Sapphire Ambassadors

As the various displays of Rei are made, more than just the judges take the time to discuss the works.

Choudai, his seven-dish spread set out for the perusal of others, notably abstained.

Eating the food he had made for others would hardly be Courteous, after all.

Looking somewhat hollow, Yakuwari has assumed his regular position and resumed his work--after having set aside a skewer.

The presentations on Courtesy began with Bayushi Choudai preparing an admirable array of food that was respectful of the first Seven Great Clans. The yakitori dedicated to the Lion was well researched and authentic.

But the Unicorn offering...ew. But it smells good...

Akuba is off to an earlier start today, looking at the first display and taking a small portion of it.

She chews thoughtfully for a while, swallows, and says to her husband "The cooking is good, but I wonder how courteous they will find it who have been excluded. While some might be small enough to set aside, well, what table is well set without an arrangement of flowers or a tasteful wreath?"

Kakita Akuba wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 11:10 am

Akuba is off to an earlier start today, looking at the first display and taking a small portion of it.

She chews thoughtfully for a while, swallows, and says to her husband "The cooking is good, but I wonder how courteous they will find it who have been excluded. While some might be small enough to set aside, well, what table is well set without an arrangement of flowers or a tasteful wreath?"

Hyoukasha looked more disappointed than usual.

"While one can take issue with those who are excluded, or the order of presentation, it's the Unicorn offering that disappoints the most. True, Courtesy must be practiced towards those who do not return it. But in striving to show Courtesy to the Unicorn, the artist forcibly reminds us that their traditions are not ours, making Courtesy that much harder. He's made a dish that no one here can enjoy. While the Unicorn in attendance might find it tasty, I doubt they'll be able to enjoy it. I believe had he stopped at the flatbread for the Unicorn, Courtesy would have been well met, but this...."

He shook his head.

"This is the contest I had the most hope for this particular artist, only for him to overstretch like that.....how typical." he concluded.

Kakita Hyoukasha wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 3:05 pm

"This is the contest I had the most hope for this particular artist, only for him to overstretch like that.....how typical." he concluded.

Ameiko overheard them speaking and had to stand very still in order to not give them a piece of her mind. Yet she neither did that nor went to commiserate with Choudai about it.

He would simple shrug over it, so she would need to leave it be. She went to find Hatsuki.

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:52 pm

That's when she picks up on the judges. The Crane looks for Choudai in the hopes of grabbing him a moment.[/i]

If he had heard the criticism, it didn't seem to have bothered them.

Probably because he had other things on his mind.

Or perhaps because he had achieved a desired effect?

Either way, he spotted Nadeshiko and bowed.

Bayushi Choudai wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:04 pm

Either way, he spotted Nadeshiko and bowed.

Nadeshiko bows back, almost dropping one of her plates of food with a squeak (But she saves it! Inelegantly, but still!) before standing up with a biiig smile. "Bayushi-san! The spread you've prepared today's incredible! I can't even begin to fathom the time and effort spent pulling this all together." From all the food she's eaten... she 100% means it. The woman HAS to have a second stomach somewhere. "The gyoza in particular... I wish my father were here to taste it." Her voice grows warm at the thought; if only. But that's a tangent -- back to the main point -- "Seeing so many dishes here -- it's heartwarming. There's something for everyone."

"I did want to ask," She leans in, speaking a little louder than she should, "Is it also a commentary on how courtesy can be interpreted as meeting others where they stand? All the dishes are freely here for anyone to sample, even those which we might otherwise... shun." Oh, sweet, sweet idiot that she is, she's trying to be helpful.

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:22 pm

"I did want to ask," She leans in, speaking a little louder than she should, "Is it also a commentary on how courtesy can be interpreted as meeting others where they stand? All the dishes are freely here for anyone to sample, even those which we might otherwise... shun."

He simply bows at the praise... and smiles at the question. An almost-sinister smile.

"Someone once said, 'true art speaks for itself,' and I would hate to gainsay them, but since Doji-san asks... I will respond with a question of my own. Which is more Courteous- to acknowledge that our Courtesy is due, even to those whose ways we might not share, or to pretend those ways do not exist, and thereby demand that they be someone other than who they are in our company?"

His glance flicked to the judges in plain amusement.

"Bushido is so very full of these little nuances, after all."

Bayushi Choudai wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:28 pm

"Someone once said, 'true art speaks for itself,' and I would hate to gainsay them, but since Doji-san asks... I will respond with a question of my own. Which is more Courteous- to acknowledge that our Courtesy is due, even to those whose ways we might not share, or to pretend those ways do not exist, and thereby demand that they be someone other than who they are in our company?"

She grins like an idiot even as she gets what she wants. Still, her answer's a bit jumbled: "I would say to ignore those differences between us would be the most discourteous act of all, even more-so when those differences are relatively harmless." After all, during her gempukku they gave the deer they hunted to the heimin. If they could eat it, so could... her eyes then open, gaze turning to the Unicorn's share of the lot. "What exactly is that?" The Crane gestures vaguely before mumbling, "The meat's so ... dark..."

