#Kuro is a seamstress (not the right word but you know what I mean)

[starpros-sunshine]

seb. seb bard wataru and secluded noble eichi as their cnstars exclusive cards au

!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes yes yes yes yes Ohhh I can see it I can see it

I'm gonna put this under read more because this could get longer

Wataru as a traveling bard and Eichi is a noble that lives a kind of isolated life dur to his weak constitution and Wataru comes by Eichis castle or mansion or chateau or whatever fancy piece of architecture he occupies and Eichi hears Watarus music and comes to the window and they have a moment of eye contact and initially Wataru doesn't think much of it and travels further after he played a few more pieces for Eichi -because of course if the audience enjoys it then the entertainer shall entertain for that is his job - and so after that little private concert is over he travels further. His eay leads him this small town that's not so far from the fancy piece of architecture, because I like to be a little cliché, and there he hears all sorts of rumours about the mysterious nobles that live in the...I'll just call it a mansion now it's a chateau-adjacent mansion. Any ways those rumours catch his intrigue and he decides to stay in the town a little and he stays at an inn maybe and he pays him rent by playing music for them in the evenings,,,

Oh and maybe this is where he runs into Yuzuru! He's on the street just observing and he sees this elegant and very pretty looking young man and he doesn't look like someone from the town but he also doesn't have the air of an aristocrat about him and he catches some older women gossipping about him and apparently he's a domestic servant of the strange nobles that everyone seems to be a little scared of because they never seem to show their face anywhere.

Maybe he tries to strike up a conversation with Yuzuru or maybe that process repeats multiple times but eventually he decides to snoop around the Mansion a little and maybe he runs into Eichi again,,,

And maybe he gives him a few more private concerts or magic performances I reckon he does those too and the intrigue grows and grows and by now the people in the town know Wataru by name and sometimes he gets free food gifted by them and they're still a little wary of him because he just appeared one day and nobody knows where this strange man with his birds and his heavenly voice came from but he seems to be nice so they come to like him.

And Yuzuru picks up some of the rumours about this strange bard that pays his room at the local inn by playing songs for the patrons in the evenings and sometimes helps out the elderly i the town and he notices he's seen this man before playing music outside of their house so of course he mentions these rumours to Eichi and Tori who in turn are intrigued and a little sceptic respectively.

When Wataru appears the at Eichis balcony the next time Eichi actually initiates a conversation with Wataru and that continues over the next few visits as well and eventually they go from "Bard" and "My Lord" to "Wataru" and "Eichi" or still "My Lord" but this is different though it's the same as when Wataru calls Eichi emperor it's more teasing than a formality you have to imagine a grin in his voice as he says that. Tori and Yuzuru have no idea about most of these visits because half of them are in the middle of the night (I imagine it a little like the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet right right).

And so they grow closer and as the time passes Wataru starts to actually settle a little in the town. The room he was renting at the inn is pretty much actually his room now, he could've moved out but he lives on a good deal and the older couple that runs the inn treat him like their own son now (he doens't even have to do shows every evening anymore, just sometimes a week) and pretty much all of the regulars know him personally now and on a first name basis (nobody actually knows his last name). This is the first time in forever he's stayed at one place for this long and it's all just because he has taken a liking to this feeble-ish blonde aristocrat that looks at him like he hung all the stars in the sky up by himself.

He still only knows Tori by hearsay and Yuzuru just briefly - somehow they never ran into each other when he was there during the day - But Eichi has joked about introducing them properly before.

in my mind there's this one specific image of Eichi and Wataru standing on his Balcony and they are both on opposite sides of the railing and it's the middle of the night and it's chilly so Eichi has his blanket draped over his shoulders because that's the sensible thing to do when it's cold and Wataru is standing on the opposide side of the railing, kind of standing on the edge of it and leaning more over the railing into the space of the balcony where you actually stand on and they are being disgusting in the way that they're flirting and maybe they also kiss a little,,, maybe,,,, because I want them to,,,,

And sweet innocent Yuzuru only hears about things between Eichi and Wataru via the rumour mill when he goes to run errands on the market and hears that the bard from the inn has been seen in the evening multiple times as he's walking the path to the mansion of the nobles nobody really knows. And he hasn't been back until the early hours of the morning. And so Yuzuru tells this to Tori. And they're both too awkward to ask him straight out so whenever they hear Eichi humming a tune while he does... whatever it is rich people do. They just look at each other and the question is in the room but nobody knows how to break it and they come to just. the weirdest conclusions because nobody in this house communicates like a normal person.

