(D6, LA, Closed) Flowers for Lovers

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"What did you mean earlier when you said I should be happy with what I have? I am Unwed and unbetrothed."

She sips, listening, nodding along with his words. When he finishes speaking Nadeshiko's cup is empty.

"There is a flower which may bloom for you, should you be tender and good." Just the thought of Sriyani makes her smile. "She's someone to be cherished, wouldn't you agree?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

She sips, listening, nodding along with his words. When he finishes speaking Nadeshiko's cup is empty.

"There is a flower which may bloom for you, should you be tender and good." Just the thought of Sriyani makes her smile. "She's someone to be cherished, wouldn't you agree?"

His hand touches the teapot in a silent question if she wanted more but He mirrors her smile, a touch of warmth lights his usually cool expression as he looks down into his cup and nods looking back up to her "Riya-chan." He says in a voice making plain the fondness for her "I knew you were acquainted but didn't know exactly how close."

The warmth there does not receed but there is a touch of sadness in his eyes as well.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

His hand touches the teapot in a silent question if she wanted more but He mirrors her smile, a touch of warmth lights his usually cool expression as he looks down into his cup and nods looking back up to her "Riya-chan." He says in a voice making plain the fondness for her "I knew you were acquainted but didn't know exactly how close."

The warmth there does not receed but there is a touch of sadness in his eyes as well.

"Sriyani is one of my most precious friends." Nadeshiko nods to her cup; she will have more. The fondness in his voice -- the warmth -- it answers another silent question, and her own walls come down as her fears are eased. "As you know... her circumstances... there's enough pain burdening her. I only wish for happiness and blessings to shower her, and I... may be meddlesome in that regard."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"Sriyani is one of my most precious friends." Nadeshiko nods to her cup; she will have more. The fondness in his voice -- the warmth -- it answers another silent question, and her own walls come down as her fears are eased. "As you know... her circumstances... there's enough pain burdening her. I only wish for happiness and blessings to shower her, and I... may be meddlesome in that regard."

He refills her cup and sets the pot down a slight frown on his lips "Yes. Betrothed to one that does not understand how lucky he is." There was something strange hearing such a pleasant voice express something as unpleasant as bitterness even subtle as it was. He closed his eyes and centered himself a moment.

Opening back up he smiles to her "It is good she has such friends who wish to protect her so."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

He refills her cup and sets the pot down a slight frown on his lips "Yes. Betrothed to one that does not understand how lucky he is." There was something strange hearing such a pleasant voice express something as unpleasant as bitterness even subtle as it was. He closed his eyes and centered himself a moment.

Opening back up he smiles to her "It is good she has such friends who wish to protect her so."

Her hands ball into fists at the thought. Ungrateful, foolish little man. Sriyani deserves better. "How could I not -- you've met her -- it's not hard to treasure Sriyani-san..." She has to force her own calm back, hands shaking a little as she picks up her cup. "She -- she quite likes you already, I think. So if I reacted in anger, it is because I know how fragile a woman's heart can be when she's just begun to... feel something for someone."

"Though that's simply my intuition," Nadeshiko adds, taking a moment to sip her tea.

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He smiles a bit at that "Welll it is good to know her and I are of the same mind." He says taking a drink.

"I feel we could both sit and extol the virtues of Sriyani-san all day but what of you Nadeshiko-san? Betrothed?" He asked looking to her curiously.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I feel we could both sit and extol the virtues of Sriyani-san all day but what of you Nadeshiko-san? Betrothed?"

His answer receives a hum of approval, and Nadeshiko seems pleased... until he touches one of the wounds of her heart.

That question brings with it hesitation -- would he have asked it any time before now, she thinks, Nadeshiko would not have answered Yoshiaki. "I was engaged, once, a year ago." She turns to half-face the room's window, seeking the light and the warmth it brings. "My fiance was an Iron Warrior. He was called to Naishou. Only his nagamaki returned to me." The ache in her chest gives her pause; every time, the grief lingers a little shorter, hurts a little less. Would there come a day when it was truly gone? Would she even want that? There's a sharp intake of breath.

"My father has been very kind. He's let me grieve." Yes. It's by bad fortune he also knew that kind of loss all too well and took pity on her. Were things different...

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

"My father has been very kind. He's let me grieve." Yes. It's by bad fortune he also knew that kind of loss all too well and took pity on her. Were things different...

Yoshiaki's usually more impassive gaze grows softer and he bows his head "My apologies Nadeshiko-san. I did not mean to pull up painful memories." There was a sympathy to his words "I know the pain of loss all to well, a wound that gets easier but never fully heals." He says as he raises his head again.

"Your father sounds a good and understanding man."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I know the pain of loss all to well, a wound that gets easier but never fully heals."

"Your father sounds a good and understanding man."

"It's alright," She answers. Nadeshiko means its; Yoshiaki is her friend, and he could not have known. "He is." Spoken like that, it comes across more as 'I love my father.' "There are few in this Empire who have not experienced loss. I... I like to think I was lucky, that I at least once got to--" Tears start forming at the corner of her eyes. "I at least tasted that kind of love once. It is not often one can say that."

Her cheeks are dabbed dry before she again faces Yoshiaki. "I hope your own loss has lightened, Yoshiaki-san. That is all we can really hope for."

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

Yoshiaki nodded "many go their lives without ever knowing that kind of love. Such can be the life of a dutiful samurai." He says solemnly "I too am happy you got to feel that way and have someone feel that way about you."

"Time lightens all Wounds. Things happen and time keeps moving." Common turn of phrase was time healing all Wounds but he had altered it slightly.

He bowed his head "but thank you for sharing something so personal Nadeshiko-san."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Time lightens all Wounds. Things happen and time keeps moving. but thank you for sharing something so personal Nadeshiko-san."

"Well, we are friends, even if I can be quite rude sometimes." She smiles. "Thank you again, Yoshiaki-san. For both listening and understanding."

The woman breathes in then. "Though, I do have a question, unrelated to such personal matters. How painful are tattoos on the back and the chest?"

[Togashi Yoshiaki]

He smiles and nods "Hai. That we are."

He thinks for a moment on her question "hmmm the back high on the shoulder and below the shoulder blade are not so back. The should blade itself can be sensitive and the spine as well. As for the chest, the breast area is usually fine. The middle causes some issue as does the collar bone."