D5 [LE] Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll! (OPEN)

[Usagi Tsukimi]

Seeing Tsukimi up dancing inspired the newly arrived Bantu and he too let the music carry him away. He tried to fit his dancing style to match the Usagi's, as he had never seen such a laid back performance he assumed it wasn't a traditional Hare Clan dance (with how energetic they normally were).

He thought the change might have been due to the somber nature of the gathering, so he mimicked her movements as best he could.

D5 LE. Let's Dance...2CR TN20: 5d10o10k3-1 21

Her movements come to a close and she finds she is being shadowed. By a Scorpion? Looking flushed and surprised, she smoothes dark hair back from her face, and looks at him when she comes to a halt.

"Soshi-san. You surpass my talents. I embarrass myself when I hope to explore an expression of grief. I apologize." She bows lowly, solemnly, and sighs when she straightens.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"More than just my people, my fellow cousin actually." She gestured to Bayushi Suteichi and where he was currently found in the performance with her layered sleeve. "Have you met, Bayushi Suteichi-san, by chance? He's the one that made it all possible with hard work and apparently a keen eye for talent. It seems like a great success so far."

She chuckled on a light note. "I don't know if this is my own element, I was just hoping to provide some moral support! It's just a happy coincidence that I've run into you as well! How have you've been? It seems almost more like weeks, than days!"

"I have not met him." Saksaha makes herself a little taller by rising halfway up on her booted toes to get a better look at Suteichi across the crowd. She raises an eyebrow and comments, "Pretty and musical. I think the Shinjo and Otaku girls must like him."

"Yes, you are right, it seems longer." She nods thoughtfully. "I am still well. I hope you have settled in too, Bayushi-san. And also, I hope, found that most of us are better hosts than our rude vassal in the wool coat who you met before."

[Soshi Bantu]

Her movements come to a close and she finds she is being shadowed. By a Scorpion? Looking flushed and surprised, she smoothes dark hair back from her face, and looks at him when she comes to a halt.

"Soshi-san. You surpass my talents. I embarrass myself when I hope to explore an expression of grief. I apologize." She bows lowly, solemnly, and sighs when she straightens.

"You are too hard on yourself by far Usagi-san. Without such a competent lead, I would've hardly known how to follow. I am Soshi Bantu, and it's a pleasure to meet another with such a passion for the art of dance."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Otaku and Shinjo?" She said in surprise as she tried to do what Saksaha did with her boots but lacked the height advantage of her conversation partner. "That's pretty curious! He must have gotten more popular sincr last time I spoke to him, diversifying from the Shinjo. Not surprising, seeing how popular he is!"

"Much better!" She quipped with a small chuckle. "Ive had a pleasant time acquainting myself with your Clan, everyone is pretty amicable and friendly. I have to say that your cousin did a good job of helping me understand the Unicorn too."

[Moto Khulun]

Already by her horse, she departs.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Otaku and Shinjo?" She said in surprise as she tried to do what Saksaha did with her boots but lacked the height advantage of her conversation partner. "That's pretty curious! He must have gotten more popular sincr last time I spoke to him, diversifying from the Shinjo. Not surprising, seeing how popular he is!"

"Much better!" She quipped with a small chuckle. "Ive had a pleasant time acquainting myself with your Clan, everyone is pretty amicable and friendly. I have to say that your cousin did a good job of helping me understand the Unicorn too."

"I mean, those two Families have a like taste in beauty. Moto girls... many like more, um, rugged boys," Saksaha explains, swallowing a giggle. "If your cousin has particular friends, I do not know who, though I would not doubt it!"

"My cousin?" She tilts her head and returns her eyes to Hotaru with a curiously raised brow. "Which one?"

[Shinjo Taichi]

She listened intently to him. "One always hopes for better days, does one not? Even a samurai must retire. And though he might wish to die a glorious death, I think it is easier to do so, than to live after another has died in such a way." She sips her sake, glad for something to soothe her heart.

