[D2 EA] Blooms and Brews

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

(Expecting but it is public)

Yoshiaki had made his was to enjoy some tea after his work out. The man entered the tea house that featured a large sand garden. He had already seen one of the other ones during Otoko's meeting last night.

The servant that attended him gave a double take at man upon noticing the color of his eyes and he gave off a much more nervous energy bit soon enough Yoshiaki sat near the sand garden looking out to it with a cup of their winter brew in his hand.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

He's soon joined by a familiar face -- Nadeshiko, having found herself a little parched close by, enters as well, humming a bit to herself once she has her drink in hand and sidling on over to the most shaded spot she can find. She's not noticed Yoshiaki yet.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki rises gracefully and moves over to the familiar Crane. He greets her with a bow "Doji-san, it is good to see you again. Would you mind if I joined you?" His voice was soft and just as rich as before.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

She starts a little at that, head turning his way before nodding; "I would be honored. Good afternoon to you, Togashi-san. How are you this fine day? Have you eaten?" Nadeshiko takes a sip of her tea to give the man a chance to answer.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He folds himself with the same grace as he stood, sitting opposite her he nodded "while I may fast at times I will not do so during the competition. I need my Wits about me so I can present my art to the best of my ability."

"Has the day found you well Doji-san? Are you prepared for the showing later tonight?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Has the day found you well Doji-san? Are you prepared for the showing later tonight?"

Whether he was pointedly avoiding talking about himself, or simply had nothing to say, Nadeshiko wasn't sure, but she wouldn't press; the Crane's simply happy for Yoshiaki's company. "It has! I've been working on my poetry while relaxing. I find it a balm for the soul, frankly." She gives a happy sigh and settles in her seat like a bird getting comfortable in its nest. "I still feel finnicky about one word in today's poem -- but considering the circumstances, one can only strive for perfection. Though," Her voice gains a gentle warmth to it, "Imperfection itself can be a form of beauty."

"And you?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki took a sip of his tea as she spoke. Then gently set his cup down

"Well my pieces have been completed for some time. Due to the nature of my art it is not something that I could change or touch up even if I wished. I am at peace with my offerings all that is left is to present it to the judges."

He gave a small smile "but yes there is a beauty to imperfections. Only the divine is perfect, the imperfect is human."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

He gave a small smile "but yes there is a beauty to imperfections. Only the divine is perfect, the imperfect is human."

"Spoken like a true Dragon," She answers with a light laugh. "But that's to be expected; I've heard kintsugi's origins can be traced to Dragon lands. Something about all the gold there, though it's the philosophy behind it I find myself most interested in. It's... soothing."

There's a brief pause. "Do you mind a discussion of philosophy, Togashi-san?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

That elicited a small chuckle "I dare say there is nothing Togashi, and especially monks, are known for more than discussing philosophy." The strange silver eyes twinkled a little in subdued mirth.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I dare say there is nothing Togashi, and especially monks, are known for more than discussing philosophy."

"Yes," She hums, "But perhaps a certain monk has other desires for his time here." Still, the corners of her mouth are upturned. Nadeshiko takes a moment to drink, sighing at the taste of it before opening her eyes to meet his for the first time.

One sky blue eye, one clouded to the point of being almost gray like stormclouds, meet his silver. The woman blinks before softening a bit; how strange, she thinks, but there's no fear in it. He appears slightly haloed in the light from the distortion of her worse eye. "Kintsugi is most often applied to objects, is it not? Or is there more I do not know on the matter?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki tilts his head slightly to the side but nods "I am not trained in the art but yes from what I understand it is applied to broken things to fix them and make them beautiful again. Sometimes more than they were before."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I am not trained in the art but yes from what I understand it is applied to broken things to fix them and make them beautiful again. Sometimes more than they were before."

She giggles a little; Nadeshiko hadn't expected to go over his head. Her gaze turns rather soft. "I see. I thought, perhaps, the philosophy had its applications beyond objects." By then, her head's begun to hurt; she closes her eyes. "Perhaps it could be used to understand people, or situations, as well. Why embrace only the imperfection in objects -- this world is full of tragedy, is it not? A human being can break in ways both seen and unseen, but such things are often left unacknowledged. Yet unless we are wholly broken we are still called to continue our service to our lords. We are not wasted, but neither are imperfections embraced."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki nodded to her words "So you believe if we help people fix themselves they will become better for it? I am inclined to agree, but there are limitations on this no? How does one fix a lost limb? A bushi that loses a leg can surely be repurposed given a new role and in this way can still contribute but they will never be what they once were. Sometime the act of breaking is transformative in its totality."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Yoshiaki nodded to her words "So you believe if we help people fix themselves they will become better for it? I am inclined to agree, but there are limitations on this no? How does one fix a lost limb? A bushi that loses a leg can surely be repurposed given a new role and in this way can still contribute but they will never be what they once were. Sometime the act of breaking is transformative in its totality."

"I never quite said that," She answers. "I mean more... appreciation. Acceptance. Some people are never quite the same, as you said. There can be a beauty in that. Though, sometimes, pain is just pain."

Her head bows as she tries to form the words to express what she's trying to say -- fails -- and sighs.

"I was simply curious as to whether there was a branch of thought that applied the philosophy further. It seems it could be useful for those who are struggling... or that was my logic in asking."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"I never quite said that," She answers. "I mean more... appreciation. Acceptance. Some people are never quite the same, as you said. There can be a beauty in that. Though, sometimes, pain is just pain."

Her head bows as she tries to form the words to express what she's trying to say -- fails -- and sighs.

"I was simply curious as to whether there was a branch of thought that applied the philosophy further. It seems it could be useful for those who are struggling... or that was my logic in asking."

He was quiet for a moment "it is difficult. There is thought out there that aligns with what you are saying but it is....uncommon. we live in a world where as samurai our ability to serve is what defines us. Anything that interferes with that is not looked on favorably. For many the best they can hope is to be valued despite their limitations."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"it is difficult. There is thought out there that aligns with what you are saying but it is....uncommon. we live in a world where as samurai our ability to serve is what defines us. Anything that interferes with that is not looked on favorably. For many the best they can hope is to be valued despite their limitations."

He's brushed the heart of it: Nadeshiko nods, finishing her tea before sighing softly.

"And what do you think?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Much as I said earlier the imperfect is human. Many samurai like to put up the front of perfection because it is what is demanded of us. But at the end of the day we are all human with our emotions and imperfections."

"People should not shy away from that which makes them different that others may say is imperfect or broken."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"People should not shy away from that which makes them different that others may say is imperfect or broken."

She nods again, smile now bright and warm. "I agree completely, Togashi-san. It does the heart good, to find a like-minded soul."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He nodded his head "likewise Doji-san. Though as you saw I myself have rather prominent features that many would call unusual. So perhaps it is out of a selfish desire to be fully accepted I developed the worldview I did." He posited taking a sip of his tea.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"likewise Doji-san. Though as you saw I myself have rather prominent features that many would call unusual. So perhaps it is out of a selfish desire to be fully accepted I developed the worldview I did."

"We share many things," She answers softly. Her cup's set down. As Nadeshiko continues, her voice turns gentle, like she's whispering a secret to a friend. "I would not call it selfishness, though, to want the world to see you for what you are. I think that is simply part of being human."