Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 6, 2014 12:57:00 GMT
OOC: As promised, this is a sub-thread of Kaneka's Wedding, for fun purposes only. It also will make a transition as the last "event" before the wedding ceremony. There are no planned plot twists so far, but feel free to introduce some if you feel like.
All the PC were invited either by Satomi or by the Bride and her retinue. The Bride will make sure Kurizumon Te was invited as well.
With the evening the peace returned to the surrounds of Yasuki Yashiki, the sudden peasant riot suppressed for now (at least for today), and the commoners kept away from the main road to the castle. As Kaiu Satomi mentioned, later in the day some selected people received official invitations for the private party held by the bride.
For what they grasped from the custom, it was a moment when the Crab bride had the opportunity of being pampered, celebrated and gifted by her closest friends with performances or gifts made by themselves. Being the Crab, this party format possessed an irreverent and humorous tone, and was expected to be free of loss of face, due its nature.
Also, it was supposed to be the last public appearance of a Crab bride before the wedding ceremony.
The guests were taken to an elegantly decorated hall. There weren't many people present, as the event was a very exclusive one, and the guests present were comfortably reclined in cushions, with finger food and sake being served in large amounts by Yasuki servants. A small stage occupied a corner of the room, and an improvised play was being performed in the moment they went in. It was a "Kabuto draw lot" play, with some friends of the bride taking roles in a comic play with a nonsense plot. Nevertheless, the caricaturesque display was getting laughters from the viewers.
The Bride was reclined in cushions as well, richly dressed and sporting a courteous, if not spontaneous, smile. Sometimes, a true laughter sprouted on her lips, but a good observer could tell something was shadowing her fun. Geishas were rubbing aromatic oils in her feet and hands, but she wasn't drinking or eating, as her companions. At her side, Hida Reiha, a lot more content, was drinking tea and watching the amateur spectacle, her pregnant belly still a discrete feature in the Hida daimyo's figure, but not at all a concealed one.
The majority of the guests were Crab, and they're truly enjoying the relaxed moment. Having hands and feet rubbed by masseuses or geishas seemed to be part of the entertainment, as did the sake.
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 6, 2014 15:03:35 GMT
Asako Chisato is yet again dragged away from his calligraphy set by his karo, who demanded that he mingle with as many single women as honor would allow.
In Chisato's biased opinion that meant none, but when the karo threatened to talk to the nakodo about marrying him to her, he relented.
He arrived at the party in the best kimono that phoenix money could buy. Lavishly decorated with orange and red tassels, as if to suggest a flowing fire at his steps. And of course, his favorite hat, also tasseled.
He bows upon arrival, and while his first instinct was to go to the bride, he saw the crab clan champion there and instead looked elsewhere for entertainment, deciding to enjoy picking out who the actors were in the draw lot play. A Hiruma from Kyuden Kaiu here, a former ronin now Hida stationed on the wall there. He smiled and enjoyed the play. His karo however brought him a lady to speak to, Chisato looked at her and bowed politely, hoping someone would rescue him from this conversation before it began.
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 6, 2014 18:37:43 GMT
Daidoji Kousei was currently a man of severely conflicted feelings. He was enjoying the party - the play was fun, the geisha were highly skilled, and the food delicious. However, he was discombobulated to be in the company of Hida Reiha, and half of him wanted to stay close and keep an eye on her while the other half wanted to stay as far away from her as possibe.
This was somehat rendered moot by the fact that he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from the bride. Every time she laughed or spoke to one of her companions he was struck by the way her lips moved, or the gracefulness of her hands as the oils were rubbed into them. He had expected her to be beautiful, but he hadn't expected... this.
He saw Chisato across the room and waved at him distractedly. The Asako daimyo was with a young lady and while ordinarily Kousei would have found great entertainment in going to watch their conversation, tonight it didn't seem like such a great idea.
In a moment of madness, Kousei stood up from where he was reclining and moved over to where Nozomi lay.
"Are you not hungry, my lady? The food is exquisite."
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 7, 2014 0:29:35 GMT
Kurimuzon Te slowly enters the room. Looking around he see many of the elite of the empire, not what he expected when he received the invitation from 'little sister'. Seeing a samurai speaking with the lady, he carefully makes his way to an empty corner and sits down to watch the activities.
