Winter Court, Kyuden Doji: A warm welcome. - Page 4

Squishy Cheeks · 05-08-2004, 06:15 AM

ooc: set up a scene, Jad. Give me a grand entrance, Jad. Fetchez la vache, Jad.

All the guests had arrived. The room was a rinbow of colors. Servants were scurrying about the halls making sure everything was in order. The first of the imperial enterage to arrive were the Miya heralds as usual. The Imperial dignitaries were announced as they entered. There were several members of the Seppun, and Otomo families. Last enetered Her majesty Emperess Hantei XXI she entered gracefully. The crowd of guests bowed to their sovereign. Without a word she moved to stand at the head of the table. The guests took their places at the table. The Lion Clan Daimyo, General of the imperial legions was seated at her right hand. The Crane Clan Daimyo, Emerald Champion, the head of the imperial magistrates, sat at her left hand. The clans were segregated to their own clans, and seperated by an imperial cousin or two.

.......(crane)__(crab)__(Dragon)
Hxxi |*******************|(Unicorn)
.......(Lion) (phoenix) (Scorpion)

Dante · 05-09-2004, 09:00 AM

At least she's covering the other side of the table...

Hakuyo adjusted his kimono as he carefully folded his legs below him like a nesting crane, in the graceful fashion of most of his "peers". Of course, what he showed and what he actually did were rather... different. Normally, the seiza position was quite restrictive, with the back of the feet flattened against the ground. Hardly a good position to be in if the lights suddenly went out.

Instead, with a physical agility born of years of training, he curled his toes up below him, only slightly different from the way the other cranes "sat", and hard to see through the socks they all wore, but when the time came to act, Shosuro Hakuyo would be ready and able to do his duty.

And what was his duty? Protect the Empress? Yes... and no. He understood that if the Crane Champion and the Lion Clan Daimyo were unable to defend their shared liege, there would not be much chance of a lowly Scorpion assassin being able to do what they could not. Rather, it would be his duty to cover the blind spots of his Scorpion brethren, and hopefully pre-empt any such attack. If they were only strong, the Scorpions could detect the enemy long before they could begin an attack. And if they were only clever, well, he did not envy them their fate on the wrong side of the Emerald Champion and the Shogun of the Emerald Empire.

And what if they are both powerful and clever?

He didn't want to think about that.

Then a the beautiful Crane beside him smiled at him, and he graciously returned the gesture.

"Mifune-sama is looking particularly radiant tonight, is he not?" she said.

Hakuyo made a show of looking over to the man he was always watching out of the corner of his eye. Indeed he was. Poised, powerful, regal... the image of a daimyo, and an epitome of the excellence of the Crane.

"Of course, he is, Lady...?"

"Ujiko. Asahina... Ujiko. Have we met before?"

"Much to my regret, no." He dipped his head in a mock bow. "But of course, it is never too late to begin."

"Certainly not. but you are...?"

"Kakita. Kakita Rensei. And it is an honor to share your company this night."

She smiled, then looked over to the Unicorn end of the table. Hakuyo followed her eyes, and soon found that they rested squarely on one Dragon in particular. Now this one was an oddity. He had no topknot, but instead a shaven head. He seemed to be looking over to Izumi-chan (instantly he chided himself for referring to her so familiarly; she was merely a clan sister, nothing more).

Hakuyo may not have been the equal of a Crane courtier, but he could read what was in front of his eyes. As he glanced back across the room in an idle, roving fashion, he briefly noted another Crane staring angrily at that same bald Dragon.

He must be a jealous suitor, Hakuyo thought. None of my concern, in any case.

Squishy Cheeks · 05-09-2004, 10:23 AM

Raiden glanced down the long table and beheld his enemy. Satsume did well to hide his emotions. His eyes however showed his rage. Raiden then turned and looked at the Soshi maid seated beside the soshi Daimyo and across from him. Izumi also glanced with anger, but not at Raiden, she looked at Satsume. Raiden also looked at the unkept and svage looking "Khan" of the Unicorn, Daimyo of the Shinjo family. The man had a long black beard and gleaming brown eyes. He was dressed in a purple silk kimono, and a fur cloak and leather belt, this was unheard of in traditional rokugan.

