( even now, it feels strange to have a hand in delicate work like inviting someone out, and izou sits for a spell before dashing away the digital texting display with a hand.
by the time he arrives just past the bridge, with the last rays of the sun beginning to reflect in the water below—creating a broken and spectacular display of gold and purple hues mixing together—izou's had a lot of time to ponder on what might go wrong. how he might trip over his words, as he often does, always pushing through any discomfort for a chance at casual intimacy like a dog that's been starved of it for a long time.
but march had reassured him that the good and the bad... the good and bad parts of him would be assessed in equal turn, and he had good reason to believe it, her always being patient with him. perhaps more patient than he deserved, even if it did make him happy.
he's standing outside the yukata rental, back against a wooden pillar and a hand scratching idly at his open chest area as the summer heat refuses to recede with the sun. the design of the one he's wearing is fairly plain in comparison to the occasional civilian passing by who actually cared to wear one on their way to the local morning glory festival, a flat grey with the obi tied slightly askew at his back. did you know morning glories also represented the beauty of impermanence? go figure. :) )
[ March eventually steps out, missing the usual cute ensemble. Instead, it's been replaced with a light blue and pink yukata, speckled with large pink and purple flowers and a cream-colored obi. She automatically feels like she needs to be careful with how she moves, since she can't remember the last time she's worn an outfit that covered her legs so completely and closely.
But she catches his eye, head tilting expectantly as she lifts her hand in a wave. ]
How is it?
[ She'd spin, but she doesn't trust her usual exuberant movements yet. ]
( the little wave isn't what startles him, eyes widening.
it's his first time seeing her in traditional wear, bold color choice notwithstanding, and if his eyes had ever missed the sight of her pleasant features before, now they lit up.
he blinks a couple times absentmindedly before responding, that hand across his chest frozen mid-scratch. )
It... You look—
( —amazing, his upward-beating heart saying as much. before he succumbs to complete speechless awe, though, izou manages to spit out a complimentary something. )
Cute. Cuter than, ...
( say more than that, dammit. but here's where he remembers, an amber eye peering down to carefully observe the way the fabric hugs her hips and flatters her waist, that he really oughta be checking to make sure she's tied-up properly. he leans over with a muttered "one sec", a finger hooking idly through the fabric of her obi to secure it with a little tug. it's a hell of a lot easier to do this when you're actually able to look at it, and a part of him wants to linger... to put hands around her sides and examine her in a different way, but this isn't the time or place for that. not outside someone's shop. )
Took them a hell of a long time to fit ya, but it all looks good. You been to one of these festivals yet? Anything you wanna do first?
Sorry, it turns out the owner was a stickler for making sure whatever she went with didn't clash with my hair or my eyes.
[ March says this a bit sheepishly, holding still to let Izou fuss with her obi. In a way, this feels just as intimate as him running his hand down her bare back or their breaths intermingling, for all that it really is just an adjustment act. Maybe she's overthinking this?
But as soon as he's done, she's swinging out a hand to catch a hold of his. Gotta get that in before either of them end up holding anything else. ]
But no, this is my first festival! I heard they do both food and games here, though? What's your recommendation to hit up, as a pro?
( the hand-holding that he's gradually become acclimated to, her grip still a bit cooler than his despite the summer heat.
it's a lot different from months before, when he immediately ripped his hand out of her grip in that mansion, yet he still has trouble threading his fingers through hers more smoothly. more practiced.
the "pro" comment has him grinning like an idiot, though. )
Guess we gotta make this your best one ever, then.
( hand-in-hand they go towards the stalls then, izou extending a finger for every thing he describes on his other hand. )
Far as games go, they've got shooting, ring-toss, and this scoopin' sorta thing where you can sift paper and try to catch a goldfish. 'Course, none of that stuff was really prevalent when I was alive. We mostly showed up for the food, like the corn and chicken. Speakin' of, you want me to get you anything? They've got... what was it, ( he actually did some brain google to make sure they still held one, ) —"carah-mel apples" now, even if the apples are 'probly artificial.
But I also definitely wanna try that goldfish game! That sounds like a fun challenge!
