If a chaperone is expected to prevent physical impropriety, it may be that this world has no such sexual hang-ups.
（ it seems such things tend to exist in places where a woman's virtue is a thing to be guarded — it certainly isn't anything shinobi ever cared to enact upon their young. he and izumi spent many hours together without it being a concern raised by his parents or her mother. ）
[It had been such an ever present note in her background- that young ladies don't spend time alone with young men, a rule that Sabriel had vaguely assumed was true for all the upper class, everywhere.]
Perhaps. And the town in question doesn't seem to be a center of high society anyway.
[Which means less familiarity with the ways of high society, and more room for error.]
As for how we met... there's always how things go in a certain sort of novel, about catching each others gaze from across a ballroom. Or perhaps our parents were in business together, and we met through them.
As for endearing anecdotes... there's always talking about our first dance, or how one of us nursed the other through an illness or injury. Or me losing my hat, and you retrieving it.
（ 'certain sort of novel' gets perhaps a bit of a faint raise of his brows. ）
Best we say it's a matter of business. That will explain any interest you may need to show in our venture.
（ and it's also a little less idyllic. ）
We should practice dancing together, if it's something we intend to use as a cover. People may ask for an encore. It isn't something I've ever done. The hat reference would be easier.
[Look, it wasn't her thing, but her roommate would read passages aloud on occasion.]
Yes, that should work. And it will give me a few more avenues to seek out information. And we won't have to fake being madly in love.
[Sabriel knows she's not that good an actor, and Itachi... well, she's not sure how skilled he is, but 'openly emotional' doesn't seem to be his natural state.]
Waltzes aren't particularly hard to learn- social dances like those are less about artistry and more about an excuse to stand next to someone. I can certainly show you several I know.
（ he arrives first simply because he was already in the kitchens, so she finds him doing some light stretching when she arrives, things that look artfully lifted from ballet. long years of training have left him with keen physical acuity and a deep understanding of his own body, and a knowledge of when he has pushed himself too far.
— which doesn't seem to be a problem at present, at least. when he sees her, he lets down his right leg from a scorpion stretch, and gives her a nod. ）
Sabriel-san.
（ he will need to drop the honourific when they are on-world — it wouldn't do for a married man to refer to his wife so formally. oddly, it is kisame's insistence on calling him あなた that stands out in his mind. ）
[Sabriel goes into a much more abbreviated set of of stretches as she speaks.]
As I said- waltzing is intended to be a social activity, and thus, it's is not intended to be particularly difficult. Normally, the man is expected to take the lead- in which case, your right hand would be at my upper back, with your left hand holding my right.
[Sabriel demonstrates, holding her hands in the air to grasp an invisible partner, before going through the box step.]
In Ancelstierre, it's considered traditional for the man to lead, although things are more flexible in the Old Kingdom, from what Touchstone tells me.
[Although that information is, admittedly, two hundred years out of date. Sabriel continues, demonstrating not just the basic box step, but several turns and other flourishes.]
I was the tallest girl in my class, so I ended up dancing as the lead fairly often during practice.
You're somewhat taller than me. Does that make it more difficult for you?
（ it isn't a significant amount, and he could transform if he felt like maintaining a taller body — the drain on his chakra would be minimal at best, compared to the sharingan he always keeps active. ）
（ it's a soft noise of acknowledgement, and on her next pass he steps in rather seamlessly. he is not comfortable dancing, nor with being so close to another person — shinobi rarely touch each other save for violence — but he's steeled against it, and can tolerate both when he is aware of the necessity.
it is as he said — he does not require much practice or instruction. he has all the grace of a lifelong dancer, even if it is generally plied towards more utilitarian means. he copies her precisely, attentive to her every step and fully capable of acting in mirrored concert to her, but no amount of practice will chase the faint tension from his shoulders. ）
[Sabriel falls into step, moving into the position of the follower, her touch light, even as she notes the tension in his shoulders.]
We shouldn't need to do this often- it doesn't sound like a place so prosperous as to have regular balls, but- well, there were parties in Braccia and Gyeonje, so it's always possible we'll be expected to act as people of that class would at events.
As much as can be, given how all the missions have had... complications in one form or another.
[The plague, and the revelation of the lord's responsibility, the Devil's true identity, the revelation that the castle was alive...
