[LM1] Test of the Body Observation Thread

[Shinjo Jingyi]

A nod.

"Worry over what has come to pass is wasteful. My own father suggests to keep one's goals in mind in determining the nature of an event's outcome. Not all failures are losses, not all successes are victories."

"We may learn more from failure than success." she nodded. "I'm looking forward to learning more about everyone here, regardless."

[Akodo Michi]

"We may learn more from failure than success." she nodded. "I'm looking forward to learning more about everyone here, regardless."

"Then perhaps we can begin between us. Is there something you wish to learn?"

[Kakita Ahiru]

"Kakita-sama."

Kaoru bowed:

"Good morning. This one is Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa.

I must say your throw demonstration demonstration was impressive: Simple, efficient and elegant.

But what else to expect of a Kakita?"

Somehow it didn't feel like a compliment, but she nevertheless treated it like one. "Thank you, it is kind of you to say so, as I don't have much experience with this kind of game. I'm sure it could be an amusing past-time at winter court for many people."

She offered a friendly smile to the Shosuro. "A pleasure to meet you, Shosuro-san. You did well too in the challenge. Considering you're not trained as a bushi either, correct?"


(OOC: Sorry for lack of replies. RL happened)

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"Then perhaps we can begin between us. Is there something you wish to learn?"

"Do you enjoy riding, Akodo-sama?"

[Akodo Michi]

"Do you enjoy riding, Akodo-sama?"

"This one must admit it is not a hobby, but it is exciting when given the chance", Michi explained, having ridden only on occasions of training. "I am much more apt at marching. Were the roads kind to your steed?"

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"This one must admit it is not a hobby, but it is exciting when given the chance", Michi explained, having ridden only on occasions of training. "I am much more apt at marching. Were the roads kind to your steed?"

"Hai." she nodded. " Hayakawa had no issues with the journey. She is much more accustomed to travel than the others are."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Somehow it didn't feel like a compliment, but she nevertheless treated it like one. "Thank you, it is kind of you to say so, as I don't have much experience with this kind of game. I'm sure it could be an amusing past-time at winter court for many people."

She offered a friendly smile to the Shosuro. "A pleasure to meet you, Shosuro-san. You did well too in the challenge. Considering you're not trained as a bushi either, correct?"


(OOC: Sorry for lack of replies. RL happened)

"Any samurai is to keep their body in good shape regardless of profession... But both of our performances pale in front of those you've honed it to the next level for the purpose of their duty."

At the results were proclaimed, Kaoru's brain tilted. For the Imperial and the Crab to be acknowledged by a Crab judge was not a big surprise. For the third to not be a Crane but a Sparrow...

"I wouldn't go as far as saying the Sparrow is thriving nowadays, but they've been really on the rise as of late, haven't they?"

(OOC: No issue)

[Kakita Ahiru]

"Any samurai is to keep their body in good shape regardless of profession... But both of our performances pale in front of those you've honed it to the next level for the purpose of their duty."

At the results were proclaimed, Kaoru's brain tilted. For the Imperial and the Crab to be acknowledged by a Crab judge was not a big surprise. For the third to not be a Crane but a Sparrow...

"I wouldn't go as far as saying the Sparrow is thriving nowadays, but they've been really on the rise as of late, haven't they?"

She took a moment to applaud and bow to the top three winners, gracefully accepting that this challenge was much more suited to other people than herself.

"Have they?" Ahiru asked, a bit surprised at such a statement regarding the Sparrow.

[Akodo Michi]

"Hai." she nodded. " Hayakawa had no issues with the journey. She is much more accustomed to travel than the others are."

"You are quite in tune with your mount's attitudes, I see there is no exaggeration on the Unicorn clan's methods in this", she said, seemingly pleased by it, though the twist of her smile appeared somewhat expectant. "And so do you lend your bow nobly from horseback or do you do battle on the charge?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

She took a moment to applaud and bow to the top three winners, gracefully accepting that this challenge was much more suited to other people than herself.

"Have they?" Ahiru asked, a bit surprised at such a statement regarding the Sparrow.

"In times of hardship, people used to a hard life fare better than those who experiment it for the first time. It's a period of opportunities for the Sparrow, and they seem decided to make the best of that unique chance.

That a bird is rising however does not tell of how high it will manage to rise, and, most importantly, how high it will manage to stay. This part of the story is very much still to be written."

[Shinjo Jingyi]

"You are quite in tune with your mount's attitudes, I see there is no exaggeration on the Unicorn clan's methods in this", she said, seemingly pleased by it, though the twist of her smile appeared somewhat expectant. "And so do you lend your bow nobly from horseback or do you do battle on the charge?"

