D1 ME Fortune's Favor

[Asako Kenichi]

Garbed in a straw cloak against the cold, Kenichi approached a famikiar spot. He hesitated at the entrance. Where should he be going?

He decided on Fukorijin. There were no taoist spaces here, and the Lion ancestors had no connection to him. Nor did his own, if he were to be honest.

He knelt in prayer, allowong his faith to empty his mind for a while.

OOC:
D1 ME, Meditation/Void, tn 20 prodigy, recover vp | 5k3 ⇒ 26 (TN: 20)

[Fukurokujin]

Kenichi is rewarded for his appropriate devotions with a sense of peace.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

ping!

Hoshiko takes some time on this first day of court--busy, but likely less so than each new day will be--to visit the temples. The Fortune of knowledge seems an ideal place to begin and take a moment to pause and center herself. Meditating on the wide open vistas of those things she does not know that she does not know is both sobering and refreshing.

As the incense burns low, she opens her eyes with a deep breath and thankfulness for the familiarity of these temple routines in a new place. Spotting someone who seems to be following the same practice makes her smile a bit. She shifts a bit, feeling some stiffness where the stone leaches heat, but doesn't interrupt the fellow's reverie. She *will* make sure to catch his attention before he leaves, however.

[Asako Kenichi]

Kenichi open up his eyes from prayer, and notoces a new presence. He hesitates for a second, before bowing towards her. Glancing at her mon, he verbalizes his greeting. "Asahina-san, I hope your trip to Kyuden Ikoma has been pleasant."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

snip

While she wasn't fully up to date on Phoenix heraldry, she knew the Isawa one, and he wasn't. Seemed more scholar than warrior, so she guessed.

"Indeed. There's a great deal of beauty to see in the autumn crossing half the Empire. I hope yours was as well, Asako-san." There was a hint of question on the family name.

With a seated bow, calculated to be a shade deeper than she thought was needed, just in case, she offers an introduction. "Asahina Hoshiko, priestess of House Yamada."

[Asako Kenichi]

While she wasn't fully up to date on Phoenix heraldry, she knew the Isawa one, and he wasn't. Seemed more scholar than warrior, so she guessed.

"Indeed. There's a great deal of beauty to see in the autumn crossing half the Empire. I hope yours was as well, Asako-san." There was a hint of question on the family name.

With a seated bow, calculated to be a shade deeper than she thought was needed, just in case, she offers an introduction. "Asahina Hoshiko, priestess of House Yamada."

"Asako Kenichi, diplomat to Kyuden Ikoma from House Ito." Hes smiled bitterly, before steeling his expression into neutrql mode. "Quite. My journey wqs pleasant, around 6 winters ago or such
How are you finding Kyuden Ikoma so far?"

[Ikoma Tanji]

Having made his rounds with the offerings, his thoughts clogged with the obligations and expectations. He sighs to himself as he steps into another shrine, but then as he opens his eyes, is glad to find a distraction in new faces that he recognizes as delegates from the gift giving ceremony. He waits for the right moment to enter the conversation as he goes through the motions to ask his prayers.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

snip

Her eyebrows lift in surprise and she ducks her head in apology, with a sway of white hair that then needs to be brushed from her eyes. "Ahhh, apologies for assumptions, Asako-san."

"Though I hope that means I may find in you, a ready source of local recommendations with excellent experience of being non-local once, hmm?" As that ties readily into his question, she continues, "I'm personally finding it reasonably welcoming, if aesthetically...hmm, focused?" The degree of art focused on the Lion, as opposed to unpolitical appreciation of nature and the like, was certainly a change from Crane courts. But perhaps that was normal for any winter court, as the hosts aimed to put everyone else a bit on the defensive.

snip

The newcomer is also noticed, and is an excellent reason to keep any dissatisfaction with their hosts' tastes hidden. Her glance towar the Ikoma would surely point them out to Kenichi, even if he hasn't noticed on his own.

[Asako Kenichi]

"Ah, no prpblem at all Asahina-san. It os a fair assumption." He noticed the Ikoma waitong to pounce!

"I can see that. Phoenix art is more ephemersl, though there is something to be said to have so much...history on plain display."

He bowed towards the Ikoma. "Ikoma-san, care to join us in a post-prayer conversation?'

