Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Yuma had arrived at the inn at the beginning of the evening. He had begun his short stay here by thoroughly washing himself from head to toes with hard soap and cold water. His absurdly long hair however required a more gentle and skillful treatment so he had put himself into the care of the inn's hairdresser who had patiently combed them out, cleaned them and applied a new coat of white dye.

So now he was waiting for the mixture to permeate his hair, his untamed mane flowing behind him, delicately lying on a towel while he himself sat directly on the floor, reading a book on Crab lands borrowed from the inn's small library.

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 17, 2020 4:19 pm

So now he was waiting for the mixture to permeate his hair, his untamed mane flowing behind him, delicately lying on a towel while he himself sat directly on the floor, reading a book on Crab lands borrowed from the inn's small library.

To be a proper guest, one had to learn about the host.

Of course, he was not due to this wedding to be a 'proper guest', as such - his purpose was much less benign.

Nevertheless, reading upon the crab would be a good idea.

To truly understand the Crab, he thought to see if they had any of their personal works - pillowbooks, treatsies, plays, the like.

You can learn a lot when someone is kind enough to give you a scripture from their soul, but alas, nothing caught his eye. Grabbing an outsider's perspective on the Crab from the shelf, he wandered the halls before finding a fellow Crane, also reading on the Crab.

Wise.

With a bow, Konohamaru took a seat an appreciable distance from the Crane, forgetting to begin his research.

"Good evening, Crane-san. I don't believe we've met?"

Yuma bowed only slightly in response, his movements restricted by his resting hair.

"Good evening Kakita-sama."

He looked at the newcomer attentively for a bit and finally stated:

"No I don't think we do indeed. Doji Yuma. Serving the clan as a priest and a helper for our brilliant artists."

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 17, 2020 5:41 pm

"No I don't think we do indeed. Doji Yuma. Serving the clan as a priest and a helper for our brilliant artists."

A nod.

"Kakita Konohamaru - clan magistrate. If I may ask, Doji-san, what business takes you to Crab lands?"

His eyes moved to the book Yuma was reading. He guessed that, like many others here, this priest was heading to the wedding, but in truth he had no evidence to base this on. It would be interesting to see if he was right or wrong - and perhaps more importantly, what else their interaction would reveal.

"I'm heading to the reconciliation wedding between Crab and Crab. In truth I don't know why exactly the clan needs me there but I guess they plan to throw in some kind of performance for which my talents will be useful. I'll confess I know little of the whole affair except for its premise. I was in Dragon lands until recently."

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:57 am

"I'll confess I know little of the whole affair except for its premise. I was in Dragon lands until recently."

Interesting - that confirms he'd be part of the wedding, but perhaps his questions on desires would have to wait. Understanding his connection to the Dragon could answer his question without him needing to ask.

"Dragon lands, you said. Did they interest you? Or rather - did you find what you were looking for there?"

"There are interesting things and people everywhere but I went to the Dragon for training with the Togashi monks actually. Perfecting my tattooing techniques with them. The mundane kind of tattooing, needles, inks, no magic. Not their trade secrets.

I learned a lot but my apprenticeship had to end up prematurely due to the growing political tensions there. From what I've grasped, Togashi Hitomi is a bit unstable at the moment."

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 18, 2020 4:35 pm

"There are interesting things and people everywhere but I went to the Dragon for training with the Togashi monks actually. Perfecting my tattooing techniques with them. The mundane kind of tattooing, needles, inks, no magic. Not their trade secrets.

I learned a lot but my apprenticeship had to end up prematurely due to the growing political tensions there. From what I've grasped, Togashi Hitomi is a bit unstable at the moment."

A nod - his work had kept him mostly out of the political loop, but it was good to know the rumours he heard were a factual event rather than insane localised hearsay.

"Hmm - that would explain why they will be present at the wedding. I met one of the Dragon guests earlier today - Togashi Keigo-san, although I did not learn where he stood. Is the name familiar to you, Yuma-san?"

"Not at all. But that's not surprising, the Togashi are a big and diversified order. Was he a warrior? A courtier? An artist? A philosopher? The Togashi can be any of that and much more.

And he probably didn't travel that far from home just to escape Hitomi's mood swings. Does the Dragon have a political stake in this marriage too?"

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 19, 2020 11:46 am

"Not at all. But that's not surprising, the Togashi are a big and diversified order. Was he a warrior? A courtier? An artist? A philosopher? The Togashi can be any of that and much more.

And he probably didn't travel that far from home just to escape Hitomi's mood swings. Does the Dragon have a political stake in this marriage too?"

"My impression was that Keigo was a capable warrior and philosopher, as well as a monk of the tattooed order. As for the Dragon's stake - perhaps, perhaps not. But if the rumours of every clan being present are true, it would be an ideal avenue for one side to seek alliance outside of the other's eyes. Then again, that depends on the allegiance of our dragon."

"Maybe. I am bit out of the loop on who is allied with whom at the moment as well as who is trying to get allied with whom.

I guess you're going to the wedding yourself? That's quite out of your jurisdiction however. Could it be that you're related to the bride?"

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:52 pm

"Maybe. I am bit out of the loop on who is allied with whom at the moment as well as who is trying to get allied with whom.

I guess you're going to the wedding yourself? That's quite out of your jurisdiction however. Could it be that you're related to the bride?"

"In truth, I have no fixed jurisdiction anymore - where I'm assigned is dependant on local crime rates. I'm here because I'm the closest qualified Mizu-do participator, and no one wants to find out what happens when the drunk groom tries to punch someone. Should it come to that, it'll be my responsibility to restrain him until he can be calmed."

Yuma knew nothing of the magistrate's reputation but not having a fixed jurisdiction was either a sign of tremendous greatness... or of terrible shame.

"As long as he only punches other Crab shouldn't be too much of an issue no? Or are you afraid he might punch a Crane? His own wife-to-be? Does he have a reputation for violence or something? I can't picture Doji Bujeihime-sama marrying her offspring to a brute.

But better be safe than sorry in all cases I guess. Wonder if the Crab will take offense or actually be impressed if you were to have to wrestle to the ground one of them."

Doji Yuma wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 20, 2020 4:18 am

"As long as he only punches other Crab shouldn't be too much of an issue no? Or are you afraid he might punch a Crane? His own wife-to-be? Does he have a reputation for violence or something? I can't picture Doji Bujeihime-sama marrying her offspring to a brute.

But better be safe than sorry in all cases I guess. Wonder if the Crab will take offense or actually be impressed if you were to have to wrestle to the ground one of them."

"He has a reputation for being stupidly strong and looks more powerful than any Crane could imagine being, besides maybe O-Kakita or O-Daidoji sama themselves. Our clans have a rough history and very different cultures, so misfortunes could definitely happen."

"Hmm. Being strong and misusing that strength are two different things but I get your – the clan – worry. Do you have personal experience with the Crab? They are not a clan I know much about apart the usual clichés."