Gives her a smol Koutetsujou plushie. It has cute eyes and cute arms and there's a cute rainbow too!
█┆❜ ♛; Yukina’s phlegmatic oculars rivet onto the plush object that is being proffered to her and her breath hitches, sharp features etching in sheer astonishment. Humbled by the heiress’ charitable gesture, she procures the gift with gloved hands quietly holding it close to her chest to ensure that the Koutetsujou miniature remains within her ownership.
█┆❜ ♛; The engineer stumbled back from the impact, her shoulders tensed as their musculatures impendingly coalesced. She was momentarily rendered distrait by the startling gesture with her brow ridged at the invasion of space as nuances of befuddlement pillaged her pacified physiognomy. From the forgotten nether of her mind, a disjointed concept of affection unearthed itself, promptly and severely festering the crevices of her cognition.
❝ You are… hugging me. ❞
Anilith’s outward cordiality continued to baffle the austere engineer, causing the prominence of her cheeks to shift through the warm color spectrum as she remained poised within the other’s amiable vicinity. Steely gaze eventually flickered in defeat, fuschia crown bowing to insinuate a subdued resignation; although the embrace was not unwelcomed, Yukina is presently too smitten to her disciplinary to indulge in the prospect of such gesture.
❝ … ❞
Calloused palm ventured forward to idled upon her companion’s lower back, the pad of Yukina’s thumb grazed Anilith’s spines awkwardly. How do one reciprocate affection again?
█┆❜ ♛; 𝓣he stirring gesture evokes naught of emotions from the taciturn engineer, should any have lain within her in the present moment. Strong shoulders loft before Yukina clutches the rim of the battered engine to steady herself, vision narrowing as she deviates her focus from the task beneath her digits and regards Inori with an inquisitive gaze.
█┆❜ ♛; 𝓐 slight disruption within her fuschia locks had serpentine hues flickering up, impassive lips pulled taut in their perplexed frown. Beneath the copper goggles that were soon dispatched from her head, the engineer’s brow corrugated as the heiress’ graceful digits continued to invade her mane resulting her to stiffen at the feathery touch while she tried to process just what was going on. Finally, Yukina’s oculars unraveled once she discerned that Ayame was fashioning a crown upon her tousled locks; a makeshift, floret coronet that encompassed the circumference of her head. She wanted to inquire what made the princess feel obliged to do so to partake on an enterprise that involves embellishing the conductor with a delicate object that was such a potent contrary to her rigid persona.
❝ Ayame-sama…? ❞
Yukina blinked, suddenly discovering herself the subject of her superior’s incessant stare. The bemusement which earlier prevailed upon her ascetic features faltered; now something more sheepish embodied her visage as fair cheeks divulged a roseate hue. Already she felt muddled in such appearance, and it was a fervid sentiment that certainly exacerbated under Ayame’s keen scrutiny. Despite this, our reticent engineer endeavored to maintain her poised composer, refusing to reveal herself beyond the recalcitrant blush that had the gall to blindside her.
Her paranoia of annoyance built up . her naivety got them muddled up in this mess , of course, it was her fault . how could she not dwell on it ?❛ don’t you want to scold me ? for being so naive ? for being WEAK?❜ a final lash of everlasting guilt bore her head , weighing her shoulders , manifested within the clear frustration of her voice . the weak dies , the strong survives .
❛ if i wasn’t naive or weak , we wouldn’t be in this mess .we would have more times like we did on tanabata…❜ she continues to break through this silence with her voice until she was ordered to shut up by the guards . the ones that used to be her comrades. the ones lead by the man of this whole mess itself . again she curls up into a ball at the side of the cage . the touch of the conductor , it had pure kindness in it . she just didn’t understand .throat aches with blame , it slowly stranggles her with blocked cries . her eyes swell up with tears in that shrouded darkness between her arms and legs ; the spot where her face was hidden in .
❛ i’ll find a way to get us out . i’ll take care of this .❜ alone.
█┆❜ ♛; Yukina grew solemn, listening gravely to the sputtering lamentations that ushered her towards the inevitable notion of what she would come to face: Mumei’s wretched demeanor. It catalyzed a grimace that ingested the engineer’s pacified countenance as the tilt of her brows corrugated sympathetically.
