(D2, EE) Discussion of the Art of Jin

[Bayushi Choudai]

She has to stifle a giggle; well, at least poor Choudai's taking it all in good stride.

His compliment immediately brightens her mood, and Nadeshiko grins; he recognized it! That makes her so happy, considering it's one of her most treasured possessions. The tea cup in her hand's pressed tighter to her chest. "Could I have some of what you prepared? I didn't simply want to... take some... without asking..." She gestures shyly to the food her and Hatsuki had been looking at before adding: "It smells very good. Do you mind if I ask ... well... I suppose, how do you feel when you cook? Is it more mental, more physical, or both?"

He blinked.

"It's just barley with some vegetable stir-fry. But if Doji-san would like, there's enough extra to serve a couple... but really, I can make something far tastier, this was just to make a point about Jin."

A pause.

"Anyhow. Yes, you may have as much as you can stand. As for how I feel when I'm cooking..."

He looked toward the ceiling.

"I suspect it's something like meditation, although I've got precious little practice with that. Things fall away, there's just the dish and the tasks needed to make it happen. Mind and body are one, and I am able to forget almost everything else. Smell, taste, muscle memory."

He chuckled.

"If I felt the same way about my swordsmanship, I'd be the greatest duelist of the age, but I don't, so here I am."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

-snip-

"I would love some!" She says with a grin. "Thank you."

And then she listens, still smiling, nodding a little as the man speaks; Nadeshiko had guessed. It's much more mind-body than poetry -- which is purely mind, unless she's actively out looking for a scene to write about (which she's done a bit less in recent years) -- and there's something about that she envies. A whole being working towards physical creation. And you can eat it! Poetry can't sustain a man.

"Your passions are yours, and they've led you here, to this exact time and this exact place. I think that's something to celebrate." Her thoughts go to their discussion the night before with Otoko. They might be able to be of some use to both their Clans, too. A swordsman is of less use than a cook during times of peace.

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari continues to attest the displays.

The Legionnaire, Kaiu Kunio, presented a compelling display of ruined weapons with a narrative of a heretic overcome. Although an unusual approach, it carries merit, and how future displays and artists will make use of such techniques will be worth seeing.

The quality of Kaiu techniques was borne out by the following display of a ronin attempting high art and faltering. Fortunately, the jewelry installation by Horiuchi Shuriyani served to return the audience to the presence of art.

Yet greater beauty has already been shown.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Your passions are yours, and they've led you here, to this exact time and this exact place. I think that's something to celebrate." Her thoughts go to their discussion the night before with Otoko. They might be able to be of some use to both their Clans, too. A swordsman is of less use than a cook during times of peace.

Since Hatsuki is here, I cannot but agree.

"As you say, Doji-san. And it is, odd selections for representation in certain pieces aside, a fine place to be."

He chuckled.

"Of course, now we get to see if tomorrow will prompt an encore performance."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Of course, now we get to see if tomorrow will prompt an encore performance."

"By the Fortunes," She mutters at that thought. "I can't even consider it, I'll lose my appetite." Her smile creeps in for a moment before her brow furrows and her lips form a thin frown. "...would you perhaps know the artist, Bayushi-san?"

[Asako Horuden]

"Thank you, Asako-san " she replied with a small smile. "I wished to compliment your excellent calligraphy and also ask about this kohii ceremony."

"I am delighted by your interest, Shosuro-sama. Coffee is a plant that does not yet grow in Rokugan. It can be likened to tea for its plethora of social, sensual, aesthetic, medicinal and spiritual properties. But it is also different, delivering unrivalled experiences and epiphanies. I believe a viable path to enlightenment leads through coffee!" There was great sincerity in the monk declaring it. He was not fooling around there. Coffee was this awesome, in his mind at least. "As for the ceremony of preparing it for drinking, I am still fine-tuning it too meet high cultural standards."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"By the Fortunes," She mutters at that thought. "I can't even consider it, I'll lose my appetite." Her smile creeps in for a moment before her brow furrows and her lips form a thin frown. "...would you perhaps know the artist, Bayushi-san?"

"I do not, as it happens. Do you? I must say, the likenesses are remarkable..."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari continues his assigned duties.

Doji Minori followed, gracing the event with a combination of sword and poem that would have pleased even Akodo-no-kami. Two hands were amply filled.

