(D4, EE) Rappin' 'bout Rei (Discussion)

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki immediately realized her mistake in admitting to the mistake rather than just quietly standing by it. Adding insult to injury.

"... It's not bad. It just didn't make it where I wanted it to go. If you would prefer to leave it, of course I respect that."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Indeed? Still, not something Doji-san intends to make a habit of, neh?"

Yes, all according to plan, indeed. Nadeshiko's halfway through it when he asks his question, and she gulps before answering, "Well, I doubt I'll ever starve if I visit Unicorn lands." With that... she laughs at her own joke. Once her laughter finally dies down her lips settle into a smirk, eyes opening just enough to catch Choudai's -- there's mischief in that gaze. "It's quite enjoyable. Perhaps you'd care to try?"

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"... It's not bad. It just didn't make it where I wanted it to go. If you would prefer to leave it, of course I respect that."

Ameiko bowed slightly, shaking her head again. "If there is a direction Shoruro-san wished to go, then my face will do the best to follow it", she said sweet as honey. "Would you like to do that now?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"That's-" she paused. "We have to wait for the judge's comments regardless."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"It's quite enjoyable. Perhaps you'd care to try?"

Oh, what the hell. I'm in love with a married woman, I impersonated a Yasuki to help bring ruin to a Crane province, this is hardly the worst stain on my kharma...

And anyway, some lunatic monk had been promoting a gaijin beverage in front of everyone.

"It wasn't my intention to eat anything I prepared for the day, to avoid the appearance of favoritism... still, I did prepare it, and I certainly don't intend any insult to the Unicorn..."

He selected a piece, placed it on the flatbread, and took a bite.

Interesting! Chewy, as she says, and the fat content is different from most food. The sear trapped some juices, that's... hm. More garlic would improve it, at least to me...

"Hm. I doubt this will make it into my usual work, but... I can see the appeal."

Then he carefully took samples from the other six dishes.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Hm. I doubt this will make it into my usual work, but... I can see the appeal."

Then he carefully took samples from the other six dishes.

Nadeshiko giggles as she watches, working on her own food too. It's little moments like these that make her happy to be alive.

"I'm glad you're here, Choudai-san."

[Bayushi Choudai]

Nadeshiko giggles as she watches, working on her own food too. It's little moments like these that make her happy to be alive.

"I'm glad you're here, Choudai-san."

"Likewise, Nadeshiko-san. It's quite refreshing to meet with kindred spirits."

And he meant it.

But nothing good lasts forever.

Seeing Hatsuki and Ameiko's situation gave him a...

No, it wasn't a pang. Pangs are mild. This was like a knife in his innards.

That interrupted sleep... damnation.

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"That's-" she paused. "We have to wait for the judge's comments regardless."

Who cares what those idiots whine about? They're worms. Filth. I'll scrape them off my sandals one day.

At least Ameiko was processing internally.

"Of course, Shosuro-san. I will, regardless, do what is proper and I am happy to be here no matter the outcome. One must be brave, neh?"

Where is my sword, anyway?

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Who cares what those idiots whine about? They're worms. Filth. I'll scrape them off my sandals one day.

At least Ameiko was processing internally.

"Of course, Shosuro-san. I will, regardless, do what is proper and I am happy to be here no matter the outcome. One must be brave, neh?"

Where is my sword, anyway?

"Thank you, Bayushi-san." She took a deep breath, trying to calm down and process herself. "Unfortunately, there was a disruption last night, and I got less rest than necessary. I was hoping to be able to emphasize Bayushi-san's confidence, and perhaps inspire others to that with it, but it got in the way. The work still looks good, it just fell a little short of that height."

[Mirumoto Jakuchou]

Jakuchou eventually made her way back to the general gathering after thanking the heimin and eta for their lovely insults, and making sure they knew that they could call on her if anyone took issue with their part in the performance.

She knew practically that the non-samurai were locked into having courtesy for those that so rarely returned it in the way they should.

She awaits... and secretly hopes for a barrage of negative reactions, so she can continue extending courtesy to those that disagree with her. Because screw anyone that doesn't understand the point she was making.

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"Thank you, Bayushi-san." She took a deep breath, trying to calm down and process herself. "Unfortunately, there was a disruption last night, and I got less rest than necessary. I was hoping to be able to emphasize Bayushi-san's confidence, and perhaps inspire others to that with it, but it got in the way. The work still looks good, it just fell a little short of that height."

The young Scorpion frowned. "Would you like to go and rest, perhaps then?" she asked. "I can remain here in your stead, as your work has been done."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

The young Scorpion frowned. "Would you like to go and rest, perhaps then?" she asked. "I can remain here in your stead, as your work has been done."

"I think... that may be wise," she agreed, resisting the urge to run a hand down her face. That would be too obvious. She bowed instead. "Thank you very much for your willingness to help, Bayushi-san. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you in the future."

