Christmas "Meme"

[snakewithbaggage]

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!
Suzu ga naru
Suzu no rizumu ni hikari no wa ga mau
Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!
Suzu ga naru
Mori ni hayashi ni hibikinagara

Welcome to the Dinohouse Christmas "meme"! This is going to work a bit differently from most memes, but still free free to do what you want here!

The idea:
Following this post I will be making an assortment of Universe/Location "thread" comments. These will define the specific scene and universe being worked in. Comments by applicable characters will follow under that comment.

Example:
Mushverse; Shiba Mansion; open to Shinkengers

Comments following that would all be set in the Mushverse universe, be by any Shinkengers that want to participate, and take place at the Shiba Mansion Christmas party. Think of it sort of like every "top level" comment is its own post to the community.

Following that example, if your desired AU/Canon/etc isn't there, feel free to make a "thread" for it! Say there's already a Mushverse Go-busters "thread", and you want to do something in Aibouverse, or something more canon, maybe just between two characters? Make one!

Comments following the "thread" headings can be group setting free for all, or between individuals. Say it's a canon GokaiGalleon party, and Gai and Luka want to go off alone, or are on their way to the Galleon together? Their thread can be a separate second level comment thread beneath the main Canon Gokaiger thread.

I know that's a lot of information/qualifiers, but don't let it make you nervous to post, "rules" are fluid, and mainly set for added organization.

HAVE FUN. And enjoy the season!

Comments

[sonofshiba]

...ah.

I take the proffered cup and settle myself next to him. "My thanks."

I am not particularly accustomed to hot chocolate, however Chiaki's presence in my life has led to a certain fondness for it. "I am truly not against celebrations, Takeshi. It is good, pleasing, to see what you and Genta have concocted."

I am quite genuine about that. The happiness of others is pleasing. "I am merely... unaccustomed," I finish gravely.

[nonsamurai]

Well, he takes the cup and sits down, so I manage to pull out another smile for him.

I try not to touch him too much. It seems... odd, somehow. But today, for now, well, it's Christmas, so I lean over to nudge his shoulder with my own.

"You don't have to sound like that, Takeru-san. I promise, no one is going to judge you for not knowing, or for asking! You think Christmas in Japan is normally like this? It's not! And it's not entirely like this in America, either, you just have to learn as you go. And have fun, it's most important this time of year to have fun and to share love."

I nod sagely as though I really know what I'm talking about, and then clear my throat awkwardly.

"In fact, Takeru-san, I wanted to ask you something. Or, maybe, some things."

[sonofshiba]

He sounds wiser than his years. It is quite endearing, and I am quite nonplussed, so I settle for a neutral, "I see," and a small smile.

I would find a way to find affection in my heart for him, no matter what, because he is Genta's brother. It is helpful, however, that I am quite fond of him for himself.

"You do not need to use an honorific," I note. "Ask anything you wish."

[nonsamurai]

"You're a lord." I point out seriously. If he can be unnecessarily grave, then so can I. "And further than that, you're in a relationship with the only blood relative I have left, who is as good as a father to me despite how close we are in age. So, if you will excuse me, I will continue to treat you with the respect you deserve."

I clear my throat and look out across the mansion grounds, wondering where I should start.

"Takeru-san, what do you think about me fighting?"

[sonofshiba]

"As you wish," I accede placidly. I have had worse. Considerably worse. I merely do not wish him to feel he must do this.

...

"I would not choose it for you," I say quietly. "I know that not fighting does not guarantee safety, but being a samurai guarantees injury at times. I am also concerned about your brother. However, Takeshi, if it is what you wish..."

[nonsamurai]

Well, at least he'll give me that much.

I nod, I've heard all of this before. At least he's more honest with me than niichan will be.

"To be clear, I don't want to upset my brother, or hurt him in any way. He means... far too much to me. But I can't... Well, I can't just find some typically average career and devote myself to being a businessman or something equally... droll, when my brother is here at your side, risking his life to protect the well-being of humanity itself."

I pause, and glance at him out the corners of my eyes.

[sonofshiba]

I raise my eyebrows, and gaze at him for a long moment, without speaking.

Finally, I nod. "I know you do not wish to upset your brother. You have been here long enough to have some knowledge of the cost of this lifestyle; you are neither ignorant nor foolish enough to think it glamorous. I am also not foolish enougj to stand in the way of an Umemori. Do you raise this with me because you wish training? Or support when speaking with Genta?"

[nonsamurai]

I chuckle a bit at his insistence that he won't stand in my way. I guess we are sort of... headstrong.

I shrug one shoulder. "If this is something I am going to do, I will need training, I suppose." I raise an eyebrow at him. "Unlike my brother, I have show a capacity towards having a decent vocabulary of kanji that I assume might prove useful?" I run a hand through my hair, I suppose the conversation has led itself easily in the direction I intended it to go eventually anyway. "And I think I might have support from an unexpected corner already. Your... ah, your mother."

[sonofshiba]

I nod. There will be much to be decided, discussed, considered.

"Ah," I say quietly. "You do not wish to be merely a samurai, though that terminology is imprecise in any case; there are no 'mere' samurai. You wish to be a Shinkenger." I nod. Interesting.

"Genta's abilities regarding kanji lie elsewhere, it is true. One cannot master all disciplines simultaneously, and he possesses genius with Origami, with his SushiChanger. Were he to wish it, I am certain he could learn more of traditional kanji."

An eyebrow goes up. "You have spoken to Mother regarding this?"

