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 Post subject: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:12 pm 
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[This thread is meant for Shosuro Anzai and Doji Haruka.]

It's been a beautiful dream. You and her in a warm embrace, kissing tenderly. Was it how Meido was like, or have you been pulled straight into Yomi for your selfless heroism? Her loving gaze, her tender touch, the moment when your lips and hers connect again passionately wet, drippingly wet, oh so watery... with a oink... her snout... WHAT?!



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 1:23 pm 
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Eyelids slowly fluttered open. Vision blurred. Head pounding like a taiko drum. Anzai felt the warmth of...

The slow realization that the tender affection wasn't Otsuka. No. Before him, nuzzling against his body, a creature the likes of which he has never seen.

"Kuso! The hell!" Water cascading around him. Nearby, he at least could see the hilts of his wakizashi and tanto. Sand and grit of salt felt in his long hair. His whole body screaming in agony.

The last thing he remembered was what he thought was Otsuka going overboard. Running to try and catch her. Then a slamming against the deck and nothingness.

Pain was good. Pain meant he was alive. Coughing. Spitting out water, he lumbered up. Joints, bones, everything ached. Just moving was a struggle.

A hand moving over his face, blocking the low, rising sun from his eyes. "Oh. Oh no." Where was he? The realization breaking with the dawn. Was he on some uncharted island, filled with... oinking monsters? Was this his fate?

Then, even more so. He painfully marched to the sea, eyes darting, looking about. "Otsuka? Otsuka! OH-TSU-KAAAA!" Screaming out to the wicked and deadly waters. Was there hope she washed up near him? Dropping to his knees, sinking slightly in the wet sand. His cotton kimono drenched, but at least salvagable.

Breathing in the warm ocean air, ever so slowly. Fighting for that stoic On, when all he wanted was to scream and curse at the cruel waters.

The Voyage was supposed to be exciting. The hell was this..



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 9:54 pm 
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It was a yearning Haruka could never give voice to, for there was so much impropriety to it. And after what was decided before the voyage, at the miai, it was something that could never now be. But this was a place beyond time and earthly concerns like that.

But what was she doing here? Haruka thought she had been saved, that in giving her life Haruka had bought deliverance for-

"Oink!" Followed by graceless snuffling about Haruka's face and hair.

Eyes snapping open, Haruka regarded her porcine companion. Then promptly coughed up the seawater she had the misfortune of taking in after having been swept overboard.

"Ugh! Wh- what are you? What is this!" Haruka declaimed loudly, as much in shock at realizing - painfully - that she was alive as she was at her situation.

Her conversation partner, being a pig, squealed in surprise at the Doji's demands and being woefully unschooled in the graces of the Rokugani language, disappeared into the underbrush having provided no answers to Haruka's rhetorical questions.

With the aid of a nearby palm tree, Haruka shakily regained her footing. Everything hurt. Especially the ringing in her head about...Otsuka? No, that wasn't the ringing. She followed along to where the shouting was coming from.

"Ho there! Is there anyone there from the expedition?" She began calling out, squinting against the too-bright sun and, perhaps instinctively, sticking to the shade provided by the trees. Even in horrible survival situations, one had to consider their complexion.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 1:32 am 
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He had slouched his posture as the tide rolled in and out. His ling hair dripping down his back and shoulders. There had been a moment he contemplated just walking out into the sea. The briefest of cowardly moments, before be has steeled his resolve. The fleet must still be nearby. He would be rescued. Otsuka would be...

Then, to his surprise, he heard another voice. It wasn't just him, his thoughts, and those... creatures. Standing, grimacing through the pain, he turned to the direction of the voice. Shielding his eyes with his hand, he made his way up the beach. Towards the tree line. He almost thought it was Otsuka, save the white hair was much too long.

As he drew closer, the Scorpion recognized the Crane. "Doji-sama! It's Shosuro Anzai!" His pace quickened, despite stumbling a bit for a few steps. He was sure something was broken, somewhere. It hurt to breathe, to do... well, anything really.

"Are you hurt!?"



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 2:47 am 
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"Ah, Shosuro-san. You are here as well." Haruka tried to muster up some sense of poise, moving to stand a little straighter - albeit with the help of a nearby palm tree. She had some idea of how she looked: clothing and groomed hairstyles were often not survivors of going overboard. But her innate Crane-ness demanded she at least try to present herself as best as possible.

