["Written" / Action]

[mirrorbirth]

Comments

[Drawn | Voice] - Placeholder because it's 5am. |Db

[chiisaichou]

[Message received! Though it takes a while for Miyabi to really get who the message is from.

Once she does get the message, and who it's from, however, it...takes a while for her to respond. What should she say? Should she apologize for overreacting, for getting so mad and insulted? Nnnngh...damn it all, this was making her head hurt way too much.

Finally, she replies, but not in the typical way. A single circle is drawn on the page of her journal before a single, pink cherry blossom pops from where it was drawn in Asch's journal. She heard you loud and clear.]

You draw well.

[Voice] for shame, staying up so late |D

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch taps his pen lightly on the page a few times, considering this. Eyes the cherry blossom. Pauses.

Idle conversation or compliments aren't his strong spots.]

...We need to talk.

[Voice] I'll probably do the same tonight. |Db

[chiisaichou]

[They did, didn't they? Taking a moment or two to gather if she really wants to, Miyabi closes her eyes and sighs. It was half her fault for overreacting, and she doesn't like staying mad at people, so...]

Where are you?

[Voice] well maybe if you stopped staring at panties all night...

[mirrorbirth]

[...Well, he's at home, but he really doesn't want to talk about this there, so he doesn't exactly answer properly.]

Come to the cherry trees if you're not already there.

[It's a nice, private place. And Amaterasu made it almost... spiritual, right? It's fitting.]

[Voice] YOU CAN'T JUDGE ME.

[chiisaichou]

Okay, that's fine. I'm fairly close, so I'll see you there. ...Don't rush.

[That last bit was said with a bit more tenderness, and honesty. She really doesn't want him jogging to get to her or something, though she doesn't exactly expect him to, either.

Waiting just another second, the girl closes her journal and tucks it into a pocket in her robe's sleeve before making her way back to the tree. She'll even make Asch's life a little easier and use the mallet so conversation is a little less...awkward.]

[Action] /JUDGES

[mirrorbirth]

[He won't rush, at least - he rarely does around here - but when he does arrive, the first thing he does is lean against one of the trees, glancing around for any sign of Miyabi.]

[Action] /SOB

[chiisaichou]

[Miyabi was indeed there already, and was passing the time with a bit of origami. She hums quietly to herself as she sits in the tree's branches, swinging one leg, before she hears someone approach. Ah, there he was.]

Asch? Watch out, I'm coming down.

[She's not very high up, or too close to him, but there was the snow on the branches he might get splattered with. Miyabi leans her lower half off the branch, and jumps down, landing in a crouched position before standing and straightening her robe and cloak.]

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[He glances up, then shifts out of the way before she jumps, dusting off any snow that might fall. He's surprised by her size, but he doesn't comment. She gets huffy if you call her small, anyway.]

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[Once she's up on her feet, and looks somewhat presentable, Miyabi looks awkwardly at Asch for a few seconds. Might as well just come out and say it, right? Right.]

Asch, uhm...I-I'm sorry...for overreacting and getting so mad.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[He'll share that awkwardness for a long moment, shifting slightly in the snow. Then, wordlessly, he tugs up a sleeve of his robe to reveal the string of beads she'd given him, tied around his wrist.]

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[Miyabi stares as he lifts his sleeve up, and her eyes widen a little in surprise. She glances from the beads back to Asch's face, confused and perhaps a bit grateful. He didn't throw them away...]

Why did you keep them? You said you didn't like those kinds of things.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

I don't. [Okay, that came out more harshly than he'd intended, so he takes a deep breath and tries again.] ...I don't. But after you left, I thought about it, and... anyway, it's not like it hurts anyone to wear it. If something good comes of it, then that's enough, right?

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

...You don't have to push yourself for my sake, Asch. [This time, Miyabi doesn't sound irritated or harsh - just honest and sincere. He came all this way to try and make amends, right? She should at least do the same.] But you're right, and I do hope something good comes from it. ...And I would like for you to wear them.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

I already told you, I don't believe in it, or anything else, the way you do. I'll wear it if you can accept that.

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

That's more than enough, thank you, Asch. [She smiles warmly, but there's another thing she's a little concerned about.] ...Does it bother you when I talk about them? M-My gods, I mean.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

It depends on whether or not you expect me to believe in them. There's a difference between talking and trying to convert someone.