The crane servants brought out platters of various kinds of Sashimi and sauces for dipping the sashimi in, wasabi, and ginger.

batgirl · 05-09-2004, 10:26 AM

For once in her life, Izumi was wishing that she wasn't a Scorpion. She was seated across from the Dragon Mirumoto and as such couldn't converse with him due to the wide table. She instead began a conversation with one of the Phoenix members while stealing glances at Mirumoto every so often. And what of the other Scorpion in disguise? He seemed to be surveying the table, a good move for one in such a precarious position as he. She for the fist time also began looking arund the table, noticing now that there were a few pairs of eyes trained on her. She felt a little out of sorts with so many people looking at her, when all she really wanted was the attention of the one who had defeated Satsume. But, with the poisse and grace of a true Scorpion, she merely dismissed it, not showing any change in her emotion, and conitued her conversation.

Dante · 05-09-2004, 12:07 PM

Hakuyo raised a piece of sashimi to his lips, then paused. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then a slow smile spread across Hakuyo's face, and he savored the taste of the fish, unflavored by gunger or wasabi, and smiled.

Beside him Lady Ujiko turned.

"Kakita-san, what is happening?"

Hakuyo closed his eyes and nodded to her.

"Oh... nothing much, really. I just remembered what my sensei once told me."

"And what would that be?"

"Well, he told me that a man could be in a crowd, yet be totally alone..."

He let his voice trail off, saying more with his silence and the look he cast her way than he could ever have with words. Apparently, her training had not failed her, because her eyes twinkled as she asked him to join her in the garden after the feast.

And while his face smiled and agreed, his mind was thinking of his master's true words, and the night when he head spoken them.

It had been the night he had burned his black kimono. Kidoumaru-sensei was the only one present for the ritual, and he only spoke once, on the eve of this year, the most dangerous one of his life.

"Remember the tale of the Little Scorpion," he said. "Remember to swim before you poison the Frog."

Surprising what a piece of fish could do to jog one's memory.

IHateMakingNames · 05-09-2004, 12:08 PM

Yoshi was the furthest left of the Pheonix's, sitting right next to the Lion clan. As the food came out, Yoshi began to look around and decide what he was going to eat, but waited until the empress said it was time.

Squishy Cheeks · 05-09-2004, 12:41 PM

ooc: for the sake of preventing a seppuku worthy faux pas and to get the story moving. Let's assume the Daimyos and Celes are eating.

Raiden picked up a piece of yellow tail with his chopstick and put it on his plate. He took a good size glob of wasabi. He then picked up the yellowtail and ate it. he sighed after he swallowed allowing the horseraddish taste to exit on his exhilation. He picked up a piece of ginger and cleansed his pallette.

He noticed Izumi was looking at him. He picked up his cup of steaming tea and took a sip.

Elminster_Amaur · 05-10-2004, 08:33 AM

Asukane looked to his right and toward the empress. "Please pass the wasabi, umm....sir Kakita Rensei, I believe you named yourself earlier. I'm sorry for listening to your conversations, but I can't help it with you sitting right next to me."

Squishy Cheeks · 05-10-2004, 08:49 AM

ooc: Are you eating the Sashimi?

Elminster_Amaur · 05-10-2004, 08:50 AM

OOC: the what?

05-09-2004, 09:00 AM	#32
Dante Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Crushing the weak beneath the iron jackboots of tyranny Posts: 7,703	At least she's covering the other side of the table... Hakuyo adjusted his kimono as he carefully folded his legs below him like a nesting crane, in the graceful fashion of most of his "peers". Of course, what he showed and what he actually did were rather... different. Normally, the seiza position was quite restrictive, with the back of the feet flattened against the ground. Hardly a good position to be in if the lights suddenly went out. Instead, with a physical agility born of years of training, he curled his toes up below him, only slightly different from the way the other cranes "sat", and hard to see through the socks they all wore, but when the time came to act, Shosuro Hakuyo would be ready and able to do his duty. And what was his duty? Protect the Empress? Yes... and no. He understood that if the Crane Champion and the Lion Clan Daimyo were unable to defend their shared liege, there would not be much chance of a lowly Scorpion assassin being able to do what they could not. Rather, it would be his duty to cover the blind spots of his Scorpion brethren, and hopefully pre-empt any such attack. If they were only strong, the Scorpions could detect the enemy long before they could begin an attack. And if they were only clever, well, he did not envy them their fate on the wrong side of the Emerald Champion and the Shogun of the Emerald Empire. And what if they are both powerful and clever? He didn't want to think about that. Then a the beautiful Crane beside him smiled at him, and he graciously returned the gesture. "Mifune-sama is looking particularly radiant tonight, is he not?" she said. Hakuyo made a show of looking over to the man he was always watching out of the corner of his eye. Indeed he was. Poised, powerful, regal... the image of a daimyo, and an epitome of the excellence of the Crane. "Of course, he is, Lady...?" "Ujiko. Asahina... Ujiko. Have we met before?" "Much to my regret, no." He dipped his head in a mock bow. "But of course, it is never too late to begin." "Certainly not. but you are...?" "Kakita. Kakita Rensei. And it is an honor to share your company this night." She smiled, then looked over to the Unicorn end of the table. Hakuyo followed her eyes, and soon found that they rested squarely on one Dragon in particular. Now this one was an oddity. He had no topknot, but instead a shaven head. He seemed to be looking over to Izumi-chan (instantly he chided himself for referring to her so familiarly; she was merely a clan sister, nothing more). Hakuyo may not have been the equal of a Crane courtier, but he could read what was in front of his eyes. As he glanced back across the room in an idle, roving fashion, he briefly noted another Crane staring angrily at that same bald Dragon. He must be a jealous suitor, Hakuyo thought. None of my concern, in any case. Last edited by Dante; 05-09-2004 at 12:08 PM.

