[D1, EN, Open] The Right Hand's Reception: Roleplay

[Matsu Masumi]

The darkly-dressed Crane pauses to be announced. "Asahina Hoshiko heir to house Yamada and priestess of the Crane."

Pausing only an appropriate moment more to allow those keeping track to look up and put a face to the name, Hoshiko then moves into the crowd with a swish of midnight blue silk and waft of bone dry sandalwood.

After her far less than successful chat with the Miya daimyo, she retrieves a small cup of rice wine and plate of sweets, using them as an excuse to keep her gaze down while she recovers her face. The only way that could have gone worse would have been tripping into that vase while she tried to sequester Hachi. She offered thanks to the Fortunes of small misfortune for overlooking her tonight.

(pm if approaching. I'm in and out with weekend tasks)

During Masumi's attempts to surveil the proceedings, her repositioning led her to the exact same spot as Asahina Hoshiko. If Masumi noticed anything about the priestess' composure, then she didn't say as much. Instead she offered a polite bow of greeting and announced her presence. "Asahina-sama, has my Clan proven to be a suitable host for you?" Her eyes went to the confections. "I suspect the answer may be 'yes' but I like to make sure," she said. Her proceeding smile was a mix of congenial and a little... teasing? This was the Lion's den, after all.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

During Masumi's attempts to surveil the proceedings, her repositioning led her to the exact same spot as Asahina Hoshiko. If Masumi noticed anything about the priestess' composure, then she didn't say as much. Instead she offered a polite bow of greeting and announced her presence. "Asahina-sama, has my Clan proven to be a suitable host for you?" Her eyes went to the confections. "I suspect the answer may be 'yes' but I like to make sure," she said. Her proceeding smile was a mix of congenial and a little... teasing? This was the Lion's den, after all.

Hoshiko looks up, setting the charming little pine cone wagashi back in its place on the plate and offers a bow in return. "Oh! Yes, very suitable! Ah...Matsu-sama." there's a small pause to assess mons and make the polite assumption that this one may be of higher status. Never hurts to aim a bit higher rather than aim too low.

"The separate delegation houses are quite pleasant." If spartan. "And these," she lifts her treats "quite nice. Is the wine a Lion vintage, do you know?" She wasn't connoisseur enough to tell one vintage from another, honestly.

"Have you been stationed here long, or just arriving for the court?"

[Asako Kenichi]

Daichi spotted the man as he slowly circled forward in his approach. Is that how it's done then? Do you circle your prey like some sort of predator ready to pounce? That didn't seem correct. Maybe you were giving the person a chance to move out of the way before you arrived? Or maybe the man was just bored and having trouble making his way to the sake station, it would need further study to be certain.

"Not at all." People tended to be some of the least disturbing things he came across after all. It's not often my clan comes so far north after all." He looked over the phoenix for a moment. Small talk? Or straight to business. "In that vein I don't believe I've ever had the chance to speak with a member of the Phoenix."

Kenichi smiled. "Well then, it is a time of firsts, Hiruma-san. Thus is my first Imperial Winter Court for example. And my first taste of beverages grom my home in six winters." He eyed the drink selection. "Of course, Crab sake is still a duperior ptoduct in many ways."

[Matsu Masumi]

Hoshiko looks up, setting the charming little pine cone wagashi back in its place on the plate and offers a bow in return. "Oh! Yes, very suitable! Ah...Matsu-sama." there's a small pause to assess mons and make the polite assumption that this one may be of higher status. Never hurts to aim a bit higher rather than aim too low.

"The separate delegation houses are quite pleasant." If spartan. "And these," she lifts her treats "quite nice. Is the wine a Lion vintage, do you know?" She wasn't connoisseur enough to tell one vintage from another, honestly.

"Have you been stationed here long, or just arriving for the court?"

Masumi was of the same mind when it came to assumptions of status. Her pride only demanded recompense if she was openly challenged. "I am glad that the accommodations meet your exacting standards." It seemed a safe enough assumption that a Crane would expect lofty things. "I must confess that I haven't had a chance to try to wine yet." And even if she had, she wasn't exactly a connoisseur herself. At least she had her office as an excuse not to partake in liquor often.

