A Healthy Legion is a Happy Legion (D1, EA/Horse)

[Isawa Hana]

The orange blossom that is Isawa Hana sighs as she applies a salve and a bandage to a soldier whose inattention led him to grab at a bare knife as it fell to the ground.

"Try to take better care with your surroundings, man," she says as she ties off the wrapping. "Things will be hard enough, moving forward, without you missing the obvious."

Another sigh as Hayabe crashes through the medical tents.

Sotto voce, "Where do they find these people?"

~~~~~
https://sakkaku.org/r/13897
+1 Strength to the Legion
Opportunity used to negate Strife

[Kitsuki Edogawa]

"I assure you, the rash is nothing to be concerned about. The salve I gave you will clear it up before we're underway. Just, remember what I told you about those leaves." Edogawa spoke encouraging words with warmth and confidence as he treated another minor malady.

[Isawa Mari]

The orange blossom that is Isawa Hana sighs as she applies a salve and a bandage to a soldier whose inattention led him to grab at a bare knife as it fell to the ground.

"Try to take better care with your surroundings, man," she says as she ties off the wrapping. "Things will be hard enough, moving forward, without you missing the obvious."

Another sigh as Hayabe crashes through the medical tents.

Sotto voce, "Where do they find these people?"

Mari quietly huffs in amusement. "Somehow they survive training with deadly weapons, and forget that all the mundane ones can be just as deadly if you don't pay attention."

"You still have some yomogi in your supplies there? Could use a palmful." No doubt for the somewhat uncomfortable-looking patient, given that the fibrous herb was common in mixtures to treat constipation.

[Isawa Hana]

Mari quietly huffs in amusement. "Somehow they survive training with deadly weapons, and forget that all the mundane ones can be just as deadly if you don't pay attention."

"You still have some yomogi in your supplies there? Could use a palmful." No doubt for the somewhat uncomfortable-looking patient, given that the fibrous herb was common in mixtures to treat constipation.

"What, someone called for backup and got too much of it?"

Hana points. "Should be some in the cabinets, there."

Then she looks more intently at the other Phoenix. "Who'd you study under?" she asks.

[Isawa Mari]

"What, someone called for backup and got too much of it?"

Hana points. "Should be some in the cabinets, there."

Then she looks more intently at the other Phoenix. "Who'd you study under?" she asks.

With short laugh turned into a semi-convincing cough, Mari counts the cabinet drawers over and down to the standard spot for the herb and pulls the drawer out to bring with her. She answers while measuring out doses to twist inside bits of paper.

"Hmm? I studied with Shiba Tsuro outside of the secondary temple to Jurojin near the Sisters mountains." She pauses a moment for an informal bow that's more of a nod. "Isawa Mari. Four years with the legion now, so I haven't seen Shiba-sama in a while. Heard that he'd been reassigned about a year back, but not much more."

[Isawa Hana]

With short laugh turned into a semi-convincing cough, Mari counts the cabinet drawers over and down to the standard spot for the herb and pulls the drawer out to bring with her. She answers while measuring out doses to twist inside bits of paper.

"Hmm? I studied with Shiba Tsuro outside of the secondary temple to Jurojin near the Sisters mountains." She pauses a moment for an informal bow that's more of a nod. "Isawa Mari. Four years with the legion now, so I haven't seen Shiba-sama in a while. Heard that he'd been reassigned about a year back, but not much more."

"Isawa Hana" comes the reply, with much the same kind of bow. There's only so much that can be done that way amid bandages and tinctures, after all.

"So, you're a veteran in this line of work?" she continues. "That's good. I'd heard the new head physician's, well, new in the post. You haven't happened to have met with him already, have you?"

[Isawa Mari]

"Isawa Hana" comes the reply, with much the same kind of bow. There's only so much that can be done that way amid bandages and tinctures, after all.

"So, you're a veteran in this line of work?" she continues. "That's good. I'd heard the new head physician's, well, new in the post. You haven't happened to have met with him already, have you?"

"Not like...one on one, no. A few general addresses, that sort of thing. Have you seen him yet? Guessing you arrived recently, yourself, yes?"

She passes a half dozen little wrapped packets to her patient. "One packet in the morning and with lunch. Mix it in something unless you like choking down dry leaves. Drink plenty of water with it." She pauses. "Actual water, not sake."

[Isawa Hana]

"Not like...one on one, no. A few general addresses, that sort of thing. Have you seen him yet? Guessing you arrived recently, yourself, yes?"

