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

[Shiba Ryusei]

Shinnosuke laughs, concealed behind his sleeve but in a way that seems casual and natural rather than affected (unless that's the ultimate affectation?). "All that tells me is that you like good plays, and dislike bad and silly ones! Which is discernment enough, I suppose."

The flicker of Ryusei's eyes over his shoulder at someone else doesn't escape his notice, though. "Am I detaining you, Shiba-san? This is a party, I ought not to stop you from mingling."

"No, no, not at all, Doji-san. Just a forcible reminder of my age, so to speak. And it would hardly do to drop a conversation right as we get to the heart of the matter, hm?"

[Agasha Yuna]

But I thought, uh, maybe you, you had seen something in the, the stacks about it."

After a moment of contemplation in which her eyes lost their focus, concentration turning inward, she re-focused on Mirumoto-san.

"I can tell you what I recall. The part in Ozawa lands is well known to you. I can just skip to the other references." She expected he did not want his family's misfortune spoken aloud at the party.

"Gobai is the Fortune of Balance. Many of those particularly devoted to him are in Phoenix lands, and described in records there that I read in school. A group called the Five-Fold Balance. They are, from all I have read, unrelated to the group your family encountered. The Five-Fold Balance focuses on cooking. The development of 'temple food' meant to pacify and bring balance is attributed to this group."

"Balance is a topic of interest to Shinseist faith also. The Little Teacher says to seek balance in all things. But - balance can be achieved in many ways. Our Ageki family focus on a single element, earth, presumes that others study air, fire, water, and void with equal dedication elsewhere. Balance between, rather than balance within."

"There is not consensus on precisely what kind of balance Gobai continues to embody. But it is likely related to the general idea of balance among the elements in a world that works well."

[Mirumoto Kichinitonda]

After a moment of contemplation in which her eyes lost their focus, concentration turning inward, she re-focused on Mirumoto-san.

"I can tell you what I recall. The part in Ozawa lands is well known to you. I can just skip to the other references." She expected he did not want his family's misfortune spoken aloud at the party.

"Gobai is the Fortune of Balance. Many of those particularly devoted to him are in Phoenix lands, and described in records there that I read in school. A group called the Five-Fold Balance. They are, from all I have read, unrelated to the group your family encountered. The Five-Fold Balance focuses on cooking. The development of 'temple food' meant to pacify and bring balance is attributed to this group."

"Balance is a topic of interest to Shinseist faith also. The Little Teacher says to seek balance in all things. But - balance can be achieved in many ways. Our Ageki family focus on a single element, earth, presumes that others study air, fire, water, and void with equal dedication elsewhere. Balance between, rather than balance within."

"There is not consensus on precisely what kind of balance Gobai continues to embody. But it is likely related to the general idea of balance among the elements in a world that works well."

"Huh?"

Kichinitonda's brow furrows.

"I, er, I hadn't, hadn't considered. That," he says in his halting way, and he drinks more.

"I think, er, that, um, there've been, been efforts like, like 'Do X, bad, do opposite of X, good.' But, er, yeah, that, that doesn't seem to have helped the, the people in question."

He shakes his head.

"But maybe that could, could be something the library here talks about."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke laughs, concealed behind his sleeve but in a way that seems casual and natural rather than affected (unless that's the ultimate affectation?). "All that tells me is that you like good plays, and dislike bad and silly ones! Which is discernment enough, I suppose."

The flicker of Ryusei's eyes over his shoulder at someone else doesn't escape his notice, though. "Am I detaining you, Shiba-san? This is a party, I ought not to stop you from mingling."

"No, no, not at all, Doji-san. Just a forcible reminder of my age, so to speak. And it would hardly do to drop a conversation right as we get to the heart of the matter, hm?"

"If you say so. Anyway, the winter is long, and we'll still be young for all of it. As will lots of other people." The curve of Shinnosuke's lips is cheerfully conspiratorial.

"So, where were we? The heart of the matter?"

[Agasha Yuna]

...

"But maybe that could, could be something the library here talks about."

"I'd be glad to look once I've arranged access. There might be resources both on additional groups of followers more prevalent in Lion lands, if there are any, and resources on the topic of balance in general. How individuals and communities - and even empires - have sought to achieve it."

"But remember that addressing an imbalance, or other potential slight to the principle or personhood of balance, maintaining a balance once restored, requires detachment."

“Let all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. Don't expect results. If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.”

[Mirumoto Kichinitonda]

"I'd be glad to look once I've arranged access. There might be resources both on additional groups of followers more prevalent in Lion lands, if there are any, and resources on the topic of balance in general. How individuals and communities - and even empires - have sought to achieve it."

"But remember that addressing an imbalance, or other potential slight to the principle or personhood of balance, maintaining a balance once restored, requires detachment."

“Let all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. Don't expect results If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it.”

Kichinitonda nods.

"I would, would appreciate it," he says. "It would be a, a big help."

He finishes his drink.

"Thank, thank you."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"If you say so. Anyway, the winter is long, and we'll still be young for all of it. As will lots of other people." The curve of Shinnosuke's lips is cheerfully conspiratorial.