He nodded in agreement. "The living must honour the dead, but not be bound by them. We can only do what we can do." He seemed to find a measure of peace in the statement.

Kogo looks to the dancers and notes the joy they are finding. She sees in a moment, the possibilities that exist that she alone is denying herself. Mourning Otaku Chi-pu would not bring her back. She looks to Shinjo Taichi, drinking himself. I suspect we are all nursing our own hidden grief. But maybe...maybe it could be different. She looked at the Shinjo and said, "Shinjo-san, what do your people say about death and mourning?"

He smiled softly. "For us, mourning as an expression of grief is not something to be lingered on. Death has been all too common for us over the years. We are a clan that moves, and can't afford to be tied down by such things." He gestures around to the dancers and the music, lingering on Butaj. Aware that she was already taking it all in. "This is much more fitting. Remember them, celebrate the good that they did, and carry only these thoughts forward. They're much lighter."

He paused for a moment, then looked back to her. "I must apologise to you Matsu-san. I think I have been a little taken aback by this and acted poorly. Thank you for putting me back onto he right path." He smiled sincerely.

[Bayushi Suteichi]

Suteichi was tired but he started a new song and looked to his other fellow musicians to accompany him for the final number.

---------------
song

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj waits until Khulun concludes her business with Suteichi and rejoins the dance but when she departs he is without a partner, so he falls off from the dancer and grabs back one of his instruments to rejoin the ensemble.

(Butaj is chattable if anyone cares!)

[Matsu Kogo]

He nodded in agreement. "The living must honour the dead, but not be bound by them. We can only do what we can do." He seemed to find a measure of peace in the statement.

He paused for a moment, then looked back to her. "I must apologise to you Matsu-san. I think I have been a little taken aback by this and acted poorly. Thank you for putting me back onto he right path." He smiled sincerely.

She shakes her head. "I was also in a less than optimal frame of mind. But I find that this music has reminded me as well of the importance of life and the ebb and flow of it all. I am glad to help you, even as I have found my own way back." She looks at him again. "It is good to see the others lifting their spirits as well." She sips her sake slower, enjoying the warmth instead of searching for solace. Life is life, whether bitter or sweet. I will not fear the experience or the loss. She notices her Matsu kinsman's dancing. "That is one who has lost himself in his art, along with the others. I have not seen dancing like this in some time."

[Shinjo Taichi]

Taichi smiled, inwardly laughing a little at the tiny Matsu dancing together with the Moto.
"I was reminded by my lord before attending this miai that many of those from other clans may see some of us as crude and barbaric. It seems that may not always be a bad thing. Release can be important from time to time, and there are some things that can't be experienced without setting aside worries for a time." So saying, he discarded the empty bottle and pulled out another one, offering some to the her before pouring for himself. To someone who was paying attention - which he was not -this was obviously shochu, not sake.

[Matsu Kogo]

She smiles at him. "You may be different, but I do not see you as barbaric. There is value there, if potential for conflict and misunderstanding." She nods and offers her cup. "But there is also potential for learning. And that is what I hope we can all do." She sips the cup, and hides her surprise at the shochu. "Ahh shochu! I have not had this often."

[Shinjo Taichi]

"Sho..." he sniffs the drink, then takes a drink with a very small grimace. "ah, yes. Someone offered me a number of different beverages a while back, so I purchased them all. It has been an... interesting experience. You've had a chance to taste kumis, I assume?" He begins to pat himself down, seeing if he has any kumis to offer if she wanted some.

[Matsu Kogo]

She nods but waves her hand. "I have not but I am content with shochu. Have you tried plum wine yet? It is sweeter and more had in moderation, but also enjoyable. "

[Shinjo Taichi]

Thinking is taking him a little while at the moment. "I... have... not? At least I don't think so. Who makes it, Crane? I've heard they like sweet things. What do Lions usually drink?" He pauses for a moment. "Not lions the animals, the - your - clan. The animals probably don't drink alcohol." ...or do they? hrmm...