MOTO 1: Power Ballads (D7, EA & LA)

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki took the stage, licking her lips a little in anticipation. Very well, this would prove to Butaj that she loved him. There was no way he could doubt her after this.

"Glittering, sparkling, shining like the sun
Your smile has me quite undone.
Riding through the open fields, my head against your back,
Your heart and mine beat as one.

Your mind is always on the attack!
But sympathy is never something that you lack.
Your music is sweet nectar to my soul,
A sweet morsel, filling, not at all a snack.

Though some nights may be black as coal
Beside you I know that we have control.
We shall light a fire, reignite the sun
My one and only, my shared soul."

Finishing her rubaiyat. Yuki bowed to the judges and made for the stands. Her piece had been short, but it was apparent that the Phoenix had put everything she had into the piece.

This One Goes out to: Moto Butaj
Every Rose Has Its Thorn: 33
Every Night Has Its Dawn: 28
(Forgot my +1... oh well)
Ballad Points: 2

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun strides out and says, “Butaj… flute me!”

The flute comes with crisp as she accepts it and bows to the crowd. She looks around the crowd and settles on Otaku-hime and says, “There are many loves in this world, it is known! But none are stronger than the love between two sisters in battle… and nothing more bitter then when such love is broken! So I sing now for my greatest love, Otaku Kitakuhime!”

She searched her mind and drew a blank at anything meaningful and settled on cobbling together a song worthy of her greatness. She notices she is silent and says, “Uhh… these are the words… of love by… by… Moto Silvia, great sage of love!”

She then hits a mean tune on the flute… one surely to make lovers swoon with delight and then begins to sing… not terribly.

"I feel so unsure...
As I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor,
As the music dies, something in your eyes,
Calls to mind the silver moon,
And all its sad good-byes!"

No she is feeling it and begins to sway as she walks towards the Otaku.

"I'm never gonna ride again,
Guilty hooves have got no rhythm,
Though it's easy to pretend,
I know your not a fool..."

She places her hand to her bosom... surely this was all so painful.

"Should've known better than to wrong a friend,
And waste the chance that I've been given,
So I'm never gonna ride again,
The way I rode with you..."

She punctuates this with a longing look of friendship to her friend!

"Time can never mend,
The careless whispers of a good friend,
To the heart and mind,
Ignorance is kind,
There's no comfort in the truth,
Pain is all you'll find..."

She sings loudly to the heavens, for friendship is so deep!

"I'm never gonna ride again,
Guilty hooves have got no rhythm,
Though it's easy to pretend,
I know your not a fool..."

Now she gets her hips moving... friendship hips that do not lie.

"I should've known better than to wrong a friend,
And waste the chance that I've been given,
So I'm never gonna ride again,
The way I rode with you."

"Never without your love!"

Here she hits a beautiful solo on the flute... of love lost... so sweet yet so bitter.

"Tonight the music seems so loud,
I wish that we could lose this crowd,
Maybe it's better this way,
We'd hurt each other with the things we'd want to say..."

Now she is only a few feet away from her dearest friend! Now she sings loudly... perhaps poorly to some but to Khulun she sings with power of friendship!

"We could have been so good together,
We could have lived this ride forever,
But no one's gonna ride with me,
Please stay!"

She reaches out to her friend... but she is just too far.

"And I'm never gonna ride again,
Guilty hooves have got no rhythm,
Though it's easy to pretend,
I know your not a fool..."

She steps away... her heart shattered, yet she will go on.

"Should've known better than to wrong a friend,
And waste the chance that I've been given,
So I'm never gonna ride again,
The way I rode with you..."

Here she sings in a softer off-key but powerful tone...

"Now that you're gone,
(Now that you're gone) What I did's so wrong, so wrong,
That you had to leave me alone!"

She is in the moment and turns away from Kitakuhime and the crowd... for she is alone so broken is her heart.

OOC: 2 points no ill effects but tears of sadness.

