Scary Stories to Tell In the Dark (D2, LE, Closed)

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun closes her eyes and allows the music to flow over her, she was not the most talented at such things but she did enjoy music and dance. She hums along lightly but not terribly in tune or in harmony.

[Asako Hirase]

Courtier that he was, Hirase had been brought up to appreciate the arts. His posting since his gempukku had broadened his 'ear' to appreciate a far wider range of instrumentation and modal structure than most Rokugani could ever appreciate. This instrument was new to him and he listened, intently, as Butaj began to play.

The initial drone drew a tiny frown from the man but it soon eased as melody arose, shifting into an expression of true appreciation by the end.

"Lovely. Is this a Moto's instrument or something picked up from another culture on the way?"

[Moto Khulun]

"Butaj has good instrument, it is known," she says with a drunken laugh.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"As long as I can remember it has been with the Moto."

Chi-Pu opens her eyes and takes another drink of the Kumis, then hands the container to Hirase

"Do you play anything? Or sing?"

Chi-Pu's eyes are dilated now and her face flush, making her normally pink from makeup blush cheeks a more rosy red in color.

[Asako Hirase]

Hirase accepted the flask, along with the fact that he was going to be dead to the world in not much time, with a wry smile.

"I am not formally trained in either of those, though I do sing for my own enjoyment. There is a particular valley near my home which is naturally shaped so that it amplifies sound. One of the local Isawa thinks there may be a kami or small Fortune in the stone there with a love of music that shaped it so. I go there, at times, to enjoy the spectacle."

He took a drink, smooth as silk, knowing he was doomed but not really caring.

"Mostly, I share tales. And write books. Well...treatises. And I don't write the finals, that's what Eriko is for, when she's not watching the boy at least."

[Moto Butaj]

"The instrument is made by the Moto - see the horsehead here? - though Butaj is aware of similar ones played all across the Burning Sands. This is important becuase Butaj can play the compositions on those too, and he often does." Butaj is happy with the reactions, and smirks at Khulan's comment, poking her playfully in the foot with the tip of the khur bow. He the listens to Hirase, interested in things Phoenix.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"A Kami of Music? I wonder if..."

Chi-Pu yawns

"If you sang well enough, it would perform magic for you.."

She looks at Butaj and points

"You'd get it to do magic I bet, Butaj!"

She giggles a little and looks at Hirase

"I..I don't usually drink, Asako-san. Must be an example you see. Other Shiotome just girls...Need strong.."

Chi-Pu yawns again.

"Need strong leader. Like Moto-san!"

She points to Khulun

"Moto Khulun, Wielder of Massacre, Slayer of Oni!"

[Asako Hirase]

"Me neither." The Asako was, for his part, the sort of person who became extra careful of everything when drunk, speech included. His words were slower and more carefully pronounced accordingly. "Even before my son, I didn't, and now? Almost never."

Turning back to the Moto, he said, "A good instrument is a wonderful thing. One of the gifts Doji-no-Kami had from Kakita was an instrument. Did that story go with you when you left? I expect Shinjo-no-Kami knew it..."

[Moto Khulun]

"I..I don't usually drink, Asako-san. Must be an example you see. Other Shiotome just girls...Need strong.."

Chi-Pu yawns again.

"Need strong leader. Like Moto-san!"

She points to Khulun

"Moto Khulun, Wielder of Massacre, Slayer of Oni!"

Khulun holds up Massacre nestled in his sheathe and gives a shrill ululation in response to the warm words of the Otaku and then says, “The Otaku are Lightning, the Moto the Thunder!”

[Asako Hirase]

"You know, thunder isn't that fearsome." Frowning thoughtfully, Hirase glanced at Khulun. "Loud but no substance. Moto are better than that. Maybe the Moto should be the Typhoon...or the Flood..."

Blinking, he asked the group, "What else is dangerous that goes along with storms that is...cavalry-ish?"

[Moto Butaj]

"We are the storm in the desert, the tempest across the plains, the gale that bends the grass of the steppe to the very ground!" It was Butaj's time to ululate wildly!

[Asako Hirase]

"That...is very good." Hirase saluted a little, using something he'd seen a Shiba offer to a commanding officer once. "Bit long, but...poetic."

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Chi-Pu smiles at Butaj.

"Hmm...How about..."

Chi-Pu thinks hard.

"TEMPEST!"

She blurts out suddenly, giggling again.

"The Moto are the Tempest and the Otaku the Lightning!"

She frowns, shaking her head.

"No...it doesn't sound right. Khulun's rolls off the tongue.."

Chi-Pu takes another sip and hiccups quietly.

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj takes the skin from Chi-pu and drinks heftily before passing it to Hirase with a nod of gratitude for appreciating his contribution. "Sayyeda Khulun's words are meant for battle! Lady Otaku was a true Thunder though." The mention of poetry bores in Butaj and he suddenly recalls the only piece of old Rokugani poetry he remembers from the stories once told to him.

"Shinjo, fleet and fair
She was never where she stood
Her soul the fifth wind"

Butaj grins. "Other families are the other four!"

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun chuckles and says, "Butaj that is beautiful poetry, well said."