thenearshore | [closed] thinkin out loud

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[closed] thinkin out loud

Who: Yamato and Yama~~name~~nami
What: going to the beach, hopefully!!
Where: starting out at their temple
When: May 18th

[ She's invited him out many times before for this and that, sometimes to see something interesting like an art gallery, or other times to simply walk to a grocery store on the Near Shore, or even just an offer to accompany him on one of his walks. Each and every time, he's turned her down. It hasn't bothered her that much at first; surely he's still adjusting to his life as a god. Yet over time, his refusals have eroded some of her confidence.

After all, it doesn't take a genius to notice that her god has been avoiding her. Out of respect she has let him have his space, and the only reason she's comfortable with doing so is because she has had her scouting planes to look for him, ready to report if he is in need of help. Although, that's only if they happened to find him. In the mountains he would often give them the slip, and her planes could not traverse to the Near Shore if she was not there to launch them.

In the end, she has mostly resigned herself to become and stay vigilant, remaining in his manor. Notified by her crew, she would always awaken when they informed her of his return late at night, or sometimes early in the morning, or midday, or late afternoon. As it turned out, Yamanami's aimless wandering has included an aimless sense of time as well. The man has been noticeably distracted and especially after she had told him about Hijikata. And after a particular trip to the Near Shore, he had withdrawn even more into himself. Having a conversation that lasts more than a few sentences has been a rare event. Thinking back to that encounter, she has questioned if that was the right thing to do.

Their first meeting had left her with such high hopes; here is someone who genuinely seemed to appreciate what she could do, and-- dare she think it?-- found her useful. Yet since then he's kept his distance. She can't quite figure him out, although she would be blind to not see his melancholy. It's a shame she simply does not know how to help him, with every effort to bring some levity into his life has been met with a refusal accompanied by a sad smile. If she did not know better, she would have compared what he exhibits to "soldier's fatigue"-- an malaise and sorrow experienced by sailors who returned from war in the past after suffering an undue burden.

Yamato sighs over a travel magazine she's purchased, feeling a bit sour at herself as well. Her god is important, and for all she knows he's probably busy doing some other duty without needing her! If he doesn't need her, it must be a good reason. She shouldn't be selfish. Besides, no god would want someone as expensive to upkeep as her for a shinki. (If he hasn't noticed, she's been racking up quite a bill in groceries.) Yamato can give all of these excuses to him for avoiding her, but ultimately it doesn't make her feel any better about it.

It's then that she hears footsteps. Once again, it looks like he's about to leave the manor alone. Like always when he passes by, Yamato quickly stops whatever she is doing, stands erect, and gives him a proper salute.

But as he's walking past her, this time she calls his name softly, as if she hasn't even realized she's done so. ] My lord...

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[The sudden drop in Yamato's height does have him stare a little. The sand is perfectly firm around his feet, so what's going on there...?

But before he can ask, that strange phenomenon is quickly brushed away as she excitedly points out the sea to him. And what a wonderful blue it is. Yamanami raises a hand to shield his eyes from the sun, just so he can stare at the shining azure ocean, stretching far into the horizon to meet the sky. His face is bereft of any smile as he continues to stare in wonder, but that's possibly the most genuine expression she's netted out of him.]

That's a wonderful view. [Words can't really describe how incredible the view is right now, but those two words were uttered with feeling, and with awe.] I've never seen anything like this before.

[ While in life, she had come out from her base to stare at the ocean every night, longing to cruise along its waters and waves, yet never touching it until a certain destroyer gave her the courage to walk upon it. In this afterlife,, it is her first time seeing the ocean at all, yet somehow she feels as if she is home. ]

..."O'er the wide, wide sea,
Towards its many distant isles,
Rowing I set forth."

[ It's only part of a old poem, and she doesn't know how she knows it or even remembers it, but with it comes a feeling of nostalgia and longing, as if she's seen this view many times before, just as she's somehow heard the words to the song before. But after her gazes lingers a moment longer on the crystal waters, she turns back to Yamanami and smiles. ] A sight like this is simply calling us to indulge in its waters! Come, let waste no more time standing in awe. [ She says, her tone rather excited for someone so usually calm. ] There are changing rooms over there. [ She points, hand extended for her bag. ]

..."This, to all the world proclaim,
O ye boats of fisher folk!"

[Yamanami finishes it for her, and then smiles. Reading is a favorite past-time of his, and he loves his literature.]

Ono no Takamura. I didn't know you liked poetry as well.

[But, yes. Swimming.] But you're right, we're wasting daylight. Let's see, which one of these is your bag... [Yamanami peers into the bags he's carrying, trying to figure out which one is Yamato's. But when he looks into one and sees what's inside, his eyebrows shoot up in shock.]

This is-!!

