(D1 EA) Some Minor Hangups (Expecting/Closed)

[Moshi Meiko]

Now that Meiko was properly presentable it was time to explore! Sure she could wait for a proper tour, but that was hardly in keeping with the party aesthetic she had planned.

Making sure to pack a small meal just in case (who knew what the Crab lands were really like?) the Moshi roars our out of the village and into the surrounds. Whenever she spots someone be they peasant or samurai they’re offered a cheery greeting and asked for directions. And so the Mantis wanders on and on and on until she reaches the farms.


“Wow!..farms really are the same everywhere!”

Still, now she could tell everyone she’d seen Crab farms. Turning for home Meiko spots a deer trail, which just has to be a shortcut!

Taking the path less travelled she hurries down the narrow dirt track beneath the trees, enjoying the sounds of wildlife around her until her foot catches on something.

“Huh, what’s thaaaaaaaaa?!?!”
Unfortunately, that something being a rope snare, the shugenja is whisked up by one ankle into the air as she squawks loudly in surprise. The small Moshi ends up slowly rotating on the spot while she tries to hold up her kimono to maintain some dignity.
“It’s a trap! I’ve been trapped! Oh how exciting! Not to worry, I’ll just cut the rope!”

Drawing her tanto Meiko narrows her eyes, clenches her muscles and... realises upper body body strength is something she needs to work on as she can’t get close to the snare at her ankle.

[Hiruma Sen]

It was part of Sen’s daily tasks to go around a few times a day to check up on the snares. One of the farmers had complained about some of his chickens going missing, so there had to be some kind of animal, whether fox or bandit, that had done it. And, being the good trapper she was, Sen had volunteered to help out.

But this was not what the Hiruma had expected. Sen looked up at what had triggered the snare, and she was a tiny Mantis. There went minimizing these kinds of incidents. Well shit.

“Hey, don’t move around so much. I’ll lower you down slowly.” Sen moved to the nearby tree where the trap had been set, feeling around for the rope so carefully hidden. Quickly untying a few knots, the Hiruma moved slowly with the rope in hand, letting the excess up as the Moshi started to lower. Once she got to a safe enough distance for the Hiruma to catch her, Sen released the rope fully.

[Moshi Meiko]

With a quiet ‘thump’ Meiko lands in Sen’s arms, looking a bit stunned for a few moments.... but only a few

“Thank you for saving me-“
She tilts her head to notice the Crab’s mon
“-Hiruma-san! Was that your trap? Oh I hope I didn’t ruin anything. I didn’t mean to step in it, but I think it caught me by surprise.”

As she talks the Moshi spends a few moments looking over her rescued, she hadn’t met a lot of Crab in her time. He certainly seemed nice, although maybe not Crab large? Crab medium?

[Hiruma Sen]

“Ah, yeah, I set it. Sorry you got caught up in it.” Sen sat the girl down on the ground before kneeling down to try and untie the rope from the Moshi’s ankle.

“So, you think you can walk okay?” Sen looked up, one hand hovering over the formerly snared ankle. “How long were you up there?”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Ah, yeah, I set it. Sorry you got caught up in it.” Sen sat the girl down on the ground before kneeling down to try and untie the rope from the Moshi’s ankle.

“So, you think you can walk okay?” Sen looked up, one hand hovering over the formerly snared ankle. “How long were you up there?”

“Oh, I mean, let me check.”
Meiko puts the foot down and goes to put some wait onto it
Cheerily “Oh wow, that’s really sore! You tie a good snare Hiruma-san. I don’t think I was up there for too long... but it’s hard to tell.”

The ankle is a bit red and rope burned but there’s probably no major damage.

[Hiruma Sen]

A frown crossed Sen’s features as hawk-like eyes watch the ankle closely. “Too sore to walk for a bit? I have some balm for the rope burns back at my house. Least I can do for inconveniencing’ you with my snare.”

The Hiruma glanced back up at the Moshi’s face, “I’m really sorry about this.”

[Moshi Meiko]

A frown crossed Sen’s features as hawk-like eyes watch the ankle closely. “Too sore to walk for a bit? I have some balm for the rope burns back at my house. Least I can do for inconveniencing’ you with my snare.”

The Hiruma glanced back up at the Moshi’s face, “I’m really sorry about this.”

“That’s okay!”
Meiko smiles back happily “I wanted to meet new people and this absolutely counts! I’m Meiko by the way, Meiko of the Moshi. I am honoured to meet you and am more than happy to see your house and balm.”

[Hiruma Sen]

“Hiruma Sen.” The Crab stood up at full height once again. For being pretty average height, Sen couldn’t help but feel so tall next to the Moshi. “So, Moshi-san, try walking on it. If it’s too sore, I can carry you.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Hiruma Sen.” The Crab stood up at full height once again. For being pretty average height, Sen couldn’t help but feel so tall next to the Moshi. “So, Moshi-san, try walking on it. If it’s too sore, I can carry you.”

Meiko hops up on her uninjured foot and experimentally tries the other. Before looking pensive for a moment
“Carry me?”

The Hiruma certainly seemed handsome.. and quite friendly. And Meiko was light... it wouldn’t be a great imposition... right?

“Oh no.”
Meiko exaggerates a limp as she tries walking.
“You might have to carry me Hiruma-san....”

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen’s brow knitted in worry as the Moshi limped. Was her ankle sprained? That would not do. So the Hiruma crouched down, back facing the Moshi with an expectant look. “I’ll carry you piggyback, then.”

Good thing the house wasn’t too far away. Probably wouldn’t be good to make too much of a scene of this.

[Moshi Meiko]

Sen’s brow knitted in worry as the Moshi limped. Was her ankle sprained? That would not do. So the Hiruma crouched down, back facing the Moshi with an expectant look. “I’ll carry you piggyback, then.”

Good thing the house wasn’t too far away. Probably wouldn’t be good to make too much of a scene of this.

“A piggyback ride?”
Meiko needed to get trapped more often.
The Moshi leaps onto Sen’s back and makes herself comfortable, doubly thankful she’s fit her bath in that morning.

“This is very generous of you Hiruma-san. I promise to be the best passenger I can.”

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen was quite thankful that Meiko was so light, given how she leapt on like that. Getting a good grip on the Moshi, Sen stood up at full height again with ease and started to make way down the path and back towards the farmlands.

But not too far, as Sen’s home was at the very edge of the farms and bordering some hunting paths. It was small, perhaps a tad bit larger than the farmhouses that dotted the area, but definitely far more humble than most Mantis samurai.

“Huh. I wonder if dad is home?” Sen looked around a moment before making way to the door. “Anyway, here we are.”

[Moshi Meiko]

Sen was quite thankful that Meiko was so light, given how she leapt on like that. Getting a good grip on the Moshi, Sen stood up at full height again with ease and started to make way down the path and back towards the farmlands.

But not too far, as Sen’s home was at the very edge of the farms and bordering some hunting paths. It was small, perhaps a tad bit larger than the farmhouses that dotted the area, but definitely far more humble than most Mantis samurai.

“Huh. I wonder if dad is home?” Sen looked around a moment before making way to the door. “Anyway, here we are.”

Meiko peers over Sen’s shoulder. Wondering for a moment why they’d stopped at the servant’s house before the Hiruma’s comment clears things up. Clearly the Crab were very... rustique.

“It’s a very wonderful house. Perfect for a small family.”
She really hopes there wasn’t an army of siblings inside
“Thank you for the lift Hiruma-san, it was like you didn’t even feel my weight at all!”

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen reached to slide the door open, almost stumbling inside. Thankfully, this Hiruma had excellent balance, even with a Moshi backpack. “No problem, Moshi-san. You’re only hurt because of my trap.”

Inside was fairly plain, nothing grandiose. But there were a few bamboo stakes and a rope lying on a small table that must have been left there by one would guess Sen. Of course, this wasn’t the only room. The quarters for Sen and likely one for her father were off to the side.

The meal table in the center of the living area would be a perfect place for the Moshi to rest, so Sen brought her to one of the cushions and crouched down so she could sit at her leisure.

[Moshi Meiko]

Sen reached to slide the door open, almost stumbling inside. Thankfully, this Hiruma had excellent balance, even with a Moshi backpack. “No problem, Moshi-san. You’re only hurt because of my trap.”

Inside was fairly plain, nothing grandiose. But there were a few bamboo stakes and a rope lying on a small table that must have been left there by one would guess Sen. Of course, this wasn’t the only room. The quarters for Sen and likely one for her father were off to the side.

The meal table in the center of the living area would be a perfect place for the Moshi to rest, so Sen brought her to one of the cushions and crouched down so she could sit at her leisure.

Meiko jumped down onto the cushion and then sank down into it. When you’re they size cushions can be a whole of body experience.

She looks around the at the room with interest, in particular the trap equipment. So this was where the Hiruma produced everything needed to protect the farms!

“Is everyone out for the day?”
After months on a ship the peacefulness of the house was a pleasant change.

[Hiruma Sen]

“Everyone? It’s only my dad and me here.” Sen stretched, making way towards one of the little shelves by the table with the rope. “Gonna warn you, there’s gonna be a strong mint-like scent coming from your ankle for a few hours at least.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Everyone? It’s only my dad and me here.” Sen stretched, making way towards one of the little shelves by the table with the rope. “Gonna warn you, there’s gonna be a strong mint-like scent coming from your ankle for a few hours at least.”

“Just you two? Don’t you get lonely?”
Meiko couldn’t really imagine it, between her three siblings their home had always been bustling.

“I quite like mint, I’m sure nobody will complain about my fresh smelling ankle.”

[Hiruma Sen]

“Nah, I like solitude. Been avoidin’ the town with all the guests and such.” Sen opened a small jar that had been taken from the shelf. Meiko could smell the medicinal minty balm from where she was sitting it was so strong.

“Alright, show me your ankle.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Alright, show me your ankle.”

Meiko covers her mouth as her eyes widen. So forward, so bold, just like in the pillow books!

The Moshi daintily extends her ankle as her heart races. To think, a boy touching her ankle... she must be proper.

Averting her eyes slightly
“Uh, h-here you go.”

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen rose a brow at that reaction, but shrugged it away. There was balm that needed to be spread on a Moshi’s ankle, after all. “Will feel a bit of a chill.”

The Hiruma crouched down, grabbing Meiko’s ankle with one hand as the other spread the balm along the nasty rope burn. It was indeed very cold to the touch, but it was soothing. The scent was even stronger up close, but it was worth it for how much it took the edge off of the burning sensation.

[Moshi Meiko]

Sen rose a brow at that reaction, but shrugged it away. There was balm that needed to be spread on a Moshi’s ankle, after all. “Will feel a bit of a chill.”

The Hiruma crouched down, grabbing Meiko’s ankle with one hand as the other spread the balm along the nasty rope burn. It was indeed very cold to the touch, but it was soothing. The scent was even stronger up close, but it was worth it for how much it took the edge off of the burning sensation.

C-cold! But then slightly warm and... very pleasant. Meiko sighs happily, obviously in a state of bliss.

“It’s very nice, I can’t feel the pain anymore. Did you make the balm yourself? I know a few sailors who could use something this nice for rope burn... and they need help with their scent too.”

[Hiruma Sen]

The Hiruma shakes her head. “Nope. My dad makes it. Really helps after settin’ up traps all day. Or even when you blister your hands digging’ pit falls.”

Sen continued to run the balm gently along the rope burn, being mindful of the sore ankle as well. “So, it only sore around the ankle or did you pull something in your calf, too?”

[Moshi Meiko]

The Hiruma shakes her head. “Nope. My dad makes it. Really helps after settin’ up traps all day. Or even when you blister your hands digging’ pit falls.”

Sen continued to run the balm gently along the rope burn, being mindful of the sore ankle as well. “So, it only sore around the ankle or did you pull something in your calf, too?”

Meiko looks like she might faint at that last question. What if someone find out she’d let a stranger touch her calf? Her calf was attached to her knee, and that was attached to her thigh and that was attached.... well, no right thinking samurai talked of that was that attached to.

Mustering all her dignity the Mantis managed to squeak a sure fire dodge
“I um... I mean, I... part of me wants to say yes. But... I couldn’t, not so suddenly. We barely even know one another.”

That absolutely made sense in context.

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen looked up at Meiko, a bit baffled by her reaction to just a simple question. A slow blink, “What does not knowing me very well half to do with your calf being pulled or not? I’m very... Confused and maybe a bit concerned. Did the snare give you whiplash?!”

[Moshi Meiko]

Sen looked up at Meiko, a bit baffled by her reaction to just a simple question. A slow blink, “What does not knowing me very well half to do with your calf being pulled or not? I’m very... Confused and maybe a bit concerned. Did the snare give you whiplash?!”

Flushing bright crimson
“It’s just what my calf is a very personal area, you know. Nobody ever rubs it, I don’t even rub it.”
Meiko wonders if maybe she had gotten whiplash and was still hanging upside back there passed out and dreaming of nice boys rubbing her ankle.