Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 16, 2011 23:59:53 GMT -5
Keshi sighs, processing Tadaka's words, her face still a full flush. She finally chuckles softly, "It's stuff like this that is the reason why I was assigned a courtier. I...." She looks up at the sky for a moment, her hand still covering her mouth as she answers, "You have my permission to sketch me. If that's what you want to do. I still do not see what you see in me. But.. That is another matter." The words came out in a slight rush, as if she were afraid that if they weren't said fast, they would not get said at all.
She turns her attention to the the nearest exotic flower, kneeling beside it with little care to her yukata become mussed by the dirt. Keshi didn't mean to ignore Tadaka, but when confronted with something like her own attributes she always become self conscious and flustered. Her usual reaction to becoming flustered was to flee, something that the ishiken would definitely take the wrong way.
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 17, 2011 2:09:29 GMT -5
Tadaka nods and smiles, his gaze going back to Keshi from the cityscape above them. Turning, he finds a stone to sit on, crossing one of his legs and setting his notebook open. He gets out his inkpot and brush as well, "Well, I will certainly say you're not the first subject in this book to feel that way; for some reason some people just don't like being drawn. In fact..." he starts sketching with fine brush strokes, the breeze ruffling his short hair slightly, "one of the men in here is a Hida warrior who I spent some time with on the Wall. He was a big man, taller than me with my hat on easily. I saw that man pick up an Ogre once and toss him off the Wall, then wrestle it with his bare hands. And yet, when I asked my friend to sketch him, he was quite timid about it actually."
Tadaka chuckles softly, continuing his artwork, finishing a basic outline of things before moving to details. He smiles as he continues to talk, "I suppose all I'm saying Keshi-san is that even the bravest people don't always want to be drawn, nor do some of the greatest people in the Empire see what others would want to draw them for. Even my friend the Master of Fire, a very handsome married man, couldn't seem to grasp why I wanted to. Perhaps I'm just overly enthusiastic, or perhaps because I am so used to looking at things others do not see as an Ishiken, the way I look at things is so much more different than other people."
Normally he would shrug at this point but he was a little busy; he didn't want to keep the poor Kitsune kneeling there too long, especially in the late night before morning with a breeze off the ocean, fog and dew surely to appear in a few hours.
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 17, 2011 12:30:58 GMT -5
Keshi laughs softly, "I'm finding it hard to imagine someone who can toss an ogre being timid." feeling a little better about her own timidness at Tadaka's words.
"I think what it is, or at least in my case, is that I'm not used to being the one people pay attention to. I am not ambitious, so I fade into the background around my fellow shugenja at home." Closing her eyes as she searches for the words to continue, feeling the slight breeze ruffle her clothes and play with the few hairs that strayed from her harsh bun. "That kind of invisibility has it's own advantages. Advantages that I cannot take advantage of here. I can't simply fade into the background again, people have already noticed me."
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 17, 2011 13:16:43 GMT -5
Tadaka keeps sketching as Keshi talks, nodding. "You know though, I think that's what it is in general; so many people will say that they simply do their duty without ambition. From Crab on the Wall to humble priests like us, and scouts who give up glory just to help their Clan. With people just feeling that their life is one of duty like everyone else, they see no reason for anyone to pay any special attention to theirs."
He finishes up some shading, shifting his legs to keep them awake. He chuckles softly, wishing a little he had a correcting cloth, but only making a minor mistake on what he wanted to draw. Continuing anyways, "Of course, most don't try to be invisible as such; many samurai are quite happy to show their successes anyways, even without ambition. Just because of pride or culture. In a way, your family is more like my Clan than the rest of the Mantis in that regard." Tadaka blows some of the ink dry and starts up again, "Almost done by the way, so pardon if you are uncomfortable Keshi-san."
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 17, 2011 17:26:47 GMT -5
"I didn't mean to actually pose. But it's not uncomfortable, I think my courtier will threaten my life for the dirt I'm getting on my yukata. But that's nothing you need to worry about." Keshi smiles, amused at the thought of her courtier's rage.
The Mantis shugenja went quiet again as she listened, here in the peace of the garden she could feel the chikushudo touch against the mortal realm right outside the city. Even in the garden the connection wasn't there, but she could sense it nearby. "I think my courtier would have a apoplexy if she could see me with you. She is...... A Mantis above and before anything else."
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 17, 2011 19:03:52 GMT -5
"Well then, it's a good thing I'm not a Phoenix above and before anything than isn't it? Even if she did show up, I doubt she could find much of a reason to quarrel with me. As for my part... well people in the Clan have apoplexies about what I do all the time. Fortunately I usually don't announce where I'm going so they can't tag along."