"So, where were we? The heart of the matter?"

The Shiba chuckled in response.

"It's my youth that's rearing its ugly head! But yes, the heart of the matter- in the theater, in pillowbooks, in yarns while sailing, nobody likes a story that goes nowhere in particular. And that is why the Shigi haven't been heard from much in plays since that first masterpiece."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

The Shiba chuckled in response.

"It's my youth that's rearing its ugly head! But yes, the heart of the matter- in the theater, in pillowbooks, in yarns while sailing, nobody likes a story that goes nowhere in particular. And that is why the Shigi haven't been heard from much in plays since that first masterpiece."

"Come, youth is never ugly. Lacking experience and wisdom, that's the one thing we've got going for us, isn't it?" Shinnosuke is airily amused. "And that's the point. If you don't choose to indulge in being young with..." well, it probably wasn't the middle-aged Mirumoto in that direction, or the bald monk.... not that the monk was actually so bad-looking... and that left as a promising prospect... "whomever, at this precise moment, well, you've still time ahead."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Come, youth is never ugly. Lacking experience and wisdom, that's the one thing we've got going for us, isn't it?" Shinnosuke is airily amused. "And that's the point. If you don't choose to indulge in being young with..." well, it probably wasn't the middle-aged Mirumoto in that direction, or the bald monk.... not that the monk was actually so bad-looking... and that left as a promising prospect... "whomever, at this precise moment, well, you've still time ahead."

"For your mouth to the Fortunes' ears, Doji-san."

The Phoenix gave a wry grin.

"But alas, we weren't sent to Court to court, were we?"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Come, youth is never ugly. Lacking experience and wisdom, that's the one thing we've got going for us, isn't it?" Shinnosuke is airily amused. "And that's the point. If you don't choose to indulge in being young with..." well, it probably wasn't the middle-aged Mirumoto in that direction, or the bald monk.... not that the monk was actually so bad-looking... and that left as a promising prospect... "whomever, at this precise moment, well, you've still time ahead."

"For your mouth to the Fortunes' ears, Doji-san."

The Phoenix gave a wry grin.

"But alas, we weren't sent to Court to court, were we?"

"Not exactly, and also not exactly not, right?" A casual flick of Shinnosuke's sleeve again prevents a gauche flash of teeth as he chuckles. "My sweet aunt set me on the road with very specific particulars about my dear cousin Kinuyo's marriage conditions, for example. Kinuyo-neesama isn't alone in the stacks of dossiers, either, as I'm sure you can imagine. Much the same on your side, I suppose."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Talk of fate never sat well with Masumi, especially when it involved matters of marriage and death. She nodded along, too polite to interrupt, but there was a grimness to her demeanor. "Such is the nature of treaties. They must be upheld." She dusted off her shoulder as if shooing away an ill omen.

"The Crane and the Lion are alike in this manner," Masumi said, of course unable to resist the opportunity to extol her Clan's own virtues. "She did not mention such a thing to me yet." Unless some time shenanigans occurred... but it didn't seem likely that Masumi had earned Sae's trust to that extent yet. "I will aid her in any manner she deems fit." Within reason was left unspoken but certainly Sae would not go too far.

Honestly, hearing anyone include the Crane in the extolling of virtues was a bit novel. Given the opinions of the poor sods from other clans assigned to the minor Crane courts Hoshiko had built her skills in.

"Hmm, then I hope this Lion," she inclines her head to Masumi, "and that Crane...my cousin-to-be... are alike in skill and devotion. For then I'm sure you'll be able to handle her office for a few weeks while we get her through the engagement. By the time of the wedding, it'll all be routine, won't it?" She considers a moment and leans in. "If you'd like to return the favor, I'm sure you could have a betrothal in the works before the end of court."

She lets her gaze skim the room, eyes flicking quickly back to her conversation partner as she spots Hachi again. That was going to be winceworthy for a while. "Are you released from the Emerald office's duties while here and serving as part of our host's delegation?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Not exactly, and also not exactly not, right?" A casual flick of Shinnosuke's sleeve again prevents a gauche flash of teeth as he chuckles. "My sweet aunt set me on the road with very specific particulars about my dear cousin Kinuyo's marriage conditions, for example. Kinuyo-neesama isn't alone in the stacks of dossiers, either, as I'm sure you can imagine. Much the same on your side, I suppose."

"Oh, we have quite the slate, it's true... everything from my younger siblings to Lord Asako's hatamoto..."

He sighed.

"And of course, betrothals to help solidify agreements are always in vogue."

[Agasha Yuna]

"I would, would appreciate it," he says. "It would be a, a big help."

He finishes his drink.

"Thank, thank you."

She nodded. Glad to have a way to be of help.

"I am always glad to help a fellow Dragon." She bowed and cast a glance around the room. A logical break in the conversation. Probably she should continue to mingle. "I'll let you know once I've learned more."

Shiba-san was still deep in conversation...

Shiba-san...

Oh! "Oh, I remembered something else. Gobai is also revered by some sailors. For the most literal interpretation of balance."

He'd told her that this morning!

