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 Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:08 pm
A couple miles outside the limits of Barton, but not quite close enough to be called a part of Isle of Gambino, there sits a large tudor-esque house atop a meadowed seaside cliff. The house itself is mostly comprised of stone and could almost be mistaken for something of a mansion-ish castle, save for the rather simple design. It's large enough to contain all of the home's residents within the two - possibly three- stories that stands in such a stately way. To the right, there was a large greenhouse that served as a favorite place to one of the residents, who was actually there at that moment. Good for Unsou.
The Flying Spear was starting to go stir-crazy again, wondering if being stagnant would actually kill her. Today, she had travelled yet again to the house's small but efficient dojo, where she was practicing her battle techniques. If for nothing else, it would keep her as sharp as ever. She would NOT let herself get soft.
Yaruka happened to be outside, trimming the hedges. Things in the house were just a little bit tense, so it was best that they all found something to do. Tsubei was tending to her flowers, which was always good therapy for her, and the ever-intense Unsou was using the dojo. And for Yaruka, her current therapy was timming stray branches in the crisp air that predicted rain in the imminent future and humming softly to herself.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:32 pm
The man making his way gradually along the path to the house finds himself quite pleased that he chose to walk the last stretch of the journey. He tilts his head back, breathing in the delicious air, soothed by the atmosphere which feels to him saturated with the symbolism of Water.
But spotting a humanoid figure in front of the building, Setsushi stops basking and grows serious, brushing out and rearranging his clothes and checking his basket of tea, candy, and cooking wine to make sure everything is still safe. Once assured he is presentable, he makes his way up to greet the lady of the house.
"Madame Yaruka," he calls, with a lighthearted and cheerful projection of greeting that softens the formality of his words. "How is your family?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:36 am
Yaruka's pearlescent wings, which were visible today, twitched as she sensed an oncoming presence. She could feel the relaxed satisfaction that was replaced with formality and seriousness as he approached. The woman had to smile as she turned to hear the voice, looking at the overly tall Porcelain with a rather happy expression.
"Hello to you too, Setsushi." She put down her sheers and bowed to him respectfully, "Most of the family is fairly well. My son is always a worry to me as he grows up, but that's the way it goes. Tsubei has me concerned again, but I hope it will be temporary. And, of course, our newest roomie is suffering cabin fever on a daily basis. I do feel for her. All in all, though, it's going along fine. What about yourself and your housemates?"
She felt slightly embarrassed that she had jabbered on a bit, but she hadn't seen him in quite some time. She had only heard things in passing from Tsubei.
Unsou had been in the midst of a series of meditative punches and kicks against one of the practice dummies. In the middle of a wheel-kick to the neck, she felt a familiar second-hand projection and had lost some of her concentration. As such, the kick didn't have all the force she wanted, but the force she hit with was enough to send a rather jarring pain up her leg.
Cursing silently for a moment, she wondered what the Ice Maiden was doing at her boarder's home. Perhaps being still in a unfamiliar place with people she generally was suspicious of was affecting her mind slightly, but curiosity had initiated a choice to go see what was going on.........
As soon as she did some meditation to get rid of the pain in her shin.
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:06 pm
Setsushi expresses a little worry and regret at her family's troubles, but also affirms his belief that Yaruka will be able to help them through the rough spots. As for Setsushi, Kouyo, and Tenkyuu, "We are all well," at least in the ways that matter; they are suffering some small difficulties as well, but nothing that will not resolve itself with patient work and the passage of time.
Ah, yes. "For all your time and support," Setsushi says as he raises the basket of gifts; just some trivial little things for snacking or for use in cooking. Glancing again at the house, much larger than he had anticipated, Setsushi bashfully adds, "I hope there is enough for everyone..."
Setsushi can carry them in for Madame. He was actually hoping to meet Unsou today -- and by the slight but growing sense of anxiety he feels in his chest, he believes she is indeed home today. sweatdrop
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 2:25 am
"Yes, I am." Came the firm, familiar voice from the doorway (which was quite large for the heavy oak door that it held.)
Unsou stood there, watching the two of them. She had shed her armor plates and the formal battle robes she usually wore and had donned a small pair of blue hakama that just barely brushed the floor and a small white gi, all which hung comfortably on her frame. She actually found this uniform was good to practice in. Her dark ocean hair hung behind her in a high, tight braid.
