Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Yuuwaku makes a purchase from a vendor selling exotic liquors and puts it in a thoughtully provided bag before looking about and seeing what all can be done in the time before her next appointment.

It seems she is hoping to see someone.

He still had not discovered why the waters were colored so, and now the sun had settled and the dinner ended, he went back to the beach. Someone he did not expect to meet there was Yuuwaku. He approached her with a deep bow.

"Asahina-kohai!" Yuuwaku exclaims as she returns the bow. "What has you out and about at this hour?"

"Yuuwaku-senpai!" He replies with a slight smile. "Oh, I wanted to see if someone here knew why the waters are tinted red."

"Well," she says as she falls in beside her old classmate, "the one story is that the sacrifices of so many valiants have done it. Another I've heard is that it is the rust from armor that nobody now wears." Okay, maybe that one's a stretch. "But we might be able to ask around a bit; I'm sure one of the locals would know!"

"I hope it is not a history accursed. In just the right side of this bay is the Sacred Plains of Amaterasu, and those should touch no filth. I do hope it is an armor's rust... The Crab do seem to be overreliant on steel." He nods slightly. "I believe this history is already enough, Yuuwaku-senpai. There is no need to ask further."

"Oh, I didn't mean to sour the mood, Sana-kohai," she says, going back to a nickname with her friend. "You're not usually so down; what's wrong?"

"Everything on this land seems to be set up to offend us. I would never say it is too much to put up with, but it is certainly a lot."

"I don't know that it's aimed at us, really. It's not like they're serving us crane for dinner or anything," Yuuwaku replies. "I mean, yes, it's what we would call coarse, but they seem to go in for it. Even the lady of the castle took part in it, and I can't think she'd do so if it was just to dig at us.

"And," and Yuuwaku leans in, lowering her voice, "given how her mother was acting...well, if it's a ruse, it's a thoroughgoing one, and doesn't seem to do any real harm.

"Besides," and she leans back out, "there was such good scenery today."

"Maybe they are really, like spoken last reunion, trying to test our patience with how much of our culture we will take. They do have this kinship culture; at the party, I sat with the friends of the groom, and ronin treated me and eachother with more respect." He lowered his head and slowly moved it from side to side.

"Well, maybe the ronin are afraid," Yuuwaku replies. "And maybe it's good that they're treating us like kin. Which, I suppose, we are, if long back. I mean, Hida-no-kami and Doji-no-kami were siblings, after all.

"But they have as much to lose from this failing as we do, maybe more. And as much to gain. So I'd be patient. If nothing else, it'll be done soon, and somebody can write a great play or a series of novels about it."

Her face brightens. "Maybe that's how to look at it: inspiration for your art!"

"I suppose you are right. It is hard to befriend them, though, when only one of them I have met until now even behaved like a rokugani." He held his head low still, when he shook it to look at Yuuwaku. "Well, if we knew not to be polite, we would not be children of Doji. Anyway, what were you saying about her mother?"

"That's just it; we can be the standard, almost have to be.

"But the Lady Fuboshi was, among others, eating a rather...suggestive snack while she watched the procession. And I can't think she didn't appreciate the view, either."

Yuuwaku pauses for a moment. "I really do think she wants her children to be happy. Of course, good of the Family and Clan and all, but some parents aren't concerned with their children's happiness, and I think she is."

He made a surprised expression, taking his fan, in the act of someone receiving scandalous news, eyes going wide. "Oh, I had not interacted with her once. This I can't say. I did with the groom, though. He is the shy type. When I went to his table, his friend led the entire conversation, much for my dismay."

Yuuwaku purses her lips. "Oh? He's the middle child, isn't he? The intended groom, I mean. Because his brother, the big one with the eye, he's hardly retiring. Swings a mean tetsubo, too.

"But who was his friend?"

"Low Crab. I know few of military stamps, but shouldn't be more than nikutai. Very... rude, although clearly was friendly to me, but could not pick words if her life depended on it."

"Remember your lessons, my friend," Yuuwaku urges. "There is beauty in all of Rokugan, and art in all beauty. And if she likes you, it should be all the easier to find it."

He bows. "Yes, senpai. This I should remember, and you were humble and wise to point it out."
He gets up somewhat more confident-looking, probably as an on, using the fan to fan himself.
"Do you think I fit for a jester?"

That question stops Yuuwaku short.

"Now, that is a good question. And I think you might have a knack for it; you always did have the pithiest critiques of our classmates."

She idly taps her fan where it rests in her obi. "I'm not a sensei, of course, but that might be an area of focus for you, yes. And good thinking for how to find your art here!"

The smile is almost radiant in the evening light.

He laughs. This was genuine, and he cared not to hide. "I'm jolly to say you were not wrong, but at least this thought was not because of our Crab friends. It was because of a Scorpion who tried her very best to make me call a duel, or admit to have commited infamy. Or perhaps this was only after I called her out when she lied, and she was only trying to discredit my skills then."

"Oh?"

Yuuwaku's eyes narrow. "Who is she?"

"Bayushi Ijihime. So much after our clan have given her hospitality, she did not even wear a mask, and this is how the Scorpions retribute us."

"I shall have to watch for her, then, and see if she cannot be...interdicted."

The bitch.

"But since she's not walking around cut, I gather she wasn't successful."

He breaks not his on, though an evil kind of joy filled him. "The Asahina advocate for peace. Just let the fools be ashamed in their own."

"Were they capable of appropriate shame, they'd not be such fools," Yuuwaku replies.

Her smile suddenly returns. "So, one Crab likes you a lot, one Scorpion likes you a lot less. Who else did you get to meet? Tell me everything!"