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

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled. "It's not just their own balance. It is the balance of weights on the ship, too. That it's all properly secured and balanced. Life and death if it isn't, apparently. I've never lived anywhere that wasn't an isolated mountain, far from the sea. Just a river on our lands. But even with that river, I think you could see the principle. A little toy ship and see what happens as the contents are moved from one side to the other."

Actor?

She had to look again to work it out.

"Ah, no. I was looking over at a new friend. Shiba Ryusei-san. He is a bushi. A colleague at our joint Dragon-Phoenix library gave me his name as a person who would be representing their clan. So I wrote to him and then had the great fortune to meet him this morning, while I was chatting with Seppun Tomaru-sama. He is so intelligent and well-spoken and well-mannered." And handsome.

"He is the one who mentioned the Fortune Gobai as important to those who work on the water. Seeing him reminded me."

"Is that Crane speaking to him an actor? I haven't had the chance to meet any Crane here yet. Have you?"

[Asako Kenichi]

That certainly had the sound of something he didn't need to pry into. So Daichi let the subject drop though he did make a mental note of it.

"Generally, unless your unit is pulling night duties a soldier tends to.rise early." It was part of proper discipline to keep people on a specific schedule. "The dojo? No." He'd need to at some point of course, but the day had been long already. "Peehaps on the morrow. Have you had the chance to spend much time there?"

"It's quite nice, at least based on my limited exposure. I have not visited many other dojos, I confess. I have been meaning to improve my kenjutsu skills, though I am no great talent. Where are you stationed back home, may I ask?"

[Mirumoto Kichinitonda]

Snip

"In, in passing," Kichinitonda replies, resuming his volume. "And I, I saw a, er, dossier on other invitees. Heard people's, um, names, especially at the, the gift-giving.

"But I haven't, er, met any Phoenix, really, either. So, so you've got me beat there. And, and definitely with the, the Seppun."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"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..."

"I don't think I'd like to give up wicked laughter entirely." Shinnosuke arches his eyebrows with elegant menace for a moment, then lets it go. "It is so effective, after all, isn't it? The main thing is, our villain must believe what he's doing to be right, or that he must do it. Perhaps he believes his Family needs him to act for its very survival, or he's been thwarted in love himself... Hmm, I wonder if I have time to be thwarted in love before the end of the Season." He scans the room conspicuously, as if checking out the prospects.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I don't think I'd like to give up wicked laughter entirely." Shinnosuke arches his eyebrows with elegant menace for a moment, then lets it go. "It is so effective, after all, isn't it? The main thing is, our villain must believe what he's doing to be right, or that he must do it. Perhaps he believes his Family needs him to act for its very survival, or he's been thwarted in love himself... Hmm, I wonder if I have time to be thwarted in love before the end of the Season." He scans the room conspicuously, as if checking out the prospects.

"I admit to no particular expertise on the subject, but maybe there's time to not be thwarted..."

[Matsu Masumi]

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?"

"I would assume that she has more senior Yoriki to assign the main responsibilities." Masumi grinned. "Unless I surpass them."

Her amusement soon abated. Masumi backed away from the combination of someone leaning in and mentioning betrothals. "Is there some arrangement your Clan had in mind?" she asked, doing her best to not seem embarrassed by the notion. She was getting older, though, to the point where she'd need to get married at some point before it got too questionable.

So distracted was she that she didn't make note of the Asahina's own discomfort. "I am always in the pursuit of justice. But yes, I am here to assist the delegation as well."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"It's quite nice, at least based on my limited exposure. I have not visited many other dojos, I confess. I have been meaning to improve my kenjutsu skills, though I am no great talent. Where are you stationed back home, may I ask?"

"The southern border." He answered simply before deciding to elaborate a little. "We have castles and other fortifications down there, but it's kind of impossible to protect everything from such static locations, and my unit is a support unit for a contingent of scouts. We have a few semi-permanent bases we occupy, and for a season a year we return to Shiro Hiruma for rest, resupply, and new recruits."

Usually at this time he'd be getting the newbies settled in with the help of his nikutai, but others would have to handle it this year. "We name out encampments of course, but they aren't the type of place you find on most maps, and they aren't exactly where I'd say I was stationed either." The gunso finished, hoping the explanation would be helpful.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I would assume that she has more senior Yoriki to assign the main responsibilities." Masumi grinned. "Unless I surpass them."

Her amusement soon abated. Masumi backed away from the combination of someone leaning in and mentioning betrothals. "Is there some arrangement your Clan had in mind?" she asked, doing her best to not seem embarrassed by the notion. She was getting older, though, to the point where she'd need to get married at some point before it got too questionable.

So distracted was she that she didn't make note of the Asahina's own discomfort. "I am always in the pursuit of justice. But yes, I am here to assist the delegation as well."