She bowed with a modest projection of respect and greeting to Setsushi, unable to hide a twinge of curiosity as to why he might come to see her specifically. Still, the look on her face was the same, famously placid sternness and blankness that she seemed to easily pull off.
Yaruka smiled to Setsushi, hoping he wouldn't worry too much about her family's troubles. She just hoped she could help them all with enough confidence.
"Oh, thank you." She said cheerfully as she saw the basket of gifts from him. "You didn't need to go through the trouble, but I'm very grateful. I'm sure there's plenty for all to enjoy it well."
She was about to insist that she could carry the basket until she heard Unsou's voice. She turned to look at her and bowed her head to her respectfully, hoping that these gestures would eventually earn her a modicum of trust from the Dragon Knight. She regained her manners quickly and looked to Setsushi.
"Of course, do come in if you'd like....unless being outside would be more comfortable?"
Unsou twitched her eyebrow up ever-so-slightly. This woman's accomodating nature was both sickening and enlightening in strange ways (which explained how she and Setsushi seemed to get along so well.) She was starting to suspect Yaruka wasn't even human. She waited for a response from the Ice Maiden, content to be inside or out....it mattered not to her.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:41 pm
Setsushi has a quick spike of anxiety as Unsou appears, but he suppresses it and bows to her, sending her a feeling of deferent and friendly greeting.
"Let us go inside?" Setsushi suggests, though the intonation is that of a question. This weather is suited to Setsushi, but he is not sure about Dame and Madame. He smiles a bit nervously, but starts off towards the house to at least deliver the gifts and speak to Unsou.
"Dame Unsou," he greets her again, once he is a bit closer, "I would like to propose a course of duels between us." His words go straight to the point, tailored to hopefully please the Flying Spear. "-- Though I have no hope of victory," he adds, smiling slightly and radiating a calm and friendly feeling. His tone seems to suggest he has in mind a casual, but sportsmanlike competition, for recreation rather than honor.
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:08 pm
Yaruka nodded with the friendly smile still on her face, turning to move inside with them both. She enjoyed this kind of weather, but she always ended up with a small cold afterwards. Best to avoid it this time. She politely slipped to the side of Unsou, who moved aside to let the lady of the house in.
"Alright. We can move into the sitting room, it's just inside the hall." She led them there, which was the very first room on the left; the only part of the hall that had an archway. Inside, it was a small but open room decorated in a mixture of blues. The chairs and small couch were comfortable and soft.
Yaruka moved to take the basket so she could put the gifts away properly, allowing the two a moment to speak.
Unsou feels a slight bit of amusement at Setsushi's anxiety, knowing well enough that he never did enjoy spending more time than he had to around her. It was also disappointing and proof of his weakness.
As they moved inside, her eyebrows raised visibly to his proposal of a series of duels. After defeating him before, she had assumed he would not wish to sparr with her again, to say nothing of his general feelings of cowardess. She was glad for his straightforwardness, though the latter phrase made her eyes roll just a bit. Brown-nosing again.
Still, she rather delighted in the idea of sparring with someone....and Setsushi was the better candidate of the others. Tenkyuu was an elder, Tenryuu was generally intolerable and Chourou had a chance to be closer to her family.
"An interesting proposal," She said as flatly as possibly, but there was a hint of her curiosity in her speech. "But why?" It was a straightforward question. She would gladly take him up on it, but she wanted to know if there was any reason behind it. Either way, it was a chance for her to take on more of a challenge than equipment.
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:04 pm
Setsushi relinquishes the basket as he marvels at the fine interior, giving off slight feelings of admiration... but he directs his attention back to Unsou.
"I fear I am growing weak in a peaceful world such as this," Setsushi explains with a bashful smile. "And though I probably cannot defeat you, I will at least be motivated to provide you an interesting opponent.
"I am not sure what form our competition should take, however." He ponders publicly; Gaia lacks the trained duel judges, and traditional-style blunted dueling weapons, mass-produced in Toukoku, would have to be expensively custom-ordered. "Perhaps a contest of the three weapons, but with modifications." Archery could proceed as normal; for swords and spears, they might use wooden substitutes, ignoble though that option would be. For the judge, they could dispense of the scoring of form and only count touches, or they could recruit one of the other Knights, or they could attempt to teach a Gaian -- perhaps a judge of a human martial art could learn the Imperial rules?
