high_seas | making a fuss

[Motochika makes sure to wake before Mitsuhide for once, in order to set the tone of the day. Despite Mitsuhide's reluctance to be the centre of attention, Motochika has every intention of fussing over his lover: celebrating birthdays like this may not be their tradition, but he embraces it nonetheless.

Mitsuhide is in for a spoiling.

He knows that Mitsuhide won't remain in the sea of dreams long, yet it is time enough for Motochika to slide out of bed and collect his shamisen before returning to sit on their bed. He spends a long moment watching Mitsuhide drift into a shallower sleep, admiring the cosy sight before, inspired by it, he starts to play a gentle melody to carry Mitsuhide ashore.

The waking world awaits his lover.]

[Motochika had said 'wait until morning' the previous day, implying he had some plans in place from the get-go. It's for this reason that the music that slips into his dreams isn't unexpected; his unconscious mind recognises, greets it, weaves it into the quiet pictures running through his mind. He smiles softly in his sleep, and it takes him a good minute or two to actually start to wake up.]

Lord Motochika? [He murmurs quietly, before opening his eyes and raising a hand to his head.] Is that new?

[Mitsuhide is pretty sure he hasn't heard the peaceful song before, but he isn't fully awake yet, so there's no certainty.]

[Motochika gives Mitsuhide an adoring smile, still playing. ]

It is.

[He will let Mitsuhide wake fully before he stops playing what comes to mind as he gazes upon his lover; he has a special song ready to gift to Mitsuhide, but he wants Mitsuhide to appreciate it with clarity.]

Good morning.

[After a moment Mitsuhide rubs his eyes lightly and pulls himself into a sitting position, back against the headboard of their bed. His hair is as messy as it's possible for it to get, the silky strands are cast all about his shoulders and face, with some trailing down his front.]

Good morning.

[And then he smiles, looking vaguely embarrassed.]

You are awake before me; part of your plan, my Lord?

Yes.

[With his hair loose and wild, and his smile so sweet, Mitsuhide is intensely attractive; the warmth in Motochika's expression grows stronger. He draws his song to an end and moves closer to Mitsuhide, shamisen remaining on his lap, then leans in, ghosting his lips over Mitsuhide's mouth.]

For final preparations.

[The kiss is brief and light, but Mitsuhide does offer the lightest bit of pressure when those lips touch his for a moment.]

I hope you have not gone over the top with this. [He says afterwards, folding his hands in his lap as he looks at Motochika with fond amusement.] As I have said, there is no need for too much fuss.

[Or any at all, but Mitsuhide knows that won't be allowed to happen.]

[Motochika huffs a laugh, lifting his free hand to catch a lock of Mitsuhide's hair and twine it around his fingers.]

We shall see about that.

[He kisses Mitsuhide a second time, ardent and lingering.]

[Mitsuhide raises a hand to clutch at Motochika's shoulder without even thinking about it; this morning kiss is routine now, and a very precious routine it is too. A gift that was always out of their reach, but now, somehow, is not.]

[Being drawn to this place has done good for some of its inhabitants.]

Stubborn man. [He says a little breathlessly, afterwards.] Stubborn, stubborn man...

[Motochika smirks as he pulls back, letting the lock of Mitsuhide's hair slip from his fingers slowly. He returns his hand to the neck of his shamisen and raises his bachi to its strings.

Though not so new, Mitsuhide won't recognise the song that Motochika begins to play. This original composition is a love song Motochika has been perfecting for months, a mix of traditional and Motochika's rebellious sound; soon his rich voice joins the resonant notes of his shamisen, and it becomes clear why he is serenading Mitsuhide here in the privacy of their room. Motochika sings deeply personal lyrics, intimate without being erotic utilising metaphors of water and light amidst his unabashed honesty. In all ways it is an expression of his soul, meant just for them to share.

He holds Mitsuhide's gaze unwaveringly as he performs.]

