竹中半兵衛 × ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴᴀᴋᴀ ʜᴀɴʙᴇɪ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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meteorcity2015-06-02 01:32 am
advance) wrote in meteorcity2015-06-02 01:32 am
Entry tags:
windspeaks
[ on the outskirts of shiga one might find the beginnings of a small textile industry– one that’s just gaining traction, with small, rural but hardworking shops. the trade has gone fairly unnoticed by most, but after hearing faint rumors of such business on his way to tokyo, hanbei had to see for himself.
—and on the outskirts of shiga, currently, one might find the very same takenaka hanbei, aiding the few others he’s with out of a ditch their too-big carriage toppled into.
lucky for him, hanbei is swift enough to have climbed his way out before the carriage collapsed into its now permanent spot in the sticky dirt. he may be confined indoors most of his life now, but his body and skills are still very able.
still– someone is stuck. not fatally so, to their fortune, but the group is still a ways away from the nearest densely populated area– and, though hanbei is strong, he can’t possibly lift the carriage even just a bit. he also can’t free the horses trapped by their reins, and stuck in the mud. ] Goodness... these new carriages certainly are too top-heavy. We’ll need to replace them.
[ to himself, as he decides to draw back and observe instead.
he pauses, then speaks down to the men just a bit below him. ] I’m going for help, then. Be sure not to exhaust yourselves. [ and so he goes. ]
—and on the outskirts of shiga, currently, one might find the very same takenaka hanbei, aiding the few others he’s with out of a ditch their too-big carriage toppled into.
lucky for him, hanbei is swift enough to have climbed his way out before the carriage collapsed into its now permanent spot in the sticky dirt. he may be confined indoors most of his life now, but his body and skills are still very able.
still– someone is stuck. not fatally so, to their fortune, but the group is still a ways away from the nearest densely populated area– and, though hanbei is strong, he can’t possibly lift the carriage even just a bit. he also can’t free the horses trapped by their reins, and stuck in the mud. ] Goodness... these new carriages certainly are too top-heavy. We’ll need to replace them.
[ to himself, as he decides to draw back and observe instead.
he pauses, then speaks down to the men just a bit below him. ] I’m going for help, then. Be sure not to exhaust yourselves. [ and so he goes. ]
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while hanbei has faith in his men and their strength– especially combined– once the carriage starts to budge he knows immediately that it can't be their work. not the power of men all pushing and pulling together, no... but of one, strange anomaly that he had happened to stroll by on a mountain side.
what a comment, on the truth in the village rumors. if this didn't speak for the extremity of them, it at least hints at something out of the ordinary happening. there's no clear trick to it; nothing that might make him suspect sabotage and convenient rescue, or anything done underhandedly.
but still... he finds himself distracted by it just like the rest of his men. when tenka speaks up, he decides that can definitely wait until they're out of this delicate position, and snaps his men out of it. ] Harder. Come on, now. You cannot let go from here! [ and no, he's not helping. ]
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Nearly there now, my friends! [Tenka shouts behind the carriage, his grin wide and strained as he braces a knee forward and pushes.] Just ... a bit...!!
[There's a second of scrambling and heaving as the group struggles to get the front of the wheels over the edge, but once they do -with a loud and jolting CLACK!!– the carriage's weight eases off his shoulders and-
-nearly topples back on him. The front wheels have made it over the edge, but the last initial push seems to be more difficult than he expected...Tenka thinks he even feels a dot of sweat on his brow. How unlike me...!] ...I think one more push ought to do it, hm?
[As he prepares for a last heave, the men at the wheels hesitate when the carriage begins to lean back...] Don't lose courage now, fellows!
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(granted, the fate of his men is what evoked that worry, and should the thing have fallen back and mortally taken them all, the passing thought on tenka would mostly amount to "how regrettable.")
still, he wouldn't like to see any of them injured in this, much less killed, so he stays tensely quiet as tenka encourages the other men. it looks like if anyone is in need of some spurring words, it's tenka himself. ]
You have exceeded the expectations you set for yourself, Kumou-kun! [ he shouts down below, with surprising sincerity, and moves to grab an empty spot of rope. ] Hold steady, you all– not one of you can ease up, understand? [ advising the men he's now pulling with. this delicate, delicate procedure has put him on edge, admittedly, but he's far from showing it. ] Ready now?
