[Day 10 - Mid Afternoon] Rokugani Self-Care (Open)

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised a brow at Eiji at first before narrowing her eyes on him. "I kind of find it hard that Soshi-san would truly consider himself a pest, or even others would have that opinion. No, you're not disturbing me in the slightest. But, It would help to have a change of topic. I'm sure that you're time here must have some pleasantness that you'll remember fondly once the winter is through?"

[Soshi Eiji]

This brought a smile back to Eiji's face.

"Ie, stay your wrath, Kuni-san, you needn't defend me from myself with such a stern gaze." he said. "I would be incredibly happy to provide a new topic."

"I would probably say that the things I have enjoyed the most this court are the fine samurai and the celebrtaions of art. The art festival was quite enjoyable, and there was Asahina-san's picnic celebrating past lives.....ah that reminds me."

"I had intended to go to the picnic, but my duties stole me away, so I sent a story in my stead with instruction that it be read aloud there. Were you in attendance? Was my story told?" he asked, very curious about the events of the picnic.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori bobbed her head at the question as she recalled that night. That was just yesterday, wasn't it? It felt like it was a few days ago. This was probably a side effect of spending so many hours in the library that some of the days felt like eons ago. "Yes, I was present for the event. That was when I tried my hand at poem crafting and hashing out something from the item that I borrowed from Agasha Sanjuro. I'm not so sure how well that was received...but I digress, yes, I believe something was read in your absence. The tale of a sandpiper. It felt strange to have it read than told, as I'm sure there were many things missing in its delivery."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji looked a bit abashed at that.

"Ah, you are probably correct on that matter, Kuni-san. You can read a story, but a true storyteller breathes life into it. Agasha Yuna-san has an excellent memory for stories, but it's clear by her delivery she is reciting them, not telling them. Still, quite a charming samurai." he offered.

"As I was not there, and you are here now, would you be willing to share your poem with me? I will freely admit that I am not the most receptive audience when it comes to poetry, but it would be nice to have a taste of what I missed." he requests.

[Kuni Shiori]

"It seems especially true when said storyteller is from a school renowned for its storytelling. That said, any amount of training would breathe some further personality afforded by just a reading. Sometimes it can't be helped with some works, especially in time when authors pass this realm and only leave behind their work. While they are on this realm, I'm sure most people would prefer to have a live reading than now."

"Hm, I haven't noticed that myself," she said inquisitively regarding Yuna. "I'm sure her charm more than covers up any minute flaws she might have. Her delivery isn't lacking, actually, I think she has much confidence in what she does. It's a bit admirable, actually. Of course, something like that comes with experience and likely some talent."

"Of course. And if you are not the most receptive but between the both of us, you are at least the most trained." She nodded before clearing her voice and giving an encore of her piece...

"Waterfall basin,
Laughter invites the next pour,
Temple bells echo"

Roll
Day 10 - Mid Afternoon, Perform: Poetry/Awareness: Void for Skill, Voice applies | 5k4 ⇒ 28

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded appreciatively.

"Very evoctive Kuni-san. Thank you for sharing it with me." he said with a small nod.

She really did have a pleasant voice...not something you really expected from a Kuni.

"I am curious, were the performances particularly different between those who could communicate with the kami, and those who could not?" he asked.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori bowed deeply at the compliment. "Your words are too kind, Soshi-san. The subject in question was Agasha Sanjuro-san's silver sake cup from a few generations. It was a curious item, considering that it was such a delicate metal. It made me wonder if it was entirely just a decorative piece or something that had seen some use. I kind of assumed the latter, although my apprehension was on whether or not I was attributing some moments that never happened. There were also many good tales today that day and I thought to do something different in just having a short and concise poem. I did face a challenge trying to concentrate thoughts into a few words but I might have attempted to think this more functionally than artistically."

She sighed with a shake of her head. "Anyway, might be better to ask Agasha-san all these things. I can't say that I've made his acquaintance yet."

Her brows raised at the question and shook her head. "I don't think so. That might have been especially the case, considering the non-competitive nature of the event. It's not like there was incentivized jockeying of positions that people used the kami to ensure that they further honoured their subjects."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji looked a little confused at the Kuni's response.

"That's....not really want I meant, Kuni-san, my apologies if my intent was unclear. I have always thought that the world must look very much different to those who can communicate with the spirits. I feel the earth beneath my feet, but Kuni-san can ask the earth what it thinks about that. Although, given my transient nature versus the earth's I doubt it thinks much of me."

He shook his head.

