(D1, LE, Closed) Setting the scene

[Shosuro Otoko]

(This thread is open to those who wish to support Shosuro Otoko in the Three Amigo's Side Game AND/OR those who are Allies with her, or Blackmailed by her)

Shosuro Otoko sat at a table in the Sunset Leaves Tea Room, an untouched cup of fragrant herbal tea slowly cooling in front of her. She had extended an open invitation to those artists who wishes=d to see the Scorpion host the next year's tournament, making herself available for whatever discussion should happen. As an actress, she was ready for either lively dialogue, or a soliloquy based on the whims of the artists. Now there was naught to do but wait, and perhaps give the tea house dog a friendly pat on the head for being a good boy.

[Bayushi Ameiko]

Though it was late in the evening now, and she expected to be back at the inn, keeping watch for her charge, Ameiko found herself visiting another tea house.

Maybe she really wanted to pet a dog, or perhaps Shosuro Otoko attracted her attention. The Bayushi would after all, if this event was a success, prefer it be held in Scorpion lands next time.

Still dressed from the banquet, she entered and spied her clan mate. A bow was offered.

"Shosuro-san, good evening", she said brightly, smile accented by the pincers painted on her face. "Is it too early to join you for tea?" Her eyes flicked down to the dog a moment.

[Shosuro Otoko]

Though it was late in the evening now, and she expected to be back at the inn, keeping watch for her charge, Ameiko found herself visiting another tea house.

Maybe she really wanted to pet a dog, or perhaps Shosuro Otoko attracted her attention. The Bayushi would after all, if this event was a success, prefer it be held in Scorpion lands next time.

Still dressed from the banquet, she entered and spied her clan mate. A bow was offered.

"Shosuro-san, good evening", she said brightly, smile accented by the pincers painted on her face. "Is it too early to join you for tea?" Her eyes flicked down to the dog a moment.

The dog wandered over to the new arrival, more than happy to receive even more pets, and a new heartstring to pull on for treats.

Otoko offered a polite bow to the young Scorpion.

"Of course not, Bayushi-san. Please make yourself comfortable and enjoy the delights of this tea house." she offered, her own cup of tea remaining untouched.

"How have you found your initial impression of the town?"

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"It seems to have it's own daily life, as one expects", she said, giving the furry friend scratches on the neck and collar area. "Too peaceful or my taste, though as a result everyone seems to be well behaved. A bit of a lazy place for such a prestigious event, however." She stood straight and approached, offering another small bow before seating herself, arranging her sleeves properly, and in doing so producing her cup and setting it on the table. "Though i have no complaints about the tea as yet."

"I am Bayushi Ameiko", she said now more formally. "It is a delight to meet you Shosruro-san, I have been to your family's ancestral home once as a child, my father spoke greatly of the hospitality offered."

[Shosuro Otoko]

"It seems to have it's own daily life, as one expects", she said, giving the furry friend scratches on the neck and collar area. "Too peaceful or my taste, though as a result everyone seems to be well behaved. A bit of a lazy place for such a prestigious event, however." She stood straight and approached, offering another small bow before seating herself, arranging her sleeves properly, and in doing so producing her cup and setting it on the table. "Though i have no complaints about the tea as yet."

"I am Bayushi Ameiko", she said now more formally. "It is a delight to meet you Shosruro-san, I have been to your family's ancestral home once as a child, my father spoke greatly of the hospitality offered."

Otoko dipped her head in acknowledgement of the introduction.

"Shosuro Otoko, actress and for the time being, diplomat of the Scorpion clan" she offered in response. She filled the presented cup from the pot of tea on the table, the strong herbal notes increasing as they were released from the pot and into the open cup.

"Ah, I must admit, it has been some time since I've visited my family's ancestral home. Before being dispatched here I was most recently at Kyuden Suzume performing as the lead in a production of Most Sincerely Requested. Still, we fulfill the roles as we are required, just as you do having been dispatched here."

There was a slight, curious tilt of the head.

"I assume you have everything you need for your presentation tomorrow, Bayushi-san? Our hosts do seem to have fulfilled all the needs of quite the diverse set of artforms, but if you find yourself lacking something, I am happy to put in a word with Lord Utemaro for you."

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"That is very generous, Shosuro-san", she replied brightly. "I have only recently attained my position among those who serve our lady, so any care a confident senpai could provide this one would be grateful for." A return tilt of the head. "I have come from further north, having completed my training at the One Hundred Stances Dojo. Have you heard of it?"

[Shosuro Otoko]

"That is very generous, Shosuro-san", she replied brightly. "I have only recently attained my position among those who serve our lady, so any care a confident senpai could provide this one would be grateful for." A return tilt of the head. "I have come from further north, having completed my training at the One Hundred Stances Dojo. Have you heard of it?"

Otoko shook her head.

"I do not believe so Bayushi-san. My expertise lies more in the lands of the Dragon and the minor clans, and I don't recall hearing of a '100 stances' dojo within either of them. It sounds more Dragon than minor clan though. Those who underestimate the minor clans might quip that they'd be able to afford 5 stances as best." she replied, though her tone made it clear she was not one who underestimated the minor clans.

"But I assume your studies went well, and you learned much on behalf of the clan, ne?"
"

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"Bsyushi Suke-sensei was one of the teachers, he taught me much about the method of the stances", she said. "It is actually a school that belongs to no clan. An interesting place, supported by those who come to learn, and not just kenjutsu", she added. "I was taught study methods, crafting, and even a bit of...acting, though I admit I was poor at it much to my embarrassment."

