[Day 1 - EN] Hole in One [RP Thread]

[Ichiro Taiki]

"My luck is good, I have this round, you can owe me one, little brother," Yancho said warmly.

"Oh", he said to Yancho with a smile. "Dinnae worry about tha', onii-sama. Un round A'got covered, yeah?"

Hand still up, he called an attendant. "Hoo much fer ane roon?"

Then, turning to Yancho again. "A see yer luck hasnae fadet ane bit, eh, Onii-sama? A trust the same's true fer dear Juushi*-sama? A havenae bin able tae see her yet syne A came back tae the village."

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* Big cousin (female)

[Dapper Dog]

"Oh", he said to Yancho with a smile. "Dinnae worry about tha', onii-sama. Un round A'got covered, yeah?"

Hand still up, he called an attendant. "Hoo much fer ane roon?"

The attendant politely lets the samurai know it will be a bu for a round.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

He nodded as he listened. "I'd like to see those someday. A beautiful moment for every season. And yes... Those sorts of places make me want to sit and just enjoy them for a while, but there's a wonderful warmth to returning to good company and a warm mood." A ghost of a grown crossed his face, but he shook it off quickly.

Quickly as it is shaken off, it shows itself to Yuuwaku. She lightly lays a hand atop the monk's and asks "Is everything okay with you? If it pains you to have me here..."

She trails off, sounding almost dispirited.

[Doji Yuma]

Masao pauses thoughtfully. "I have some doubt about the dignity with which the task shall be accomplished, but Doji-san is quite correct. We knew the Crab would test us here. We are all making sacrifices for the sake of this marriage. But it is the duty, and even more so the right thing to do. Setting aside the sword that has seen too much battle of late, and taking up instruments of peace."

Masao takes a deep drink of the shochu, probably an unwise amount, but shows no strong reaction to it. "One discomforting spectacle is hardly enough to shake the dedication of an Iron Warrior," he says with a grin. "Or of any Crane, neh? Perseverance and perfection, in the name of Lady Doji," the bushi says, slightly raising his cup toward the other Crane.

Yuma quietly joined him for the toast.

"A few persons in their underwear, maybe soaked to the bone if they have us wade in the sea as part of the procession. There are far more terrible spectacles indeed. At worst we'll make the children laugh at us. Grueling but not dishonoring.

Hey, don't warriors show off their mastery of hand-to-hand techniques in contests where they're barely dressed too?

I'm actually more concerned about making a religious faux pas than showing some skin. But that should be preventable with some preparation."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Masao takes a deep drink of the shochu, probably an unwise amount, but shows no strong reaction to it. "One discomforting spectacle is hardly enough to shake the dedication of an Iron Warrior," he says with a grin. "Or of any Crane, neh? Perseverance and perfection, in the name of Lady Doji," the bushi says, slightly raising his cup toward the other Crane.

The night had been mostly sober for the magistrate, but he would never deny a toast to lady Doji. Slipping into the conversation with a raised cup, he drank his drink in one swift, unrelenting move.

"I'm actually more concerned about making a religious faux pas than showing some skin. But that should be preventable with some preparation."

"At the fertile mounds shrine, there are several stone phalluses, brought their until the lord finally conceived a child. Kiss them for good luck."

It sounded like a dirty joke. It felt like a dirty joke.

And yet, the magistrate relayed this information with all the dourness and seriousness of a tax collection.

[Ichiro Taiki]

The attendant politely lets the samurai know it will be a bu for a round.

The Ichiro thanks the attendant, confirms that he'll pay the round, and when the drinks arrive he raises his glass and makes another toast, with no more than a quick sideglance to Yancho.

"Fer merry unions!"

[Fuzake Hifumi]

"That's a tough one to answer." Ren muses, staring at his cup in thought. "When it comes to straight up tolerance, I think the Crab are second to none. In my experience though, people who join in contests are after something when they agree, and they usually get it: comradery with friends, the eye of a paramour, approval from one's superiors. Losing a drinking contest and then your opponent being unable to attend court because they're too hungover is a win for some"

"What do you consider to be victory?" she asked.

[Kakita Masao]

The night had been mostly sober for the magistrate, but he would never deny a toast to lady Doji. Slipping into the conversation with a raised cup, he drank his drink in one swift, unrelenting move.

"I'm actually more concerned about making a religious faux pas than showing some skin. But that should be preventable with some preparation."

