Despair and Wisdom: Imperial March

Mari made her way to the medical tents, morning tea in one hand, onigiri in the other (with two more stashed in her satchel). More accurately, she made her way to one of the carts packed with medical supplies. A few crates with supplies that might be needed quickly for an emergency were on the ground for easy access, but just needed a lift to be packed with the rest. Everything looked to be in order, and quiet. No supplies scattered about from treating midnight brawlers, no chorus of pained noises and healer's orders this early on a day with no battle. She leaned against the cart, sipping her tea and watching tiny puffs of cloud scudding along with a much brisker wind than the one gently tugging at her ribbons. They'd be gone in an hour, skies clear to the horizon. The army wouldn't move so quickly, but it still felt as if they were following the natural hints around them. The spirits of sky and water offering reassurance that this was a good day to get moving.

But she hadn't skipped out on breakfast chatter to spend the time reading the clouds. No, she'd made sure her gear was mostly settled last night, Stuffed her sleeping gear in its place this morning, and grabbed movable breakfast items because this wasn't her first march. It was much more pleasant to be prepared than to find a line for the services of the few healers finishing their night-time shifts. There were always plenty of people overindulging on their last night near a proper city; nevermind the day of packing and marching they'd have to manage with an aching head and dehydration.

So she straightened away from the cart's support as she finished the last bit of her portable breakfast and headed for the main tent. She knew where she'd left the small tins of medicines that would be needed, and a securely tied sheaf of the little papers to wrap doses in. They'd get tucked into the last crate before it was loaded. Anyone coming by after that was on their own to deal with the self-inflicted pain.

An enormously fat Crane legionnaire was seen to approach the medical tent.

"Good morning, ahh, Isawa-san," the big Crane said, his eyes flickering to glance at Mari's ribbons momentarily. "I heard there might be a camp apothecary near here, is that true?"

"I am called Daidoji Nobu," he added, bowing politely.

She sets the cup on the edge of the wagon--the same plain clay cup everyone used during meals unless they brought their own. With the tea safe, she returns the bow with a lack of precision that wouldn't stand in the nearby Imperial court, but is surely good enough out here, ribbons dipping forward then back. "You're asking for an apothecary, so I won't ask if Lady Sun has smiled on you this morning, Daidoji-sama." She gestures to the nearby tent. "We're not packed up just yet, there's always folks managing to get kicked by carthorses or dropping a crate on someone's foot as things get ready to move."

Picking the tea back up she starts toward the tent, still talking. "I'm Isawa Mari, assigned to the medical unit of the Fifth for this march. What has you searching for an apothecary first thing in the morning?"

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2024 3:28 am

Picking the tea back up she starts toward the tent, still talking. "I'm Isawa Mari, assigned to the medical unit of the Fifth for this march. What has you searching for an apothecary first thing in the morning?"

"It's an honor to meet you, Isawa-san," Nobu replied, bowing politely. "As for the other, I have a mild headache this morning. It... it is not really too bad, but with the muster today, I want to be at my best. If it is not too much trouble - might you have something that would help?"

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2024 9:20 pm

"It's an honor to meet you, Isawa-san," Nobu replied, bowing politely. "As for the other, I have a mild headache this morning. It... it is not really too bad, but with the muster today, I want to be at my best. If it is not too much trouble - might you have something that would help?"

"hmm, hmm...most likely," she says with a small smile that turns serious as she comes to one of the table left unpacked and covered with neatly labeled supplies.

"Though we ought to rule out more serious ailments before we set off." Her head tilts questioningly, looking up at the much larger Crane. "Any history of such headaches, or falling sickness? Any omens of spiritual displeasure? Family curses? How long since you arrived in camp, and what Kaisha are you serving with?" Good to keep track if this was an outbreak of something nastier than a bit too much sake.

She lifts the tea cup to about eye level. "Follow the cup with your eyes, please." It traces a path up and down, side to side, shadow to sun as she watches his eyes carefully."

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 12, 2024 3:11 am

"Though we ought to rule out more serious ailments before we set off." Her head tilts questioningly, looking up at the much larger Crane. "Any history of such headaches, or falling sickness? Any omens of spiritual displeasure? Family curses? How long since you arrived in camp, and what Kaisha are you serving with?" Good to keep track if this was an outbreak of something nastier than a bit too much sake.

"No, no real history of headaches...nothing more than normal, at any rate," the big Crane replied. "No omens or curses...that I know of. Um, is there a way to check for that?" He looked concerned at the possibility.

"I'm with the Fourth Kaisha, just arrived yesterday afternoon."

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 12, 2024 3:11 am

She lifts the tea cup to about eye level. "Follow the cup with your eyes, please." It traces a path up and down, side to side, shadow to sun as she watches his eyes carefully."

Obediently, Nobu's eyes followed the tea cup as Mari moved it back and forth. There is a hint of redness in his eyes, and perhaps some darkening beneath them - suggestive of a poor sleep regime. His gaze is very steady, tracking the cup's movements well - except when the cup moves more to the sunward side, where bright sunlight caused the Crane to squint slightly.

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:08 pm

"No, no real history of headaches...nothing more than normal, at any rate," the big Crane replied. "No omens or curses...that I know of. Um, is there a way to check for that?" He looked concerned at the possibility.

"I'm with the Fourth Kaisha, just arrived yesterday afternoon."

snip

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:08 pm

Obediently, Nobu's eyes followed the tea cup as Mari moved it back and forth. There is a hint of redness in his eyes, and perhaps some darkening beneath them - suggestive of a poor sleep regime. His gaze is very steady, tracking the cup's movements well - except when the cup moves more to the sunward side, where bright sunlight caused the Crane to squint slightly.

