The garden is lit by high lanterns, the large hoods protecting the flames from the misting rain. It is dim, yet beautiful in the lightly clouded night, the moon reflecting off the koi ponds within the park by the well manicured paths. Those who cannot quite sleep seem to enjoy the night to relax, enjoying themselves and the company of those they choose. The sound of crickets softly add to the symphony of the night, almost a picture perfect night, worthy of poetry.

Assuredly one of those too nervous or excited to sleep, Kuni Mitsuko walks slowly around the gardens. Her outer kimono is heavy and a plain, dark, Crab blue that largely blends into the night. But even the limited light makes her traditional Kuni facepaint clearly visible wherever she goes.

The facepaint also makes it somewhat difficult to tell her mood, so she seems neither cheerful nor melancholy. Thoughtful is the best descriptor as she pauses beside one koi pond.

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[Happy to chat. Please quote or pm!]

Kuni Mitsuko wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:31 pm

Assuredly one of those too nervous or excited to sleep, Kuni Mitsuko walks slowly around the gardens. Her outer kimono is heavy and a plain, dark, Crab blue that largely blends into the night. But even the limited light makes her traditional Kuni facepaint clearly visible wherever she goes.

The facepaint also makes it somewhat difficult to tell her mood, so she seems neither cheerful nor melancholy. Thoughtful is the best descriptor as she pauses beside one koi pond.

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[Happy to chat. Please quote or pm!]

"Standing watch, child of the Crab?" says Urusai as he approaches, giving a shallow bow. "Or surveying the scene for the contests to come?"

His own face, unpainted, is open and untroubled. He is not smiling, as such, but his face is pleasant enough.

Seppun Urusai wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:01 pm

"Standing watch, child of the Crab?" says Urusai as he approaches, giving a shallow bow. "Or surveying the scene for the contests to come?"

His own face, unpainted, is open and untroubled. He is not smiling, as such, but his face is pleasant enough.

The Crab raises an eyebrow, turning toward the other samurai. She bows her head to match his respect.

"This one would not presume our hosts need any help in watch. But surveying terrain for coming challenges is an important lesson of the Hida Battle Leader school," she says with a tiny smirk.

Kuni Mitsuko wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:17 pm

The Crab raises an eyebrow, turning toward the other samurai. She bows her head to match his respect.

"This one would not presume our hosts need any help in watch. But surveying terrain for coming challenges is an important lesson of the Hida Battle Leader school," she says with a tiny smirk.

"As well as others," comes the swift reply. "And that is the school that you represent here, then, the Hida Battle Leaders?"

His smoldering eyes lock with hers, frankly assessing.

Walking through the entrance of the garden, Jiro takes not of people in conversation and makes his way around them to avoid interrupting.

Seppun Urusai wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:27 pm

"As well as others," comes the swift reply. "And that is the school that you represent here, then, the Hida Battle Leaders?"

His smoldering eyes lock with hers, frankly assessing.

Mitsuko's eyes narrow, similarly assessing and unsure what is wrong with the other samurai's eyes.

"Hai, it is my honor," she says, closing her eyes and bowing her head a moment. "Oh, and this one is Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai and pro--er--humble student of the Battle Leader dojo. And you, Curious Eyes-san?" The nickname seems neither affectionate nor pejorative, simply an expression of her first impression.

Kuni Mitsuko wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 5:30 pm

Mitsuko's eyes narrow, similarly assessing and unsure what is wrong with the other samurai's eyes.

"Hai, it is my honor," she says, closing her eyes and bowing her head a moment. "Oh, and this one is Kuni Mitsuko, daughter of Kuni Etsumiko and Kuni Adorai and pro--er--humble student of the Battle Leader dojo. And you, Curious Eyes-san?" The nickname seems neither affectionate nor pejorative, simply an expression of her first impression.

"Urusai, son of Tokaji, of the Most Noble Family of Seppun, Miharu-ryu at Kyuden Seppun," he replies, nodding in return. "A pleasure, truly."

His eyes cut over to the Shiba for a moment, but only a moment, noting the presence and seeming disinterest.

"How stood affairs upon your departure?"

Shiba Jiro wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 5:08 pm

Walking through the entrance of the garden, Jiro takes not of people in conversation and makes his way around them to avoid interrupting.

"Shiba-sama."

The soft voice came out from a small silhouette wrapped up in a thick grayish coat, sat just under one of the lanterns, a book opened on her knees.

