CitrusArms

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

Blearg, no time to write just now. Gotta go in to work, but good news! Short shift, today, only a couple hours.

Those were her eyes going up her arm and to her face, but I'll roll with it. :P

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

The very cute noise Miyuki had totally not made had not escaped the pseudo-goddess. Yes, she supposed she'd gotten a little bit up there without realizing, putting the long stockings on Miyuki, but Yumeiko controlled the thought before it could derail her.

"Maybe if you weren't so overdone about it, it could work better." Yumeiko looked up from the shoes. Miyuki had given a fuller, deific name. Was that her name, back then, or was she just making things up? Dai-Megami definitely sounded made up, but sensibilities were different, back then. She could no longer reliably remember if such a name could have ever been taken seriously. She giggled softly and shook her head, looking back to the shoes she currently had on Miyuki's feet. The flip-flops had been returned to the drawer by her power, as though they knew where to return to.

Miyuki described how she would prefer to be presented, and the golden fox studied her a moment before rising from her position before her. With a deliberate slowness, she settled herself next to the black fox on the bed. The priestess took Miyuki's hand in both of hers, enclosing it and holding it carefully, tenderly, bringing it to her lap.

She looked at the hand she held, asking it her question, "you will support me?"

Her eyes left the hand, traveled up the arm, and arrived at Miyuki's golden gaze.

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

You're trying to wear pink flip flops with *that* kimono? Tsk

Also. Shoebie.

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

Yumeiko nodded softly, hearing that Miyuki didn't seem quite prepared to present herself as something other than terrifying.

The explanation about flip-flops hadn't been important, anyway. What was more important was the horrifying collection of oddities that Miyuki had collected in her bottom drawer of feet-things. A deep breath filled her lungs and offered her a bit of mental stability before she heaved a sigh with a "right." Miyuki was not used to taking care of herself, she relied on fear to inspire her so-called trade partners to bring her things. It didn't seem like she ever made specific requests.

It was a wonder that Miyuki had a functioning wardrobe at all.

"I suppose I'll dress you, this time. Sit, please." The kimono was tiny, but... fine enough. There was a rather more egregious fashion statement in front of her, the socks and flip-flops.

With a task before her, Yumeiko was focused and professional as she knelt down before Miyuki, touching the socks on her feet and using the same sacred power she'd changed her own clothes with earlier to change Miyuki's socks for thigh-highs, and then started to cycle through footwear that matched her aesthetic.

"There are a few ways we could present you to them. You could present yourself as my servant, but," Yumeiko shook her head, "that doesn't seem like something you'd tolerate at all. We could call you my champion, but people would likely expect you to fight. You," she hummed, "have more tails, Miyuki. You could easily claim to be another Goddess. That would allow you the most freedom."

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

Aah. Was that a no, then? Yumi's ears drooped a bit, expecting a refusal, a denial, but what she heard instead sounded like a - reluctant - confirmation. Her ears perked back up, more of surprise than anything else, and one yokai watched the other retreat into her bedroom once more.

Miyuki sounded rather discontent about the situation, but the priestess was just glad the black fox was going through with it. She listened with an apologetic smile for no one in particular as Miyuki thumped and grumbled in her room, only for the woman to emerge in not much more. She'd added white socks and-

Wh-.. she owns something like that? That color? Someone must have given it to her a long time ago. Yumeiko wondered vaguely at what their fate had been, but thought it best not to dwell.

"Miyuki," Yumeiko was VERY careful not to laugh, "those, ah, feet-things - those ones are commonly called 'flip-flops', because of the sound they make" focus, "mn, those ones-... why don't we go have a look at some of the other things you've got?"

Gods, did those wanna-be sandals not go with the rest of her anything. Yumeiko took Miyuki's hand as she passed her, and led her back to her bedroom.

Before she started diving into specific items, this time, she did openly look Miyuki over, but it was less a roving eye and more an assessment. There was something she had to address, as well.

"... Miyuki. How do you," she paused. She had invited Miyuki to explore the ship, but that put them in a position. "To mortal eyes, we're similar, right?" Her eyes were turned aside as she pieced together what she wanted to say, before they lifted to look into the other's, "how do you want to present yourself?"

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

Yumeiko bit back a smile, trying not to let thoughts of the underdressed-

Nope nope nope. "Ah, haha, right? I don't even have to go under the bed for anything."