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Post by The Storyteller on Mar 7, 2014 11:42:21 GMT
posting as: Nozomi YasukiWhen the Daidoji approached to Lady Nozomi, it coincidently synched with the end of the play, and the Bride suddenly straightened to lead a tejime applause: OTE-WO-HAISHAKU! SANBO-JIME! YOH! Guests obliged, in a shower of banzai and congratulations. The Hida daimyo looked at him, curious, and gave him a subtle but gracious smile. Nobody would really prevent him of being gallant or even inconvenient. Not this evening. Tomorrow, if the Crane insisted in flirting with a married woman, it would be Kaneka's problem. Convince me...! Yasuki Nozomi giggled, turning to the Crane, and graciously showing the stage. I'd love to receive a present of a brave Daidoji warrior today… Then, I accept a food of your choice.Yes, show us your art! Show us your art, Daidoji-sama! A chorus incited by a Crab man started.
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 7, 2014 11:59:55 GMT
Is my karo an idiot? Chisato thought distractedly as he continued to speak to the Yasuki she had introduced him too. It took Chisato a small while to figure out who she was. She was a young merchant, part of the Yasuki kuge no-less. And Chisato happened to know for a fact- married to a former Utaku male.
His eyes landed on his karo, who smiled back, he returned to his conversation with the Yasuki. "How is your husband, Yasuki san?"
He glanced back at his Karo, and saw her smile falter for just a moment. But she did not give up easy it seemed, and was already looking around for another potential candidate. So Chisato resolved to keep talking to this Yasuki, you can't marry a married woman after all!
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 7, 2014 13:22:15 GMT
After such hard day, all Satomi needed was some sake and a relaxing time, ignoring everything else outside the party, but she, of course, couldn't really permit herself to relax totally. But pretending to be drunken was her favorite performance, and she enjoyed some cups of drink without refraining herself. After a while she reached the stage with two other Crab shireikan, a man a a woman. She was dressed in a luxurious white and dark blue kimono and enough make up to enhance her appearance, something that effectively differed from her usual self. Well, then... uhn... Zumi-chan, our Lady Nozomi, says she always wished to watch my legendary performance on the 57's Bon Odori, which is accounted from that day on, as an essential part of my power of convincement over my troops, when I was shireikan. I told her I'd try to repeat the feat at her wedding, but, to say the truth... all I know about my performance is what others told me.
Her speech got a banzai and lots of comments and laughs. Anyway... I hope my powers of improvisation didn't abandon me today. Hiruma Takamo and Hida Suemi will help me with the kakegoe.
What follows is a comic performance of what should be a love song with subtle erotic nuances, about a maiden, a peach and something else. The song was popularesque and clearly "Wall Soldiers approved" but not cheap enough to be gross.
OOC: inspiration: this minyo and this other
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 7, 2014 13:35:32 GMT
Chisato's attention was taken away from the Yasuki as he watched the performance wide-eyed, what in the eleven realms of existence was that woman doing?He blinked a few times, aghast, did she just thrust her hip out to the side like that?The Yasuki he was speaking to laughed and cheered with the rest and Chisato's jaw dropped slightly, By the fortunes who would be seen behaving like this in public?His karo giggled behind her fan looking at Chisato's face, it tilted to an angle as Satomi reached what Chisato thought was a very awkward pose. The crab men in the room -loved- it. Now thats just not right...At the end of the act the room erupted in applause, Chisato remembered he should get his fan up to cover his face and his reaction, still stunned. And of course... he sneezed. ooc: I can't view that link now at work, but I hope I wasn't too far off
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 7, 2014 19:44:58 GMT
How could she not notice Daidoji Kousei completely fascinated by Nozomi's grace, the arrival of the Togashi monk, Hida Reiha narrowing eyes on her performance, and of course, Chisato's shock? Anyway, Satomi sported a winner smile.
After spending a time with her clan friends, Satomi approached of the Asako daimyo. By now, she was totally informed about his karo's efforts to make him married in the next winter court.
Asako-sama! Yasuki-san! I hope you are enjoying this little celebration! I admit it contains less talent than effort and good will, with some exceptions, but we try to show the bride our appreciation for her company and the time she passed among us. She turned to Chisato. Do you have a similar tradition in your clan?