[ She's gonna suck at it. It's going to be great. Izou can get a cool moment if he's not similarly thwarted, but surely man slayers are great at goldfish scooping? ]
it's not far to the stands with still-cooking food, and it's clear that this is the more popular alternative. there aren't many people wearing yukata around them, either due to a lack of interest in tradition or, more likely, laziness, but there sure are a lot of people.
izou's quick to flash his wrist at a older gentleman sitting on a stool at his stand, playing at a retro device likely salvaged from homes a ways from here, and suddenly. they have food. it's almost like... izou has money to spend for once?! )
Heheh. I saw that carah-mel stuff and knew I had to try it.
( he's dangling street food on sticks between his knuckles for her, so. anything she wants!!! he worked hard for this!!!! )
[ Surely his hard work will in no way absolutely backfire on him! Surely not!!
March remains oblivious, but impressed nonetheless, freeing one of the caramel apples from his grip and giving it an appreciative sniff before she takes a bite with an appreciative and gleeful little hum. Yeah, this is right up her alley. ]
This feels just as popular as the sakura blossom viewing, but also more... packed? Energetic?
[ She's not sure how to put the right word to it, but-- ]
I like it! It's really got the perfect festival mood, doesn't it?
he watches her bites, tries to listen to the cadence of her steps. observing her is as much of a feast for him as the stick of artificial chicken he rips into with his teeth, sauce sticking to the corners of his mouth. )
Maybe 'cause most are stuck inside all day thanks to the heat.
( another bite, gaze drifting to catch what people are selling at their stalls: potted morning glories enhanced via synthetic breeding, trinkets and toys, and most importantly... a secret something that he takes note of. )
And I can tell you're into it, what with how you get this little glint in your eye. But you didn't take vacations on that train thing, with your... with the crew?
( she told him about the galaxy traveling stuff, but it really just sounded like Work. )
[ March hums again, this time more thoughtfully after she finishes her next bite of Artificial Apple. There's still a lot to see, so she takes a moment to glance around, smiling at the flowers, before she answers him. ]
Oh, we did, sort of. But it was sort of like... if there was something going on while we were planet-side, then we'd check it out after we were done doing actual work! Penacony should be an actual vacation, given it's an entire planet dedicated to being a vacation resort, so that'll be nice!
( praying for march and her future canon update... )
A whole planet that's a dedicated resort. Sounds a little extravagant. Though I guess... I've been to somethin' similar, a sorta island fashioned up specifically for Servants like myself to goof off on for the summer.
( though march describes it as an inevitability, an "i'm going there"... which makes sense. this won't last forever. they've discussed as much briefly. the thought still pangs in his chest briefly, uneasy. time to sate it with the rest of this chicken. or, actually... )
Wait here for just a sec. There's somethin' back at the... I'll be right back.
( said with little ceremony or delicacy, patting her on the shoulder before he takes off into the crowd. )
[ But he's apparently spotted something, so March stops herself, nodding instead and obediently. She'll maybe shuffle off a little more to the side so she's not just standing in the middle of everything, but she'll wait for him, toying with something inside of her yukata sleeve. ]
( in the distance, he can probably be seen conversing or arguing with a stall owner, that bushy hair tied back in a tell-tale way so unmistakable even in a crowd like this.
a couple minutes of waiting later, izou trots on back carrying a twice-folded cloth neatly between his palms. it doesn't take long for him to notice match on the sidelines, and even though he believed she wouldn't go anywhere, there's still a tightness in his chest that unfurls and melts tender the moment he catches sight of her waiting for him. he could get used to that.
the thought of someone waiting for him, that is.
there's an anxious air to him as he rubs a thumb against the package. )
Close your eyes for just a sec.
( already making demands the second he's back, and he says it with little delicacy. )
Edited (don't look at me as i change my mind entirely) 2024-07-17 03:28 (UTC)
[ This seems serious (not really), or at least the moment carries a lot of nervous gravitas, so March doesn't tease him for it, just closes her eyes and she'll even wait until he says she can open them again.
... Maybe she's bouncing a little on her feet, but that's just how she is. She's easily excitable, it seems. ]
( her excitement might as well make up for the nervous tension in his shoulders, the item he's holding practically gold with how careful he's trying to be.
in fact, as he unpacks the cloth fold by fold to raise the item in question and try and thread it through her hair, izou takes the briefest moment to bask in the moment before tilting it at an angle.
he's never done this for a woman before, let alone even touched a kanzashi like the one he just purchased for march in an attempt to do her up. this was the sort of thing he could never afford, always an onlooker to people with normal lives—just a clumsy stranger that was rarely seen in the daytime unless he were loitering, always carrying out his work at night.
but here... izou could manage. he could spend on his girl when he felt like it, that occasional bobbing up-and-down about to crush his heart in a vice for how damn cute it is. )
Th... There.
