Day cruising (Open RP, Great Hall)

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Realizing that it had been more than long enough since he explored the particular acoustics of the Great Hall, Kurama had grabbed up his guitar and made his way from the greenhouses to the many-purposed hall Not to be left behind, his imperialistic cat followed at his heels, sniffing at passers-by in a queenly manner. Finding a seat at one of the massive windows, he began to tune and re-tune the sadly neglected instrument, playing snatches of songs as they came to him, or as people passed.

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[serrulata.livejournal.com]

He smiled, more focused now on the work and the general pleasantness of being in his lover's company. he wouldn't let his attention divert now, not after he'd done so well. "Basic preparation, or will we be doing mixtures? Should we stop by the greenhouses?" It was fun, really, doing this. Perhaps harvest wasn't so boring as he'd thought. perhaps, then, when it came time to bless the rice, he could suggest Kusuriyuri join him. It would be an interesting companion to this day.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri was pleased with Kurama's interest and pleased that it now seemed genuine in the task at hand rather than the promised reward, though he knew they would both enjoy that. "Of these, basic preparations. They will be prepared for storage. There are others that may be made into mixtures and final preparations, if Itoshii desires to continue once these are taken care of. There is no hurry for those, but if it is desired, we may continue." He smiled softly at Kurama. Though there was much more that could be harvested, he didn't need to harvest a great store of herbs here. And, the season was still young. There would be much more work in the coming months before winter covered the ground.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Let us see where our industry takes us," he said, suddenly realizing there was not even a hint of ulterior motive in his voice. His smile widened, and he thought perhaps to voice his previous thought. "Though, I was wondering... when it comes time again for the rice to be blessed and harvested, would you like to join me?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"This one would be most honoured," Kusuriyuri murmured, bowing slightly at the invitation. He took Kurama's free hand in his and led him into the small workroom he'd claimed for his arts. There was just enough room for two to work in the room and the air smelled of prepared medicines and herbs that hung and rested in various states of preparation. Tools of the trade littered the counter space in an organized confusion that spoke of work as opposed to cleaning.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"It would feel more like blessing and less like a chore with you around," he said, wondering idly what Inari would think of it. The God would probably be amused, he was sure. Anyone she could get to help she usually accepted with open arms.

He used his elbow to gently nudge away some debris to set down the basket, and paused to take in the smells of the place. He went through each one, identifying the source, the use, the strength, and quickly filed it away and inured himself to it. Too many smells could be overpowering, without the right preparation.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri squeezed Kurama's hand gently before releasing it to gather the tools they would need, twine to hang the plants that would need to be hung, a couple of knives, a tightly woven basket for those that needed to be salted dry and a jar half filled with alcohol. "Has Itoshii prepared herbs before?" he asked, looking at Kurama. There was a definite pleasure to Kurama's presence in his work room While he enjoyed teaching A how to prepare medicines, it was a completely different type of enjoyment from his lover's presence.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama hummed an affirmative, arranging the plants in the basket in order of which should be prepared soonest, in his recollection. "Not for a long while, before I died, anyway. There was no need for making medicine after, when there are doctors and hospitals-" a slight coldness to his tone there; he hated hospitals with the passion one usually reserved for a loathed enemy - "readily available."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri reached over and touched Kurama's hand gently. He understood, and knew that words were unneeded. "This one trusts that should assistance be needed, that Itoshii will ask." He began with the usena, slicing it and putting into the alcohol. While it could be prepared many ways, he had need of a tincture of it this time.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"What are your plans for each of these?" He asked, moving the topic back to work. It would not do to let his attention wander into unneeded reminiscence.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"The St. John's Wort is to be dried," Kusuriyuri replied, handing Kurama the twine as he finished working with the usena. "The witch hazel will need to be steamed so that it may be extracted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrosol)." He pointed to a series of twine lines in the corner of the room. "There is for drying," he said. "The fire will need to be outside for the steaming. The room is not large enough for comfort with that."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama started with the Wort, Cutting off lengths of twine with near-obsessive mathematical precision, arranging each cluster with an eye and a mind towards how much would be too much to dry quickly enough. He grew quiet in his focus, brow furrowed, eyes narrowed. He almost lost rack of even being in the room with anyone else until all of the Wort was tied off and ready to hang.

