psl || since the beginning of everything

[unsaid]

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[unsaid]

[mikazuki will follow him - the display case reads tonbokiri. hope he makes it here okay.

mikazuki will briefly write down a note in the margins of his paperwork as he hums thoughtfully]

So we didn't. I'm rather sure that someone has a summer home they wouldn't mind allowing us to borrow - if they'd be willing to trust us, given the mischief we brought with us when we were younger.

[though he'll pause then, and incline his head closer to tsurumaru's as if sharing a secret]

Though I wonder if we're truly any better now?

[preowned]

I am not sure what you mean? I have always been well behaved.

[ how he manages to say that with a straight face... horrible.

but then he leans in closer to mikazuki as well, so that his lips are close enough to brush against the other's ear if he moves even slightly more forward. ]

We'll have to be careful. I believe someone I broke up with now lives in Osaka. She still sends me a passive aggressive Christmas letter every year.

[unsaid]

Aha ha ha—

[it's perhaps a bit funny - the way that even the workers who are milling about might briefly incline their head toward the two of them.

because it's easy, you see, to catch mikazuki munechika when something is amusing him, and his laugh isn't particularly rare. but it's harder to find him being delighted by something, with an almost childish mischief that always stands at odds with his age. but the expression that's startled out of him then, taken off-guard by the statement, is nothing short of that pure and certain delight.

reflexively, his free hand comes up to obscure his smile with the back of his hand, as if to hide away his rude tendencies like clouds obscuring the light of the moon.]

Is that so... Certainly it cannot be entirely deserved.

[just mostly deserved.]

[preowned]

I was a gentleman.

[ which isn't a lie-- tsurumaru was always kind to those he dated, until the novelty wore off and he realized that he wasn't actually getting anything out of it other than a companion who would always get jealous of the way he would run to mikazuki's side the moment he saw him.

but sometimes you're young, and bored, but very attractive, and you never say no to anyone who asks you out. and even though he eventually got a reputation for it, people still kept trying. after a while, he assumes that they wanted to be the one with the honor of actually winning his heart.

tsurumaru just smiles at mikazuki. ]

But she was the one who wanted me to meet her family in a different country... I thought we were meeting a little fast!

[ and also he had plans with jiji that summer? he had priorities? ]

[unsaid]

[there's a slight tilt of his head at that, as if he finds the notion curious. stealing tsurumaru away in order to meet her family? he supposes that it's not surprising that he doesn't always know what happened during their relationships - but it strikes him as a bit funny that this detail eludes him.

after all, why would tsurumaru ever have wandered to another part of the world in those days without mikazuki at his side? perhaps it's something that he should not have taken for granted, and yet.

(and yet.)]

I'd rather thought you enjoyed taking things fast - or perhaps that is simply the case when you are the one to set the pace?

[and letting a girl decide their summer plans would not have been at tsurumaru's pace]

[preowned]

[ that gets a laugh out of him, and he straightens up so that he is no longer leaning entirely in mikazuki's space. ]

I think she saw me as a potential marriage match. She was really looking ahead.

[ and tsurumaru was only looking at the present.

that probably hurt him more than it helped, in the end, but he isn't really the type to linger too long on past regrets. ]

But I believe she found someone in Japan, but some offenses are still hard to let go of, even in old age.

[unsaid]

[ . . . it's not as though it's a thought that mikazuki had never entertained. that at some point, tsurumaru would likely have to marry as well. mikazuki knew it was a responsibility of his own, for the sake of his family. he carried it as a weight on his shoulders, certain as everything else that came with being an heir for old money.

but perhaps it's a bit odd - how decades have passed, but the same apprehensive feeling settles in his chest when he thinks of tsuru marrying another.]

Mm, that is true. You seem like someone who would be easy to hold a grudge against.

[teasingly -

probably.

but if tsurumaru will move away then mikazuki will move on, turning to examine a different corner of the hall. heirlooms belonging to the date family.]

[preowned]

There are definitely others. [ even ignoring his dating around, tsurumaru's jokester lifestyle did get on the nerves of some. but, ] I must admit, not all were my fault though.

[ he does not sound that upset by this despite that.

but he'll follow after mikazuki, glancing at whatever displays might be over here. ]

[unsaid]

It would appear as though your reputation preceded you.

[it would appear as though for this section, more of the swords have arrived. shokudaikiri mitsutada, ookurikara, and sadamune all sit on their displays underneath the proud date crest. mikazuki's eyes flick down to the clipboard briefly before rising to review the items in front of them again.

off to the side, there's an empty display - apparently there's one more sword that's still in transit.]

Ah, a late arrival tomorrow... Well, we shall make do.

[preowned]

[ he looks at each of the displays, glancing at the empty one before turning his attention back to mikazuki. ]

Better that it's only one instead of all of them.

