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Post by tadakasan on Mar 10, 2011 14:58:45 GMT -5
Finishing listening, Tadaka bows, "It's no trouble. There are times the mind should remain in the present and times you can let it wander. This is most certainly one of the latter." He takes another bite of the sweet crunchy morsel, stifling a yawn. He realized it was the middle of the night and he had not gotten much sleep at all. Closing his eyes, Tadaka's hands started glowing with a soft blue light, obviously channeling a spell.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 11, 2011 0:14:29 GMT -5
Keshi tunes interested eyes on Tadaka, but to her senses the spell isn't immediately threatening so she does nothing to stop him. "You seem tired Tadaka-san. Should you be casting anything?"
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 11, 2011 1:56:59 GMT -5
Tadaka smiles softly as he finishes casting, a blue glowing energy surrounding Keshi and him. Both shugenja can feel any tiredness and fatigue lifting from them, Tadaka taking a deep sigh. "I'll be fine. I usually don't use Rejuvenating Vapors to skip sleep, but since I know I won't be able to sleep on the boat, I feel justified this time."
He stretches and smiles, sighing softly as he now feels completely well rested. Finishing getting the soreness out of any joints or muscles he had, he turns to Keshi, "You'll have to pardon me for casting it on you as well. I figured if we're both going to be out, restless in the moonlight here we might as well both be awake." He chuckles lightly then continues, "So, my ship north doesn't leave until the hour of the tiger. Was there anything you might care to do until then Keshi-san; if you do not already have duties to attend to or plans of course."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 12, 2011 23:35:18 GMT -5
Keshi covers her mouth as she laughs softly, "Is perhaps the reason you wont be able to sleep the same reason you looked so ill when we first met?" Her eyes twinkle in amusement. As though she was born into the Kitsune family, as a Mantis she still had plenty of practice sailing and was no longer prone to the ship illness.
"But, no, I had no plans for the night. I was out here because I find it hard to sleep with the different sounds of this place to my home. If you don't mind spending more time in my company I will gladly accompany you."
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 13, 2011 0:25:23 GMT -5
Tadaka takes the last bite of his rice cracker and nods, "Well the answers to those are quite simple; as to the first question, you're absolutely correct and I'm not ashamed to say it Keshi-san. Sea travel makes my stomach feel upside down and my legs unsteady, and when I try to sleep all I can feel is this queasy feeling of rising and falling... So you caught me there!" He chuckles softly, truly not at all worried apparently to be the object of amusement for the Kitsune. Truth told it's not like he hadn't put up with it enough times on sea voyages anyways, and he had long since learned it just was one of his weaknesses, like it or not.
Turning, Tadaka gave a bow and motioned up to the street that lined the shore line, "As to the second question of sorts, it would be an honor to spend more time in your company Keshi-san; Walking around alone is hardly proper nor as interesting. And you would be infinitely better company than the shirtless sailors back on the boat." He stood up from the bow and gave a small bow of acknowledgement, "So lead the way, if you would. I'm still trying to get my lands legs back, if you'll forgive me."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 14, 2011 3:27:46 GMT -5
"If you ever take a significantly long journey by boat you'll find that the sea sickness fades after a time. Especially if you encounter a real squall, terror is a true cure all for sea sickness." Though Keshi's tone is light, her eyes turn flinty as soon as she mentions sea storms.
She lifts the front of her yukata just enough off the ground so she doesn't trip over it as she ascends the stairs off the dock. "I'll keep an eye on the skies so that your ship does not sail without it's esteemed passenger." She pauses halfway up the stairs. "There is a public garden near here, and it's not so early as to the fireflies have gone to sleep yet."
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 14, 2011 10:22:25 GMT -5
"I assure you Kitsune-san, the ship would hardl..." Tadaka trails of at tilts his head a little, his eyebrows raising, "Fireflies? I had nearly forgotten you could see those anywhere in Rokugan in the winter months. Even in Crane lands... but then, I suppose Mantis lands are wonderful exceptions in so many ways, from these islands to your family's own forests."
