Sapphire Ambassadors

Walking the flower garden, pausing to look over some of the sculptures she'd missed before, Yoshino was feeling bright and airy. She'd woken up in a good mood. Like the world was brighter and more interesting. She felt more alert.

It was just a shame she was covered in warding kanji across her face and hands. Frankly, it looked like some apprentice monks had scribbled all over her.

The worst bit was that it didn't wash off. She was stuck like this.

Flowers, at least some, for decorative purposes.

Inori, in her usual attire and carrying most of her art supplies except for the cumbersome easel, was wandering around the flower gardens for the first time since she came here, looking for inspiration. Or something like it. What she found instead was a Crane - who looked like someone had used her for scribbles.

That is....peculiar she thought. And looked again. Erch. If I don't introduce myself now I've stared just long enough to be impolite. Plus I think I recognize her from before...not sure though. Oh well. There goes.

"Hello and good day to you" she said, bowing. "This one is Matsu Inori."

Yoshino thought the Lion saying hello must think she was an incredibly zealous nun. Or a madwoman.

Sometimes there was a fine line.

She turned and offered a bow politely. Ignoring how odd she herself looked was about all Yoshino could do. "Good afternoon Matsu-sama." The Lion appeared to be a well to do woman. Yoshino had seen her at the gallery a few times from a distance. She had been selected for best of show the day before if she recalled correctly. "I'm Doji Yoshino. How do you do?"

"Me? I am...well" she answered.

That was lame. On the other hand...she is a Crane. And potentially unhinged to boot. That thought gave Inori pause, and cause for caution.

Still, it would not hurt to be polite. Maybe even actually engage in good faith.

"I was surprised yesterday, to be entirely honest. And nervous today, unsure if I can repeat it. I've taken all morning to come up with a concept for my piece...excuse my rambling. I hope you are well too, Doji-san"

"Surprised by your selection...?" She asks with an inflection on the final word. "I'm well, thank you." Yoshino states confidently a moment later. "About as good as I've felt in some time. Do excuse the ridiculous appearance I've ended up with as a by-product of that." She dips her head apologetically. "I liked your idea yesterday. Good luck with your entry today."

[tagging here bc I will join when I can but don't want to lose that option before the dayflip ]

Well that was a cryptic reply Inori thought which brings up more questions than it answers. I'm glad she's fine though.

"No, I'm suprised I could even win. Had no thought for it." Inori confessed "I'm clearly not on the same level as some of the other, real artists out there. Just coming to terms that I might, in fact, be one myself. It was nice, I mean. Being recognized like that. I hope now that you are feeling well Doji-san can have success with her entry, too"

The Crane chuckled cheerfully. "I actually felt the same way on the first evening of competition. I looked at the other competitors. Doji Nadeshiko-san is an accomplished author and poet. There is a very experienced yet very spry Mirumoto participating. There is even a Tsi smith. I wondered how I'd received an invitation. Now I've realized that questioning it achieves nothing. I may as well enjoy the experience and show my meagre work as best I can."

She smiled happily toward the Lion. "I hope so too. I do feel inspired. I'm looking forward to your next work... actually, I'm putting together a gathering after the presentations this evening in the theatre. To share personal stories. I hope you consider joining us."

Her ample life experience made her question the wisdom of that - how was she going to tell an interesting story about herself to real adults? But....

Inori nodded.

"Yes, I will be there. Honestly, if anything, my time here has given me some Courage to face all this and show more of myself. Not the courage I thought I would show" or that I failed to show, once before "But, you know....a different kind of courage. It seems I wield a paintbrush now, and can use it to devise ways to summon spirits"

"To summon spirits...?" Yoshino had followed along with what Inori was saying right up until that bit. She didn't want anymore spirits. Her ink emblazoned face had a look of concern as she held her breath.

The vehemence of the Crane's reaction surprised Inori. She spread her hands in a placating gesture, then opened her satchel and drew one of the rolled scrolls from it - and unrolled it to reveal a sketch of a small, blue and translucent humanoid figure with vague, amorphous features - really just indentations where a mouth and two eyes would be.

"I can see these sometimes, if I'm not really looking or clear my mind - and once I paint them more clearly. As if me holding them in my mind and speaking to them would make them more real for a short time. The Isawa would say that this one is a Water kami of sorts."

The placating gesture does its job as Yoshino's shoulders loosen and she remembers to breathe. The pair hadn't spoken before, so she hadn't seen the scrolls. Was Inori a shugenja?

Seeing water kami suggested yes...?

"Those sort of spirits. Yes. Of course. Forgive me. There was this gaki and... and I'm more tense about it than I realised."

"A gaki?" Inori blurted out.

"I mean I have no real idea about them, but yeah I would be concerned if I ran into one..." she took a second look at the Doji and the scrawls over her face. "So...you ran into a Gaki?"

"Yes." Yoshin confirms seriously.

"It snuck into my room to feed on me. Or, my inspiration apparently." She says a little quieter. "It was an inky black thing, a little like a shadow. An Isawa shugenja, Isawa Kojiro-sama, destroyed it last night. I'm feeling much better today as a result."

"I suppose they didn't want to alarm everyone else and kept it quiet" Inori said, slightly unsettled.

"It's a good thing then that they had someone on hand to take care of it. Still....a Gaki? I really hope you're better now, Doji-san. This...puts some of the other problems one could have into perspective"

I think I'm not getting used to supernatural threats any time soon...

"I believe so." It was politer to say that than to suggest the Crane hadn't told anyone because it was embarrassing.

She nods quite a few times at Inori's words. "I hope so. I do feel better and that Isawa said I should be fine. This ink-" She gestured to her face "-should protect me from any other spirits for the next week. It will fade by then. I personally wish I could wash it off."

"I...understand that sentiment" Inori said, fishing for the right thing to say, and chuckling a bit. "Given the context and the circumstances though, it's hardly terrible"

I hope she really does not think I'm mocking her

"Still, a Gaki leeching your essence. Oh well. With it gone, perhaps Doji-san can make another strong showing in the contests - so far I can't really see a clear favourite. If those are the criteria judged by...someone's gotta be the Champion"

"Yes, I shouldn't complain." Yoshino agrees.

Inori's further comments lead to a deep nod from Yoshino. "Someone has to be. You were rightfully recognised for your work yesterday, ne?" She actually cheerfully smiled to the Lion. "I am feeling my inspiration returning to me. I will try my best too."

"I look forward to it" Inori said earnestly. "Maybe we should be more competitive, but...I feel honoured just to be recognized and do alright. I know I am not going to win. Doji-san, I feel, might have a chance. Some others, too. All deserving as far as I am concerned"

She looked over the garden.

"Really did not know what to expect here. It's far nicer and peaceful than I had feared."

"Looking like this?" Yoshino asked with a sudden laugh. She shook her head and wiped a tear away from under her right eye. "I am flattered by your words Matsu-san, but the truth is that I was lucky to be invited here at all. I still don't know how that happened. My family have kept me at arms length since I was a child."

Yoshino joined her in looking over the garden. It was pretty.

"It is, isn't it? Are there no towns like this in Lion lands?"