(D0, LA) A blossom in the hand... (Open)

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

The best seats in the house might not usually be for the likes of her, but Sriyani doesn't actually know that and simply points to the spaces nearest the tree, mentioning that she's here to compete and hopes to have a chance to sample all their teas while in town, and... well it would be rude to refuse when the seats were obviously open, right? Her heavily embroidered haori, and elaborate jewelry probably meant she was at least some kind of important to boot. So the staff bowed and let her claim the seat.

Cherry blossoms have been a rare sight; she was usually in the midst of traveling from winter pastures when they'd be in bloom, and they were not plentiful in that part of the plains. So once she'd ordered a pot of the cherry rose green tea, the young unicorn studies the tree, head tilting as her eyes follow the branches.

[Otomo Yua]

Yua had been making the rounds in the village. Having multiple tea houses she thought was wonderful, and she intended to visit all of them as the day went on. For now though, the small Imperial was drawn in by the blossoms on display, looking at them with a smile before taking in the teahouse as a whole. It was very impressively done.

Her eyes eventually settled on the one that stood out; a Unicorn sitting close to the tree. Sitting alone too?

Yua slowly approached, offering a small bow as she drew close, and said softly "may this one join you in admiring the décor Horiuchi-san? It does rather draw the eye doesn't it?" her eyes returning to the tree.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Fingers absently ‘drawing’ winding branches on the table, Sriyani looks up sharply when Yua speaks, then blinks a moment to settle her attention before shifting to offer a seated bow. “Seemingly random, but such a graceful kind of order, isn’t it? It’s hard to achieve on purpose,” her fingers twine in around a rectangular amulet embossed with a single pine branch, knotted with time. ‘I’ve tried, and never find quite the same mood.’

There is a pause, another bow, ‘apologies, this one is Horiuchi Sriyani, Meishodo Practitioner and artisan. If you were looking to watch the leaves over tea, I’m happy to share the space,’

[Otomo Yua]

"I suspect that was the idea, as with art if you leave it open enough people can create their own stories. This feels the same to me, a set up created to begin a story that will lead into the future."

Yua moved to sit in the offered seat.

"I am Otomo Yua. It's a pleasure to meet you Horiuchi-san, I so rarely get a chance to converse with you and your kin. I hope your journey here was a pleasant one? Have you placed an order for tea yet?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"I suspect that was the idea, as with art if you leave it open enough people can create their own stories. This feels the same to me, a set up created to begin a story that will lead into the future."

Yua moved to sit in the offered seat.

"I am Otomo Yua. It's a pleasure to meet you Horiuchi-san, I so rarely get a chance to converse with you and your kin. I hope your journey here was a pleasant one? Have you placed an order for tea yet?"

A small flare of nostril and widening of eye mark the realization that she's speaking to someone Imperial, but she's gotten enough lessons drilled in to avoid startling like a raccoon in the midden caught out by an evening lantern. Her posture shifts gradually from relaxed observation to something that probably wouldn't see her admonished in one of her few etiquette classes.

Her blunt enthusiasm, on the other hand, probably wouldn't have passed muster. "The journey was fantastic, Otomo-sama. Passing through the mountains I'd find it easy to believe you just have to keep climbing to see Tengoku shining in the distance. And then you remember the Kami Akodo buried beneath some of them, and you wonder what sorts of things there might be in the places folks don't ever travel. There's spirits tas haThe roads're a bit rough on wagons, But sleeping out under those pines sighing is worth all the bumping along."

"Guessing you've seen assignment more on this side of the Empire then? To see so few of my clanmates. Oh...and yes, the cherry rose green. Seemed right for spring, but I hope to try all of them." There's a pause.."Ah...have you tried any yourself yet?"

[Akodo Yaukwari]

"The oolong, please," says the severe young man as he sits at another table. While he waits, he takes out paper and charcoal and begins to write.

I arrived in the late afternoon, presented my papers for inspection, and was directed to an inn called the Jinbaori. Facilities there are commodious, with plentiful food of more than acceptable quality, although the proprietor appears almost to be overwhelmed.

Having passed a quiet evening and slept as well as ever, I rose early in the morning of my first full day in Teitaku Town, made my observances quietly, and performed my morning exercises. Returning to the Jinbaori, I bathed and took my lunch in the town. There was some pointed discussion at a nearby ramen stand; I was not privy to the conversation, but the voices of those concerned were not quiet, and it was clear they were discussing the future of the Sapphire Tournament. Ikoma-sama's expectations would appear to have been borne out; this event has promise, and it is fitting, therefore, that its first iteration be documented.

Teitaku Town appears to be heavily curated. That is, while it gives all indication of being a functioning settlement, having peasantry working fields and growing crops, it strikes the sensibilities as being constructed to achieve particular effects, as if the whole town were ikebana writ large or a play being staged for visitors' enjoyment. It is, in that sense, very much in keeping with the known proclivities of its ownership.

The tea arrives and the first cup poured, and as the young man reaches out with ink-stained hand to take it up, he looks across the room and sees other patrons, his eyes widening.

