D9 EA: This One Flies all the Way to Yomi

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

Hitomi's laugh was as elegant as you might expect. The Doji certainly didn't neglect to train that. "Those pants had to have been sewn on!" She presses fingers to lips, suppressing a new round of giggles. "Here's a secret...I mean, not entirely one. Everyone knows the Doji train their courtiers to interpret gestures, fan positions, that kind of thing? right? So you see a fan dip across the room and know they're begging you to help them get out of the conversation? Students passed on a gesture, " she lifts her hand in Taro's patented inspirational sweep, then shrunk it down to a little finger gesture up near her cheek. "Same thing. Some instructor would get to 'begin' and there's always a few in class finishing up with that. I expect they knew and thought it was fine training for developing new uses for that skill, so they let it pass."

"I've known some kids with unfortunate names, but they could blame those on their parents. I can only imagine why someone would chose such a name." She shakes her head. Some names leave such huge shadows that you really can't expect to use them again. We have Kisada class ships, but I can't imagine a mere human taking that name, you know?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Quotable!

There was more brass than silver in Taraka's laugh, but it was an honest laugh at least.

"Now that IS clever, Suzume-san. And really, if you think about it, both instructors got what they wanted. Your instructor found a way to get their students to study fan language in the age of texts, and my instructor got students with stronger arms. Crane versus Crab priorities you might say." she said, in good humor.

She considered the topic shift to names.

"Hmm. I suppose the idea is that we are but borrowing our ancestors names and we are meant to return them with more glory on them, It would be...practically blasphemous to suggest you could borrow a Kami's name and make it more glorious, even though some can trace their lines that far back. Likewise, certain figures in history have simply put so much glory on their name, like Kisada, the idea that you could somehow make it even more glorious by your actions alone would be ludicrous, and no one wishes to see shame brought to those famous names.," she suggested.

She took a sip of tea.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all if one of the more mundane tasks of the Imperial court was determining which names were no longer suitable to be borne by mere mortals. Added to all the histories as the sacrosanct heroes of the Empire. Though I think most family's would simply rely on the rule of thumb, 'If the name is in the family shrine or archives, but not in your textbook it's probably fine."

[Suzume Hitomi]

"Stronger arms through leveraging pop culture?" Hitomi sips her tea, eyes still showing her amusement. "Hardly the worst teaching technique I've seen."

"As for names, I do think it's a bit more of the latter element. One doesn't want to see shame brought to a great name, or just...fail to live up to it. But there are fewer like that in later centuries." She considers. "I think it's that there's so much more weight to a name with a legend that still catches the imagination after so many years. There have been great events in recent centuries, but the names still feel less substantial, even if their accomplishments should be considered equal to those older ones." Setting the cup down, spinning it idly between her palms, she asks, "How did you chose your name?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

The power of names

Taraka had to grin a bit and comment on the insubstantial nature of names before going into her own name.

"I think, Suzume-san, that it's because of her many, many talents, Lady Doji was also the Empire's first and most successful marketer. When laying out the many, many rules and customs that define our Empire, among them was that we address each other, first, and primarily by our family names, not our personal ones. So no matter how small or how great your accomplishments, the first thing said is either the name of Her or Her siblings, or their earliest followers. You hear your family name innumerable times a day, and your chosen one only among those who are family or close friends. Every bit of fame you achieve, the first share goes back to Them. The Empire's oldest royalties, as they were." she theorized. "Our names have not grown dimmer, theirs have just grown so much brighter. Like trying to see a candle resting upon the sun."

She refilled the tea cups.

"As for my own name, like many, it's a mix of sentimentality, aspiration, and veneration. My father used to call his daughters his jewels, his precious gems...and I rather got to liking the idea that I am valuable and that I shine. Research showed me that there have been a handful of Yasuki Taraka's in my family line. Respectable businesswomen all, though their actual goods and duties have shifted as the years and needs of the clan have. And thus I chose Taraka."

She looked over to the Sparrow.

"I won't cheat you out of the opportunity to tell me about your own name, Suzume-san. And I am interested to know."

[Suzume Hitomi]

"That does ring true. Any battle won by a Hida general adds more to the giant presence of *HIDA* with only limited attention to who that specific general is. Which is more or less as it should be. We belong to our families and clans, so our fame and fortunes accrue to them as well." It's a bit cozy here with tea and solid affirmations of the world working as intended, and Hitomi smiles.

"It's a very pretty name, and I appreciate the confidence needed to take it," Hitomi says with a small smile. She gestures toward the shopfront. "And you've certainly been able to shine here."

