[D4, LM, Open] To Hide Away

[Seppun Unsei]

After that utter shit show of an event, Unsei made her way through the forest at a nearly break neck speed to just get away from it all. She needed more than just a break, but she wasn't going to get it, that was for certain. She tried to tell herself that it would get better, but the first week was almost finished and yet here she was. Still at the bottom of the barrel and still steadily making a fool of herself.

After going far enough in, she found a suitably large tree and sat at the base of it, doing her best to hide amongst the roots so nobody would see the make-up streaked face she currently wore, or at least so she didn't have to lie and say it was the rain's fault. It was just bad all around, but there was at least one thing that would usually help take the edge off.

She pulled out three of her divination stones and shook them in her hand, focusing, pleading with the stars to give her a good future.

After rolling them out with her eyes closed, she felt around and discarded two and then opened her eyes to read the one that was left.

"... I guess it's not terrible... Simple joys and nostalgia, but I think at this point the nostalgia would just make my mood worse. But I thank you for giving me this insight."

Then she looked over the two she discarded and shook her head. "Wow... I'm almost not sure if it was good to have those not in my future or what."

Divinaaaaation fluffy roll to trigger passion. Theology/void. | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

Somewhere close in the woods, a flute is playing to the rain. It is a relatively merry tune, though still has the thoughtful sounds common to the shakuhachi. The player even shows off a bit trying to entertain the weather, perhaps.

D4, LM. Play flute. Perform/Water | TN: 2 | Success: 2 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 1

Canceling strife with 1 opp, showing off with the other.

[Seppun Unsei]

Oh by Jigoku... Someone else is here.

Unsei quickly rose and then took off her hat to make the streaked-make-up-because-of-the-rain lie seem convincing for whoever it might be.

Then she walked on over, following the music. As she approached, she did so behind a tree and then peeked around it, but then she paused when she saw who it was. Because of course it was him. It was usually always him.

So, she took a breath, steadied herself, and walked out from around the tree with her hat in her hands. "Shosuro-san. I see you are out here."

Unsei did decidedly look more feminine today. Her hair was out of the usual braid and instead in a maiden's foxtail and there was definitely a chest today, though likely due to stuffing, but could've always been because she removed a sarashi, if she even wore one. The make-up had also been there to help, but due to her previous tears and now the rain, it just left her looking like a mess.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

A note went completely off at the voice in the rain.

oh...of course.

The figure in the traveling cloak and straw hat moved their mask over their mouth, the flute vanishing in a flicker fast move. They turned and faced Unsei.

Their sudden femininity wasn't a surprise considering what had been said the previous day, even though he didn't want to remember really.

"Seppun-sama", they said cooly, with a bow. "Did you forget an umbrella?"

There was his, laid on a rock.

[Seppun Unsei]

"Um... sort of. I thought my hat would be enough. It wasn't." At that, she put the hat back on her head and tried to think of something to say to continue the conversation. She had opened her mouth, but then shut it again and furrowed her brows as a brief expression of annoyance crossed her face. It was likely she was about to compliment his playing, but had sworn off doing that after the previous days events in the market.

So, instead she stood there, looking like an overgrown wet rat. The backside was much worse since it held no small amount of debris from when she was sitting between the roots, but thankfully that wasn't in view yet.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He was also quiet for a while. Waiting for what else Unsei had to say. He wasn't a fool, sometimes, but rarely of his own making (thanks, Benten!). So he could feel the worry and hesitation.

Hikimasu approached, picking up his umbrella along the way.

"How about, I accompany you a bit then?" He suggested. "It's not out of my way and it'd be an honor." The umbrella popped open and he held it out over the Seppun's head.

[Seppun Unsei]

She hadn't expected that to happen, so when the rain suddenly stopped pounding away at her hat, she blinked and looked up to Hikimasu with an expression of surprise.

"Oh. Um. No, you don't need to do that. I interrupted your playing, so please do not allow me to continue interrupting." She said softly before taking a step back, out from underneath the umbrella, if only slightly.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He stepped after Unsei's reteat. As he had expected it.

"I insist, it's all i can do after yesterday and it's not enough."

[Seppun Unsei]

She swallowed and took another half-step back.

"Ah... truly, Shosuro-san... there were faults on both ends." And that was about as far as Unsei would admit fault. She still had a bit of her ego. "Besides, I look like a mess currently."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"True, not like yourself at all", he said wryly.

"So then", he stepped forward. "Let's forget about that, never happened to us, right now I'll take you as you appear, a maiden in the rain, about to be escorted by not-me, a gentleman, and be given good conversation and compliments are absolutely allowed." He inched even slightly closer and held out his arm.

"Shall we?"