[Otomo Yua]

A small flare of nostril and widening of eye mark the realization that she's speaking to someone Imperial, but she's gotten enough lessons drilled in to avoid startling like a raccoon in the midden caught out by an evening lantern. Her posture shifts gradually from relaxed observation to something that probably wouldn't see her admonished in one of her few etiquette classes.

Her blunt enthusiasm, on the other hand, probably wouldn't have passed muster. "The journey was fantastic, Otomo-sama. Passing through the mountains I'd find it easy to believe you just have to keep climbing to see Tengoku shining in the distance. And then you remember the Kami Akodo buried beneath some of them, and you wonder what sorts of things there might be in the places folks don't ever travel. There's spirits tas haThe roads're a bit rough on wagons, But sleeping out under those pines sighing is worth all the bumping along."

"Guessing you've seen assignment more on this side of the Empire then? To see so few of my clanmates. Oh...and yes, the cherry rose green. Seemed right for spring, but I hope to try all of them." There's a pause.."Ah...have you tried any yourself yet?"

Yua didn't react to the change of posture or position, just looking politely at the women before turning back to the tree once again.

"There are many surprises on the lesser travelled roads, ones that only a person with plenty of time and few obligations can ever view in their lifetime. Something I'm sadly unlikely to experience, so I will have to settle for stories from those who can walk those roads" Yua smiled as she raised a hand to signal a server.

"As for myself, my assignments are very recent with my gempukku less than a year ago. Mostly along the eastern side of the Empire, although I have travelled North more recently spending Winter in the Naishou province for the Winter court. I met a couple of your kin there, but my time was spent more among my own kin and the Crane."

As the server approached, she said "another for Cherry Rose green please" before turning back to the Unicorn woman.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"One can hope for obligations to travel. I'd guess those chosen as ambassadors would do some of that." She pauses to sip her tea, and maybe consider wording. "Your must have made an impression to be here, with not even a full year spent as an adult. I'm curious what sort of assignments you've had then, besides the winter to the north. Was it terribly cold up there? My sensei used to say the Phoenix fostered such strong relationships with the fire kami or half'd freeze solid every winter."

And, well, they are here to compete... "And if it's not too forward, I'm most curious what art brought Otomo-sama to the competition?"

[Otomo Yua]

"A competition proposed and granted at the Empress's Winter court should have an Imperial presence" Yua said, giving the server a nod as the teapot was brought over and a cup for her "the Phoenix lands are very cold, however I spent most of it indoors. As pretty as the snow may be, it would not do to fall ill performing ones duties."

She poured the tea as she considered the question.

"My aunt approved, and the delegation agreed. It made sense for myself to be a representative. I enjoy art, and dabble in a few. I quite enjoy singing, sharing stories and painting. Better to not limit ones skills to a single art, as such a position would want to have a variety don't you think? You mentioned you were an artisan after all, so I'm sure you have many arts you partake in also."

[Akodo Yaukwari]

The young man shakes himself slightly, puts his eyes firmly on his tea for a moment.

He drinks of it, closing his eyes.

Who is that? he thinks. I must find out.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

(learned the site was down trying to post this yesterday *shakes fist* At least the browser didn't eat it.)

An Imperial barely out of gempukku assigned to such an event in Crane lands might indicate some slight the Otomo intended to convey to the Crane, or might indicate that she was a prodigy sent to prove herself in front of everyone, or that her aunt had a great deal of pull, or... Those possibilities and calculations would undoubtedly be spinning through the mind of someone trained to the courts.

Sriyani had been given the equivalent of a "how not to utterly embarrass yourself when everyone thinks you're a barbarian" primer, having trained instead to understand the etiquette and whims of the spirits; the practicalities of twisting metal and polishing stones. So she nodded, eyes reflecting a smile her proper lips only hinted at in the small tension of muscles held as carefully as her posture, and spoke with the simplicity of one unfamiliar with the mazes of speech common in Imperial hallways.

"It's a thing of trust to send anyone to represent clan or family or...well, the Empire's arts," she says with a tiny nod of emphasis. "I'm honored to meet someone trusted by the Otomo like that, and I'm sure what you call dabbling is something to see." She gestures to the tree. "Poets write about the flowers and the shade and the bent branches, but the tree's not dabbling, neh?" If she notices the Lion's attention--and she's perceptive enough to do so and file it away--she assumes he is similarly trying not to fluster in an Imperial presence.

Her eyes drop to her hands wrapped loosely around her cup. "I'm a bit more focused, since my art flows from service. The crafting of Meishodo talismans led to other forms of jewelry led to other metalcraft, it's all very connected. Everything else is just...well, it really is dabbling. A sketch to rough out an idea for an amulet, maybe folding something in paper to see how I need to support something of thin metal, that sort of thing.

[Otomo Yua]

"You're too kind, hopefully it meets expectations" Yua lowered her head respectfully to the Unicorn woman and picking up her cup at the same time "I would expect the judges to have a very high opinion of this office and will ensure the correct person is selected."

She looked back to Sriyani, clearly curious."