[Letting his hands rest in his lap again, Mitsuhide tips his head forward a fraction when Motochika starts to play (though he holds the other samurai's gaze). It soon becomes clear what kind of song this is, even before the singing starts, and when it does...]

[Well.]

[It's a blunt, open expression of love he is being gifted with, one crafted into an honest to heavens work of art. What else can a song like this be called? Mitsuhide flushes about as deeply as he is capable of, a whole rush of emotions flooding through him at once. He eventually has to look away from Motochika, but only so he can close his eyes and truly focus on this beautiful song.]

[What will he even say after this? It's an overwhelming gift in the best of ways.]

[Motochika finishes, and sets his shamisen and bachi aside with satisfaction. He reaches out and takes Mitsuhide's hands in his, holding them.]

Happy birthday, my love.

[Mitsuhide opens his eyes after a moment, and offers Motochika a shy but immensely grateful smile.]

I fear you have left me quite speechless. [He murmurs.] Forgive me.

[He can't find the words, or, perhaps, can, but doesn't know how to say them. For as much as Motochika is open about his feelings and unafraid to express them, Mitsuhide finds himself hesitant and uncertain about doing the same. It's not that he doesn't want to, of course, but his nature bid him flush in the face of such deeply personal matters.]

[Lucky for him, then, that his face and body express what he can't with words. Right now it's clear that he's happy, and more than that, incredibly loved-up.]

[Mitsuhide has never been hard for Motochika to read; he takes the time to absorb what Mitsuhide's expression and body language express, memorising every little detail. He sees how much it means to Mitsuhide and delights in it.

Gently but insistently he pulls Mitsuhide's hands to him and presses tender kisses to Mitsuhide's knuckles with a vibrant smile, before setting his lover's palms back upon his shoulders. He then combs his own fingers though Mitsuhide's mussed hair indulgently.]

We do not require words, you and I.

[His voice is a loving, low drawl, brimming with bone-deep satisfaction.]

[For this moment, and just for this moment, Mitsuhide feels nothing beyond the warm glow in his chest and the presence of Motochika before him. Everything else is distant.]

That doesn't mean it wouldn't be good for you to hear them.

[It's more than rare to see such open contentment in Mitsuhide's features; he wears it radiantly as he looks at Motochika, the dark circles beneath his eyes almost seeming to fade in the face of such an emotion.]

Soon. I swear this to you.

So be it.

[Motochika drinks his fill of Mitsuhide's beauty, illuminated from within by unrestrained happiness, before he leans in to capture Mitsuhide's mouth within his own. His kiss is a slow but intense outpouring of love.]

[A kiss to steal one's breath away; or, more accurately, many kisses. Mitsuhide is more than happy to indulge in this moment, taking his time with the kisses he himself offers and gladly accepting those he is given.]

[It's odd, to think there was ever a time when they did not do this.]

You have many talents. [He says eventually, sounding dazed and looking like he's almost in a kind of happy shock as he pulls back from a kiss.]

Edited 2014-04-29 12:20 (UTC)

[Motochika is more than happy to flow from one kiss to the next, and hums his deep enjoyment when Mitsuhide pulls back.]

As do you, Mitsuhide.

[He drawls, wearing a playful smirk.

Motochika leans in to press tiny kisses to the corner of Mitsuhide's mouth and along the line of Mitsuhide's jaw after, eager to submerge his lover in affectionate gestures.]

My Mitsuhide.

[Mitsuhide tilts his head back just a fraction, without even really thinking about it. He laughs, soft and quiet, in response to his lover's last comment.]

Possessive as ever my Lord?

[A pause, and then he adds in a sincere tone:]

You have already spoilt me thoroughly.

[Motochika frees one of his hands from Mitsuhide's hair to brush it back from one side of his lover's throat, then presses his lips to the spot behind the corner of Mitsuhide's jaw, beneath Mitsuhide's ear.]

Today has only just begun.

[Promise of much more spoiling resounds in his voice.]

