TAMAMO;

[crashout]

Comments

[crashout]

[With something like this, there's no guarantee he'll survive. But at the same time, he's been determined to live for this long and he refuses to go down easily.]

I can't die here. [A light tone, but serious.] I have to get back to Akane...and I still have my pact with you. You didn't think I forgot, did you?

[foxweddings]

[...]

No, I did not think you would forget.

[Gods, she is so tired. She leans back into her arm again, expression oddly weary]

... Have you ever wondered what it is that I want, Master?

[crashout]

Of course I have, but I always figured that if you wanted to tell me that you would.

[foxweddings]

... If I'm still alive by next week, I shall tell you.

[crashout]

...I agree to those terms then. [He won't push her until then. It's a promise, and those are things he values more than he'll actually say.]

[foxweddings]

[So she has a week, maybe, to sort out her thoughts.

It is time enough. Tamamo seems to relax and nods at his answer]

... Tell me about your childhood, in the meantime?

[Something happy, she hopes. Something that has nothing to do with this ship and their fates.

Tamamo no Mae hates sad endings.]

[crashout]

[It's hard for him to answer right away because it's been a while since happiness came so easily to him, but after a few moments...he grins lightly]

Would you believe me if I said my childhood was totally normal? I was an only child, but everything was just sorta average. When we were kids, Kanny and I used to spend a lot of time together. [He doesn't even notice the nickname for a moment even though it's one he hasn't used for her in some time.] We went to festivals and fairs together...the pool...just like normal stuff you'd expect. It's almost funny to think about now but...they're good memories.

[foxweddings]

... Mmmhmmm~ You two were childhood friends.

[What the actual fuck that's cute. She is grinning brightly now, like all of her previous sorrows have disappeared.]

Aaaah, I bet Master was such a scrawny young thing no bigger than my tails, too~

[crashout]

Yeah...[The same soft smile appears, the one that usually comes when he thinks about the good memories with Akane. But then he suddenly looks indignant.]

I was not scrawny. I'm not even scrawny now! [Both of these things are lies.]

[foxweddings]

-- I tripped you into a bed like you were a sack of feathers. Of course you are scrawny, Master.

[Don't even start with her]

Frankly, I don't think you'd even land a punch on me if you tried.

[She is just coming for his pride now]

[crashout]

Because I didn't notice, that's completely different. I just don't punch women. [Which isn't entirely true, he does remember knocking Akane off-guard to shove her into a fireplace for safety. But. Still different.]

You can ask Higekiri. I can punch fine.

[foxweddings]

-- It is adorable that you think knowing would have made a difference.

[SHE IS.

SO MEAN.]

But fine, fine. If Higekiri-san would vouch for you, I'll take it seriously then.

[Though uh--]

Is... there a reason you punched him?

[crashout]

He said I could because he offered to spar with me. So I punched his hands for a while. [It happens when your friend/team dad dies and you don't know how to process your emotions healthily.]

[foxweddings]

[Ah...

She does not know the exact circumstances, and frankly isn't going to ask -- but she can at least sense that it's best to leave this alone, and smiles instead]

Hmmm, well. I'm glad he can provide you with an outlet in such cases. I fear many of us are going to go mad with cabin fever soon, if the demons do not catch us first.

[crashout]

You're probably right. So...we'll find other stuff to do to occupy our time. It's better than waiting for whatever happens next.