And Yuji never had been. It was a strange name to be sure but the house had never seemed to want for business. Some things were simply more acceptable when a bit of strong booze was involved. Still, if Yuji was to leave Tsuma after the tournament, he wanted at least one bottle as a keepsake.

I really need to be careful in here.

But being careful wasn't the Mantis way, and Kasumi, dealing with a flurry of varied emotions and denied much of an acceptable outlet for them, was back.

She pointedly sat in a different spot than on the prior two evenings, because the last thing she needed was a "regular spot."

Didn't come t'Tsuma t'become a barfly.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'fall for a guy who's already betrothed.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'MISS A FUCKING STATIONARY TARGET.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'find myself lookin' around for other... outlets.

But here I am.

She glanced up as the Crane entered. Cocked her head to the side. They'd only really spoken once, but not acknowledging him would be rude as fuck.

And I'm not fuckin' rude. Well. Not on purpose.

So she nodded to the Kakita as he crossed her field of vision.

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:15 pm

I really need to be careful in here.

But being careful wasn't the Mantis way, and Kasumi, dealing with a flurry of varied emotions and denied much of an acceptable outlet for them, was back.

She pointedly sat in a different spot than on the prior two evenings, because the last thing she needed was a "regular spot."

Didn't come t'Tsuma t'become a barfly.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'fall for a guy who's already betrothed.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'MISS A FUCKING STATIONARY TARGET.
Didn't come t'Tsuma t'find myself lookin' around for other... outlets.

But here I am.

She glanced up as the Crane entered. Cocked her head to the side. They'd only really spoken once, but not acknowledging him would be rude as fuck.

And I'm not fuckin' rude. Well. Not on purpose.

So she nodded to the Kakita as he crossed her field of vision.

It was enough to gather Yuji's attention at least who diverted course and offered the Mantis a bow.

"Good evening, Mantis-san. I hope the evening finds you in good health and good spirit." he says, completely missing the simmering stew of emotion that was cooking within the Mantis.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:01 pm

It was enough to gather Yuji's attention at least who diverted course and offered the Mantis a bow.

"Good evening, Mantis-san. I hope the evening finds you in good health and good spirit." he says, completely missing the simmering stew of emotion that was cooking within the Mantis.

"Ah, Kakita-san, how could I complain?"

She smiled and gestured to a vacant spot across from her.

"How's the poetry collection goin'?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:10 pm

"Ah, Kakita-san, how could I complain?"

She smiled and gestured to a vacant spot across from her.

"How's the poetry collection goin'?"

Yuji nods, moving right by the cynical answer and taking it at face value.

"Quite well, Mantis-san. It might not surprise you to learn this, but your fellow Mantis competitor was much, as you might say, in the same boat as you, having seen wonderful things on the ocean and not having yet expressed them in poetry." he said.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 9:02 pm

Yuji nods, moving right by the cynical answer and taking it at face value.

"Quite well, Mantis-san. It might not surprise you to learn this, but your fellow Mantis competitor was much, as you might say, in the same boat as you, having seen wonderful things on the ocean and not having yet expressed them in poetry." he said.

"Well, we're not 'zactly renowned for our artistry, y'know?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:21 pm

"Well, we're not 'zactly renowned for our artistry, y'know?"

A small shrug.

"You are samurai, you are as much a warrior-poet as the most refined kakita or the roughest Crab." he countered.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:32 am

A small shrug.

"You are samurai, you are as much a warrior-poet as the most refined kakita or the roughest Crab." he countered.

"And would y'call that poem of mine art?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:48 am

"And would y'call that poem of mine art?"

Yuji smiled a bit,

"You put me in a tight spot, Manits-san. But I will answer if you can tell me what art is." he countered.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:55 am

Yuji smiled a bit,

"You put me in a tight spot, Manits-san. But I will answer if you can tell me what art is." he countered.

"Don't really know that I know art, but I know what I like."

