D9LM, Sticking It (Open)

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 4:20 pm

After his breakfast and note-making, Seitouna decides he needs to give some more time to practice, especially having benefited from the expert instruction of Suzume Chihaya. So he works through the motions she had shown him, moving in adequately defensive postures, and doing not much better with his knife.

He tries not to think, only to do.

(Edited to add Orokos roll. Sorry)

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

Masahiko's arrival was met with a round of nods from some of the Lion bushi training. After returning the greetings with a bow or two, the massive Crane unslung his ono from his shoulder and gave it an almost casual practice swing. Then he retired to the side of the dojo to affix some pads to protect the edge---and the dojo's materials.

As he sat to bind the pads to his axe, his warm blue eyes met the Tortoise's before offering a smile and friendly bow.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 8:36 pm

Seitouna returns the bow.

He's a big one, he thinks, seeing the Crane handle the axe. Wonder if he's the usual type.

"I trust you've had rice today, Crane-san," Seitouna says, adding "Kasuga Seitouna" by way of introduction.

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

The Crane beams at the introduction.

"Kakita Masahiko, Kasuga-sama! Hai, I had rice some moments ago. One fuels before and after the regimen, if one is to avoid..." his expression darkened slightly "...unpleasantness." The wide smile was back. "Have you had rice? Are you with the ones who came from Toshi no Omoidasu? Not that I mean to pry. It's just...we generally do not have many Tortoise staying permanently in Nikesake."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:01 pm

Eager. Surprising. Pleasantly so, thinks Seitouna a moment before he answers.

"I have, in fact, and I thank you for asking.

"And I do not take it as prying, my friend. Nikesake is a bit further inland that we tend to go, though there has been something of a challenge issued to that end recently." He smiles. "And it does sound exciting, truly.

"But, yes, I did come in from Toshi no Omoidasu, though not from farther east this season. No," he shakes his head, "I had been sent thence to get an early start on things."

The smile slips a touch. "It did not go quite as I expected."

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

Koushi suppressed his chipper mood to show the requisite sympathy. "I am sorry to hear that, Kasuga-sama."

He paused for a half-breath before launching into staccato interrogatives.

"You say there was a challenge? What sort of challenge? A duel? Or more like a political initiative?"

He drew the knot on the last pad tight, almost as punctuation, and rose to his full height, the axe taxing a comfortable rest across his shoulders. If it was meant to be intimidating, the Kakita's face showed no inkling of menace. More just plain curiosity.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:27 pm

Seitouna makes a show of looking to his hip, where a jitte and a wakizashi rest--but no katana--and shrugs. "The latter more than the former. Ikoma-chiji suggested that efforts toward a more permanent establishment of Tortoise presence here might be welcome. And, well, if I can set something up in the present circumstances, it is likely to endure the more normal days, eh?"

He eyes the padded axe. "Are you trained among the Daidoji, by chance? It's not often such arms are seen in the hands of other Crane families, or so I understand."

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

Masahiko blinked, momentarily unprepared for the conversational shift, but he caught up quickly.

"Oh, hai! I'm a Kosaten Shiro Kakita, it's true. The sensei at the Academy took one look at me and told me to keep walking, but I don't mind. There's an art to clobbering, too."

He nodded sagely, as one used to honing the Art of the Clobber.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:46 pm

"I have never been there. Can you tell me of it?"

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

"Well, it's the fortress that stands opposite Shiro Matsu, so it is a rather significant military installation. There's a city of about 2000 people there as well, and one of the principal dojos of the Daidoji school. It is a pleasant enough place for a bushi, but I have come to love Nikesake."

He smiled brightly. "It is a place of broad learning."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:09 pm

"It sounds lovely, truly.

But as to the learning, is there any particular topic of interest to you, my friend?"

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

"Well, of late I have been spending a great deal of time learning about the Spirit Realms, for obvious reasons, but...well, an experienced gentleman like you will understand quickly that I am one who chases questions. I am interested in...well, just about everything I can think of."

He shrugged easily. "Are you a scholar, Kasuga-sama?"

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:22 pm

"It's a good attitude to have, my friend. A hand eager to learn is one that soon finds itself trusted to hold much.

"But me, a scholar!" A short, honest laugh. "You flatter me. I'd not say the writing I've done is scholarly, by any stretch. Though maybe the project I'm working on could be called an ethnography."

He shrugs.

"But I likely flatter myself in that. And that's a sad thing, that a person has to do so."

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

The Kakita nodded with an exaggeratedly sad expression. "That is so. The more accepted trend is to endlessly flatter others."

He beamed at his own joke.

"So! What is this 'ethnography' you are working on?"

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:37 pm

Seitouna laughs again.

"I have been thinking of writing a narrative, a novel, about the experience this season. But such typically have a single focus, one character whose actions are the center of things, and I have spoken with so many interesting people these last days. It might be better to think of the matter as an interweaving of several narratives, at this point, emerging from what I see as I am here and what people have been willing to share with me when we have talked together.

"And I am always happy to hear people's stories."

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

"And I expect that many people are willing to share."

Masahiko might not be the most swinging courtier in the palace, but he knew an operator when he saw one.

"So, Ethnographer-sama, any interesting observations you'd be willing to share?"

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:58 pm

The smile shifts, slightly, but remains--and genuine.

"I should say 'You'll have to wait for the book,' of course, but given circumstances...I can give a preview, I think: most people want to go home. But most also know it's not a place they can go, now if ever."

He lets the smile fall, though his expression remains gentle.

"Hence, even one such as I find myself here, training my meager skill no less than you do your heftier talents."

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

Masahiko looks down at the Tortoise's belt.

"Oh! The jitte! An effective tool, Kasuga-sama. And a good choice for someone with an analytical mind and good reflexes. Excellent!"

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2020 11:07 pm

Seitouna nods.

"Useful for many things, in fact, my friend. But I am keeping you from your exercises! And, truly, it will be a joy to see how you handle such a weapon as you carry, there."

He steps back to give the Crane room to swing. It looks like it'd hurt, even with the padding, and the Shell is a metaphor more than a physical construct.

Kakita Masahiko · **Joined:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:04 am **Posts:** 272

Attack roll vs. dummy, 2 raises=30

The giant smiled in gratitude at the Tortoise's making of space. Fortunes knew he needed it with his wingspan and the brutal nature of his weapon of choice.

The ono swept from resting position in a simple arc. There was little flash about it, but it was clear that its trajectory would generate killing force on its own. Adding the Kakita's rolling musculature was just overkill. The tremendous *thud* of padded axe against armored dummy caused the thing's helmet to pop clean off to roll crazily before settling at the Kasuga's feet.

Then the dummy caught the backswing at toppled to the ground. Masahiko looked pleased.

D9LM, Sticking It (Open)

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