[Day 5, ME, Open] Whispered Fortune

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"Do they also have something to do with the Asahina?"

[Isawa Mari]

"Do they also have something to do with the Asahina?"

Mari thinks a moment, then shakes her head. "That one does, but not in general. I do not create the sort of charms they are known for. These are not..." Her lips compress with a thoughful 'hmmm...'

"These are not blessing that would require a shugenja's affinity for the elemental spirits. And those charms require it."

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"That is very interesting." He smiled as he let the toy spin in a wide arc before returning it to his hand. "Are they omamori, then?"

[Isawa Mari]

"That is very interesting." He smiled as he let the toy spin in a wide arc before returning it to his hand. "Are they omamori, then?"

(ooc, not in the sense of having mechanical benefits. But essentially that from a fluff standpoint.)

She nods. "One pays attention to the ritual aspects of inks or tinctures, to the prayers, and to the proper times and ways to inscribe them. Few laypeople study such things, so they are more commonly prepared by priests and monks." She watches the toy spin, but saves questions that would be a digression from the current game for later.

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

He nodded as well. "I will need to expand my theological studies. This has been quite enlightening."

[Otomo Hana]

Hana had given the Kitsuki space to work, though after awhile his monomanical interest in the Isawa's ribbons lost her interest. For some reason, it reminded her of that really terrible play with all the random bouts of people bouncing kemari balls in it. The Kitsuki was just kicking the ball up and down for no discernable reason. All they needed was Yogo-san to run up yelling 'You're tearing me apart, Risa!' to make it perfect.

But it seemed the Dragon had brought his questions to an end.

"Ah, so then Kitsuki-san, you have divined the origin of Isawa-san then? I have to admit, I cannot follow the jump you have made from her ribbons to her origin. I would very much be interested in hearing your conclusions and how you reached them." she asked.

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"Oh. No, Otomo-sama. I have no idea." He shook his head. "The ribbons are clearly important to Isawa-san. Considering the number and variety, she has been collecting them for quite some time, suggesting she may have learned the crafting of omamori when she was young. They seem to be a significant part of who she has become."

"I made the mistake of assuming they were elemental in nature." he sighed. "There are a few shugenja traditions that involve creating items of power. My cousins in the Agasha have their potions and poultice. I have heard of different techniques in other clans. The Crane seemed most likely. But, assumptions should not be made without proper deductions."

"The other assumption I made was that her origins lay outside of the Phoenix. That felt like too obvious of an answer to the challenge you gave me. But, the simplest answer is often the correct one. So, I should have eliminated those possibilities first. The Kaito would be a good possibility."

"Overall, however, I don't know enough to draw a conclusion."

[Isawa Mari]

With a small smile and somewhat apologetic dip of the head, Mari says, "apologies to you both for being a bit confounding in the bare simplicity of my origins. My gifts come naturally as an Isawa born, though my mother came to us from the Shiba." Just a touch of Isawa arrogance in that statement, perhaps.

"It's true though that I've been learning protective charms and prayers from even before my formal training. And I was, temporarily, betrothed to one of those among the Asahina who make those more powerful charms you've mentioned." Holding an arm up to let the ribbons flutter a bit, she shakes her head slightly. "I know they're not powerful enough to do more than give the worst sorts of dangers a moment's confused pause. But that can be an important moment."

"If you don't mind, Kitsuki-sama, I'm curious about the object you've been spinning around. It's not spiritually significant," that she knows of, but it's perhaps unsurprising that an Isawa doesn't offer that qualifier, "so I'm wondering what it's used for?"

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"The simplest answer is often the correct one." He smiled, bringing the object in question back to his hand and holding it up. "Honestly, it's just a toy, a bit of wood and string some children play with. You likely won't see any other samurai playing with one. But, this yo-yo is personally significant. This particular one was crafted by my great-great-grandfather. It is somewhat meditative for me, helping me focus my thoughts."