A quick, amused, shake of the head, "No no...or at least not that I know of! Folks higher up may have reviewed the guest lists and started pairing everyone up for all I know, but that seems a bit extreme, doesn't it?" Her head tilts, lips pressed in thought. "I mean, unless you're just the bow tying up a treaty or trade agreement, there's more thought to matching temperaments and the like. Benten blesses happy matches, but her miracles of blessing wild mashups are rather rare."

There's a careful glance to see that no Imperial sorts are in earshot...not that it would keep tales from spreading. "We certainly have a suitable match in clan somewhere, if that's what you're looking for. Or...if that's how you're set to serve the delegation, I suppose."

"I imagine those serving the Emerald Office are best suited with a spouse set to manage their household, yes?" She's no nakodo, but a reception isn't the place for the sort of detailed interrogation they tended toward in any case.

[Agasha Yuna]

Snip

"In, in passing," Kichinitonda replies, resuming his volume. "And I, I saw a, er, dossier on other invitees. Heard people's, um, names, especially at the, the gift-giving.

"But I haven't, er, met any Phoenix, really, either. So, so you've got me beat there. And, and definitely with the, the Seppun."

"I did pay close attention at the gift-giving ceremony to learn the names. I was so nervous. I could focus better after I completed my presentation. But an old friend from school was there and provided his gift first. It was such a pleasant surprise to see a familiar face. And to see one a year behind me in school also here. Asako Kenichi-san. It gave me a little thrill of confidence. That I was less alone here than I thought. And that everyone else giving gifts was probably more alike to me than I realized. Also nervous, perhaps. Also eager to make a good impression. Many of them my age or younger. It ... helped me breathe."

"And it is a comfort to know that in all future interactions I can pause and remember the name, the gift. A starting point."

She glanced back at the one Mirumoto-san had mentioned was an actor. A deep breath. Recalling.

"Oh! He presented right after me. And his outfit was one I particularly looked forward to describing to a friend, to whom I have promised detailed reports of the fashions worn at this court. House ... Tanaka. Doji Shinnosuke-san. He gave a fan. A particularly apt gift for a Doji. But I particularly liked that it had been made by a monk. He could have chosen something made by a Doji. But he chose a monk's artistry to highlight. A master craftsman, of course. But there is a spiritual reverence in that, perhaps. And the fan itself he said depicted sacred cypresses. Again a spiritual reference. And the meaning of peace. I am glad to meet those here who share those values."

"I didn't realize he was also an actor."

[Doji Arai]

Snip

Snip

The Doji offers another bow, to the Soshi this time. "Well, I am an avid sadane player, but I find it quite impossible to comment on a piece of art without using book and especially fish references." She attempts a small joke and she makes a theatrically exaggerated inquisitive face. "We will have to fall to safe path of honest assessment and poetic words."

She looks at the Soshi and then back at the other woman. "Yasuki san's kimono is a work of art. The delicate patterns and vibrant colors are as intricate as the strokes of calligraphy on a parchment, capturing a tale that resonates through generations. Beauty!"

"The obi, like the spine of a book, ties the entire piece together, giving it structure and meaning, while the silken fabric flows like the pages of a story being carried on the wind." She keeps looking at her and smirks. "The fluid drape mimics the graceful motion of a koi fish gliding through still waters. Serene, purposeful, and elegant."

"I couldn't resist after all."

/sorry to the players. I hadn't noticed that you were already engaged in a conversation

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Ah..." Jinkan said nodding his head with understanding. Even if he didn't understand.

"You are well trained then because I have neither come to offense or misunderstood. Is bardic training your own choice or a family duty? Either way, it looks great on you." The Dragon put one of his hands over his own shoulder and patted his back.

"Thank you Mirumoto-san" Honoka gave a small bow and grin at the compliment "my family decided that it would suit me better, although as I wield both the word and the blade it seems I walked both lives equally ne? Bardic makes me think more of stories though, and stories are the lifeblood of the Ikoma. We carry the histories of Rokugan after all ne?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Snip

He returned the bow and smile in short order, the smile putting a hideous shadow across his face only momentarily.

"Yes, I am led to understand the Ikoma histories are rivaled only by the Isawa records, and as I have never seen those I will choose to believe the Ikoma are the greater." The Mirumoto would have said more but something distracted him off the side for a moment before he returned his eyes to the Ikoma.

"So Ikoma-san is local, is her family also local? Would you tell me a little about them, spin a story maybe, and I would owe you a favor?"

[Asako Kenichi]

"The southern border." He answered simply before deciding to elaborate a little. "We have castles and other fortifications down there, but it's kind of impossible to protect everything from such static locations, and my unit is a support unit for a contingent of scouts. We have a few semi-permanent bases we occupy, and for a season a year we return to Shiro Hiruma for rest, resupply, and new recruits."

Usually at this time he'd be getting the newbies settled in with the help of his nikutai, but others would have to handle it this year. "We name out encampments of course, but they aren't the type of place you find on most maps, and they aren't exactly where I'd say I was stationed either." The gunso finished, hoping the explanation would be helpful.

