(D1, MM) A Prayer for We Who are About to Art - Open

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

While she's mostly held his eyes as they spoke, barring a bit of watching where she's going, there is a moment's hesitation as her gaze drops and turns inward. It's important enough for internal calculations of trust and risk assessment before she slips the cuff free and holds it out. Held closer, he'll see:

A wide bracelet of polished wood, inlaid with lines and chips of metal, stone, and glass to create a very elaborate scene that appears to be the Kami Shinjo and her followers traveling from the Empire, with the terrain along the bracelet shifting from green fields to rough mountains to barren sand. It is very much the sort of thing one makes to show off multiple techniques and overall artistry when attempting to prove their grasp of them.

"It was my final piece for my sensei. I won't stop learning, but now that's on my own, as far as this craft."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki held the piece gingerly with an implied reverence and care of the most precious objects. He held it close to his eyes turning it slowly, the silver eyes moved over the scene and then turning it in different ways to look at the overall construction.

He nods after a time and lays it flat on his palm bowing as he held it out to her "Your work honors the teaching of your sensei and shows a wealth of skill and care. Thank you for sharing with me."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"You're welcome, and thank you. It's...unusual being among such a crowd of artists who can see the skill of a thing more honestly than most." The cuff is taken with the slip of cool fingers brushing his palm, and slipped on her wrist carefully among the others. "If you don't mind my asking, are your eyes weak enough to make your work more difficult?" It's asked with a professional interest, but quietly enough to be pointedly ignored if out of line.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He straightened after he felt the weight of the item vanish "Yes it is nice to be among so many who understand what it means to be an artist. We understand more than others."

At her question there was a touch of humor in his expression "No, only makes it take longer. And the person I am working on must be comfortable with me hovering a bit closer than most."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

There's a thoughtful pause, "there's few arts more intimate than tattooing, are there? I think fate offered you a challenge with eyes that unnerve others when you need to be so close to them to pursue your art, and then possibly again as you work so closely." Clear brown eyes look up to his silver. "I think there's probably no more spiritual contagion to it than that, if it matters."

"How long do works like the ones you wear take? Surely longer than a painting with its broad strokes of a brush?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Eyes that unnerved most others." It was said with a significance as his gaze unwavering held hers. His expression was still unreadable but there was something vaguely warm behind those cool silver circles.

"And I shall add this to the list of theories regarding my appearance." A touch of mirth.

"Well first the idea must be sketched, put on paper shown to the recipient so they can approve it. Then the process itself can take days to weeks depending on how intricate the piece is. My Crane took 3 days and that was only because I was able to sit longer than most. For a piece of the size and complexity of mine it is roughly 40 to 50 hours of work. Then a few weeks of healing before the piece actually looks finished."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

There's a moment of warmth in response, then a wariness before looking aside with a rueful bit of smile. "Hai, most. Some are a bit oblivious to things."

"Healing...sounds like nature's polish then. Do you ever have complications there? Folks with strong or weak water creating issues? I suppose all art has variables beyond the artist's control." There's a pause, "hmm, and you could sit longer than most...because of the pain of the process?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He watched the shift in emotions but decided to make no comment on it.

His lips turned down in the corners "Yes, there can be certain....complications at times. Luckily it is rare and we have developed many tools, ointments and salves, that aid in the healing process. It is a unique challenge of this particular art. Humans as a canvas can offer many variables."

To her second question he nodded "yes. It is not the most painful thing in the world but over hours of the steady and constant pain can become too much for some. Also the artist will become fatigued as well. It is a demanding art building a piece one dot at a time. A line that takes a painter a couple of second can be ten or twenty minutes for a tattooist."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"A demanding art in a number of ways then. No painter needs to worry about the endurance of their canvas."

"...and very visual." As she says it, her eyes return to the lines of the Ki-Rin, moving as they continue. She'd said she would observe the portents, was that one of them? A question for another time. "With your pieces already done and healed...was there one you found easier than the others?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Much like the Crane the ki-rin moved with Amy of his arm or shoulder movements, the muscles below rippling with use

He paused with a thoughtful look "hmmm they both had their moments, the pain level varies based on the part of the body." He explained "chest and shoulders, arms, thighs, not so bad. Places where there is less meat shoulder blades, shins, elbow, hurt a bit more. Overall I think the Crane was a bit harder than the Ki-Rin."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

*hmm, I think I'm gathering inspiration to bring to Nadeshiko when we start plotting*

She pauses a moment, blinking before her lips twitch in a grin. "That's more information than I'd expected, but very useful if I ever ended up as a canvas." Another pause, her eyes looking to the side a moment, thoughtful, grin becoming a bit sharper. "In fact...um, I'll come back to that thought."

"I suppose if the Crane is to be biting at folks, it's worth the cost in aching skin?" Her smile is wider as she teases with reference to the earlier bit of conversation. "But I was curious which of your pieces for the competition you found to come easiest?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He grinned a little, a slight amuesment to the expression "Ah apologies Horiuchi-san I misunderstood" He said with a slight shake of his head the smirk slightly chagrined.