[That's not a surprise considering Motochika's previous behaviour, but nonetheless, Mitsuhide shakes his head with a fond smile.]

You are ridiculous.

[Argue as much as you like with that, Motochika, Mitsuhide is still going to believe it.]

Inspired.

[Motochika presses his smile against Mitsuhide's skin.]

I intend to show you the full extent of my appreciation for you.

[He traces a line down Mitsuhide's neck with his tongue, before he places a sucking kiss upon the most sensitive spot there.]

[That's a sly tactic. Mitsuhide tenses for a moment before sighing softly; a kiss to that spot always makes him feel somewhat weak at the knees.]

The full extent?

[He closes his eyes and hums in appreciation.]

I am not deserving.

[When Motochika pulls back, he blows gently on the mark he leaves behind upon Mitsuhide's pale skin.]

I believe that you are, my love.

[He rains light kisses upon Mitsuhide's throat.]

I know.

[Motochika does not shy away from letting Mitsuhide know how he feels; not ever. Unable to stop himself, the dark-haired samurai tilted his head back a little more and replied in an even softer murmur.]

Nobody can... ah, can sway you from an opinion, when you have truly settled on it.

[Motochika laughs, before he places a second sucking kiss on Mitsuhide's bared neck. ]

You shall enjoy the oncoming tide.

[While Gakupo could have easily just sang happy birthday for Mitsuhide, that would be too cliche for his tastes. So he sits with his shamisen on the deck of their ship, waiting for the birthday boy...man...waiting for Mitsuhide to emerge. Once he does, he'll start to sing this song.

Anyone is free to listen in. Gakupo isn't the shy type when it comes to performing.]

[When Mitsuhide eventually emerges from below deck, he is dressed in finery and looking thoroughly flushed and shy. Why is not entirely apparent, though his previous reaction to having others celebrate his birthday probably gives one the general reason. This is not a man who considers himself deserving of any kind of spoiling.]

[But it seems he is going to be spoiled nonetheless, despite his best efforts.]

[The immediate beginning of the song when he emerges startles Mitsuhide at first, as he has been somewhat lost in thought, but afterwards he bows his head and takes a seat on the deck himself. The samurai then closes his eyes to properly appreciate this.]

[The song that Gakupo has chosen is poignant and beautiful, but the sadness of the lyrics strike him on a very personal level. The talk of love, loss, an island and the waters... how could it not? He inhales softly, and smiles a little.]

[He sees Mitsuhide emerge, but doesn't finish his singing until the end of the song. While he notices Mitsuhide's appearance, he makes no note of it. He's simply glad the other seems to be enjoying it.

Once he's done, he lets the last note trail off on its own and smiles brightly to Mitsuhide.]

Ah, the birthday man of the day!

[If anything, Mitsuhide's embarrassment deepens. He does open his eyes, however, and meets Gakupo's gaze.]

I still find it strange, this kind of celebration. Back home, the only time one's day of birth was relevant was when one came of age.

[It's not that he can't find merit in celebrating the birth of those you care for, because honestly? It's an excellent idea. Mitsuhide has trouble with his self-esteem, however, so when it comes to himself he sees no reason to make a fuss at all.]

[That, and he's generally awkward about being the focus of attention.]

Well, I'm not very sure of when I would come of age, since I'm only about six years old. [Gakupo smiles softly, resting his shamisen across his lap.] it's okay to find something like this strange, but it doesn't mean we'll stop celebrating! [He chuckles softly, a bit amused by Mitsuhide's shyness.]

Please don't tell me you'll treat this day like any other.

I do not know how it would work for you, either. But you have an adult's look and mind, do you not? Perhaps the choice would be one for you to make.

[Mitsuhide contemplation of how it would work for Gakupo is cut short by that request of his, however. He bows his head and curls his fingers against his lap.]

Ah, I... I don't know any of the traditions associated with it.

I do, yes. But what would be the conditions for coming of age? Do I need to slay a dragon?

[His next question may be if there will be a party for it.]