And maybe sometimes Eichi sneaks out to visit Wataru in the town (the first time this happened he put on a really big hood and changes his voice a little so it would be harder to recognise and actually caught Wataru off-guard for once). Watarus birds like him too...at least most of them do.

I like to think he once had to explain to Tori why he smells like bird and it was suuuper awkward because there aren't a lot of ways to talk yourself around having to explain that the night before you were basically turned into a pigeon nest and it took you and your bard-kind-of-boyfriend-but-also-not-really-but-you-have-something-going-on-you-just-don't-really-know-what-to-call-it-because-that-topic-has-been-successfully-avoided spent a good 20 minutes trying to get all the feathers out of your hair and clothes. Tori didn't buy his excuse but it made so little sense that he doesn't really think he wants to know either so he choses to live in ignorance for once. (when he does meet Wataru he remembers this and suddenly it all makes sense because Wataru also smells like birds. He choses living in ignorance was good while it lasted.)

After some more time of being acquainted with Wataru Eichi and Tori decide to also show their faces in the town for once and both parties have to warm up to each other and it's a little off for all involved (Wataru and Yuzuru are the only people who actually know both sides personally) but with the time the general unease regarding the secluded nobles ebbs out a little. There's still people who don't like them but it's civil still because they like Yuzuru and while they think Wataru is a bit strange they have come to like him as well and why provoke unneccessary comflict when you can just decide not to interact with those people.

I could talk sooooo much more but I don't think anyone actually wants to read this much or cares for it so I will try to stop now but just. Eichi bringing the traveling bard Wataru to settle down and "tying him down to humanity" by keeping in one place and Ohhhhhhh you can even have something EP:Link-esque in this like. Eichi is convinced Wataru will leave him eventually because he's a free spirit and tying him down would be unfair or impossible or something and Wataru gives him...I dob't know maybe not a mask but his instrument or something maybe a mask works too because he would probably still be a bard the man has to make a living somehow but symbolically the instrument would work better. But yes and he gives that to him and tells him "this is me and I offer this to you" and Eichi still doesn't get it so at their next redezvous it's like. the second part of that converstation where Eichi had to accept that Wataru wanting to stay is the only logical explanation left and he has to accept that and ooooh there's layers to this there is actually layers to this I'm so,,,,,hehehehehe,,,,laughing ecstatically and clapping my hands,,,,

[deltas-writing-corner]

Warmth: Act 1 - 8

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku

Disclaimer: This is only the first 1000 words of the chapter. If you would like to read the rest, click here!

Warnings: none

Masterlist: (coming soon)

"Aim!....Fire!"

Your archers release their arrows on your command. As you walk behind them and check their targets, you see nearly all of them hit perfectly in the middle. You notice one soldier's aim is a bit off and approach him. He stiffens up as he hears your footsteps grow closer but you place a gentle hand on his back to show you mean him no harm.

"Are you alright? Do you need some water?"

"N-No! I'm fine!" he stutters.

You give him a quick look over his figure and notice his firing hand is clenched and shaking. You pull it away, looking up at him to silently order that he open his palm. He's trying his hardest not to look scared, but is utterly failing. He relents, lowering his head in shame as he reveals the gash across his palm.

"You're bleeding! Why didn't you say anything sooner?" you scold him. 

"I'm alright, my lady," He tries to wave off your clear worry. "So long as I am still breathing, I can fight through the pain."

You let out a disappointed sigh. "I admire your determination, but ignoring an injury in such a vital place isn't something you should make a habit of. Come," you gesture for him to follow you over and have him sit him down in the shade. You look up to the handful of maids awaiting your orders. "Can you clean up his hand and bandage it, please?"