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"I think... that may be wise," she agreed, resisting the urge to run a hand down her face. That would be too obvious. She bowed instead. "Thank you very much for your willingness to help, Bayushi-san. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you in the future."

"Not at all, Shosuro-san, it will be my pleasure to help", she assured the artist with a bow. "I will see you tomorrow, then, yes?"

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Not at all, Shosuro-san, it will be my pleasure to help", she assured the artist with a bow. "I will see you tomorrow, then, yes?"

"Of course. Please excuse me."

With that, she stepped back, and with a final bow,

/exits

[Bayushi Ameiko]

With Hatsuki's exit, Ameiko wore her most winning smile and stood on display as she had planned. From time to time she would changer her posture and move her head to catch different lighting, she also did a lot of courteous bowing.

In the end, maybe it was actually her fault Hatsuki's technique might not be received, as her use of courtesy was often quite forced.

Though since this also involved her, she tried her best.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"It's quite enjoyable. Perhaps you'd care to try?"

Oh, what the hell. I'm in love with a married woman, I impersonated a Yasuki to help bring ruin to a Crane province, this is hardly the worst stain on my kharma...

And anyway, some lunatic monk had been promoting a gaijin beverage in front of everyone.

"It wasn't my intention to eat anything I prepared for the day, to avoid the appearance of favoritism... still, I did prepare it, and I certainly don't intend any insult to the Unicorn..."

He selected a piece, placed it on the flatbread, and took a bite.

Interesting! Chewy, as she says, and the fat content is different from most food. The sear trapped some juices, that's... hm. More garlic would improve it, at least to me...

"Hm. I doubt this will make it into my usual work, but... I can see the appeal."

Then he carefully took samples from the other six dishes.

To be honest, Sriyani had been thankful that her plans today included a full face of makeup, so nobody could see her pale at what seemed a trap laid to trip her into further embarrassment after the difficulties with the pony yesterday. The fan allows her to hide as she considers whether to rudely forgo sharing a dish obviously made to include her tastes, or to allow herself to be singled out for ridicule by eating something so frowned upon in the Empire.

Thus, it was only as she composes her expression and lifts the fan that she sees Nadeshiko with a piece in hand and the chef himself taking a serving. That moves the performance from potentially malicious trap to merely scandalous and probably offensive to their hosts. It will also cast her refusal in a more negative light, she thinks, if the host himself is willing to pollute himself with such food.

With a steeling breath and armor made of facepaint and ivory, she makes her way to the lavish spread. "This looks like it was a lot of work, Bayushi-san. Should we eat our fill, knowing that the kitchens could hardly have much made for the next meal they're usually cooking for?" That would be breakfast, she supposed."

[Bayushi Choudai]

With a steeling breath and armor made of facepaint and ivory, she makes her way to the lavish spread. "This looks like it was a lot of work, Bayushi-san. Should we eat our fill, knowing that the kitchens could hardly have much made for the next meal they're usually cooking for?" That would be breakfast, she supposed."

"Ah, Horiuchi-san, as I did all of the cooking and provided the ingredients, I fear I cannot speak to the status of the kitchens in general."

He offered a polite bow.

"And I would never presume to tell anyone else what or how much of my cooking they should consume."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

His presentation done he drifted toward another piece one which seemed to grab a considerable crowd. His eyes slid over the table and he collected some pickled vegetables, a taste of home to be certain. He also took a piece of of the red meat and placed it on a piece of flat bread. His expression remained neutral as it commonly was.

He bowed to Choudai but did not interrupt any conversations he might have been having.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"hmm, I guess I assumed you needed time and space in a kitchen for all of this, and that it might disrupt the normal running of the kitchen." She tucks the fan into her obi and picks up a piece of the flatbread, as casually as if this were a normal dinner at a normal table with nothing worth noticing overmuch around the conversation. "Or have our hosts planned for all the arts and left you one of your own to work from?"

A bit of rice is scooped to the bread before adding a slice of the beef. She offers the nearby Nadeshiko a nod and smile. "Your day to shine, Nadeshiko-san...or at least bask in the reflection of so many presentations referencing the Crane."

Pausing to let others reply, she eats with only a nod to Choudai acknowledging...something? At least it seemed good enough for a second bite, and is treated as any other meal she's had here.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I have a place set aside."

Which seemed to be all he had to say on the subject of kitchen space. He nodded to the Togashi- hoping to see someone's Ki-Rin, are we?- and popped one of his gyoza into his mouth.

How sad for the Crane, they prize decorum but invited artists. Tsk.

"But as my grandmother always said, the chef makes the kitchen, rather than the reverse. A lot of what I made for this display could be cooked with little more than a campfire and some portable cookware."

He paused.

"The flatbreads were actually the trickiest for me to get right- the dough had different consistency than I'm used to, and my first few batches trying the recipe out could probably be used to chisel stone."