( she may or may not have an awkward bunch of strands tucked into the hairclip, but— )
[ March opens her eyes, having felt.... well, Izou's attempts to ease something into her hair and she still can't exactly see it like this, but she does pull a little compact mirror out of her sleeve (what she was fiddling with earlier) and flip it open to check.
Once she does, her eyes go a little round, mouth dropping open slightly before she lights up. ]
Ohhhh, it's so cute! I love the colors! [ Like, yes, it's a little messy and maybe she'd readjust it if it was anyone else, but Izou had done it, and so it will stay as it is.
She'd luckily finished the apple before then so she can throw her arms around him in a tight hug, sorry for the lack of warning. ]
( you'd think he'd expect this sort of reaction, but. he's still wholly unused to demonstrations of affection directed towards him, even something as basic as a hug.
not that he minds it at this point when coming from her. it's just... he freezes at first. freezes before lowering a hand to rest it on the small of her back. )
Y-Yeah. It's the least I could do, after you agreed to come out, and...
( trying not to be meek here, ... his other hand brushing a stray strand of hair where he failed to tuck it properly— )
I'm definitely glad!! [ Emphatically. Just in case he had doubts, but no. She's thrilled and she's only letting him go because she's belatedly remembering he might not be used to this yet. From her, from anybody. Oops. ]
... Seriously, thank you. I love it.
[ Another precious gift, something to keep with her long after... well.
( "i love it" rotates in his brain like the totally artificial corn dogs they're selling at a stall away. honestly, if he were a dog, his tail might be wagging. that serotonin rush is intense.
as soon as her touch recedes, he tips his head down slightly, the urge to nudge her into a kiss pretty strong...
—but, even with his frame blocking her slightly from view of the bustling, vaguely inattentive crowds passing by, the hesitation to do so in public is still there. time and place is worth considering, and so he makes a mental note of it for later. as if that's gonna happen later. )
We... We can go take on those games you wanted, now, if yer still up for it.
but her enthusiasm is contagious in this instant, the rise in her voice and the swing of her arm bringing life to the place as much as the trembling morning glories did whenever someone picked up a pot for purchase. )
Sure thing. I'll even teach you my technique for swipin' up those goldfish.
( izou, unaware that they're most likely mechanical... just drones.
further down the street they go, then, izou making a mental note to himself to do his damndest to win her some prizes on his own. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Right! Okay! I'll leave the back to you, then!
Thanks, Izou!
→ action
by the time he arrives just past the bridge, with the last rays of the sun beginning to reflect in the water below—creating a broken and spectacular display of gold and purple hues mixing together—izou's had a lot of time to ponder on what might go wrong. how he might trip over his words, as he often does, always pushing through any discomfort for a chance at casual intimacy like a dog that's been starved of it for a long time.
but march had reassured him that the good and the bad... the good and bad parts of him would be assessed in equal turn, and he had good reason to believe it, her always being patient with him. perhaps more patient than he deserved, even if it did make him happy.
he's standing outside the yukata rental, back against a wooden pillar and a hand scratching idly at his open chest area as the summer heat refuses to recede with the sun. the design of the one he's wearing is fairly plain in comparison to the occasional civilian passing by who actually cared to wear one on their way to the local morning glory festival, a flat grey with the obi tied slightly askew at his back. did you know morning glories also represented the beauty of impermanence? go figure. :) )
no subject
But she catches his eye, head tilting expectantly as she lifts her hand in a wave. ]
How is it?
[ She'd spin, but she doesn't trust her usual exuberant movements yet. ]
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it's his first time seeing her in traditional wear, bold color choice notwithstanding, and if his eyes had ever missed the sight of her pleasant features before, now they lit up.
he blinks a couple times absentmindedly before responding, that hand across his chest frozen mid-scratch. )
It... You look—
( —amazing, his upward-beating heart saying as much. before he succumbs to complete speechless awe, though, izou manages to spit out a complimentary something. )
Cute. Cuter than, ...