"At the fertile mounds shrine, there are several stone phalluses, brought their until the lord finally conceived a child. Kiss them for good luck."

It sounded like a dirty joke. It felt like a dirty joke.

And yet, the magistrate relayed this information with all the dourness and seriousness of a tax collection.

Masao nods in welcome to the magistrate, though he blanches at the clinical delivery of this information. "Of course," he says, stretching the two words over the time it would typically take to say ten.

With a heavy sigh, Masao consoles himself: "Thankfully, Doji-san is no doubt correct. The Crab ask of us nothing they won't do themselves, so endure we shall." Another small drink of the shochu. "And Kakita-sama, how have you found our hosts so far? Diligent to the laws of the Emperor? I'm sorry, please join us if you wish."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

With a heavy sigh, Masao consoles himself: "Thankfully, Doji-san is no doubt correct. The Crab ask of us nothing they won't do themselves, so endure we shall." Another small drink of the shochu. "And Kakita-sama, how have you found our hosts so far? Diligent to the laws of the Emperor? I'm sorry, please join us if you wish."

A nod of thanks, and then an equally clinical report.

"Nothing wrong so far but more thorough investigations will begin tomorrow, Kakita-Nikutai. I will try and work with the local law enforcement here first and foremost."

Looking around, Konohamaru let himself seem more human.

"But it's... nice, here, in a way. There's a sense of rugged earnesty which is hard to find back home. How has everyone else found it?"

[Doji Yuma]

"At the fertile mounds shrine, there are several stone phalluses, brought their until the lord finally conceived a child. Kiss them for good luck."

Yuma just nodded at the description. Each shrine had its weird superstition and this one was not really worst than any other.

"Nothing wrong so far but more thorough investigations will begin tomorrow, Kakita-Nikutai. I will try and work with the local law enforcement here first and foremost."

Yuma slightly tilted his head.

"You managed to get clearance from the local lord magistrate? That's impressive. Usually clans are very jealous of their law enforcement prerogatives, only backing down grumpily when facing an emerald badge or a terrible problem."

[Ikoma Ren]

"What do you consider to be victory?" she asked.

Ren pauses for a moment, the broad smile fading a crack. "You ask very good questions Fuzake-san." He mulls, sipping his drink.

"Acceptance." He finally replies. "There are many tools and approacges to that, but in the end..."

"What about you Fuzake-san? What is your victory?"

[Togashi Keigo]

Quickly as it is shaken off, it shows itself to Yuuwaku. She lightly lays a hand atop the monk's and asks "Is everything okay with you? If it pains you to have me here..."

She trails off, sounding almost dispirited.

He shook his head. "No, not at all! I was just a little distracted. Please accept my apologies for that, Kakita-sama, and for making you believe it might be related to you."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

He shook his head. "No, not at all! I was just a little distracted. Please accept my apologies for that, Kakita-sama, and for making you believe it might be related to you."

He hasn't moved the hand. Must like it, then, Yuuwaku thinks.

"You don't need to apologize for the motions of your heart, Togashi-san," she says as she gently pats his hand. "And I would happily help you with your burden; you aren't alone."

Her eyes widen as her smile spreads, sweetening.

[Fuzake Hifumi]

Ren pauses for a moment, the broad smile fading a crack. "You ask very good questions Fuzake-san." He mulls, sipping his drink.

"Acceptance." He finally replies. "There are many tools and approacges to that, but in the end..."

"What about you Fuzake-san? What is your victory?"

"Clarity." she answered. "I like finding the truth of things. So much of what I see is uncertain."

[Dapper Dog]

The Ichiro thanks the attendant, confirms that he'll pay the round, and when the drinks arrive he raises his glass and makes another toast, with no more than a quick sideglance to Yancho.

"Fer merry unions!"

"To the bride and groom, may they have many children," he said with a nod.

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"That is an opinion for my lord and his chamberlain", Shitoru shrugged. "This one arrived to observe and deliver the well-wishings of my clan upon the bride and groom."

Hanatsuko nodded. "I see. Have you been in a wedding?" She looked at the spirit of her brother. Her expression seem like telling someone Are you pleased? then back to the Bayushi.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

Hanatsuko nodded. "I see. Have you been in a wedding?" She looked at the spirit of her brother. Her expression seem like telling someone Are you pleased? then back to the Bayushi.