He had also almost forgotten because of the slightly cool breeze coming from the northwest off the ocean; It made him silently feel nostalgic for winter snow, but at the same time it assured him of the wonder of winter time without any. Tadaka followed Keshi up the stairs, the clouds briefly covering the moon again as their light shapes moved across the blanket of stars above. "A garden? Ah, that will be a nice. Not that the iris festival did not have its share of flowers, but certainly not the variety of a garden."
he held back saying something about the quality and beauty for now... at least until he got to see their destination.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 15, 2011 1:58:08 GMT -5
"It's warmer here, by the sea, it never changes much." Keshi informs the phoenix shugenja quietly. Her natural steps were light, making only slight noise on the path. The sound of her own steps made her think of the forest again. On forest dirt, she was silent; the ghost of a kitsune shugenja. Here near the city, near the docks, she was clumsy and loud to her own ears.
"I know where most the gardens in the city are, I was.. Unrealistically homesick the first few days. Gardens help, even if they don't heal." Keshi sighs softly, "I'm better now than I was, but the courtier my family sent with me still manages most of my... social responsibilities. He's afraid that if he lets me do it, I'll offend someone and make the mantis an enemy."
Keshi resists the urge to throw out her arms expansively as they reach the garden. Jasmine and cherry blossoms were blooming, bringing their soft scent to the night air. For the most part simple, but it had exotic flowers from beyond the sea. Some of which had no names to Keshi, but she enjoyed their beauty anyway.
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 15, 2011 3:12:30 GMT -5
Tadaka walks along back and to the side of Keshi respectfully, listening and nodding. As she talks about her home, his own thoughts drifted to his own; he had always been a wanderer, even as a child. Sure he was a Shugenja, not some sort of scout, but he still liked going into the forests and mountains; seeing the views, enjoying the solitude, learning about the plants and animals, and talking with the peasants in disguise. Really, part of him wished he could be as homesick to see Phoenix lands as Keshi was for her own, but he'd seen far too much of the world to feel almost any special connection.
As she finishes talking, he snaps out of his reverie and smiles, "Fortunately Keshi-san, he need not and you need not worry about me; I am hardly a courtier, nor very strict, particular or easily offended. Another one of those reasons I'm not sure the Clan gives me the jobs it does, though I do trust they have their reasons."
Tadaka stops talking as they reach the garden and his eyebrows arch; the full moon was clear in the sky now, and it gave the bright petals a glow of sorts that made the garden almost seem enchanted. It combined well with the breeze off the sea which, while slightly chilly, carried the mingled scents on a soft dance through the air. He put his hands behind his back and walked into the garden, marveling at the exotic flowers. "A simple garden, but very well cared for and arranged. Someone cares deeply about this place."
He took out a small diary from his bag and quietly cast a soft light spell, squatting on the balls of his feet and starting to sketch a flower he'd never seen before in it. He made short brisk strokes with his ink brush, sketching it roughly but very well as Keshi took in the little patch of nature in the otherwise crowded city.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 15, 2011 23:43:10 GMT -5
Keshi smiles as she looks up at the trees, sighing softly, "Do you have a place you call home?" Curious, as she had heard that Ishiken were wanderers.
She kept a polite distance, though she wondered what Tadaka was sketching. Looking about a bit as she tried to match his gaze to whatever he could be sketching. She turned her head and gave a small smile, the shisa of the nearby temple were shy and with two shugenja in the garden they would not come into it. But looking in their direction you could see their eyes through the darkness.
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 16, 2011 0:19:54 GMT -5
Still sketching, Tadaka nods, "Hai, I have a home. I have places I could stay as well, but everyone only really has one home as such." He pauses in his sketching to look up thoughtfully, "My home is quite lonely, but more accurately peaceful and secluded. It is on the edge of a forest near the northern mountains, and you can get up on a summer's day to see snow on the horizon and sparrows in the green trees on your other side." He takes up his brush again as he finishes the thought, "I will admit I do not go there often. It is nice to know I have a sanctuary to go to if I feel the need though."