She passes a half dozen little wrapped packets to her patient. "One packet in the morning and with lunch. Mix it in something unless you like choking down dry leaves. Drink plenty of water with it." She pauses. "Actual water, not sake."

"Pretty recently, yes," Hana says. "I was at Pale Oak before this. Quiet setting marred by unseemly contention that the Heavens themselves abjured. Unless there's some other way to read a kharmic strike in a terminal contest--but a duelist I know was adamant about putting it that way, and there's enough precedent in the research to justify that reading."

She looks about.

"Looks like the flow of patients is tapering. How're your hands?"

[Isawa Mari]

"Pretty recently, yes," Hana says. "I was at Pale Oak before this. Quiet setting marred by unseemly contention that the Heavens themselves abjured. Unless there's some other way to read a kharmic strike in a terminal contest--but a duelist I know was adamant about putting it that way, and there's enough precedent in the research to justify that reading."

She looks about.

"Looks like the flow of patients is tapering. How're your hands?"

She flexs said hands, revealing the inevitable paper cuts, nails cut short, and skin dry from frequent washing. Light callus from wielding pestle and knife regularly would never be mistaken for those most bushi displayed. "Not bad, really. We've got enough salve around to keep everyone from getting flaky. But it's plain. If you're used to something scented, better get some from the village before we march."

She sombers a bit at mention of the duel. "I'd think a duelist has reason to believe the heavens pay attention to every duel, and I'm sure there's celestial attention on the important ones. ...but some duels seem awfully small and petty when there's so much else for all those...well...powers," her fingers absently pick as the ribbons trailing from her sleeves, "to pay attention to."

[Isawa Hana]

She flexs said hands, revealing the inevitable paper cuts, nails cut short, and skin dry from frequent washing. Light callus from wielding pestle and knife regularly would never be mistaken for those most bushi displayed. "Not bad, really. We've got enough salve around to keep everyone from getting flaky. But it's plain. If you're used to something scented, better get some from the village before we march."

She sombers a bit at mention of the duel. "I'd think a duelist has reason to believe the heavens pay attention to every duel, and I'm sure there's celestial attention on the important ones. ...but some duels seem awfully small and petty when there's so much else for all those...well...powers," her fingers absently pick as the ribbons trailing from her sleeves, "to pay attention to."

"I don't usually take scents," Hana replies, "although I know some who do. I'll see about making a stop, then.

"But as to the duels...I recall some discussion of that back at school. I also recall one of the sensei--a Fire tensai--make the comment that 'Nothing is beneath the notice of the Heavens.'"

She smiles. "I do believe that was for the benefit of one or two who had sweets in their sleeves when they ought not to have had, though."

[Isawa Mari]

"I don't usually take scents," Hana replies, "although I know some who do. I'll see about making a stop, then.

"But as to the duels...I recall some discussion of that back at school. I also recall one of the sensei--a Fire tensai--make the comment that 'Nothing is beneath the notice of the Heavens.'"

She smiles. "I do believe that was for the benefit of one or two who had sweets in their sleeves when they ought not to have had, though."

Mari chuckles, perhaps a bit nervously to a perceptive ear, as she tilts her head slightly and begins braiding some of the ribbons in her hair, perhaps settling them out of the way before the next rush of crushed toes and strained backs. "Oh, I can certainly imagine Amaterasu-no-kami herself marveling at the opening of any particular flower. But with so many rites and rituals designed to draw the attention and sanctify a space for that attention...well, I can't imagine our ancestors developed those if that attention was already focused on everything, all the time."

"Still useful when reminding students," she looks out across the camp, "or armies, that the heavens gaze *could* fall upon you at any time. It's a pity that some need a reminder to hold themselves to such standards regardless of whether or not their actions are seen."

[Isawa Hana]

Mari chuckles, perhaps a bit nervously to a perceptive ear, as she tilts her head slightly and begins braiding some of the ribbons in her hair, perhaps settling them out of the way before the next rush of crushed toes and strained backs. "Oh, I can certainly imagine Amaterasu-no-kami herself marveling at the opening of any particular flower. But with so many rites and rituals designed to draw the attention and sanctify a space for that attention...well, I can't imagine our ancestors developed those if that attention was already focused on everything, all the time."

