(D0, MA) Getting to Know You

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

(expecting, but public space)

It isn't that she needs inspiration, save for last minute changes, but the lush gardens are balm to anyone's heart. Sriyani is no exception, settling to a bench sparsely shaded by a small maple covered in tiny, just-opened leaves. The jingle and clatter of amulet and bead accompany her steps; she won't be sneaking up on anyone today.

She studies the field of flowers, not really expecting insight into the kami here with this first look, but knowing that everything has to begin somewhere

[Doji Nadeshiko]

A woman rests in the shade of a tree. Occasionally she writes in the small book sitting in her lap; otherwise, the garden's what occupies her as she basks in the flower's beauty. Not for very long, though -- the woman's eyes squint shut tight after a few seconds of being open, stay closed awhile before again half-opening, the shade helping... but it's still too bright for her.

The jingling of Sriyani's jewelry shifts her attention. "Hello! Fine day for flowers, isn't it?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

The voice naturally draws her attention. "It is! And, if I didn't know better, I'd say the weather itself was designed to show off all the beautiful work here." Continuing closer, she pauses at a comfortable speaking distance to bow a greeting. "Horiuchi Sriyani of Small Creek Village, here for the competition and surely glad to meet you."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Oh!" There's a small clatter as the woman unexpected stands, and with a squeak, she leans down to grab her things before trotting over. "Horiuchi-san!" She bows, laughing, before standing up straight, lunchbox and book in tow. "It's me, Doji Nadeshiko! You're here? Oh! That's wonderful! I should have guessed --" Her smile's bright even as she pulls back her enthusiasm, letting poor Sriyani get a word in edgewise.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

The surprise on her features becomes a delighted grin. "I only learned that I'd be coming last week! I did write, but not with any hope you'd be assigned nearby!" Her hands clap together, only once as she consciously twines her fingers together, containing that enthusiasm, the chime of small bells on her bracelets lingering.

"Your work must have reached the right eyes this winter. Have you been here long? Are you..." Clasped fingers touch her lips to still them a moment. "Sorry, sorry...the words are so much faster when they don't have to find their way through a brush, but there's hours and days to catch up!"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Yes! We've so much to talk about! And --" Delicately Nadeshiko reaches out a hand, fingers lightly brushing one of the bells on Sriyani's wrist. Lovely. Oh, if only she'd know, she could have brought a present -- "Your own work... to have it recognized! I'm so happy for you!" And her hand's then pulled away as she straightens up, doing her best to maintain her proper composure in light of it all. "I've only been here a day. Oh, Fortune's blessing, you're here -- come, come, sit with me, unless-? Are you busy? Ah -- have you eaten, Horiuchi-san?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She beams with a small laugh as the bell makes a small *tink*. "Thank you! And the same...that is, the same happiness to see your work recognized, and no and..." she pauses to sort the questions, "sort of, there was breakfast." She follows toward the shaded seat, tapping the dark purple satchel resting at her hip. "I tucked a few onigiri away, just in case."

"Did you have far to travel? Are all Crane villages so beautiful as this?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Not far at all!" Nadeshiko chirps as she follows the Unicorn back to where she'd been sitting. Carefully she pulls her writer's box up off the bench and closes it, letting it sit on her lap with everything else once they've both settled in. "I'm so happy to hear you say that -- yes, I've yet to see a Crane village without its own beauty and charm. We place great emphasis on cultivating both the natural beauty around us and the talents of our people."

She turns so she faces Sriyani as they speak. "You've enjoyed our hospitality as well, I hope?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

She nods with the expected click and clatter of beadwork. "The Jinbaori is very comfortable. And, well, the cook let me snag onigiri, so I certainly can't complain about the food." The satchel thumps gently on the bench as Sriyani sits and shifts the strap from her shoulder. "And so many tea houses! We only have the one tiny one at home, and it's nothing so fancy as these."

The writing box catches her eye and she smiles, "new work for the competition? Sticking to flower symbols to tie it all together or something new?" There's genuine curiosity in the question as she opens the satchel to fish out her rice balls to share.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Oh, yes, the teahouses here are charming, aren't they? I hope to visit all of them before the competition's over."

