Open Log
Characters: wavesoakedlegs, behisstrength, kagayakashi and all the guests!
Location: 12 Olie Street in the Phanga neighbourhood.
Time: Throughout the afternoon.
Style: Whatever you wish!
Status: This is an open log for Gracia's birthday celebrations, so set up threads and mingle with one another. Anybody is welcome! Your hosts and behisstrength will be around, of course but the mundanes won't, so ( Read more... )
Location: 12 Olie Street in the Phanga neighbourhood.
Time: Throughout the afternoon.
Style: Whatever you wish!
Status: This is an open log for Gracia's birthday celebrations, so set up threads and mingle with one another. Anybody is welcome! Your hosts and behisstrength will be around, of course but the mundanes won't, so ( Read more... )
There was a delicious smell wafting through the air as she approached home. While this wasn't an unusual occurrence in their home, it was enough to make Gracia fasten her pace. ]
[ She opened the door and immediately, she knew what was going on. A smile eventually appeared on her face, slowly evolving into a grin. ]
Aaah! The house looks so nice! [ She walks in and spots her father on the couch.
The presents on the table.
The food.
The decorations. ]
[ Gracia claps her hands once and shuts the door behind her, fully immersing herself in the celebration. ]
Father, is all of this...? [ She approaches him on the couch and plops down beside him. ] You didn't have to. You look so tired now! [ Gracia's still smiling though her words are laced with concern. This gesture was -- it made her heart grow full ♥ ]
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[He gives her a pleasant smile and folds his hands on his lap.]
This kind of celebration is nothing like any I have taken part in before, so I had to use the examples of others in Vatheon to set it up.
[Which is very true. It's not like he had a party on his birthday, after all, and in truth he would not have wanted one.]
What do you think?
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Ahh, so you asked for some help! How wonderful!
[ Gracia hugs him in comfort. ] I love it, father. Thank you for everything! I've never celebrated my birthday in this way before. It's exciting me!
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In his arms Motochika holds one large box and one small package balanced on top, both presents wrapped with customary flair.]
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[He gestures to the two packages on the table. Daddy Samurai saw you glance at them, Gracia.]
You may open them when you are ready, but open the larger one first. The smaller one is... well. You will understand when you see it.
[Mitsuhide leans back a little. The larger one contains an assortment of different clips and accessories for Gracia's hair, considering her obvious fondness for such things, as well as a few sweet treats. The second one really is something quite special.]
[He has not noticed Motochika yet.]
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[ When she sits upright again, she spots Motochika's figure leaning by the doorframe and her expression lights up. ] Ahh, I didn't see you there! Motochika, come here with us! Isn't the house so beautiful today?
[ She moves a space and leaves another spot open for him to sit. Gracia turns her attention to the presents on the table afterwards - she thought her glances were subtle! For a moment, she looked a tad bit shy. She didn't want to come off as too forward in opening presents. In the end, her curiosity won over it all anyway; she nodded and pulled the boxes to her, sitting them on her lap. ]
The larger one...[ She handles the smaller box with care and places it by her side. Then she moved to unwrap the larger present. ]
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[Motochika joins them both, and spares Mitsuhide a glance as Gracia begins to unwrap her present, before watching the birthday girl.]
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I could have done no less.
[He wonders if he should ask Gracia to open Motochika's gifts before opening his second one. Because the second one contains a carved necklace; a carved necklace with his own name and the name of Tenkai carved into it. The fake name he'd taken after the Battle of Yamazaki. The two names are linked to imply they are the same person, as is the truth, and there is also an inscription detailing where he'd fled to and lived as Tenkai.]
[Mitsuhide had thought long and hard about whether or not it was right to let her know. He did not know the specifics of what had happened in her world, after all. But in the end he'd decided she had a right to know, and decided to give her the information in the form of something that she could wear. That way, when she was sent back home, she might still have it with her even if she forgot Vatheon.]
[It was a chance to heal her broken heart, back there.]
...when you have opened that one, my girl, open Lord Motochika's gifts.
[A brief nod.]
I think it would be best to leave my second one until very last.
[After all, things would get emotional.]
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[ Eventually she opened the larger box and sat in marvel at the new hair accessories. She removed her headband and tried one on. Gracia laughed and stood up, hands on her hips. ]
How do I look?
