[RP] Tenjikubotan House (House of the Dahlia)

[Hiruma Koji]

OOC: RP Proposal: A location in Toshi Ranbo called Tenjikubotan House (the Dahlia flower which represents Good Taste) meant to provide an avenue for roleplaying at a noodle house. The noodle house is a busy location and only seats a few people at a time at its counter, the seats traditionally used in this peculiar house by samurai, so that any of those present of the lower classes are known to need to wait longer for their meal. This means that only 5 people may be rping at the house at one time. Once someone leaves, a new person may enter to take their place.

Suggested Rules for Tenjikubotan House:
1) The noodles are good! This is meant to be one of the places it is good to be seen eating at, as it shows you are "in the know" within the Imperial City. It did not get its reputation by serving bad meals.
2) The noodles are not poisoned. The cook(s) have no desire to kill samurai, and the noodles come from the cook right to the samurai who ordered them.
3) Have fun, and try not to keep others from having fun as well. (ie. Use the location to enjoy yourselves, but don't forget to move on and give someone else your seat!)
4) The noodles are why you come, but its not why you play! (ie. use location to play with others!)
5) Don't destroy Tenjikubotan House! (Duels can have their origin here, but take the fighting elsewhere! ie another thread)

Description of Tenjikubotan House
On a relatively secluded block of Toshi Ranbo, beneath the shadows cast by one of the numerous city gardens stands a humble noodle house which has recently been blessed by Inari and Daikoku both. Both samurai and peasant alike enjoy an afternoon's quick meal before moving on to other duties, graced by the exquisite cooking of the House's chefs. The wafting scent of the variously spiced meals linger upon the silks of the houses many patrons...testament enough to warrant attention from many a guest.

[Hiruma Koji]

Koji paused a moment to knock the imagined dust from his feet, before depositing sandals at the door and ducking head as he entered the noodle house. The smell he'd been tracking for awhile had finally brought him here...and he would be happy when his stomach would stop threatening to rumble embarrassingly.

He had more important things to do, and places to go...but even a Hiruma needs food from time to time.

Sitting down near the counter in the spot furthest from the door, he took a moment to adjust his kimono and sword, before looking up order his meal. Shortly there after he smiled at the scent of the food being made, and let himself be distracted by the chef's skill in making the dish.

[Kakita Hitoshi]

Daidoji Kousei walked through the door of the noodle house, brushing himself down as he did so. He was tired and somewhat travel-stained, having ridden hard from Kyuden Doji, but most of all he was hungry.

Out of habit he looked around the room as he took off his sandals, noting that the only other samurai present at the moment was a Crab. He sat a couple of seats away from him and nodded in his direction before placing his order.

[Hiruma Koji]

Koji nods to the man. "How was the road, Daidoji-san?" he asks, looking back to the cook's preparation of his meal.

[Kakita Hitoshi]

Kousei looked up and studied the man in more detail, then smiled. "It was long and dusty Hiruma-san."

He looked around at the other patrons of the noodle house. "It seems quiet here tonight. Are you resident in the Imperial City?"

[Hiruma Koji]

Koji shakes his head, his hair held back by a red cloth tied about his head, "No, only a guest."

One scarred and callused hand gestures to the ceiling, so as not to rudely point at anyone. "You have been here before?" His voice is rough, more like one making an effort to be polite and one quite likely to be well suited to a battlefield.

He is dressed as a warrior, and seems to sit almost on edge despite the comfort of the teahouse. A coiled spring might be an apt metaphor for his posture, currently pressed downwards by the man's will and training.

[Kakita Hitoshi]

Kousei nodded. "Indeed, Hiruma-san. I spent a couple of years here in Toshi Ranbo a while back, when the courtier I was yojimbo to was assigned here." He took a deep breath in through his nose, appreciating the aromas coming from the kitchen. "It is good to be back, even for just a short while. Some things are worth waiting for, and whilst the food at our Embassy is exquisite, this brings back fond memories."

The Daidoji smiled, and his eyes twinkled for a second before his reserve returned. "So what brings you to the Imperial City then, Hiruma-san?"

[Hiruma Koji]

"Passing through." He snorts. "On may way towards the front against the yobanjin, thought I should see if there was any news to pick up and deliver to Hida Setsuro-dono."

"Been a few years since I was a messenger along the road, but old habits and all that." His eyes alight on what he thinks is going to be his meal, and then he frowns slightly as it ends up being for a courier bent on delivering the meal to some noble near by who could demand it.

An idle hand scratches the stubble below one ear and along his neck. "Luckily we seem to have avoided one of the larger festivals. Always easier to move about when the streets aren't jammed pack with people hoping for the Heavens to shine down on them."

[Kakita Hitoshi]

"I don't know about you Hiruma-san, but I often find that the heavens shine down on those who make the best opportunities for themselves" Kousei smiled. "I am also heading to the front and I intend to put my faith in my ono and heavy armour."

A young woman appeared carrying two bowls of steaming noodles and set them down in front of the two samurai to a nod of thanks from the Crane, who picked up his chopsticks and tucked in rapidly. Pausing after a couple of mouthfuls he asked "So are you travelling by foot or by horse? I never say no to company on the road..."

[Hiruma Koji]

"By foot. It will depend on the level of news for my Champion if I can share the road..." He pulls out a pair of chopsticks from his sleeve, sliding them along the same sleeve momentarily. "Your training is likely great, but in running I have not heard of many who match the Hiruma Messengers."

[Kakita Hitoshi]

"I am travelling by horse my friend, and indeed the Hiruma Messangers are unsurpassed on foot. Although it was not so long ago that I stood with your clan on the Wall, and accompanied some of your brothers on excursions into places better left unnamed in our present surroundings. Even now I sometimes still have dreams of sights I would rather forget."

For a moment the Daidoji's eyes looked far into the distance, before snapping back to the present moment. He smiled. "But let us talk of more pleasant things Hiruma-san. Did you compete in the recent races at Winter Court?"

[Hiruma Koji]

He nods, and then gestures for one of the workers to come over. "Sake. Here is one who I will drink sake with. Something good and warmed up."

He nods again to Kousei, and then settles back. "Hai, the foot races? It was entertaining to compete and watch how the others have trained. Felt ridiculous dressed up in the fancy kimono for it though, I must admit." His tone seems to have changed, knowing now that Kousei has spent his time on the wall and beyond.