Song Making TN 15: 2d10+4 13

Song singing TN 15: 3#2d10+4 21 15 9

Sexy Flute Playing: 3d10+4 27

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe thought she'd die from the embarrassement of Dong-Ha's song. Sure, it had made her smile, but it had also made her blush like a boiled lobster, she thought for sure she would die from overheating even as she worked her fan into overdrive.

Thankfully, there were others going after the Iuchi, so she hoped things would've calmed down. And then... well, with the sudden performances that seemed like they were right out of some of the smuttier pillowbooks, she felt certain that even if she were to make a complete fool of herself on stage, it would already be overshadowed by that stuff.

No, no... she had to set a good example! Dressed in her finest furisode, depicting a flock of rabbits and a full moon, Rabbit-sensei wielded her shamisen as she stepped out for her performance. Tomoe had never been a performer. Playing music by herself was fine, but standing in front of a crowd wasn't her thing; where other courtiers showed themselves off with their artistic abilities, the rabbit had always been happy to keep to herself and read a book instead.

But now she stepped out of her comfort zone, and sang. And she actually sang well? And played the shamisen without breaking any strings? Maybe Benten was giving her a chance?

And so the Hare dedicated the song to Iuchi Dong-Ha, responding in kind to his song to her.

"I will run
Into the midnight sun
Hoofs beat the ground
You're on my mind

Restless hearts
Sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love
Along the prayers

They say that alone
Is no way to live eternally
But down the line
It can be you and me
And loving someone
Ain't always what it's supposed to be

Oh boy, you stand by me
I'm forever yours, faithfully

Traveller's life
Under the big sky's world
We all need the sun
To make us smile
Through space and time
Always another sky
Wondering where I am
Lost without you

And being apart ain't easy on this love of ours
Two strangers learn to fall in love so fast
I get the joy of discovering you

Oh boy, you stand by me
I'm forever yours, faithfully

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Faithfully, I'm still yours
I'm forever yours
Ever yours, faithfully"


----

Original Lyrics: Faithfully by Journey (edited by me to fit better for Rokugan) | Music

Dedicated to: Iuchi Dong-Ha

D7 Every Rose Has Its Thorns. Poetry/Intelligence. Void for skill. 2 raises. TN 25: 5d10o10k4 32
+3 Points
D7 Every Night Has Its Dawn. Song/Awareness. Void for skill. 1 raise because we need points for LOVE, Benten please! TN 20: 4d10o10k3+1 23
+2 Points
D7 Every Night Has Its Dawn. Song/Awareness. Untrained, but we pray for luv! TN 15: 3d10+1 26
+1 Point
Total: 6 Ballad Points!!

[Bayushi Suteichi]

Bayushi Suteichi came out to the stage and looked out and pointed directly to Shinjo Liu Fei.

"To my Hiomoyasu!"

His ballad for Liu Fei was brilliantly written and with a clear voice and a few chords from his samisen he sang the first verse. He was feeling the song and attempted the second verse and got a little choked up but then he got it together and belted out the last verse.

There's something that I want to say
But words sometimes get in the way
I just want to show
My feelings for you
There's nothing that I'd rather do
Than spend ev'ry moment with you
I guess you should know
I love you so

You are my lady
You're ev'rything I need and more
You are my lady
You're all I'm living for

There's no way that I can resist
Your precious kiss
Girl, you've got me
So hypnotized
Just say that you'll stay with me
Cause our love was meant to be
I promise to love you
More each day

You are my lady, my love
You're ev'rything I need and more
You are my lady
You're all I'm living for

You are my lady, my love
You're ev'rything I need and more
You are my lady
You're all I'm living for

I love your shine, shine, shine
Let's make it last until the end of time

You are my lady, my love
You're ev'rything I need and more
You are my lady
You're all I'm living for


"You Are My Lady" - by Freddie Jackson


---------
3 Ballad Points

[Togashi Udo]

Alright, Udo thought. You have no idea what you're doing here at this point. You're doing well, but you have no idea what that's going to mean. And now you have to sing a song. They always said you were a sensation. Nice voice. Can hit the notes. You can do this, Udo.

Udo looked around at the gathered samurai.