[Ikoma Tanji]

Noticing the others are welcoming him into their conversation, he completes the prayers before addressing the conversation. He gives a proper bow, using the time to read their faces properly. "I would indeed, thank you Asako-san. Now, Asahina-san, there is quite a lot of history in these halls and we're quite a bit early in the month. Heck, I hear the Imperial entourage just arrived today. I could not speak on the nature of the logistics as I just arrived last night, but with this many important quests arriving at once, and in different parts of the city, some things are bound to get lost in transition. Perhaps a leisurely walk around the city tomorrow would be in order."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I can see that. Phoenix art is more ephemeral, though there is something to be said to have so much...history on plain display."

Hoshiko nods. "It makes sense in the seat of the Ikoma, sitting on top of the archives and all. Speaking of, have you seen them? They must be enormous with a few hundred years of records accumulating." She offers a wry smile. "Not being greatly involved in libraries, I admit I harbor some entirely uninformed ideas of library rivalry between the great libraries"

He bowed towards the Ikoma. "Ikoma-san, care to join us in a post-prayer conversation?'

Noticing the others are welcoming him into their conversation, he completes the prayers before addressing the conversation. He gives a proper bow, using the time to read their faces properly. "I would indeed, thank you Asako-san. Now, Asahina-san, there is quite a lot of history in these halls and we're quite a bit early in the month. Heck, I hear the Imperial entourage just arrived today. I could not speak on the nature of the logistics as I just arrived last night, but with this many important quests arriving at once, and in different parts of the city, some things are bound to get lost in transition. Perhaps a leisurely walk around the city tomorrow would be in order."

She blinks at the sudden shift from addressing the Phoenix to regaling her with the history of the place. "Ah...indeed it seems most of the art is rather historical in nature. I imagine everything is exactly as our hosts intend for the winter. Few could criticize the Lion as being bad at logistics."

With a somewhat apologetic glance at Kenichi, but aware of her duties in building connections she continues "Assuming there is time in the rush of court duties, and the weather doesn't have other ideas, a tour would certainly help me orient myself in the space."

"Though I think I'd also be interested in Asako-sama's idea of a tour as well, if he's willing. One sees things a bit differently when coming at it from the outside."

[Asako Kenichi]

"I have ben lowed access on a few occasions Adajina-san. It is a rare honor." He smiled fondly at the memory.

"I would be quite willing tp walk through my experiences of the Kyuden at slme time, Ikoma-san, Asahina-san. There are a few favorite sppts one has, after all."

[Ikoma Tanji]

(ooc, totally did not think through my response properly. Was going through the motions for introducing, then directly addressed the internal thoughts without realizing it wouldn't have been something my character would have directly known. Then realized I was dominating convo with my wall of text. At work, will think it over and post around noon when I get my break.)

[Ikoma Tanji]

Realizing a little too late that he forgot to even mention his name, he takes a second to center himself. "Lovely to hear, always a good thing to take time out of one's schedule to slow things down either way. I am Ikoma Tanji, Imperial Scribe coming back from Otosan Uchi."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Realizing a little too late that he forgot to even mention his name, he takes a second to center himself. "Lovely to hear, always a good thing to take time out of one's schedule to slow things down either way. I am Ikoma Tanji, Imperial Scribe coming back from Otosan Uchi."

Hoshiko offers a polite bow and her own introduction, "Asahina Hoshiko, priestess of House Yamada. Honored to meet you, Ikoma-sama. I appreciate the efforts your family has put into hosting us all."

"How long were you away in the capital? This has to be a very busy homecoming!"

"I have ben lowed access on a few occasions Adajina-san. It is a rare honor." He smiled fondly at the memory.

"I would be quite willing tp walk through my experiences of the Kyuden at slme time, Ikoma-san, Asahina-san. There are a few favorite sppts one has, after all."

There's a bit of a smile, certainly an expression of approval at least, grey-blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know we can fit that into the busy court schedule somewhere. A chance to see the grounds through eyes familiar with it but from such different backgrounds is not something I plan to pass up!." She looks at one and then the other. "In a few days time, perhaps? Weather permitting?"


************
ooc, schedule for Day 2 has gotten pretty full, so circling back to tours on 3 or 4? Will PM and assume blizzards don't sweep into the place.

[Ikoma Tanji]

"It is nice to meet have met your acquaintance, Asahina-san. It is quite exciting to see what opportunities one can find when one leasts expect it. I might have had to spend the whole year away from home if circumstances were different, but it is important to make the most of what you have even in the harshest of weather. In that vein, perhaps now is a good time to share a good book before the weather gets worse."

(Edit, took forever to do with whatever server issues)