[Action]

[dissonates]

[Missions suck as much as, if not moreso than, the drafts. Asch has decided this. It's not just that he'd been sent on an uncomfortably-outnumbered solo mission, it's not just that his health problems had reared their ugly heads in the middle of it and nearly gotten him killed, it's not just he'd had to rely on luck and skill to keep him alive with zero ability to heal himself despite being a Seventh Fonist.

No, at this point, mostly? It's the fact that once it's all over, and the Malnosso saw fit to send him back to the village, he finds himself floundering underwater.

Bastards, is his second thought, since his first is a string of expletives that would do a sailor proud. Thankfully he's only a couple of feet or so from where his feet can touch solid ground, so within a minute he's slogging towards the shore, soaking wet and pulling seaweed from his hair. Damn. Bastards.

Not that the shore is much better. There's apparently something going on - the usual love experiment, no doubt - and he's managed to get dumped right in the middle of it. They probably did that on purpose. He can't do anything while soaked as he is, though, so his first order of business is to get changed. There isn't much selection, but within a few minutes he's got his uniform hung out to dry and is wearing a suit and a long, dark blue bathrobe. It's humiliating, but it's better than freezing to death back in the village.

Since he has to wait for his clothes and hair to dry in the sun, Asch will be hanging around the beach area, available for chatting, fruity goodness, and whatnot. Come and bother the cranky one! (He is unaffected by the normal love stuff, btw.)]

Comments

[inkdrops]

[And now Miyabi works on Asch's hair, carefully unwinding the long strands from the grit, grass, and seaweed. There's something oddly relaxing about this...and Miyabi smiles as she works, pressing the remainder of the fruit into her mouth so she could work with both hands. Hm, maybe Asch would like some, too. It was good! Sweet, and really juicy - kind of like an over ripe peach. Does Asch like sweet things? He liked cherries, and those were sweet...

Miyabi blinks, hearing Asch speak at last. She stares at the segment of his hair she'd been idly twirling and playing with then drops it as her face brightens.]

Eh, wha--....uhm, y-yes. What happened to you, anyway? Why were you even in the water like that? [Miyabi tugs Asch gently towards the shore, so he could get out of his soggy clothe and towel off the seawater.]

[dissonates]

The Malnosso saw fit to send me back from a mission underwater. And on the wrong side of the mountains, too. [Though admittedly it's better to be here than in the lakes, unless the good weather extends into the village for whatever reason.

[She can probably tell from his tone how thrilled he is about this. He starts to follow her, though, shaking water out of his boots every few steps. Squelch, squelch...]

[inkdrops]

[Wow, it's. Really hard to be overly concerned when she hears that sound all the way up the shore. Miyabi's shoulders shake with her silent, poorly restrained laughter, and she has to look away from Asch so he doesn't see how hard she trying not to laugh. She's sorry, Asch, she really is!]

A-At least the weather is beautiful today! It'd be a lot worse if it was still cold and you fell in.

[Miyabi reaches the towel she had been sitting on when she first arrived, and shakes out the sand, beating it again the trunk of one tree to get every bit as she could off. That towel will then be handed to Asch.]

[dissonates]

[He takes the towel and starts tousling off his hair to dry it, letting the rest of his body drip-dry for the moment. His hair takes priority, after all.]

As if the weather isn't reason enough to be concerned? [Still, she has a point- if he'd arrived to find himself in ice-cold water he'd be running for the teleporter to get himself a warm fire and fresh clothes before exposure gave him frostbite or something. With this weather, he can relax a little.]

[inkdrops]

And why should we be concerned over good weather? [Why is she so calm about this? Probably because every seemed to be so happy, and she felt peaceful and relaxed at the beach. Plus, Asch was here and he was okay. Wet and grimy, but he was at least safe. That's all that mattered.] Everyone's happy, so why ruin their good time?

[She motions with her finger for Asch to turn around, so she could continue picking off the things in his hair. And maybe, if Asch lets her, she could braid it for him.]

[dissonates]

...Hmph. You wouldn't be saying that if they'd changed it to a tsunami or something. [He does relent to her fussing, though; Miyabi's one of the few who can get away with touching his hair without permission, so he works on unbuttoning his tunic to start squeezing at the ends. He'll have to change properly after, but for now he can do this much.]

[inkdrops]

Please, don't joke about that.

[Miyabi's voice isn't quite as angry as it could have been seeing as how she's under the fruit's influence, but she still has to close her eyes and pause what she's doing to calm down. She doesn't want to pull on Asch's hair out of spite or even by accident.

Once she feels well enough to continue, she does. Each segment of his hair is carefully and gently picked through, and smoothed down with her fingers. He's going to have to wash out the sand and salt, but at least she can get the majority of the mess out.]

