Stretching legs (Late Morning Day 1)

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Oh. Damn. Sorry." Tomonaga's face fell a little.

But only for a few moments. He brightened again, optimistically. "I'm sure they'll be able to find something for you. Crab bushi often get injured really badly, and they still have a place." It's not always as much to their taste, though, he realized.

If Akil's cup was still elevated, Tomonaga would pour him a little more sake. "Do you think you'll be able to fight again? Or... do you have other interests?"

[Shinjo Akil]

He shook his head, "the physicians said that the wound was deeper than could fully be recovered. And a wounded bushi is a liability. I have been working with the Ide to learn a new way of service. They think with my skill with the flute, I may have a future as an artisan."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Mmmm." Tomonaga gave the barest of winces. "Sounds rough. Flute, though, huh?" He glances at the instrument. "That's certainly something. A lot of the Clans really respect musical ability."

He looked thoughtful. "Have you heard, err, non-Unicorn musicians play? I'll bet a lot of samurai would be interested in hearing Unicorn music. It's probably different from what we have here." He shrugs. "Don't know that I'd be able to tell the difference myself. I'll compare kumis and sake, instead."

[Shinjo Akil]

"I was counting on that," he laughed, "I thought that if someone was impressed enough with my music, I could get by here."

He shook his head, "I have never met a non-Unicorn before today, truth be told. Congratulations on being the first." He considered, "I am sure there are differences, so I do look forward to discovering them."

[Asako Sayuri]

Morning prayers complete, Sayuri detours, predictably to the fields, hoping against all reason that the Unicorn are late risers. Gawking is quite unbecoming after all, and her first look at Unicorn steeds in action will certainly involve some gawking.

Her hopes proved ill-placed, but as she approached, she noted something she thought she would not see at a miai: two men speaking to each other. One seemed vaguely familiar, in the way that all spoiled rich people seem vaguely familiar. The other seemed to fall into his horse's shadow, but Sayuri was hesitant to ascribe that to his own bearing or her borderline-myopic focus.

It was times like this when Sayuri was thankful for her small frame. Perhaps they wouldn't notice her, and the Shinjo would spur the fabulous beast into a run, and the gust of air would tug at her kimono as she watched them recede, hooves pounding clouds of dust into a nimbus that melded horse and rider into one...

Unfortunately, her consideration of what might be led her to ignore what is, and before long a conversational lul had both men's heads turned directly towards her.

"Oh, forgive me Shinjo-san, Yasuki-sama! I thought to walk the fields after morning payers, and seem to have gotten lost in thought."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga smiled. "Hey, I'm the first!" He bowed. "You're not quite the first Unicorn I've met, but the first that I've exchanged more than two words with. So, close enough."

The arrival of a slight young Phoenix caused him to turn. His lips parted, ready to greet her... but was she even looking at him? Or at Akil? She hardly seemed aware the two of them were there at all. He flashes a quick glance at Akil, gauging his reaction.

The moment passed. "Not at all, Asako-san." Tomonaga said, his tone cheerful. "My name is Yasuki Tomonaga. My friend here is Shinjo Akil." He looked expectantly back at the Phoenix, his eyes curious.

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil offered a bow to the Asako woman, then tapped the horse which seemed to cue it to do the same (or at least bow it's head as a trained reaction). "Ah, Asako-sama. This one is honored to make your acquaintance on this day." Please let the Crab know his heraldry. PLEEAAAASSSSSEEEEE

The horse just snorted.

[Asako Sayuri]

Quickly trying to regain her focus, Sayuri realized she needed a topic...preferably not what she had been thinking about before.

"The honor is all mine, Yasuki-sama, Shinjo-san. I am Asako Sayuri, a minor priestess of the Phoenix. The kami in these lands, they feel different, yet warmly familiar, much like our newly returned cousins. Wouldn't you agree Yasuki-sama?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"I can agree on part of that, Asako-san." Tomonaga said agreeably. "Different, yet warmly familiar seems like a nice way to describe the Unicorn. As for the kami, well, I'll have to take your word on that. I'd certainly like to think it's true, though."

He produces another cup from the folds of his kimono. "I don't know kami, but Akil and I were just sharing a taste of my family's sake. Would you care to join us?"

[Asako Sayuri]

"Oh, I am glad you can scrutinize Lady Sun's so much better than I, Yasuki-sama. You offer your family's vintage so generously, Yasuki-sama, how could I refuse?"

She takes the proffered cup and sips delicately.

"To bring water and air together so harmoniously, your family must be renown across the Empire."

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil simply smiled for the moment. What they were talking about was so much preferable than the previous conversation, and the distraction gave him an extra opportunity to really taste the sake.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"... what?" But the accepted offer supersedes his confusion; Tomonaga pours some of the sake. He is further distracted as the horse, too, bows, Tomonaga's expression brightening even further.

He bows at the complement. "That's very kind of you to say so, Asako-san. If you've heard of Golden Carp sake before, then yes. If you haven't, I guess we need to be doing a better job, eh?" He gives another bow, more just inclining his head. "But we were also admiring the view. And I was admiring Setem, here." He jerks his head towards the horse. "What do you think of both?"

[Asako Sayuri]

"In many ways, I see no distinction, Yasuki-sama."

Sayuri steps back, the better to frame the Shinjo-horse pair against the scenic backdrop.

"Can you not see the work of heaven here, Yasuki-sama? The harmony of the samurai astride his mount, the mount in perfect service to his lord, the grass, in perfect service to the mount, and Lady Sun humbling herself in perfect service to the grass; to the least among us. And the samurai atop it all? He too bows in supplication to heaven's glory, knowing that he is but a part of the divine order."

"Oh, and your sake is fine, but I have indeed not heard of the Golden Carp before."

She takes another sip of sake.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga looks at the plains. Then he looks at the horse. Then he looks back at the plains. Then back to the horse. Then at Akil. And finally at Sayuri. "If you say so, Asako-san!" He says cheerfully.

He shrugs, seemingly unfazed. "Well, now you've heard of it, anyway. Maybe I should talk with my parents about distribution in Phoenix lands."

Tomonaga hesitates, looking back and forth between Sayuri and Akil. This was a miai, after all. Should he make himself scarce?

[Shinjo Akil]

Akil blinked, half in confusion. He realized that, indirectly it might be a compliment towards him. But his eyes tried to follow everything she was saying, and admittedly he was a bit lost. So he activated the time honored technique of smile and nod, smile and nod.