[ She sat back down and examined all the contents of the large box before letting out a contented sigh and placing the box back on the table. The smaller one was, as promised, left to her side for last. ]
Thank you for this, father. I'll wear them with pride every day!
[ She turned to Motochika afterwards, a mischievous look on her face. ]
It's swim wear, isn't it? I bet it is!
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Not quite.
[He hands over the largest box first. Inside is a complete outfit: unique shoes, leggings, dress, leather obi, belt and a hairpin. There are a couple more gifts in there, wrapped individually -- a fur stole and a couple of nail varnish sets.
Next is the smaller package. Inside is a leather bound journal; the pages are blank, save for the first, in which Motochika has left a note, as well as an illustrated picture of Gracia with the ocean above and a melody noted down in the remaining space. It reads: Take record of your explorations and experiences. Look back, witness the echo of your legacy, and strive onwards.]
Happy birthday, Gracia.
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[Mitsuhide laughs at the little display, growing quiet only when Motochika hands over his gifts. He just watches then, curious himself as to what they contain.]
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She was smiling so much she felt her cheeks would break at any minute!
As she sets the shoes down by her feet, leaving a mental note to try them on before anybody else would show up, Gracia holds the leggings and the obi, and mentally pictures herself wearing the entire get-up. The dress was, she immediately noticed, in Motochika's colors - the fur stole would have looked great with it! Her mind was going all over the place. There were so many gifts in just one box, she didn't know what to do or how to react! Eventually, when she finished marveling at all of the things inside, Gracia sighed even louder this time and set it all by her father's first present. ]
This is too much. Motochika, thank you! They're such wonderful clothes, such cute and foreign designs! And with what father gave me for my hair - aah, I can see myself wearing it all now! [ Her expression was of pure happiness, her heart swelling from the warmth and love. Without much hesitation, Gracia embraced the nearest limb she could find of Motochika's, not letting go until she remembered there was still the smaller package left to open. ]
And there's still this one as well. I wonder what it could be? [ Gracia unwrapped the smaller one quickly and as she examined the exterior of the journal, she had a feeling she would be using this present more than she would his first. Gracia opened it carefully and caressed the smooth pages with the pads of her fingertips - the words written at the front were read and understood clearly and in earnest. She already had the urge to write her adventures. ]
[ Turning to Motochika once more, Gracia gave him a sort of knowing look, and held the journal close to her chest. ] I will. Motochika and father will be the first two people to read it. I promise.
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Excellent.
[He says simply, enjoying the moment before it passes.
Motochika continues to watch her -- he is curious about Mitsuhide's last gift. The fact that it's to be opened last hints at its significance.]
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[The journal, now. That was pretty much a perfect present.
I am certain your writing will be very vivid indeed, my girl.
[He sits up straight, expression turning soft and tone of voice growing more quiet.]
Everything else has been opened now, so... you may open the second one I gifted to you.
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[ The said second gift was just about to fall off the edge of the couch before Gracia was given the go signal to open it. Grabbing it by the side, Gracia takes a deep breath and smiles. She had been gifted with more than she ever imagined she could be gifted with; what else was there left? That made her want to know even more than before, so she rips at the wrapping and bites her lip in anticipation. Eventually, she opens the box itself, and a beautifully crafted wooden necklace greeted her. ]
Did you make this, father? [ The more significant details of the necklace had yet to be discovered, so she spends a few moments examining merely its exterior. When it comes to that her eyes read what's carved on the surface, her smile slowly disappears. She holds it closer to her, reading it back and forth until she realizes something strange. ]
Tenkai? [ Gracia turns her head to her father, then back to the necklace. Their names - Tenkai's and her father's name - they were linked. That could mean but two things; that he had a twin brother (which was without a doubt out of the question, she of all people would know) or Tenkai and Akechi Mitsuhide were the same person. A slim finger caresses the carving before she addresses her father once more. ]
Your other name is...Tenkai? [ Then there was the other part of the necklace - was that a place? She wasn't sure where it was, it definitely wasn't a city she knew of or a general area she's been to. Taking into account how she almost never leaves the castle because they keep her in...needless to say, Gracia's confused. ]
I don't understand. What do these all mean?
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Rather than interfering Motochika stays quiet, silently witnessing the progression.]
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