Now, Nadeshiko's not one to turn down food: she gladly takes one of the offered onigiri. "I am trying something new," She answers, "Though I admit it may be too avant-garde for the judges. I still want to push forward, though, if only for my own purposes. But enough of me; what of your work? How do you plan to present it? What materials will you use?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"Something new?" Her eyes are bright with curiosity as she lifts the onigiri to nibble before answering. "Mostly metal and stone, though I've tried for something softer to speak toward Compassion, I think I'm going to be making last minute adjustments on that right up until the moment I have to let it go! It's been really instructive to try finding those shapes an stones that seem to reflect the tenets." She pauses to shake her head slightly. "I admit, if nothing else, this has caused me to reflect more than I ever have before on those tenets. I feel as if I've been lazy in my scholarship until now."

"Did you find yourself having particular trouble with any of them?" she asks.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Nadeshiko nods with a beaming smile at 'something new'. Though as Sriyani speaks of Compassion, she gains a greater energy -- "Oh, I -- me as well! I chose softness for my poem on Compassion, too, though I thought perhaps to end it with a call to action -- a striking verse -- but -- it felt better to choose softness. Oh, Horiuchi-san, I can't wait to see what you've created." That last sentence has a dreamy air to it: she's already imagining the shapes and forms, the beauty of the composition. After all, Sriyani's work already has her heart, and with their closeness in feeling on the subject, Nadeshiko feels a tug at the soul -- a blooming anticipation for to see what the Unicorn's made.

"I have been struggling some -- I'm still working on all of them, actually. It's much harder for me to write about concepts as opposed to feelings or memories; so I'm trying to find feelings, and thoughts, and memories, and scenes, all to tie to each tenet. It's ... well... I may need some help," The Crane admits sheepishly.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

There are many nods of agreement and a small laugh at Nadeshiko's wistfullness. "Well I hope the don't disappoint when you're looking forward to them so, but I'm still nervous they're just going to confuse everyone instead of evoking things properly. Honor's a hard one for visuals! I suppose I could try flattering the judges and just put up a mirror!"

"But now..." she says with a grin and lowered voice as she leans in. "I really need to know, now that it's not in writing anyone could intercept, which of your poems are personal experience? Who left their name behind? I know it's all supposed to be veiled, but that poem!" The hand not holding a ball of sticky rice presses to her heart.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"Isn't it most important you create something you love?" Is the response to the Unicorn's worries; and it's quite sincere, perhaps to the point of rudeness. "Doing that, I think, will make your intent clearer. Though, ah, if you would like help, I am here."

Nadeshiko giggles at something, covering her mouth with her sleeve, though it's short lived when Sriyani leans in and asks the question that cuts to the bone. There's a beat between them, and then, softly -- "Akihito." Her face remains half-covered as she tries to keep her composure. Every word struggles to get out. "We met... then. He was very kind to me, and made me feel much less alone, much more ... grounded. Do you... have someone who makes you feel like that..?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

There is a long, thoughtful pause at the first question. "You know, I hadn't considered how different my early training was to most artisans. But...I began crafting to please the spirits, not myself, and then to please us both as imagination took things into new directions. That others found them pleasing was a surprise. But I find that it's hard _not_ to try imagining how those very different from me might perceive something. Kami don't think or _see_ as we do." After a 'hmph' blown through nose, she smiles, "but I'm certainly open to help! I'm going to enjoy learning how you see them."

To the second, the silence is filled with three breathes; one small and sharp on the intake, one deeper and calming, one blown through her nose with a rueful smile. "I'd never expected to marry out, you know. Small family at the edge of the Empire and all...There's a dream world where things go as I thought, and I get to see the children Hanzou and I would have had." She looks up. "I'm sorry you've had to lose someone that way too. But I hope you get another you can keep that fills your heart differently."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

"I'm sorry you've had to lose someone that way too. But I hope you get another you can keep that fills your heart differently."