"I do not have strong preferences, so the specifics are up to you, Dame Unsou," Setsushi defers politely. Although he does hope the first contest isn't until he's had a chance to practice a bit.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 1:11 am
Unsou watched Yaruka passively, then returned her attention to Setsushi. Again, to his admonition, her eyebrows raised considerably and visibly. He was admitting to his weakness and ever-growing softness because of this stagnant place. And he sought duels with her so he could be strong again.
The idea did appeal to Unsou, in many ways. A main reason being that she would have something to do and look forward do. It would keep her occupied and keep her skills in check. Another reason was that it would give her a chance to release her frustrations and the many other emotions that were swirling beneath the placid mask. In her mind, Setsushi was suddenly her underling.....and it was enough to ALMOST make her smile. She was smiling in her mind.
"The idea is substantial. It is agreeable and would do both of us a world of good." She nodded thoughtfully as she spoke in her level tone. "I believe the one called Yaruka has fitting substitutes for our weapons in her dojo. The wooden practice weapons seem quite similar to our own, as well."
As for the judging and rules.....perhaps that would have to be worked on.
"I could judge, if you like."
Yaruka had come back and was listening intently to this proposition. She was a fighter of fair skill, perhaps she might be some use as a judge.
"I'm more than willing to learn the rules, if you're willing to teach." In truth, she felt she needed something else to do besides her usual tasks.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:13 pm
"If Madame Yaruka would like to learn, we can attempt to teach you," Setsushi replies, and goes on to explain his understanding of the role to her: in the traditional, formal style, the judge is supposed to award points based on the duelist's grace and ease and the conformity of his movements with established movements and styles, so it is a position usually held by martial arts instructors or experienced dancers; however, in duels between nobles, it would be very rare for a judge to withhold points, so the counting of touches ends up being more important anyway. Still, "The gaze of a judge elevates a duel above mere sparring." Setsushi, for his part, trusts Madame's experience and aesthetic sense, and would be satisfied with her as a judge.
He spends a few more moments pondering the specifics of their engagements, then murmurs aloud, "Only one sword, then," for the duel of swords; Gaian swords are rather differently-weighted from Porcelain ones, he has observed, and if they must use wood, the weight may be so different that levitation will be insensible. "What other constraints?" Will they specify certain proportionate lengths for the weapons, require both duelists to receive weapons from the same manufacturer, or other rules?
Setsushi again repeats that he does not have strong preferences; he will enjoy the course in any case.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:48 am
Yaruka paid close attention as Setsushi explained some of the rules and the judge's role in a duel. His description of what the judge was made her smile. She was not necessarily a martial arts master, though skilled she was, but the latter she could relate to.
"I may not be a master in combat, but I am employed as a professional Fire Dancer. If I'm given a basic run-down of how Porcelain combat works, specifically in duels, then I think I would make a fair judge." She couldn't hold back the smile. This was going to be interesting.
Fire Dancer? Unsou's mind pondered aloud. It explained why she saw Yaruka at times manipulating fire, but it didn't explain how she managed to manifest it from nowhere. Was she a sorcerer with a fire chaos? No, she couldn't possibly have that kind of knowledge. Further investigation was needed.
"I find many of Yaruka's weapons suitable to our styles. She has a rather expansive collection...even weapons that would suit your height." She looked to Setsushi, then back over to the winged woman. Unsou is not mistaken that the human would not be opposed to letting them choose from her weaponry?
Yaruka smiled slightly and shook her head.
"By all means, you can use any of the weapons I have. I have complete sets in practice wood, combat-use and dueling-use. The dueling swords and such have no sharp edges, but are forged almost exactly like their combat twins. You're more than welcome to follow me and get an idea of what I mean?" She offered to show Setsushi the dojo that Unsou had familiarized herself with. Surely Unsou knew the range of her weapon closets, but it was also up to Setsushi.
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:50 pm
Setsushi will gladly volunteer his knowledge to Yaruka... Although... His projections grow more private, and he tells her that he can't help feeling that if only one of these two Knights teaches her, she'll be biased heavily in that one's favor; Setsushi and Unsou naturally have very different styles. He wonders instead if she could borrow the time of, say, Tenryuu or Chourou, and supplement that with a manual from the Silver World? Setsushi can ask the other Knights what they think of the plan, too.
