Yuna had her paper and calligraphy supplies at the ready.

Now, she just needed Mirumoto Kichinitonda's help, and a good concept.

Perhaps if they talked it through, they could find inspiration.

"Um, er, you, you wanted to see, to see me?" Kichinitonda stammers as he enters the room.

Then he sees the paraphernalia assembled and smiles.

"I'm so glad you could meet up. At court, it was determined that there would be an art show tomorrow. On day 8. The theme is unity. 'Strength in unity and diversity'. To that end, the premise is that each clan has been assigned another clan to represent with their art. The Dragon will represent the Scorpion."

"So... a calligraphic art project we can work on together ... that speaks to the Scorpion's values and strengths."

"I've ruled out the verses from the Tao about scorpions. They aren't flattering. More a warning."

"Do you have any ideas what might be a good thing to do? I thought I could do a quote from a famous scorpion. And your art - taking the kanji - turning into a shape. Maybe turning 'scorpion' into a scorpion? Or something else? A value they value most?"

"Well, um," Kichinitonda begins. "They are the, the Clan of Secrets. Maybe, maybe just, just the kanji for 'secret' might, might work. Like this," and he suddenly takes up a brush, inks it, and dashes out a very good writing of "himitsu."

"No. That's, that's not right. I can, I can do, do better."

"Oh! That's quite good. I'm not sure I can do anything so fine. But I'll try!"

"I've heard one of their chief values is Loyalty. That's a good word also."

"I've been struggling to recall a quote by a famous Scorpion. But here is one about the Scorpion. Emperor Hantei said "You are the only one, Bayushi. The only one I trust to do such work." It speaks to their diverse role and its importance. Do you think that would work? Does it feel flattering to them?"

"You mean like, like this?" Kichinitonda asks, and dashes out another demonstration, of similar quality, even if it takes a bit longer because it is more words.

"No, no. That's still not, not right. Not good, good enough."

She smiled gently.

"That's really good."

"Hmm... maybe if you did just the kanji for loyalty very large in the center and a bit more artistically scorpion shaped, with flourishes?"

"And then, when the ink cools, I can write the quote around it. Like a frame. That would be visually striking, I think."

She gently saved each of his prior efforts. They might well decide to come back to one of them.

"I mean, it's not, it's not really that, that good," Kichinitonda says. "But I can, I can try the other thing."

And his brush moves again, leaving a better piece of work, yet his brow furrows at it even so.

"It's still, still not right."

He looks at Yuna.

"I'm sor, sorry I can't do, do better than this. I should, should do better."

"Oh! This is exquisite. Mirumoto-san, I think this is plenty good enough."

"Let's just see if I can add the framing quote without marring the splendid quality of it."

She waits for the ink to dry.

And tries her best.

But oh... even she can see ... "It isn't good enough."

It was far from perfect. Her cheek flamed in shame.

"Hmmm... maybe you should do both parts."

https://sakkaku.org/r/16149 17 vs TN20

"I don't, don't think I should," Kichinitonda says. "It's not, it's not good enough. Not until, until it's right."

She took a deep breath.

"Maybe ... " how could they better blend their strengths... "...maybe you could give me tips? I can use yours as a model. And ... you could advise me as I work on it? And, if it's my work, even if it isn't as good as you could do, we could turn it in. Because I can bear it if it's ... okay, but not perfect."

She set the one that he had done so well in front of her as a model. The central kanji. The cleverly implied scorpion shape of it.

“Seek enlightenment, but do not be foolish enough to expect enlightenment.”

"Seek perfection, but do not be foolish enough to expect perfection."


(could she take any bonus on her roll from his skilled help/advice - no worries if not. just will hold for answer before rolling)

"The Founder also, also says 'You must practice this diligently.' So that might be the place to start, with practicing the character you want to write again and again until it simply is. And you might do it this way..."

Yes, Kichinitonda's speech pattern shifts as he talks about the process of writing, no stammering, no stuttering, no hesitation. His discourse exceeds his GM's knowledge, however.

"...and that might actually make it work."

(Go ahead and make the roll. Given the explicit models to follow, you may roll *this one roll* as if you have the Emphasis in it.)

And so she listened and learned. And practiced. And polished.

And ... there!

It was not as good as he could have done. But it really was as good as she could do. Earnest and elegant.

Just as they had planned.

The central kanji of "Loyalty" subtly configured into the shape of a scorpion. And the quote from Hantei wrapping around it as a frame.

She smiled at him. "Thank you so much!"


https://sakkaku.org/r/16150 calligraphy 25!

Kichinitonda nods.

"It is improved," he says.

Then the stammer returns, because the topic shifts.

"I hope that, that people like it."

He sets his brush down.

"I hope so, too. It will be interesting to see what will be done to celebrate the Dragon. How we are perceived."

"Do we, do we know who, who has us?" Kichinitonda asks.

"The Crane."

"I am sure their art will be flawless. And it is good that we've made alliance already here."

"That, that will be good, then," Kichinitonda affirms.

"Maybe some kind of, some kind of dance."

"There are several Crane, so there might be multiple offerings. A poem, maybe?"

"I can already see how talented they all are, from rehearsals for the theatrical Noh performance this afternoon. Are you coming? I'm going to be playing shamisen."

"I don't, I don't know," Kichinitonda says. "I feel like, like I'm pulled in multiple, multiple directions."