Power Ballad Observation Thread (D7, EA & LA)

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Quite so," she laughed. "I almost hope the Iuchi will test the breadth of our knowledge, as I feel confident I could win at such a challenge, but I understand that it not nescessarily a fun challenge for everyone. And I suspect the Moto will offer something more physical tomorrow."

She cast a glance at Butaj and Yuuru. Those two would probably do well if the competition was to be unarmed combat that the Moto seemed to enjoy.

"I have been well," she nodded. "But I suppose the bigger question is how you have been?" There was some concern in the Hare's voice, but she did not speak her concerns out loud, considering the rather public scene they were in.

[Matsu Kogo]

Takashi nods as they speak. "I quite agree," he comments as Kogo finishes. "I had expected more... discomfort... as we learned about each other." He pauses, almost mid-sentence. "My apologies, Yasuki-sama. I am Kitsu Takashi, student of the Ikoma school." He bows his head, acknowledging the correction.

He seems to pick back up right where he'd paused. "It is fortunate that we've avoided that discomfort. Unfortunate, though, that some have perhaps found too much comfort in these days of learning. If one believes the many things they hear, that is." He punctuates the comment with another drink, this one slightly larger.

Tomonaga returned the bow as the Kitsu introduced himself.

"Ummm... yeah." Tomonaga said, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "I certainly agree on the first point." His lips twisted into a wry smile. "Maybe until about an hour ago. This Moto challenge seems to be causing a bit of difficulty." One again, something flickered in his expression, although it didn't seem directed at either of his companions.

Seeing the Kitsu drink so deeply, Tomonaga smiled, reaching out to pour him a refill. "The second... I guess so. The Unicorn are very, ah, expressive, I guess. But surely this sort of thing happens at a miai from time to time? Emotions high, couples thrown together, marriage imminent." He shrugged. "I don't know. It is my first miai, of course."

Kogo's ears continue their reddening, though her hairstyle as an unexpectedly fortuitous choice today. At the potential change of subject back to the singing, she leaps for the oppportunity. "Yes, Yasuki-San was just telling me if the pieces that I missed. I arrived late and missed a great deal of the singing, it seems. We had just started speaking of those who had performed best. But I do not think you mentioned anything that would cause discomfort so far. Did something untoward occur?"

To anyone else but me that is.

/ooc Kogo has no idea of what is getting herself into with that question.

[Asako Yuki]

"Quite so," she laughed. "I almost hope the Iuchi will test the breadth of our knowledge, as I feel confident I could win at such a challenge, but I understand that it not nescessarily a fun challenge for everyone. And I suspect the Moto will offer something more physical tomorrow."

She cast a glance at Butaj and Yuuru. Those two would probably do well if the competition was to be unarmed combat that the Moto seemed to enjoy.

"I have been well," she nodded. "But I suppose the bigger question is how you have been?" There was some concern in the Hare's voice, but she did not speak her concerns out loud, considering the rather public scene they were in.

"They may. I do not know much about the Iuchi, other than that they are the shugenja of the Unicorn and they are keen on their fetishes." Yuki explained it as best she could. She was no scholar or shugenja to though.

Yuki nodded in agreement with the expectation that the final Moto challenge would be a physical one. "I have my own hopes for that that may be, but we will have to see, I suppose."

The question from Tomoe got a small smile from Yuki. "I've been much better, thank you." She glanced at Butaj again. "And I'm... well... I want to learn more about what I didn't know." She blushed. "Once the miai is over.". She added, hopefully low enough that she wouldn't be overheard.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Oh my~! Tomoe fanned herself, and to onlookers it probably looked casual, even if she wanted to do it faster to keep her mind occupied on something more proper.

"That's good. Uhm, I mean, wanting to learn more, I mean..." her cheeks flushed a little too. "... If you're interested in reading, there are some... literary works of romance that could maybe shed some light on the subject for you?"

It sounded so much better in her head, even when in her head it had been: wanna borrow a pillowbook?!

[Asako Hirase]

Yue shook her head. "It is not as common as I have led you to believe. I originally trained with my Family." She closed her fan for a brief moment and pointed it to her missing arm. The fan then went back over her lips. "I trained with the Moto after my injuries. Their techniques allowed me to fight despite the impediment."

"Ah, that makes sense." He nodded, not going into the usual condescending 'oh, you're so brave' that he was sure she'd hearde a hundred times before. Instead, he offered, "We see that sometimes when mystic ability appears in a child late. Most of t he time, the Isawa can tell before schooling age, but every now and then someone is a late bloomer. Thankfull there is enough synergy between most of the paths we walk that early learning is no drawback to what a child must know before he or she is allowed to take their Name. "

[Seppun Aramoro]

Aramoro noticed the fare Miya in a shaken state, chatter was abound with what had happened and the situation that she was in. He strolled over to her in a calm manner.

Hew took a deep bow: "Miya-san" He turns and looks across the crowd of other samurai waving his face with his newly crafted fan. "It seems the love ballads stirred many an emotion, some unwanted. It takes an honourable samurai to stand up for what is proper in the face of many that are drunk on emotion."

[Miya Mei]

Mei turned to the man and returned the bow.

"Hello, Seppun-san. The event is certainly something you would not see in the Empire. We are guests though, it would be rude to not participate. However..."

Mei glances back toward Otaku Kitakuhime

"One would think when someone tries to give guidance on how to deal with the fallout that is sure to come, they would listen instead of take offense and throw insults."

Mei lets out a sharp breath and crosses her arms across her chest.

[Seppun Aramoro]

He nods in recognition: "I have had the very same debate with an Asako-monk a couple of days prior. It seems some forget that the Unicorn has been accepted into Rokugan, and not the other way around. I heard that there was a fallout between yourself and a more... senior member of the Unicorn. Would you like to speak about it?"

