[D8 EM] Hotdog Suit (Open)

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Jinkan awoke feeling like he had gone five rounds with sumai wrestler. His mouth hurt, throat hurt, limbs were sore, someone had definitely poked his eyeballs, and he felt nauseous. That mostly cleared once he gave the chamber pot the ol' one-two and then he noticed it was cold. Really very cold.

"Huh." He looked at the hole in his quarters and traced it with his fingers. After a little bit of that he looked through it and then down and up.

Seeing nothing, presumably, the Mirumoto put a foot on the other side and waited to be swallowed up by whatever spirit had made this portal. Nothing ate or grabbed him.

"Huh. He repeated.

He stepped all the way through and then walked around to the front of the Dragon house, then back to the hole. It seemed it was not a portal to another world. He held back his depression at this realization to climb back into his room and start cataloging his things.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna had been sitting in the common area, making last minute adjustments to her calligraphy art for the art exhibit. (Thank goodness Soshi-san had offered a brilliant suggestion.)

And she paused. It was so ... drafty in here.

Distractingly cold.

She set the art aside and went to investigate.

And ... her eyes widened.

There was a hole in the wall in Mirumoto-san's sleeping area.

"Oh! Mirumoto-san! Are you alright? Did someone attack you in the night?" Like she had heard happened to the Crane.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I haven't the slightest clue." Jinkan said, turning around his room with a slow pace. He stopped and picked up a pair of sandals, sniffed them, and then put them down. Everything seemed in order.

"Nothing has been stolen, I think. We should do a check of the house to make to sure they didn't go into some other space." The Mirumoto lifted his bedroll again to make sure his smut was still there and then gestured to the hole.

"You didn't hear anything last night?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"I didn't. I'm sorry - I'm a pretty sound sleeper."

"Perhaps we should look for tracks as well? But a thorough check that nothing is missing is wise. It is a blessing so many of us live sparsely. There is not as much to search through as there might be otherwise."

Her own sleeping area was undisturbed. One shamisen. One Go board. One book of the Tao. "My clothes and headdress are still here." A little more searching. "My coins are undisturbed. A thief looking for money might have targeted me. I wear the most gold and pledged a significant amount to the Brotherhood. But I don't see any issues."

She continued to fret and search.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Jinkan nodded, looking over the common areas like he would know if anything was gone. He wouldn't but it was the principle of the thing. After a bit of searching he returned to the hole and looked at the ground outside. He wasn't a tracker for all that his ancestors were named some of the greatest hunters in history. Jinkan returned to the Agasha with a shrug.

"I am going to need something to block the hole. Do you think the Ikoma have...something?"

[Agasha Yuna]

She considered.

"It would not be courteous to draw attention to this. But maybe we can ask very quietly for help. Or see if our artisans can repair it without asking for help?"

"I can bring a kimono over and pin it in place to cover the hole. So it does not get to cold, and nothing wanders in."

"Let's add this to the agenda when we meet with Togashi-ue later this morning. After reviewing the deals. The other delegates may be able to help. And he might have advice how to most courteously request aid otherwise."

"Is ... is there a chance you fell through? Or are a sleep walker? Is there any mud on your clothes or shoes?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"That would be very kind of you. We definitely can't leave the hole there to let all the hot air out." Jinkan said nodding. "And I don't sleepwalk, leastwise as far as I know. I have ended up in strange places before but that is after a little too much sake. Like a couple of days ago during the earthquake I was laid out in the common area on the floor. But I remember drinking that night. Last night the only people I remember are you and Kitsune-sama."

He put a finger to his chin in thought. "I gather you didn't drug me, or anything? And I don't think I started quaffing bottles at the dinner. Though I definitely feel hungover."

His hand went from his chin to his forehead to wipe sweat away. "And I don't know about dirt, I went through the hole this morning. I...thought it might be a portal to Sakkaku."

Jinkan was sheepish at this.

[Agasha Yuna]

She looked at him in genuine concern.

She fetched the kimono and began pinning it to cover the hole while they spoke. She thought one would be enough fabric, but would soon find out.

"There was plum wine with dinner. You seemed well to me during the meal. A very pleasant conversation. I hope you didn't mind that I mentioned you as a marriage candidate. You handled it gracefully. But I just couldn't get a read on whether you wanted to be listed or not, so I just ... gave you the chance to state it clearly. I'm glad we found a good marriage to propose."

"I have been talking to others, and several experienced the manifestation you describe. Mostly shugenja, but also those sensitive in other ways. I haven't heard of it happening to anyone again, but if it did last night, we will only find out about it as the day goes on."

"It was a full moon last night. Have you had issues time-consistent with the full moon before? That is a thing that can happen, as I understand it."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I am not a Moon Cultist, Agasha-san." Jinkan looked at her with affront in his eyes.