( say more than that, dammit. but here's where he remembers, an amber eye peering down to carefully observe the way the fabric hugs her hips and flatters her waist, that he really oughta be checking to make sure she's tied-up properly. he leans over with a muttered "one sec", a finger hooking idly through the fabric of her obi to secure it with a little tug. it's a hell of a lot easier to do this when you're actually able to look at it, and a part of him wants to linger... to put hands around her sides and examine her in a different way, but this isn't the time or place for that. not outside someone's shop. )
Took them a hell of a long time to fit ya, but it all looks good. You been to one of these festivals yet? Anything you wanna do first?
no subject
[ March says this a bit sheepishly, holding still to let Izou fuss with her obi. In a way, this feels just as intimate as him running his hand down her bare back or their breaths intermingling, for all that it really is just an adjustment act. Maybe she's overthinking this?
But as soon as he's done, she's swinging out a hand to catch a hold of his. Gotta get that in before either of them end up holding anything else. ]
But no, this is my first festival! I heard they do both food and games here, though? What's your recommendation to hit up, as a pro?
no subject
it's a lot different from months before, when he immediately ripped his hand out of her grip in that mansion, yet he still has trouble threading his fingers through hers more smoothly. more practiced.
the "pro" comment has him grinning like an idiot, though. )
Guess we gotta make this your best one ever, then.
( hand-in-hand they go towards the stalls then, izou extending a finger for every thing he describes on his other hand. )
Far as games go, they've got shooting, ring-toss, and this scoopin' sorta thing where you can sift paper and try to catch a goldfish. 'Course, none of that stuff was really prevalent when I was alive. We mostly showed up for the food, like the corn and chicken. Speakin' of, you want me to get you anything? They've got... what was it, ( he actually did some brain google to make sure they still held one, ) —"carah-mel apples" now, even if the apples are 'probly artificial.
no subject
[ Well, she's had caramel before. Caramel apples? Yes, please. ]
But I also definitely wanna try that goldfish game! That sounds like a fun challenge!
[ She's gonna suck at it. It's going to be great. Izou can get a cool moment if he's not similarly thwarted, but surely man slayers are great at goldfish scooping? ]
no subject
it's not far to the stands with still-cooking food, and it's clear that this is the more popular alternative. there aren't many people wearing yukata around them, either due to a lack of interest in tradition or, more likely, laziness, but there sure are a lot of people.
izou's quick to flash his wrist at a older gentleman sitting on a stool at his stand, playing at a retro device likely salvaged from homes a ways from here, and suddenly. they have food. it's almost like... izou has money to spend for once?! )
Heheh. I saw that carah-mel stuff and knew I had to try it.
( he's dangling street food on sticks between his knuckles for her, so. anything she wants!!! he worked hard for this!!!! )
no subject
March remains oblivious, but impressed nonetheless, freeing one of the caramel apples from his grip and giving it an appreciative sniff before she takes a bite with an appreciative and gleeful little hum. Yeah, this is right up her alley. ]
This feels just as popular as the sakura blossom viewing, but also more... packed? Energetic?
[ She's not sure how to put the right word to it, but-- ]
I like it! It's really got the perfect festival mood, doesn't it?
no subject
he watches her bites, tries to listen to the cadence of her steps. observing her is as much of a feast for him as the stick of artificial chicken he rips into with his teeth, sauce sticking to the corners of his mouth. )
Maybe 'cause most are stuck inside all day thanks to the heat.
( another bite, gaze drifting to catch what people are selling at their stalls: potted morning glories enhanced via synthetic breeding, trinkets and toys, and most importantly... a secret something that he takes note of. )
And I can tell you're into it, what with how you get this little glint in your eye. But you didn't take vacations on that train thing, with your... with the crew?
( she told him about the galaxy traveling stuff, but it really just sounded like Work. )
no subject
Oh, we did, sort of. But it was sort of like... if there was something going on while we were planet-side, then we'd check it out after we were done doing actual work! Penacony should be an actual vacation, given it's an entire planet dedicated to being a vacation resort, so that'll be nice!
[ Spoilers: it will not. ]
no subject
A whole planet that's a dedicated resort. Sounds a little extravagant. Though I guess... I've been to somethin' similar, a sorta island fashioned up specifically for Servants like myself to goof off on for the summer.