[Miya Mei]

Mei looks to the ground for a moment and then at the Seppun.

"I went to tell the three women who had sang about love to another woman that their songs would be interpreted quite poorly. I wanted to explain to them in private, as you and I are now, away from the crowd, how many could take offense, even more so than the already offensive outward displays we are all performing."

"It was my intention to give a quick lesson on how to speak to those who might approach the women with accusations. How to defend themselves properly with words, and portray the matter in a positive light. We all have heard the rumors lately that have drug the Unicorn name through the mud. I wanted to assist them here and now, to help prevent further shame."

Mei motions to Kitakuhime.

"Then she stepped in my way. Demanded I only discuss with her, and tomorrow. Stating her rank within the Otaku gave her authority over all the Unicorn, and she would then tell her subordinates in the Moto and Shinjo. She was arguing with me about the seriousness, and that what they had done was not offensive."

Another deep, sharp breath is let out.

"Most of all, she refused to discuss with me in private, preventing all of us the discretion that was much needed for the topic. My honor has been fully sullied by her, and I do not think she is a very capable leader. My words were harsh and I issued a challenge. She then was offended by my own cutting remarks, and has demanded the duel be to death."

Mei shakes her head.

"Naturally, I refused, but she has pressed the issue. I will await the decision of Ide Dabo-sama, but the heavens must intervene now, as words no longer can."

[Kitsu Takashi]

"Yes, Yasuki-San was just telling me if the pieces that I missed. I arrived late and missed a great deal of the singing, it seems. We had just started speaking of those who had performed best. But I do not think you mentioned anything that would cause discomfort so far. Did something untoward occur?"

To anyone else but me that is.

/ooc Kogo has no idea of what is getting herself into with that question.

Takashi smiles like a cat who's just been asked by a naive mouse what she should watch out for. He nods his head a couple of times, chuckling a bit.

He composes himself before speaking, though a small grin remains. "It is unfair, perhaps, to use our standard for 'untoward.' Yasuki-sama is right that a miai probably features more emotion than young samurai can fully control. Even more emotion here, where so many new and different things are just being introduced." He looks around.

"But if even a portion of the 'rumors'are true, it seems a saddening number of samurai did not come here with sufficient focus on their duty to clan and family. And that general impression will be difficult to erase for many of us." He takes another drink, but it's clearly a small one.

"But," he says forcefully. "We should all redouble our attention to duty in the remaining days, no? If we begin well, we must carry that forward." He stops. "Unlike my singing performance," he says with a self deprecating chuckle.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Yes, Yasuki-San was just telling me if the pieces that I missed. I arrived late and missed a great deal of the singing, it seems. We had just started speaking of those who had performed best. But I do not think you mentioned anything that would cause discomfort so far. Did something untoward occur?"

To anyone else but me that is.

/ooc Kogo has no idea of what is getting herself into with that question.

Takashi smiles like a cat who's just been asked by a naive mouse what she should watch out for. He nods his head a couple of times, chuckling a bit.

He composes himself before speaking, though a small grin remains. "It is unfair, perhaps, to use our standard for 'untoward.' Yasuki-sama is right that a miai probably features more emotion than young samurai can fully control. Even more emotion here, where so many new and different things are just being introduced." He looks around.

"But if even a portion of the 'rumors'are true, it seems a saddening number of samurai did not come here with sufficient focus on their duty to clan and family. And that general impression will be difficult to erase for many of us." He takes another drink, but it's clearly a small one.

"But," he says forcefully. "We should all redouble our attention to duty in the remaining days, no? If we begin well, we must carry that forward." He stops. "Unlike my singing performance," he says with a self deprecating chuckle.

Kogo notes the chuckling and is unsure of how to respond, particularly with her own gaffes on her mind. "I suspect that for some, it is a time of great chance. Gempukku is accomplished, we are adults. But there is still a great deal to learn. " She nods at his words on duty. "You speak wisely Kitsu-san."

[Moto Butaj]

Yuuru nodded, "I'm sure wherever you'll go you'll thrive Moto-san. You've shown yourself to be quite diverse in your skills during this miai."

"Oh?" Butaj thinks if the praise is really deserved. "Butaj thinks it's been mostly fighting and music." Some of the sidelong glances from Yuki reach him. He does not make the connection between Tomoe's fanwork and the likely topic, remembering that fans when used were meant to obscure honest feelings, and it fit the mental image of Tomoe. But since Yuki talks to her she must have some nice qualities. Everything has nice qualities today. "And you, do you have good following here?" Butaj hasn't heard a song for Yuuru, but then some girls haven't sung.

[Soshi Yuuru]

He smiled and shook his head, "I doubt to the same level that you do. I have a few options though, people I'd be comfortable with choosing. But I'm low enough in the pile that I doubt I'll get to be making my first picks easily."

[Seppun Aramoro]

His eyes widened at the suggestion of a shi-duel, that made it seem more serious than it sounded. He knew mostly of what had happened, but hearing it from the person themselves was more accurate.

"Indeed, her actions might have made you seem impotent as an Imperial representative and in front of other clansmen no less. Her harsh reaction means she must have felt the same. It seems both parties believe they have been wronged, only Tengoku can decide then if not a magistrate."

He remains silent for the thought to set in.

"Have you thought about how to approach a shi-duel Miya-san?"

[Miya Mei]

Mei shakes her head.

"Truth? This is the first the topic has ever came up, and I have participated in many duels."

Again the woman looks to the ground.

"It...It really makes me realize how much weight carrying my blade has, and the recourse for ill spoken words."

She is silent for a few moments.

"But should Ide-sama agree to Otaku-sama's request, I will not fail my Sensei. I will just need to angle my wrist in slightly instead of outward as usual, and she will fall."