Last bath of the night (D1 LE Open)

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

Nagiko wrote:

Suzume-sama's answer was indeed amusing.

'' What is more beneath one's dignity, Stopping yourself from moving forward? Being lifted and carried? or challenging your bows in face of an obstacle?'' Nagiko had no idea what she was talking about. Perhaps the sake was talking instead of her...

"What do you think is the greater indignity, Lady Nagiko?" he asked.

Nagiko · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:07 pm **Posts:** 310

'' I mean, in your story, the imperial refused to move forward because her clothes could be stained right? Is that a proper for a samurai? To not move forward?'' She clarified her first point

'' Then the monk carried the imperial that could not, or did not move forward. '' She continues.

'' Finally, Ekido reproached his brother for approaching the woman in the first place, saying that he should not had done because of his vows. But showing fear in face of an obstacle, in this case, breaking a vow, is worse than challenging yourself to face it?'' He lastly added.

'' I don't know, i'm trying to see if there is another meaning to your story Asako-sama.'' She coyly said. '' Please don't mind me, perhaps i'm talking nonsense.''

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

Glancing at the Imperial, she added, softly, "Might you be willing to help a one-eyed woman wash her hair, Seppun-sama?"

"Ano..."

Horonigai blinks, and wrinkles her nose a bit before confirming with nod, saying, "Un!"

The Seppun offers Chihaya her umbrella, and suggests, "Douzo, please hold," before she starts to gently prepare the Suzume's hair to cleanse it.

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

Nagiko wrote:

'' I don't know, i'm trying to see if there is another meaning to your story Asako-sama.'' She coyly said. '' Please don't mind me, perhaps i'm talking nonsense.''

“The journey to true enlightenment is filled with nonsense, Lady Nagiko,” he said kindly.

“In truth the answer is ephemeral, you bring to the story your experiences and walk away with a meaning that suits you. Your words make plenty of sense, do not sell yourself so short. Though I find it interesting that you focus on whether one should or should not move forward...”

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya rose, holding the Umbrella, and stepped out of the bath, and took a seat, politely out of easy eavesdropping range of the bath, and where they could wash without dirtying the bath - she had washed already, but it was... the principle of the thing.

With a soft sigh, she balanced the umbrella so it hid them both from view.

Then, once they were settled, she said, softly, "Something is troubling you, Seppun-sama. As a servant of your former kinsman, Suzume Jento, I would gladly listen and give any aid I can."

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

First, Horonigai shakes her head negatively and maintains silence while finding the proper words to describe her worries, all that without sounding pathetic, desperate or dishonorable.

The Seppun takes a deep breath, and explains the much she thinks it is safe to share, "I have failed. I-"

Horonigai stops for a moment and looks up to the skies to help control her emotions. With a steady influx of air back into her lungs, she follows up, "I couldn't see that the Miharu were not the ones I once knew form the Forbidden City. I couldn't even move to protect the Emperor. I wasn't prepared to fight, or even defend."

While she applies soap, Horonigai confesses, "I feel utterly unworthy and confused. Is this the will of the Heavens: to get us punished by our Ancestors because we are failing?"

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya listened in silence.

Then she reached up and gently patted the woman's hand, in a... sisterly way.

"Iie, Seppun-sama. It is not failure to have faith in those who should know better. It is only failure if you refuse to learn... the purpose of failure is to gain knowledge, caution, and experience."

She had done just that in Ryoko Owari.

"Yet even so... we cannot allow ourselves to fall into regret, even should we fail. I do not believe heaven tests us because we fall from favor... but because it will make us stronger, as steel is forged from iron."

Rubbing the latest scar, reminder of her own failings, she added, softly, "What is happening now... I'm no monk or mystic, but I will say this - it did not rely solely upon you - any more than it relied upon me, or Kashiwagi-san in the Naga War... we all walked that path, and now we all walk this path... together for better or ill. There are moments when fate works and it is bigger than us - the most we can do is better it in some small way."

A soft sigh. "If you had attempted to intervene, had you seen it coming... would any have listened? Would they have allowed you to question so many of such importance who also did not see it coming? Would they have struck you down before you could reach the Emperor, in turn stopping you from helping save any of the others you escorted here, to the city?"

She tapped her fingers on her knees.

"Now, in a time of turmoil, when there is need of honorable samurai-ko to do their part, would the empire be so much better off if you had died honorably, making a futile gesture?"

Ikoma Homura · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:20 am

The sudden flurry of activity...

Seppun Horonigai wrote:

"Suzume-san~. Konbanwa."