Time and its passing suddenly made a grand re-entrance into his life, and he smiled sheepishly over at Kusuriyuri, an embarrassed apology ready if he should see the need for one in his lover's face.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri had been focused on his own preparations, finishing setting the usena for tincture and making another tincture extraction jar for the calnedula. He finished just before Kurama did and smiled at the kitsune. "All that is left is the witch hazel and it is best left to rest a day before steaming it."

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"A pity," he said, his smile turning sly at the corners. "With the smell of it, we'd both need a long bath. As it happens, neither of us seem to need more than a brisk washing of the hands." He stood, gathering the Wort to hang on the drying lines. As he tied each bundle off, he half-sang, half-talked to Kusuriyuri, his tail twitching with amusement. "Oh, what ever shall we do to justify a bath, much less washing the hair?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri blinked and then raised his chin. "If more justification is needed than this one's word," he said, letting the mock reproval trail off, implying that Kurama obviously didn't believe his word and he was 'insulted' by it.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Your word, my beloved," he said, hands clasping over his heart, "is as good as a writ from the gods, set in stone and cast in iron. But such soothing work as this does not inspire the body to need washing. I would never want to waste the time of the one dearest my heart and soul with washing my hair if it didn't need washing." Then he paused, his demeanor shifting gears abruptly from impassioned shmuck to thoughtful. "I bet if I went outside and rolled around in the dirt a bit, that would do it."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri raised an eyebrow. "If Itoshii wishes to act as a dog," he said, letting his words trail off again. He wiped off his hands and turned to leave the room. "This one will be waiting until Itoshii feels he is sufficiently fouled to accept this one's promise." He let his tone indicate that he was almost insulted by such requirements.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

Kurama pouted at Kusuriyuri's back, then came up behind him, bending to press a kiss at the back of his neck. "Should I not tease, Koibito? Forgive me, I wanted to make you smile. Or would you rather I take a dive in the compost heap instead?" He added the last as an afterthought, absolutely unable to help himself.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"This one would prefer that Itoshii accept his payment as delivery on a promise," he said, placing one hand over Kurama's hands. He sighed softly from the kiss. "Is that okay?" he asked.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

A little chuckle escaped him: he loved it when Kusuriyuri mixed modern terminology with his normally traditional speech patterns. "It is very okay, Koibito. I apologize for teasing."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri turned, looking over his shoulder at Kurama. "This one worries when Itoshii does not tease or play. It is his nature to be foolish, after all." He smiled softly. "Then, this one shall bathe Itoshii. Did he consider what else he desired?"

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"To return such a favor would be a sweet reward," he replied, laying another kiss on Kusuriyuri, this time to his cheek. "I love you, koi. I don't think I said that yet today."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Itoshii has shown his love," Kusuriyuri murmured, reaching up for Kurama's cheek. "That is more satisfying, though this one does not doubt Itoshii's words." He caressed Kurama's cheek a moment before bringing his hand down to take Kurama's. "Let us go, then?"

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Yes, but I like saying it," he said, grasping Kusuriyuri's hand in his own, curling their fingers together comfortably. "Almost as much as I enjoy showing it, of course."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nodded, bowing his head slightly. "And, I love you," he murmured, slightly embarrassed because they were outside, meaning the words, none the less. He squeezed Kurama's fingers. "Clothing?" he asked, softly. "If we assist one another, will Itoshii be able to wait for his bath?" he continued, his tone solemn.

[serrulata.livejournal.com]

"Ah, you ask so much of me," he sighed, rolling his head back and slumping his shoulders. A grin stretched his mouth, though, and his tail was - again, against his wishes - wagging. "I suppose, since the reward is so great."