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 7, 2014 20:49:22 GMT
Chisato's fan fluttered very rapidly, more akin to the wing of a bee then a phoenix. "Goodness gracious, no!"
His Karo shot him a look of warning, he cleared his throat and tried to relax. It seems he was sweating some, was it warm in here?
"I mean to say, that is, of course, uhm..." he cleared his throat again, "lets just say I wasn't expecting a party like this when you said it was a sorority thing... I am glad I am not the only gentleman here, for sure." He looks about, "and if the proceedings are good enough for a clan champion, then who am I to disapprove." His eyes linger on Reiha, perhaps he is worried.
There is a slight pause before he says, "The audience liked that performance quite... uh... enthusiastically I think." A few jealous crab that Chisato noted were single men looked his way, interesting that she chose to come to him, the least manly fellow in the room.
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 7, 2014 21:36:15 GMT
Ahh… you know, my clan has an unusual perception of the usefulness of art… So it's ok to be a failure at it, in Crab clan. She extended her hand to have it oil rubbed by a geisha. It was so good... It's the source of my success, I guess. Chisato-san, are you well? She got concerned that perhaps, the Asako daimyo had eaten something that made him ill. He was sweating…
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 7, 2014 23:49:10 GMT
Kousei bowed to Nozomi.
"My lady, this humble Crane is talentless compared to many of his clan, but I think that you might inspire him to produce something worthy of your presence."
He grabbed an attendent and sent him to fetch his biwa from where it was stored in his quarters. Kousei played two instruments - the biwa and the hichiriki - and he was passionate about both of them. His favourite was hichiriki, but that lent itself to more formal or melanchonic music, and tonight something a little more lively was called for.
By the time Satomi had finished her own performance, the boy had returned with the instrument and he climbed up on stage.
He brushed his fingers over the strings, which were as fine as cobwebs, and as the sound rang out a hush fell over the room as even some of the tipsier Crab lapsed into silence. Kousei began the tale of Momotaro, a young boy who was sent to Rokugan in a giant peach to a childless pair of ronin. The mystical beginning of the story and the sadness of the couple meant that the music began slowly and mournfully, but it wasn't long until things livened up with the arrival of the boy. As he befriended a crow and a monkey, stole some jade and snuck off into the Shadowlands to attack a fortress full of goblins, things started to get positively comedic as the three friend tricked the horrible little things into fighting each other. Eventually he took a sack full of goblin heads and a sack full of treasure, presented himself at the Wall and swore fealty to the Crab, keeping half of the treasure for himself and giving half to his new lord. The tale finally came to a close with Momotaro handing out peaches to every samurai on the Wall once every year in honour of where he came from.
Things had gotten quite rumbunctious during the last part of the song with the audience singing and clapping along, and as Kousei accepted his applause and climbed down from the stage he took a peach that had been delicately preserved in sake and tipped it onto Nozomi's plate with a smile.
"I can't promise that you will find a hero inside, but they taste as sweet as summer."
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 8, 2014 5:57:40 GMT
As the audience is taken up by Kousei's song Chisato gives a trademarked answer, "Oh, its nothing, Satomi san. Just the travel getting to me, I can never get used to warmer climates. I think I'm allergic to travel!" He sneezes again. It seems pretty clear that he believes that answer to be the truth.
His karo looks worried that he isn't getting anywhere, so she probes with a question for Satomi, "Doesn't Asako sama look dashing in this kimono we had made for him? We were hoping to find an event suitable for its display."
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Mar 8, 2014 15:09:12 GMT
Satomi took notice of Chisato's garb:
Ahn, that's... a bit dangerous in the case one pass next a brazier, ne? All those tassels and stuff, but... at least it'd be a live action Phoenix performance... She added with a smile: But I like the idea of a dangerous garment... It adds a sort of "thrill" to the outfit.
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Post by Asako Chisato on Mar 8, 2014 15:22:20 GMT
He blinks, trying to process that thought, "You want to see me on fire? How very odd and painful sounding."
He looks down at his clothes, "And it would be a shame to see such craftsmanship destroyed... I remember once my book, still in its rough draft, once received near irreparable water damage, I was devastated, someone had to care if this was ruined by fire!"
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