The Day of Thunder

[Shiba Kumori]

“Hope you don’t mind our intruding, sir. Yoshie-san has been nice enough to invite us to stay here tonight.” She said for both Norikage and the husband’s sakes.

[Canary]

He shook his head. "We don't mind at all. It's nice to have more than just us in the house again."

Yoshie nods. "Just as I said, indeed."

[Shiba Kumori]

“You are both much too kind to a pair of vagabonds like us.”

She gestures towards Norikage, “I’ll make sure this one pulls his weight around here.”

[Canary]

"You gotta keep those men in line, dear," Yoshie says with a little wink.

Daisuke just sighs fondly, looking over at her, then chuckles.

The old woman looks between them. "So... I'm sorry for the impertinent question, dearies, but you two...?" She raises her eyesbrows a little.

[Shiba Kumori]

She shook her head perhaps a bit too quickly.

“Uhm…. No. Just traveling companions.”

[Bayushi Norikage]

"I give her enough trouble without that all being involved", Norikage said with a chuckle, going full charming man mode.

[Shiba Kumori]

“We don’t need privacy. Just a place to rest some weary bones.” She said with a soft smile.

[Canary]

The old people look at each other seeming amused.

Yoshie commented, "Too bad. You got a handsome one there."

"Yoshie, these kids don't need you buttin' into their lives." He looked at them. "Well, it might be worth pulling the shoji so you at least got a place to change away from us."

"Plus, he snores like a lion, so you might want it anyway."

[Bayushi Norikage]

"If I can sleep through hers, I can sleep though his." he was dead serious.

[Shiba Kumori]

She looks to Yoshie, “As you can see… he doesn’t have the charm to match the looks.”

[Canary]

Yoshie shakes her head with a sigh. "Isn't that always the way?"

Daisuke gave a huff, feigning insult. "Hey now!"

[Shiba Kumori]

"You are a saint to have lasted this long." She chuckled with the elder woman.

"No offense." She added a moment later to the husband with a smile.

She then snuck in a glance to Norikage that sought to express a desire to speak later...

[Bayushi Norikage]

"Everyone endures, no one quits, it's the key to being happy, eh?"

He didn't miss the look, and had a feeling he knew what it was about.

"So Daisuke-san tells me your son joined one of the clans as a sculptor?"

[Canary]

Yoshie smiled bright. "Oh, yes. He joined the Saru, when he heard there were artists up there. He's much like his father - always loved artistic sculpting, but it was a waste of resources that couldn't be afforded when we were with the tribes. I'm happy he found a place he could express himself."

The old man chuckles gently. "I'm a little jealous. I occasionally get to try something here, though."

[Shiba Kumori]

“Oh yeah? Anything you been working on recently?” She asked warmly.

[Canary]

The old man nodded with a smile and got up, finding and taking out a set of three life-size clay statuettes of birds.

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"Been sketchin' the local birds lately. Finally got 'em well enough to do this. Not everyone likes the realistic look, but I think it's not too respectful to the birds to get 'em twisted up. They're beautiful just the way they are."

[Shiba Kumori]

“Beautiful!” She said as she inspected the specimen.

“What color are the local birds? Do you plan on dying them?”

[Bayushi Norikage]

Norikage observed the sculptures. They impressed him, but that wasn't difficult when it came to art as he had no talent himself.

He wondered how much more impressive their son might be. The world was a strange place, where people could indulge in this sort of thing. It was too foreign to his own world, so he stayed out of it, finding some tea to sip instead.

[Canary]

“Beautiful!” She said as she inspected the specimen.

“What color are the local birds? Do you plan on dying them?”

He nodded. "It blue with a white belly. They're really vivid, so you probably won't miss one if you see it. With spring comin' up they'll probably be around soon. Bugs will start wakin' up soon, and that's their favorite meal."

[Shiba Kumori]

She smiled, “I’ll look forward to it. We came at just the right time it seems.”

She looked over to Norikage and then back to the couple, “You two are truly so kind to let us stay. You have me excited about this festival that is starting… I may want to go out and look around a bit to get my bearings. Is there anything you need me to bring back? I am more than happy to run errands.”