[It was hard to turn down an offer from Mutsu-- especially when Koumei found himself reminded of the vibrant personality and legacy of his late cousin Ren Hakuren every time the young man flashed him that warm and boyish smile. The offer was doubly hard to turn down when it involved sharing quarters with Mutsu's friends and countrymen. A shared culture, even if only superficially similar, was something to be prized in this strange city of Tellus and it's 'modern' sensibilities.
What Koumei hadn't expected was that there would be so many of them. If Koumei closed his eyes, it was almost like being in one of Kou's colonial territories...
He would need to thank them, somehow.
Thus it was that he lingered near the door of their quarters, a voluminous basket of fresh fruit in his arms. Although Mutsu had assured him that his presence was not a problem, it didn't feel right entering without invitation.]
II
[3am. He couldn't sleep-- and not for lack of wanting.
After hours lying in the dark, thinking about that battle and trying in vain to contain his worries for his family, Koumei had finally had enough of the images that haunted him every time he closed his eyes. All he could think of was his brother Kouha, with his dapper hat and his cute little braids, lying bloodied on the ground. His sister Kougyoku was beside him, Metal Vessel clenched tightly in her hands as she struggled to bring forth the Magoi necessary to summon Vinea's presence in her body.
It wasn't reality; It was pessimism, and emotion clouding his sense of rationality.
Padding out into the kitchen in his slippers, Koumei sought a distraction. A cup of hot tea-- or maybe that remedy from Balbadd, with the warmed milk that had turned golden with the addition of turmeric-- might suffice...
Except, nothing in the kitchen made sense.
Several moments later an electrostatic pop could be heard, followed by an explosive crash as a ceramic-lined metal cup ruined the communal microwave.
Scalding milk soaked the counter. The golden dust of turmeric had blasted in the air and Koumei, choking on the spice, was hiding behind his feathered fan on the far side of the room.
He had just come out for a cup of warm milk, and he was honestly feeling so attacked right now.]
Open-- and also Mutsu's fault
[It was hard to turn down an offer from Mutsu-- especially when Koumei found himself reminded of the vibrant personality and legacy of his late cousin Ren Hakuren every time the young man flashed him that warm and boyish smile. The offer was doubly hard to turn down when it involved sharing quarters with Mutsu's friends and countrymen. A shared culture, even if only superficially similar, was something to be prized in this strange city of Tellus and it's 'modern' sensibilities.
What Koumei hadn't expected was that there would be so many of them. If Koumei closed his eyes, it was almost like being in one of Kou's colonial territories...
He would need to thank them, somehow.
Thus it was that he lingered near the door of their quarters, a voluminous basket of fresh fruit in his arms. Although Mutsu had assured him that his presence was not a problem, it didn't feel right entering without invitation.]
II
[3am. He couldn't sleep-- and not for lack of wanting.
After hours lying in the dark, thinking about that battle and trying in vain to contain his worries for his family, Koumei had finally had enough of the images that haunted him every time he closed his eyes. All he could think of was his brother Kouha, with his dapper hat and his cute little braids, lying bloodied on the ground. His sister Kougyoku was beside him, Metal Vessel clenched tightly in her hands as she struggled to bring forth the Magoi necessary to summon Vinea's presence in her body.
It wasn't reality; It was pessimism, and emotion clouding his sense of rationality.
Padding out into the kitchen in his slippers, Koumei sought a distraction. A cup of hot tea-- or maybe that remedy from Balbadd, with the warmed milk that had turned golden with the addition of turmeric-- might suffice...
Except, nothing in the kitchen made sense.
Several moments later an electrostatic pop could be heard, followed by an explosive crash as a ceramic-lined metal cup ruined the communal microwave.
Scalding milk soaked the counter. The golden dust of turmeric had blasted in the air and Koumei, choking on the spice, was hiding behind his feathered fan on the far side of the room.
He had just come out for a cup of warm milk, and he was honestly feeling so attacked right now.]