After her, Kitsune Shizenko demonstrated that even the beasts of the wood know art, even if imperfectly.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I am delighted by your interest, Shosuro-sama. Coffee is a plant that does not yet grow in Rokugan. It can be likened to tea for its plethora of social, sensual, aesthetic, medicinal and spiritual properties. But it is also different, delivering unrivalled experiences and epiphanies. I believe a viable path to enlightenment leads through coffee!" There was great sincerity in the monk declaring it. He was not fooling around there. Coffee was this awesome, in his mind at least. "As for the ceremony of preparing it for drinking, I am still fine-tuning it too meet high cultural standards."

Hatsuki's eyebrows raised slightly. He frankly made it sounds like some kind of opium. "I see... I would be interested in seeing it. Wherever did you hear of this remarkable plant, Asako-san?"

[Kitsune Shizenko]

Shizenko walked about to check the displays. Raakun followed her. Everything looked so amazing... with exception of the poor Tsi.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I do not, as it happens. Do you? I must say, the likenesses are remarkable..."

"No, it's a total surprise to me. How strange she's paint us together when this is the third time we've met..."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"No, it's a total surprise to me. How strange she's paint us together when this is the third time we've met..."

"And when neither of us knows her in the slightest. Perhaps she chose you as a figure of Compassion, while I, as a Scorpion, made a handy villain for you to... defeat in the piece?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"And when neither of us knows her in the slightest. Perhaps she chose you as a figure of Compassion, while I, as a Scorpion, made a handy villain for you to... defeat in the piece?"

Nadeshiko again has to do everything in her power not to burst out laughing in the most undignified way possible. Her face, though, says it all for a few seconds before she can pull out her fan and compose herself.

"You're hardly a villain though... to be quite frank, you've been nothing but courteous since we've first met. It just... there has to be some context we're missing, though I fear its illumination may raise even more questions than answers."

[Bayushi Choudai]

Nadeshiko again has to do everything in her power not to burst out laughing in the most undignified way possible. Her face, though, says it all for a few seconds before she can pull out her fan and compose herself.

"You're hardly a villain though... to be quite frank, you've been nothing but courteous since we've first met. It just... there has to be some context we're missing, though I fear its illumination may raise even more questions than answers."

"Ah, but Doji-san, you and I have conversed. To someone who merely knows me by name or Family, I am simply a Bayushi bushi."

And we had that war recently.

"Although I admit picking me, instead of simply putting an indeterminate masked Scorpion in that position seems.... personal."

He shrugged.

"Can't think why."

The man who hates me the most in the world is a Scorpion, after all.

[Asako Horuden]

Hatsuki's eyebrows raised slightly. He frankly made it sounds like some kind of opium. "I see... I would be interested in seeing it. Wherever did you hear of this remarkable plant, Asako-san?"

He showed her the beans, and explained the plant's properties in similar terms as he would do before Shosuro Otoko later.

"I discovered it personally during my journeys into the Burning Sands."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Ah, but Doji-san, you and I have conversed. To someone who merely knows me by name or Family, I am simply a Bayushi bushi."
"Although I admit picking me, instead of simply putting an indeterminate masked Scorpion in that position seems.... personal."
"Can't think why."

She sighs and nods, unfortunately finding his logic sound. A Scorpion's an easy villain... "Well. Myself and Hatsuki-san plan on speaking with the artist, if you would like to join us."

[Bayushi Choudai]

She sighs and nods, unfortunately finding his logic sound. A Scorpion's an easy villain... "Well. Myself and Hatsuki-san plan on speaking with the artist, if you would like to join us."

"Hm, not at all certain adding a third would be diplomatic... but then again, the time for diplomacy generally ends when someone gets overtly insulted."

But three is an unlucky number...

At the same time, it's a valid reason to spend some time with Hatsuki.

"I might allow myself to be persuaded."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I might allow myself to be persuaded."

She just barely opens her eyes to give Choudai a small look -- really? -- but there's a hint of a smile in it. He reminds her a little of someone. "And how might I persuade you, then? A favor for a favor?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

She just barely opens her eyes to give Choudai a small look -- really? -- but there's a hint of a smile in it. He reminds her a little of someone. "And how might I persuade you, then? A favor for a favor?"

"Oh, I think we're already well along that path, hm? I'll just need a taste tester for something I've got in the works."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Oh, I think we're already well along that path, hm? I'll just need a taste tester for something I've got in the works."

"I volunteer!" She says with a big grin. But then the Crane bounces on her heels as she remembers something important. "Oh -- do you -- the -- the spices -- before I forget! The spices! Ah..." Nadeshiko bites her lip. "...might I have three favors?"