"Still useful when reminding students," she looks out across the camp, "or armies, that the heavens gaze *could* fall upon you at any time. It's a pity that some need a reminder to hold themselves to such standards regardless of whether or not their actions are seen."

"There's always the question of efficacy," Hana continues. "Isolating what works and what doesn't can be...perilous, after all. But if the whole ritual works, then..."

She shrugs.

"I note the ribbons. What prayers do you wear?"

[Isawa Mari]

"There's always the question of efficacy," Hana continues. "Isolating what works and what doesn't can be...perilous, after all. But if the whole ritual works, then..."

She shrugs.

"I note the ribbons. What prayers do you wear?"

"Definitely worth keeping the ritual. There are benefits beyond what invisible attention it draws and few, if any harmful aspects of most of them." She nods, then glances at the ribbons in question, tucking the newly braided ones behind her ear with a bit of self consciousness.

"They're protective, mostly. Inked in tinctures, so they don't really show up much once dry." Her hands, unoccupied, are folded into her lap. "Gets less strange looks than stringing myself with paper omamori, and offered another avenue to explore herbal correspondences with elemental spirits and ritual needs." Now in the realm of more academic topics, she asks, "was medicine your main area of study?" After all, there were so many directions to go when studying with the Isawa.

[Isawa Hana]

"Definitely worth keeping the ritual. There are benefits beyond what invisible attention it draws and few, if any harmful aspects of most of them." She nods, then glances at the ribbons in question, tucking the newly braided ones behind her ear with a bit of self consciousness.

"They're protective, mostly. Inked in tinctures, so they don't really show up much once dry." Her hands, unoccupied, are folded into her lap. "Gets less strange looks than stringing myself with paper omamori, and offered another avenue to explore herbal correspondences with elemental spirits and ritual needs." Now in the realm of more academic topics, she asks, "was medicine your main area of study?" After all, there were so many directions to go when studying with the Isawa.

"An emphasis but not a major," Hana replies. "It's actually been devotional practices towards Fukurokujin and associated beings such as Tengen, although there's been a strong element of interactions with veneration of ancestral Emperors. Fascinating study, really, and quite wide-ranging, not only touching on, say, the association between Hantei XVII of blessed memory and Pale Oak Castle, but also the divinatory rites preferred by his grandson, as well as the particular religious bent of the later Hantei XXXI."

Hana's eyes light as she speaks.

[Isawa Mari]

"An emphasis but not a major," Hana replies. "It's actually been devotional practices towards Fukurokujin and associated beings such as Tengen, although there's been a strong element of interactions with veneration of ancestral Emperors. Fascinating study, really, and quite wide-ranging, not only touching on, say, the association between Hantei XVII of blessed memory and Pale Oak Castle, but also the divinatory rites preferred by his grandson, as well as the particular religious bent of the later Hantei XXXI."

Hana's eyes light as she speaks.

Mari nods along politely, while trying not to think more about the ritual aspects (intellectually interesting) vs. who they were devoted to (disquieting). "Ah, so you've a good deal of practical knowledge of keeping working rituals intact. Pale Oak Castle would be an excellent spot for that."

Glancing at the sun, she brushes any lingering bit of snipped linen from her hakama. "Thanks for sharing the shift, Isawa-sama. It's made the time pass very smoothly. Just enough time to clean up before lunch and another shift!" She takes care not to hurry, exactly. But she makes relatively short work of tidying her space for the next person who may use it.

[Isawa Hana]

Mari nods along politely, while trying not to think more about the ritual aspects (intellectually interesting) vs. who they were devoted to (disquieting). "Ah, so you've a good deal of practical knowledge of keeping working rituals intact. Pale Oak Castle would be an excellent spot for that."

Glancing at the sun, she brushes any lingering bit of snipped linen from her hakama. "Thanks for sharing the shift, Isawa-sama. It's made the time pass very smoothly. Just enough time to clean up before lunch and another shift!" She takes care not to hurry, exactly. But she makes relatively short work of tidying her space for the next person who may use it.

"Indeed so, Isawa-san," Hana replies, and she follows suit before making a /exit from the /scene, with thanks.