"Perhaps acts of charity to sailors would please Gobai? Care of orphaned children whose parents were lost at sea? That's a bit challenging from Dragon land but our gold can do what our reach otherwise cannot."

"Or, on the interior path, a training in acrobatics? A path of the pursuit of the ultimate perfection of physical balance?"

[Soshi Eiji]

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?

The Yasuki bowed at the slightly older, masked man. "Your words are too kind, Soshi-san", she answered in a rather contained tone. Seeing the cup on one of his hands, she moves her eyes slightly towards the one on her left hand, as if pointing to it. "We're sharing both the cup and the word already, it would seem, ne?" A faint, sheepish smile. "Unless Soshi-san was thinking of more specific words?" The smile turns into a smirk, for the slightest moment. "Not 'fish', or 'book', by any chance?"

While it was clear that the Doji's interest was in the Yasuki and the Yasuki alone, it seemed that they would be brought together by the wiles of the Yasuki.

He bowed to the Crane as was proper.

"Soshi-ke no kaishin Miura Eiji." he offered simply before returning to the Yasuki's question with feigned shock.

"Alas, Yasuki-san, has your pre-court correspondence left you fatigued of those words? I'm sure you must have received letters by the dozens, all filled with references to fish, or comparing your beauty to the beauties depicted in famous books."

He looked forlornly at his fan.

"Ah, but how constricting it is to have those words stricken when one wishes to compliment Yasuki-san's ensemble for the evening. What is to be done?" he fretted.

Slowly he turned to the Crane, brightening as if struck with sudden inspiration.

"Ah, but we have a member of the Crane, well known for their dedication to beauty. How fortituitious!"

He unfolded and waved his fan, gesturing towards the Yasuki.

"How would you put into words the beauty of Yasuki-san.....'s outfit this evening, Doji-san, forbidden from mentioning fish or books?"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Not exactly, and also not exactly not, right?" A casual flick of Shinnosuke's sleeve again prevents a gauche flash of teeth as he chuckles. "My sweet aunt set me on the road with very specific particulars about my dear cousin Kinuyo's marriage conditions, for example. Kinuyo-neesama isn't alone in the stacks of dossiers, either, as I'm sure you can imagine. Much the same on your side, I suppose."

"Oh, we have quite the slate, it's true... everything from my younger siblings to Lord Asako's hatamoto..."

He sighed.

"And of course, betrothals to help solidify agreements are always in vogue."

"And can lead to marriages as happy as any, as far as I can tell, if they're made well. Not that I know many people married from arrangements at quite this level, of course." It wouldn't be nice to mention exactly why that was, in this venue; everybody knows all about the Four Temples unpleasantness anyway. "But it's much the same, Family agreements and Clan ones."

Shinnosuke arches a brow. "It's the first time anybody has tasked me to act as anything like a matchmaker. I hope I don't go mad with power."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Shinnosuke arches a brow. "It's the first time anybody has tasked me to act as anything like a matchmaker. I hope I don't go mad with power."

"If you do, Doji-san..."

Ryusei's voice was level. Even.

"... please, please promise you'll cackle evilly every time you enter a room, and have long speeches about your brilliance and the folly of your heroic foes."

[Yasuki Masaki]

.

Snip

The Crab's free right hand instinctively draws her own fan, similarly adorned by koi fish - these ones more varied in colour than those in her kimono - and move it to cover her mouth as her eyes widen. Surprise, likely - although a creased line in the corner of her eyes suggests a smile.

"Fatigued? Why, Soshi-san, books are hardly meant to be dull, ne? - good books, at least! And if a Kawagoi were to feel fatigued due to looking at or hearing about fish, they'd hardly ever have a day to rest. That said..."

The ridge at the corner of her eyes grows a bit, and she shifts her eyes at the Doji. "...Soshi-san's game sounds fun, doesn't it, Doji-san? I suppose you could ask Soshi-san to describe your outfit later, without your own choice of words?"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"If you do, Doji-san..."

Ryusei's voice was level. Even.

"... please, please promise you'll cackle evilly every time you enter a room, and have long speeches about your brilliance and the folly of your heroic foes."

"Acting is my profession, Shiba-san. I'd never waste such an opportunity. Of course," he temporizes after a moment's thought, "I wouldn't over-play it. I should be very tasteful about it, very refined. A mad foe, overplayed, too easily loses his pathos and becomes silly."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Acting is my profession, Shiba-san. I'd never waste such an opportunity. Of course," he temporizes after a moment's thought, "I wouldn't over-play it. I should be very tasteful about it, very refined. A mad foe, overplayed, too easily loses his pathos and becomes silly."

"Hm, yes, we'd need some degrees of villainy. Perhaps leaping out from behind the scenery with a marriage contract in your hand and rapping the protagonist on the head with it..."

[Mirumoto Kichinitonda]

snip

Kichinitonda suddenly has a look on his face very much as if he has ben struck in the forehead by a closed fan.

Not that Yuna will have done such a thing, of course.

"I, I had not thought of, of that, er, either," he says.

He does note her glance elsewhere, follows it for just a moment.

"Um, so, you, you think that actor is, er, interesting?" he asks, lowering his voice.