Who am I going to pick?!?!

He spotted someone he hadn't talked to yet.

She's pretty. Fuck it.

Udo cleared his voice and thought of a song.

You say
The price of my love’s not a price that you’re willing to pay
You cry
In your tea which you sip so perfectly when you don't see me walk by
Why so sad?
Remember we made an arrangement when I came to stay
Now you’re making me sad
Remember, despite our estrangement, I’m your man
You’ll be here, soon you’ll see
You’ll remember you should belong to me
You’ll be here, time will tell
You’ll remember that I'll serve you well
Oceans rise, empires fall
We will see each other through it all
And when push comes to shove
I will tattoo anything on my body to remind you of my love!

Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da ya da!
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da…


Yeah, I think that went well...

---

This One Goes Out To: Otaku Imane (+2 Bonus)
Every Rose Has It's Thorn: Passed w/ 2 Raises (3 Points)
Every Night Has It's Dawn, pt 1: Passed w/ 3 Raises (4 Points)
Every Night Has It's Dawn, pt 2: Passed w/ 3 Raises (4 Points)

Total: 11 Ballad Points

*Okay, freaked out for a second thinking my first roll didn't work because I used Crane on my Perform roll and it was Intellect, and rerolled at one less raise. Then realized it's based on the skill, NOT the stat, so my first roll stands. Anyway, I should calm down and not edit these things.

[Shinjo Hanashi]

"There is love in the air, and Benten smiles,"
Hanashi's song is an ancient, traditional song long held onto by the Unicorn, thought to have been shared by Shinjo to her clan through the mirror and once sung by Doji herself. A few small changes to the description of the one being sung to relays the love being to a blind woman who'll never know their surpassing beauty, such as to make flowers weep.

Or, at least that's the point of it all. He'd not really prepared love ballads and couldn't quite remember the tune, but did his best to not shame the clan at least! His voice was certainly pleasant enough; the number of changes to the song over the years certainly didn't help much.


**********
Hanashi sings for the Dragon because they helped (and also status advantage ): Tonbo Misa: +5 on rolls.
Every Rose Has Its Thorn: TN 15 Artisan: Poetry/Intellect Roll; +5 Tonbo Misa, 1 Raise TN 20: 14 -1 Ballad Point, +.1 Infamy for Tonbo Misa (Sorry)
Every Night Has Its Dawn: 2 Rolls: TN 15 Perform: Singing/Awareness: Void for skill, 2 Raises, 2 Raises TN 25: 41, 26 +6 Bp
5 Ballad Points, +.1 Infamy for Tonbo Misa

[Bayushi Hotaru]

This was an interesting turn of events...especially when everyone had to be so forthcoming with their interest, it wasn't even near the end of the miai! Even with some wild cards in play, but she didn't allow them to affect her intended vision. She had been spending enough time with Dong-Ha, enough to like him. There wasn't even a question of who she should dedicate her song to.

Songs weren't exactly a strength of hers, considering most of the performances she had done centred around appeasing the kami and the Fortunes. For inspiration, she had to look really deep and in the darkest depths of her imagination. She was a bit at a loss, unfortunately. Gah, Baka-Ko was was the lyrical one in the family...think, think, think! Using what she scarcely remember from one song, she threw it all down into a set of lyrics. Of course, she would tailor it for the person in question to make the best impression. Yeah, it's bound to go fine...

She stepped on stepped on stage with a dramatic appearance. Her hair was done in a rather elaborate fashion with a number of hair pins that seemed to be rather influenced by the ones sported by oiran courtesans. There was an elaborate bow affixed on the shoulder of her kimono, done in decorative crimson and black silks. She even wore some showy make-up for the occasion, red streaks on her eyes and her lips were coloured a provocative shade of red. This was only meant to be a costume for the purposes of being on stage, though it did make a powerful impression.

Then her song began...and everything fell apart...

He's a very kinky guy,
The kind you don't take to the temple...
But, he will never let your spirits down,
Once you get him off his horse. Ow!