[nonsamurai]

"If I can." I clarify. "I might not even be able to." I sit up a little straighter. "I've done some researching. Your history is really well documented, as are a lot of the methods. I don't know if I even have... any capacity for Mojikara at all, but if I do, I want to use it. And niichan does, so..."

I slump back into my usual slouch again, and cough awkwardly, hoping Takeru-san doesn't notice how red my ears are getting. "I have. She... Well, we were talking. About how I don't know what I would like to do with my life..." I smirk awkwardly. "She got pretty angry with me for being indecisive. And I think that's what made me... be decisive."

[sonofshiba]

I close my eyes for a moment, but what I can sense only confirms my first impressions. "I suspect you would be quite capable of Mojikara," I agree.

He is turning an alarming shade of red, for all that I favour the colour. I smile. "I see. Her opinion is important to me, also."

[nonsamurai]

I clear my throat again, and take a hasty sip of cocoa to try and calm myself down before continuing.

"She's fascinating. Your history, and hers, is also well documented. I believe Jii-san is to blame for most of that. I just... It's... it is fascinating, isn't it, that she is legally your mother but you're older than her." My voice went into an incredibly unattractive octave right then.

Damn.

[sonofshiba]

"It is indeed," I say gravely, but I am paying more attention to his face, the tone of his voice, than to his actual words at this point.

Hm.

"Takeshi?"

[nonsamurai]

I swallow hard, duck my head to take a deep breath, and then sit up straight again and turn to face him. My hands are closed tight around my half-empty mug, tight enough for my knuckles to go white.

"Yes, Takeru-san?"

[sonofshiba]

"I believe Mother does not have a romantic partner in her life," I note carefully, gazing off over the training yard. The daisies in the corner need attention.

[nonsamurai]

In trying to come off as all cool and calm and collected, I attempt to take a sip of my rapidly cooling cocoa, and instead end up inhaling it down my lungs at Takeru-san's words, and then I'm coughing for about five minutes before I respond.

Super graceful, Takeshi.

"Who-" I gasp after a moment, and my voice is disgustingly squeaky. "Said anything about... Any of that?"

Meaning: am I so transparent?

[sonofshiba]

I startle as he chokes, and pat him carefully on the back.

"Ah," I say when he has breath once more. "It was an observation."

It is difficult to hide the attempts being made by the corners of my mouth to lift themselves, however. "You seem quite... taken with her...?"

[nonsamurai]

Is he... smirking at me?

When does Takeru-san even make expression???

I set my mug down hastily and grip my hands against each other instead. Better to break my fingers than one of the nice mugs.

"What... gives you that impression?" My voice is still squeaking and I wince.

"Or. Well. Fine, it's obviously obvious, but!"

Well, the lady herself seems to be completely oblivious.

"It's futile, anyway, isn't it?"

[sonofshiba]

He is so very tense.

This could prove enormously complicating. However, I am not foolish enough to attempt to stand in the way of love. If Mother does not return his feelings, or if there are complications for either, then I will be sympathetic, but that does not mean that attempts at happiness should not be made.

"It is not obvious. Not entirely obvious," I correct myself. "And what leads you to believe it is futile?"

[nonsamurai]

I scrub a hand through my hair, leaving it standing up probably quite unattractively, and turn a look of severe exhaustion and hopelessness on Takeru-san.

"She's a... She's a princess, a samurai princess. Not to mention your mother. I'm... I'm practically a foreigner now, plus I have no career, no special skills outside of, what, gardening? What princess would ever show even the slightest interest in a gardener? Not even an official one!"

[sonofshiba]

"Mother is aware of tradition, and finds it important," I begin to pick my way carefully through this verbal minefield, "but she is not incapable of seeing outside it."

I think I will tell him. "She supports my intentions to propose marriage to your brother, for example. Please do not tell him. So while I take your point, do not discount yourself before you have even tried, Takeshi."

[nonsamurai]

The significance of Takeru-san's words don't resonate with me immediately, I'm too wrapped up in focus on my own problems. Self-centered of me, sure, but I am a teenager, what more do they want from me? "That's different, niichan's a proper Samurai now, a real Shinkenger and everything, of course you have every right to--" ... I turn slowly to stare at him and parse his words again, mouthing the significant ones. "You're going to what?" I beam at him, incredibly excited by this prospect. To hell and back with my problems! "When?"

[sonofshiba]

I smile at him involuntarily. "When the time is right. Soon, I hope. However, we are not discussing that matter currently."

I touch his shoulder gently. "Takeshi, I do not know if Mother is at all interested in romance with anyone. But if she is, or she is not, she will respect you for being direct and courageous. If you are certain that you are interested, tell her."

[nonsamurai]

He looks very nice when he smiles. When he smiles, that's when I can see why niichan likes him so much. I beam back at him, and reach over to grab his hand and give it a good two-handed shake. "It's going to be wonderful. You'll be so happy together..."

He continues and I shrink back into myself with a sheepish little laugh. "You think so?"

I could try. Direct and courageous, sure. Traits I'll need to be a samurai, I bet. No time but the present.

"Maybe I should."

[sonofshiba]

He shakes my hand enthusiastically, and I cannot help but continue to smile at him. I had not expected him to be upset at the news, however it is unexpectedly pleasing that he is so happy. "Thank you."

I nod. "When the time is right, if you are certain, I would suggest being open with her. If she is the same as I was in this regard, you may indeed have to be open with her as she will not notice hints in any event."