Here’s To The Autumn
Moved from here @reservedhealer
Jūshirō could see that he’d startled the poor Lieutenant somewhat. She seemed lost in thought, Jūshirō concluded, though he did not make any presumptions about what occupied her mind. His gaze, subtle but keen, caught the way her hands unclasped, and he was glad to detect a new ease in his guest; as her eyes flicked up and down, he understood that he was being evaluated, but today, he permitted such a thing readily. Today, he was strong. Today, he was more than content to let Lieutenant Kotetsu watch as she would. Today, he moved with ease, with a lightness of bearing, and with the signature grace that had, Jūshirō had come to understand, come to be regarded among some as his trademark.
That was, at least, until the wind decided to wreak its havoc. He clutched steadily enough to the unwieldy tray in his hands, and he scarcely thought twice about sputtering his request to the lieutenant. As ever, her hands were steady. She rose to her feet and buttoned up his coat as though this was the most natural and logical thing in the world, and Jūshirō grinned over the tea tray at her as she adjusted his near-convoluted lapels.
“I’ve got it,” he assured her, striding forward and settling the tray down between the two of them. With that, he poured, admiring the way the jasmine-scented steam curled into the newly cooling air. When he was satisfied, he took his seat, and passed the first cup to Lieutenant Kotetsu before taking up the second himself.
“A toast of a sort nearly feels in order,” Jūshirō offered. “Here’s to the autumn, when we remember that cold can bring comfort, and that falling things can yield bright, new things in time.”
