[D5 EE] Lord of Shadows

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"There is beauty in everything, if you but know where to look." Mineichi murmured softly, his hand to cover hers, his touch careful at first. Close as he was, his perfume - the faint scent plums and sandalwood would wash over her, the delicate notes accompanied by the smells of the city she had likely grown accustomed to. "There is beauty to be found even in the darkest places of the city, even in places where the lights are the dimmest."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Hmmm..." she sighed pleasantly, breathing in the scent of his perfume. "In a city full of ligts, just how dark can the darkness be...?" Yakumo asked with a murmur as her free hand moved over his shoulder in a languid motion.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Very dark..." Mineichi murmured as he stepped closer to her, his hand finding its way on her waist, his hold firm as he pulled her into an embrace "Lights." he commanded, the spirits responsible for the lighting of the room going dormant immediately, shrouding the two samurai in utter darkness if not for the lights of the city below them. In the cover of darkness, his fingers roamed over Yakumo's lower back, tugging her close even as his lips sought out her neck, tugging his veil away only to press his lips on her neck, one soft kiss following another.

[Susumu Yakumo]

She enjoyed the darkness. The exploration and enhanced senses without being able to fully see one another. The kisses against her neck elicited pleasant murmurs of delight almost like a cat's purrs, as her hands in return squeezed and caressed his arms, lightly guiding the direction of his hands to let him know that she was also in control.

"I wonder," Yakumo's whispered words were almost intoxicating, each warm breath tickling his ear, "is it the Scorpion or the Spider that is most at home in the dark?" Giggling, she playfully nibbled his earlobe.

[Tassu]

Mineichi had no qualms letting Yakumo guide his hands, happily letting her show how and where she wanted to be touched, his fingers slowly exploring the cloth of her dress. His breath was warm on her skin, Mineichi drinking deep of every little gasp escaping her lips.

He took a step back, leaning against glass, standing between the distant lights and the darkness of his rooms as he touched her, following her lead. "Creatures of darkness, both..." he murmured, gasping softly when her lips found his ear, his fingers easing their hold for a moment as he lost his focus. Yet, Mineichi was determined to show that he wasn't undone so easily and figuring that offense was the best defense, moved to place a kiss directly on her lips. "Mhmhm..." She could feel hunger in his touch, her admirer lost in her for a moment. Another soft and tender kiss followed the first one as he hungered for more. "You taste sweet, my songbird." Mineichi managed to whisper between kisses, Yakumo having taken his breath away.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Somehow she managed to gasp as she found herself locked in a kiss. It was absolutely a successful attack on her defenses. A few more kisses were exchanged until she tilted her head back slightly to gasp for air, which did leave her neck exposed.

"Mm... they do say poison taste sweet," she teased, guiding his hands to her hips, allowing him to play with the fabric near the open-slit of her cheongsam. Wasn't there some story about poison-birds in Scorpion courts? Maybe that's why she thought it was amusing to compare herself to a bird and something poisonous?

In the darkness, against the lights outside, they were just two people locked in an embrace - and not a Lord Magistrate and a famous singer.


/fade to black

[Bayushi Mineichi]

/fade in

Some passionate moments later, the Lord Magistrate of the Oborozuki laid sprawled on the pillows, his kimono laying scattered across the floor, his obi dangling from the table. His guest laid on top of him, their breaths steadying slowly. His arms, having been on her hips only moments ago, remained wrapped around her waist. Mineichi's hair was a mess, some of his curls clinging to his brow. "A creature of darkness indeed." he murmured approvingly, his fingers drawing circles on her skin. "I do not usually get carried away quite like this. I felt drawn to you." There words were not meant in a romantic sense, Mineichi sounding a little puzzled by his own admission. "Perhaps we knew each other in previous lives. Or perhaps it had been just far too long." A soft chuckle escaped his lips.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Her own breath was heavy, exhausted, as the Scorpion surely seemed to have had more stamina than her. Yakumo knew she'd have to give herself a bit more time before she considered anything like picking up discarded clothing, let alone putting it on.

Feeling drawn to her? Of course. Some of her fans probably felt that way; seeing a pretty singer. Though something in his demeanor as he said it was more curious than just the words themselves. "Hm... you believe in such romantic tales? Souls of past lovers reconnecting across time?" She chuckled too, kissing his jawline in the afterglow of the passion.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

There was a mild concern in his eyes, Mineichi blissfully unaware of just how frail Yakumo was, though close as she was, he could feel her breath against his chest. Concluding that the Otomo had had to drive the poor woman to ground, he dragged his hand along her spine, his fingers finding their way among her curls as he stroke Yakumo's hair as if to soothe her. "Mmhm." He huffed dryly, his chest rumbling against hers. "I we have many such legends. That souls of lovers are drawn to each other - often born as twins. That never made much sense to me." Meanwhile the SENN had made dozens of serial plays revolving around forbidden love. The audiences loved the trope, questionable as it was. "No, I definitely felt more hungry than usual." he added with a grin as she kissed him. "Maybe you just bring out the best... or worse in me."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo sighed pleasantly, feeling his hand along her back, and arched slightly in response to the touch. Almost like a cat would when being petted in just the right spot.