"hmm, well, we could check on curses with a bit of divination, but if you haven't had issues so far, it's unlikely. And just arrived!? Well...welcome to the forty-second! Just in time to see new places." She watches that wince in the sunlight. Pretty normal. "Where'd you come here from?"

"Well, you look like you've missed some sleep, and I've a small guess that there may have been some drink involved getting to know some of your fellows, neh?" She opens a small urn and shakes a few doses of the mixture inside onto a square of paper. The scent wafting up is somewhat reminiscent of dusty feet and osmanthus. "This one is a tea to help with sleep. Steep it ten minutes, dose it with honey or it tastes like socks, and drink a bit before you plan to sleep." The packet is secured by bringing up the edges of the paper, folding them together and giving them a good twist to secure the lot.

She continues, voice just a touch chiding. "And I know someone your size can hold their drink, but that's certainly not a thing you need to prove here." Measuring from a larger box into several smaller paper packets, she adds. "Each of these is a dose. Drop it into as little water as it'll dissolve in and drink it down fast. It's bitter, but takes the sting out of Jurojin's little reminders that we're mortal."

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 4:39 am

"This one is a tea to help with sleep. Steep it ten minutes, dose it with honey or it tastes like socks, and drink a bit before you plan to sleep." The packet is secured by bringing up the edges of the paper, folding them together and giving them a good twist to secure the lot.

She continues, voice just a touch chiding. "And I know someone your size can hold their drink, but that's certainly not a thing you need to prove here." Measuring from a larger box into several smaller paper packets, she adds. "Each of these is a dose. Drop it into as little water as it'll dissolve in and drink it down fast. It's bitter, but takes the sting out of Jurojin's little reminders that we're mortal."

"Ohh, I never have trouble with strong drink," Nobu assured her, though his symptoms seemed to disagree. "In fact, I find that sharing a drink is often the best way to get to know new friends; don't you?"

Nobu gratefully accepted the paper packets that Mari provided, taking them in both of his large hands and bowing deeply as he did so. "Thank you, Isawa-san. You're a life saver."

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 13, 2024 9:26 pm

"Ohh, I never have trouble with strong drink," Nobu assured her, though his symptoms seemed to disagree. "In fact, I find that sharing a drink is often the best way to get to know new friends; don't you?"

Nobu gratefully accepted the paper packets that Mari provided, taking them in both of his large hands and bowing deeply as he did so. "Thank you, Isawa-san. You're a life saver."

"As you say, Daidoji-sama." Mari says with a small crooked grin as she returns the bow over the medicine transfer. "Though I'm in agreement that shared drinks are the best drinks...when we're talking about alcohol at least."

"Where were you assigned before the 4th Kaisha here? You don't look green enough to be fresh from gempukku."

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 4:19 am

"As you say, Daidoji-sama." Mari says with a small crooked grin as she returns the bow over the medicine transfer. "Though I'm in agreement that shared drinks are the best drinks...when we're talking about alcohol at least."

This earned a smile from the big Daidoji. "Perhaps we may have a chance to share a drink sometime when we're not on duty," he suggested. "It's a long road ahead, I'm sure there will be some downtime."

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 4:19 am

"Where were you assigned before the 4th Kaisha here? You don't look green enough to be fresh from gempukku."

"Oh, I was assigned to guard duty in the Imperial City until recently," Nobu said. "It was a good posting - the city is very nice and all - but in truth it was mostly making sure courtiers don't trip and skin their knee or something. My lord arranged me a promotion to the Imperial Legion, and I understand we're likely to see some action. What do you think?"

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 14, 2024 2:32 pm

"Oh, I was assigned to guard duty in the Imperial City until recently," Nobu said. "It was a good posting - the city is very nice and all - but in truth it was mostly making sure courtiers don't trip and skin their knee or something. My lord arranged me a promotion to the Imperial Legion, and I understand we're likely to see some action. What do you think?"

"The omens reflect the world's imbalance, and everything ahead seems troubled. So my intuition says there will be fighting, yes." She straightens a bit, reaching for her abandoned tea, only to hold the cup without drinking. "Logically, if the Crab are as beset as they always claim in the courts, if we help man the Wall, we'll see fighting." She stares into the tea as if she can see a clearer answer there.

"At least we're going as an army. None will fight alone, neh?"

A small shake of her head, and she looks back up, slight grin returning. "I imagine it's much easier for a warrior to see advancement in that kind of action, than watching over courtiers, yes?"

(ooc. Sorry for the extra long delay. Very long day.)

Isawa Mari wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 15, 2024 7:40 am

"At least we're going as an army. None will fight alone, neh?"

A small shake of her head, and she looks back up, slight grin returning. "I imagine it's much easier for a warrior to see advancement in that kind of action, than watching over courtiers, yes?"

"That's true," Nobu acknowledged. "But in such an event, I am certain we will all be grateful for your efforts, and those of this hospital." He bowed his head to Mari in recognition of her work.

-

(ooc. Sorry for the extra long delay. Very long day.)

OOC: No problem! I've been posting slowly too.

Daidoji Nobu wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:42 pm

"That's true," Nobu acknowledged. "But in such an event, I am certain we will all be grateful for your efforts, and those of this hospital." He bowed his head to Mari in recognition of her work.

"Everyone has a part to play." Mari says with a head dip of acknowledgement. "That said, I'd rather see you over one of those shared drinks or at the next silly entertainment than needing my efforts here once we're fighting, neh?" Straight-faced, she adds, "so don't be courting headaches before battle." It was a slightly long-winded way of saying 'take care,' but no less genuine for that.