"I am here for court," Masumi said with a faint smile. "It is a wonderous opportunity really. Much to gain, as I'm sure you're well aware."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Ryusei blinked in what might be called baffled pleasure.

"The very same, Doji-san."

How he wished his House had done anything but flounder towards the grave at any point since the defeat of Fu Leng! He'd have more to offer as a rejoinder.

"We're not up to anything quite so heroic these days, but that history is ours."

"Oh, how interesting! We learned that play at the Academy, of course--you know, with the drowned sea captain's wife and his ghost--but all that time, nobody mentioned that this Captain Shigi's family was still around. I wonder why?"

Remembering himself, the white-haired young man bows. "I am Doji Shinnosuke, by the way. Of House Tanaka, not nearly so ancient." Respectably old, but not that old.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Remembering himself, the white-haired young man bows. "I am Doji Shinnosuke, by the way. Of House Tanaka, not nearly so ancient." Respectably old, but not that old.

They probably left it out to spare the audience the sad punchline that House Shigi became not too long after the war.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Doji-san. Perhaps we disappointed the playwrights of the Empire by not reaching such heights again..."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

<snip>

"Oh, I'm sure not. Playwrights detest simple repetition, unless it's the poetic sort." The tip of Shinnosuke's closed fan, held in his left hand, describes a little circle in the air as if writing a single mysterious kanji for 'you know how those playwrights are.'

"Hard to make a good play out of staying the same for hundreds of years, even gloriously."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Masumi was of the same mind when it came to assumptions of status. Her pride only demanded recompense if she was openly challenged. "I am glad that the accommodations meet your exacting standards." It seemed a safe enough assumption that a Crane would expect lofty things. "I must confess that I haven't had a chance to try to wine yet." And even if she had, she wasn't exactly a connoisseur herself. At least she had her office as an excuse not to partake in liquor often.

"I am here for court," Masumi said with a faint smile. "It is a wonderous opportunity really. Much to gain, as I'm sure you're well aware."

She'd never considered her standards, coming from a small house with roots among peasant levies. But the dedication to art and beauty among the Crane had infused everything more than she had ever given thought to.

"Ah, well. Then I won't ask you for tea house recommendations in the area. Though sampling the local teas is one thing I hope to gain," she teases while sorting her thoughts. "But yes, there are much larger opportunities here as well."

if we can push past all the anti-Crane 'policies' of the last generation, at least. She thinks with an internal sigh. Hearing an irritated throat clearing sound that nobody else could hear prompts another thought. Yes, yes, grandmama...

Setting the treats aside, she tugs her fan from within her obi, unfurling the fan slowly*. After acclimating to the cool outdoors, it actually was getting a bit warm in here with so many people, all in heavy formal clothes. She did glance around surreptitiously as she chatted; not really expecting any signs of recognition, but alert for them nonetheless.

"Where are you normally stationed then?"

**************************
*The silk fan is painted mostly black, so the negative spaces form the image from the underlying warm gold silk. A bare winter cherry tree, with dry grasses at it's base. Plump buds along the gnarled branches hint at the bloom to come. It looks quite old. Example of the technique

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Oh, I'm sure not. Playwrights detest simple repetition, unless it's the poetic sort." The tip of Shinnosuke's closed fan, held in his left hand, describes a little circle in the air as if writing a single mysterious kanji for 'you know how those playwrights are.'

"Hard to make a good play out of staying the same for hundreds of years, even gloriously."

"Yes, but one also has a hard time writing a play where the setbacks are neither particularly heroic or tragic."

Ryusei's own fan, emblazoned with sandpipers on the shore, fluttered briefly.

"Some stories nobody much wants to hear, no matter how badly they should."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

“If you begin by thinking of your story as neither heroic nor tragic, then no, maybe not,” Shinnosuke agrees genially. “Oh well.”

“What sort of stories do you like best in the theater, then, Shiba-san?”

