D1 LE - Which way the wind blows

[Yasuki Masaki]

After some time spent walking and reflecting on the day's lessons, Masaki makes her way the Crab House for a moment, then comes outside again carrying a small bundle of straws.

The smallest movement of a straw shows possible ways forward, Yasuki-san, she remembered one of her sensei saying. And hints to which ways would be better avoided

She knelt down with the materials, at the side of one path, and started fidgeting with some of the straws, bending one, then another of them. Feeling them between her fingers.

What did they want to become? Which way did they want to go?

She closed her eyes for a moment, and her hands started working on what seemed like a golden hat...

As the straws entwined and slowly took form, she felt it. The same energy she felt that first time, plaiting a bridge over a small creek - was it the water again? The wind? She closed her eyes... both, maybe?

A smile crept on her lips as she worked - eyes still closed, as if guided by the spirits now.

The tiny, golden hat eventually progressed to become a small, brownish Tanuki - wearing a hat, and holding a light blue fan. She looked at the result, attached a short string to it so it could hang from one's obi, placed it on the ground, looked at it again, and smiled.

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D1 LE - Artisan: Wara-zaiku - Crafting a Fan-wielding Tanuki. VP for Tsangusuri. Base TN 20 | 7k4 ⇒ 37 (TN: 20)

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei was making his rounds before the reception (mostly to make sure he didn't get lost) when he spotted... whatever was going on over there. He cocked his head and wandered closer, his head cocked at a curiously avian angle.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Ryusei was making his rounds before the reception (mostly to make sure he didn't get lost) when he spotted... whatever was going on over there. He cocked his head and wandered closer, his head cocked at a curiously avian angle.

The Yasuki was still looking at the now fully formed tanuki when she noticed the avian - well, Phoenix - head leaning towards her. Shifting her weight on her knees slightly allowed her first a kneeling bow, then some space for him to see the figure standing beside her - still missing the usual big eyes, although that was not so noticeable under the hat.

"Shiba-san", she says in a polite tone, a hint of some subdued cheerfulness on it. "This one is Yasuki no Kawagoi Masaki, pleased to meet you", she adds, nod-bowing again before her eyes shift to the tanuki and she gestures towards it. "And this shy one is friendly Tanuki-san." She turns her head slightly, as if talking to the Tanuki "Please treat Shiba-san well!"

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei's lips twitched into something of a smile.

"It it a pleasure to meet Tanuki-san. And you, of course, Yasuki-san. This one is Shiba-ke kashin no Shigi Ryusei. I'm unfamiliar with this art form..."

[Kuni Shiori]

It seemed that Shiori was also stepping out to the courtyard for a stroll in the evening. She would emerge from the delegation housing from the Crab but would stop short of continuing further, just standing at the doorway at first. It almost seemed like she was content to watch the conversation from afar or merely just let them finish their formalities. Still, she stood in the distance for now, perhaps unaware whether or not a watching Kuni would be discomforting or not to others.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Ryusei's lips twitched into something of a smile.

"It it a pleasure to meet Tanuki-san. And you, of course, Yasuki-san. This one is Shiba-ke kashin no Shigi Ryusei. I'm unfamiliar with this art form..."

She has a faint smile of her own on her lips as she moves the Tanuki forward slightly. "Oh. Maybe it's not so common in northern lands? Straw weaving is often used for more practical purposes... but it allows some interesting possibilities, ne?" The smile grows a bit as she gets up, then extends the Tanuki a bit, as if offering a closer look if Ryusei would want to. It's only then that she notices Shiori observing at a distance.

.

"Kuni-san", she says in a polite, but friendly tone. "Have you met Shiba no Shigi Ryusei-san?" Her hand produces a small bow of sorts from the straw figure to her. "And Tanuki-san?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

She has a faint smile of her own on her lips as she moves the Tanuki forward slightly. "Oh. Maybe it's not so common in northern lands? Straw weaving is often used for more practical purposes... but it allows some interesting possibilities, ne?" The smile grows a bit as she gets up, then extends the Tanuki a bit, as if offering a closer look if Ryusei would want to. It's only then that she notices Shiori observing at a distance.

"Might just not be common in House Shigi's lands."

He made a face.

"We're not the most artistic bunch, although my sister, bless her, is trying to change that..."

tag

Noting the Kuni's presence, Ryusei bowed and smiled.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Might just not be common in House Shigi's lands."

He made a face.

"We're not the most artistic bunch, although my sister, bless her, is trying to change that..."

.

Noting the Kuni's presence, Ryusei bowed and smiled.

Masaki bows to the Kuni, waiting for her to approach if she wants to. As she waits, she turns her back to Ryusei, interest glimmering in them.

"Oh, how lovely! Might I ask what art Shiba-san's sister pursues, then?"

A small, pensive pause.