"I prefer the bow." she answered. "I've hunted with my father from a young age."

[Ikoma Aya]

"Oh, I wasn't saying that I don't have faith in my skills and training. Just that the tests are likely not tailored to my school's curriculum. The championship tends to be won by a duelist or other bushi. I suspect an artisan has never won," he replied with a lightly cheerful tone.

"Just like I would not expect to be well equipped for any other martial tournament."

Jiro does not avert his eyes but he also never quite makes full eye contact after she keeps looking away. It seems to make her uncomfortable at times, so he simply avoids it unless she seeks it out.

"My brother spent some time with the Lion. A short stay during his training. I wonder if he is familiar with the place you trained?"

"Ah", she answers simply, nodding. "Only one can win, though, ne? All we can do is do our best. And sure your clan believed you would."

Her eyes raise to his again, more naturally an certainly now. It might be that it's not eye contact per se that does... that? Whatever that is...

"Your brother... you mean Shiba-san from yesterday? I wasn't aware he'd trained with our clan. Do you know where he stayed? That said... the dojo I trained in was a small one, in a quiet region, so I wouldn't count on that. He would probably know Hayaken no Shiro though, I'm guessing?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, if they believed I would win they likely wouldn't have sent so many of us," he says with a chuckle. "But they likely think one of us could win."

He shrugs, not overly concerned with the idea of winning.

"Well, he didn't train train with the Lion. It was a short visit for an exchange of experience. I believe that one of the Akodo students was sent for a short period with the Shiba in return. No school secrets, just an opportunity to practice with students of an entirely different style, fostering growth and potential friendship. I don't remember specifically which dojo he was at though, only that he was at an Akodo dojo."

[Kakita Ahiru]

"In times of hardship, people used to a hard life fare better than those who experiment it for the first time. It's a period of opportunities for the Sparrow, and they seem decided to make the best of that unique chance.

That a bird is rising however does not tell of how high it will manage to rise, and, most importantly, how high it will manage to stay. This part of the story is very much still to be written."

If there was a slight intended behind Kaoru's words, Ahiru did not seem to notice or take offense. After all, the Crane had experienced hardship before! Probably. At some point in over a thousan years of history.

"Shosuro-san almost sounds like a historian from the way she speaks?" Ahiru inquired, changing the subject slightly away from discussing hardships and birds.

[Ikoma Aya]

"Well, if they believed I would win they likely wouldn't have sent so many of us," he says with a chuckle. "But they likely think one of us could win."

He shrugs, not overly concerned with the idea of winning.

"Well, he didn't train train with the Lion. It was a short visit for an exchange of experience. I believe that one of the Akodo students was sent for a short period with the Shiba in return. No school secrets, just an opportunity to practice with students of an entirely different style, fostering growth and potential friendship. I don't remember specifically which dojo he was at though, only that he was at an Akodo dojo."

She nods to both answers.

"If he went to one of the main Akodo dojo, chances are he was at Hayaken", she says with another nod. I visited there too, not long before coming here. It's the main dojo of the War Academy. Although... well, we did have some exchange students as well in my dojo. Dragon, though."

A small pause.

"The Phoenix do have quite a contingent, that much is true. Do you all know each other? And... has Shiba-san had experience outside Phoenix lands too?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, it's something I'd encourage you to talk with him about if you get the opportunity. I imagine it would be nice for him to recall the experience with someone that is familiar with the school," Jiro replied.

"As for me, I visited Shiro sano Kakita during my training to exchange arts with the Kakita. It was enjoyable and educational, but mostly more of a diplomatic experience than anything else. And Ikoma-san's experience with other bushi? Have you had much during your training? You met some Dragon as you mentioned I imagine."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

If there was a slight intended behind Kaoru's words, Ahiru did not seem to notice or take offense. After all, the Crane had experienced hardship before! Probably. At some point in over a thousan years of history.

"Shosuro-san almost sounds like a historian from the way she speaks?" Ahiru inquired, changing the subject slightly away from discussing hardships and birds.

"History is one of the many subjects I am required to have some knowledge about in the wake of my duties.

I am however by no mean a specialist. It's just that my lord often requests of me that I gather relevant information on a given subject for them, and that often implies spending a bit of time skimming though historical records.

History is often the easy part of such searches actually. We know how the old stories end. Finding, for example, if a construction is strong enough to resist the next river flood or is in need of immediate repairs, that requires talking to many specialists and then still be unsure of the answer."