But Sabriel still keeps time with Itachi despite her thoughts, following his lead and responding to all signals that let her know which move is coming next.]
（ whatever that complication may be, they'll face it. they don't have a choice in the matter — and people thus far have shown themselves to be able to rise to the challenges. it's an odd thing, having faith in others. it doesn't sit comfortably, yet it is something he is learning to carry just the same. ）
Are you at all familiar with the sort of world Viveca has presented thus far?
（ there's a distant country that he's only ever read about that has a similar aesthetic... those ridiculous hats... but he knows precious little about it. ）
I've seen films about such places, with people wearing hats like that. Although I'm not sure how accurate they are. The ones set in the Old Kingdom managed to get nearly everything wrong.
We may need to watch for gunfights and duels, though. That's what all the stories were about- gunfights, duels, marauding bands attacking remote settlements and trains.
[Admittedly, films by their nature tended to focus only on the most exciting parts.]
Given the level of technology, I suspect swords and magic will attract more attention than we want.
We can practice with firearms in the simulation room.
（ learning new weapons does not trouble him — he knows he can do it as quickly as he has picked up dancing. it is easy, to let his body fall into established patterns and rules of motion, to cease thinking about it as anything but a tool, to be strictly utilized for a singular purpose.
but he does release her, after they've made another pass of the training hall, step away and offer a short bow. ）
That should be sufficient practice for the time being.
（ he knows about the teapot, but this is the first she's mentioned of a gun. given the enchantment on the former, it isn't a stretch to imagine what the latter might be capable of. ）
Mostly, ones I've placed various forms of combat magic on- explosive, incendiary, bullets that can harm the Dead and other creatures not bothered by mundane weapons. I've also tried immobilizing spells, but given that they're bullets, they're still lethal. They just keep whatever they hit from moving after they hit it, along with putting a hole in it.
[Which is a decided downside, compared to how Sabriel can use her own magic, but it's still better than being completely without magic.]
（ he considers that a moment, crossing his arms over his chest, one hand brought up so that he can rest the knuckles of his index finger briefly against his mouth. then: ）
Could you use a softer material? Something that will survive the initial propulsion, but that would only bruise a target? It may be possible to manage such a thing with the replicator. Rubber bullets, perhaps, or something that fragments into a web.
Perhaps? I'm afraid I have little experience with guns and ammunition, particularly more advanced varieties. But something that bruises rather than penetrates- that would be useful.
（ he is not broadly experienced either, but he is a weapons expert — having been surrounded by the extensively stocked uchiha armoury since he was a boy. it is not only kunai and shuriken that he has knowledge of. ）
I will look into it, if you wish. I may be able to arrange something before we depart.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
If a chaperone is expected to prevent physical impropriety, it may be that this world has no such sexual hang-ups.
（ it seems such things tend to exist in places where a woman's virtue is a thing to be guarded — it certainly isn't anything shinobi ever cared to enact upon their young. he and izumi spent many hours together without it being a concern raised by his parents or her mother. ）
no subject
Perhaps. And the town in question doesn't seem to be a center of high society anyway.
[Which means less familiarity with the ways of high society, and more room for error.]
As for how we met... there's always how things go in a certain sort of novel, about catching each others gaze from across a ballroom. Or perhaps our parents were in business together, and we met through them.
As for endearing anecdotes... there's always talking about our first dance, or how one of us nursed the other through an illness or injury. Or me losing my hat, and you retrieving it.
no subject
Best we say it's a matter of business. That will explain any interest you may need to show in our venture.
（ and it's also a little less idyllic. ）
We should practice dancing together, if it's something we intend to use as a cover. People may ask for an encore. It isn't something I've ever done. The hat reference would be easier.
no subject
Yes, that should work. And it will give me a few more avenues to seek out information. And we won't have to fake being madly in love.
[Sabriel knows she's not that good an actor, and Itachi... well, she's not sure how skilled he is, but 'openly emotional' doesn't seem to be his natural state.]
Waltzes aren't particularly hard to learn- social dances like those are less about artistry and more about an excuse to stand next to someone. I can certainly show you several I know.
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（ even before the sharingan, he only ever needed to see something done once. the sharingan just makes it easier to piece things apart. ）
Are you currently occupied? If not, let us meet in the training room.
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— which doesn't seem to be a problem at present, at least. when he sees her, he lets down his right leg from a scorpion stretch, and gives her a nod. ）
Sabriel-san.