"I seem to remember house Shigi's name mentioned now and then, even back home in the south. If Shiba-san will forgive my poor memory, I can't quite remember - might this one ask what was it your people were most well-known for, if not art? If it isn't too much of an intrusion, of course!"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Oh, how lovely! Might I ask what art Shiba-san's sister pursues, then?"

A small, pensive pause.

"I seem to remember house Shigi's name mentioned now and then, even back home in the south. If Shiba-san will forgive my poor memory, I can't quite remember - might this one ask what was it your people were most well-known for, if not art? If it isn't too much of an intrusion, of course!"

"Mai-chan paints. I'm sure she's learning other arts at the Shiba Artisan Academy, but painting seems to be her art of choice..."

At the latter question, he gave a rueful smile.

"House Shigi won its fame as sailors in the First War. We moved what needed moving- troops, refugees, supplies, and we did our share of the fighting, too."

More than their share, actually, but given how antique those laurels were, it didn't do to shake them too vigorously.

"We've not matched our actions then since, of course, but... this Empire, thankfully, has a long memory."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori approached the two when Masaki regarded her, bowing to both when she made conversational distance.

"Good evening, Yasuki-san. I can't say I've had the pleasure. Pleased to meet you, Shiba-san," she would say with a small smile on her painted lips before she looked down at the tanuki, giving it a small chuckle. "And you as well, Tanuki-san."

"I'm Kuni Shiori of House Kuroyama. My apologies for just standing there earlier, I was just about to step out. It almost seemed like you were already long acquainted with each other long before today, I wasn't entirely sure and it was hardly my place to intrude on a wonderful reunion between friends."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah, Kuni-san, you give me too much credit- I actually knew almost no one at this Court prior to arriving. Although your clanmate, Yasuki Ryoichi wrote me a very nice letter, and we had a very nice chat earlier today."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori placed her hands together as she listened to him before nodding. "Perhaps not with Yasuki Masaki but it doesn't seem like I was entirely off base either. Yasuki Ryoichi-san is quite a capable member of our delegation and it's good that you've already befriended him. Of course, I'm sure we could bridge the same sort of relationship potentially."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki nods at Shiori's last words, a thin smile dancing on her lips, although the message seems to be directed mainly at the Phoenix. "Hopefully we can all reach such good dispositions, ne?" The Tanuki 'bows' again to 'greet' the Kuni, then 'nods' its head, as if indicating that... 'friends are good', maybe? Or something similar.

"A line long tied to logistics, then! No wonder your kin is well known, ne?" Another nod, the smile still dancing on her lips. "And the house still deals with naval undertakings, I assume? Maybe even Shiba-san himself?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"In a fashion."

He gave a wry smile.

"House Shigi's fortunes are not what they were, but we maintain an interest. Even if these days it largely takes the form of patronage rather than a fleet to call our own. And while I'm nowhere near the sailor my ancestors were, I have some small skill."

[Kuni Shiori]

"I confess that I'm a bit underinformed when it comes to your House's ties with the sea. The Phoenix Clan's prowess on the seas is something that doesn't get much mention, at least compared to the elemental council. Is your relationship more commerce-based than military now, in a sense?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"It almost has to be- a military fleet is, uhm. An expensive venture."

[Kuni Shiori]

"I'm sure," she said with a slow nod, sounding a little disappointed by the answer. "It's not an endeavour you can take up leisurely. How about Shiba-san? Have you gone on many nautical ventures? The closest I've gotten was traversing through the River of Gold. Despite having done so a few times, I can't say I've ever gotten used to the rocking of the boat."

Shiori offered a glance to the Yasuki, seeing if she had experience to share.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki nods at Ryusei's answers, apparently content to not pry further, the same small smile as before still dancing on her lips, although perhaps a bit more quietly now.

After Shiori's glance, she tilts her head, and dancing smile settles mostly on a corner of her lips. "Our people are well acquainted to the water - but although our lands lie but two days' walk from the coast, not saltwater, as our name as the 'river' carps suggests." The smile turns into a small grin, for just a moment. "That and crossing the Earthquake Fish Bay for my duties... it does make me a bit more used to boats rocking, I suppose - but not skilled or knowledgeable as the coastal Yasuki, by any means."

Another small grin as her eyes shift to Ryusei. "Certainly not as much as house Shigi's heir either, ne?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I don't know about that... rivers have their own challenges- not least of which is that it's harder to make good use of the wind sometimes."

He smiled.

"But a ship at sea does rock a bit more. You get used to it. It might take a while, but in my admittedly limited experience, people can get used to just about anything if they work at it steadily."

[Kuni Shiori]

"And here I thought what the turbulent sways of an uneven river craft were equal to what could be found in the seas," She smirked. "Chalk it up to my inexperience here, of course. For some reason, I find myself thinking of the season too. Here's hoping that we manage the same when it comes to Winter Court. While we're hardly on a kobune or a ship, I'd say that the courts and negotiations require sure footing, proper navigation, and good winds."