Meine Liebe AU drabbles: Sei shi (整栽)
Jul. 26th, 2006 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
narcasseIn the same continuity as this lot. A day in the life of a Ludwig who ran off to Japan.
Sei shi (整栽)
Disclaimer: Meine Liebe belongs to Konami, Yuki Kaori and others.
++++++++++
Ludwig lights the thin pipe and stares out into the gardens. Today is one of those long days when there’s nothing for him to do other than drink tea or arrange flowers. He’s already been at the flowers, carefully arranging irises in an elegant vase. He’s even added an elaborate pin or two to his hair and changed his kimono twice already.
Today is one of those dull days stretching out into an eternity of sunlit afternoons, cool breezes and the buzz of dragonfly wings. Ludwig sips his tea and watches the rushes in the pond sway with the breeze.
+++++
Naoji will come home eventually, after a long day’s service to his country. Ludwig is never entirely sure what it is that Naoji does other than strut about in a military uniform. It must be something important for his homeland, something that only he can do but Ludwig has no idea what.
War has made Japan apathetic, tired perhaps and ever so slightly drained of vibrancy and life. But that’s not such a bad thing. Japan is an eternal constant as Ludwig sees it and now, after the cataclysm is the fallow season, the time for their country to rest.
+++++
The slight sounds of calamity in the hallway alert Ludwig to Naoji’s return. The servants rushing to do their master’s bidding and Naoji’s usually sharp dismissal of their duties. The screen-door slides aside and Naoji strides into the room ignoring any sort of moral propriety that should bid him be just a little silent.
“You’re early, my husband.” Ludwig doesn’t turn from his viewing the gardens.
As usual Naoji seems to be at a loss for words.
“I suppose that’s useful really, we are having guests this evening after all.”
“Lui…”
Ludwig smiles and raises the pipe to his lips.
+++++
Being the nominal wife of the future Hakushaku Ishidzuki is a rather marvellously archaic sort of life, Ludwig finds. He spends his time gathering fortuitous associations and allies for his husband and family because as much as Naoji would like to ignore it all, it is an important part of his duty to attend to such things.
The Ishidzuki family holds power through their connections and the myriad hidden associations that they foster. But Naoji is a neglectful sort of heir and so Ludwig takes it upon himself to reinforce his husband’s power. It is a Hakufujin’s duty after all.
+++++
“Is there any tea?” Naoji enquires after long moment’s of Ludwig’s superior sort of silence.
With a wave of his hand Ludwig summons the ever-waiting servants to remove the cold cup and teapot and fetch more. He watches Naoji from the corner of his eye and waits for the expected complaint. But it doesn’t come. Instead Naoji smiles, choosing to inspect his wife’s hair.
“Do they look odd?” Ludwig refers to the hairpins he’s only just put in today.
“No.”
“Really?” Frowning.
“You were always the perfect Japanese bride.” Naoji’s smile widens at the faint blush that touches Ludwig’s cheeks.
+++++
The rushes in the pond sway in the light breeze, swatting almost absently at the insects that buzz between them and the steady knock of bamboo against stone seems to be the only definite sound that carries in the wind. The tobacco in Ludwig’s pipe burns out as it lies forgotten on a lacquered tray empty of teacups.
The rustle of fabric is only slight and there is nothing more indiscreet than Naoji’s hair-ribbon falling to the ground but still, for the sake of propriety the servants close the doors quietly on the sight of their master embracing his wife.
++++++++++
Sei shi is the term for the shaping of bonsai. I suspect that 整栽 should be the kanji for it but I might easily be wrong, that might not even be kanji anyway.
The title is a pun on the family names involved.
Sei shi (整栽)
Disclaimer: Meine Liebe belongs to Konami, Yuki Kaori and others.
++++++++++
Ludwig lights the thin pipe and stares out into the gardens. Today is one of those long days when there’s nothing for him to do other than drink tea or arrange flowers. He’s already been at the flowers, carefully arranging irises in an elegant vase. He’s even added an elaborate pin or two to his hair and changed his kimono twice already.
Today is one of those dull days stretching out into an eternity of sunlit afternoons, cool breezes and the buzz of dragonfly wings. Ludwig sips his tea and watches the rushes in the pond sway with the breeze.
+++++
Naoji will come home eventually, after a long day’s service to his country. Ludwig is never entirely sure what it is that Naoji does other than strut about in a military uniform. It must be something important for his homeland, something that only he can do but Ludwig has no idea what.
War has made Japan apathetic, tired perhaps and ever so slightly drained of vibrancy and life. But that’s not such a bad thing. Japan is an eternal constant as Ludwig sees it and now, after the cataclysm is the fallow season, the time for their country to rest.
+++++
The slight sounds of calamity in the hallway alert Ludwig to Naoji’s return. The servants rushing to do their master’s bidding and Naoji’s usually sharp dismissal of their duties. The screen-door slides aside and Naoji strides into the room ignoring any sort of moral propriety that should bid him be just a little silent.
“You’re early, my husband.” Ludwig doesn’t turn from his viewing the gardens.
As usual Naoji seems to be at a loss for words.
“I suppose that’s useful really, we are having guests this evening after all.”
“Lui…”
Ludwig smiles and raises the pipe to his lips.
+++++
Being the nominal wife of the future Hakushaku Ishidzuki is a rather marvellously archaic sort of life, Ludwig finds. He spends his time gathering fortuitous associations and allies for his husband and family because as much as Naoji would like to ignore it all, it is an important part of his duty to attend to such things.
The Ishidzuki family holds power through their connections and the myriad hidden associations that they foster. But Naoji is a neglectful sort of heir and so Ludwig takes it upon himself to reinforce his husband’s power. It is a Hakufujin’s duty after all.
+++++
“Is there any tea?” Naoji enquires after long moment’s of Ludwig’s superior sort of silence.
With a wave of his hand Ludwig summons the ever-waiting servants to remove the cold cup and teapot and fetch more. He watches Naoji from the corner of his eye and waits for the expected complaint. But it doesn’t come. Instead Naoji smiles, choosing to inspect his wife’s hair.
“Do they look odd?” Ludwig refers to the hairpins he’s only just put in today.
“No.”
“Really?” Frowning.
“You were always the perfect Japanese bride.” Naoji’s smile widens at the faint blush that touches Ludwig’s cheeks.
+++++
The rushes in the pond sway in the light breeze, swatting almost absently at the insects that buzz between them and the steady knock of bamboo against stone seems to be the only definite sound that carries in the wind. The tobacco in Ludwig’s pipe burns out as it lies forgotten on a lacquered tray empty of teacups.
The rustle of fabric is only slight and there is nothing more indiscreet than Naoji’s hair-ribbon falling to the ground but still, for the sake of propriety the servants close the doors quietly on the sight of their master embracing his wife.
++++++++++
Sei shi is the term for the shaping of bonsai. I suspect that 整栽 should be the kanji for it but I might easily be wrong, that might not even be kanji anyway.
The title is a pun on the family names involved.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-02 03:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-03 08:41 am (UTC)There’s more of this timeline under Ludwig and Orpherus 1941 tags if you’re interested. I like to think it makes sense if I’m actually acknowledging Wieder’s existence for a change.