... Pull!
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[Yes, he knew exactly what he was getting himself into when he came across that calm fellow on the side of the road. He knew that he would be able to help the man, regardless of how perilous the dilemma which presented itself may seem. It was a creed that stuck with him, no matter if he were simply walking into the village, or staring down a group of convicts which had (once again) found their way across the sea.
He, after all, had little brothers to go home to.
Tenka's grin widens and huffs some as he braces his knee forward again, and after Hanbei's last resounding 'pull!', he hardly needs to do much besides push and finally get those last back wheels over the edge. The carriage finds itself back on even land with a heavy, jolting CLACK!!, and almost the instant it's been retrieved do the men shout and laugh with relief– the smile on Tenka's face already infectious.]
Hahahaha, phew! There now!
That wasn't so bad, was it? [He scrubs the back of his hand over his brow, beaming in Hanbei's direction.] Good job, Takeneka-san.
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when the carriage finally gives and its weight hits the ground instead of straining in the form of ropes in their hands, hanbei breathes a little huff of relief himself. ] There, I knew you could do it. [ he says to his men, meeting with them first and foremost. ] Are you alright? [ after some humble chatter with them, hanbei instructs them to bring it closer to a drier, more stable patch of ground and finally meets with tenka. ]
I hardly did a thing, Kumou-kun. [ he says, satisfied smile on his face nevertheless. ]
You, on the other hand... [ he looks at him thoughtfully, heavy on the pause where they ought to both know he's reflecting on what peculiarities allowed tenka to help so much. ] You were impressive.
[ and yet he doesn't ask, yet. ] I must repay you somehow.
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And apparently Takenaka-san thinks so too, Tenka muses with another stretch.] Pff, repay me? I'll have you know I thrive on compliments well enough. [Because he IS impressive, right? Tenka chuckles and produces his fan from the folds of his sleeves.] After all, the esteemed head of our ancient shrine should—
[Tenka's hand drops his fan, surges to his shoulder and clamps down hard as he goes still.] Nn.
[Flickers of pain and discomfort wrinkle his brow, so subtle and brief one might think he was unaware of it. the passing of it comes and goes like a breeze, and eventually his smile returns, albeit small and humble.] ...Hah.
It seems even I know when to push my limits! But what matters now is the job is done, hm?
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... he pushed himself, huh? did he know this would happen? if so, why would he bother helping them all on his own?
it seems only natural that such a display of physical capability would cause this. hanbei feels less sympathetic and more curious about tenka's circumstances, but he's not about to be impolite. ]
Yes, well, with your help I've managed to avoid quite literally sinking a huge investment today, Kumou-kun. [ he eyes the line of tenka's shoulder pointedly. ] ... If you've strained yourself, I can refer you to a doctor in the city. [ he stresses, clearly implying that the doctors here are probably not up to the task. and, ] Free of charge, of course.
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but that word shakes Tenka from his musings, and has him pulling an even wider smile.] ...You really are interesting, Takenaka-san!
Doctors and their nagging don't come cheap these days, you know. [He would definitely know, after all. Tenka bends his knees to retrieve his fan, taking his time as he rises back and straightens.] As much as I appreciate the offer, I already have a fellow who regularly stops by the shrine. Hah, I can't imagine the bill he'd slap me with if he ever found me rendezvousing with another practitioner!
... [After a second, the young man suddenly sombers, his smile faint and perhaps a little regretful.] But do believe my word, when I say it is appreciated. Perhaps when I've thought of a way you can repay me, you can come visit my shrine to see it finally done.
Or, [And his fan snaps open, showy and flashy once again.] I could visit you, Takenaka-san. Would your fellow mind terribly, you think?
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and as unfortunate as it is, he's not swayed by that flashy smile. ]
... My fellow? [ does he mean hideyoshi. what...
well, first: ] I'm afraid that's much too vague for me, Kumou-kun. [ he offers as gently and yet resolutely as one can manage. ] I won't be able to do anything about it if you cannot make up your mind until a month for now, for instance.
You and I are both very busy, I imagine. [ and he really doesn't like the idea of one having to drop in on the other when tenka finally does decide to cash it in. ] I'll be in the next city over for a week before I return home. Please consider taking advantage of my offer before then.