[Shiba Ryusei]

“If you begin by thinking of your story as neither heroic nor tragic, then no, maybe not,” Shinnosuke agrees genially. “Oh well.”

“What sort of stories do you like best in the theater, then, Shiba-san?”

"Oh, I'm a rank sentimentalist, Doji-san. I like stories where loyalty is rewarded, lost kin reconcile, that sort of thing."

He closed his fan and tapped his chin.

"I don't need a happy ending, but I like a satisfying one."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji rubbed his eyes. Seriously, who threw a reception at this hour? He wouldn't have minded if he could just slip in, have a drink or two and slip out, but no he had to be formally announced and everything.

"Ah, it's Ik....ah no it's...." he started before catching himself.

"Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji, courtier of the Scorpion clan." the Karo announces after he s given the correct name to announce.

Eiji looked around. It seemed most of those in attendance had found someone to partner up with. Eiji sought out a sake cup, and perhaps if someone else was simlarly free, he'd strke up a conversation...but the sake was a definite.

(PM if approached, party threads and all)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Kenichi smiled. "Well then, it is a time of firsts, Hiruma-san. Thus is my first Imperial Winter Court for example. And my first taste of beverages grom my home in six winters." He eyed the drink selection. "Of course, Crab sake is still a duperior ptoduct in many ways."

"Firsts indeed." Daichi agreed as his eyes flicked towards the drinks for a few moments. No means no. He shouldn't though at least not in such a public venue. "Each clan's sake has its own advantages I'd say. Though I'd also admit I haven't partaken of blends from everywhere in the empire. Of those I have tried I can say that each had its own good points. Even if I do prefer that of my own clan." It was the best after all.

"It's the taste of home. If that makes sense."

[Matsu Masumi]

She'd never considered her standards, coming from a small house with roots among peasant levies. But the dedication to art and beauty among the Crane had infused everything more than she had ever given thought to.

"Ah, well. Then I won't ask you for tea house recommendations in the area. Though sampling the local teas is one thing I hope to gain," she teases while sorting her thoughts. "But yes, there are much larger opportunities here as well."

if we can push past all the anti-Crane 'policies' of the last generation, at least. She thinks with an internal sigh. Hearing an irritated throat clearing sound that nobody else could hear prompts another thought. Yes, yes, grandmama...

Setting the treats aside, she tugs her fan from within her obi, unfurling the fan slowly*. After acclimating to the cool outdoors, it actually was getting a bit warm in here with so many people, all in heavy formal clothes. She did glance around surreptitiously as she chatted; not really expecting any signs of recognition, but alert for them nonetheless.

"Where are you normally stationed then?"

**************************
*The silk fan is painted mostly black, so the negative spaces form the image from the underlying warm gold silk. A bare winter cherry tree, with dry grasses at it's base. Plump buds along the gnarled branches hint at the bloom to come. It looks quite old. Example of the technique

"I am not the best source of information on local tea houses," Masumi confirmed. "I am certain that the Ikoma would liken the opportunity to visit them as quite a large one actually." She shrugged faintly. Pushing the Ikoma Family's agenda was not so important to her for the time being.

The fan catches her eye. She'd never appreciated something like that up close before. It might have enraptured her if not for the further questioning. "I am now under the service of one of your fellow Crane actually. Daidoji Sae, Emerald Magistrate." Masumi narrowed her eyes, curious of how familiar the name was to this Asahina.

[Asako Kenichi]

"Firsts indeed." Daichi agreed as his eyes flicked towards the drinks for a few moments. No means no. He shouldn't though at least not in such a public venue. "Each clan's sake has its own advantages I'd say. Though I'd also admit I haven't partaken of blends from everywhere in the empire. Of those I have tried I can say that each had its own good points. Even if I do prefer that of my own clan." It was the best after all.

"It's the taste of home. If that makes sense."

"Perfectly. It has been some time sincevI enjoyed the taste of home." He eyed the spread some more. "How are you finding Winter Court so far Hirjma-sama?'

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Yasuki Masaki, court shugenja of the Crab, heir to house Kawagoi".