She also had not touched her tea. It was possible what was in her cup was the same, and unchanged from whatever was in Otoko's cup, but her host had not had a sip yet. It would be rude to go ahead without her.

"And so you performed in Suzume lands, you said? I have never been, is it as quaint as they say?"

[Shosuro Otoko]

"Bsyushi Suke-sensei was one of the teachers, he taught me much about the method of the stances", she said. "It is actually a school that belongs to no clan. An interesting place, supported by those who come to learn, and not just kenjutsu", she added. "I was taught study methods, crafting, and even a bit of...acting, though I admit I was poor at it much to my embarrassment."

She also had not touched her tea. It was possible what was in her cup was the same, and unchanged from whatever was in Otoko's cup, but her host had not had a sip yet. It would be rude to go ahead without her.

"And so you performed in Suzume lands, you said? I have never been, is it as quaint as they say?"

Otoko raised a sleeve to her full face mask as if stifling a laugh.

"Ah, you seem to have also studied a bit of courtly grace to refer to the Sparrow lands as 'quaint' Bayushi-san." she replied with clear amusement.

The scents from the tea cup were certainly quite tempting, though Otoko had made not even the slightest motion towards her. The dog nuzzled the Bayushi's leg for more pets.

"They are a humble and hard working people. They proudly bear a truly useless Duty for no other reason than Duty itself. Still, humble as they are, I like to think the performance was well received by them. A pleasant relaxation after a hard day's labor. the play is unlikely to gain any following outside their lands and the lands of the Scorpion. Truly, the Crane and Lion would most likely find the subject matter quite offensive though perhaps not for the reasons they might voice." she offered.

"Hmm, so whom is responsible for the maintenance and care of such a dojo?" she inquired leaning back towards the Bayushi's claims.

[Bayushi Choudai]

There was absolutely nothing odd about returning to the tea room he'd patronized the night before. Far from it, in fact.

And what an absolute and total shock, it seemed two of his fellow Scorpion were in attendance.

Would wonders never cease?

Life was just so full of surprises.

Choudai ordered one of the spicier teas and drifted toward his clanmates.

The young viper and a seasoned actress. My but it's fun being the least dangerous person in a room.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Another Scorpion with an interest in the actress followed in after Choudai, still dressed in the ensemble she had worn to the feast. He was one of the few who knew he might still be the least dangerous person in the room.

Either way, her skills with makeup had led her to working extensively with actors... among other reasons... so she made her way to the tea room. She bowed to those present but didn't interrupt the conversation just yet.

[Bayushi Ameiko]

"Hmm, so whom is responsible for the maintenance and care of such a dojo?" she inquired leaning back towards the Bayushi's claims.

"Ah, well I would imagine the Suzume family would appreciate entertainment. You will have to tell me of the play sometime, Shosuro-san", she said agreeably. "Ano...the dojo? It is cared for by it's students, I believe charity, perhaps? Graduates who give back, yes." she nodded. She may not be terribly certain, but she recalled it being very important that the Imperials not feel slighted by everything that happened.

Above everyone else feeling slighted, but what have you.

She noted the other Scorpion.

"Ah! Bayushi Choudai-san, good to see you once again", she said with a bow. Then followed with more scratches on the dog's back, then under the chin. "This is Shosuro Otoko-san", she introduced them, her gaze shifted toward Hatsuki. "Will your companion be joining us as well?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Ah, Bayushi Ameiko-san, the pleasure of renewed acquaintance is entirely mine. Shosuro Otoko-san, a pleasure. And this is Shosuro Hatsuki-san, an old friend from my time in the Painted City. I must congratulate you both on finding the tea house with the best menu in town."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

She nodded to them. "A pleasure to meet you both." She stepped closer to the table. "The best menu in town, hmm? High praise coming from you, Bayushi-san."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"For both variety and quality, this place is exceptional."

And that's just the guest list.

[Shosuro Otoko]

Otoko bowed as the introductions were made.

"A pleasure to meet the both of you. I am Shosuro Otoko, actress and currently serving as a diplomat for the Scorpion clan." she explained. Otoko filled cups for the newcomers, though her own remained untouched.

"I must admit, Bayushi Choudai-san, I have heard a great many good things about the fare offered here, though I have not yet sampled them myself. The Crane have certainly been most generous hosts in that regard. But in honesty, it was theme of the tea house that attracted me most for this little meeting of the minds Seeing all this artistic talent gathered in one place does put one in the mind of a full field, after all." she offered.

"I trust the two of you are well prepared and supplied for your presentations tomorrow? In the unlikely event that the Crane have neglected to provide you with something you need, I would be happy to put in a word with Lord Utemaro." she offered.

Having asked and received answer on such accounts from Ameiko already, she let the dog shoulder the burder of host with her for the moment. The dog lay down expecting belly rubs from Ameiko.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Oh, I have wanted for nothing our hosts could provide."

He chuckled.

"And I brought some of the good stuff from home."

He supposed that might sound sinister to suspicious ears, and was quietly delighted by the fact that his collection of spices from the Scorpion lands was no more dangerous than wasabi.

[Bayushi Ameiko]

The dog was indeed given belly scratches, as Ameiko approved of the animal recognizing the pecking order of their relationship.

"I still await the opportunity to taste test for you, Bayushi-san", she said without looking back to the others, fingers scratching merrily.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Indeed... They have been most generous, and I never go anywhere without my own kit, if I need to make something custom," she agreed. "The variety of both people and the art they pursue is quite interesting."

Whether I need custom makeup or something else.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Ah, Bayushi-san, you will get your chance, make no mistake. In fact, if all goes to plan, you all will."