"A beautiful garden isn't it? Especially under the pale moonlight."

The peasantry kept their respectful differences from the samurai, as various citizens kept their paces and conversations. The rain continued to mist, forcing parasols to be out.

However the placidness of the evening was disturbed by a high pitched shriek of terror just down a path!

Ender wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:40 pm

The peasantry kept their respectful differences from the samurai, as various citizens kept their paces and conversations. The rain continued to mist, forcing parasols to be out.

However the placidness of the evening was disturbed by a high pitched shriek of terror just down a path!

Kuni Mitsuko wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 5:30 pm

tag

With a brief nod to his Kuni interlocutor, Urusai dashes off in that direction.

The Heavens move swiftly, after all.

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:33 pm

"Shiba-sama."

The soft voice came out from a small silhouette wrapped up in a thick grayish coat, sat just under one of the lanterns, a book opened on her knees.

"A beautiful garden isn't it? Especially under the pale moonlight."

"It is. Are you..." He cut off.

Ender wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:40 pm

The peasantry kept their respectful differences from the samurai, as various citizens kept their paces and conversations. The rain continued to mist, forcing parasols to be out.

However the placidness of the evening was disturbed by a high pitched shriek of terror just down a path!

He was certainly no warrior or priest. He didn't know what he would do if he tried to help. But he was determined to from the sudden look the Shosuro would see in his eyes. He looked in the direction of the scream. "I... am going to check," he says with a nod before making his way.

Shiba Jiro wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:44 pm

He was certainly no warrior or priest. He didn't know what he would do if he tried to help. But he was determined to from the sudden look the Shosuro would see in his eyes. He looked in the direction of the scream. "I... am going to check," he says with a nod before making his way.

Koaru's face remained unfazed while her body swiftly stood up, her eyes and ears fully open under the makeup and the curtain of her hair, scanning the world around her.

"One samurai cannot have eyes on their back, but two samurai together have no more openings. I'll come with you."

The tone was soft, but not really a question, and she started moving quickly in the direction of the sound too.

Kasumi had changed into less formal attire, and was strolling the gardens in her second-best clothes

Wow, these gardens're sure nice. Holy... how long did it TAKE to do this?

Ender wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 7:40 pm

However the placidness of the evening was disturbed by a high pitched shriek of terror just down a path!

And then that happened.

And no Mantis worthy of the name would run away, so Kasumi hiked up her kimono a little bit and legged it toward the source of the sound.

"Ara ara, it seems that I wasn't the only one a bit too excited to sleep." Shinko practically twirls through the gardens, and how could she not? Everything was just so...flat! How did they get all of this space? No wonder people were sneaking around to investigate.

Those that chased after the scream find a crowd. A young woman of the merchant class covering her mouth as she continues to shriek. Just off the path, what caused her scream becomes very apparent.

A ronin, dead. But not by the blade, and no external wounds. His pallor is pale, and if one looks closely, his eyes are tinged heavily. He appeared to have slumped over from a sitting position.

There's a long pipe on the ground near him.

Urusai immediately scans for further attackers, furtive motions. Unarmed, he is still ready to leap ahead.

And there will be local authorities coming on site, surely.

Jiro stood by and observed. He was no great investigator or magistrate, but he could do his best to take in the details of the scene so that he could provide a proper report later. He moves to the screaming woman, hoping to provide support and hopefully help her calm down so she can speak with authorities when they arrive.

"Are you alright?" he asks, making sure she wasn't injured or harmed, though he suspected she wasn't and it was just shock and not pain that led to the screaming.

Mitsuko had hesitated initially, between what a Crab would do and what she thought proper samurai would do, but when she sees several young samurai like her heading to investigate, she follows after them with purpose.

Kuni facepaint, especially on a dark night, does an admirable job helping her cut through the growing crowd, so Mitsuko finds herself close enough to the body and pipe to observe them, and then she hesitates again between what a Kuni would do and what she believes a proper samurai should do here. Intuition wars with the safety of staying in the crowd.

Way too many people running around, metaphorically or not. Crane authorities likely to appear at any moment. Dead that aren't going to turn any deader. No immediate danger or similarly urgent issue in sight that isn't already taken care of twice.

Kaoru will remain somewhere in the crowd, all eyes and ears, but will not add to the cacophony herself, a silent spectator of the events to come.