(D3 LA) Dreams on Ink - [Closed]

[Dapper Dog]

Elsewhere in the building the servants make their way out the back before people think them traitors!

[Amika]

Amika noded to the Asahina, and waits for some servants to take her katana. She was not so sure about if it was proper to give up her weapons on an embassy-style building. Her wakizashi though was not given up, that one was acceptable to carrying around. Nonetheless she takes it out of her obi and put it on the floor on her right with the hilt not pointing towards her hosts, as proper sword etiquette allows.

'' This one has indeed had a porcion of rice today, Asahina Sanaharu-sama. Thanks for asking.'' She said bowing towards the priest. Then the host presented the other guest and Amika, once again, bows to the Crane. '' It is an honor Kakita Yuuwaku-sama. '' She said to her as well.

'' This one is honored to have a conversation with you minna-sama. How can this one help you?'' She asked, politely.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He had some theories on her origins before, but one suddenly striked on his mind. She could be a geisha that got her weapons from a patron? After all, if she was an outcast samurai, why would an artist have a katana? That would make a lot of sense indeed. He could ask her to play the biwa, dance or sing to confirm this. Yes, Sanaharu had low expectatives of ronin.

Sanaharu looked at the tea, and then at the peasants that were supposed to do that, but there was none in the room. Huh. He would have to scold them later. Regardless, as courtesy said it, the host was supposed to do this. Since Yuuwaku called herself a visitor, he took the jar on his hand to serve everyone a new round of tea.

"You were called as a guest, not as a worker. Just sit, relax, drink the tea and talk."

[Amika]

'' Ah, yes. Uh. My apologizes Asahina Sanaharu-sama...'' She said as she slightly changed her pose from a rigid formal seiza, to a more relaxed one, but still she kept her formality around here, even if she was a guest, she still was a ronin around higher status people. She accepted the tea with utmost formality though, extending both arms and lowering her head as the higher status samurai poured some tea.

'' Arigatou, Asahina Sanaharu-sama.'' She said and lowered her head again as she received the tea.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He did everything on the right steps at the cerimony; yet, for some reason, maybe uncomfort or anxiety, it did not feel as revigorating. It came across as too robotical.

"On the previous subject on how our previous conversation was cut short even before we could even properly met... You knew Bayushi-san from before, didn't you, Amika?"

His time in courts let him learn some tricks. He thought that the opposite would be more likely, but, the question being phrased this way, incentived people to say yes much more than a yes or no question.

D3 LA: Tea Ceremony/Void TN 20: 5d10o10k3 15

(OOC: 7% chance to fail... Orokos is a meanie today)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku accepts the tea, noting that it is, indeed, somewhat flat.

Sana-kohai seems fraught, she thinks. More has happened than he has said.

But, as she's noted, it is his party, not hers.

[Amika]

He did everything on the right steps at the cerimony; yet, for some reason, maybe uncomfort or anxiety, it did not feel as revigorating. It came across as too robotical.

"On the previous subject on how our previous conversation was cut short even before we could even properly met... You knew Bayushi-san from before, didn't you, Amika?"

His time in courts let him learn some tricks. He thought that the opposite would be more likely, but, the question being phrased this way, incentived people to say yes much more than a yes or no question.

Amika didn't made a comment about Sanaharu's skills with Tea Ceremony. It was not her place to judge him, but she did indeed noticed that he was not doing it correctly. Not that she was an expert on that so. In any case she accepted the tea in silence and followed all the rules of the ceremony with courtesy.

When Sanaharu asked the question then Amika replied. '' Hmmm, this one did not knew Bayushi Ijihime-sama from before, Asahina Sanaharu-sama.'' She replied quite directly. '' But this one's home is Mura Minami Chushin, and this one has been doing art there for quite a while, which is close to the capital.'' She said to them. The fact that Ijihime approached her, was perhaps because she knew before hand about her art. Southern Hub Village was not far from the Imperial Court and it was also the site where Doji Nio influenced the development of art in that sector.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Oh, so you did not know yourselves before? Yet, how she talked about you... One could swear she knew you for a lifetime, couldn't one? She did promise to know details about yourself personally, aside from merely knowing your art?" He said, taking a sip from his tea. "I believe I have the answer on why she was so familiar with you and your history, Amika. And the answer was that she was not familiar at all."

He kept the mug on his hands, warming them.

"I believe you two were talking already before I arrived." He knew they were. He saw them before approaching. "She merely took the details she knew from you, probably the ones you gave to her on this dialogue, and... recalled from doubtful memories... anything inbetween. Just like how she dramatically misunderstood your fame on the Imperial Capital... If she truly knew you from before, she would know your name was not on the pinnacle of fame there. This is a rather odd detail for someone who knew you as an artist, not to know how famous you are, is not it?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku opens her fan, fans herself idly. That it obscures her face is only incidental, of course.

Sana-kun, please let me not have heard that right.

[Amika]

Amika also took her fan and covered her mouth and half of her face. The Asahina was doing some serious accusations there. Yet it was not her place to question them, only answer him.