[~~Baby's first bikini, be gentle with him Yamato.~~]

[ Poetry. They're like old people already. ] Mm, songs of the sea are among my favorites.

[ That is to say, she may not know every poem, but it's likely she knows the ones that pertain to seas and rivers. But then she sees his expression, noting how shocked he seems. Her own eyebrows raise in surprise at his surprise. ] A... bikini...?

[ But then she breaks into a smile, giggling. ] Aaa~ Is it not lovely? I cannot wait to wear it! [ She reaches for her bag, pulling it over her shoulder. ]

Well, it's...ah...

[~~Was it an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polkadot bikini?~~

Yamanami's not sure if lovely is the word he'd used to describe it. Now he has noticed that short skirts and bare shoulders is the norm for the times he's now living in, and he's no stranger to a woman's body either...but everything of that nature was clandestine and kept strictly behind locked doors, not paraded in public!!

Which might explain the slight blush he's sporting, or how tongue tied he is right now.] It's...not what I'm used to, I'm afraid. [He admits. Hopefully she'll get the implied meaning behind his words!] But please, don't hesitate on my account.

[ No way she's going to wear this white one!

She pauses for a moment, looking at him. And then it hits her.

Oh. ] Yamanami-sama.... [ She says, staring at him thoughtfully.

And then leaning in a bit, as if to get a better look at him: ] Are you, perhaps,... blushing? [ Because she just has to be awkward and point it out. ]

[Noooo whhhyyy. But he just rolls with the question, giving her a truthful answer.]

I'm too obvious, aren't I? Sorry, Yamato-san. I hope I haven't put you off wearing what you wanted to wear.

[ Her giggle is soft but understanding. There isn't really any way around it, as she won't be the only one wearing a bikini at the beach. ] In this modern era, such things are custom. [ Yamato begins walking towards the changing stations. ] It would be shocking to see this instead of a kimono, I suppose. But think of it this way: when the weather is hot and humid, a bikini is quite functional!

[ He could always lend her his hayori if it gets too much for him. Yamato steps into the changing room, and within a few minutes she emerges, brushing her hair over her shoulder. ] Well...?

[ Hopefully he won't faint from the sight. ]

I can't argue with that logic.

[But still...so much skin in public.

While Yamato was getting changed, he was hoovering near the male changing room, feeling a little uncertain and nervous to get into the swimmer trunks Yamato got him. By the time she's exited he's still awkwardly standing outside, peering at the contents of the bag pensively.

Yamanami's jaw drops when he sees his shinki in all her bikini-clad glory and the flush returns to his face with a vengeance, colouring him the shade of a brilliant red light. His eyes immediately avert to the side, oh my what an interesting tree and those coconuts up there certainly look bountiful ~~like someone's chest~~ and wow is it suddenly steaming hot under his clothes, he should really get out of these!!]

Y--y-you look--ah, well you don't have to ask that question, I think you wear any outfit w-w-well!

[No, the coconuts are helping. The wind is blowing and they certainly are being bounced in the air. Like something else that could likely be quite bouncy. Yamanami quickly ducks his head and makes for the changing rooms as dignified as he can be, keeping his gaze sharply on the bag in front of him.]

I'll just go get changed-- [And then he runs straight into the door frame. Smooth, Sannan. Real smooth. Mumbling and fumbling an apology, he takes exit, stage left, entering the changing room proper so that he can silently cringe at how awkward he's acting.]

[ Maybe she did go overboard? ~~because she's a ship aaaaayyy~~

Perhaps she should have opted for a coverup that covered everything up, rather than just the sash around her waist. His erratic stammering puzzles her for a moment, clearly she's not used to being looked at-- or in Yamanami's case-- pointedly avoided looking at. Being self-conscious is a very strange feeling to her. In some ways she feels there's an even greater pressure to do well and impress, as if she was made to garner this sort of attention. But those are feelings deeply rooted in memories from the time of her commission almost a century ago, where she was designed to inspire awe and fear. The Yamato now she feels her cheeks blushing a light pink before she mutters a thank you at his compliment.

But that brief moment of shyness changes when he seems uncharacteristically flustered and distracted. She raises eyebrows shoot up, and-- ] My lord--! [ That. Would be a pole. Ouch. But he's already on his way to change, and Yamato can only wait.

So when he does reemerge, if he had asked the question "Can this get any worse"-- ] Ah, you have returned. There is one more thing we must do before anything else. [ Smiling, she shows him a bottle. ] Sunscreen!

[ --the answer would be "yes". ] We should apply some before we sunburn. [ Yamato is also looking over Yamanami's body, but her expression is one of observation. Pale and lean, just as she thought. It's a good thing she brought the good stuff: SPF 100.]

