The New Winds

The Kakita Estats is currently festooned with lanterns and packed with servants and guests. The house has its doors thrown open to the warm spring evening, transforming its interior into one massive feast hall around a central garden.

A servant bows to you as you enter and escorts you to your seats at a long table set aside for the contestants. At the head of the table is Kakita Toshimoko, flanked on either side by town one of the town magistrates, Kakita Kaetatsu, and the priest from the contest. Kitsuki Yuikimi and Bayushi Sugai, who mysteriously showed back up after an absence, sit across from him as honored guests, and each favors you with a glance as you reach your seat—a friendly one from Yuikimi, and a dour glare from Sugai. Most of your fellow contestants are already here and enjoying the sake as well. Hitoshi, in particular, seems to be muttering darkly into his cup.

The meal is an elegant one, served on large platters for everyone to grab what they wish off of. It is both artistically beautiful, and extremely delicious as it was prepared by a number of Kakita Artisans currently at the Academy as their final test.

Yasuki Ginkarasu had taken advantage of the escorting servant, asking only to be given direction to a place to change out of the mud.

He emerged from the changing room dressed in a super fancy blue kimono with the Yasuki mon on it and a black raven feather cloak. The antique kimono, for anyone with knowledge of Rokugani fashion, looked like it was out of the 5th century...because it was. Bluebells and storm clouds wrapped their way around the sleeves. The feather cloak on the other hand, looked like it had come from another realm. Because it had.

He was super proud of both of them.

He also carried with him a bucket. Well, it was packaged up a little. But what else was that shape and had that handle?

Ikoma Eichiro, spending his last night with that name, is of course in attendance. He is dressed in a kimono, not fine and luxurious but sharp and decently tailored. Unlike his day to day clothing, it appears that this had been provided to him specifically for this event and as such it fit him well. He carries a small wooden box, taller than it is wide, with an old unbroken seal of paper upon its lid.

He scans the room as he enters, and lights on Mirumoto Hinata in the gift line. He begins to walk forward to speak with her, but stops suddenly and instead takes his place in line. There will be time for that later, he hopes.

Kenji, better dressed up than ever before, reached the hall. He was dressed in an absolutely extravagant kimono which looked almost scandalous with its vibrant colors, but only almost. The kimono had something exotic, but also traditional. It had the typical crane clan colors of White, light and a bit of lark blue.

Gracefully he was escorted to his seat by a servant. His gift was in a small wooden box.

Nobuko arrived dressed to the nines and riding high, high above the mud on Seifuu, the Unicorn riding steed she'd been given as a betrothal gift. Seifuu was absolutely stunning in appearance, both in coloring and in size - the only kind of horse fitting to gift someone of the Imperial lines. Behind her was a cloth-wrapped object that was rather large and taken down very carefully by the servants that helped her dismount without sullying her clothing. Erina met her at the door and took the package - the girl had run ahead of her by half an hour so she could clean up in the servant's quarters and be ready to attend her mistress immediately.

Aiichiro dressed up on his usual kimono. It was clean of mud and much better than the student clothes!
He looks to everyone else and thinks if there was a hint he missed. He goes back to the sideroom. In that sideroom before,he had left his mudded student clothes he used to reach the place thrown at the floor. Aiichiro picks over the kenku cloak, cleaning it carefully before throwing it over his back. It was not on effect, but looked somewhat better than just usual clothes.
At least there was very, very good sake and he brought his magical cup. His gift was tied on his obi, as usual. He always carried his kaiken there.

The Ginkarasu is waiting, looking for his friend. And quickly approaching with a wave and bow as Aiichiro enters. "Hello friend! We made it! No one got eaten or anything!"

And a look over to wave to the smashing Otomo Nobuko. He hives her a quick grin before trying to find court decorum.

He bows back. "Oh, why are you dressed with the colors of the Crane? Did you decide to marry one of those Doji?" He asks somewhat cheerfully.
"If they gave it to you as a gift, wow! It's really beautiful." To the beautiful standards of a Wall crab, yes.

Escorted by a guard, Bauyshi Kaidan come into the room. "Thank you Daidoji sama... I will keep myself in this place." He smiled under his mask. Not that I could just escape from this silly celebration. To the corner Kaidan... don't make yourself known or targeted by... people He took a seat near the corner.

//PM if approached

Kaiu Aiichiro wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 18, 2020 7:06 am

He bows back. "Oh, why are you dressed with the colors of the Crane? Did you decide to marry one of those Doji?" He asks somewhat cheerfully.
"If they gave it to you as a gift, wow! It's really beautiful." To the beautiful standards of a Wall crab, yes.

"What? No! This is a 5th century Yasuki kimono! It's got Crab blues! It's just fancy! I needed one for when I go to court, and luckily they had this!"

"Oooh, I see. I have never seen a fancy clothing of the Crab before." He replies with a nod. "Did you see there is another Yasuki here?"

"Yeah, we haven't talked." He nods briefly. "Went to the main school, I believe he did."

"Very likely so. Kenji-kun got scammed by him and he did not even perceive that. But Kenji-kun isn't the smartest thing either."

Ginkarasu's eyebrows raised. "Should I talk with my cousin?"

"I was thinking in doing so. Kenji-kun is the kind of person he could get more from by telling the truth than deceiving."

Ginkarasu responds gruffly. "Worse then that. His family's already under contract with the Yasuki. He acted wrong, he could lose us the contract. That should be taken seriously if he's any good."

Mirai showed up to the feast and found a seat about as far away from the head table as she could. The less conspicuous the better. She had her meal in silence as she watched others around talking as they ate.

"I don't even know exactly what happened. Just that they went together to buy something for Kakita-domo, decided on sake and he used Kenji-kun as a taster. Then Kenji-kun couldn't remember more. Got him drunk for some reason."

Kokyou appears dressed in his best... same old kimono. For a Mantis, he had forgotten to purchase a fancy silken dress for occasion. Well, at least he has his chest covered up. That's a good thing, and... no mud. The earth is his friend, now. It wouldn't allow him to bring dirt into such a ceremony.

He scans the crowd with his ever superior –– yet non-arrogant –– oversight of smiles and nods, with the occasional longer appreciation to Mirai and Nobuko, which he provides a deep bow and a wink of 'got the message, thought it was a date, though'.

--
PM if you want to talk

Nobuko bowed her head to Kokyou when he caught her eye, but did not attempt to approach him. This event was a bit more socially stratified than any they had been in before. And it would be far too obvious she had more than just a compassionate interest in keeping Hitoshi safe if she moved to speak with the other members of his clan so openly. She could wait until after the championship was decided. So long as nothing terrible happened overnight.