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:51 pm

"I would say to ignore those differences between us would be the most discourteous act of all, even more-so when those differences are relatively harmless." After all, during her gempukku they gave the deer they hunted to the heimin. If they could eat it, so could... her eyes then open, gaze turning to the Unicorn's share of the lot. "What exactly is that?" The Crane gestures vaguely before mumbling, "The meat's so ... dark..."

"That is beef, from an ox. A bit like fresh tuna to look at when it's raw, but..." He made a seesaw motion with his hand. "Very different in many other ways. The heimin I called in to taste test it seemed to find it agreeable, though."

Bayushi Choudai wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:03 pm

"That is beef, from an ox. A bit like fresh tuna to look at when it's raw, but..." He made a seesaw motion with his hand. "Very different in many other ways. The heimin I called in to taste test it seemed to find it agreeable, though."

"Hm." She makes a bit of a childish face as she considers her options. On the one hand, Nadeshiko could completely chicken out, avoiding tasting something taboo and risking more stains on her honor during a time when it's already quite strained to begin with. On the other hand... her expression softens as she thinks of Sriyani, and every craftsman she's ever met. Did it make them any worse to eat red meat? Not in any way she could tell. One of her fingers twitches as she finally considers the disrespect of the judges. No one would enjoy it -- her foot in their ass -- "How is it eaten?"

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:10 pm

"How is it eaten?"

"I have seen it wrapped in the flatbread and eaten whole, a bit like a dumpling made on the spot. Alternately, it's a bit like the kebabs we make with chicken in the Scorpion provinces- you just pick up a skewer and nibble it off."

He paused.

Courage was yesterday, Nadeshiko, but...

Bayushi Choudai wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:17 pm

"I have seen it wrapped in the flatbread and eaten whole, a bit like a dumpling made on the spot. Alternately, it's a bit like the kebabs we make with chicken in the Scorpion provinces- you just pick up a skewer and nibble it off."

Oh, if only Sriyani were here! Then she could have reassurance! Well, Nadeshiko's braver than she looks, and she's no child. She moves back to the buffet and hovers a good, long moment before finally using chopsticks to pick up a single slice of beef and place it delicately on a piece of flatbread. Awkwardly she wraps it together before plating it. The first step done, she steps back to stare at the thing. The flatbread, at least, could dull the meat's texture or taste, should it be offensive -- the last hurdle is the thought of eating an ox, of all things. It... does not seem an appetizing animal.

Well.

The Doji sweeps away such thoughts from her mind and settles in the void left behind as she has so many times before and will so many times again. Don't think, just do.

And with that she picks it up and takes a bite.

"It's chewy," Is her first reaction... out loud. Her cheeks flush.

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:32 pm

"It's chewy," Is her first reaction... out loud. Her cheeks flush.

Well, that's quite a thing! Still, nice to see my bride to be and I are matched in our talent for scandal...

"Is it? Chewy like octopus, or chewy like overcooked fish, or..."

The aroma hadn't been all that bad when he'd been cooking it, but still, it seemed... a bit much.

Bayushi Choudai wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:37 pm

"Is it? Chewy like octopus, or chewy like overcooked fish, or..."

She swallows before answering: "A little like overcooked fish. It's not bad." And so the woman with two stomachs takes another bite, happy to right a wrong in her own strange way. Hopefully she won't be flayed alive for it... hopefully.

Bayushi Ameiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:13 pm

Ameiko overheard them speaking and had to stand very still in order to not give them a piece of her mind. Yet she neither did that nor went to commiserate with Choudai about it.

He would simple shrug over it, so she would need to leave it be. She went to find Hatsuki.

She was actually looking for Ameiko, hurrying over to her with her kit. "I'm so sorry, Bayushi-san. Please, let me fix it. It won't be anything fancy, but I don't want you to have to suffer the consequences of my overreach all evening."

Doji Nadeshiko wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:49 pm

She swallows before answering: "A little like overcooked fish. It's not bad." And so the woman with two stomachs takes another bite, happy to right a wrong in her own strange way. Hopefully she won't be flayed alive for it... hopefully.

Fortunes forgive me, this is better than I could have hoped for.

His little display on Courtesy was taking on new life, new dimensions.

All according to keikaku.

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

Shosuro Hatsuki wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:58 pm

She was actually looking for Ameiko, hurrying over to her with her kit. "I'm so sorry, Bayushi-san. Please, let me fix it. It won't be anything fancy, but I don't want you to have to suffer the consequences of my overreach all evening."

"Hmm? Shosuro-san? What do you mean?"

Ameiko seemed confused.

Though not for long, as Hatsuki's words were plain and her feelings see-through.

"Y-you mean...", she felt a sudden flare of embarrassment, realizing what was being said. This threatened to turn into rage quite quickly. Yet, she shook her head. It was on her face to wear this mistake, it involved her as well, a public rebuke would only shame them both. "I think you did a wonderful thing for me, Shosuro-san, but if there is some artful embellishment you have come to see is needed, I will certainly come with you."

She was all smiles.