Tadaka chuckles and blows on the page once more, cleaning his brush on a rag. "And with that, I think that will do it. I appreciate your compliments from earlier Keshi-san, but I still must insist you forgive me if it does not do you justice like I believe. Still, it is good enough."
He stands and picks up his bag, putting the red dyed thing back over his shoulder and adjusting it so it's comfortable. Having it secure, he reaches down and picks up the sketchbook / notebook, looking at it one more time. "Oh, and I didn't mean you were posing as such Keshi-san; it was more I knew you were being polite and not moving too much while I was drawing. Not that it would have been the first time I've sketched a moving subject, but it's much nicer to have one that stands still. Especially when it is something as complex and graceful as a Kitsune."
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 21, 2011 22:33:28 GMT -5
Keshi raises a hand to cover her blush, "I'm not used to anyone sincere being so free with compliments. Forgive me." After a moment she laughs softly, "I think if you and I were our clans before we were ourselves, neither of us would be speaking still. We would have probably taken offense to the other's presence and fought or ignored each other's existence."
The Mantis shugenja was silent for a long moment, looking up at the sky. "It would have been a great loss for both of us." She turns her gaze towards Tadaka, a slight smile on her face, "Do you not agree?" For just a moment the slight light makes it possible to tell her eyes were different colors, then shadows fall again as she turns her head towards the only slightly cloudy sky.
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 21, 2011 23:14:30 GMT -5
Tadaka nods, "Truthfully spoken Keshi-san." He strokes his beard thoughtfully, just noticing the shugenja's different colored eyes, not showing his curiosity but simply speaking on something else. "I would ask your forgiveness for being so forward with my words; It is the way I am in all things, a free spirit as it might be called. I believe if you mean to say something you should say it, and if you mean to do something you should do it; holding things as thoughts and wishes never got anything done where action would have. And besides, is not honesty a tenant of Bushido?"
Tadaka puts the rest of his stuff in his bag, securing the red sack to his back and putting his hat over it as it's looped around his neck. Rubbing his hands together and blowing on them from the chill he looks back at the city, "By the look of the moon I have 2 more hours to pass before my ship leaves the dock. Even wanting to be back early... well not too early that is... I think I still have time for something to warm me up; I was not expecting this chill sea breeze to cut into me so this far south. If you would like to accompany me, I think a small warm meal and some hot tea are in order for me."
He looked over at Keshi, a large dark cloud having covered the moon and the night dim now by the lamps and starlight, making the garden feel suddenly smaller. Despite that it felt no less lively, the wind making the plants sway back and forth with their leaves gently rustling, not to mention not being alone of course, especially since Keshi seemed in a good enough mood.
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 22, 2011 0:47:11 GMT -5
Keshi chuckles softly, "Honesty is indeed a tenant of bushido. But many of my fellow Kitsune shugenja keep the taboos of the forest people. One of which is dishonesty. I'm more used to dealing with them." She places her hands in her sleeves as she moves closer to Tadaka.
"Something warm would be nice, I find myself loath to leave your company. I feel as if you're the first real person I've met since coming here." She laughs softly, "Though at night, who's to say what's real and what is illusion?"
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 22, 2011 1:18:03 GMT -5
"I suppose I would trust a Scorpion on that one; they may be slippery with their true faces and their true meanings, but they seem to have a knack for seeing past illusions of all sorts. Though most people would say they wouldn't want to meet a Scoprion in a dark alley on a dark cloudy night."
Tadaka smirks a little, waving Kenshi after him as he heads up the street, following the slight slope to the inn he saw from the docks earlier, it's lights still on and a few sailors still visible through the distant windows. He stops himself from chuckling as he walks, enjoying the feeling of the solid earth beneath his steps, "As far as the earlier comment, I agree in a way. Not that the rest of the Mantis here do not feel real per say, they just seem to have a much narrower way of looking at life, a role they seem to have the need to fill; call it the traditions of Yoritomo or the swagger of a former Minor Clan elevated to Great Clan status for their deeds, or any other number of things. Regardless, you're the first person I've met on this trip through the islands that actually seems to ~think~ about who you are, why you're here, what others want and what they are doing here. It's a very nice change and hardly something I would intend to leave behind before joining the esteemed crew aboard their most magnificent vessel; why the very thought makes me queezy... with excitement to be sure Keshi-san."
Having come a block or two up the street, Tadaka walks over towards the door, the voices from inside subdued with it being so late, but easilly heard none-the-less as a few sailors and merchant patrons got their taste of shore leave before setting off again.
