of great thankfulness towards Arisato-dono for having told him the girl's name some time ago. This encounter would have been much more awkward otherwise.]
[ ... Ah. Kisa hadn't expected him to know her name, and her head shoots up, her eyes widening-- but after a few seconds, she takes a nervous breath and finally, finally speaks up with a polite little dip of her head. ]
H-hello.
[ Well. By "speak up", it's more like "squeak quietly", but it's still audible enough. ]
H-hello.
[ Well. By "speak up", it's more like "squeak quietly", but it's still audible enough. ]
[Tonbokiri's face at once lights up in pure happiness.
She spoke to me! The girl must be doing so much better than her first days here.]
Hello. [Although unnecessary to say hello again, he automatically replies to her.]
It has been some time, but perhaps you recognize me. I am called Tonbokiri. [He bends to one knee in the snow, to better approach her level of sight (and perhaps not seem so intimidating).]
I am glad that you seem to be doing well.
She spoke to me! The girl must be doing so much better than her first days here.]
Hello. [Although unnecessary to say hello again, he automatically replies to her.]
It has been some time, but perhaps you recognize me. I am called Tonbokiri. [He bends to one knee in the snow, to better approach her level of sight (and perhaps not seem so intimidating).]
I am glad that you seem to be doing well.
[ ... this is not promising. ]
What do you need help with?
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