Despair and Wisdom: Imperial March

Hikimasu's day had been spent prepping for departure yet again, though at least he had taken time to train earlier. He had been pondering Kheree's issues, and he understood it was difficult for her, but he wanted to try and help her understand she wasn't dealing with it alone without simply telling her so. Words are often worthless, or do more harm than good, after all.

He ate his lunch quickly, then decided perhaps he would practice a different sort of training and slid his shakuhachi out of his sleeve, giving it a short test to be certain he hadn't forgotten what he had learned at Kyuden Shika. The instrument was still in good order. The small etching he had done of his family mon was still new and raw. He hadn't done any polishing yet. He supposed it was just like his musical technique.

Glancing around, he took in the mood of the people in the mess tent and decided a proper, calming tune was in order. A song about bittersweet goodbyes to stir fond memories.

OOC
Improving Legion Discipline, TN2: Success. Will use the one Opportunity to remove the single strife.

As the Shosuro played his bittersweet song, he noticed a very subtle addition to the piece from nearby. You could only really hear it during the natural pauses of the song, but very faintly there was the sound of tiny bells being struck in time to the music. As if to say that even when it seemed like the world was stopped when part from the one's you love, time kept moving forward regardless...hammering home the need to reuinite.

From his seat at the mess, the Shosuro's commander sat, a smiling face admist a sea of more somber ones.

When he finished, Hikimasu, with every bit of trepidation that could be felt when greeting a new commander and fellow Scorpion, approached Fuwanan and bowed. "Good afternoon, Fuwanan-chui", he bowed, knowing the man by recognition. "I am Shosuro Hikimasu, transferred here recently like so many others. To what does the company of this lowly mess tent owe the honor of your presence?"

Shosuro Hikimasu wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2024 3:09 pm

When he finished, Hikimasu, with every bit of trepidation that could be felt when greeting a new commander and fellow Scorpion, approached Fuwanan and bowed. "Good afternoon, Fuwanan-chui", he bowed, knowing the man by recognition. "I am Shosuro Hikimasu, transferred here recently like so many others. To what does the company of this lowly mess tent owe the honor of your presence?"

Fuwanan offered Hikimsu a bright smile to acompany his bow.
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"Even comanders must eeeeeat, Shosuro-san." he offered. "And for all the lovely conversation I might have with other officers, only heeeeere offers both beautiful music and the chance to observe one under my command producing it."

He laughs softly to himself.

"You play quite welllllll, Shosuro-san." he adds. "I did not reaaaalize they were sending us someone so trained."

Ah.

He'd heard about this man. It seemed there was no exaggerating.

"We are Shosuro", Hikimasu replied. "I'm certain you know your way around the arts we're famous for as well."

Shosuro Hikimasu wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2024 4:18 pm

Ah.

He'd heard about this man. It seemed there was no exaggerating.

"We are Shosuro", Hikimasu replied. "I'm certain you know your way around the arts we're famous for as well."

"That produced a slightly louder laugh.

"My senseeeei has said that my artisic ability is on par with a small rock." he said smiling.

Then he waited to see what his fellow Shosuro would say to that.

"Interesting", Hikimasu said thoughtfully. "What did you learn from his assessment, if I may ask?"

"That we are deeeefined by what we do, not what we are called." he replied back. "Even a small rock can serve a greater purpose, wouldn't you say?"

While the Scorpion was all smiles, it would've been hard for Hikimasu to mistake his meaning...though calling the man Tsubute-sama in public would probably not go all that well.

Holding up a hand, finger and thumb spaced so as if showing the size of a small rock, the Shosuro nodded. "A man might trip on a small rock and become entangled in a situation he is not prepared for, or it simply might make a ripple in water, revealing what is beneath as it disturbs the surface."

Shosuro Hikimasu wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2024 5:43 pm

Holding up a hand, finger and thumb spaced so as if showing the size of a small rock, the Shosuro nodded. "A man might trip on a small rock and become entangled in a situation he is not prepared for, or it simply might make a ripple in water, revealing what is beneath as it disturbs the surface."

Fuwanan smiled.

"It would seeeeem Shosuro-san is also well versed in the art of rock gardening. How fortunate I am to have such a multi-faaaacted soldier serving under me."

Fuwanan laughed.

"Althouggggh perhaps less fortunate for Shosuro-san. I hope that your apointment to the presitious position of Emerald Legionnaire serving under a small rock is not tooooo disappointing."

"Normally, Fuwanan-chui, I would remark on how one doesn't attain position through poor performance..." he fiddled with the flute in his hand, then stashed it back into his sleeve. "Yet here I am serving in the legion after having done little if anything. I understand your last posting was at least in a court of note."

Fuwanan grinned.

"Oh indeed, I met some people, we had a few laughs, this and that happened." he summarized deliberately poorly.

He looked over to the Scorpion.

"But you are recently wed are you not, Shosuro-san? Surely that is of note. Expected, yes, but how are you finding it?"

"The marriage is harmonious so far, better so than other matches I had considered", he said. "Yourself?"

Shosuro Hikimasu wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2024 6:15 pm

"The marriage is harmonious so far, better so than other matches I had considered", he said. "Yourself?"

"Aaaah, still dancing without a partner, Shosuro-san. Perrrhaps when this campaign is over that will change....perhaps it will not." he said. "The ways of the matchmaker are mysteriouuuuus are they not?"

"Perhaps so, if not for their mystery I would be of a different clan right now", Hikimasu said with a shrug. "Who can say what those above us are really thinking? Can you guess, chui?"

Shosuro Hikimasu wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 17, 2024 7:32 pm

"Perhaps so, if not for their mystery I would be of a different clan right now", Hikimasu said with a shrug. "Who can say what those above us are really thinking? Can you guess, chui?"

"Were I to guess, I would say they are thinking only the most honnnnorable thoughts. Infused with the verrrrry spirit of Bushido itself, leaving absolutely no thought of personal desiiiiires." he guessed.

His eyes flicked momentarily away at one of the other officers who was not in earshot...probably.

"What do youuuu think of my guess, Shosuro-san?"

"I find your guess to be well thought out and proper", the Shosuro said with a polite nod, certainly taking no particular note of who looked at what or who was listening to who. "After all, what could a samurai possibly consider aside Bushido?"

It might've been a Lion for the brief flicker of color that the Shosuro did not notice. They were often involved in wars and difficult to spot in the tall grass.

"What Indeeeed, Shosuro-san?" Fuwanan returned. "But I should perhaaaps ask Shosuro-san about his current assingment. Is everything proceeeeding smoothly?"

"Quite, we even get lunch with officers", Hikimasu nodded. "I hope Tenjin spares you from an undue amount of paperwork, for what it's worth."

"If you truuuuly wish that, Shosuro-san, then it would help me greatly if you were to not die." he says with a smile. "The amount of paperwork duuue to family's to inform them of the loss of life of their next of kin, plus the returning of the daisho, the cleansing of effects...it is the wooorst."