The emotion faded slowly as he slipped into thought "hmmm well the piece for courage came somewhat easily, as did Sincerity." He commented looking up as he thought but eyes coming down to her as he finished "though all had their challenges."

"What of you Horiuchi-san? Did any topic give you particular issue or come especially easy to you?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Shaking her head with a jingle of charms, still grinning, she says, "no need to apologize, the question was ambiguous. Only fair to sometimes confound a Dragon with a question, no?"

She nods a bit with his answer, having already said elsewhere that Courage seemed both easiest and hardest to portray for such a competition. Nor is she particularly surprised to have it turned around. There's a moment of thought before she says, "Compassion was easy to begin, and hard to finish. There was so much to say, and it can be challenging to say all of it in imagery, but I fear the judges be happy with the artistic equivalent of reading a full novel. It ties all the rest together, I feel. But you don't want to have the viewer confused about which tenet you're focused on. ..." She trails off with a small laugh. "See, I could just go on and on this way."

Sobering a bit, eyes fixed to the the path ahead, she asks, "How do you chose your canvases? Do they come to you and ask?" There's an attempt to keep her tone casual, though it certainly wouldn't pass unnoticed by most trained courtiers.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He nods in agreement of her answer "in most cases too much detail is better than too little."

And at her question he nodded "in a sense." He replied looking along the path as well but back to her without missing a step "The vast majority of my canvases are other monks who have been approved for tattoos. For us the tattoos are not merely art but also unlock the mystical powers you may or may not have heard we possess."

He fixed her with a long look "though it is possible if one requested it I could make a more mundane artwork. At least in the sense it wouldn't give special powers."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Her eyes dart to the tattoos again, though it means a bit of a broken step to fall back a bit and see both. "I...did not actually know that was part of their creation. There were none of your family ? ...order? at the court I was at this winter; my first proper court season. Um...what do they do?" At least for a moment, surprise steals her original intent in asking the question.

Though it will pass with answers. "Do you chose what things will look like when it's not for a competition like this? Or does your canvas? A painter's canvas doesn't chose, but working with stone I know sometimes it does have something to say about what will be carved onto it.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He shrugged "a variety of things. Some are flashy like breathing fire or leaping great distances. Others are more subtle like making one better at martial arts or eliminating the need for food or water. There are many more than I care to explain all at once." He said with a good natured smile.

"The canvas gets to choose the subject matter. If they have a more detailed idea I may talk with them about it and incorporate their idea into my design. However at the end it is still my style and I will add things to the design that I think make it look the best. It is a partnership of sorts, A person is permanently marked and so obviously needs to like what will be there but I am still the artist and the work represents me so I will not do things that will represent me poorly."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"No more than I'd manage to explain all that one may do interacting with the kami in a few sentences," she acknowledges good-naturedly. "Those sound...similar? to such things. I expect your order has already fended off Isawa researchers looking to study just how it all works already, so I won't press for a chance to apply my meager skills to the question."

More quietly, she says...not quite asking, more like thinking aloud. "A smaller Ki-Rin to remember where I'm from." Looking up, a bit embarrassed, "but it's not like ordering a kimono for the winter from a merchant. You're not a merchant, for one thing. Um..I guess I'm asking if I can be a canvas, but also to have a piece of your art." A small pause. "Sometime! I mean, this is a busy competition and I don't have a real idea how this works, and there's still time later."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki nods "every clan has their secrets. That we possess these abilities is not one how they work very much so is." He said honestly.

At her next He stopped walking rather suddenly. He tilted his head a bit in consideration maybe? Possibly confusion?

"You wish to be a canvas? You have not yet even seen my work." His confusion slowly gave way to amuesment "you are either exceedingly reckless or exceedingly trusting. I am not opposed to the idea though. We should spend time getting to know eachother a bit more. It is a big decision to decide to have an image inked upon you forever."

He resumed walking "perhaps we meet the day after tomorrow?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"Probably mostly that second one. I don't think I've ever been called reckless before." She's stopped as well, looking to her hands clasped before her, a bit chagrined. "I'll have seen plenty of your work in a few days, and it can't be horrible or you wouldn't be here."

She nods, "but meeting again to talk about it would make sense, and I'd be glad of it." Honestly *he'd* hate it more if it were horrible, which was part of the point. But that probably wouldn't balance things out if she didn't actually like it. "Day after tomorrow. Over tea?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He nodded "that is a fair assumption. I did not intend to embarrass you Horiuchi-san." He said in a bare honesty she is likely better equipped than most to deal with.

"Tea with you sounds lovely. I look forward to it." He said with a bow as they reached the inn.

"I wish you luck in the presentations tonight and may the fortunes watch over you." He said before turning away from the inn and started heading away from the building.