Edited 2016-12-05 03:16 (UTC)

[~~A+ ship pun right there~~

It's been a long, long time since he's taken a dip in any body of water. He feels a little foolish to come out wearing nothing but swimming trunks, but he can't keep Yamato waiting too long. He is determined to not muck this up for her too!! So he's gonna try his best to swallow his awkwardness and embarrassment, get used to the new beach scene.

He succeeds for all but ten seconds when Yamato asks him about sunscreen.]

Sunscreen? [Oh. Oh dear. Why is she staring at his body. Yamanami follows her gaze down, his cheeks beginning to heat up again.]

Is there...something wrong?

[ "A little exercise couldn't hurt" is what she could say to him, but no. She looks back up, reading his expression for a moment before it occurs to her that he doesn't know what sunscreen is. ] Sunscreen is used to protect one from the sun! While you may say that I am strong... I am not strong enough to protect you from these harsh rays. [ She jokes a little, turning and beginning to walk. She's rather excited already, and yes there is a little bounce to her step, if he's watching. ] You simply apply a layer of this cream over your skin.

[ She looks over her shoulder, just to make sure he's following. ]

We can take turns applying sunscreen to each other backs, too. [ Ya gotta make sure everything is covered! ]

[Eh?

There's a sharp record scratch and Yamanami stares at the innocent-looking bottle in her hand, utterly shocked at the idea.]

And it's...normal for men to do this for women and vice versa, in public?

[How the times have changed.]

Indeed. [ Well. It's not uncommon to say the least.

She continues on her way, finding themselves a nice spot to sit down right under a palm tree that's close to the water! Now they'll have both shade and beach. She begins taking out a beach blanket from her bag, spreading it over the sand. ] For it is both men and women who may be burned from the sun, no?

[ She smooths out the blanket, and she begins applying the sunscreen to her arms and front first. ] Here. Just a thin layer will suffice, as this concentration is potent. The white color will fade over time.

[WELL if Yamato-sensei says its OK...

He follows her motions, spreading the lotion onto his skin. Even under the shade, the heat from the sun is pressing down on him, and he breaths a sigh of relief when the sea breeze picks up just a tad.] It's a very hot day today. In weather like this, I'd normally be home.

[...or in Shimabara. But there's no outward sign that he's thought of the lady love that he's lost to time. Instead he busies himself with ensuring that every exposed skin is covered in lotion.]

Ah, should I put this on my face as well?

Edited 2016-12-05 07:38 (UTC)

Oh, most certainly! Sunscreen also protects your skin from developing wrinkles. [ She says, applying it to her own face as well. ] Some lotions are developed specifically for the face, but so long as you do not get this one in your eyes, you should be fine.

[ And then after a moment, she laughs lightly. ] --Ah, I suppose we do not need to concern ourselves with aging.

[ She doesn't seem too bothered about being dead. In fact, she's handled this all calmly. She's quite well-adjusted. ]

[She's remarkable, that's what she is. He's slightly in awe of her strength. If the shoe was on the other foot...would he be happier without his memories, he wonders? Or would he be morose, moaning the lack of memories?

Well, that's his front completely slathered. Just his back left. But after a few comical attempts at stretching and trying to spread it across his back, Yamanami lets out a sight and turns to Yamato.]

Sorry to trouble you, Yamato-san.

Not at all. [ She puts a little bit of sunscreen in palm of her hand, moving to be behind him. ] One cannot do everything by themselves... [ She chuckles, placing a hand upon his back as she begins. ] That is the hidden lesson of sunscreen.

[ It's partly a joke to try to get him to relax. She knows he seems a little uncomfortable with her dressed like this, and she only wants this day to be as smoothly as possible. So in an effort to be more casual, she opts to distract him with talking as she applies the lotion on his back. ] The other hidden lesson is that less is more, for this is quite slippery.

[ Or tries to distract him, as her hands run over his back, kneading a little into his shoulders before moving lower, pressing her palms against his skin. ]

[Alas. Yamato's efforts and intentions are noble, but her unfortunately her god comes into this world fresh off a terrible heart ache. He knows that it's not the same, that Yamato doesn't have any other motive other than to spread the lotion on his back. But her hands and motions remind him too much of Akesato's caresses, for who else but his lover has pressed their hands to his bare back?

So unfortunately, she'll find that his muscles are tensing underneath her hands, even as the smile remains in his voice, singing a little white lie to avoid hurting her feelings.]

I'll be sure to remember your lessons well. Otherwise, I'll have to ask you for tips on how to deal with sunburn.

[ Yamato isn't a professional masseuse, but anyone would be able to tell that he has tension in his muscles. She finishes when the sunscreen is blended into his skin, capping the bottle afterwards so that sand doesn't mar the top. ] I have the faint suspicion that you are a good student.

So how about some practice with spreading sunscreen? [ She then presents the bottle to him, and then brushing her hair over to her front, turning around so that her back is to him. It's his turn to help put sunscreen on her now! ]

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[closed] thinkin out loud

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