The woman enters and bows, moving fluidly in adark blue and grey kimono with a traditional koi fish pattern in a somewhat lighter shade of blue and burgundy-like dark red. Her hair is tied in a bun, held up by hairpins in a shape resembling three stylised crabs, two of them mirroring the colours of the koi pattern in her kimono, one almost golden.

A faint smell of cinnamon stays behind as she makes her way to a small cup of sake - which she seems to look at, mix and smell for a long time before ever drawing close to her lips.

(Please PM or ping if approaching!)

[Soshi Eiji]

"Yasuki Masaki, court shugenja of the Crab, heir to house Kawagoi".

The woman enters and bows, moving fluidly in adark blue and grey kimono with a traditional koi fish pattern in a somewhat lighter shade of blue and burgundy-like dark red. Her hair is tied in a bun, held up by hairpins in a shape resembling three stylised crabs, two of them mirroring the colours of the koi pattern in her kimono, one almost golden.

A faint smell of cinnamon stays behind as she makes her way to a small cup of sake - which she seems to look at, mix and smell for a long time before ever drawing close to her lips.

(Please PM or ping if approaching!)

Eiji looked up from his own sake cup at the latest announcement. He took a moment to appreciate the artistic effort that the Crab had put into her debut at the reception.

There's going to be stories about her that put a Crane to shame. he mused.

But parties were no fun if you just sat around staring at the pretty samurai-ko.

Eiji made his way over and bowed respectfully.

"The emmissary of straw's master has arrived. I must say, Yasuki-san, he hinted at your artistry and grace but did not fully do you justice." he opened with.

"This one is Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji. Might you share a cup and a word with me tonight?"

[Ikoma Honoka]

"I don't know what courtiers train in, to be honest. I spent 8 years learning things like how to disarm an opponent without literally disarming them, or how to climb a cliff." Jinkan replied after a thoughtful silence.

"I had not ever considered it before you mentioned it. How do courtiers test skills against each other? Debate? Dance off?" The Dragon's face was cast in a curious energy as he moved closer to hear her words better.

There was the briefest surprised look but it was gone behind her smile again.

"Well, it's not too different to learning the blade. Learning the fundamentals of court, the correct way to approach a situation, debate as you say which would be similar to a spar. Testing composure, the ability to think on the spot and provide an answer that would not be offensive or lead to a misunderstanding. An example I can think of would be my sensei putting on a mock court with the students and assigning them to sides in a debate, then seeing how they approach a subject at hand."

[Doji Arai]

"Yasuki Masaki, court shugenja of the Crab, heir to house Kawagoi".

The woman enters and bows, moving fluidly in adark blue and grey kimono with a traditional koi fish pattern in a somewhat lighter shade of blue and burgundy-like dark red. Her hair is tied in a bun, held up by hairpins in a shape resembling three stylised crabs, two of them mirroring the colours of the koi pattern in her kimono, one almost golden.

A faint smell of cinnamon stays behind as she makes her way to a small cup of sake - which she seems to look at, mix and smell for a long time before ever drawing close to her lips.

(Please PM or ping if approaching!)

The announcement itself draws Arai's attention. A Yasuki shugenja who points out that she's most suitable for court environment. That's something.

The Doji watches the other woman's delicate and careful movements and with her interest even more peaked, she decides to approach her.

Arai walks closer and offers a bow along with a polite smile. "Blessings of a thousand fortunes." She greets her. "This one is Doji Arai of the House Ishimoto. Has Inari no kami blessed you today?

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Kitsu Sayomi of House Tatsukawa."

Sayomi gave a bow to the karo for her introduction, then followed with a deeper bow for the hosts and guests of honor, before moving in to join the reception.

It was so overwhelming with all these new people. Sure, she'd spent some time here in Kyuden Ikoma already and was used to seeing colors of different clans here in the banquet hall, but not to this extent, and not to this level of grandeur before.

Oh gosh.

Even the food looked so dainty and absolutely perfect, how could she possibly eat it?! But eat it she would. Food was the best part of these gatherings!