Kyuden Shika

Bayushi put the umbrella away upon entering the sake bar, and after settling himself properly ordered sake and a sampling of delectable, steaming food. "The rains bring fortune with them!" he commented to the staff. "I have a good feeling about today - let's celebrate!"

Nesshin is already there--he does know the best way to get there, after all, being local--and he raises his cup to the Scorpion.

"To good days--may they be many and find us often!"

Shika Nesshin wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 07, 2021 11:00 pm

Nesshin is already there--he does know the best way to get there, after all, being local--and he raises his cup to the Scorpion.

"To good days--may they be many and find us often!"

"Ah-ha! To you as well, my good Shika!" Bayushi downed his cup of sake, and then, with aplomb and agility, he swiped up sake bottle and cups in one hand, tray of food in the other, and transported everything over to Shika's table. "Bayushi Mitsu, my friend," he introduced himself with a respectful nod as he took a seat. "Has the good fortune found you this day as well?"

Bayushi Mitsu wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 08, 2021 2:34 am

"Ah-ha! To you as well, my good Shika!" Bayushi downed his cup of sake, and then, with aplomb and agility, he swiped up sake bottle and cups in one hand, tray of food in the other, and transported everything over to Shika's table. "Bayushi Mitsu, my friend," he introduced himself with a respectful nod as he took a seat. "Has the good fortune found you this day as well?"

"Shika Nesshin!" comes the reply with a stand, a bow, a smile, and a prompt return to his seat. "And it has been a good day. How not? We have rain to wash the world and the promise of love in the air; who of good heart would not rejoice?"

It is clear, so very clear, that Nesshin has studied under Zang. So clear.

Shika Nesshin wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 08, 2021 2:51 am

"Shika Nesshin!" comes the reply with a stand, a bow, a smile, and a prompt return to his seat. "And it has been a good day. How not? We have rain to wash the world and the promise of love in the air; who of good heart would not rejoice?"

It is clear, so very clear, that Nesshin has studied under Zang. So clear.

"Oh-ho!" Bayushi turned towards Shika, pointing a finger. "The 'Rampant Stag' himself!"

Bayushi froze, dark eyes glinting from behind the slits in his mask. "Ah...I hope I am not repeating something of ill-favor, Shika-san. No disrespect is meant."

Bayushi Mitsu wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 08, 2021 2:59 am

"Oh-ho!" Bayushi turned towards Shika, pointing a finger. "The 'Rampant Stag' himself!"

Bayushi froze, dark eyes glinting from behind the slits in his mask. "Ah...I hope I am not repeating something of ill-favor, Shika-san. No disrespect is meant."

"'Rampant Stag?'" Nesshin asks. "That's a new one on me--though I like to think I'm a stand-up guy. Certainly, I've been thought tall enough by more than one person, and it behooves a man to be erect when he goes about his business!"

He laughs and takes a pull from his drink. "No, if I'm getting sobriqueted, I'm clearly drawing eyes--and that's no bad thing in a miai. But where'd you get the term, if I might ask?"

Shika Nesshin wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 08, 2021 3:05 am

"'Rampant Stag?'" Nesshin asks. "That's a new one on me--though I like to think I'm a stand-up guy. Certainly, I've been thought tall enough by more than one person, and it behooves a man to be erect when he goes about his business!"

He laughs and takes a pull from his drink. "No, if I'm getting sobriqueted, I'm clearly drawing eyes--and that's no bad thing in a miai. But where'd you get the term, if I might ask?"

Bayushi shared his laugh. "You are a master of the pun as well, I see!" Bayushi poured more sake for them. "I overheard a pair of the gate guards talking when I went out yesterday. Something about samurai coming back through the gate after a night out in the woods?"

"I studied alongside them," Neshin says, "and you know how old friends will go on. It's true I come in from the bush often enough, but my duties often have me surveying the wood, ensuring that things don't creep about as shouldn't.

"No, last night, I was in."

Shika Nesshin wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 08, 2021 1:31 pm

"I studied alongside them," Neshin says, "and you know how old friends will go on. It's true I come in from the bush often enough, but my duties often have me surveying the wood, ensuring that things don't creep about as shouldn't.

"No, last night, I was in."

"I'm not sure how they could even tell one samurai from another," Bayushi supplied helpfully, "with all those here for the miai sneaking about in the dark. And here I thought I would be missing the orderly chaos of the capital, but there's quite a colorful collection in attendance, from Cranes to Lions and all in between." The Scorpion pried out the bottom edge of his mask and slipped the sake cup behind for a hefty draught. "Not all of them well-intentioned mind you," he added, placing the cup back down, "but a pleasant lot on the whole, certainly." He nodded in self-agreement.

Nesshin sets his cup down.

"Oh?" he asks. "And what, er, 'other-than-well-intentioned' goings-on have you seen?"

The aspiring magistrate is emerging, here...