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 Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:25 pm
Hours after everyone has left, Setsushi is still awake, even though his eyes complain at having to read page after page of tiny, detailed characters. Wintertime has made the dark come early, and so he must do his work by an electric-light left behind by the shack's previous owner; every so often it gives a feeble flicker and he frowns with discomfort.
So engrossed in this text is he that he hasn't even bothered to close the door since he returned, despite the chill night draft blowing inside. Perhaps the native of Spring Cove is used to these temperatures, or he is to preoccupied to even feel it...
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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:32 pm
Kouyo comes to the house after work, and is a bit surprised to find the door standing open. He knocks lightly and projects a hesitant greeting anyway, wanting some sort of acknowledgment before he just barges in.
The High Priest is smudged with dust as he usually is after work, and gingerly holds his bag of belongings in one hand out at arm's length in hopes of keeping his clean clothes clean.
"... Setsushi?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:03 am
Setsushi looks up and blinks at Kouyo a few times before he slowly rubs his eyes with the back of his hand. He echoes Kouyo's greeting in a cheerful tone, along with an only-half-serious feeling of intense physical discomfort. He sets the book down on the table and starts to stand up with a groan.
Kouyo will have to excuse Setsushi; he thinks he was sitting in that position for hours! sweatdrop Anyway, what does Kouyo need? Will he be able to stay long? It's been a while since they had a nice long chat.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:16 am
This little bird is just moving nest again, back to the shelter of the branches most familiar to him, he tells Setsushi, a shy but hopeful smile gracing his dirt-smudged face. He cannot stay with the human necromancer any longer. So he can stay for good, if Setsushi wishes it.
He wonders with faint concern what it was his friend was working on, that would make him get so sore and forget to shut the front door?
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:22 am
... For good? Really? Setsushi seems confused... but whether he is pleased, disappointed, or troubled, he keeps hidden. Instead, he assures Kouyo that he can stay -- without yet specifying the length of time he means.
Rather than pouncing on his friend with questions, he explains himself first while limping over to the door to shut it and gently escort Kouyo inside. He has been reading, as is obvious. The material is...
... Well. Setsushi stumbled across another door to the Silver World today. A few children have gone to spend some time there. ... And after making sure they were settled, Setsushi located a bookseller and procured this text.
It's a history book -- or so it claims to be. And Setsushi, he tells Kouyo in an ironic tone, has just read about his own death.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:38 am
Kouyo immediately worries at Setsushi's reaction to the news that he is moving back in, but tries to keep that hidden as well. Of course, he meant that he could not yet say when he would leave again....
He sets his bag aside, next to the door to the bathroom, and follows Setsushi over to glance at the book. Setsushi's death?
The High Priest sends his friend gentle comforting feelings and sighs, then looks down at his dirty hands before brushing them off on his clothes. Kouyo read about his own death once before as well, in Jilan's book that contained some of his writings. Not wholly unexpected, he supposes - that book had assumed that High Priest Kouyo perished in the fire he set, since no one ever found his body.
Rubbing his palms together, the priest summons warmth to them slowly with his magic. Doing so feels a bit easier today, and he glances up at Setsushi again - where is his friend stiff or sore? Kouyo can try to help take away the pain. ... Either now, if Setsushi does not mind a bit of dust, or after he is done showering sweatdrop
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:06 am
Setsushi congratulates Kouyo on his immolation, informing him that Setsushi has just learned that he's been assassinated.
This morbid humor, a bit uncharacteristic of Setsushi, seems to be covering up a much more serious worry; Setsushi does not completely hide it but he seems to put that particular topic away to discuss another time. He lets Kouyo know that Kouyo can look at the text himself if he likes -- it contains a very disturbing chapter on Toutei 720 and 721.. but he suggests that they tend to their own lives before troubling their minds with such things.
Setsushi made some New Year's soup earlier in the day; it's a little cold, but he can warm some up for Kouyo if he'd like. Or perhaps his friend a shower first? Though he hopes Kouyo will not be in there too long... He'd like to sit under some warm water for these stiff spots. No need for Kouyo to waste his magic on such small things when natural medicines are good enough.
... He pauses in his train of mostly pleasant thoughts, then carefully looks Kouyo over and asks: Or is there something else that he needs from Setsushi? in a gentle tone.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:20 pm
Assassinated? Kouyo is not sure whether he is more disturbed by the idea itself, or by Setsushi's reaction to it. A bit numbly, he thanks Setsushi for his congratulations, and catches the edge of the table as though to hold himself up. This... does sound like something that should wait.
He cannot shake the feeling that something is terribly wrong, though, even as his friend changes to more pleasant topics. Soup would be nice, he agrees, still somewhat distantly. And he can be quick; he can change into his robes instead of his Gaian clothes, since washing the dust from them and then drying them is quite time consuming.
But, why would it be a 'waste of magic' for Kouyo to help his friend? He projects his concern, and then... sadness, which he quickly hides. Does Setsushi not wish for Kouyo to touch him? The magic fades slowly from his hands, and he nods a little. ... He will shower quickly, then.
