(D0, MA) Getting to Know You

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Eyes wide and cheeks aflush, Sriyani shakes her head. "oh goodness, no! I've only barely met anyone yet! And we're not foolish enough to use anyone's actual name, right?" She pauses, uncertain..."I mean, even aunties gossiping that some pillow book was _obviously_ about this cousin's scandalous winter at some big court, that's just because the description was so much them, not that anyone used their name."

"A tale of...friends? Sisters? Cousins? heartworn and finding distractions at a week long festival?" She's warming to the fiction. "Imaginary or borrowed from life, we'll need names for everyone...maybe flowers? Since I know you have a head full of them and they mean more than I've ever learned when you say them."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Eyes wide and cheeks aflush, Sriyani shakes her head. "oh goodness, no! I've only barely met anyone yet! And we're not foolish enough to use anyone's actual name, right?" She pauses, uncertain..."I mean, even aunties gossiping that some pillow book was _obviously_ about this cousin's scandalous winter at some big court, that's just because the description was so much them, not that anyone used their name."

"A tale of...friends? Sisters? Cousins? heartworn and finding distractions at a week long festival?" She's warming to the fiction. "Imaginary or borrowed from life, we'll need names for everyone...maybe flowers? Since I know you have a head full of them and they mean more than I've ever learned when you say them."

"Of course, of course," She says with a nod before listening to Sriyani spitball her ideas. "Flower names would be good! Perhaps they attend a grandiose hanami festival, one with a poetry contest to honor the Fortunes of the event? But not everyone writes poetry the same as others..." There's a little mischievous smile as she adds that. "Two sisters would mirror two Fortunes, too, and we could perhaps continue that motif of pairs with... romantic subplots..." Her sleeve covers her mouth as she begins to blush at the thought. Oh, to have a romance... "What say you, Sriyani-chan?"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

Vicarious romance to replace vanished ones? "Sounds like exactly the kind of distraction to keep from obsessing over presentations for all the hours we have free. Sisters blessed by different Fortunes at their birth? One is obviously much better at poetry." Sriyani lifts a hand to cover her own giggle. "Maybe we'll even have a few candidates to add personality to our stories' characters if we meet back here in a few days to share notes?"

She glances to the short shadows beginning to stretch out once more. "But for now, I shouldn't keep you much longer. Though It's such amazing fortune to find you here!"

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Vicarious romance to replace vanished ones? "Sounds like exactly the kind of distraction to keep from obsessing over presentations for all the hours we have free. Sisters blessed by different Fortunes at their birth? One is obviously much better at poetry." Sriyani lifts a hand to cover her own giggle. "Maybe we'll even have a few candidates to add personality to our stories' characters if we meet back here in a few days to share notes?"

She glances to the short shadows beginning to stretch out once more. "But for now, I shouldn't keep you much longer. Though It's such amazing fortune to find you here!"

"And the other, kind and talented with her hands," Nadeshiko returns. "Hopefully our story will be filled with many interesting characters and exciting twists and turns. Until we've time to write it all down -- I'll see you again, Sriyani-san, and I await our next meeting."

With that she grins wide. "We truly are blessed! Write me if you have any need, promise? And know I'm cheering for you!"

[Horiuchi Sriyani]

"And I for you. Only the completely dense wouldn't be moved by your poems," she says as she rises. "I'm sure we'll have much to share when we meet again!"

She finds her heart lighter as she leaves the garden, looking forward to the next day with more excitement and fewer reservations. The unexpected meeting seemed like a portent of god things to come.

/exit and thank you for the scene!