914/Warming Up

Warming Up
Date of Scene:	22 December 2023
Location:	Radiant Heart Academy
Synopsis:	An oni and a device mage catch up over lunch.
Thanks to:	Rashmi, for being just so goshdarn persistently friendly!
Cast of Characters:	Kureha Senkenzan, Rashmi Terios

---

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Despite having given Rashmi her phone number - a huge step on Kureha's part - she has nevertheless remained aloof. More willing to work with people on magical matters, but still distant, asocial. Since their last rooftop meeting, the Chikafuji scion has largely kept to herself in school, gone off to do her own thing, eaten lunch in peace and quiet. Even the other students have begun to treat her as, ironically, an untouchable ice princess.

    So it might be a bit of a surprise for anyone coming up to eat their lunch on the roof, expecting an empty area, and instead finding a bundled-up Kureha, quietly working her way through a large bento. Large and, as it happens, surprisingly steaming a bit. She's got a warmer gizmo in her lap, some latest piece of tech that's intended to let people with too much disposable income eat bento boxes without needing a microwave.

    There's lots of kara-age in there, lots of veggies, a couple of yakitori skewers... her appetite is definitely still healthy. And it smells like everything's a bit on the spicy side.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Several surprises find Rashmi, when she opens the door to the rooftop. The first, is the cold; while she'd known bundling up would be needed to enjoy a good lunchtime horizon, she still looses an audible, startled squeak as she opens the door, and gets a blast of just-above-freezing air, right to the face. The rest of her doesn't have it so bad, as she's got a thick off-white sweater, matching knit cap, and thick woolen leggings under her skirt... But cold air is cold air nonetheless.

The next surprise is much more pleasant, as she spots Kureha's head poking out of a bundle of warming cloth, contentedly munching on her bento. "Hiiiii, Kureha-chan~!" she says, lifting a hand in a cheerful wave. "Is this roof taken?"

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    The sound of someone approaching the rooftop door tugs Kureha's attention; she doesn't stop eating, but red eyes stay locked on the door until she's managed to figure out who's coming through. The startled voice seems to clinch it for her, and the ebon-haired girl goes back to gracefully shoveling warm kara-age into her mouth. Nom. Nom. Nom.

    Her answer comes without a glance up at Rashmi, smoothly delivered between bites. "It is a public roof. I have no claim to solitude here." Though her words are as guarded as ever, there's something subtle in her tone that seems a little... less so? It's hard to describe. Her next words, however, bear it out just a bit moreso. "But are you certain? My bento warmer doesn't produce much heat. And I will not be... warming the area myself. Not when others might join us."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Sometimes people just wanna be alone," Rashmi says, lifting a shoulder. "It's just good manners to ask first, y'know? And anyway, I'll be fine! ...For long enough to eat anyway."

Dropping down next to Kureha, Rashmi opens her own bento; while it's very much not a fancy self-warming sort, it *is* heavily insulated, and a wispy cloud of steam rises from the first layer, a trio of samosas filled with warmly fragrant spicy something. "Want one? It's beef and potato."

Taking one for herself, she munches contentedly, and whether the offer is taken up or not, she leaves her bento between the two of them, rather than in front of herself. "So how've you been, by the way?"

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    "I... suppose that is fair," Kureha says, after hearing Rashmi's reasoning.

    The food in the taller girl's bento gets a curious glance... and then another. Red eyes dart down to that bento with open temptation after the offer, and it's a good few seconds before she finally comes to a reply that satisfies her. "You may have some of my kara-age as well, if you wish, but I should warn, there is habanero powder in the breading. Chisa has been experimenting for my sake." Carefully, she reaches down to take the offered samosa, looking it over with curiosity. Sniff, sniff. "...I have been... busy. Both during days and... evenings." Magical girl work, in other words. "I've met... a wide variety of different people. Very different people."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The samosa itself isn't *hot,* in the way Kureha has come to favor. There's the heat of chilis within, but it's woven between and through other warming spices. Like a kotatsu made into food, eating it feels like warmth spreading through the body.