He likes the girls in the cage,
He says that I'm his all-time favourite...
When I make my move to his room,
It's the right time, He's never hard to please.

Hey, hey, hey-heeeey!

He's a super freak, super freak!
He's super-freaky, yow!

...It was well performed, at least.

This One Goes Out To: Iuchi Dong-Ha (+1 to rolls)
Every Rose Hast Its Thorn: (Failed w/ 2 raises) (-2) (+0.2 Infamy for Dong-Ha, awkward!)
Every Night Has Its Dawn:
1) (Pass w/ one raise) (+2)
2) (Pass) (+1)

Total Ballard Points: 1

[Seppun Hitako]

When she learned she could call on the Kami, Hitako tried to request the Earth kami for their help in sustaining herself. Sadly, the illness in the elements was a problem, and she almost collapsed from the queasiness.

Still, she would give it her best effort anyways, despite that she was totally unskilled at this.

She listened to a couple of the other songs, and her eyebrows rose despite herself. Well. She could at least choose a proper choice.

Sadly, despite her training in focusing her mind, she just wasn't able to pull it off. Her song was limited, poorly written, and didn't scan well at all. Let's not even talk about the rhymes...

Despite the traditions of the Empire, the requirements of the challenge meant she had to choose someone to sing about.

"I dedicate this to Iuchi Dong-Ha."

She wasn't the best singer they had ever heard, but she was capable of singing, it turned out. Maybe barely, but she managed it. She felt like she was singing for hours and hours, belting out what she had written.

__________

Choice: Iuchi Dong-Ha

Earth's Touch: TN 16, failed at 11.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn: Artisan/Intelligence, VP for 1k0, 1 CR, TN 20: failed at 18. -1 point.
Every Night Has Its Dawn I: Sing/Awareness, unskilled, TN 15: Wow, made it at 16. 1 point.

Every Night Has Its Dawn II: Sing/Awareness, VP for 1k0, TN 15: just squeeked by with a 15, from the bonus for singing about Dong Ha. 1 point.

Total is 1 point.

[Kitsune Takeo]

Such a display was unusual for the Empire. But the Unicorn were unusual for the Empire, at least for now. He thought about everyone that he might dedicate a song to. He thought about all the considerations. It seemed other performers had thrown their affections in certain ways - perhaps ways not entertained by the Moto organizers. No. He shook his head. Honesty was demanded of all samurai and it was something he demanded of himself.

He steeled himself, for he had no knack for singing and he turned his eyes to Kitakuhime. He drew a breath and then he sang.

"You stand with your hand on my waist line
It's a scene and we're out here in plain sight
I can hear them whisper as we pass by
It's a bad sign, bad sign
Something happens when everybody finds out
See the vultures circling dark clouds
Love's a fragile little flame, it could burn out
It could burn out

Cause they got the cages, they got the boxes
And yumi
They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run

Baby, I know places we won't be found
And they'll be chasing their tails tryin' to track us down
Cause I, I know places we can hide
I know places, I know places

Torches flash and we'll run for the fences
Let them say what they want, we won't hear it
Loose lips sink ships all the damn time
Not this time

Just grab my hand and don't ever drop it
My love
They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run

Baby, I know places we won't be found
And they'll be chasing their tails tryin' to track us down
Cause I, I know places we can hide
I know places

They are the hunters, we are the foxes
And we run
Just grab my hand and don't ever drop it
My love

Baby, I know places we won't be found
And they'll be chasing their tails tryin' to track us down
Cause I, I know places we can hide
I know places

They take their shots, but we're arrowproof
I know places
And you know for me, it's always you
I know places
In the dead of night, your eyes so green
I know places
And I know for you, it's always me
I know places"

(All rolls at TN 15 - 32, 34, 28 - 3 ballad points
Dedicated to Otaku Kitahuime)

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj may have hesitated for a while what song to sing and to whom as it was all getting increasingly complicated because of Princess Kitaku but after Yuki has made her feelings clear, blur has been banished from his mind as well. He has never composed faster and more fervently than now, taking cue from their poetry evening and how she has masterfully handled rubiyat. His mind is made up, and the words flow into the rhythm now ingrained in his artistic soul. For him, there is no other way but to respond in kind, leaving no doubt where his affections now go. Her romantic honesty and courage conquers all. Many may sneer on what the Moto have bidden the miai participants to do, but not Butaj. His mind and heart awaken. With his hand on her fan, he steps out to sing, letting his rich, powerful voice take hold. As he sings, his eyes seek Yuki's gaze.

