Sapphire Ambassadors

Was the thrust stage for kabuki performances? She couldn't quite reconcile the non-traditional architecture with the thought of traditional theatre.

Maybe this is why I'm not a theatre connoisseur?

After dinner she'd wandered the town to become more familiar with it. She'd somehow ended up inside the theatre. It was one of the most impressive buildings in town so small wonder. It seemed quiet this evening. Yoshino wondered when the next performance might be. She looked around for any sign with information.

While her eyes swept along the area she would likely catch silvery ones looking down at her from a raised area. A man in simple green pants and sleeveless top sat in a lotus position on a second story seating area but not in a seat rather on a low wall separating the seats from the open air.

He would nod to her "Good evening Samurai-san my eyes have never been sharp so I cannot see if you wear identifying mon." He called down to the new visitor." His white hair framed his face and while many found his gaze unsettling his voice was rich and smooth, quiet appealing to the average listener.

Yoshino paused what she was doing and letting her well honed experience kick in. She turned toward the man, assessed him and then bowed politely up toward him. "Good evening." She straightened up, her neck again craning to see him. It was something of a clue for what was to come...

"I'm honoured to display the Mon of my Clan, the Crane, Dragon-sama. I'm Doji Yoshino." She didn't know what he wanted nor could she tell much about him other than he wore tattoos. She hoped she'd guessed right. Regardless, she decided to skip talking about the weather and it was honestly too late in the day to ask if he'd eaten. She cut to the chase.

"Is something the matter?"

Yoshiaki rolled backwards his legs unfolding as he did so he landed on his feet behind the short wall and found some stairs walking down toward the Crane "Well met Yoshino, this one is Togashi Yoshiaki."

As he approached she would get more details on the tattoos, a hint of a wing along his arm and maybe a horn poking over his chest.

"Why do you believe there to be an issue?" He asked as he drew closer to her, his dull silver eyes regarding her calmly.

He was very forward, or so she thought. She'd heard as much from more experienced samurai. That Dragon were weird and similar to some Crab in their disregard for traditional and social norms, but it was still strange to experience it first-hand. Being called down to like some peasant and then immediately addressed by her given name? Did he think he was the son of the local Lord?

Maybe it was bullying? It could be her peers had mentioned to some guests that Yoshino wasn't exactly that welcome.

Yoshino slightly rubbed her right hand over her left as she sought to calm herself down. "Togashi-san, konbanwa." She dipped her head respectfully. "You called down to me so unexpectedly. This Doji thought there must be a reason." She kept a poker face as she spoke. The Dragon's white hair was odd. Perhaps he dyed it like most Crane? Maybe he was once a Crane that married into the Togashi? There were too many possibilities. She glanced down as she caught too long a glimpse of his oddly coloured silver eyes.

He bowed to her in return "Apologies if I alarmed you Doji-san. My intention had been the opposite. I did not want you to suddenly spot a man sitting on a ledge above you and be startled." His tone was sincere and a little chuckle added onto the end.

"I see I am not the only one drawn to the theater. What brings you here Doji-san?" He asked with an open curiosity.

Sure, and I'm Lady Doji. Yoshino remained sceptical. She remained cautious, but her arms did move to a more relaxed state by her sides.

"It's a grand building, Togashi-san. I thought it would be interesting to look inside." Dull as it was, it was a very honest response.

He nodded, those odd silver eyes sweeping across the large building "and what do you think of it?" He asked as his eyes slowly made their way back to her.

"I think my opinion of it is very unimportant." Yoshino points out. She didn't see why a strange Dragon man was curious about it.

"Hmm" He made a thinking sound along with a look "if you say so Doji-san. I'd think you would know best the value of your opinion."

"I am always simply curious about how different perspectives see the same thing." He said with his gaze returning to their surroundings.

That begged the question, why? How to put it diplomatically was the issue...

"My perspective aside, what could inspire that curiosity? There are so many people and so many perspectives after all."

"Each one paints a section that makes up the whole truth of the world." He said absently before chuckling and returning his gaze to her again "I suppose that sounds a bit....Dragony."

"We all experience the same things to a degree, both you and I stand here in almost the same spot and see the same building but could have two very different ideas and perspectives on it. Neither of our views hold more weight than the other, both could be equally true and therefore reveal more about the truth about this place."

His smile seemed a touch sheepish "at least that's how I see things."

"Dragony, quite." Yoshino had blankly responded. It was a lot of pretty words without any obvious real meaning in her view. She listened as he sought to better explain.

Fortunately, the further explanation helped. She nodded gently in agreement. "A way of seeking understanding. Perhaps even agreement."

He nodded back "yes exactly a way to understand how others see things. Could lead to agreement, possibly not but in my opinion all perspectives hold some value."

"Even an eta's?" Yoshino asks controversially. Her guard was, however, dropping. Yoshiaki was being pleasant.

He nodded "even an Eta's" He responded perhaps more controversially "They may not have the knowledge to properly know how to express something but they still see things in their own way. A way that most samurai probably couldn't, our lives as different as they are."

Yoshino lets out a thoughtful noise as she gives the idea some consideration. It was novel. On the other hand, it would probably cause some awkward looks if discussed too much. The Crane decided to switch topic.

"Are you looking forward to tomorrow?"

There was a bit of a pause but Yoshiaki didn't press the topic "Indeed. It would be hard not to look forward to months of work finally paying off. A little nervous as well but again I think that's only natural." He spoke honestly, though the nerves he spoke of were not apparent in his demeanor.

"Your On doesn't falter, Togashi-san." She notes. After a pause of her own she decided it wouldn't hurt to be more chatty and forthcoming. "I'm putting the finishing touches on some work, here and there. I hope to display different things each day. Perhaps a lack of dedication or devotion on my part, ne?" She smiled ruefully. "I just like art I suppose. How about you? What will you be displaying?"

"One experiences just as much walking different paths as one who walks a single path. Perhaps they don't see the depths of something but they gain a more varied experience." He says returning a soft smile to her.

"I study and practice the sacred art of Tattooing. I have brought along brothers and sisters from my monastery that have agreed to be my canvases for the competition."