"I *bet,*" Rashmi chuckles. "There's some wild people out there, some of them are a *lot* of fun just to know exists."

Choosing the smallest of the remaining kara-age, she bobs her head in thanks, and with a cheerful "Itadakimaaasu!" she chomps down on the food... then her eyebrows raise sharply in surprise. Once the bite is swallowed, she lets out a steamy sigh. "This is *really* good," she says. "I should see if Mami would be okay with making a couple blends for Chisa-san to experiment with."

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    It is, in fact, some pretty good kara-age. There's a definite habanero bite to it, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else; Chisa has managed to balance the flavor and heat both perfectly with the soy, ginger and garlic she's included in the breading. Kureha lets out a soft little huff at Rashmi's reaction; her face is neutral, but there's a note of pride in her voice. "Spicy is new territory for her. She most often leaves the cooking to one of our chefs, but she has always been very good at kara-age." The possibility of some assistance from Rashmi's family puts a distinctly hopeful gleam in the young ojou's eyes, just briefly.

    Then she bites into the samosa, and her eyes widen slightly. It doesn't last very long after that. After devouring it in short order, Kureha brings up a napkin and carefully dabs at her mouth. "I..." She begins, a touch awkwardly, but then stops, as if choosing her words. "...I spent most of my life meeting only family, my attendants, and household servants. These past six months have been..." This time, when Kureha trails off, she doesn't start back up again. She's not sure how to describe it.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"...Yeah," Rashmi agrees, as if she heard the rest without needing to hear it. "They really have been. I'm probably gonna have nightmares for a long time, after some of the things I've seen. ...But there's other things too, things I might want to write down now, just so I can make stories of it later so I never *really* forget. It's a lot... like, a *lot.* But... I mean... on balance I'm glad it happened, myself."

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    As Rashmi speaks, Kureha is silent... save perhaps for the sound of eating. That doesn't really stop. But she regards Rashmi with a quiet look, listening to her words and mulling them over. Only when she's finally done does the black haired girl make any noise. A soft, thoughtful, "Mm..." and then a short pause. "My experience has been..." Once again, she falters. There's a strong desire to open up, to provide some explanation. But that's something that she has avoided until now, as a survival mechanism. "...your family is a bit more loving than mine," she concludes, and finding those words seems to open the floodgate a bit.

    Carefully, Kureha sets down her chopsticks, looking out over the school grounds. "Chikafuji Hozan is a cutthroat businessman. I was intended to become his heir. When I turned out frail and sickly, I instead became his shame, except when I could be useful. My cousins, aunts and uncles are all jockeying to position themselves or their children as the next family head. When it was convenient, I became a tool for them to wield against each other. A resource to take advantage of. Every kind word held an ulterior motive. Every 'free' favor was to be repaid, months or even years later."

    A brief side glance. "...There is a reason I am so distrustful. But compared to all of that, the time since my 'medical miracle' has been..."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Knowing that Kureha tends not to speak of herself, Rashmi keeps silent, while the shorter girl speaks, choosing instead to reveal the next layer of her bento; rice on one side, and a thick tomato soup on the other, which she applies herself to drinking, in slow, contemplative sips. "...I'm sorry to hear that," she says, when Kureha's tale winds down. "I get it, though... growing up in a place where everyone's a pawn on someone's board...? I don't think I'd trust very easily, either."

When the soup is finished, she looks up, somehow both curious and serious. "But now there's part of you that has nothing at all to do with your family, or their plans. So... What is it *you* want for yourself?"

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    "...I don't know," Kureha admits. "I cannot help but fight. Protect. I will stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, against those with power who would hurt or exploit them. But beyond that..." She closes her eyes, and shakes her head. "I still do not know what I want to do. Or be. Only that I can no longer look at the rest of the world in the same light as my father's family, the way I did six months ago. I'm... still not going to trust easily. But... well. We'll see."