Two of them nod in acknowledgement and begin to work right away. One goes off to fetch some water while the other looks over the injury, grabbing the appropriate materials needed to patch it up. His fear from before slowly dissolves as he's carefully attended to, replaced with embarrassment as one of your archers blatantly wolf-whistles at him.

You turn back towards them and put on a fake smile. "If you have time to tease him, then you have time to keep shooting. I want you all ready and capable come the next battle."

They all shout quick apologies before turning back and returning to their orderly positions. You also return to yours, pacing back and forth behind them and checking their posture to ensure they're handling their weapons exactly the way you've been teaching them to. 

"You'll all be able to shoot blindfolded once I'm done with you.

Now, fire!"

 _____________________________________________________________

Instructing is tiring in its own right. Standing over the beating heat of the sun and keeping track of dozens of men sounds easier than it  is. There's also other factors such as whether the men under your tutelage will receive your instructions willingly. You were very upfront that if they had any problems being taught by a woman to take it up with the man who put you in charge, Nobunaga. That seemed to shut most of them up and even resulted in a few of them reevaluating their initial perception of you as the day of your teachings progressed.

You don't care whether they respect you or even like you. All you want is to give them the tools to survive in these warring times. You're here for them , not for yourself.

"Mai and grandmother are approaching on your left," Kuro, wrapped around your neck as usual, alerts you.

You look to the left and see the aforementioned women carrying large bundles of fabric in their arms. You instinctively get up and rush over to them, hoping to take some of the weight out of their arms. They stop you on the account that you're a sweating mess. You needed a bath, ASAP.

"Is your instruction over?" your grandmother asks. "We have to get you changed as soon as possible!" 

"Changed? For what?" you ask.

"There's a banquet tonight! We would have had it earlier, but Lord Nobunaga wanted to make it a bit more grand than usual."

"I see. What is the banquet for?"

"It's to celebrate our latest victory against the Uesugi-Takeda forces. It's also to celebrate the miraculous recovery of our soldiers."

Your eyes widen in realization. "That explains why the kitchen has been so busy the last two days! All that food is for the celebration!”

Mai nods enthusiastically. "Grandma went all out this time! We'll all be eating good tonight!"

"Now, if only you two can learn to cook for yourselves!" the elderly lady complained. "I can't cook for you two forever."

"Grandmother,” you give her a knowing gaze. “Can you really trust the two of us in the kitchen by ourselves?"

"After last time? Of course not! You two would burn the whole place down!"

You laugh at her bluntness while Mai tries to defend herself. The last time you two were in the kitchen, you're surprised none of you actually died. It just goes to show that your hands are more suited for sewing and archery, not cooking.

Speaking of hands, you look over at Mai. "How's your hand? If anything feels off, even just a little bit, make sure you tell me."

She shakes her head. "I'm alright. My skin is actually smoother now! I also don't have any more needle scars on my fingertips."

She gives you the hand you healed so you can see for yourself. Your friend used to have little dotted marks on her fingers from the many times she's stabbed herself with a sewing needle. You've pierced your fingers hundreds of times, but never developed any scars whatsoever. You're a bit jealous. She had proof of her hard work and years of practice. All you have are your words.

The kitchen incident, while disastrous at first, ended up being the best opportunity for you. Mai had accidentally spilled boiling oil on her hand that day, burning and scarring her skin beyond repair. Before you headed to bed that night, you entered the maids quarters to check up on her. No amount of comforting words from you or from the other seamstresses could change the fact that her sewing career was now prematurely over. 

Seeing your friend so broken and in pain, you obviously chose to heal her. This time however, you didn’t do it in secret. With the support of Ranmaru and Kuro, you bit the bullet and healed your friend before the very eyes of all the maids. They were completely stunned at the sudden reveal, even more so as you explained to them the true nature of your being and origins along with Kuro's. 

You knew the risks of revealing yourself so suddenly and on such a large scale were exponential. The fear of rejection was the strongest it had ever been that night, as their silence seemed to last for an eternity and your thoughts spiralled along with it.

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