The Contest of Elegant Missive Writing (Open)

[Asako Saburo]

It was hot and unpleasant out there, but Saburo didn't mind. The humidity was relaxing in its own way, and good for his sinuses. So, he felt better breathing in the musky, muggy air. the meal this morning had been equally pleasant, all told and so he felt ... almost pleased with the morning for the moment. It was ... a strange experience, to feel pleased about anything.

For the moment, though, before the morning bath he was to meet with a young Crab about some correspondence testing or some such nonsense. though he hadn't really had much chance to speak with the various sensei about it, he believed that he understood the concept of putting calligraphy onto a piece of scented paper and having a peasant walk it around the grounds a few times. It really couldn't be that complicated.

...the poor peasant.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

Yotsuo met up with Saburo and bowed in greeting. The heat, for him, was no worse than any other summer day after rains in Crab lands. It was far from the hottest day he'd experienced. Didn't make it any more or less pleasant, it was just the way of things.

"Good morning Asako-san."

[Asako Saburo]

"Ah, good. Welcome, Kuni-san. I trust you've eaten well today?" he said as he motioned to the seat opposite him. There were a small collection of clean looking sheets of paper in front of him, none of which had been written on yet. He was very much unsure what they were supposed to write about, and that confused him. Maybe the Kuni had an idea?

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"I have," he replies with a nod, taking the offered seat.

"So, since this is a game between courtly folks, I imagine that there is supposed to be some sort of artistic expression to it?"

[Asako Saburo]

"From what the Bayushi told me... there is artistry in the calligraphy. Some fold the letters as simple origami that could still be ready. Others perhaps include small ink painting. I vaguely recall something about ikebena being used. I think part of it is a display of art, or at least skill. To show that the thought is worth remembering." There was also the fact that the type of art could say several things about the persons involved.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"And the purpose of the words is to display some sort of information to someone, that can be viewed by many? I'm... not entirely certain if it makes sense that the letter should go between the two of us if we are the sender and recipient working on it together. Perhaps we should try directing it towards one of the sensei that might appreciate the effort and idea?"

[Asako Saburo]

He tapped his chin. "We could direct it to a sensei... but they might prove somewhat confused by it. We are not, after all, truly in court. And it might be considered above our station. We could direct it to one of the students... But what would we say that we are comfortable, each of us, with everyone hearing?"

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"Perhaps praise for some accomplishment or demonstration of skill? Maybe outside of the normal lessons? The debates over the garden for instance, might be a suitable subject. There was a question posed that even the sensei could not agree on after all. Congratulations on helping bring an end to the debate?"

[Asako Saburo]

"Hmmm... actually with that thought. We could have the missive sent by the two of us to congratulate Hida-sama. If I recall correctly, he did win the discussion, did he not? And I think we both supported his proposal. So that might work." It made a certain amount of sense. It was admittedly more formal than the reality of the game usually was, but it was first attempts.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"Actually, I supported Shosuro-sensei. But that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate the arguments others made. Hida-sensei's ideas were simply more popular," the Kuni replied. "But something complimenting his vision of the garden?"

Because complimenting a Hida on their ability to envision the best garden always went well and never sounded like sarcasm...

[Asako Saburo]

"Huh. I hadn't paid much attention myself, so I guess I missed who had supported who." Which was why his participation had been so ... thin to the event. "But that sounds like an excellent idea for this little effort. We can write a poem praising the sumai for his excellent ideas on gardening and their appreciation by others."

...

Yeah, this wasn't sarcastic at all. That was the sad part.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"So what do we say? Poems are supposed to be all metaphors and the like no?"

"Standing tall and proud,
Endurance of the garden,
Fills us with wisdom."

"I don't really know how any of this poetry stuff works but I think that's how a haiku's supposed to go?"

[Asako Saburo]

"There is supposed to be a natural aspect, I believe? I read that yesterday... but I think that you have completed that. Should we both write a poem, so that it comes from us both in that case?" That seemed a good, logical way to approach it.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"That' was just an initial idea. If you can come up with something better or think of a way to improve upon it. But I think there are also longer forms for poetry. Maybe it could be extended?"

[Asako Saburo]

"Hmmm... what do I know of succulents. He was rather partial to them, as they were hardy, yes?"

He took a piece of paper, not one of the ones that was meant for the final product. A little practice.

When making a cut
Allow the wound time to heal
Scars speak with beauty

He tapped at the table. It was the right number of syllables. But he wouldn't know a good poem from a bad one. "This at least is talking about the fact that if you cut an aloe, it will leave behind a scar of the cut. I do not know. Is this a good poem?"

(OOC Totally swiping that one. Heh)

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"It fits all the criteria. I'm not a poetry critic so I can't say how good it is, but it seems correct to me."

The young Kuni nods his agreement with it.

[Asako Saburo]

(OOC: Bloody HTML differences... fixed that.)

"Here is my thought. Yours seems solid, and mine seems solid. Why don't we prepare ours separately and have a servant send them out to the Hida this afternoon between the two training sessions?" It seemed like a good time to do it. "We can make sure that the servant understands to take at least a full hour to deliver everything, so that it is progressed through the entirety of the dojo." Hell, even completing that basic task really couldn't be that difficult, so an hour was more than enough time for the stupid thing to be read.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"Sounds good," Yotsuo agrees.

[Asako Saburo]

"Excellent. I suspect we will have no idea if this was successful for a few days, but it is worth the attempt," he said, rewriting the same poem with a much more steady and careful hand on aloe-scented paper that he had picked up. That seemed an appropriate choice. yes. Now, it was about time that they saw if they had a damned clue what the hell they were doing.

======

Rolls cause... Hah:
Unskilled Game of Letters-Awareness: 20 (So, if we're doing TN 6, free raise.)
Courtier-Awareness: 15 to get anyone to pay attention to what the hell they're doing.
Calligraphy-Awareness: 24 (Probably another FR there, hah).

Poem on aloe-scented paper of decent but not impressive quality, sent to Hida Goroharu:
When making a cut
Allow the wound time to heal
Scars speak with beauty

(I think this qualifies as an E for effort. God only knows what it is interpreted as.)

[Kuni Yotsuo]

Yotsuo put together his own letter and did his best to see that it was similarly delivered. It was a truly student like piece of work. The recipient was the same though it was scented with a standard incense on heavy paper. He really didn't know what he was doing, but he was certainly trying.

"Standing tall and proud,
Endurance of the garden,
Fills us with wisdom."

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D6 Hare, Calligraphy / Intelligence: 5d10o10k4 35
D6 Hare, Game of Letters / Awareness: 2d10 8
D6 Hare, Courtier / Awareness: 2d10 12