( though march describes it as an inevitability, an "i'm going there"... which makes sense. this won't last forever. they've discussed as much briefly. the thought still pangs in his chest briefly, uneasy. time to sate it with the rest of this chicken. or, actually... )
Wait here for just a sec. There's somethin' back at the... I'll be right back.
( said with little ceremony or delicacy, patting her on the shoulder before he takes off into the crowd. )
no subject
[ But he's apparently spotted something, so March stops herself, nodding instead and obediently. She'll maybe shuffle off a little more to the side so she's not just standing in the middle of everything, but she'll wait for him, toying with something inside of her yukata sleeve. ]
no subject
a couple minutes of waiting later, izou trots on back carrying a twice-folded cloth neatly between his palms. it doesn't take long for him to notice match on the sidelines, and even though he believed she wouldn't go anywhere, there's still a tightness in his chest that unfurls and melts tender the moment he catches sight of her waiting for him. he could get used to that.
the thought of someone waiting for him, that is.
there's an anxious air to him as he rubs a thumb against the package. )
Close your eyes for just a sec.
( already making demands the second he's back, and he says it with little delicacy. )
no subject
[ This seems serious (not really), or at least the moment carries a lot of nervous gravitas, so March doesn't tease him for it, just closes her eyes and she'll even wait until he says she can open them again.
... Maybe she's bouncing a little on her feet, but that's just how she is. She's easily excitable, it seems. ]
damn i typoed and call her match... i'm dropping
in fact, as he unpacks the cloth fold by fold to raise the item in question and try and thread it through her hair, izou takes the briefest moment to bask in the moment before tilting it at an angle.
he's never done this for a woman before, let alone even touched a kanzashi like the one he just purchased for march in an attempt to do her up. this was the sort of thing he could never afford, always an onlooker to people with normal lives—just a clumsy stranger that was rarely seen in the daytime unless he were loitering, always carrying out his work at night.
but here... izou could manage. he could spend on his girl when he felt like it, that occasional bobbing up-and-down about to crush his heart in a vice for how damn cute it is. )
Th... There.
( she may or may not have an awkward bunch of strands tucked into the hairclip, but— )
noooooo
Once she does, her eyes go a little round, mouth dropping open slightly before she lights up. ]
Ohhhh, it's so cute! I love the colors! [ Like, yes, it's a little messy and maybe she'd readjust it if it was anyone else, but Izou had done it, and so it will stay as it is.
She'd luckily finished the apple before then so she can throw her arms around him in a tight hug, sorry for the lack of warning. ]
Thank you, Izou!!
no subject
( you'd think he'd expect this sort of reaction, but. he's still wholly unused to demonstrations of affection directed towards him, even something as basic as a hug.
not that he minds it at this point when coming from her. it's just... he freezes at first. freezes before lowering a hand to rest it on the small of her back. )
Y-Yeah. It's the least I could do, after you agreed to come out, and...
( trying not to be meek here, ... his other hand brushing a stray strand of hair where he failed to tuck it properly— )
... Long as you're glad to have it, I'm content.
no subject
... Seriously, thank you. I love it.
[ Another precious gift, something to keep with her long after... well.
Let's not think about that right now. ]
no subject
as soon as her touch recedes, he tips his head down slightly, the urge to nudge her into a kiss pretty strong...
—but, even with his frame blocking her slightly from view of the bustling, vaguely inattentive crowds passing by, the hesitation to do so in public is still there. time and place is worth considering, and so he makes a mental note of it for later. as if that's gonna happen later. )
We... We can go take on those games you wanted, now, if yer still up for it.
no subject
[ March's battery is charged with social activity, apparently. She's just going to hook her arm with his and point dramatically ahead. ]
Come on, Izou! Let's go beat all of them!
[ All of them????? ]
no subject
but her enthusiasm is contagious in this instant, the rise in her voice and the swing of her arm bringing life to the place as much as the trembling morning glories did whenever someone picked up a pot for purchase. )
Sure thing. I'll even teach you my technique for swipin' up those goldfish.
( izou, unaware that they're most likely mechanical... just drones.
further down the street they go, then, izou making a mental note to himself to do his damndest to win her some prizes on his own. )