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[clansman]

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Comments

[ex_longanimity327]

[ silence.

and then: ]

He asked. [ an unspoken, He asked and I told him, because he deserved that much. hangs in the air. ]

[clansman]

[ he exhales and the air around him kicks up just that little more, degrees slipping from breath-warm to prickle the beginnings of sweat. it's a listening stillness, and not the right one -- not his usual drowsing indifference, but attention like forcing heels to brace on a knife's edge.

still, almost gentle - ]

And?

[ex_longanimity327]

[ a shrug. he doesn't know what's going on through Totsuka's mind after what he just said. ]

Dunno. [ he sounds unsure, but, he's no mind reader... he can't read things like these. ] He looks fine, he sounds fine... but I don't know what's in his head.

[ ... ]

I don't dare try ta' bring it up again.

[clansman]

So—don't.

[ the two syllables breathed sharp, but it's more of a dismissal now. second by second, the tension ebbs. ]

We're here now anyway.

[ex_longanimity327]

[ We're here now anyway.

They are... aren't they. And back home... if he gets sent home... he'll have to go back to a life without Totsuka and the sharp, bitter knowledge that Mikoto's going to die.

he laughs, quiet and rueful. ]

So we are.

[clansman]

[ a flicker of a glance, a beat that a less lazy man might have used for an eyeroll. ]

Quit that.

[ex_longanimity327]

[ the smallest raise of an eyebrow. ]

Creepin' you out, am I?

[clansman]

You're picking up his laugh.

[ the kind of sound that cuts the wrong shape in the air, light and utterly meaningless. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

Oh. [ a long pause. maybe he's thinking too much. maybe— ]

I'll try not to do it again, m'lord.

1/2

[clansman]

[








this face. ]

[clansman]

Like you'd control your big mouth for long enough. . .

[ex_longanimity327]

[ chuckling! ]

Somebody has to talk for ya, boss.

[clansman]

[ silence, and silence, and silence in the fold of his arms until - ]

. . . None of 'em know.

[ex_longanimity327]

No.

[ he hasn't told anyone except Totsuka himself. Yata's too stubborn and considering he was there when it happened... he'd rather not. And Eric... Eric would probably feel guilty.

No, it's best they don't know. ]

Just us.

[clansman]

Kusanagi.

[ eyes lidding open for a handful of low syllables that string together like an order. ]

Keep it that way.

[ex_longanimity327]

[ he doesn't say anything when Mikoto's done talking, the stretch of silence seemingly so loud all of the sudden. he takes a quiet breath. ]

Got it.