She made a face.

"And that poem'a mine ain't it."

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 4:58 am

"Don't really know that I know art, but I know what I like."

She made a face.

"And that poem'a mine ain't it."

A small shrug from the Kakita.

"Most artists are their own harshest critics, Mantis-san. It is said that in the Imperial palace resides the most valuable painting in all of the Empire. An unfinished picture of the morning mist rising from the Bay of the Golden Sun with the fisherfolk heading out for the day's catch. It is the sole surviving work of Master Jun, and it is unfinished because it is the one he was working on when he died. Because every other time he would finish a work, he would perceive some flaw in it and burn it." he recounted.

"Even master artists can hate their own work, Mantis-san. The important thing is to keep reaching for the one that will finally make you happy, even if it never comes"

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 5:37 am

"Even master artists can hate their own work, Mantis-san. The important thing is to keep reaching for the one that will finally make you happy, even if it never comes"

"Well, doubt I'll find that in th'form of poetry."

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 5:39 am

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 5:37 am

"Even master artists can hate their own work, Mantis-san. The important thing is to keep reaching for the one that will finally make you happy, even if it never comes"

"Well, doubt I'll find that in th'form of poetry."

Yuji was quiet for a long moment. The Mantis's rejection of poetry was deeply troubling to him. He knew what his instructors would say. That art could only be inspired, never compelled.

but the inability of the Mantis to feel any sort of inspiration at the Topaz Championship itself was heartbreaking.

Yuji sighed.

"I am sorry you feel that way, Mantis-san. I won't bother you on the subject again."

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:11 am

Yuji was quiet for a long moment. The Mantis's rejection of poetry was deeply troubling to him. He knew what his instructors would say. That art could only be inspired, never compelled.

but the inability of the Mantis to feel any sort of inspiration at the Topaz Championship itself was heartbreaking.

Yuji sighed.

"I am sorry you feel that way, Mantis-san. I won't bother you on the subject again."

"Thought y'wanted one more at the end of alla this?"

She cocked her head to the side.

"Despite my... limited ability with words."

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 6:16 am

"Thought y'wanted one more at the end of alla this?"

She cocked her head to the side.

"Despite my... limited ability with words."

Yuji spread his hands.

"Of course, I do, Mantis-san." he admitted. "But....you clearly don't want to do it. Not only is it discourteous of me to try and force you to do it, if you truly do not want to do it...then you can't do it. Just as surely as you can achieve that which you put your mind to doing, if you put your mind against doing it, it wont' happen."

Yuji was very disappointed in the Mantis. He wanted to include everyone in the compilation to show the Empire as a beautiful whole to inspire others. Instead he was being given an anthology of self-doubt and cynicism, and it was definitely uninspiring him.

Having not done done so already, he ordered one of the black clay jars from a passing servant.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 7:11 am

Yuji spread his hands.

"Of course, I do, Mantis-san." he admitted. "But....you clearly don't want to do it. Not only is it discourteous of me to try and force you to do it, if you truly do not want to do it...then you can't do it. Just as surely as you can achieve that which you put your mind to doing, if you put your mind against doing it, it wont' happen."

Yuji was very disappointed in the Mantis. He wanted to include everyone in the compilation to show the Empire as a beautiful whole to inspire others. Instead he was being given an anthology of self-doubt and cynicism, and it was definitely uninspiring him.

Kasumi turned her own cup around in her hand, glancing up from it to the Crane.

"Lemme ask ya somethin', Kakita-san. How didja like tryin' your hand at bein' a sailor two days ago? I seem t'recall y'handled the bureaucracy fine, but the finer points of seanship eluded you, didn' they? I seem t'recall a knot that failed?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 7:16 am

Kasumi turned her own cup around in her hand, glancing up from it to the Crane.

"Lemme ask ya somethin', Kakita-san. How didja like tryin' your hand at bein' a sailor two days ago? I seem t'recall y'handled the bureaucracy fine, but the finer points of seanship eluded you, didn' they? I seem t'recall a knot that failed?"

