in that case, I'll lay a curse on you instead

[hakanai]

WHO? Yoshitsugu Ōtani (hakanai), Takatora Tōdō (handtowels) and potentially others along the way.
WHAT? A special mission in a winding, tomb-filled labyrinth. Did we mention the ghosts? Yeah, those curses Yoshitsugu likes to 'joke' about might be real this time.
WHEN? Could be weeks, could be months, in terms of the passage of time there. In terms of strict dates (and the perceptive of time from people in the main mission)? Two weeks starting today.
ANYTHING ELSE? This will be a catch-all for all log related content to this mission. ♥ I'll list links to each separate thread beneath the cut as they happen, as well as any more warnings.

1. Day 1, Takatora and Yoshitsugu

Comments

[hakanai]

Yoshitsugu huffs a quiet laugh; he opens a small jar of what he's learned is a cream rather suited to burns, one that keeps out infection while soothing the flesh.

It's going to sting going on, though.

"My young friend rather enjoys mochi."

That this happened in the first place is a little disconcerting to Yoshitsugu. He'd been sure there were no traps in that doorway, on that first step... no obvious detail had been missed. This is quite frankly a mistake of his that has cost them both and he has to wonder; what was there in that stone arch?

"So I can spare you. No need to take up this burden; you have enough of them already, don't you?"

Though... hmm. Was it something in the stone arch? Thoughtful, and with considerable care by his standards, Yoshitsugu starts to spread the cream across Takatora's back.

[handtowels]

Takatora inhales sharply, and his eyelashes flutter, but otherwise he doesn't so much as flinch at the sting of the cream as it's applied.

"I won't shirk my duties. You can't take the burden of mochi from me."

Not that he'd truly begrudge losing some to Yoshitusgu's friend, but all? Never. Serious business, this.

"It keeps me useful."

[hakanai]

Yoshitsugu quirks a slight smile. Without pausing in his ministrations he leans forward and rewards Takatora's 'dutiful' nature with a feather-light kiss to the back of his neck.

"You can be useful right now by checking your BCE while I clean you up."

Settling back, the samurai wipes one hand clean on the floor (though he keeps spreading the cream with the other). Takatora is definitely going to need to sleep on his front; even chancing it on his side would sting a little.

"The room before us; was there anything notable about the floor?"

[handtowels]

Takatora shivers, a soft breath escaping him.

"A-Alright," he answers, a moment later.

That's definitely one thing he's learned: being inside a necropolis isn't enough to deter Yoshitsugu's teasing.

Takatora opens his BCE and zooms in, looking for small details. It takes a few minutes, but he finally finds their answer.

"...Huh. I see it! The difference is mere millimetres, but... looks like you stepped on a pressure plate in the doorway. I wonder how it resets. The mechanisms have to be pretty impressive..."

[hakanai]

By that point Yoshitsugu has finished tending to Takatora's back, cleaned his hands and begun laying out a bedroll. Just the one. While he isn't in perfect shape right now it's clear who needs to sleep more and they can't chance camping without someone on guard.

"...then we must rely on you to scan every room. Our mission will take more time, but we cannot risk more injuries like this."

He grunts slightly; impressive mechanisms, yes, but they had altered the flow. Did the necromancer know of them? A question to ponder while he watched over his wounded lover.

"Bed down. You're going to rest now."

[handtowels]

"Alright."

Takatora glances over to watch Yoshitsugu, and almost protests. But they're going to have to take turns anyway, so perhaps it is best to give his implants a chance to do their work quicker.

And Yoshitsugu is the strategist.

He doesn't move right away, though.

"Let me map this room first."

It won't take long, but he does have standards. Who knows how valuable the information might be to COST? His hands move quickly through the air.

[hakanai]

Yoshitsugu huffs a quiet, short laugh. Settling into a comfortable position at Takatora's side, he brings up his own BCE. Time to go through those photos he's taken so far and give this mission some deep thought; it's the best way to use his time on watch.

"I can allow that."

There's an implied 'but nothing more' in there, and it's not just the sentiment of a strategist who needs his companion to stay efficient. They have always been close friends and comrades, but a loving relationship in a harsh war against impossible odds? Well.

Of course he worries, even if Yoshitsugu isn't one to easily express such an emotion.