"Hmm...I have heard little about this...Meishodo you say? I only know of it being something very important to the Unicorn. That this has lead to other arts is interesting, so you design your Meishodo jewellery? Are you able to produce these quickly or does it take a lot of time?"

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Yakuwari sets down his cup, now empty, and picks up the charcoal again.

The event attracted many of the most beautiful samurai in all the land, and from a diversity of origins. One in particular captivated attention...

The charcoal drags across the page, smearing.
She is too fair for this world, he thinks.
Yakuwari refills his teacup.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Her right hand lifts to wobble in a so-so fashion. "Simple charms can be made quickly if one has molds prepared, or finds just the right bead, but I don't think those are sufficient for something like this so honestly, I've been working almost non-stop since I learned I was to come here, getting pieces ready that would be suiitable." There's a rueful laugh, jangling her beaded hair ornaments. "I think tonight might be the first full night's sleep I've had in a week. So easy to get wrapped up in work."

Lifting her hands she twists one of several bracelets on her left wrist to bring a two-inch long, narrow bead with mirror-polished flat surfaces to the top. "One like this is pretty quickly made since I modify someone else's work, mostly the polish here." She taps a silver metal charm beside it that looks to be a lotus flower. "I can get a few of these in a day while the mold lasts, and then just need to tidy them up. But something like these, she taps a comb in her hair with fairly typical trailing wisteria dangles of silver wire and carved amythest, with a less typical concoction atop the comb of cloud-carved alabaster, "would take a week just to get all the carving done."

"Not that I made this one," she clarifies quickly.

[Otomo Yua]

Yua leaned forward slightly to look at the bracelet more clearly.

"Fascinating...To take something so simple and create an art that one can wear. It doesn't have the complexity of jewellery I've seen in the capital or personally wear, but the style and colours compliment you very well. They have deeper meaning to the Unicorn also, hai?"

She smiled, sitting back a bit to look at the woman as a whole.

"The ornaments in your hair as well. The whole ensemble. I must say I approve, I believe the judges here also will appreciate the uniqueness that it brings among the more stereotypical pieces one may expect from artists. I look forward to seeing what you present this spring, thank you for your explanation."

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Sriyani sips her tea, watching the lovely Otomo through the steam as she speaks, gaze lowering with a touch of color to her cheeks at the complement. "It's complicated, as they're chosen for different reasons, some, as you say, meanings those in my clan would understand. This one houses a kami who's agreed to share their resilience and toughness when called upon, and the stone is one deemed protective because of its hardness and the reflective shine it can take on."

"It's very kind of you to say such things, Otomo-sama, when you have," her hand lifts gesturing toward Yua, "obviously much finer taste. It will be an education to see your presentations. I'm hoping to learn as much as I can here, given this opportunity." The cup is set gently to the table. "Are you looking forward to any day's presentations more than others?"

[Otomo Yua]

"So a spiritual meaning too, hmm I see" Yua commented, a smile on her face at the compliment "I'm not well versed in the matters of the kami, but to have an agreement for one to reside within a piece of jewellery until the moment they are needed sounds like they hold you fondly. I do enjoy the finer things I agree, but I do find beauty in the unique too. Perhaps I should look into this more, ornaments in my hair while I'm singing would add an additional musical accompyment to my voice don't you think?"

There was a thoughtful expression at the question.

"Hmm...I look forward to seeing how people express Chugo through their arts. Our duty is very important, but it is also varied from person to person. How that is displayed will be very interesting don't you think? Do you have a day that interests you more?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"Courage," she says without hesitation. "It has the most potential for surprises, if some chose unconventional paths. It's otherwise the most straightforward to communicate, I think. But artists looking to stand out will see that as a challenge, I think."

Her head tilts in thought, and with a gentle clatter of her own ornaments. "It would be hard to create true accompaniment with standard pieces, I think. Most are untuned and do not sound very...precisely?" The Horiuchi hunts a moment for a better word, then gives up and continues. "I think a comb might be made with an eye to aiding in the volume, and some bells at least would chime pleasantly together as a sort of background...nothing so tuneful as an actual instrument. Happy to offer an ear if you wish to test something out." Not quite an offer to aid in design; that seemed presumptuous, as if her Imperial family didn't have the crafting or engineering resources to draw upon for such things.

[Akodo Yaukwari]

Drinking off his tea, Yakuwari tries to continue.

Perhaps the presence of that particular person is a reminder to mortals that the artwork of the Heavens far surpasses us all. And perhaps we ought, as the tournament continues, to remember that humility.

I have to reach out to her, somehow. But how?

[Otomo Yua]

"Courage neh? It does take a lot of courage to stand out sometimes. I like the way you think! I am excited to see who is the most courageous."

Her eyes moved back to Sriyani's hair, looking at the comb as she picked up her cup.

"At my mothers home they have windchimes that make different sounds when the wind blows and they're so wonderful playing such lovely sounding music by being slightly different sized glass beads. Although maybe having glass windchimes in ones hair is a bit dangerous so perhaps bells are safer. Still, I kind of like the idea of trying to find something that might work. I can just imagine walking into court with the small rattle of chimes or bells, turning heads. Just thinking about it makes the idea even more appealing don't you think?"