"No other thing did give me such pause
Like when your cheeks bloomed akin desert rose;
While petals of lips to a feeling laid claim
To us and the world four winds did expose.

Truth do I see in the shape of your name!
Of the sparks your gaze sheds not one is the same
They tug at my heart like at horse manes - the gale
With snow set ablaze wild soul's yours to tame

All things of beauty by yours fade to pale
To silence my heart's thumping was to no avail
As to each other beholden through plains did we rove
Galloping in dreams lined with finest percale

With your firelit hues the gods my skies wove
I could not rein my breath, it sprang like a drove
of songs, like black steeds; on hooves my heart rose
To the steppe in the Heavens where Benten grants love"

Has he just sung out a four-pronged rubiyat? Looks like it! It must have been the genes of his unknown father to give him the poetic voice of the Sands at a moment of awakening like this.

---
This One Goes Out To: Asako Yuki (+2)
Day 7 - EA/LA - Every Rose Has Its Thorns (Yuki, +2) - Int/Song, VP - TN15: 4d10o10k3+2 18
Day 7 - EA/LA - Every Night Has Its Dawn (Yuki, +2) - Awa/Song, Voice, VP - TN25 (2R): 6d10o10k5+2 41
Day 7 - EA/LA - Every Night Has Its Dawn (Yuki, +2) #2 - Awa/Song, Voice, VP - TN25 (2R): 6d10o10k5+2 29

Sum: 7 Points

[Asako Hirase]

This entire event was a serious quandary for Hirase, even before the...excitement.

He had three young women here that he would be quite content with wedding. He wasn't in love with any of them, though he imagined that emotion could come in time with any.

When his turn came, it came down to this:

1. His kin was courting Imane; he would not, so publicly at least, poach a woman he had only just met, no matter how much he liked her.
2. Samai had sung for another; he wished her well in it and would not counter her choice.
3. Someone needed to speak well for Yue, who he had known longest and liked, albeit platonically, the most.

So. Liu Yue it would be then. Now, to tell her that he acknowledged and accepted her, preferences and all? He wracked his brain, then suddenly grinned. He had the perfect idea!

{{Original Song}}


It's clear you're gay
And that's okay.
I mean 'cause, hey,
I like you anyway.

Because it's true,
that me and you,
could just make do
Friendship'd see us through
(and yes, that's true).

Who cares you're queer?
I'd still be here,
Year after year
Because you're dear
To me.
And I know that you
Will accept me too,
If and when I say
"I've got a lover anyway."
(But, no, not today)

I'm happy
Just being with you.
So what should it
Matter to me
What you do in bed
With girls?

So yes, you're gay
But don't dismay!
nor care if you stray,
Marriage is more than loveplay
anyway.
You can count on me
To always be
Beside you every day,
To tell you it's okay,
You were just born
That way,
And, as they say,
It's in your fung-shui,
You're gay!

Ok, so, he was more sincere than romantic. No surprise, given the subject. And he'd been telling his friends this whole time he couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. Turns out he was mostly modest, not to mention a bit shy. By the end, though, he was really into the whole spirit of the thing, ending flushed with, if not pride, at least satisfaction at not failing a Courtly sort of activity.


Part 1: FAIL, Yue gets .2 Infamy, -2 points
Every Night part 1: Pass, +1 point
Every Night part 2: pass, +2 points
End result: 1 point, .2 Infamy for Yue, no honor loss because Hirase, at least, has been well behaved.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga watched the proceedings with a frown marring his handsome features. He did smile when Samai sang a song, of sorts, about sake. With him as the obvious target. After that, his frown returned.