    And then her chopsticks are in her hand again, and she's shoveling more food into her mouth. "...I do know that I want to explore more kinds of food. My diet options are considerably broader. Your restaurant was... an enlightening experience."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Yeah," Rashmi says, grinning. "I did notice... and I'm glad. I *love* seeing what happens when people try something new, and it's like their *whole world* opens up. It's like... watching a window open in their heart, y'know? And it's okay to not know what you want, yet. That's what not being grown up yet is *for,* after all. And sometimes... yeah that's gonna mean fighting. It's *good,* and *important,* helping people who can't stand up themselves. Everything else? Yeah... we'll see. It definitely won't be boring, that's for sure."

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Once again, Kureha listens with quiet interest; curiously enough, it's Rashmi's description of her own sentiments, her love of people trying something new, that gets the most attention. Her own thoughts drift back just a few minutes, to the moment Rashmi tried a bite of kara-age. "...I see."

    Speaking of the kara-age, it's just about gone; the last bites disappear quickly, and Kureha works on the vegetables, more slowly and thoughtfully. "...I have found that fighting is in my blood. Perhaps literally. I never watched martial arts, or pro wrestling, or anything of the sort. But I... understand. Not just basics like how to swing my fists or conjure fire, but how to throw a proper punch. How to use the terrain. How to read my opponent's movements from the way they shift their weight. I have no way to have known these things, but I... understand them. It's been strange."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"That's amazing," Rashmi says sincerely, giving this revelation due consideration. "But it'd probably be disorienting... at least for me it would be. I'd bet at least half of learning how to use your power would be just... getting used to the idea that your bones know what to do and getting out of their way."

Rashmi looks up into the cloudless, chilly sky, as if trying to imagine how that would even go. "So... fighting is literally in your blood, huh?"

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Kureha inclines her head faintly. "That has been... fairly accurate. I have learned to trust my own instincts, and the muscle memory I have inherited. The more I use them, the more I come to understand the principles underlying them." She pauses, breaking up her eating of vegetables by taking up a yakitori skewer. "...according to our records, the Senkenzan clan dates back to the Heian Imperial Court of Kyoto. Working in concert with Abe-no-Seimei, a shrine maiden of great power was able to purify a number of youkai, purge the evil from them. Including the oni who became the basis for legends such as Shuten-Douji, Ibaraki-Douji, Hoshiguma-Douji... that is the first clan head of the Senkenzan. When I say 'mine is the blood of Mount Ooe', I am being quite literal."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"*Really* literally in your blood," Rashmi says quietly. "That's *incredible,* Kureha-chan. So... what happened to that Oni, that got purified? Do they *patronize* your family, or...? I mean I can't imagine it's as easy to get answers from them as it is to talk to, like, the fairies that're empowering some of the other mahou around here."

Rice finished, she uncovers the third layer of her bento, revealing it to be a fairly standard mass of stir-fried chuiken and vegetables. A high-calorie meal for a teenage girl, but, if the Terios family does *anything* right, it's supply calories to growing kids. "...Wow, though. That's a lot of responsibility, carrying a family name with that much age behind it. I can see where people'd fall into that kind of political mania, but... you've got *really strong shoulders* now, Kureha-chan. I think you'll be able to carry your name *very* well."

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Kureha shakes her head gently. "No, he is long gone. Passed away peacefully at a very old age. Most of my answers came from my grandmother. She..." A pause; discretion wars with openness for a moment, before the red-eyed girl pushes herself to continue. "She was the last person of our line to transform before me. And she did so only once, a very long time ago. If I need more information, I would have to consult our clan's records. I imagine she would allow me free access, though." For just a moment, there's a softening of Kureha's features. A hint of fondness.

    There's a slight headtilt. "I... think there is some confusion. The Senkenzan are my mother's family. The Chikafuji are my father's. The Senkenzan seem much more mellow, although there is some... complexity, involved in my mother's marriage to my father." She shakes her head slightly. "...but regardless. I am content to carry my mother's name. It is a name that has given me strength, freedom, and the only family I have that aren't actively terrible."

