(D6 LA) Paint Party II (Crane Quarters)

[Kakita Ahiru]

Ah yes, so just a rehash of the Test of Waves, now dressing her up as the respectable sidekick to her husband to give some legitimacy to... whatever it is that Mantis do.

"You are free to speak you mind, Yukikaze no Kasumi-san," she said, though a touch reserved. If the Mantis lacked diplomats, maybe they shouldn't be using those they had to give respectability to pirates. "As for Hirame-san, he is a good and talented young man - with the Crane he could reach heights that would be barred to him in a Minor Clan."

[Nekoma Seto]

Their discussion was crashed by a Cat. At least it was a human one and not an actual feline, so it had the manners to not fully intrude, rather just bowing and then examining the painting materials available as if it knew what it was doing.


It did not know what it was doing.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"You are free to speak you mind, Yukikaze no Kasumi-san," she said, though a touch reserved. If the Mantis lacked diplomats, maybe they shouldn't be using those they had to give respectability to pirates. "As for Hirame-san, he is a good and talented young man - with the Crane he could reach heights that would be barred to him in a Minor Clan."

She shrugged.

"An' it depends on th'outcome of your betrothal arrangements who goes where. Just sayin'. With us, you'd be one of our best diplomats right off th'bat. Might even be able t'shape our policy. I'm sure Hirame-san'd do his damndest for th'Crane, 'specially given th'state of your fleet right now, but..."

She gave the Kakita a glance.

"Y'sure y'don't want t'be just some pretty ornament ashore t'a sea captain husband? 'Cause I'd have t'wonder how your role would differ in th'Crane from what y'fear of us."

Their discussion was crashed by a Cat. At least it was a human one and not an actual feline, so it had the manners to not fully intrude, rather just bowing and then examining the painting materials available as if it knew what it was doing.


It did not know what it was doing.

Huh, think I've seen him around, but... dunno that we ever spoke...

Lucky him.

[Kakita Ahiru]

-

"I know what my duties will be with the Crane if I stay, and no I don't particularly care to just sit at home and do nothing," there was an edge to her tone as she spoke, even if she was keeping her words polite.

-

Spotting the other arrival, she made sure to offer Seto a bow. "Good afternoon, Nekoma-san. I'm glad to see you join this little gathering."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I know what my duties will be with the Crane if I stay, and no I don't particularly care to just sit at home and do nothing," there was an edge to her tone as she spoke, even if she was keeping her words polite.

"As y'like, Kakita-san. Again, all depends on how things shake out anyhow..."

No edge whatsoever in Kasumi's tone, since, far as she could tell, the Crane was just feeling brittle and anxious about the possibility of leaving all she knew behind- a scenario she couldn't, as yet, even begin to relate to.

[Nekoma Seto]

Seto's first mistake was to treat a paint brush like he did his kiseru, twirling it around his hand idly while thinking on what to do. Luckily Ahiru rescued the situation before any paint could be applied and tossed across the room by errant twirling.

"Kakita-san, Mantis-san, good afternoon. I am Nekoma Seto."

They'd know him as the Destroyer of Teapots and Assassin of Bonsai . . . or just the Cat Dancer.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Meetcha, Nekoma-san. Think you're th'first Cat Clanner I've ever met."

[Kakita Ahiru]

"A pleasure. I am Kakita Ahiru, and this is Yukikaze no Kasumi," the Crane of course did the graceful thing of handling proper introductions. Though she did give an anxious look to the way Seto was handling the brush.

"I've heard much about the Cat having many excellent performers; is painting popular with your kin too?"

[Nekoma Seto]

"The Mantis don't tend to hire performers for their boats, Kasumi-san, so not many of us see your kind. We do get the rare one docking at Cat Island though."

The, thankfully dry, brush kept being absently twirled.

"Err no, not really. We're more for the performing arts than the artisanal ones. Oh that reminds me."

He fished around in his scroll satchel and produced the very sorry looking and wilting bonsai he'd decapitated the day before.

"There isn't anything you can do for this poor casualty of yesterday's test is there?"

[Kakita Ahiru]

Oh dear...

Ahiru couldn't quite hold back her initial reaction which was a pitiful grimace. "... I probably could? But, it would take time. You can't fix bonsai overnight."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Lemme try?"

Kasumi glanced from the Cat to the Crane and back.

"Found I like bonsai. Could try'n coax it back..."

[Nekoma Seto]

"As long as someone does . . . I feel bad having treated it so badly yesterday . . . "

Let's not mention the teapot, ok?

[Togashi Shinko]

Shinko doesn't paint, but she does sing, settling in to relax a bit and not minding eyes on her.

Oh happy little trees
happy little trees
There are no mistakes
Just happy little trees~

It's nonsense song, and not terribly good, but it soothes her soul.

"Happy Little Trees" - Passion Roll - Performance (Fire) | TN: 2 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 2 / Strife: 2

(Using time slot to indulge in passion. Using opportunity to counteract strife)

[Kakita Ahiru]

"Lemme try?"

Kasumi glanced from the Cat to the Crane and back.

"Found I like bonsai. Could try'n coax it back..."

Ahiru nodded approvingly. "Far be it from me to stop a budding artist from giving it a go. I think your bonsai will be in good hands with Yukikaze-san."

With that, she also presented Kasumi with four chrysanthemum monaka. "I am surprised, but I did find your painting today to be inspiring. Please take these, as your little prize for being the best painter among us this afternoon. I have learned I should not judge one so easily on first impressions, and some surprises are pleasant indeed."

----

Kasumi recieves four chrysanthemum monaka.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Ahiru nodded approvingly. "Far be it from me to stop a budding artist from giving it a go. I think your bonsai will be in good hands with Yukikaze-san."

With that, she also presented Kasumi with four chrysanthemum monaka. "I am surprised, but I did find your painting today to be inspiring. Please take these, as your little prize for being the best painter among us this afternoon. I have learned I should not judge one so easily on first impressions, and some surprises are pleasant indeed."

----

Kasumi recieves four chrysanthemum monaka.

Oh WOW!

She took the bonsai and the monaka

"Hopin' my paintin' gets more polished than m'conversation, Kakita-san. I... had fun."

[Nekoma Seto]

Seto actually looked . . . sad to see the bonsai go. He'd assassinated it though, so it would be up to the Mantis to try and resurrect the poor wilted, practically dead thing.

"I hope you can revive it, it doesn't deserve what I did to it."

There was still the matter of the teapot, but the Crane hadn't let him keep that.

"Oh."

He looked at his still blank painting.

"Maybe next time." He said while twirling the brush absent mindedly again. Fortunately still without any paint on it.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I get it lively again nekoma-san, might be I can send it your way?"

[Nekoma Seto]

There was an instant of pure terror on his face before the usual laid back, ready for anything Seto returned.

"No, no . . . I'll only kill it again, I'm sure."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, if you're sure... still, if ya change your mind, I'll just be keepin' it for ya."

[Nekoma Seto]

And possibly the weirdest ever gifting ceremony was complete. At least he hadn't had to resort to leaving it outside the Crane quarters at night and slinking off back to his own rooms . . .

"Thank you, Kasumi-san."

Her accent hadn't yet proved impenetrable to the Cat. He'd heard worse at Cat Island docks . . . . well so far anyway.