Another round of coughing and the last of the seawater, she hoped, later and best as possible was not looking much like her best at the moment.

"Apologies for that." She said without thinking, looking around at the Scorpion. The sand. The trees. The pigs. "Would you happen to know where...ugh...where is 'here'?"

She didn't even want to consider the idea that this island may be deserted. Panic wouldn't do. She might not be able to stand up much on her own power, or breathe quite properly, but she could control her panic.

For now.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:12 am 
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"Unfortunately, I do not, Doji-sama." He allowed her the opportunity to present herself as she wished. His lecherous gaze didn't linger too long upon her. Too long. "No need to apologize. This will stay here on this island." And hopefully we won't.

He moved closer, before slumping into the sand again. Looking out at the sea, he breathed out heavily. "We can't be too far. The fleet has to be close by." Was he trying to convince her, or himself? He put on a brave face, but it was apparent that there was very real terror and anger and pain beneath that On.

He didn't even have his real mask anymore. "What a storm, ne? I hope the sailors are alright."



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:24 am 
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"They have to be. The sea and the storm was powerful, but we survived it. Surely they have as well." That was definitely Haruka convincing herself.

Luck, for what it was worth, was with the wave-worn Doji. Though the obi she had been wearing was gone, she at least had the sash underneath it still with her. It wasn't stylish, but some fiddling with it and it would help keep her battered kimono serviceable, holes aside.

She had a feeling she'd need it around this handsome Scorpion, if the rumors were anything to go by.

"Are you alright, Shosuro-san?"



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:05 am 
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He thought on the question for longer than a moment. "We're on an island with strange creatures. Tossed from the Imperial flagship. Far from home." As he spoke the words, he could feel the foundations of his world beginning to crumble. "Kakita-san... Otsuka. She went over. I tried to race to her, but I didn't get there in time." His On fractured, miscolored eyes beginning to well. Then he stopped himself, face twisting for a moment.

Tears choked back, a few more heavy breaths. "Fortune decided otherwise. But I will be alright, Doji-sama." His sharp mind working to organize some kind of plan.

He would not babble on like a child, not in front of the Emerald Magistrate.

"I will be fine. Duty will see to that." It seemed something had broken in his voice. He very much was not fine.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:20 am 
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Contrary to popular opinion, Emerald Magistrates weren't heartless. So it was that Haruka felt for Anzai; she'd gotten good at playing morale and ideology officer during the voyage. Perhaps those skills would be of some worth at this moment.

"I did not know Otsuka-san, though she was my kinswoman, Shosuro-san. The schools of the Crane are the finest of their kind, as are their students. If it is in her power to do so, then you and Otsuka will be reunited."

Haruka lowered herself down to sit in the shade of a nearby tree. The sun was definitely much brighter here than back home.

"It looks like we must see to ourselves in the meantime, until help arrives." Haruka states the obvious, fishing for a sign from Anzai that, perhaps, he knows what to do in this sort of situation. This was, after all, somewhat out of her depth.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 1:22 pm 
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Anzai was just as much out of his depth as she was. Within a city, he was far more useful. But he had picked up a few things during the voyage. "From what the sailors had said over idle chatter, if one finds themselves stranded on an island, the worst thing to do is to stray too far from where you find yourself." He spoke it with a hesitant confidence. "There must be fresh water nearby, if the creatures around us are any indication. I washed ashore with my wakizashi and tanto. So if we need to, I can try to kill one of those... things... for food." Whether or not they would enjoy the meal was another thing entirely.

But when the other viable option is starvation, one does what one must to survive. He tilted his head to the lovely Doji, offering a small smile, "Your words are very kind, Doji-sama. Hopefully, she has washed ashore as we were. Hopefully the fleet finds her, as well as us." He pushed back the wet hair from his face, reclining back in the sand. "At least the sun will dry our clothes quickly. And it's warm. All in all, not too bad of a place to wind up, creatures included. There's something... beautiful, about this beach."



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:41 pm 
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Haruka nodded at Anzai's new, more upbeat appraisal of the situation. She knew it was important to maintain a sense of hope and optimism about things to make it through. Granted, she wasn't a fan of the idea of having pork - a faint curl of the lip at the mention of it was something she didn't catch until too late - but such things were part of survival and she'd survive. Or try to, anyway.