    At some point, she's managed to finish her bento; realizing this, the girl closes her lunchbox, with her chopsticks inside. "I... don't know what it is I should do, or want to do. But I'll follow my heart. I... realized this week that I have much to learn about many things. And I think that I want to learn."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Aaaah, okay," Rashmi says, nodding earnestly as the family mixup is cleared away. "That makes sense! And if your grandmother makes you smile just thinking about her, she's probably a *wonderful* lady. She'll probably let you look at anything you want to."

Somehow, between all the storytelling, the stir-fry has managed to disappear, and Rashmi starts packing up her bento, then pauses, blinking.

"Oh! That's right! Um... one moment..." Her eyes start to move back and forth, as if searching through a mental file folder... then her hand comes up to the charm clasped to her bow, and comes away with a small packet of wrapping paper, folded around *something* and inexpertly ribboned. "So," she says clearing her throat, "I know the Christmas *tradition,* but... I *have* a boyfriend and he's getting the big gift, but like... I've met *so many people* that mean a lot to me since summer, and like... I wanted to give you all *something* just to say thanks for being, y'know? No expectations, no nothing, just... thanks."

And the packet is held out in both hands.

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Being caught out with even the faintest, vaguest hint of a smile? That just gets Kureha blushing, faintly. There's an awkward cough, and then she tries her best to press on as if nothing had happened. The only problem with that being that she's receiving a present. An actual present, completely unexpected.

    "A... ah?" Blink, blink blink. There's an awkward, uncertain glance between Rashmi's face and the present being offered. "I..." Another pause, and then a brief, hesitant glance around. Finally, though, she manages to push herself into a restrained, "...thank you. I-I don't have anything prepared for you now, but I would like to give you something in return, if you'll permit me time."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"Like I said, no expectations," Rashmi says with a smile. "If you'd like to, then sure! But it's not an obligation... And you can open it now if you want Or later if you'd rather."

...

.....

.......

.....

"...Please open it now," Rashmi confesses.

This is the first of many little presents to hand out, and Kureha might serve as a barometer for how the rest'll like theirs! Maybe.

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Blink. Blink blink blink.

    Though she wears a slightly bewildered look, Kureha nods, and moves to start opening the present.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
It *really* isn't all that much, as presents go; a charm, to be attached to cellphone, or bracelet, or whatever one might want a cute little dangly thing on, likely custom-ordered from one of the myriad of makers one can find online. Shaped like a small ofuda charm, in the center is an oni mask in the Noh style, and above and below spiky script spells out 'Fire of the Mountain.' Where the body of the charm is the off-white of ancient paper, the border and design work are all in metallic brass tone.

"I hope you like it," Rashmi says, clearing her throat.

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    As she pulls the charm out of its bag, Kureha's eyes widen slightly. "This is..." In her life, Kureha has probably received presents that cost ten, or even a hundred times as much. But none of them have ever been so narrowly tailored, so thoughtfully chosen - thoughtfully made - for her specifically. Not just in the surface theme, either; in some ways, Kureha is a very traditional girl, and the choice of some very classic Japanese motifs is so perfect she's momentarily at a loss for words.

    "...I do. I... I like it very much." A brief pause, and then a soft, heartfelt, "Thank you."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
"You're welcome," Rashmi says with feeling, relieved that her instincts were correct. "I'm *so glad* you do, Kureha-chan, awesome. So yeah... Thanks *so much* for being who you are. It means a lot to me."

Which is when the bell starts to toll, giving its listeners five minutes to get to class.

"....And I wish there were more balconies now so I could fly to class," she says hurriedly, stuffing her empty bento into her charm.

Kureha Senkenzan has posed:
    Kureha, likewise, is moving quickly to gather her things and get ready for class. "I could make a direct path, but I suspect it would raise a bothersome number of questions." Did... she just crack a joke?

Rashmi Terios has posed:
The comment does startle a snort of laughter out of Rashmi. "I should introduce you to Nanoha-chan," she says, once she's recovered. "She's a lot like you that way, except with lasers."