Nadeshiko's eyelashes grow wet and heavy as she nods. Her hand moves down to rest over her chest. This too will pass -- well, but for the love. "And the same for you, Sriyani-san." Oh, it seems everyone has some unspoken loss; there are aching hearts everywhere one turns. "Would it -- does it hurt you to talk about? Are you alright? I'm sorry..." She stumbles over her words in her worry.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

A heavy sigh, and eyes aimed skyward as she blinked rapidly held back her tears. "The winter saw me betrothed to an Isawa Hachi, youngest son, no prospects in court, but I'm to be grateful for the move to an important family, of course." There's a bitter ring to the word 'important.'

She blinks again, eyes swimming. "Nadeshiko-san, he looks at me as you look at a bug. One you don't want to dirty your slipper to crush." she dabs an eye with her sleeve, nose wrinkling spitefully. "At least I know he's suffering too! I've already picked my finest fur trims for the wedding apparel and packed..." she pauses in her plans to offend his fine sensibilities, realizing that her stash of dried meats would probably shock her Crane friend's as well.

"I just...if he thinks me disagreeable, I'll show him disagreeable." Looking into Nadeshiko's eyes with a fierce set to her chin she implores. "You're much cleverer than I and closer to all those bits and customs I've only sort of learned...what sand can I poor in his sandals while being proper?"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

A heavy sigh, and eyes aimed skyward as she blinked rapidly held back her tears.

The woman just listens to her friend at first, letting Sriyani get it out, her expression first one of pain then morphing into anger. Her? HER?! Treated like THAT?!? Nadeshiko's eyes open, glistening in the light as she tries her best not to have some sort of outburst -- "Oh, Sriyani-chan --" She sets her things aside to scoot closer than any propriety would, voice hushed and very, very pointed as she does her best to Word in a way that isn't going to make her sound uncouth. She's quite failing. "What an ignoble little -- agh! What a -- what a --" Fool! Snob! Ingrate!

"A man who does not appreciate his wife-to-be is a man who deserves no wife at all," She finally hisses out. "I would suggest learning the art of Sadane. Were I any good at it, I'd teach you myself. Oh, Sriyani-chan, you deserve to be as treasured as your creations." With that last sentence she deflates.

"I would -- I would also suggest the art of Letters. And pointedly ignoring him when he behaves improperly, as we do when anyone acts uncouth. And -- and -- perhaps... investing in your own happiness, as much as you can. Make him as little of your life as possible once there's enough heirs. You can still find your own happiness, so long as you're not found out and there's little gossip about it." By the Fortunes if there was a way to do more. Perhaps strike the man down with lightning -- Nadeshiko shudders at the thought.

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

A grateful smile grows amid her gloom as she reaches to give the young Doji's hand a squeeze. "Thank you! It's been so hard being proper and all...'honored to do my duty' about it." Her hand only remains long enough for the surreptitious squeeze. "I know his family will value my work enough to use it. It's what brought me to their attention," she says a bit ruefully.

"But I hadn't thought of Sadane to cut him where he can't much strike back. He's apparently very beloved of the fire kami, but they haven't gifted him a clever tongue." She takes a short, bracing breath. "And of course I'll keep writing, and maybe I can visit some time. You're right I can carve out something for myself, but..." she blushes. "I always thought I could never be so bold as those lovers in pillow books stealing away in the morning. How do you tame the gossips? ..." Her voice trails off as her eyes widen with some realization shading toward mischief.

"Oh! Can we imagine a salve for both our hearts? Maybe see the way to bold by imagining it? Start sketching the plot here? Pick someone for our imaginary fancy and start telling the tale? It's not the same, but..."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Good; they should value you. She squeezes back and nods.

"A man with an unearned attitude may find himself cut down to size," Nadeshiko says coyly, her lips upturned as she giggles. "I'd love for you to visit."

"Hm?" It takes a moment for the Doji to catch on, but then she laughs, nodding. "Yes! Oh! But who? We could always make someone. Nobody can gossip about a man who doesn't exist, can they? Unless..." There's a little shyness to her voice, "Is there someone here who's caught your attention?"