You know, Asch, there are people who say some kinds of seaweed are actually good good for your hair. And taking a salt bath washes away dirt a lot better, and purifies the skin and body. [She smiles, trying (possibly in vain) to lighten his mood a little.]

[dissonates]

[Asch scoffs quietly, lifting a hand to toy idly at his bangs, flicking a bit of weed out of it. She's certainly done a good job so far, but he won't be happy until he's had a good, long bath. Preferably for like an hour. Good long soak. And then another hour for a good thorough hair-pampering.]

Whoever said that hasn't had this much of a mess to clean up afterwards.

[inkdrops]

[Laughing quietly, Miyabi finishes up with Asch's hair. Or, cleaning it out at least. She begins to braid it a moment later, mumbling quietly at how beautiful it was, and how jealous she want of his hair. Her hair was sleek black, but his was soft, silky, and well cared for - her hair couldn't compare in the slightest.]

So nice... [Miyabi pouts, then looks sideways at Asch.] You appeared from the sea after fighting, right? ...You should eat or drink something. You'll dry out and get sick you swallowed too much of the seawater. The fruit on the trees around is really good, you should try some!

[Hm, what is this strange urge to get him to eat the fruit with her? 8|a Oh well, she'll just roll with it.]

[dissonates]

[The mumbling catches his ear, but he can't quite hear it, and she speaks up before he can bother to ask. He'll just chock it up to Miyabi being weird.]

Do you even know where that came from?

[inkdrops]

The trees. [Duh. 8|] I already had a few, and they were really good! They kind of taste like ripened peaches - really sweet and juicy and crisp. [Aaah, she might go and grab another one soon.] If there's any left over, I might make some jam or candy with them. Or maybe I could dry the pieces out...

Oh, but we should share one together!

[dissonates]

[Wow, Miyabi, he would never have guessed that 8|]

You ate some already, and you're fine?

[He looks at her suspiciously now, watching for any differences in behaviour or appearance. He can't see any, but even so, can he really trust that they're okay?]

[inkdrops]

Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be fine?

[Asch, you silly. Though outwardly, there really isn't much difference at all about Miyabi, she looks to be the same happy, sweet, affectionate little painter she always has been, just a bit more flushed from the sun. THE FRUIT CHANGES NOTHING.]

[dissonates]

[He can think of a dozen reasons why, but at first glance he can't really offer one that doesn't sound paranoid, so he just scowls and shrugs his shoulders.]

Just a hunch.

[inkdrops]

[Miyabi rolls her eyes, and stands up to pick up a fruit that was laying in the sand a few feet away, partially buried. She rinses it off, dries it on her shirt, and wanders back over to Asch. She's had plenty of the sweet fruits, and one bitter, unripened one. This one should be good, though. It feels heavy enough to be filled with juicy, pulpy, sugary goodness.]

Just try it. If something bad happens, you can blame me for it, okay? I'll take full responsibility.

[dissonates]

...Hmm. I'll hold you to that. [And he will, too. Still, that doesn't stop him from taking the fruit from her, brushing it off in case there's any loose sand still left on it, cracks it apart, and gets himself a quick bite.

....

Wow. That's definitely some tasty fruit.]

[inkdrops]

[Gods, way to make her feel anxious and under pressure, Asch. 8| It's just a piece of fruit, good lord. But Miyabi watches Asch carefully, her eyes scanning his face for any subtle changes in his usual features.]

...Well? How is it? [She bites her tongue, lest she ask the sarcastic question of "are you going to die?"]

[dissonates]

[Well, he's certainly not going to die, but he does feel a little embarrassed about causing such a fuss over what is obviously some harmless and pleasant fruit. He shrugs his shoulders, taking another bite and chewing thoughtfully before he responds.]

...It's good. I didn't expect it to taste quite like this.

[inkdrops]

What did you expect? [Miyabi snickers, and reaches for the fruit half Asch didn't eat, ripping off a piece for herself to nibble on. Once she's finished with it, Miyabi licks her fingers clean and dries them on her shirt.] You should learn to trust me a little bit more, Asch! I'd never do anything to put you in harm's way, you know that.

[With a smile, she leans towards him, feeling pleasantly warm and kind of...fuzzy. Huh.]

[dissonates]

It has nothing to do with trusting you. It's them that I question.

[Sheesh, as if being here this long hasn't given him plenty of reason to distrust them. For once, though, it seems like things are turning out alright.]

[inkdrops]

Eh, well... [Okay, Asch does have a point. But the Malnosso have been kind to them a sparse few times in the past. This could just be one of those instances, as hard to believe as it may be.]

A-At least everything turned out all right? You're still the same, and I am too, aren't I?

[dissonates]

Far as I can tell. [Asch offers a bit of a careless shrug, though. Let no one ever say he's afraid to try new things, alright?]