How best to handle this? People were making scenes, getting embarrassed. Someone had sung to him. Would she be hurt? Slowly, Tomonaga shook his head. He could not be less than honest.

And he was a Crab. He could not be less than bold.

Tomonaga, stood up, walking to the front of the ring. And then with a deep breath, he began, slowly at first, the words almost more spoken than sung.

I met her on the streets of Dark Edge town
Where they have a lot of fun, but their favorite drink is called
Kumis. K-U-M-I-S kumis.

If he'd had a pipe, that would have been the perfect time to take a long drag of it, but he didn't so he kept singing.

She ran up to me 'cause she was chasing a cat
I asked her her name, and she said that
She was Iuchi. I-U-C-H-I Iuchi.
Iu-Iu- Iuchi Iu-Iu Iuchi

Hey, this wasn't half bad! Tomonaga picked up a bit of energy.

Well we drank sake, and we played some dice
Even though we'd just had our morning's rice
I picked her up, I set her back on her heels
I promised that I'd keep her safe from weasels

Now I'm not Rokugan's most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes I totally fell for my Iuchi

Iu-Iu- Iuchi Iu-Iu Iuchi

The bridge was coming up. Time to sing extra hard!

A cat bit her hand!
A ball hit her nose!
She fell on her head!
I fell to my knees
I said 'Iuchi-san, just stop hurting, please!'

From there on, it was mostly clear sailing on through to the end. Relatively speaking.

......................

This one goes out to: Iuchi Yukarin!
Target: Yukarin. ERHIT. Artisan/poetry, TN 15: 3d10k3 20
ENHID, both rolls, VP spent for 1k1, perform:sing/aware, TN 15: 2#4d10k10 18 16
Total: 3 points, no negative effects

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo arrives onto the stage, late and a bit flustered. She looks appropriately dressed but one who was close to her might detect a hint of sake on her breath if they got close. However, none who did not know her would notice anything amiss.

As she stepped onto the stage, she took a deep breath, seeking the balance within herself. She knew what her plan was. It was time to stop letting fear guide her. It was time to let the past be the past. It was time...to believe in the possibilities that were here, right in front of her.

(You all probably know this. If not, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcjzHMhBtf0 )

This one goes out to Shinjo Monkhbaatar.



Just a Matsu girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight ride goin' anywhere
Just a pony boy
Born and raised in Burning Sands
He took the midnight ride goin' anywhere

A singer in a lit up room
A smell of wine and sake too
They can smile but they won't share the night
It goes on and on, and on, and on

[Chorus]
Strangers meeting
Riding down the plains so hard
Their shadows searching in the night
Lamplights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night


Workin' hard to get more points
Everybody wants to win
Payin' anythin' to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the miai never ends
It goes on and on, and on, and on

Strangers waitin'
Riding down the plains so hard
Their shadows searchin' in the night
Lamplights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin' somewhere in the night

[Chorus]
Don't Stop Believin'
Hold on to your feelings
Lamplights, people
Ohh-Ohhh-Ohhhhhhhh

Don't Stop Believin'
Hold on to your feelings
Lamplights, people
Ohh-Ohhh-Ohhhhhhhh

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feeeling
Lamplights, people
Ohh-Ohhh-Ohhhhhhhh

Don't stop believin' (Fading)
Hold on...????
Streetlight, people
Ohh-Ohhh-Ohhhhhhhh

Don't Stop..(Fading)

Noburu enters to end her on one, resounding growl. Kogo bows at the end of the song. Though her lyrics were impressive, her voice just barely backed it up. The sincerity in her voice was evident as was her depth of feeling. She had made it through the event without disgracing herself or Shinjo Monkhbaatar and that was all that mattered.

Now it was time to move on, in more than one way.




/ooc
Forgot to add my +2 fluff modifier for tipsyness to roll list, but it worked out anyhow. Will just RP it.


This one goes out to: Shinjo Monkhbaatar

Every rose has its thorn: Every rose has its thorn roll, one void: 4d10k3+1 27

Every night has its dawn: Every night has its dawn, one void: 4d10k3+1 18

2 pts total.