'' This one would not know. If Asahina-sama thinks so that about Bayushi Ijihime-sama, then this one is nobody to question those words, Asahina-sama...'' She replied to him. '' This one is merely a painter and a ronin. If Bayushi Ijihime-sama didn't knew my art from before, as Asahina Sanaharu-sama is saying, then it is not my place to question her actions either.'' She said to him.

'' One thing that this one is know to be true though is that Bayushi Ijihime-sama was talking with me before you arrived. Other things, this one is not sure. If this one is famous or not on the Imperial Capital i have no idea if true or false. Might be true since i live quite close to the capital but due to my, station and status in the Celestial Order, i'm not allowed inside the Walls of the Divine Imperial Capital.'' She adds.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He had permission to duel already and knew she was corrupt. It was not the way of the Crane, but it was the way of an angry teenager who had been beaten without being able to answer and also had a high ego. He did notice he may have overdone it, though, when the two of them seemed shocked. Yes, you had overdone it. Stupid idiot trying to play Courtier and failing twice. You were just here to play some nice music. What even were you thinking. Were the Crabs going up his mind already? Maybe he should take distance of some of them.

At least, on the bright side, I didn't lie. Guess I still have the high moral ground.

What should he do? Should he apologize? Nah, that would not make any sense. Both already knew he hated her, anyway. Well, he was beating himself too much lately anyway. Maybe he should take a break. Or that Yushoko thing really messed him up that way.

He laughed out of nervosism. This did not help.

"I'm sorry, I derailed the subject of the meeting. It was... about art, not about this. Please accept my apologies."

Why did you apologize. You thought it was weird to do so.

[Amika]

Amika listened to the Asahina's apologize and strange behavior. From her point of view, he seems like he was stressed. Sanaharu first failed on his Tea Ceremony and now he was accusing other people with strong words and trying to gather information about Ijihime through Amika.

Amika was kind, but she was not stupid. The wolf ronin was slowly fanning herself, but suddenly she stopped. She closed the fan with a strong movement which created a somewhat loud noise. She puts her fan on the table and then lowly bows towards the Asahina, while still sitting on seiza.

'' You don't have to apologize to me, Asahina Sanaharu-sama. Clearly, this one is to blame for derailing the conversation in the first place, this one should had just replied with more precision your questions, it was i that replied with confusing words. You are not to blame of anything, i do. Please accept my apologies.''

Amika tries to take the blame so as for the Asahina to save face and not be shamed by his words. She is a ronin, she can take a hit, unlike the anxious Asahina who is certainly under a lot of stress.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Why do you apologize, Asahina-kohai? I recall nothing you have done wrongly," Yuuwaku adds. "And, yes, we were discussing art. Painting, if memory serves."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. Thankfully he had two friendly guests. Things could have gone much worst otherwise. "Oh, yes. I talked about your craftsmanship to Yuuwaku-senpai, Amika, and she showed interest on it."

[Amika]

'' Is that so? '' Amika grabs her fan again but keep it closed. '' I'm honored that you had found interest in my art, Kakita Yuuwaku-sama. To be recognized, at least a little, by someone of the most estemeed Kakita family, is an honor on itself.'' She bows to her.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku returns the bow. "Art is to be prized from any source, Amika-san," she replies, "and Asahina-kohai and I studied together. He commended your work to me; I could hardly not be intrigued."

She takes another sip of the tea.

"I have done some painting, although my focus is in other arts. Tell me, Amika-san, what style do you favor in your work?"

[Amika]

'' This one specialization is sumi-e ink painting, but currently this one is trying to expand my repertoire to include kano-ha style as well, Kakita-sama.'' Amika replies to her. '' Trying to include more vibrant colours to my painting style since, while sumi-e is beautiful in its own way, it is a bit constrictive when it comes to paint different landscapes that rely in colour in order to show their beauty.'' She adds.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods, understanding more of the discourse than her player does.

"Seasonal works, then, would seem to be where you are moving, if I hear you correctly. Any particular influences on your work, any artists whose methods seem most apt to your hand?"

[Amika]

'' Indeed, seasonal works are a way to explain it.'' She nods to the Crane.

'' There had been artists, mostly living in Southern Hub city and coming from your estemeed clan, that have influenced me, but, this one is self-taught,unfortunately i had never had a sensei, so i suppose that mostly it had been my own version of art than other people influencing me, Kakita-sama''

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods.

"I should like to see your work sometime, Amika-san, if it could be done."

[Amika]

'' Of course Kakita-sama. This one will be honored to show her works should you wish to.'' She bowed to her. '' Currently i finished a mural in the local inn, a request from the Crab clan. And this one is working in some other requests coming from various people. ''

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"That would be lovely," Yuuwaku replies and waits for Sanaharu to put in.

It is his show, after all.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He smiles softly, serving everyone more tea. Thanks, Yuuwaku. I'm in your debt yet again.
"Could you demonstrate your art?"

[Amika]

'' Of course, although this one has no paper scroll in order to do so, Asahina-sama...'' She told him. '' I always carry my set of brushes with me and a few vials of paint, i have no paper to do paint on...'' She adds.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Oh, worry not, I have paint with me as well. I believe the paper I have with me would be too small, it is for letters... Perhaps one of the wagasas might do?"