[LM4] Test of the Wilds Observation

[Asahina Sakura]

Sakura seemed to get lost in his smile for a moment, before blinking, herself.
"Oh! That's nice! Having such inspiration, I mean, someone to aspire to.. um, emulate.. it, well, it can only, um.. it's a good thing?" she fumbled awkwardly.

[Seppun Urusai]

Sakura seemed to get lost in his smile for a moment, before blinking, herself.
"Oh! That's nice! Having such inspiration, I mean, someone to aspire to.. um, emulate.. it, well, it can only, um.. it's a good thing?" she fumbled awkwardly.

Urusai nods, the motion somewhat silly. He is still a teenager, after all.

"He left quite a legacy," he notes. "Unfortunately, he had no children of his own who could be his heir. But I am privileged to've learned from him as much as I have. And he suggested some people I might talk to after this," and he gestures about, "when we're adults. I hope I won't disappoint them, or him."

Again, he cocks his head as if listening, nods.

[Asahina Sakura]

"And your mentor is, um, well, he's passed?" she asks in such a way that she sounds almost surprised? Having picked up on the use of the past tense.
She tilts her head to the side, a flicker of probable understanding crossing her own features. "I find, um, there's still a lot to learn from those who've gone before us, and they can be... rather insistent teachers."

[Seppun Urusai]

"And your mentor is, um, well, he's passed?" she asks in such a way that she sounds almost surprised? Having picked up on the use of the past tense.
She tilts her head to the side, a flicker of probable understanding crossing her own features. "I find, um, there's still a lot to learn from those who've gone before us, and they can be... rather insistent teachers."

"Uncle died in service, and not before his foe" Urusai notes, nodding slowly, his features falling for just a moment. "A better death cannot be asked.

"But he is with me yet," he adds, tapping his heart. "It is as if I hear his voice every day, urging me on--and reminding me I should have listened better."

He gives a puff of laughter.

"It's true."

[Asahina Sakura]

At his laughter, Sakura grins brightly in return.
"You've still time yet to make him proud!"

[Seppun Urusai]

At his laughter, Sakura grins brightly in return.
"You've still time yet to make him proud!"

"I hope to," Urusai replies. Then he leans in again and asks "Is there someone you hope to make proud, daughter of the Crane?"

[Asahina Sakura]

At the move closer, colour blooms on Sakura's cheeks once more and her smile tempers shyly, "Oh, um, well, see, my parents? Of course. And my ancestors? Uh, one in particular is rather uh, insistent, though he keeps his name from me until he decides it's time for me to know it?"

[Seppun Urusai]

At the move closer, colour blooms on Sakura's cheeks once more and her smile tempers shyly, "Oh, um, well, see, my parents? Of course. And my ancestors? Uh, one in particular is rather uh, insistent, though he keeps his name from me until he decides it's time for me to know it?"

"Huh? Oh. Oh!"

Urusai nods.

"I think I understand. I really, really think I do."

[Asahina Sakura]

At that, her eyes widened and she dipped her head in closer to the Seppun so they might speak in hushed voices.
"You do?"

[Seppun Urusai]

At that, her eyes widened and she dipped her head in closer to the Seppun so they might speak in hushed voices.
"You do?"

"Yes," Urusai replies, sotto voce. "Though I know mine is Uncle."

[Kakita Ahiru]

Jiro limped lightly from his horse and found a place to sit. What a dumb idea. Well... at least it helped do better than yesterday.

He rubbed his ankle as he watched others participate.

Seeing one of the contestants walk with a limp, Ahiru felt a pang of concern and approached the Phoenix-boy.

"Good morning, Shiba-san," she greeted with a friendly smile at first and a bow. "May I sit with you to watch the rest of the contestants' performance?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Detestable", the Lion growled. "How have you learned of this?"

"Saw a ronin dead of th'stuff in th'gardens th'first night here. Think if th'location hadn't been so public it mighta been kept more... quiet."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Yes," Urusai replies, sotto voce. "Though I know mine is Uncle."

Her eyes had brightened dramatically and Sakura nodded, cheeks still rosy. "It's intimidating, hai? But also, strangely comforting? I've... my mother, she said I had one foot in two worlds since I was just a little girl," the previous awkwardness seemed just a memory when Sakura could focus on something that wasn't how cute the Seppun's smile was.

[Seppun Urusai]

Her eyes had brightened dramatically and Sakura nodded, cheeks still rosy. "It's intimidating, hai? But also, strangely comforting? I've... my mother, she said I had one foot in two worlds since I was just a little girl," the previous awkwardness seemed just a memory when Sakura could focus on something that wasn't how cute the Seppun's smile was.

Blissfully unaware of the thoughts, Urusai focuses on the comment.

"How do you mean?" he asks. "Two worlds? Which two?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Well, seeing- or rather, sensing- what usually goes unseen- or unsensed?- by most? The activity and general state of the spirits that surround us, surround everything. Um. Like at the Temple of Fortunes?"

[Akodo Michi]

"Saw a ronin dead of th'stuff in th'gardens th'first night here. Think if th'location hadn't been so public it mighta been kept more... quiet."

"I heard of this news", the Lion confirmed. "I did not know it was due to opium, is this certain?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I heard of this news", the Lion confirmed. "I did not know it was due to opium, is this certain?"

"A pipe was found. An' ya never forget the look of a dead addict once you've had the experience."

[Shiba Jiro]

Seeing one of the contestants walk with a limp, Ahiru felt a pang of concern and approached the Phoenix-boy.

"Good morning, Shiba-san," she greeted with a friendly smile at first and a bow. "May I sit with you to watch the rest of the contestants' performance?"

"Of course Kakita-san. It would be a pleasure," he says with a bow of his own. He favors one foot with most of his weight on it, but it doesn't interfere with his bow... just makes it a bit off-center.

"You performed very well. Congratulations."

[Kakita Ahiru]

"Of course Kakita-san. It would be a pleasure," he says with a bow of his own. He favors one foot with most of his weight on it, but it doesn't interfere with his bow... just makes it a bit off-center.

"You performed very well. Congratulations."

The bow was returned, maintaining the expected decorum of a Crane. "Thank you. It was nothing compared to the warriors of the Unicorn and Lion, but I am proud of my performance today," she said, accepting the compliment graciously.

Seeing closer that he was indeed favoring one foot over the other, she lowered her voice with some concern. "For an artisan, Shiba-san performed adequately as well. Though... is everything alright? I hope you weren't injured during your performance?"

[Shiba Jiro]

"Ah, it will get better. It's a bit sore. I figured, since I had never ridden a horse before, I should try to make sure I was less likely to fall off. So I kind of intentionally tangled my foot up since I figured that might give me better leverage and control. Helped, but certainly not something to do for a long time. Proper riding lessons would be much more useful," he said with a smile. How many other artisans and courtiers in the past may have intentionally hurt themselves just for the chance to perform decently okay in a tournament focused on bushi skills? Probably too many.

"But it's definitely not the worst bruise I've ever gotten. Thankfully they are rare though."