estoria | ( OPEN )

[ He finishes dipping up the bowl to his satisfaction, and then offers it to her with a bright, warm smile. It's clear that he puts a lot of care into his food, not only with the detail in it, but also with how happy he seems to share. ]

Then please, enjoy.

[ Once she takes it, he looks around, then nods. ]

...Which I do think that very well may be the last of people to get their bowl. Would you mind terribly if I joined you?

Thank you very much! Ah, it's beautiful.

[She takes the offered bowl, and really it does look like an artwork. There's a lot of care in his ingredients, something that she wholeheartedly can respect.]

It would be an honour to be in your company, after you have made and shared this.

[With the bowl cradled in her hands, she'll stand and wait for him to ready himself his own serving first.]

[ He nods gently in thanks, but he mostly busies himself with dipping his own bowl first. Kasen takes just as much care with his own bowl as he did for a guest's, and once it's done, he puts the lid back on the pot and turns back to her. ]

Ah, and you came by at a good time, since we actually have room to sit! It was quite crowded earlier...

[ Kasen nods to the table, then starts to walk to it. ]

We usually have quite a bit more room at the Citadel, but we make do with this.

[She watches, carefully taking in his actions. He's very careful, and it makes her remember his long winded introduction. He truly is an elegant sword.]

How fortunate! Though I wouldn't mind sitting or standing anywhere, as I am intruding, in a way. [And she's used to it, but then again she can't be uncouth around him. Following!!!]

Haru managed to get many apartments, but even so there are so many of you, is it uncomfortable like this? What is the Citadel like?

Please, it is no worry. So far as I am concerned, you are quite welcome here!

[ Friendship forged in tetris is an intense one, apparently... He nods as they take a seat, but while he lets his own bowl cool a bit more, he hums thoughtfully. ]

Ah, well... It is different, really. [ He laughs, and it's a warm, fond laugh. ] I do not mind the separate apartments for the most part! It is quite nice to be able to have a bit more privacy, since at the Citadel, we do all live quite together. It is a very lively place, and it is lively at every hour of the day, almost. It makes composing poems quite difficult, for I must do it in the dead of night!

[ priorities... ]

But there is definitely something nice in living all together that way, I suppose. We are all comrades at arms, so living this way, I suppose we do come to trust and rely on each other more. [ He nods to affirm it, but it's followed with another laugh. ] It makes us feel a bit like a family, I suppose? How sentimental a thought, though...

Thank you again, Kasen! I am glad, for that means I can visit you.

[It's true, NOTHING LIKE suffering through near death experiences (in ViViD) to help forge bonds. She sits herself down comfortable, placing the bowl in front of her. It's still a little hot, but also she's listening to his story and giving him her full attention.

She's trying to imagine this Citadel. So many swords in one place, a bit like the army. But it sounds warm, like a large house for many individuals to be in, and they call themselves family. She's only seen but a small part of this.]

Everyone has been good to me, so I can imagine that it would be a warm place to live. I hope you have been able to write poems, lately! Catching up for lost time. [Then again, she knows some of the swords here are already a handful.] It sounds nice already, to have so many you can call family. It is not just sentimental, it is the truth, no?

[ The fact that she takes an interest in the idea that he writes poetry at all is something that gets him to smile more, almost puffing up with how pleased he is. He doesn't actually speak more on it just yet, since the Citadel is their current topic of conversation, but he's still glad she picked up on that. Of course, getting Kasen started talking on poetry may be a door that shouldn't be opened... ]

It's very warm. Perhaps because it's so lively that there's rarely a moment of rest, but...! I always longed to have more separation in the Citadel so that I may have more moments of piece, but now that I have it, I do miss it a bit. It's a relief to be able to have peace when I want it, but it's also strange to not hear Tsurumaru-san trying to surprise people at all hours of the day, to welcome swords back from the field and shoo them on to get repairs from Haru-dono, or for the tantous to stop by kitchen looking to steal a snack.

[ He laughs, and it's definitely warm and fond. ]

So, yes, I think so.

[She always admires those who are good at the arts! She's not elegant enough for poetry, but she appreciates and admires those who are. Which means...this door will be opened and all will cower.