（ he will need to drop the honourific when they are on-world — it wouldn't do for a married man to refer to his wife so formally. oddly, it is kisame's insistence on calling him あなた that stands out in his mind. ）
Please forgive my inexperience.
no subject
[Sabriel goes into a much more abbreviated set of of stretches as she speaks.]
As I said- waltzing is intended to be a social activity, and thus, it's is not intended to be particularly difficult. Normally, the man is expected to take the lead- in which case, your right hand would be at my upper back, with your left hand holding my right.
[Sabriel demonstrates, holding her hands in the air to grasp an invisible partner, before going through the box step.]
no subject
Is there a reason the man is expected to lead?
（ it's curiosity more than protest. the shinobi world is much more utilitarian than this, and gender roles are not so clearly defined. ）
no subject
[Although that information is, admittedly, two hundred years out of date. Sabriel continues, demonstrating not just the basic box step, but several turns and other flourishes.]
I was the tallest girl in my class, so I ended up dancing as the lead fairly often during practice.
no subject
You're somewhat taller than me. Does that make it more difficult for you?
（ it isn't a significant amount, and he could transform if he felt like maintaining a taller body — the drain on his chakra would be minimal at best, compared to the sharingan he always keeps active. ）
no subject
I've let men shorter than you take the lead- don't worry, our heights are close enough that it will work either way.
no subject
（ it's a soft noise of acknowledgement, and on her next pass he steps in rather seamlessly. he is not comfortable dancing, nor with being so close to another person — shinobi rarely touch each other save for violence — but he's steeled against it, and can tolerate both when he is aware of the necessity.
it is as he said — he does not require much practice or instruction. he has all the grace of a lifelong dancer, even if it is generally plied towards more utilitarian means. he copies her precisely, attentive to her every step and fully capable of acting in mirrored concert to her, but no amount of practice will chase the faint tension from his shoulders. ）
no subject
We shouldn't need to do this often- it doesn't sound like a place so prosperous as to have regular balls, but- well, there were parties in Braccia and Gyeonje, so it's always possible we'll be expected to act as people of that class would at events.
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（ his contingency plans have contingency plans, usually to a power of at least three.
he spins sabriel with care, and dips her in one of those flourishes she'd demonstrated so neatly earlier, tugging her back up after a moment. ）
no subject
[The plague, and the revelation of the lord's responsibility, the Devil's true identity, the revelation that the castle was alive...
But Sabriel still keeps time with Itachi despite her thoughts, following his lead and responding to all signals that let her know which move is coming next.]
no subject
（ whatever that complication may be, they'll face it. they don't have a choice in the matter — and people thus far have shown themselves to be able to rise to the challenges. it's an odd thing, having faith in others. it doesn't sit comfortably, yet it is something he is learning to carry just the same. ）
Are you at all familiar with the sort of world Viveca has presented thus far?
（ there's a distant country that he's only ever read about that has a similar aesthetic... those ridiculous hats... but he knows precious little about it. ）
no subject
We may need to watch for gunfights and duels, though. That's what all the stories were about- gunfights, duels, marauding bands attacking remote settlements and trains.
[Admittedly, films by their nature tended to focus only on the most exciting parts.]
Given the level of technology, I suspect swords and magic will attract more attention than we want.
no subject
（ learning new weapons does not trouble him — he knows he can do it as quickly as he has picked up dancing. it is easy, to let his body fall into established patterns and rules of motion, to cease thinking about it as anything but a tool, to be strictly utilized for a singular purpose.
but he does release her, after they've made another pass of the training hall, step away and offer a short bow. ）
That should be sufficient practice for the time being.
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[Sabriel steps back as well, offering a curtsy out of long practice.]
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（ he knows about the teapot, but this is the first she's mentioned of a gun. given the enchantment on the former, it isn't a stretch to imagine what the latter might be capable of. ）
no subject
[Which is a decided downside, compared to how Sabriel can use her own magic, but it's still better than being completely without magic.]
no subject
Could you use a softer material? Something that will survive the initial propulsion, but that would only bruise a target? It may be possible to manage such a thing with the replicator. Rubber bullets, perhaps, or something that fragments into a web.
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I will look into it, if you wish. I may be able to arrange something before we depart.
(no subject)
(no subject)