(D1, LA) Exchange Program

[Seppun Hideo]

"It is an honour to meet Moto-san, Tonbo-sama" Hideo said with a more correct bow to each "I sadly have had little time to learn to perform music, but the performing arts have been something I had look forward to seeing from the Unicorn. I was even speaking to one of your kin earlier a Moto...Barter? Who has become interested in learning the performing arts of Rokugan, so it appears this feeling is mutual."

He looked at the man again, studying him.

"Are either of you rained in the performing arts?"

[Moto Butaj]

"Seppun Hideo, the important man of the Emperor, must have met Moto Bataar. Bataar is a good, strong name. Many Unicorn have the name."

Pleasantries just go over Butaj's head so he focuses on the question. He looks at the Imperial without demureness.

"Butaj can sing and play instruments and tell stories and do other entertaining things like bariqu or funny tricks. This is a natural gift of Butaj."

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa listened to them both before offering a polite smile in both their direction one at a time. "I will confirm that Moto-san can sing and play well Seppun-san. He accompanied me before your arrival, and he played well at the opening ceremony as well."

She had looked generally toward Butaj at that, but directed herself in Hideo's direction now. "I have not found the time for the more physically precise art of an instrument, but I have some little in singing. For a woman such as myself minna-san, such is perhaps the most noble of arts, accompanied by poetry recital and storytelling."

[Moto Butaj]

"Tonbo Misa sings beautifully, Butaj was amazed." The Unicorn corroborates quickly with a vigorous nod.

[Seppun Hideo]

"A storyteller as well as all of those musical skills, Moto-san? You sound like quite the artistic talent" Hideo said with a respectful nod "what kind of stories does Moto-san tell? And pray tell, what is...Baraque?"

A pause as the Tonbo spoke. A smile at her confirmation, as he added "if Tonbo-sama sings your praises, I have little reason to question either of you. The same as for Moto-san confirming the talents of Tonbo-sama. A musician and a singer, brought together on the first day of a miai. The Fortunes work in mysterious ways, neh?" he chuckled.

"Perhaps another performance is due?"

[Moto Butaj]

"BA-RI-QU is the Moto art of wrestling."

Butaj is quick to explain.

"And Butaj is ready for a performance any time. He is only worried if Tonbo Misa and Butaj have a song they both know!"

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa gave a small nod. "I am not the sort to turn down such opportunities, though I am no master singer. Perhaps if Moto-San were to try a melody, I could find something to go over it and entertain us all?"

Her head tilted in curiosity, which doubled as her showing she was listening.

[Moto Butaj]

"Butaj can do that."

Butaj nods decisively and with his agile fingers brings the strings of topshur to reverberate as he wishes. He chooses a slower one so that the Dragon can adjust easier.

(Tune!)

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo falls into silence as the Moto starts playing a traditional Unicorn song.

For a man that looks so barbaric, he plays so well. Should hand him to the Crane, they'll turn him into something presentable.

He smiled.

Would be fun to watch them struggle with it also...

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa kept her head tilted slightly in listening a moment before she nodded and started to sing.

Falcon in the sky,
Watch it fly so high
On the summer breeze

Rabbit down below
Little does it know
What the falcon sees

Soaring down fast, toward the ground
The hunter making no sound
As it stalks it's prey

The rabbit sits, in the grass
As it let's the long day pass
Why wouldn't it stay?

To the east, on a long road
A lone man on a horse slowed
As that summer breeze went by

He thought of his wife
Who had lost her life
On a summer day like this

Paused, then on he went
Only moment's spent
Dwelling on their last sweet kiss

Spotting a distant falcon
He smiled bright as he went on
Seeing it as a good sign

Did the rabbit live?
Or manage to give
One more day to its short life?

The man could not know
Which just goes to show
The world goes on despite strife

Misa gave a bow to show Butaj she'd finished.

[Seppun Hideo]

Perhaps these two would be the better suited couple...they compliment each other well. She's smart and courtly, he's a mindless warrior

Hideo waited for them to finish, a smile on his face, giving them both a deep bow.

"That was quite wonderful mina-sama! So many years apart, yet within a number of hours back together the united samurai of the empire can harmonize like they'd barely been away from each other. I am truly blessed to have been able to enjoy such a performance."

[Moto Butaj]

Butaj closes his eyes and sways sideways to the rhythm of Misa's verses, taking in her voice and the song it conveys. His features relax and when he opens his eyes again, his gaze is melancholic as he looks at the blind girl and instinctively nods back.

"The wonder is Tonbo Misa. Butaj is just himself." He avers looking at the Imperial without a gram of dishonesty.

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa gave a silent laugh into the palm of her hand. "Seppun-san is too kind, and Moto-san too humble. The song was a simple take on an old lesson I was taught, and would have had no heart to it without the music. All the same, arigato minna-san." She gave another bow as she looked between them both, vaguely.

[Seppun Hideo]

Of course her musical ability was greater...

Hideo kept his thoughts to himself.

"Moto-san is a talented musician" he nodded in agreement with Misa "the pieces together are what make the performance more special. I hope to hear more from both of you in the future."

He looked to the more important one - the girl.

"How have you found your time here so far Tonbo-sama?"

[Tonbo Misa]

Misa gave a bow of her head. "The land is quite lovely Seppun-san, and my earlier meetings were pleasant. It is still just the beginning, but if the rest of my time here is spent as well as the start, I will have no complaints. And how about your own time Seppun-san?"