[Kaiu Hiroji]

Hiroji stumbled after the Lion. He was barely ready for this. A half planned poem which he thought looked like nothing but scribbles on paper. But his heart beat him forward, and he stood. "For Shinjo Liu Yue!" And he sang. And he sang. Until he could not sing anymore.

(Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5al0Hm ... e=youtu.be Lyrics are reworked down below)

Oh, where have you been, my brother-in-arms?
Oh, where have you been, my love of six days?
I've stumbled on the side of twelve high towers
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked roads
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Oh, what did you see, my brother-in-arms?
Oh, what did you see, my love of six days?
I saw a newborn baby with wild wolves all around it
I saw a road of diamonds with nobody on it
I saw a black branch with blood that kept drippin'
I saw a room full of men with their hammers a-bleedin'
I saw a white ladder all covered with water
I saw ten thousand talkers whose tongues were all broken
I saw sharp swords and deadly bows in the hands of young children
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

And what did you hear, my brother-in-arms?
And what did you hear, my love of six days?
I heard the sound of a thunder, a dragon roarin'
Heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
Heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
Heard the song of a man, lost in his heart
Heard the song of a jester, on leave from his senses
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Oh, who were you, my brother-in-arms?
Oh, who were you, my love of six days?
I was a warrior defeated in battle, next to a heroic steed
I was a warrior defeated in battle, from the claws of lightning
I was a young woman whose body was burning
I was an eye gone blind from offence
I was one man who was wounded in love
I was another man who was wounded with hatred
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall

Oh, who are you now, my brother-in-arms?
Oh, who are you now, my love of six days?
I'm a traveller in the depths of the deepest black forest
I'm a-goin' back out 'fore the rain starts a-fallin'
Where I see life as a road, and it is short
Where the dragons soar high and fear no man
Where the home in the valley meets the damp dirty road
Where the executioner's face is always well-hidden
Where love is ugly, refrained in shadows
Where black is the color, where none is the number
And I'll still sing to you
And I'll still sing about you
Then I'll stand on the ocean until I start sinkin'
But I'll know my love well before I start singin'
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall...

[OOC:
For Shinjo Liu Yue
Every Rose Has It's Thorns: http://orokos.com/roll/510786 +3 Ballad Points
SINGING! #1: http://orokos.com/roll/510788 +1 Ballad Point
SINGING! #2: http://orokos.com/roll/510790 +1 Ballad Point
SINGING! #3: http://orokos.com/roll/510792 +1 Ballad Point.

TOTAL: 6 BP, 1 Exhausted Crab]

[Doji Ameka]

Ameka had gone through a very deep and rigorous soul search to try and discover who she should sing to, who she should pour out the true feelings of her deepest heart of hearts toward!

By which is meant that she wrote down the names of all the Unicorn men at the miai, put them in a straw hat, stirred around the paper scraps and picked one. It had been Shinjo Taichi. She had never met him, and only barely knew of him, but that wasn't important if she was vague.

So, with an appropriately romantic song dedicated dutifully to one of the eligible Unicorn men in her head, she stepped up to sing, her voice managing to bring true passion out in her performance. She was a Crane after all. She could hardly do anything else.

I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older

Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
I through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me

In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me

I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me

Let's talk about love
I wanna know what love is, the love that you feel inside
I want you to show me, and I'm feeling so much love
I wanna feel what love is, no, you just cannot hide
I know you can show me, yeah

I wanna know what love is, let's talk about love
I want you to show me, I wanna feel it too
I wanna feel what love is, I want to feel it too
And I know and I know, I know you can show me
Show me love is real, yeah
I wanna know what love is...

Hmm... Sure, that worked. She nodded to herself and headed to the observation area.

~~~

This One Goes Out to...: Shinjo Taichi (+1)
Every Rose Has Its Thorn: Success! +1
Every Night Has Its Dawn: Success with 2 Raises! +3
Every Night Has Its Dawn: Success with 2 Raises +3

Total: 7 Ballad Points