Horonigai provides warm nods to the others as she rests her back against the rocky border.

"Minna-san~"

The Imperial princess receives a deep bow and a warm smile "good evening Seppun-sama. I hope you are well and defrosted since this morning?"

Then there was an odd tale...which seemed to dampen the mood. The Seppun and the farmer went to wash hair...

Don't leave me with the smug and the fangirl! I don't even want to watch them become connected.

Homura had kept her eyes shut though, just letting the situation wash over her. Even not getting annoyed when the apparent meaning of the story was 'do things your way'. Which was her motto anyway.

"Words to live by, Asako-sama" Homura finally said, opening her eyes "what would you have done, in that monks position?"

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

Kashiwagi replied calmly, "Which one?"

Ikoma Homura · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2020 12:08 pm

"I had meant Tanzan, my apologies for being unclear" Homura lowered her head in apology "the one who decided to take the bold action. Would you have done the same, or something different?"

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

“I’m no monk but I would have assisted the Imperial woman, she is closest to the divine throne and helping her would have been the right thing to do. It would not be the first time I had to carry an Imperial in distress away from a bad situation,” he said honestly.

“I did the same if not more for the woman that became my wife, though the rain was more a fire at the time.”

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Ikoma Homura wrote:

The Imperial princess receives a deep bow and a warm smile "good evening Seppun-sama. I hope you are well and defrosted since this morning?"

Horonigai has nodded positively and warmly to Homura's question before the tale started.

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

... the purpose of failure is to gain knowledge, caution, and experience."

"Un! Experience." She nods.

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

... but because it will make us stronger, as steel is forged from iron."

"Un! Steel." She nods again.

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

... the most we can do is better it in some small way."

"Un!" She repeats, "Do better."

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

... stopping you from helping save any of the others you escorted here, to the city?"

Horonigai presses her lips, filling lungs with steamed hot air and the pleasant perfume coming from the soap on Chihaya's hair, covering much of the fetid sulfur smell that impregnates the bath's breathable element.

"I can't be sure. I-" Horonigai keeps listening before completing her thoughts.

Suzume Chihaya wrote:

... would the empire be so much better off if you had died honorably, making a futile gesture?"

She shakes her head negatively. "Iie. Suzume-san is right. It is not regret. It is... grief. Turning into something else."

The Seppun gets a scoop of water from the bucket and pours over the soapy hair to get it rinsed up. Then, she repeats the process until it shines with the reflecting lights.

Ikoma Homura · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2020 3:10 pm

Asako Kashiwagi wrote:

“I’m no monk but I would have assisted the Imperial woman, she is closest to the divine throne and helping her would have been the right thing to do. It would not be the first time I had to carry an Imperial in distress away from a bad situation,” he said honestly.

“I did the same if not more for the woman that became my wife, though the rain was more a fire at the time.”

"Wow. I'm sure she was glad to be carried from the fires to safety" Homura nodded "it is an interesting analogy for life in general, ne? Would you stand aside and allow others to find their way past obstacles put in front of them, or help them knowing that they may not thank you for it. Thinking on it from my own point, I perhaps would have found a way for her to cross without carrying her, but then we are analyzing a tale too much and this late in the evening with sake I prefer to think less" she chuckled, looking at the Mantis girl "right, Nagiko-san?"

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

“There is a time for action and a time for inaction, only the Fortune’s know the truth of such things,” he replied.

“I was not aware a samurai needed thanks for doing what is expected of them, I missed that chapter in Leadership. It has been a few years though; I’ll have to peruse the text again to refresh my memory.”

He glanced at the Mantis and added, “Deep thoughts can be such a burden.” For some, he added mentally. “Lady Nagiko, I could stand to learn more about such an ardent admirer of my wife, perhaps you could inspire a character for one of her future works.”

When in doubt, praise and get people to talk about their fave subject, themselves. Chidori 101.

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Seppun Horonigai wrote:

She shakes her head negatively. "Iie. Suzume-san is right. It is not regret. It is... grief. Turning into something else."

The Seppun gets a scoop of water from the bucket and pours over the soapy hair to get it rinsed up. Then, she repeats the process until it shines with the reflecting lights.

Chihaya found any further sermonizing difficult as she was deluged in water.

Luckily she was holding an umbrella, so at least... well it didn't really help.

With the deed done, and her hair feeling delightfully clean, she turned to the young imperial and stated, softly, "Grief is honorable, if you do not hold it too long. There is no shame in feeling - only in allowing your feelings to consume you."