Most traditions involve accepting gifts, eating all your favorite things, and telling people what to do! [He grins, because he knows well enough that Mitsuhide would dislike all those ideas. Maybe minus eating all his favorite things.]

No. When one has matured enough, one undergoes the ceremony and receives their adult name. That is all there is to it, though I do not think the name part would be relevant for you?

[Mitsuhide looks up, eyes widening at Gakupo's words.]

Ah, telling people what to do? I have not heard that part. It does not sound like a very wise tradition...

[He's thinking of Motochika right now. Not that it would make a huge amount of difference to his partner, but having tradition dictate one adheres to his wishes...]

Hmm..yes, it would be irrelevant, unless I can earn a title related to my profession.

[Gakupo couldn't help his wide grin at Mitsuhide's reaction.]

It may not be wise, but it's your special day, so you pretty much get to do what you wish, including bossing people around.]

Perhaps that is something for you to decide. I can detail the ceremony in practice for you, but the rest... give it some thought, if it is something you wish to do.

[Mitsuhide shakes his head after, looking incredibly awkward.]

I am not certain it would be a good idea for me to adhere to such a tradition. Where would I even begin? Certainly I could not ask Lord Motochika for ideas; he would only be ridiculous about it.

Ah, would you? I'd like to know. I think it could help in thinking it over.

[Gakupo chuckles softly.]

You know you can use your new powers for good, right?

Tell me whe you are ready; it may take quite a bit of time to get through it all properly.

[Mitsuhide has to shake his head at that. He's really not conviced that such a tradition will do much in just one day, especially when it has to battle such strong personalities like Motochika and Hajime?]

On this ship? I am not so sure.

Understood. You'll need time to figure out your new powers! [Nope, Gakupo is sure that Mitsuhide has special birthday powers now.]

It could be off this ship, or with just a special someone.

Special someone?

[The 'special someone' in Mitsuhide's life is brought right back into his mind again, but this time? He vocalises something of what he's thinking.]

...I fear such powers would be wasted on Lord Motochika.

[What he doesn't add is that Motochika would probably enjoy being bossed around too much.]

Don't you think they would be wasted on not even using them?

[Seriously!]

[Considering that she'd only learned that today was Mitsuhide's birthday last night, that hadn't afforded Haruka much time to prepare for it. ~~Perhaps she needed to be paying more attention to Hajime's birthday lists~~. That being said, she still wanted to do something special for Mitsuhide-kun. Scouring each and every stall the market had to offer seemed like a good place to start.

Honestly, she wasn't sure what Mitsuhide would like... he tended to talk more about Motochika's likes and dislikes than his own but she was determined not to come back to the ship empty-handed!]

Maybe I should stick with something simple like a cake?

[She spoke softly while peering at a selection of bake goods.. but that didn't seem meaningful enough.... ~~Hopefully, she wouldn't be caught prematurely during her shopping trip.~~]

Edited 2014-04-23 21:49 (UTC)

[Fate, luck, or perhaps Davy Jone interfering with the plans of his captives? Whatever it is, Mitsuhide has come down to the market today to fetch a few odd items at his own insistence. There is nothing more to this, in his own mind, than 'doing something he wants to do.' Isn't that somewhat like Gakupo said he should do, on one's birthday?]

[Regardless, he doesn't intend to be gone from the Koumyou for long. Surely that would be a little unfair on the others, to stay out for more than an hour or so.]

[(The birthday boy really isn't getting the concept of self-indulgence very well).]

[Dressed in finery adorned with his kamon, the symbol of the bellflower, Mitsuhide looks every bit the noble samurai as he walks through the market with his hands held together before him. He seems somewhat... unsure of himself? Regardless, when he spots his young crewmate Mitsuhide immediately calls out.]

Hello, my dear. Are you stocking up on food?

making a fuss

Closed to Mitsuhide; waking the birthday boy

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OPEN!

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Open: In the Marketplace looking for something to make the day extra special!

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