The priest turns to head towards the bathroom, projecting to Setsushi that... there is something he needs, but he is not sure he is ready to ask for it yet. Perhaps after they are both fed and more relaxed. Kouyo had... a very trying time at Kumoru's residence. Setsushi is glad to see him now, though, yes? The priest needs that knowledge more than anything right now.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:58 pm
Err, Setsushi didn't mean to disturb Kouyo. sweatdrop Though... well... He supposes they can discuss this matter now, although he still believes that it is not one of great urgency.
And Setsushi did not mean to offend Kouyo by refusing his magic; he knows Kouyo is a capable healer, he just believes it is not necessary right now. A bit of stretching and some warm water should restore his circulation just fine; Kouyo can save his magic reserves in case Setsushi, say, burns his hand or gives himself a cut.
... Maybe Setsushi, who has been in many battles, and Kouyo, who has not, have different ideas about physical pain, he ribs his friend gently.
Setsushi had already been suspecting something unpleasant had happened, so he does not react with surprise to Kouyo's not-yet-request. Instead, he answers simply and firmly, to make Kouyo sure of his sincerity, that he is pleased to see Kouyo and that he is most welcome.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:19 pm
Kouyo glances back at Setsushi and nods, smiling very faintly. He does not doubt his friend's sincerity, he is just... slightly numbed and overwhelmed. Or something. A little confused. Kumoru is a confusing man.
Oh, work today was exciting, he adds to change the subject as he drags his bag of belongings with him into the bathroom and shuts the door. Master Whitestone forced him to fight a monster. Would Setsushi like to hear the tale of the battle? Kouyo's projections regarding the story are touched with fear, of course, but also a bit of sheepish embarrassment and also a tiny bit of shy pride.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:00 am
... ... ... Kouyo ... fight... monster?
Setsushi's mind just can't seem to connect those concepts, and he begs Kouyo to explain further.
As he does so, he patters to the kitchen to warm up the soup. It won't taste as good as it would fresh, but Setsushi has just noticed that his stomach is totally empty, and he really must put something in his mouth. sweatdrop
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:39 am
Master Whitestone had locked himself in the storage room with Kouyo not long after he arrived late this morning, and stood by the door to trap him there. And then he gave the monster to Kouyo - it was not a particularly large thing, but it made a terrifying amount of noise, and tugged fiercely at the priest's clothes and hair every chance it got. The younger Porcelain did battle with the creature, fighting it with his bare hands, for maybe about five or ten minutes before he managed to bend it to his will.
... Kouyo's serious tone falters then, and he lets out a small giggle, mostly nervous but a tiny bit playful. If Setsushi ever acquires one of the Gaian dust-sucking machines, he should leave it to Kouyo - the High Priest can handle the beasts.
As he finishes undressing and turns on the water for his shower, the priest falls mostly silent, except for the occasional faint excitement at the meal that awaits him - he has really not eaten much today, either.
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:45 pm
Setsushi, who by his projections of confusion and amazement has probably never encountered such a creature before, finally deduces that Kouyo may be telling a joke. It looks like Kouyo is adapting much faster than he, he suggests, his tone more embarrassed than teasing.
It doesn't take him long to whip up a bachelor's meal of cold, slightly crunchy rice and not-so-fresh soup. Setsushi pushes the book out of possible spills' way before settling into a chair, trying to stretch out comfortably but not having much luck; it is some of the most rickety furniture in town.
Setsushi thinks about this for a while, then ponders more publicly if Kouyo will be staying a long time, or if one of the Knights' living arrangements do not work out and she must come board with him. If he ends up having guests regularly, perhaps he should invest in some nicer things...
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:16 pm
The High Priest finishes his shower and dresses in his robes instead of his Gaian clothes. Then he emerges from the bathroom, taking his belongings with him and dragging them back behind the screen. He shyly tells Setsushi that well, yes, he was kind of joking, but the dust-sucking machine is still very real, very scary, and... he can operate one now more or less sweatdrop
A few moments later, he returns to the public half of Setsushi's home with his hair brush, and a glass jar containing the money Master Whitestone has paid him so far. Kouyo can compensate Setsushi for his kindness and hospitality now that he is making money. His friend can have as much of Kouyo's earnings as he wants. He is deeply grateful that he has one safe place to stay, and Setsushi to protect him.
The priest settles down at the table with his friend and opens the jar, and begins picking the coins out one at a time, arranging them in five rows of five as he counts them. Then he starts stacking the rest of the coins on top of the first ones with great care.
"How much... would... Setsushi like?" he asks the Knight slowly, the counting clearly occupying the majority of his mind for the moment.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:57 pm
Setsushi waves away the money. Kouyo need not worry about paying Setsushi right now; if he stays for a while, Kouyo can help Setsushi pay the bills, but they can worry about those things later.
Instead, he pushes Kouyo's bowl towards him; eat! If he doesn't hurry the New Year's luck will run out. And Kouyo will get skinnier, and Dame Tenkyuu will punish Setsushi if she sees that~
... Ah, yes. Setsushi informs Kouyo, in the midst of swallowing a spoonful of soup, that Kouyo's aunt may be living with them for a few days. Nothing has been finalized yet, but... Setsushi was thinking he'd want to ask Kouyo how he felt about it, and whether he wants the house rearranged a little to give the men some privacy.
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