05-09-2004, 12:07 PM	#35
Dante Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Crushing the weak beneath the iron jackboots of tyranny Posts: 7,703	Hakuyo raised a piece of sashimi to his lips, then paused. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then a slow smile spread across Hakuyo's face, and he savored the taste of the fish, unflavored by gunger or wasabi, and smiled. Beside him Lady Ujiko turned. "Kakita-san, what is happening?" Hakuyo closed his eyes and nodded to her. "Oh... nothing much, really. I just remembered what my sensei once told me." "And what would that be?" "Well, he told me that a man could be in a crowd, yet be totally alone..." He let his voice trail off, saying more with his silence and the look he cast her way than he could ever have with words. Apparently, her training had not failed her, because her eyes twinkled as she asked him to join her in the garden after the feast. And while his face smiled and agreed, his mind was thinking of his master's true words, and the night when he head spoken them. It had been the night he had burned his black kimono. Kidoumaru-sensei was the only one present for the ritual, and he only spoke once, on the eve of this year, the most dangerous one of his life. "Remember the tale of the Little Scorpion," he said. "Remember to swim before you poison the Frog." Surprising what a piece of fish could do to jog one's memory. Last edited by Dante; 05-09-2004 at 12:44 PM.

05-09-2004, 12:08 PM	#36
IHateMakingNames Awwwwh Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 12,119	Yoshi was the furthest left of the Pheonix's, sitting right next to the Lion clan. As the food came out, Yoshi began to look around and decide what he was going to eat, but waited until the empress said it was time. __________________ "If I'm reincarnated, I want to be Musashi again!" - Musashi, Brave Fencer Musashi

05-10-2004, 08:33 AM	#38
Elminster_Amaur Her hands were cold and small. Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: My Mind Posts: 2,049	Asukane looked to his right and toward the empress. "Please pass the wasabi, umm....sir Kakita Rensei, I believe you named yourself earlier. I'm sorry for listening to your conversations, but I can't help it with you sitting right next to me." __________________ "It just rubs me the wrong way." -CJ, most likely about non-yaoi porn or something

05-10-2004, 08:50 AM	#40
Elminster_Amaur Her hands were cold and small. Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: My Mind Posts: 2,049	OOC: the what? __________________ "It just rubs me the wrong way." -CJ, most likely about non-yaoi porn or something

05-09-2004, 10:26 AM	#34
batgirl Aim for the top! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Infield Posts: 2,583	For once in her life, Izumi was wishing that she wasn't a Scorpion. She was seated across from the Dragon Mirumoto and as such couldn't converse with him due to the wide table. She instead began a conversation with one of the Phoenix members while stealing glances at Mirumoto every so often. And what of the other Scorpion in disguise? He seemed to be surveying the table, a good move for one in such a precarious position as he. She for the fist time also began looking arund the table, noticing now that there were a few pairs of eyes trained on her. She felt a little out of sorts with so many people looking at her, when all she really wanted was the attention of the one who had defeated Satsume. But, with the poisse and grace of a true Scorpion, she merely dismissed it, not showing any change in her emotion, and conitued her conversation.