"Ah, I see. An important duty, and one that takes you quite everywhere then. I hope in general that your duties are mostly peaceful. The maintenance of those encampments and the Kyuden must take quite some resources. Lumber for exame...not many good forests down South, I wager."

[Mirumoto Kichinitonda]

Snip

"It, it's good to see, er, familiar faces," Kichinitonda nods, agreeing. "I, I had a similar reaction seeing Onodera-san. We were in, in school together. He's seen me without my eyebrows."

Kichinitonda lifts his. They are somewhat sparse, although the individual hairs are long.

[Soshi Eiji]

Snip

Snip

The Doji offers another bow, to the Soshi this time. "Well, I am an avid sadane player, but I find it quite impossible to comment on a piece of art without using book and especially fish references." She attempts a small joke and she makes a theatrically exaggerated inquisitive face. "We will have to fall to safe path of honest assessment and poetic words."

She looks at the Soshi and then back at the other woman. "Yasuki san's kimono is a work of art. The delicate patterns and vibrant colors are as intricate as the strokes of calligraphy on a parchment, capturing a tale that resonates through generations. Beauty!"

"The obi, like the spine of a book, ties the entire piece together, giving it structure and meaning, while the silken fabric flows like the pages of a story being carried on the wind." She keeps looking at her and smirks. "The fluid drape mimics the graceful motion of a koi fish gliding through still waters. Serene, purposeful, and elegant."

"I couldn't resist after all."

/sorry to the players. I hadn't noticed that you were already engaged in a conversation

(OOC: It's a party! No need for apologies)

Eiji listened as the Crane described the Crab. He didn't mind her approach leaning into book and fish references. After all, it let him off the hook in describing the Crane. But was the Crab the sort to accept flattery instead of her original request?

He looked at the Crab, curious to guage her response to the Crane's charm offensive.

[Jihen]

Jihen continued to stand politely and enjoy observing the room as people milled about... picking up this slice of conversation and that.

All the fanciful stories of spies and ninja in the theatre always missed the fact that one could easily be observe anyone, anywhere without being paid a second thought... Travel borders without papers... and pass along information without secret ciphers or hidden scrolls.

All you had to do to be ignored... was shave your head and wear a long black frock. He smiled to himself and continued to enjoy his relative anonymity.

[Ikoma Honoka]

He returned the bow and smile in short order, the smile putting a hideous shadow across his face only momentarily.

"Yes, I am led to understand the Ikoma histories are rivaled only by the Isawa records, and as I have never seen those I will choose to believe the Ikoma are the greater." The Mirumoto would have said more but something distracted him off the side for a moment before he returned his eyes to the Ikoma.

"So Ikoma-san is local, is her family also local? Would you tell me a little about them, spin a story maybe, and I would owe you a favor?"

"I can confirm that the Ikoma histories far surpass any other" Honoka confirmed with a nod "everything is carefully documented and stored. As for my family history? The Kamoshita, the house currently run by my Uncle the Lord Kamoshita Ikoma Hozumi, are based a little north of Kyuden Ikoma. Formed many centuries ago by the alliance of three towns coming together during the time of the Kami Akodo himself! The Kamoshita are an ever resourceful family, who have learnt over the many years the weight of loss, the pains of rebellion and through that the strength of preservation and growth. And now one of the youngest of the Kamoshita stands at the most important court in Rokugan. Ready to write another chapter of history."

Honoka stood up a little prouder.

"It's a small story, more of a history lesson, but one should never forget their history lest they repeat the mistakes of the past ne? What of Mirumoto-sans family? I'm sure there are stories in the mountains that are very different to the stories here."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"I don't think I'd like to give up wicked laughter entirely." Shinnosuke arches his eyebrows with elegant menace for a moment, then lets it go. "It is so effective, after all, isn't it? The main thing is, our villain must believe what he's doing to be right, or that he must do it. Perhaps he believes his Family needs him to act for its very survival, or he's been thwarted in love himself... Hmm, I wonder if I have time to be thwarted in love before the end of the Season." He scans the room conspicuously, as if checking out the prospects.

"I admit to no particular expertise on the subject, but maybe there's time to not be thwarted..."

"That's also an option, yes," Shinnosuke agrees cheerfully enough, as if both sorts of experience sound equally interesting to him. "If one preferred it."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Ah, I see. An important duty, and one that takes you quite everywhere then. I hope in general that your duties are mostly peaceful. The maintenance of those encampments and the Kyuden must take quite some resources. Lumber for exame...not many good forests down South, I wager."

Peaceful was not something he'd call his duties, but no real need to bring that up. Instead he nodded as the topic shifted. "You've got the right of that. While we do have our share of woods, I don't think they compare to the great forests of the phoenix."

"Not all wood is good for the building of fortifications either." At least not too his understanding.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"That's also an option, yes," Shinnosuke agrees cheerfully enough, as if both sorts of experience sound equally interesting to him. "If one preferred it."

"Sounds like there's a story there, Doji-san..."