Once again speaking publicly, he agrees that he would very much like to see Yaruka's armory. "Who is your supplier?" he asks. Naturally, Setsushi will want to practice and familiarize himself with the Gaian-style wooden weapons, but his jobs keep him inside the city most days, and he would not like to impose on Madame by borrowing hers; he would rather get, and perhaps keep, his own copies.
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:00 am
Yaruka nodded slowly as she took in Setsushi's private projections. True, but I can learn from you both as well as a book and one of the other Knights. That way, I'll have knowledge of your styles and can still retain fairness. Her mindspeak was private, quiet and crystal clear.
Returning to the public thoughts and speech, she smiled brightly and turned to lead them to her small but respectable dojo. It was a fairly large room, about half the size of a regular ballroom, and the floor was mostly covered in large tatami mats colored like pearly beach sand. There were practice dummies and wooden strike posts moved into one corner of the room, apart from the one Unsou had been using. The back wall and the right side wall were lined with racks which held martial arts weapons of every respectable size range, from the shortest to the tallest, starting with the wooden ones and ending with the practice ones. A large armoire in the back left corner held those used for combat. There were katanas, straight-swords, spears and bo-staffs, as well as scyes, nunchucks and shurikens. There was even a special place for archery supplies...but most focus was placed on the swords and staffs.
"I have a friend at the Barton Armory. He supplies me with my general weapons, but he lets me forge my special custom weapons." She explained as she looked around at her collection. She pulled down her favorite katana; a rather long one that was almost as tall as she was. It stood up to her shoulders.
Unsou followed quietly, glancing around the room. Having seen the collection for herself firsthand many times, she already knew how vast it was. It was impressive....highly impressive. Still, Unsou preferred her weapons and kept them in her room.
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 3:17 pm
Setsushi smiles and nods at Yaruka's reply, though he looks a little worried. Very careful to make this thought completely private, he projects a single word at her: Willing? and glances sideways at Unsou. ... He hopes she will understand what his concern is, because he can't quite say any more without being unforgivably rude.
But on entering the dojo, his anxieties quickly evaporate in favor of admiration and interest at Yaruka's collection of weapons. Though it would be impolite to begin immediately rifling through someone else's possessions, his gaze moves attentively over each weapon, especially the single-edged swords, with the keen eagerness and joy of-- well, a geek.
"I envy you, Madame," he says smilingly; he couldn't even afford such a collection in the Golden World...
... He managed to pull himself away from cooing at the weapons to ask Unsou, "Which contest shall we have first, and when?" He thinks it would be nice to spread them out, so that they can focus their training on the upcoming weapon, their judge can familiarize herself with the traditions one at a time, and they can make the suspense and enjoyment last longer.
"And in the contest of archery, shall we open it to the other Knights as well?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:35 am
Yaruka could feel Setsushi's worry, wondering just exactly what it might be about. The private thought that came, along with his glance to the petite Porcelain warrior that roomed with her, made her raise an eyebrow If you mean that she is not willing to teach me, it won't matter. I've watched her enough to know much of her fighting style. I can compensate for what she won't reveal. Though if she wants truly fair judgement, then it would behoove her to teach me what she knows.
Her thoughts were just as completely private as Setsushi's. She did not make it apparent that she was communicating, unsheathing her favored blade and making a few graceful moves with it. I do not fear her power or spirit. Came a private side-thought.
She changed her attention to Setsushi oggling her collection and smiled proudly. He could geek all he wanted; it didn't bother her. She loved showing people her weaponry. She rather liked seeing the mix of envy and fear in peoples' eyes.
"I get a bit of a discount. You could say that I enjoy having a wide array of pointy parafernelia. Though Juusan here is my favorite." She moved her sword to shimmer a bit to emphasize that that one was Juusan.
Unsou had pulled down a dueling spear which was slightly taller than she was, twirling it around idly in her fingers. She seemed to be lost in thought, her eyes having that far-away look to them. A faint trickle of wonder and thoughtfulness came from her, and a passing thought on her mother.
Setsushi addressing her directly snapped her back to reality and she looked to him, thinking momentarily on the order of duels.
"Archery first. Then spears and finally swords. Start far away and move in closer." She put it simply and plainly. It went in order of not only range, but also intensity. Archery was fairly calm compared to the latter two.
The other Knights can join in the archery, if they wish. Her voice and thoughts still had a tinge of that far-awayness to the tone. "We can plan for the first contest in a few days or a week. Perhaps a week or two in between each contest, for proper preparation."
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