Yuji receives his drink and considers what the Mantis is asking.

"My, Mantis-san, you must've been watching me closely to remember that. There were, after all, a couple dozen competitors many of whom struggled with the challenges presented." he offered.

He took a drink.

"Hmm, well. Surprise comes foremost to mind. The structure of the tournament is rather traditional, and that event is rather unique in many ways. Then determination. A samurai puts their whole effort into their lord's commands regardless of circumstance. And in the end, satisfaction in the knowledge that I did the best that I could. I am not a sailor, a merchant nor a bureaucrat , but I was able to perform satisfactorily in two of those three functions. While it would have been nice to distinguish myself, given the challenges presented, it was very unlikely to occur, and would have engendered rumors that the Crane were rigging their tournament for their benefit."

He looked back at the Mantis.

"But how did you feel about your performance in that test, Mantis-san? You and your fellow Mantis demonstrated your sensei's skills in a most excellent fashion....but you were competing against many people who had no training in those matters, some of whom had never even been on a boat before.in their life. Were you proud to defeat so many who had no training? Did you laugh along with the crew at the struggles of those who failed? Or did you, perhaps, wish there was some way you could've helped them face these challenges, because you and sailing have a very deep connection and you'd like to share even a small measure of what you feel when you sail along the waves with the wind in your hair and the taste of the salt spray in your mouth as you experience beauty as no landlocked Lion will ever know?"

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:41 am

"But how did you feel about your performance in that test, Mantis-san? You and your fellow Mantis demonstrated your sensei's skills in a most excellent fashion....but you were competing against many people who had no training in those matters, some of whom had never even been on a boat before.in their life. Were you proud to defeat so many who had no training? Did you laugh along with the crew at the struggles of those who failed? Or did you, perhaps, wish there was some way you could've helped them face these challenges, because you and sailing have a very deep connection and you'd like to share even a small measure of what you feel when you sail along the waves with the wind in your hair and the taste of the salt spray in your mouth as you experience beauty as no landlocked Lion will ever know?"

"I had a good seat up in th' ratlines. I watched everyone. But you're missin' th'point of my question. You gonna dedicate time an' effort t'learnin' shipboard knots? Y'gonna spend much time gettin' t'be a better sailor? Without a teacher, without even a clear handle on what y'don't know about it? Knowin' damn well that wherever your clan sends ya, it ain't likely t'be the deck of a ship?"

Sip.

"'Cause I get th'feeling th' answer's no."

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 8:54 am

"I had a good seat up in th' ratlines. I watched everyone. But you're missin' th'point of my question. You gonna dedicate time an' effort t'learnin' shipboard knots? Y'gonna spend much time gettin' t'be a better sailor? Without a teacher, without even a clear handle on what y'don't know about it? Knowin' damn well that wherever your clan sends ya, it ain't likely t'be the deck of a ship?"

Sip.

"'Cause I get th'feeling th' answer's no."

Sip.

"But I could." he countered. "Even without teacher, or a good understanding or even a great purpose, I could choose to learn this. Would it be harder? Yes. More painful? Certainly. Would it feel as rewarding? Of course not. But I could do it if I put my will to it."

He shook his head.

"But this is not the case with you and poetry, Mantis-san. You are not trapped alone in some forgotten cave with nothing but an ink brush. You are surrounded by the finest samurai of your generation, next to one of the Empire's finest institutions of learning, where you could learn a skill that can be used literally anywhere in the Empire: from impressing your fellows at Winter Court to simply bringing a smile to a friend."

He set the cup down.

"But the critical difference is I say 'I could' and you say 'I can't. That's what really matters." he finishes.

Kakita Yuji wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:52 pm

"But the critical difference is I say 'I could' and you say 'I can't. That's what really matters." he finishes.

"You could. But you're not going to."