[ he actually starts to head over to it so he can read the display, but then stops as one of the employees walks in to ask mikazuki a question about the opening. it distracts tsurumaru enough that he switches direction and walks elsewhere instead. ]

[unsaid]

[ah - distracted. mikazuki will at least stop to take the question though, answering it easily. he notes that this worker doesn't seem to notice the change in their appearances either, as if it's normal to see a 20-something in charge of a museum's art direction.

but once the question is answered, he'll wander to follow after tsurumaru]

Something catch your attention, my dear?

[preowned]

No, I...

[ he pauses at a section that gives an explanation about the sengoku era, and outlines a brief historical overview about it that focuses mostly on date since it's his clan's swords on display here. tsurumaru just reads it over, and

something just sort of clicks.

it's funny, how you could go from not knowing about something and then very suddenly having a lot of knowledge about it, like you kind of got hit in the head with a history book and absorbed the knowledge that way. ]

... uh.

[unsaid]

[ . . . . . hm?

mikazuki can't quite read tsurumaru's mind, even though he likes to think that he can normally manage a very close estimate. however this is so abrupt and outlandish that even he can't get anywhere close.

and so.]

Eh?

[preowned]

[ tsurumaru doesn't even know how to respond here. there's just a moment of silence as he tries to figure out what just happened, and when that gets him no answers, he just shoves his hand into his pocket to dig out his phone so he can open the retrospec app. ]

What... is going on?

[unsaid]

[ . . . Hm.

well, mikazuki settles for watching him for a moment before canting his head to the side in a mixture of confusion and concern.]

Are you feeling unwell?

[though, given that there are still workers wandering about - ]

Shall we move to the next room?

[where they're less likely to be overheard?]

[preowned]

[ he nods his head and starts to walk, stopping only once he realizes technically mikazuki should be the one leading since he. does not know what room would be empty.

it's startling. waking up in a younger body is too, of course, but he was asleep when that happened. the sensation of only a second passing before something changes drastically is... different. it feels a little more urgent.

tsurumaru continues to scroll through posts on the app as they walk. ]

Have you felt anything else unusual since we woke up?

[unsaid]

[there's a soft exhale of amusement as tsurumaru tries to lead - but as he's preoccupied with his phone, mikazuki will tuck the clipboard he has under his arm and his free hand will find its way to the small of tsurumaru's back

a gentle guide to another room that is more complete and therefore has less people running about. it's the recreation of the tea ceremony room because of course it is]

My tea was more flavorful, though perhaps that is merely a net benefit from this body.

[that's a no]

[preowned]

Did you know that the Date clan was founded in the 12th century?

[ he glances up from his phone and at mikazuki. ]

I didn't, until just now. Very strange.

[unsaid]

[ . . . hm.]

Well, that is rather the purpose of visiting a museum -

[to gain new knowledge, even though that is something that mikazuki knew, just given the nature of his job and personalities but.]

I take it that you mean something else.

[preowned]

[ he taps the side of his head. ]

Very suddenly, I just know... a lot about them? I am not sure how to explain it, but if you asked me a question, there's a good chance I may be able to answer it despite not knowing much about them before just now.

[ he pauses as he scans a post that someone put up a few weeks ago. ]

I'm definitely surprised!

I APPARENTLY NEVER SENT THIS TAG DESPITE WRITING IT WEEKS AGO

[unsaid]

[ . . . . . hm!

mikazuki blinks at that, surprised as well, judging by the expression on his face.]

... well that seems a bit unfair, given that I had to devote most of my life to study. How do you always manage to fly so far ahead of me, my dear crane?

[ . . . . on the surface, he imagines that's a fine answer though - something flickers in his gaze that's just a bit uncomfortable, unsettled.

he can't say he's particularly fond of something playing with tsurumaru's mind this way.]

[preowned]

I suppose you could potentially hire me now?

[ tsurumaru would be a horrible person to work at somewhere like a prestigious museum, actually.

but he goes quiet for another moment as he scrolls through the posts, before finally pocketing the device again.]

The mystery seems to deepen.

[ if anything, this new thing now makes this feel a little less temporary than it might have been. ]

[unsaid]

I believe that's called nepotism.

[he should probably keep his voice down? but it's fine, at least this area remains still a bit less populated than the rest of the exhibit.]

But it seems that they do... I wonder if we should hire detectives?

Or I suppose a few unoccupied old men could use a new hobby...

[preowned]

A detective may be useless if they can't even access the map. [ ... ] App?

[ please don't forget what it's called already ]

I may need to extend my stay here, if that is fine with you.

[unsaid]

Ha ha ha, an inaccessible map is no different from a hidden treasure map, is it not?

[don't just keep going with the incorrect name]

Hmm... I wonder if that is fine with me. Perhaps I should entertain the notion of 'rent'?

[HE IS SO RICH AND GAY, STOP JOKING AROUND, JIJI]