/pulls muse out of box, dusts off

[capsizes]

...Hey! It's been awhile, mun, now hasn't it? I was almost starting to think you'd more or less forgotten about me...but here you are again. Even thinkin' about a game this time!

[Alas, O captain, Mayfield is an unpleasant place to be even at the best of times. To say nothing of what's going on right this moment....

....

The grin dims by degrees. Her eyes narrow, lose the laughter they so often carry in the face of every difficulty.]

I'll admit, I'm excited to get a taste of being a living human again, if just for awhile. But if my crew is suffering, then it's my duty to be there with them.

You've got three days until these "applications" open, eh? Start writing.

Comments

OOPS GRAMMAR WOULD BE NICE

[uppercuts]

Captain...

...It would be dishonest of me to say I don't miss you, and that I wouldn't be glad to see you again. That said, it will also be very painful to see you here. I miss you, but not so much that I'd wish this torture on you.

pirates have no need of grammar

[capsizes]

[That restores the grin somewhat, although Murasa's gaze remains cold and hard and focused. There's nothing easygoing about her demeanor now, not beyond some thin, brittle veneer. This- this town has hurt those precious few that could be counted as important to the ghost, the souls she spent a millennium with.

She's never been very good at forgiving, at letting go.]

I wouldn't expect to hear anything else from you, Ichirin. [She cants her head to the side, a shadow of her usual cockiness.] But it's still not gonna change my mind, y'know.

[Her young voice is calm, quiet, unafraid. Torture? Give Mayfield an ocean and a curse, and then maybe we'll talk.]

yarrr

[uppercuts]

[Ichirin smiles slightly at Murasa's reply. Of course that's her answer. Only the most courageous of people would look into the eyes of Mayfield and spit in them, and Murasa is doing exactly that.]

...I see. I thought not.

In that case, all I can do is offer to protect you, as I always have. I have Unzan with me, and I am still the guard of the Palanquin Ship - as long as we are together, I will be your shield, Captain.

[capsizes]

[She tips her cap, a respectful gesture far older than herself.]

Aye. I wouldn't have expected any less on that account, either. [Normally it would give Murasa grounds to protest; she is troubled, at times, by the lengths Ichirin will go to. She worries, beneath it all, that the guardian is inclined to unnecessarily overwork herself. But in times like these, well - it seems unkind to reject or resist. After all...what else can Ichirin do but attempt what she promises? Just as it'll be all Murasa can do to try and be a comforting influence upon her crew.] I'll be relying on you to get me up to speed on things, Ichirin. Landlocked places aren't exactly my forte.

[uppercuts]

Of course. Ane-san, Kyouko, and I will explain everything we know. Which...to be honest, isn't much on my end, at least. Unzan can give you a tour in my stead, too - he can fly, naturally, but I...can't yet.

[There's a twinge of sadness to her voice. She hates being grounded; she'd much rather be up in the sky, with nothing around her but clouds and a deep blue. She can have Unzan take her up, but it's not the same. Sitting on his hand and being able to fly freely are two entirely different things, even if the result is similar.]

[capsizes]

[Murasa listens, and nods, and doesn't fail to miss that soft note of unhappiness. She's still too angry about what Mayfield has apparently been doing to truly relax, but there's an effort being made to try, regardless, for Ichirin's sake. It manifests in small ways; the gentle, brief pressure of her hand on the other girl's arm, a slow easing of the tension in her shoulders.]

Not yet, huh? Sounds like it's just a matter of time, to me.

[She takes her hand back, hooking her arms behind her head.]

Geez, I'll be so far behind everyone, when I get there...

[uppercuts]

Well...I've only been there a few months, myself. You won't be too far behind.

...And, to be honest, I think it's better if you're behind, considering what's going on now. It's better that you...won't see me during this time.

[capsizes]

.....it's really rough right now, isn't it. [A pause; Murasa draws her fingers across her closed eyes to pinch the bridge of her nose in an expression of weary exasperation at herself.] Eh, don't answer that.

[Now there's just a tired sort of silence.] Hopefully I won't be too stupid and nosy and try to pry out those particular details. Feel free to punch me if that happens, okay?

[uppercuts]

I might want to punch you if you ask, but it's also not fair to deny you the details.

[She inhales deeply, then continues:]

As long as you don't see it - as long as you know that it was never my intention to do what I did - then I'm satisfied with you knowing about it. I have nothing to hide from you, this incident included.

[capsizes]

[Murasa regards her steadily for a moment, then ducks her head and looks away. The small, deceptively childish ghost heaves a quiet sigh.]

Fair enough, Ichirin. I'd believe you - that it wasn't your intention. [...she searches for something else to say and comes up short. But maybe just being here together, as they have done for a thousand years, might be worth something in and of itself.]

[uppercuts]

[Ichirin smiles and lets the silence linger. It's a comfortable one, like so many they've shared through the years.

When she finally does speak to break it, it's to impart one more piece of information.]

I should warn you that some of the Taoists seem to be here, too. As long as at least one member of each group remains, it's likely there will be fighting.

[capsizes]

[Another sigh, this one louder and rather exasperated.]

Great.

[At times, Murasa doesn't see why there needs to be any fighting at all. She follows Byakuren, not Byakuren's faith - for what place does a ghost have in religion, existing outside of the cycle of birth and death that she does? - so fights over belief have never really meant much to her. Until, of course, something important to her is harmed as a result of the battle....]

.....still, good to know.

[echoing_sutras]

GOOOOOD MORNING, CAPTAIN!

[capsizes]

[Blink. Bliiiiink.]

I guess it counts as morning, according to my mun's clock...

[echoing_sutras]

-The yamabiko giggles.- Anesan will be so happy to see you!

And Ichi-nee too~ -Said with all the emphasis needed to convey a very obvious tease.-

[capsizes]

[Oi oi oi. The girlish brows go up just so, the serious attitude of moments ago shelved for the time being. In a teasing voice of her own:]

Hijiri's glad to see any friendly face, and Ichirin probably owes me a few punches to the head. That's what y'mean, right?

[echoing_sutras]

Special punches reserved only for the Captain! Yep yep, she has a lot of those~!

[capsizes]

Where she gets Unzan to hit extra hard? I haven't had one of those in a long time.

[echoing_sutras]

Yep yep~! But you didn't hear that from me, okay~?

[capsizes]

Oh no, no - of course I didn't. A little birdie told me instead, I'll say, should the matter be pressed by certain curious types.

[echoing_sutras]

Mm hmm!

Oh! And I've been on top of my chores, Captain! Aren't you proud? Huh huh?

[capsizes]

Ho, that so? [Deftly pressing a finger against Kyouko's forehead in a gentle, teasing poke.] You wouldn't be lyin' to your captain now, would ya?

[echoing_sutras]

Nope, nope! Honest as Buddha himself, Captain!

[capsizes]

[The poke turns into a headpat, because who doesn't like those.]

Good. In that case, I guess I can't not be proud, right?

[echoing_sutras]

-Kyouko sure does. Her ears even wiggle.-

Hee! Captain is proud of Kyouko!