"Hmm..."

There was a strange silence. Not... here where there was still the sound of two people, but here - inside just her. For as long as she could remember, those noises were almost always there, in one way or another. But now... it was as if they had been cowed. Frightened to only the faintest, chaotic whispers.

"... You bring out something in me too," she murmured in puzzlement, as she didn't know what to think. Should she be scared? "There is something about you, I can't put my finger on."

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Mineichi kept stroking Yakumo's hair as her breath slowly calmed down, toying with her curls as he did so. Having cancelled everything he had for the evening, he was in no hurry to move, the songstress light on his chest. "Mhmhm. I can tell." he grinned, entirely unaware of what she meant. "You were wild."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"So were you. Keeping up and all that," she laughed, a soft and pleasant sound. Still, she didn't know what was going on. Was this some kind of warning? Or a blessing of some sort, if she wanted to keep them at bay?

Did she though?

Mineichi had said something that had seemed to puzzle him, so Yakumo felt like there had to be something strange going on for him too, even if it was without a doubt not the same as it was for her. "It is strange, maybe there is something to what you said. About souls parted - or something along those lines... this sounds horribly silly and banal, but there's... just something. Like when you think you felt someone touch you, but it's impossible because you're home alone." Though occurrences like that was something most peopled chalked up to an active imagination or just mishaps in the nervous-system, while the superstitious chalked it up to... ghosts.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Well, it had been a while." Mineichi replied, grinning still, one of his hands roaming along Yakumo's back, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "Mhmhm." She could see him frown as she explained herself, the playful grin disappearing from his lips. "Do you often feel like that? Like someone was touching you when you are on your own?" he asked, wondering if Yakumo was trying to explain that she was cursed somehow. It made little sense though - the Imperials would have never allowed anyone cursed by the kami to get anywhere near their goals and profits. "I can't say I have felt anything like that, really." he assured her.

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OOC: We are being sincere here. Sincerity/Awareness | 4k3 ⇒ 18 (TN: ?)

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo had no reason to doubt his sincerity, though she still wondered about the words before and the puzzlement attached to them.

"No, not as such... just, you know, everyone has those experiences right." She did her best to sound like it was just a minor passing thing that everyone experienced at some point in their life. "It's nothing."

Rather than letting the situation get too awkward, her body shifted to move beside him as easily as she shifted the conversation away. "Mm, how about we get some more to drink?" She didn't want him to know, and... she didn't want him to suspect she thought there was something strange going on.

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D5 EE. Lord of Shadows. Investigation/Perception vs Sincerity. Untrained. +1k1 Void. TN 18 | 3k3 ⇒ 13 (TN: 18)
D5 EE. Lord of Shadows. Sincerity/Awareness as we are totally being sincere too. | 5k4 ⇒ 32 (TN: ?)

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Much like Yakumo saw no reason to doubt Mineichi, the lord magistrate saw no reason to doubt her. The words of the Spider songstress rang true in his ears. "Mhmhm. I suppose we all have our weird moments." he muttered in agreement, more preoccupied with what his hands could reach than what she had actually said.

"Now that sounds like an excellent idea. However, as you might notice, I am in no position to pour for you." He quipped, smiling again, shadows playing their gameon his worn features. "So if you were so kind?" Mineichi asked, letting his hands fall on the ground so that Yakumo could push herself up if she wanted. "Unless you'd prefer me help the matters?" There was a hint of mischief in his voice.
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Investigation/Perception | 5k3 ⇒ 16 (TN: 32)

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Oh?" she giggled, pushing herself to sit up at least. "What did you have in mind?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Something like this." Grinning, Mineichi wrapped his hands around her body, turning so that it was he who laid on her, Yakumo now sprawled on the pillows. He paused to look down at her, the lights of the distance city reflecting on her face, casting deep shadows. Still, lips were only so hard to find, Mineichi kissing her softly. "Oh how the tables have turned." he murmured, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "The predator has become prey. Rawr." Curling his fingers into a 'paw', Mineichi brought his hand to Yakumo's cheek, poking her gently. "The cat has caught his prey, yes."

[Susumu Yakumo]

There was a surprised laugh as the turns tabled. Or tables turned. Yes, it was either of those.

"Oh my," she said while still chuckling, pulling up a knee to bump his side playfully. "So it seems you have... just when my guard was down too."

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Rawr." Mineichi growled playfully, his lips finding her jawline, the lord of cats laying a trail of southward kisses on her bare skin. "But, seeing how you are in a predicament..." he planted another kiss on her. "I suppose it falls to me to play the host." Pushing himself up, Mineichi leaned against the table, his legs still sprawled on hers. He reached for the tokkuri, filling their cups with the now luke warm sake, handing one to Yakumo.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Taking the offered cup, she made a "rawr" sound in return in place of a more normal way to toast.

"Do you often invite starlets over like this, hm?" Yakumo asked casually, wondering if he was the type of guy to have regular visitors of the sort, even when he was married before.

She took a small sip from the sake. It was not the ideal temperature now, but something to wet the throat was nice after all that physical exertion.