She quirked her head, wondering that this young woman, such a brat the last time they met, now considered her duty so highly. Odd how events could force little bits of maturity and sobriety into a soul.

"It is to your credit that you value your duty over your life - just remind yourself that you can no longer serve your lord once dead. Be ready to die, yes, but not eager to do so. A talented samurai is a valuable asset - after all."

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

"Serve my lord." She repeats Chihaya again. "I wonder what Jento-sa-"

Horonigai stops to properly address the new Daimyo, not just her cousin. "what Suzume-dono would require of his people in a moment such as this."

A cold breeze makes her body shiver a bit. Horonigai quickly pins Chihaya wet heir up with a small towel, and suggests, "Eto. Let's get back to the pool to warm up a bit?"

Nagiko · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 6:07 pm **Posts:** 310

Asako Kashiwagi wrote:

“The journey to true enlightenment is filled with nonsense, Lady Nagiko,” he said kindly.

“In truth the answer is ephemeral, you bring to the story your experiences and walk away with a meaning that suits you. Your words make plenty of sense, do not sell yourself so short. Though I find it interesting that you focus on whether one should or should not move forward...”

Nagiko nods to the inquisitor, wondering why indeed those ideas came to her mind in the first place. She sips from another cup of sake, her mind becoming a bit fuzzy between the heat of the onsen and the heat coming from the sake.

Ikoma Homura wrote:

Thinking on it from my own point, I perhaps would have found a way for her to cross without carrying her, but then we are analyzing a tale too much and this late in the evening with sake I prefer to think less" she chuckled, looking at the Mantis girl "right, Nagiko-san?"

'' Uh? '' She turned around to look at the Lioness. The sake was affecting her. '' I-i think so, Ikoma-sama'' Was the only thing she managed to say on the spot. She fully drank her cup of sake...

Asako Kashiwagi wrote:

“Lady Nagiko, I could stand to learn more about such an ardent admirer of my wife, perhaps you could inspire a character for one of her future works.”

Ardent admirer? Those two words started to float inside Nagiko's mind. She moved a bit, towards the Asako, though not enough to close the gap between them. The mantis slightly rose from the waters extending her body towards the inquisitor, revealing all her womanly charms once more

'' ~You only have to ask, Asako-sama...~'' She approached very closely to the inquisitor '' ~I will gladly tell -you- anything you -wish- to know about me~'' Her body was almost next to the inquisitor...

'' ~I would love to know about your, hmmm, fire, as well~'' She whispered to him, Nagiko's naked body right in front of him. '' ~Excuse me, with your permission...~'' She said as she extended one arm to reach for the bottle of sake...

Then she returns to where she was and refils her sake cup...

******************************************

[OOC - Rolls]

Contested. Temptation/Awareness vs Etiquette/Willpower; 6k5; +1k0 Dangerous Beauty; +1k1 VP; 8k6 - 64

Using Luck; Keeping Second Roll
0/3 void points left
-0.1 Honor for using low skill

Suzume Chihaya · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 3:29 pm **Posts:** 850

Chihaya smiled and nodded. "Hai, let's."

Still studiously covering Horo with the umbrella, she rose, and waited for the young women to retake her place, before sinking into the springs herself.

Not that she minded the cold, but she didn't need to give kashi any more eyefuls for the day. The poor man was likely getting well stocked already.

Once she was safely obscured by the hot water, she retrieved her sake cup from the stone where she had left it and gazed thoughtfully at the contents.

Times... they were a changin.

Ikoma Homura · **Posted:** Tue Apr 07, 2020 7:22 pm

Are you kidding me girl?

Homura pinched the bridge of her nose. Maybe honourable people could look away when someone was being like this but Homura was not honourable. Nagiko could not be less obvious either.

Thank the kami the farmer is coming back, maybe that'll snap her out of it.

Asako Kashiwagi · **Joined:** Tue Mar 31, 2020 12:56 am **Posts:** 865

This was not the most overt seduction he had seen but it was perhaps the most recent and direct. If she wanted him to look, he would do so, within propriety, assisting her with the sake, as was gentlemanly. He enjoyed what he saw and then chuckled dryly at her whisper; it was not mocking but more a relaxed tone of calm.

If she wanted him to think fondly of her she had achieved that goal, he was thankful he was married as it tempered any other ill thoughts beyond a brief imaginative dalliance. He responded with a cool, “Permission, granted.”

He looked at the Lion and said, “What say you, minna-sama, would you like to know more about Lady Nagiko?”

OOC: Roll of 32, failed, senpai notices her and will think favorably of her in a certain way.

Last bath of the night (D1 LE Open)

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