"Mine is a bit less interesting. One part homage to my great aunt Hitomi, who taught me to sew, and its meaning being a reference to the eyes." She ducks her head a bit in embarrassment. "I'd been complimented on my eyes often enough that a name highlighting them didn't seem amiss." She sips at her cup, setting it down empty. "Hmm, with that memory, I should be sure to add a lantern for her this season."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Names!

Taraka chuckles.

"If you're going to compliment my shine, Suzume-san, it seems somewhat unfair for you to pre-empt compliments to your eyes." she teases.

She nodded, before taking a sip of tea.

"I thought there might be a connection there, or with history, given your trade. You may not make history, but you can offer it at an amazing discount just in time for bon." she joked.

"There are more names to remember each year, it's true. It must be especially rough for Yasuki Kaito's family, to have lost him so close to the festival. They'll barely be done with the three days of mourning before having to go right into the festival."

[Suzume Hitomi]

She chuckles gently at the compliment-off, mentally marking a small tally for Doji vs. Yasuki schools. "Thankfully, the bon offerings are paper. And even very well-made, traditionally crafted paper, isn't so dear that it can't be marked down. Though I'll be scrambling a little to figure out how to make proper sewing needles for an offering."

There's a small pause, to respect the memory of the dead. Not that Hitomi had memories of him beyond a vague awareness that he existed as part of the governor's family. "That's definitely going to be rough for them. I have to imagine the governor and karo are quite burdened with this added to their already full plates." She frowns a bit, "has anyone said why he was targeted? Or maybe, why Tamori-sama was targeted since he and Kaiu Nagisa-sama were local and I guess the killer may have been watching them for a while." The Sparrow shudders. "And he's been around all this time, just yanking victims out of their lives."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka shook her head.

"Not to me at least." she admitted. "I think those in power would like us to move on as swiftly as possible. It's certainly not a great look for the island. I know some of the people involved feel unsafe, having previously allowed themselves to grown...hmm, relaxed in their vigilance you might say."

She took a sip of the tea.

"But at least fortunately, Yasuki-san was his last victim. It's bad, but it would have been much worse had someone from one of the other clans had died." she said, fully confident none of them would die literally tomorrow.

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi nods, also entirely unaware of the future complications to the good name of Green Carp. "It does seem odd that he could operate so nearby without the magistrates noticing *something*" Of course, the one who did, also noticed other things that figured into his demise. Whether that would become common knowledge in a few days was anyone's guess right now.

"Well, it does make me think that we'll want to be a bit careful if we set game sessions out 'in the wild' again. I doubt insane serial killers would be impressed by a card reading "Revere."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Hitomi nods, also entirely unaware of the future complications to the good name of Green Carp. "It does seem odd that he could operate so nearby without the magistrates noticing *something*" Of course, the one who did, also noticed other things that figured into his demise. Whether that would become common knowledge in a few days was anyone's guess right now.

"Well, it does make me think that we'll want to be a bit careful if we set game sessions out 'in the wild' again. I doubt insane serial killers would be impressed by a card reading "Revere."

Taraka nodded.

"True, people really only have time for one hobby, and so people pretending to be leech-wraithes therefore must be paragons of mental health." she said, offering a small joke to ease away from the serial killer talk.

"But like we discussed earlier before when we were discussing the strange hooded figures who turned out to be harmless, vigilance is key. And maybe our little society can contribute to that in some small way. Obviously, we can't do the magistrates' job for them....can you imagine if people just ran around acting as freelance magistrates? But if we're organizing and arranging schedules anyways, we should keep eyes out for things that the magistrates might've missed." she suggests.

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

"That's...an interesting idea. I know that in the game, we're meant to be creatures on the edge of society and manipulating it from the shadows and all. But we're also...you know...us. We live here, run businesses. Might not be bad for our hobby to make the neighborhood better where we can." It's definitely an idea that appeals to that underlying Sparrow ethos.

"Definitely something to think about for the future." Hitomi starts to rise. "But for the present, I've got to get the lantern assembly space set up, and unearth another box of offering items I swear I stored away after bon last year. Thank you for the tea an company, Yasuki-sama. I hope to hear of your successes to come."

[Yasuki Taraka]

snip

"That's...an interesting idea. I know that in the game, we're meant to be creatures on the edge of society and manipulating it from the shadows and all. But we're also...you know...us. We live here, run businesses. Might not be bad for our hobby to make the neighborhood better where we can." It's definitely an idea that appeals to that underlying Sparrow ethos.

"Definitely something to think about for the future." Hitomi starts to rise. "But for the present, I've got to get the lantern assembly space set up, and unearth another box of offering items I swear I stored away after bon last year. Thank you for the tea an company, Yasuki-sama. I hope to hear of your successes to come."

Taraka bowed.

"A pleasure as always, Suzume-san. Succeed or fall, I will always be happy to have tea with y ou." she said, walking the Sparrow out.

/scene