Besides, if she can get more storytelling from Kasen like how he talks about the Citadel and his sword family, she'll suffer the poetry.]

It sounds exciting. Everyone working together and getting along. It doesn't sound at all like a situation where you are in midst of fighting. It's nice. I am glad I can see a bit of that there too. It reminds me a little bit of home, though no way as close. My family is much smaller and we all live in separate houses.

[She gestures towards the food.] Did you cook often for the others in the Citadel?

Well, then I would be at least a little envious! As I said, to live with a smaller "family" would not be so bad... But I will not truly complain to have them.

[ He responds with a laugh, the picks out a sakura-shaped carrot out of his soup with a smile. He's actually hungry too, so he's being impatient, though he plays it off well. ]

Mm, I do, yes. It is not just me, since to cook for so many swords is difficult...! Luckily there are some other swords that have cookery skills, at least. Mitsutada-san and Horikawa-kun are quite helpful in the kitchen, though Mitsutada-san and I do often disagree on what to make...

[ It's the classic east vs. west problem, since Kasen will only cook Japanese food, whereas Mitsutada wants to cook literally everything else. ]

Edited 2015-10-12 02:46 (UTC)

[Yes yes, start eating first...now she can.]

Aha, slightly more manageable that way? But yes, I suppose to have many is still a good thing. [She can imagine some of the other countries who kept adopting, they would be foaming at the mouth seeing how many spirits here are like family.]

Oh! I have tried Mitsutada's food before, he is very good. Though what do you disagree on? [Although she has a feeling, considering how they are dressed, and how Mitsutada likes to be "cool and stylish."

This is also when she takes her chance to sip the broth--] This is delicious. It's so soothing.

[ The question gets him to pause thoughtfully as he thinks of how he might explain it, but the compliment that follows get Kasen to almost puff up proudly. He does take pride in his cooking, since even though he would say he's not the type of sword to do chores, cooking is different. It's art, so of course Kasen will gladly do that and try to excel. ]

Ah, I'm glad to hear it. Chanko-nabe is always one of my favorites to make for the Citadel, since it is hearty and makes quite a lot.

[ Which is more important, ultimately... Having enough food for the large and hungry swords is a genuine point of concern. ]

Though let's see... Mitsutada-san, well, he's a bit more modern? Or he has at least taken to modern Japan quite a bit more. I'm simply old-fashioned, which makes me a bit of a traditionalist, but— [ He nods ] I cook Japanese food, and Mitsutada-san likes to cook food from anywhere else. Western food is his favorite, though that's likely not hard to guess.

[And here she thinks he's interested in every aspect of housework. Well, at least he likes to cook, and it shows. Cuisine itself is an art form, and getting it to taste great as well makes it a difficult one to master. And here he is, making something delicious that looks beautiful.]

You even took so much care with each ingredient. I am glad I can eat something that you enjoy making too. [She feels comforted by this already! But he's right, with that many swords, he has no time to make things that require a lot of steps. She takes another sip, and then continues to listen.]

That would explain why he had such interest in everything else. [She took it as him being enthusiastic, but then his suit was definitely a Sign.] Do you enjoy eating Western food? Or even just his food? Despite the conflict of interest?

[ He laughs gently, and Kasen nods deeply. ]

Oh, yes, I can't deny that he's quite a good cook himself! Mitsutada-san's meals are delicious, even if the palate is not always to my tastes... I prefer the flavors in Japanese food, and it always seemed more fitting for Japanese swords to eat as such, but.

[ He pauses to take another bite. ]

We may try more exotic dishes too. Sometimes. [ The type of cuisine they eat probably about half and half, though, so he's mostly teasing. ]

[She rests her spoon against the bowl for a moment as she contemplates this.]

Mmm, I see, so if he tried to cook Japanese food, it would still be fantastic. [He did show a level of expertise with both, so she is guessing he picked up all that Western cuisine more recently.] I guess despite the conflict of interest, it does offer some variety in the Citadel, if you both take turns?

[This is also the moment where she hopes the other swords help with washing up!!]

Aha, sometimes? [The corner of her mouth quirks slightly in curious amusement.] What is the most strangest you have tried so far? In your opinion.

( OPEN )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject