caughtinanetwork | [064]

[Mitsuhide is on the island; the lighthouse, to be specific, right at the top of the abandoned building. You can see the beautiful view from it in the SFC feed. In fact, that's all you can see for a few moments, before Mitsuhide shifts the SFC so he can look into it.]

[His expression is quite relaxed, a small smile on his face. There is still something of a drained look about him too, but at least he doesn't look upset right now.]

I do enjoy it up here. The feel of the wind on my face, the smell of the sea. Every time I look to the horizon, I wish I could simply sail away.

[At that Mitsuhide blinks, sighs, and shakes his head.]

This is a frustrating curse, isn't it? I have gone hours without it affecting me, and then I admit that I want to shave my hair off and try the bald look.

[That confession? Was absolutely ridiculous, and so Mitsuhide laughs. Anyone who knows him even in passing could tell it was a lie. You don't spend years growing your hair out that length and spending all that time washing and caring for it without growing rather attached.]

That is obviously not true. Perhaps I should have avoided the SFC for the week, but locking myself away out of fear of this would do me no good. Giving up a lonely bed to sleep next to another was the best decision I ever made.

[A pause, and then, unfortunately for Mitsuhide, he blushes and chuckles awkwardly.]

Ah, good heavens. Perhaps... perhaps I ought to leave it there...

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[ Futon's barking can be heard faintly in the background before Gracia speaks up into the SFC. She frowns and tries not to look too...affected by his words. At the very least, Gracia attempts an encouraging smile. ]

I wish we could too.

[ After Gracia reaches behind her to gently grab at Futon, - who was sometimes far too excitable, even for her! - she lightens the mood immediately with a genuine laugh. That's not all his post talked about, after all. ]

Father, the bald look won't suit you at all! [ Oops, curse time. ] But I'll still think you're the handsomest man in the world.

[ Gracia looks surprised, but it doesn't last very long. She only smiles, this time, as genuine as her laughter a few moments before. Curse or no curses, she would happily admit that out loud any day! ]

[Mitsuhide doesn't respond to the first comment, because it could lead them both back to a sad place, and right now he is rather vulnerable to doing so. So instead he focuses on what she said after that.]

[With a somewhat embarassed hum, and a light chuckle, he says:]

It would not. But you are too kind, my girl.

[~~MOST BEAUTIFUL MAN IN THE WORLD.~~ The samurai is still flushed from the bed comment, but he manages to adopt a calmer expression, at least.]

I have no intention of cutting my hair off, you may rest assured. I think you, however, would look most charming without any hair!

[...obviously false. Mitsuhide sighs deeply.]

[ ~~WHOOPS, MY BAD~~ To help him save face, Gracia just lets that one slide...for now. She attempts to hold in a giggle or two, but she's unsuccessful. It's been a long time since she spoke with Motochika about her father's feelings for him, and they were still going strong. ]

[ She lets Futon go for a second time, and she pauses just to watch where her new baby was going to go now. When Gracia was certain he wouldn't wander off too far from her sights, she resumed speaking to her father. Needless to say, when she looks back at the SFC, she looks like she's both offended and being tickled by a million fingers at the same time! ]

I would? What a strange and mean thing to say! [ Gracia pouts, though her offense to it is just as fake as the words Mitsuhide last said. ] My hair isn't as long or as silky as yours, but I like it just the same! [ She laughs, but again, the curse seems to keep ruining conversations for her. ]

I hate the color so much I wish I could shave all my hair off.

[ She gasps sharply, and looks away, her final peals of laughter fading fast. That wasn't entirely true, but it did hold a lot of weight concerning her past insecurities. Growing up was not easy for her, hence her refusal to accept compliments, and her need to have people around all the time. ]

[...well, that clearly is the truth. Goodness. Mitsuhide blinks; it may have something to do with her mother's ancestry and the attitude of some towards foreigners in Japan, but it hurts his heart to know she can hate a part of herself (despite his own self-esteeem problems). So he says:]

You have beautifully coloured hair, beloved. It is unique, striking, special... a reflection of yourself. You remind me of Lord Motochika in that manner.

[Mitsuhide tilts his head.]

Though impossible, I sometimes feel like you carry his blood as well as my own.

[His expression has grown soft, and affectionate. For once, he is making no attempt to rein in his feelings and thoughts. She needs to know this.]

Do not think so badly of any part of your appearance. Have no doubt about your own radiance, and please, do not try to argue with me about this. Accept what I see is the truth, when it comes to you.

[ He was spot on; because of the strange coloring both she and her mother possessed, they were isolated from society, scorned by majority and leered at by a sickeningly curious few. Her mother suffered from the harshest of criticisms, and Gracia herself had to endure a rather lonely childhood (save for the moments when her father was home, always willing to keep his only daughter company.)

So to hear those words from him, regardless of how unsurprising his reassurances may be, makes Gracia blush and smile so wide she could practically feel her lips tearing at the sides. When he complimented her like that...it made enduring those days in the past worth it for some reason. For both Gracia and her mother. ]

[ Her mood is instantly brighter, though she still can't help but feel just a tad bit sheepish. Her eyes dart back and forth - from the floor to the SFC - before she replies again. ]

Father...you mean all of those things? [ Gracia looks up, though her head is tilted downwards in an extremely rare moment of actual shyness. She burned up whenever a stranger complimented her, what more her own idol, her father, boosting her ego? ] I wonder if Motochika will be happy to hear that? [ A quiet laugh. ]

I...I won't doubt you. I trust father for everything. [ She finally looks back up at the SFC, complete adoration and love glowing in her gaze. ] Father thinks my hair is beautiful, even though it's not black or brown like everyone else. Like Lady Oichi, or Lady No.

[ Gracia allows the curse to echo her true feelings this time. ]

Of course.

[He blinks, regarding her with a gentle, kindly expression. It amazes him that she could worry about something like this, though in retrospect perhaps he should have known such issues would lie somewhere within her. Not for the first time, Mitsuhide wonders about her mother, the wife of his other self, but this is not yet the time for questioning in that matter.]

I would not lie about something as important as this... and you know he would. He loves you as I do, and values independence and being true to one's self.

[To put it mildly. And despite his own adherence to many traditional values, it is an aspect of Motochika's personality that Mitsuhide particularly loves. That free spirit, unbound by the expectations of their countrymen and changing for no-one. Vatheon's influence on Mitsuhide only makes it even more adored.]

What I want is for you to be happy with every part of yourself, my girl.

[And then an idea occurs to him, a good way to really emphasise what he has said to her. He thinks it over for a moment, calculating how much time he will need to get things ready, and then says:]

Will you be free in two hours or so, Gracia?

[That would surely be enough to get the necessary items and set things up.]

[ Though she might always act rather shy when it comes to how she looks, Mitsuhide's heartfelt words was making a large impact on Gracia's self-esteem. What did it matter if people back home didn't appreciate her hair and eye color, if they ridiculed it and if they found her unappealing? Her father would always be on her side, and he'd always find her beautiful. That was more than enough!

Gracia sighs with relief and joy. Futon returns to her side a minute later and pants as she picks him up and cuddles him, cheeks slightly flushed. ]

I am now. Thank you, father. You always know the right things to say.

[ ...there are instances when it's actually the opposite, especially when it involved a certain other pet of hers parading around in their house, but...that's for another time. ]

In two hours? [ She glances down at her puppy and shrugs, smiling. ] Of course I'm free! Tell me father, are we going to do something in that time? [ She sounds curious. And excited! It's easy to tell when her eyes grow wide like that, and she's leaning forward as if Mitsuhide was telling a compelling story! ]

[He nods. Excellent.]

Yes. Come home in two hours and I will have something set up in the music room.

[Hope you don't explode with excitement in that time, Gracia!]

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