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 22, 2011 3:12:21 GMT -5
Keshi chuckles softly, "Are you sure the queeziness isn't you thinking about the sea illness already?" She teases the other shugenja. His easy going nature had made her comfortable with him. She wasn't afraid that he would take her the wrong way.
Being used to new people going in and out at all hours of the night, most the patrons didn't even look up from their own conversations or food in some cases.
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 22, 2011 18:59:19 GMT -5
Tadaka entered right after Keshi, holding open the door for her before letting it close behind him. There were probably only a half dozen people besides the staff in the room; 3 Yoritomo sailors sitting at a table nursing hot sake and looking at a map, a large Mantis in robes who was likely a courtier or shugenja of some bent, an older man in plain brown robes with no mon so most likely a ronin, and a Mantis woman with white face paint on and a flute sitting on the table next to her untouched looking plate. Taking everything in, Tadaka walked over to one of the smaller empty tables, motioning for Keshi to sit down as one of the staff walked over briskly to attend to the inn's new guests; None of the others in the room seemed to pay much attention to Kenshi and him, though the large man at the bar seemed to stare for a bit before going back to his mug.
The breeze off the ocean made the shutters flap a little, hitting noisily against the frames before dying down once more. Tadaka ordered a pot of hot tea and two bowls of rice with warm maki, relaxing as the waitress bowed and hurried off.
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 23, 2011 1:14:21 GMT -5
Keshi sits across from Tadaka with a glance about the room. One of the Mantis gives her a strange look as she sits down with the Phoenix shugenja. "Despite the fact it's so late I'm surprised the both of us don't garner more attention. She smiles, shrugging slightly. "Though I guess you being near Mantis lands garners you more than enough attention sometimes I'm sure."
|
|
|
Post by tadakasan on Mar 23, 2011 2:06:55 GMT -5
"On occasion; normally though I'm out like this in more plain clothes. Not that I dislike my Clan colors or mean any disrespect for my Clan, it's just that I've found that being more discreet tends to make travel much easier and enjoyable. Especially when you have the right papers and abilities to get you out of situations that arise from not being so up front about things." The tea arrives and Tadaka pours a cup for Keshi, then one for himself. Sipping the steaming liquid lightly, he finishes his thoughts, "As far as us garnering attention, I think us being discreet and no one wanting to cause a commotion in the middle of the night might have something to do with it."
As he sets the pot of tea on the table and takes another sip the large man sitting alone drinking hot sake, the one who had given Keshi such a long look, slides his chair back and stands up. He lumbers over to the table and Tadaka looks over his shoulder at the man; if anything the Mantis seemed even larger up close, tall and somewhat portly looking like some kind of giant. He stops and puts one of his large hands on the table, causing the cups to shake a little, "So, too good to drink with your own Clan cousins Kitsune-san? And why would a pretty little thing like you be drinking with Phoenix scum of all things, hm? Why don't you let the priest or monk or whatever he is meditate and drink his tea till he leaves and spend some time getting to appreciate being part of a Great Clan now?"
The man, who is a Moshi from the family crest tattooed on his forearm, is obviously a little inebriated and keeps looking at the Phoenix mon on Tadaka's bag. Tadaka turns fully to face the Moshi, arching and eyebrow and speaking with calm surety, "Surely you are putting things out of proportion Moshi-san; I'm sure the lovely Kitsune-san here sill have plenty of time to get to know her Clan better, and for now we can all just drink together while I pick up the bill for your drinks as well as ours? It is a cold night to be worrying about anything but a nice hot drink, no?"
The man seems a little annoyed but looks at Keshi again, as though waiting for her to be more cooperative.
|
|
Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
|
Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 23, 2011 2:29:26 GMT -5
Keshi is silent for a long moment as she stares at the fellow Mantis. For a moment fervently wishing Jinu was with her, he was wonders on those who had wits addled by drink. After a moment she decided that the Moshi clansman would probably never notice the small trick. As his senses were dulled by drink.
She sighs, almost theatrically. Air kami gathering quietly to her call, the silent spirits lending her voice a weight an persuasion it didn't otherwise possess as she addressed her fellow Mantis. "My apologies fellow clansmen. I was speaking to my good friend here before he must depart in the early hours. I am sure that I will have time to speak with you and my other clansmen at length during my stay. But it seems to me that you perhaps have not been back on land long, your footing is unsteady. Perhaps you should go rest and I will meet with you at another hour."
Keshi gazes steadily at the large man, her gaze seemingly honest and friendly. Inside she was a bundle of nerves, she wasn't used to anything but friendliness from her clansmen.
|
|