"It's a beach, much like the one near where I grew up. Much more pleasant, though, as far as the weather goes. Though the local animal life is...endemic."

The Doji did her best to politely dissuade Anzai, if he was even entertaining such thoughts. He certainly kept looking at her and may have just lost his betrothed...



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:45 pm 
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He may or may not have entertained such thoughts. But he was in no condition to act on them, or even bring them up. Letting the shade of the trees keep them obscured from the sun, he breathed in the sea air. "The air smells better here than it did on the ship. Or it might just be the change of scenery is making me think that." He laughed slightly, before shaking his head.

"I grew up inland. No beaches. I always wondered what it would be like to live on a beach. To hear the crashing of the waves. It must have been spectacular, to grow up so close to the water." He mused to her, turning to face her slightly.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:35 pm 
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"Anywhere is better than on a ship." Haruka mused, watching the dappled light play through the palm fronds, doing her best to ignore the smell of pig and the occasional grunt or oink or squeal. "Even here."

"To grow up near the sea is to know that things change, Shosuro-san. A fishing fleet may set out and return with fish aplenty, or not at all. It develops an appreciation for the things you can control, because the things you can't - well, what can you do?"



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:29 am 
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"A good mentality to develop. And timely, considering our current state of affairs." His stoicism managed to emerge again. If only because it was an easy mask to slip on. He allowed a moment of quiet between the two.

Allowed the sound of the waves to echo through, the caw of sea gulls, and yes, even the oinking of the creatures nearby.

It was almost relaxing. If not for the disquieting fear of truly being lost.

"You know, we really didn't talk much on the voyage. A shame. I would have likes to learn from you, I think."



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:12 am 
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"Hmm?" Haruka made a curious sound and looked towards Anzai. She had been trying to do something with her hair, which was of course in disarray; it was a supremely inconsequential thing in the grand scheme of things yet in a way, getting it back into order was something Haruka could control, was something she could do something about in the right there and then.

Grabbing up a hanging scrap of fabric from a tattered sleeve, Haruka tore it into an impromptu ribbon and bound up her hair into a simple foxtai. It would have to do for now.

"And what do you think you would have been able to learn from me, Shosuro-san?"



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 5:14 am 
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Tangentially, as they were having serious conversations about life, a cute weiner took a plunge with a happy oink.

Image



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 6:33 am 
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He watched her as she tore the scrap from her sleeve. Trying his best not to imagine the rest of her kimono tearing off. Darting his eyes to her face, he offered a small, sincere smile.

"A woman in your position? I'm sure there is much I could learn. The writ of the law, the execution of such. I am a learner, Doji-sama. I'm not just court gossip and pretty looks. That makes it easy to lower others defenses. But true learning?" He raised an eyebrow. He tried not to let his words get too honeyed.

Tried, anyway.

"That is something that fascinates me. On all subjects."



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 7:12 am 
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"Ah, then it's fortunate you were on this trip - our current circumstances aside. Learners and dreamers all went on this journey." Either Haruka did not notice Anzai's gaze or she chose to ignore it. Either way, it was fortunate the magistrate could not read minds.

"I do not consider myself either, to be honest, an-" Haruka cut off mid-sentence as she noticed the cute presence of what can only be described as Oink-chan. "Oh. Oh my. Come here, come here little...uh...whatever you are. Oink-chan?"

Pigs clearly didn't speak Rokugani but, well, Haruka hoped this one did.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 8:38 am 
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The piglet christened Oink-chan did a parading swim along the shallows, fighting the surf bravely. When called, it turned its snout toward Haruka, but had to refocus on undulation rocking it right after.



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 Post subject: Re: A Tender Awakening [EM4]
PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:38 pm 
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Anzai looked over as Haruka seemed distracted by one of the local fauna. He smirked as he looked at the creature thusly named 'Oink-chan'. "Seems you've already made a friend, Doji-sama." Standing up slowly, wincing from the pain, he started to make his way to the creature. Tiny as it was. "Sooooui, Oink-chan. Soooui!" He called, imitating the sound he had heard upon waking up on the shore.



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