Finishing his sketch he stands up fully, blowing on the wet ink gently to speed up its drying. Taking a breath he turned to Keshi, looking the direction she was looking. He paused a moment and looked at Keshi out of the corner of his eyes before nodding. "Mischievous and shy indeed. Though not as mischievous as some think." He looks into their eyes a bit longer before turning to Keshi, "But where are my manners; you were wondering about what I was sketching. It is not much, simply a sketch of that wide blossom over there; I believe they call it a blood lily for its redness."
Tadaka holds out his notebook, "I enjoy seeing new things, and I have only heard about those flowers in books. And there are few new things better than things of beauty; I would rather run into a beautiful flower for the first time, whether it be from the Spice Islands or the Kitsune Mori, than something like a new drinking game I have never played before such as on the ship ride." Tadaka smiles softly; if the Kitsune wanted to see the notebook it was fine by him. If not, also fine. He certainly didn't mind sharing his sketches though.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 16, 2011 2:44:00 GMT -5
"I know how to play that game though admittedly, you probably don't want to play against me." Keshi says with a slight mischievous smirk as she takes the proffered notebook, flipping carefully through the valuable pages.
"You sketch very well. It captures the beauty that's there even when lacking the color. Some of the flowers we bring here wont grow in the Rokugan like they will in their native lands, so sometimes one has to leave home to see their beauty in person." Pausing at a sketch of a flower she'd only seen in the library at home, she looks up at Tadaka, "All these sketches, you've seen all this in person?"
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 16, 2011 9:32:28 GMT -5
Tadaka nod thoughtfully, looking half way between resentment and happiness. "Yes, all of the sketches are first hand. All the way from the walking tree I saw in the shadowlands to the turtle with flippers that I encountered on the islands. Really, there is an old proverb my sensei taught me: 'People attempt to find the heart of the Void and cannot find it. Seek out all that you can find, know what Is in the world. Once you know what Is, you will know What is Not; That is the Void.'"
He shrugs a little, almost sheepishly, "I guess you could say that is almost the philosophy of my life; the more I know, the more I see, and the more I experience, the more I will know about myself and the Universe as well as all that is in the Void. Though all that 'work' as it were has also given me an appreciation for many things like simple comfort or just being able to relax someplace familiar with a friendly face and a cup of tea."
Tadaka holds out his hand to take the notebook back, "By the way, speaking of such things Kitsune-san, would it be any trouble at all if I asked to sketch you as well? You probably saw a few people as you flipped through, because I also appreciate more and more the role of people in how we experience life. So if I may, I would wish to, even if it is not the best lighting at such an hour."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 16, 2011 12:44:13 GMT -5
Keshi remains raptly attentive to Tadaka's words, noting the change in tone. To her he seemed both resentful and thankful to his abilities, something different to her who had been raised to love the powers bestowed upon her.
Keshi covers her face at the ishiken's asking to sketch her, covering the blush that she did not have the skills to hide. Handing over the notebook without fuss. "Eh, Tadaka-san. I'm not sure if I am exactly the person to sketch. I do not have the beauty otherwise shown in your sketches."
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 16, 2011 14:04:07 GMT -5
"I find people are often the worst judges of that Keshi-san, and a drawing of something is as much about the inner beauty and spirit of the subject as its form. So either way I think you may qualify more than you know." Tadaka takes the notebook and closes it softly, "It is your choice though, which is why I asked; art may live on longer, even if it as basic as mine, but memories are what guides us through life. I learn new things and keep them in my mind and the book is just there as an aide, a diary of sorts."
He looks around the garden, another small white cloud flitting in front of the moon then drifting lazily across the blanket of stars, casting dim shadows among the plants. Tadaka seems to be taking in every detail he can thoughtfully, looking up a little more to look along the city-scape as it gently rises from the shore, lantern lights dotting it like a mirror to the sky. He makes a small sound of something between interest and curiosity, looking at the particularly large temple near the sea dedicated to Suitengu, its blue colors pale in the moonlight.
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