Commander's Rounds

Gaiden Entry 26.6: Tosa's Model

As the commander had taken Kaga and Akagi with him, Tosa was left entirely to her own devices- though it wasn't as if she and her sister were exactly peas in a pod.

She did fill her time with her main hobby, which was quite time-consuming when she wanted to be serious about it, as painting was not something known for being done as quick as one pleased. She had managed to wrangle Azuma for one of her sessions, on one specific condition that Tosa was eventually persuaded to agree with.

Azuma had put on her best dress for the occasion, the one that showed off everything that the large cruiser had to offer the senses, and Tosa went to work immediately. She didn't feel especially bound to keep with the pose that her subjects tended to offer her, as Tosa was very insistent on painting things as she saw them and in no other way. Tosa's paintings would always be the purest expression of her own vision, and she would bend it for nothing and no one.

Azuma was an easy subject to work with. Her form lent itself well to anything that Tosa might have wanted to do with it, and in any way that Tosa might have wanted to do something with it, and by the end she managed to produce something vibrant and eye-catching, as she usually did- while Tosa herself was known for being a bit sour, her paintings were anything but- all of her energy and vigor come through her art instead of her words and demeanor.

But by the end, however, Tosa felt... Unfulfilled.

Thankfully, Azuma was as easy to talk to as she was to paint.

"I shall have to let it dry. Tomorrow, it is yours."

Azuma smiled. "Very good. Now then, for your part of the agreement."

Tosa sighed, and put her head in Azuma's lap. The fox-woman closed her eyes as she left herself open to Azuma's attention, and she soon felt her subject get to work on cleaning the first of Tosa's fuzzy ears. People who were aware of Azuma's doting nature often incorrectly thought of her behavior as motherly, but culturally, she was more akin to the Sakura Empire's housewife than anything else. "Do as you like."

Azuma smiled, and did just that, even as that fuzzy ear wiggled and twitched slightly. "Now, was it just me, or did you seem a bit dissatisfied?"

Tosa flipped one of her tails back and forth. "It has nothing to do with you, personally- but rather, I feel I have dug myself a rut."

Azuma smiled. "You can tell me anything, of course."

Tosa sighed. "I feel as though my subject matter is rather constrained. There are so many ships that are visually interesting but fall into two types- those who wish to be either avatars of martial excellence or perfect womanhood. Painting the same things over and over is not a test of my abilities, and leaves me feeling as though I keep treading the same circle."

Azuma giggled. "Well, whatever you're looking for is not something you'll find indoors, if that's the case. I don't think you'll even find it on the base."

"Hm... you have suggestions?"

Azuma went about her gentle ways, making sure that ear was nice and fresh without feeling like she was jabbing or whatever. "You told me you encountered a new fighting ship the other day in down- perhaps you should spend some days there, and encounter ships in a more natural state?"

"Ah." She felt Azuma give her a pat, and so she rolled over, letting Azuma tend to her other ear. "I do have to ask why this, of all things, was your price."

The large cruiser smiled. "Well, first, you have interesting ears- different from all the other foxes." She sighed. "The second is that I don't think you get this sort of attention, even when your sister is around- I can't imagine Kaga doing something so delicate and cozy."