The Day of Thunder

[Jiyo Sora]

"We should probably get started with those..." then, looking around. "Those... and then a blessing for this meeting?"

"I don't see why not, Haka-san. Thank you for contributing!"

[Haka Tae-soo]

Snip

It's rather clear it takes a while before 'Haka-san' understands the name refers to him. He does nod when he notices, though.

"I guess we should get a fire started, then?", he asks with a small, hesitant smile. "Ha-yeong and I will go gather some wood for it, then"

[Jiyo Sora]

"I guess we should get a fire started, then?", he asks with a small, hesitant smile. "Ha-yeong and I will go gather some wood for it, then"

Sora chuckled at that.

"Hell, just move one of the rice pots... that's a fine mess of fish you two brought in..."

[Haka Tae-soo]

Snip

Opening the bags a bit reveals some char trout, some decent Ayu, A LOT of minnows... and some freshwater eels.

"We figured this was an occasion for sharing, geureochi?" The hesitant smile grows a small bit.

"Oh.. the rice pots could do too, I suppose. But I'm not sure it'll bring the best in some of them, so... maybe we could get a fire started as well later?"

He starts hauling the fish closer. "Jiyo Sora-nim is handling the cooking, then?"

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou, hearing the shifts in Ai's performance, shakes his head.

He also clears some space over the fire for the Haka to use.

It ain't much, he thinks, but it's honest work.

[Jiyo Sora]

He starts hauling the fish closer. "Jiyo Sora-nim is handling the cooking, then?"

That got more than a chuckle, it got a belly-laugh.

"Fortunes, no! No, I'm delegating that task to people who won't waste perfectly good ingredients..."

[Haka Tae-soo]

Snip

"Oh", a slight, awkward smile. "I'm not exactly an expert either, but you know... just grilling it. Unless someone has more complex ideas, of course!"

Snip

Noticing the Stag's motions, the young man in tribal robes bows to him, deep, and comes closer to start placing one of the smaller trout and some minnows over the fire. No words are spoken, and he seems to keep what he must think is a respectful distance. Maybe just hesitant about doing something wrong... there were stories about the Stag. He'd met the man earlier today, of course, but maybe he'd be different near more important people?...

The young'un isn't as careful though - nor as polite. They get some minnows, place them there, bow just slightly, then say "Oi, Otomo-sshi! And bye!" Then to Tae-soo "I'll take a look around, seonbae!". Tae-soo nods and starts opening his mouth, but they've darted off before he can say something.

EDIT: Changed some things as I just noticed Akutou met them earlier in the day!

[Bayushi Norikage]

Well, it was becoming a party after all. Not just villagers but more and more samurai caste as well. He thought it was good. This is what Kumori wanted, and he felt Ojichan was of the same mind. He smoked his pipe and watched for a bit, but didn't ignore the others, he gave Tae-soo a nod in greeting as well.

[Togashi Satsuki]

(late to post, been a day and all)

Satsuki wasn't much of a cook or fan of great gatherings, but she had been at the first feast so... might as well be here too, right? At least she helped out with serving where that was needed, making sure people got their fills.

[Otomo Akutou]

Snip

"Told you you ain't gotta be all fancy wi' me, friend," Akutou says. "I ain't cut our f'r it, anyway. Not like I'm some courtly type."

He grins.

"Am lookin' for'ard t' some o' that fish, though."

[Wu Zhe]

snip

snip

Hearing the song playing so, Zhe could only interpret it as an intended insult. No wanting it be a lasting thought, he reached out to hold Chouri's hand as the chidren played with the nezumi.

[Nanzi Ai]

Finding a moment to speak with the woman, he approached Chouri and her shadow.

[Shiba Kumori]

Kumori arrived a bit later than everyone, but she was there all the same.

She found a quiet place to sit at first and take in the festivities.

[Haka Tae-soo]

"Told you you ain't gotta be all fancy wi' me, friend," Akutou says. "I ain't cut our f'r it, anyway. Not like I'm some courtly type."

He grins.

"Am lookin' for'ard t' some o' that fish, though."

He still seems slightly uncomfortable, but tries to lighten up at least a bit as he starts arranging the minnows over the fire.

"We should have some of them proper ready soon, then, geureochi?"

----
D5 ME - Fluffy Craft: Cooking. Working on some minnows for now, let's say XD | 4k3 ⇒ 21
I guess we can say that takes a while and is at least decent?

(I'm assuming Intelligence for that... might as well be Perception for the next fluffy roll, I guess? XD)

[Otomo Akutou]

snip

Akutou raises an eyebrow.

"Ain't f'miliar wi' that word, 'geuereochi,' shit, 'gurochi,' dammit, 'geureochi.' What's it mean?"

It's not only Nezumi words that run athwart Akutou's accent.

[Wu Dai Lu]

Hearing the song playing so, Zhe could only interpret it as an intended insult. No wanting it be a lasting thought, he reached out to hold Chouri's hand as the chidren played with the nezumi.

She smiled, squeezing his hand lightly.

Finding a moment to speak with the woman, he approached Chouri and her shadow.

She bowed to Ai. "Good evening, Doji-sama."

[Nanzi Ai]

She bowed to Ai. "Good evening, Doji-sama."

“Many blessings on you and yours, I know it has been a whirlwind of a few days but I wanted to thank you for your hospitality. I was hoping to get your appraisal of the song. It is rather experimental fare, but I wanted to use symbolism and esoteric verse to voice my appreciation of your sacrifices and the hard decisions you have had to make.”

“It’s not a typical arrangement, so I am curious how you enjoyed it?”

[Wu Dai Lu]

“Many blessings on you and yours, I know it has been a whirlwind of a few days but I wanted to thank you for your hospitality. I was hoping to get your appraisal of the song. It is rather experimental fare, but I wanted to use symbolism and esoteric verse to voice my appreciation of your sacrifices and the hard decisions you have had to make.”

“It’s not a typical arrangement, so I am curious how you enjoyed it?”

"It has been a very... interesting few days indeed. Of course. I only wish my hospitality could have been what it should have," she replied with a soft shake of her head. "Symbolic, yet also rather direct in its own way. I liked it."

[Nanzi Ai]

"It has been a very... interesting few days indeed. Of course. I only wish my hospitality could have been what it should have," she replied with a soft shake of her head. "Symbolic, yet also rather direct in its own way. I liked it."

She smiled brightly at the praise and said, “I am elated, I was a bit pensive, but I have felt confident to explore more experimental music since I have arrived and it’s like… opening one’s home to a stranger and hoping they like what they see… sorry I am terrible at analogies,” she said warmly.

“Is there anything further we can do to aid you and yours in the coming days?”

[Chuchu]

Meanwhile, Chouri arrived, having been invited by Sora earlier. She approaches where Chuchu is dealing with the kids, hanging back and watching with a smile.

Chuchu will get up from the table to play with the other children for awhile -- tag and singing made-up songs and rock-paper-scissors -- but eventually she realizes she's being watched. Or maybe it's the woman's scent that catches her attention first; even Chuchu doesn't know. But her shiny eyes turn to Chouri, and she chitters to the others she'll be "back-back" before scampering to the woman.

"Hi-hi?"

She settles at Ai's feet, one of her little hands holding the Crane's sleeve.