[Day 5, Early Morning] Strike From the Shadows (Expecting but Public)

[Bayushi Choudai]

Against all normal inclinations, Bayushi Choudai was present bright and early at... the gallery, dressed to the nines.

He was in a remarkably good mood, and he carried a small bundle tucked under one arm.

And if he happened to be neither alone nor particularly unobservant, well, that was just the soprt of day it was shaping up to be.

[Saibankan]

It was a rather tranquil setting. The first rays of lady Sun started filling the now empty gallery. It was quiet with none of the competitors or servants around. You could almost hear inspiration, feel the anticipation of a new day of art as the gallery called for the artists to bring forth their creations.

And like most peace, it did not last long. A tall figure with a wide brimmed straw hat pulled low and a plain straw cloak wrapped tight obscuring any mons was moving with purpose towards the back of the gallery. Slung over the shoulder was a large case meant for transporting paintings.

They seemed singularly focused on their efforts, paying seemingly no heed to the dapper Scorpion just sort of standing around conspicuously.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki waited nearby.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai moved to fall in step behind the cloaked figure, without saying much.

But he'd be hard to miss.

[Saibankan]

Despite doing the equivalent of an exaggerated tip-toe walk while speaking but a few words in his head, the figure seemed to pay no attention whatsoever to Choudai or Hatsuki, as if they weren't even there. Instead, it seemed solely focused on pulling the screens in to position for another one of Mikan's displays.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Nadeshiko has totally been there the whole time <_< >_> The whole time I say. She's tucked away quietly in a corner nearby Hatsuki, waiting to hear her cue to join...

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Hatsuki is the first to speak up. "Excuse me, do you need any help with that?"

[Saibankan]

Hatsuki is the first to speak up. "Excuse me, do you need any help with that?"

The figure didn't even look up at the question. There was an awkward silence as the figure continued it's work. Then a slight pause as the lack of response meant that the question had been directed at them.

"Thank you, but no, samurai-sama." the feminine voice said quietly, unlacing the bindings on the casing so they could get to displaying the painting within.

The awkward silence filtered back into the gallery just as the rays of the sun did.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai cleared his throat.

"Your pardon, samurai-san, but might I ask your name? This one is Bayushi Choudai."

And unless you want to run through the hanging partitions, you'll need to go past me.

[Kakita Mikan]

There was an audible sigh, as the figured busied themselves with taking out the painting.

"I suppose you might, though yours is already known to me." she said with the enthusiasm of a woman being hit on while reading a book and listening to headphones. "I am Kakita Mikan. Forgive me, but I am rather busy with preparing my display for today's gathering."

[Bayushi Choudai]

"And such a consistent theme you've maintained as well, Kakita-san. I was a bit mystified until I got the word myself two days ago."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Nadeshiko steps forward, eyes open, trying to catch a glimpse of Kakita Mikan. Her face, her voice -- she's trying to place them, hoping, maybe, she'd met her once.

((If Nadeshiko recognizes Mikan, LMK Saibankan!))

ETA: There's a pause, and Nadeshiko stops as her brow furrows.

[Kakita Mikan]

"And such a consistent theme you've maintained as well, Kakita-san. I was a bit mystified until I got the word myself two days ago."

Some guys just couldn't take a hint.

"Oh? And so you're here now because you wanted to see if today's offering kept to the theme?" she asked.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Some guys just couldn't take a hint.

"Oh? And so you're here now because you wanted to see if today's offering kept to the theme?" she asked.

"Not at all. I would hardly expect you to deviate from such an established position at this stage. But I wanted to thank you for helping draw Nadeshiko-san and myself together."

[Kakita Mikan]

"Not at all. I would hardly expect you to deviate from such an established position at this stage. But I wanted to thank you for helping draw Nadeshiko-san and myself together."

"Doji-sama is a wonderful person, Bayushi-san. Your thanks are received. You are welcome." Mikan offered, hoping in vain that was going to end the conversation.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Doji-sama is a wonderful person, Bayushi-san. Your thanks are received. You are welcome." Mikan offered, hoping in vain that was going to end the conversation.

"Yes, it seems our betrothal is off to a wonderful start. And what luck, that Nadeshiko-san is related to Shosuro-san, meaning we don't lack for a chaperone from each of our Clans with our best interests at heart."

Choudai lowered his voice.

"I know you find this entire business almost physically painful. But unless we can talk out some details in private, I fear I am going to have to bother you with more persistence. One conversation in private, and you won't need to speak to me again until the ceremony, and you won't need to speak to me after it any more than Duty requires."

He paused, awaiting either her response, or the interjection of Nadeshiko or Hatsuki.

[Saibankan]

"Doji-sama is a wonderful person, Bayushi-san. Your thanks are received. You are welcome." Mikan offered, hoping in vain that was going to end the conversation.

"Yes, it seems our betrothal is off to a wonderful start. And what luck, that Nadeshiko-san is related to Shosuro-san, meaning we don't lack for a chaperone from each of our Clans with our best interests at heart."

Choudai lowered his voice.

"I know you find this entire business almost physically painful. But unless we can talk out some details in private, I fear I am going to have to bother you with more persistence. One conversation in private, and you won't need to speak to me again until the ceremony, and you won't need to speak to me after it any more than Duty requires."

He paused, awaiting either her response, or the interjection of Nadeshiko or Hatsuki.

(Awa/Sincerity (Honesty or Deceit))

[Bayushi Choudai]

(Awa/Sincerity (Honesty or Deceit))

[D5/EM Awareness/Sincerity, Honesty Emphasis Would Apply if He Had It, spending Void for +1k1 | 6k4 ⇒ 15 15 on 6k4. THANKS, SAKKAKU]

[Kakita Mikan]

On it's face, it was a reasonable request. Had Choudai come alone, she might have been swayed. Even bringing along Hatsuki for this morning rendezvous MIGHT have been excusable. But the presence of Nadeshiko was like bringing a tetsubo along for a friendly chat. He wasn't going to be reasonable and if he didn't like the results of a private chat, he'd do as he pleased, that much was clear. He brought an audience...well Mikan knew what to do with an audience.

"A moment, Bayushi-san, since I haven't had the pleasure of audience feedback for my works in the competition, I'd like to take this opportunity to take such now, the light in the gallery at this time is just so pleasant."

She put up her painting for the day. In it Doji Nadeshiko stood atop the castle ramparts, bent over releasing a cloud of gas upon the invading army lead by Bayushi Choudai. While it was similar to her previous entries, there was something about this work that really drove home the meaninglessness of existence. Beauty, glory, honor, life, death, it was all a farce, endlessly repeated by people desperate to convince themselves that they mattered in the slightest.

KA2. Shift to Despair. Awa/(Chosen Art) Void Spent | 10k4 ⇒ 43


(Choudai, Hatsuki and Nadeshiko must make a Willpower/Etiquette (Courtesy) roll at a TN of 43 for feel deep despair for the next 2 hours)

Mikan smiled as she addressed her audeince.

"Well, what do you think?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

Choudai knew the feeling.

It was one he lived with anytime Hatsuki wasn't around. One he could see stretching forward in the years ahead as this woman, too in love with her own misery to understand the chance he had offered, decided to bring everything down with her.

"I think you're going to be seeing a lot of me, Kakita-san, so you may as well get used to it. Perhaps I'll bring you dinner at your room tonight. Or greet you here first thing in the morning. I can see we will need to get accustomed to one another, regardless."


[D5/EM hilarious impossible Willpower/Etiquette (Courtesy) roll, TN 43 | 4k2 ⇒ 10 (TN: 43)]]