"I would never try to hurt anyone, and despite how it seems, I am generally aware of what I am doing. My family has a history of crazies, sure. But the bolts on our doors are to keep people out, not lock them in." Jinkan frowned before shrugging. "Maybe I am a little too fucked up to figure this out. Daidoji-sama is an Emerald Magistrate...she might be able to help us discreetly?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"Oh, I didn't mean a cultist!" She looked alarmed he would think that, and gave a deep apologetic bow.
"Heavens. I just meant ... I think I read once that a person can be affected by it. Not by their choice. It's probably nothing to do with it."

"Maybe you had an allergic reaction to one of the fish included in the meal? There was a lot of different seafood, and some you may have never tried before."

"I think we do have a good solid alliance with the Crane now. That deal is in place. It makes sense that we could ask them for a bit of quiet help. And I think they are pretty interested in the question of whether someone is attacking the homes here. I just don't want ... I don't want to put any more pressure on Lord Ikoma-sama as our host. He is a good man."

She thought about how she'd sat with him yesterday. Hopefully her words and suggestion had made a difference.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Moon-sickness does run in the family, though not for long once it came out. Some of my ancestors were put down like dogs for how dangerous they were to others. I am just a little sensitive, sorry." Jinkan gave her a bow of apology for being rude. He didn't want to think he was losing his mind just yet even if he was certain it would leave him at some point. Just look at his father.

"We avoid telling the Ikoma and send a letter to a friend asking if they can take a look at a new bit of art? That will be our explanation."

[Agasha Yuna]

"That sounds good."

"Speaking of art, I made a calligraphic hanging for the art exhibit. Topic the Scorpion. Are you going to make something? More than one of us can contribute something."

"Oh! I think the Crane have us. Maybe a chance to look at Dragon art for inspiration? I mean, as a premise for her to visit."

She paused. Thinking... "Your interest in her... It is for help, right? I remember you saying at dinner with the Kitsune that you have your own plans for your marriage. Do you have your eye on someone? Like me and Shiba-san finding each other?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Daidoji-sama is betrothed, and shows no sign of wanting a whirlwind romance this winter." Jinkan stated clearly if a little sadly. "I like her bone structure but not so much I would seek to undo her plans for marriage. And my plans for marriage are largely to wait for the last sign."

He touched the side of his head with a finger. "I had a vision, I am just waiting."

Then he went to his rooms and pulled a long paper with poetry written on it. "My submission. It isn't perfect but I was very inspired by their Clan Champion."

[Agasha Yuna]

"A vision! That's exciting. Is it something you'd like help watching for?"

She retrieved her calligraphic wall hanging for him to see.

"The central kanji is 'Loyalty' but with the ink drawn tail to make it look like a scorpion. The text around the perimeter is language commonly sworn by Scorpion yojimbo: "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will."

Her art: https://ibb.co/6FXcqF1

"The central image is on an original piece of paper. I cut off the original quote and made the new frame that rests on top with the quote you can see. It ends up being a story about collaboration, as I think the art was meant to inspire. I had a quote of historical interest. An Emperor's words to a Scorpion. But I thought to ask Soshi-san and he suggested these words, which so beautifully describe Loyalty. The end product is better because I asked him. Because the two clans worked together."

[Agasha Sanjuro]

Sanjuro noticed the kimono flapping int he breeze as he returned to Dragon House after his prayers. Surely, we can reallocate an inner wall to cover this more appropriately?

He is unsure whose room it is since everyone sleeps around the perimeter. When he sees Yuna and Jinkan, he asks what happened and suggests the alternative method of coverage. Sanjuro himself can sacrifice one complete inner wall with the outer one. Having a robe, mat or something else covering the hole would not be as disturbing as far as security goes.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"If Sanjuro-san is willing, we can attempt having his wall placed over the hole tonight. I am no great engineer, but I imagine the servants know how to make it happen?" Jinkan gave the Agasha a bow of thankfulness. For now it was covered by a kimono as if on display but that only hid the sight from the inside.

"And yes, a vision. It is personal, between me and Togashi-ue." He said apologetically. "I hope my poem is good enough to stand with your kanji."

Falling snowflakes melt,
On blood freshly drawn on white
An honorable end.

(D7, Art for Scorpion Show, Artisan:Poetry/Awareness, TN15, 4k3 | 4k3 ⇒ 19 (TN: 15))

[Agasha Yuna]

"The use of the inner wall is a good idea. It will be much less noticeable from the outside. And I remember how portable the dividers were when we were setting up the space. I can take the kimono down and the three of us could probably move the inner wall into place."

She listened to the poem. "It's good to have a word like 'honorable' making clear that the intent is a flattering one."