...⠀Don’t you want to scold me?
A pensive silence nestled within the folds of the darkness, fleeting moments drawing by before Yukina’s voice finally shook it free. ❝ I am in no position to do such thing, Mumei. ❞ She affirmed tenaciously, receding her calloused palm from the crest of her companion’s head. Their present calamity may be an ensuing repercussion that is to rightfully be held accountable for the younger of the two, but Yukina still cannot locate any awakening vexation that should’ve otherwise been engendered within her. Instead, she felt rather clement towards the whole ordeal ━- heeding the fact that Mumei has been pitted into that mentality; she was merely acting out defiantly.
❝ Now, I am under no illusions. ❞ The reticent conductor drew a steadying breath. As the turbulent world once more eased into a palpable clarity, so too, did her thoughts. ❝I’m not going to pretend that this predicament will so easily rectified.❞ She swiveled her skull, tilting in an endeavor to capture the cornered girl in her line of perception. Her serpentine eyes fostered an anguish that no amount of impassivity could suppress.
❝ But if there is one thing that I can ascertain, Mumei, it is that I refuse to give up here. ❞ The engineer further foisted the kabaneri’s guarded vicinity, imploring for her obscured eyes. Though this time around, Yukina appeared more assiduous than she previously did ━- perhaps in recompense for having subjected Mumei to her earlier earlier aversions. ❝ We may be weak, but it doesn’t mean that this has to be the end for us. ❞ She intrepidly professed, finally ensnaring the younger’s splaying palms in the proficient grasp of a supple, resolute hands.
Stuffs an additional cinnamon roll to Yukina's food ration. Shh, no one saw this.
█┆❜ ♛; A jolting discovery. Yukina feels her throat constricted at the token as she gingerly procures the newfound roll within her grasp. Ayame is benevolence borne, with a forbearing spirit of unconditional gentleness; such exuberance that never desist to exult the engineer’s immobile heart.
hazel orbs flickered && averted–set upon herculean task. lip drawn tight. thin brows knitted together (& pondering. ) perhaps words such as those had been forlorn? sad? unlikely. overthinking it, not everything had an answer. things made sense that way. package delivered —– task COMPLETE ; hubris took hold & back before her, hybrid stood. palms set to rub at roughed flesh && ease any abrasion.
“when you say it like that it sounds funny, you know?”
fingers coiled tight around forearm && soon relaxed. extremity set to push glasses from divine visage. orbs peering & studying. quick motion (and) grace, brought soft fist to contact with her shoulder. light–with care / not to cause harm.
“you can depend on me. now, how many more boxes are there anyways?”
The fist that gestured so cordially against her broad shoulder felt almost like a foreign comfort of searing sunlight; his warmth banishing the institutional chill that seemed to have rooted itself into her very core, successfully defrosting a fraction of ice that encased her rancor heart. Bradley’s hand was undeniably soft, almost divine-like - a hand that heals, comforts, & protects. It was such a patent contrary to Yukina’s rugged palms ( ones that embellished by semblance of scars, each harboring their own indelible history. )
You can depend on me.*
❝ Brad… ❞ she croaked tenderly, resurrecting a voice that had long since been locked away. ❝ You are done for today. ❞ And with that, she smiled in that curious way of hers ━- mirth tugging at her placid lips in a manner that seemed almost ill-practiced.
Todomatsu goes on and fetch the wrench on top of the engine, just like the engineer told him to. Quickly letting himself down, before being notice by anyone. The youngest hands over the wrench.
“So.. How long till we reach the next station?”
𝓐 fleeting nod of gratitude is afforded and the engineer juts her gloved appendage outwards, obtaining the requested implement in a deftly manner before she resumes the diligent task at hand.
❝ Hard to say… but I would suppose that we will reach it in no less than few hours. I just need to finish my daily tune up to the Hayajiro first. ❞
And as if afflicted by a sudden throb of cognizance, Yukina’s brow twitches ━ aligning with the slant of her expression in a pointedly contemplating look. She purloins a hasty gander back at the man of her assistance, though critical oculars assessing him to no avail.
❝ Uh, I am not quite sure which of the six brothers you are … but thank you for helping. ❞