Mnnnn. Not exactly what she had wanted to talk about, and she caught herself watching Miyuki as she stood and adjusted her hair. Had she missed something, or was Miyuki just being fussy? Probably.

"The whole routine? I could do without so much cleaning, please don't make another mess." Now it was Yumeiko who turned a smug smirk, and she motioned for Miyuki to lead the way. At the door, the priestess would stop before leaving, and then turn to Miyuki.

"You're not going to just... go back to bed, are you?" Her eyes turned past Miyuki, into what was essentially an apartment, and then back to the slightly taller, rather larger other fox in front of her. "Miyuki, why don't I show you around, instead? There's plenty on the ship to do. Maybe you'll even find something new and interesting?"

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

The priestess gasped, surprised as the fluffy black tails wrapped around her, holding her close. Her cheeks flushed, realizing perhaps she was still foolish from sleep and whatever had come over her before Miyuki carried her to bed. She did not struggle against the tails, instead just trying to center herself before Miyuki released her. The blond sat back, smiling softly despite herself.

"No, I cannot see the future." Yumeiko raised her gaze from wherever it had settled in thought.

The priestess's blush renewed under that smug gaze and that smug question, and she turned away. "Yes. Yes, I'm done brushing." Yumeiko began to remove herself from the bed. "I, ah, have imposed on your space enough for one evening, haven't I?"

Grooming Miyuki had given the blonde a nostalgic feeling, like sitting with one of the shrine maidens she might have been sweet on. She was quite beautiful, too. Yumeiko barely remembered it, but Miyuki had carried her. A short distance, sure, but the black fox had been somewhat indolent before that. In that moment, however, she had shown the priestess something genuine. Was that lazyiness part of an act?

She stood and took a breath, making a motion over her body with her hands before the line cook outfit she wore changed. As though the cloth rolled into new cloth, from the top down, it changed into a modest skirt and blazer with some gilding here and there. She looked herself over slowly, nodding here and there with approval.

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

The silence Miyuki settled between them weighed heavily. The priestess waited through it, feeling it as every moment passed. When Yumeiko heard her answer, Miyuki had shrouded her reasoning. Had that time been spent calculating, to give away so little of herself in her answer? Was she seeking the relative safety of the ship, and the shrine within? Did she mean to cover for Yumeiko's blind spots, seeing dangers she missed? Was she staying with the ship out of convenience, selfishness, or selflessness?

As hard as Miyuki made it to see beneath her answer, her answer had been to remain aboard - to stay until she was no longer wanted.

Something about that part of her answer drew Yumeiko's attention. She shifted closer to the black fox, leaning gently against Miyuki's back while laying her hands on her shoulders, "do you think I will, eventually, no longer want you here?"

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

Yes, ma'am <3

Foxes in SPAAAAAAAACE (Xaltwind and CitrusArms)

"I see." Yumeiko nodded softly to herself at Miyuki's explanation. She would choose to believe her.

The priestess would continue with purpose. While she did, she took inventory of the ship; the answers she sought were ready for her, to her surprise. There was a report from the fleet ready for her, discoveries and reconnaissance already cataloged for her appraisal. Things had moved along without her. It was a nice feeling.

They asked if she would be joining the fleet on expedition or staying in orbit. The reports had indicated more Scourge signatures among the stars.

Yumeiko took a slow breath, sorting her thoughts for a moment. She would go. She couldn't leave the fleet without the support that had seen so many of them through the battle. However, she couldn't drag Miyuki into a dangerous journey without informing her.

"Miyuki," she would wait a moment for the other to face her, though she would continue even if she didn't, "in light of the recent battle, and what I hear from the fleet, I feel I must tell you a few things before we leave with you aboard. I imagine you must be quite curious about what happened while you were," she considered Miyuki for a moment. Knowing what she did about her, "sealed? Just a guess; sorry. Uhm," the blonde cleared her throat, "it's going to be dangerous. It sounds like we'll be fighting more of them. If you stay here, you'll be brought into more battles."

"You should understand what danger we'll be facing - what it is we'll be fighting. Do you want me to tell you?"

Informing Miyuki of the horrors of the Scourge would only be fair, though she didn't need to get graphic. Telling her that flesh and machine alike are consumed should be enough. That it is a force with no reason but destruction, deceptively clever in its designs - brutal, inefficient, yet effective.

Yumeiko watched the other, hesitant, unsure. She would understand if Miyuki wanted to stay behind, which was all the more reason to ask her, "will you stay? Here?"