(D5, EE) Chatting about Chugo (Discussion)

[Kakita Akuba]

He merely nodded in acknowledgement of the Scorpion's flute playing before moving on.

"Hm, the artist seems to have been inspired beyond their already inspired creations." he noticed.

Proceeding to another painting, Akuba comments "How apropos of the artist."

Her tone is flat.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Indeed? Presumably after the competition, I expect Shosuro-san is most busy..."

And watching the Crane try to figure out WHERE I cooked that ox meat has made the entire trip worthwhile. Idiots. I cooked it in proper Unicorn fashion. Over a fire outside. No way was I getting that shit in MY kitchen.

But try getting them to believe that.

"... but I could perhaps help find a tutor later?"

His mind was racing. There were so many recipes from Obachan's cookbooks for expecting mothers, new mothers, dealing with postpartum depression... in a perfect world, he would be making them for her himself, but things weren't perfect, and never had been.

She didn't bother acknowledging the critics. If there was one thing she'd learned, it was to not take them seriously. The worst of the sort of Crane who had nothing to offer the world but looks and barbs.

"Well, I suppose we'll find out, ne? We'll either be headed back to our original duties or not. I'm sure those at the theater will appreciate a well-cooked meal as much as anyone, and it's hard to say what will happen if we meet with success. I wouldappreciateyour help regardless."

Perhaps we'll have a lot of time for you to teach me.

[Bayushi Choudai]

She didn't bother acknowledging the critics. If there was one thing she'd learned, it was to not take them seriously. The worst of the sort of Crane who had nothing to offer the world but looks and barbs.

"Well, I suppose we'll find out, ne? We'll either be headed back to our original duties or not. I'm sure those at the theater will appreciate a well-cooked meal as much as anyone, and it's hard to say what will happen if we meet with success. I would appreciate your help regardless."

Perhaps we'll have a lot of time for you to teach me.

"I'll admit, I'm curious to know just what being a 'Sapphire Ambassador' would entail in terms of Duty... assuming it ends up being relevant to my life, anyway."

He knew for a fact that the Crane would sooner be collectively boiled alive in yak urine than name him Sapphire Champion, so he didn't even mention it.

"Needless to say, you have my help in any way I can provide it, Shosuro-san."

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"I'll admit, I'm curious to know just what being a 'Sapphire Ambassador' would entail in terms of Duty... assuming it ends up being relevant to my life, anyway."

He knew for a fact that the Crane would sooner be collectively boiled alive in yak urine than name him Sapphire Champion, so he didn't even mention it.

"Needless to say, you have my help in any way I can provide it, Shosuro-san."

"I have no doubt about that, Bayushi-san," she said with a chuckle. "I appreciate it."

She paused to listen to Nadeshiko's poem. As it went on, it seemed like her entire face was more of a plaster mask than human skin with how little it moved. She didn't trust herself to so much as blink without some sort of emotional expression. She couldn't bring up her fan, it would look like she was trying to hide something.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"I have no doubt about that, Bayushi-san," she said with a chuckle. "I appreciate it."

She paused to listen to Nadeshiko's poem. As it went on, it seemed like her entire face was more of a plaster mask than human skin with how little it moved. She didn't trust herself to so much as blink without some sort of emotional expression. She couldn't bring up her fan, it would look like she was trying to hide something.

Likewise, Choudai felt his polite reply strangled in his throat as Nadeshiko performed her poem.

He couldn't trust his voice.

Does she know?! No, no, she wouldn't do this to us if she did... or would she?

He kept perfectly still, trying to think of something safe to say or do.

It was a damned good poem, that was the worst part. Turning away would do his friend a disservice.

He found himself wishing Hatsuki had designed a full-face mask for him, because the strain of maintaining his On was appreciable.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

Likewise, Choudai felt his polite reply strangled in his throat as Nadeshiko performed her poem.

He couldn't trust his voice.

Does she know?! No, no, she wouldn't do this to us if she did... or would she?

He kept perfectly still, trying to think of something safe to say or do.

It was a damned good poem, that was the worst part. Turning away would do his friend a disservice.

He found himself wishing Hatsuki had designed a full-face mask for him, because the strain of maintaining his On was appreciable.

Hatsuki swallowed, and when that didn't make her mask break, she risked blinking. So far, so good. Another moment of deep breaths before she finally said, "... Nadeshiko-san is certainly talented with her art," she noted. The unsteadiness in her voice was minimal, but she cursed that it was there at all. Should have taken a little longer, but any longer would have looked even stranger than their silence already.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Hatsuki swallowed, and when that didn't make her mask break, she risked blinking. So far, so good. Another moment of deep breaths before she finally said, "... Nadeshiko-san is certainly talented with her art," she noted. The unsteadiness in her voice was minimal, but she cursed that it was there at all. Should have taken a little longer, but any longer would have looked even stranger than their silence already.