"Aye, my lord was married not long after my gemppuku. A proper affair", Shitoru explained. "What of you?"

[Bayushi Ushi]

"Kuni Osuki was not a thunder, as neither was any scorpion magistrate on the extended version, as far I'm aware."

"Ah, thank you, I had not yet arrived by the telling so was unaware the story told."

[Yoko]

"Oh..." Yue murmured with a bit of disappointment in her tone, not getting the whole answer. However, how was Yoko supposed to know. She narrowed her eyes on her as she did also wonder if she was also mocking her. Then again, she was the one who brought up the disappearing idea. Ronin also appeared and often disappeared too, didn't yet?

She slouched slightly, "In that case, is that even something you hope you get the opportunity to practice or not?"

Yoko paused, watching Yue for long enough that it'd certainly have dragged her attention. "Hey-" she smiled, the smile shifting into a cocky smirk, "it's a party, eh? No slouching, good times only -mm?" she suggested, thought to nudge Yue with her elbow, but despite the drink in her system she didn't.

"But-" she looked back out toward the arranged samurai, by now she could focus on a few of the familiar faces out there in the crowd. "Do I hope to practice it? No," she shook her head, "but if I find myself with the need. I hope that I manage to make mom proud. After everything she gave up for me, all she threw away it- I hope I do her proud," she says, glancing down for a moment.

[Shosuro Himeko]

"I would only think highly of you. Yet, honor is both internal and external. To that we are our own judges, as well as the Heavens." He takes another sip, looking attentively at her eyes while the potential fight in the background soothes down.

"You look like you would explode into a rainbow of delightful sensations. A very welcoming experience, no?"

"Hmm, so I would still explode, but it would be a beautiful sight to see?" Himeko tilted her head, curious "one would hope I would instead just glow with the blessing of the heavens, but I will accept a beautiful exploding rainbow as my demise. At least it will be memorable, which many can't say of their endings, ne?"

She leaned slightly closer, taking a sip of her sake.

"I don't think Otomo-sama would explode. He strikes me as one that would receive the heavens approval, I can see it in his eyes. If they won't approve though, I will."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Hmm, so I would still explode, but it would be a beautiful sight to see?" Himeko tilted her head, curious "one would hope I would instead just glow with the blessing of the heavens, but I will accept a beautiful exploding rainbow as my demise. At least it will be memorable, which many can't say of their endings, ne?"

She leaned slightly closer, taking a sip of her sake.

"I don't think Otomo-sama would explode. He strikes me as one that would receive the heavens approval, I can see it in his eyes. If they won't approve though, I will."

He thought about describing the kind of explosion he was thinking about: that of a Phoenix in rebirth to greatness, but his bravado is cut short before it comes to his tongue as she leans it a bit further. Saisei just grins, maintaining his eyes locked with hers for a moment.

The young man manages to drive the sake up up to his mouth without moving eyes away, and sips in the same fashion. Once lips are wet –– and cheeks red –– he says, "Forgive me, but... and I understand you might have heard this so many times before... Shosuro-hime-san doesn't wear a mask because she's this incredibly beautiful and would offend Benten-kami?"

[Ichiro Taiki]

"To the bride and groom, may they have many children," he said with a nod.

The Badger nodded, looking at the Hida, then to the others around.

"Hai! And may they stand by and true to each other in all matters. Kanpai!"

[Dapper Dog]

The Badger nodded, looking at the Hida, then to the others around.

"Hai! And may they stand by and true to each other in all matters. Kanpai!"

"So have you found a spouse then? It seems time for you to begin such duties," Yancho asked.

[Ichiro Taiki]

"So have you found a spouse then? It seems time for you to begin such duties," Yancho asked.

After lowering his cup and taking a generous sip, Taiki shook his head a bit, his face a bit more serious now.

"A've not, Hida-sama. As ye may ken... A wid like tae do it when A ken A'm tough 'nuff 'n go' a steady 'nuff head on me shoulders to keep a family safe. Bu' hai... Onii-san's right that A shid start thinking o'such things."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Kuni Osuki was not a thunder, as neither was any scorpion magistrate on the extended version, as far I'm aware."

"Ah, thank you, I had not yet arrived by the telling so was unaware the story told."

He nods. "The Bayushis I knew wore ornate masks, be them even veils or mempos. Yours, though, is plain."