"Perhaps it is simply that Kuni-san has always been able to commuicate with the spirits? At least as far as she can remember. Perhaps I might liken my question to one who is blind walking through a crowd speaking to one who can see the crowd."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori nodded slowly at that. "Ah, I see...Well, every mastery and relationship with the kami is entirely different. I'm sure there are supposedly shugenja in the Phoenix who view everything in front of them as a moving and constantly breathing world that would even put most shugenja on edge, or even drive them to madness. I suppose the world is very much less than ordinary for us in many aspects but we're very much unlike those fabled Phoenix elemental masters, at least with my meagre training. My relationship is more of a pull than push, melding the earth to my will, rather than it seeking me out like a friend wanting to play and I have to court its attention to get favours."

"I don't think most shugenja would be so enlightened to passively speak to the kami with their world. It might almost seem negligent in that regard, much like speaking to two people at once," she gave a shake of her head at that. "I would rather believe that they addressing people normally rather than have a layered conversation where they aren't actually talking to you. But of course, I'm sure such a thing happened in the mundane but far more complex working of the courts."

[Soshi Eiji]

This brings a small smirk back to Eiji's face.

"There is a reason that Akodo-no-kami listed Honesty and Sincerity as two seperate things. But if you think of court as a battlefield, with the stakes everything up to including actual war, it's easy to see why 'Point at the mulberry while cursing the locust' is a popular stratgem. When you're confronted by foes who have the higher ground, you have to look at ways to negate their advantage, rather than just charging blindly into their waiting spears." he offers.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori nodded soundly at first before responding. "I would imagine that there is some advantage with the ability to have two conversations at once but in terms of speaking to the kami and people at the same time, it comes across as someone who might be potentially scattered or illegal in some areas, much like the courts." She said, indirectly speaking on the topic of secret spellcasting.

[Soshi Eiji]

Shiori nodded soundly at first before responding. "I would imagine that there is some advantage with the ability to have two conversations at once but in terms of speaking to the kami and people at the same time, it comes across as someone who might be potentially scattered or illegal in some areas, much like the courts." She said, indirectly speaking on the topic of secret spellcasting.

Eiji nods.

"Though there are disadvantages in the courts as well. It IS reliant on both parties understanding one the other means. If I say, 'Kuni-san, hand me a hammer.' and you understand I am asking for a hammer, I will likely receive a hammer. If I ask for a hammer, but mean I want a plum, and you understand I want a plum, all is well. It's when I ask for a hammer, but mean I want a plum, but you understand it as a hammer that it breaks down." he mused.

He scanned the gardens.

"The Game of Letters is another example. All to often what is intended as a clever and sly communication ends up mistaken for the call of a lone bird. Pretty to listen to, but resulting in naught."

[Kuni Shiori]

"That one, I know, Soshi-san," she nodded a few beats at that. "I believe that language is one of the first lessons any court attendee gets taught prior to taking their first step through the main doors. That said, knowing that it's present and deciphering it is entirely different. I would assume that those misunderstandings don't happen often, especially when there are important businesses to be finalized between two parties."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji tlted his head a bit looking at the Kuni.

"Important business, Kuni-san?" he asked, deeply curious.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori raised a brow at the question and shook her head. "Sorry, I wasn't meaning anything specific on that train of thought, just in a general sense. I'm just trying to imagine a situation where you would ask for a trade for hammers when you were expecting preserved plums and a shipping of hammers come instead. Maybe it has happened before? But I just find it hard to conjure in my thoughts at the moment. If it did, I can imagine some very boring lunches for the next few months and some rather upset people."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded in understanding.

"Ah, no I have misunderstood you, Kuni-san. I thought you were talking about the Game of Letters, you know, considering...." he offered ,before trailing off.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori wished there was some equal revelation that would dawn here but instead, she remained impassive. That said, her curiosity was now piqued. She would trail along with the thought, raising a brow. "...Considering, Soshi-san?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Shiori wished there was some equal revelation that would dawn here but instead, she remained impassive. That said, her curiosity was now piqued. She would trail along with the thought, raising a brow. "...Considering, Soshi-san?"

"....well, the Letter, Kuni-san." he said, master of being helpful.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori was partially hoping that Eiji would fill her in but it was silly considering he might have been talking about something that was delivered to her specifically. It was perhaps a bit of a message she found herself stowing away to consider another time, deluding that it was sent by mistake, or having forgotten it herself.

"I see...It has been a busy last few days, I apologize for forgetting," she said with a preemptive bow, although not entirely sure that Eiji had anything to do with it. "...How were you made aware of this message? Was it in circulation?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nods.

"Hai. Often such messages are circulated. It gives the court something to speculate upon. Where is this letter going? To whom was it meant? Sometimes the message is obvious, but the better ones require a bit of knowledge to deduce the answers." he offers.