"That she is."

He kept his tone level, but those who knew him well would catch the, well, catch in the three words.

Another breath. He wanted to leave. Just turn and go.

But if he was going to be that blatant, he might as well grab Hatsuki's hand and take her with him.

Ridiculous. Impossible.

Speaking was torture, staying was torture.

But he had to protect Hatsuki.

"I wonder how she arrived at that particular subject."

[Doji Nadeshiko]

Nadeshiko sways a little where she stands, awaiting the judges' verdict before joining the crowd. Never ever ever again is she sharing a long poem from memory.

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"That she is."

He kept his tone level, but those who knew him well would catch the, well, catch in the three words.

Another breath. He wanted to leave. Just turn and go.

But if he was going to be that blatant, he might as well grab Hatsuki's hand and take her with him.

Ridiculous. Impossible.

Speaking was torture, staying was torture.

But he had to protect Hatsuki.

"I wonder how she arrived at that particular subject."

"... I may have to ask her about her inspiration later."

She could feel the tremble in her legs that just wanted to take her far away from her. Nadeshiko... she couldn't possibly know, when she thought about it. She wouldn't just call them out like that, if that was the case. Her cousin was many things, but malicious wasn't one.

All she could do was ask later. Maybe breakfast in her room tomorrow morning?

"Marriage is interesting as a subject of the virtue of Duty. I almost ran with a similar idea. I'm glad I didn't step on her toes, now."

Because the combination of those two pieces would have made for a complete scandal. People definitely would have made that connection.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"... I may have to ask her about her inspiration later."

She could feel the tremble in her legs that just wanted to take her far away from her. Nadeshiko... she couldn't possibly know, when she thought about it. She wouldn't just call them out like that, if that was the case. Her cousin was many things, but malicious wasn't one.

All she could do was ask later. Maybe breakfast in her room tomorrow morning?

"Marriage is interesting as a subject of the virtue of Duty. I almost ran with a similar idea. I'm glad I didn't step on her toes, now."

Because the combination of those two pieces would have made for a complete scandal. People definitely would have made that connection.

"Certainly, there is variety on offer."

Thank the Fortunes for all of that spy training.

"And that's always to the good. Whatever else happens here, this competition has been anything but dull."

I need a drink. Or a cry. Or to kill someone.

[Doji Nadeshiko]

When the day's results are first announced, Nadeshiko smiles proudly when her name is called, then almost screams when she hears Hatsuki's. Despite her own exhaustion she suddenly feels a burst of energy -- a need to jump and shout and hug and all other sorts of very inappropriate things a better Crane would stick their nose up at. Oh, oh, please, Ebisu, let them all continue to be acknowledged!

[Shosuro Hatsuki]

"Certainly, there is variety on offer."

Thank the Fortunes for all of that spy training.

"And that's always to the good. Whatever else happens here, this competition has been anything but dull."

I need a drink. Or a cry. Or to kill someone.

"That's a fact," she agreed... then paused as she heard her own name. She almost thought she'd heard wrong at first, but it wasn't like there were any other Shosuro in the competition. She raised her fan and smiled a little, the shock of the poem abating a little.

When the day's results are first announced, Nadeshiko smiles proudly when her name is called, then almost screams when she hears Hatsuki's. Despite her own exhaustion she suddenly feels a burst of energy -- a need to jump and shout and hug and all other sorts of very inappropriate things a better Crane would stick their nose up at. Oh, oh, please, Ebisu, let them all continue to be acknowledged!

She looked toward Nadeshiko through the crowd, nodding to her in congratulations. It was a good poem, even if it had been a little uncomfortably close.

[Bayushi Choudai]

Well look at that, they can get it right sometimes.

[Akodo Yaukwari]

The chronicle of the event proceeds.

Doji Yoshino placed an ikebana display in a kintsugi vessel, the Alstroemeria connoting enduring connection and the pot itself the reward for service undertaken at cost to the self. Her work was followed by a brief poetic cycle from Doji Nadeshiko that seemed to strike some of the other contestants powerfully, the Scorpion in particular. And Moshi Tatsuya also contributed to the event.

In the end, the judges selected the works of Doji Nadeshiko and Shosuro Hatsuki as best embodying Chugo. Who will prevail in future events will be well worth seeing.