As you arrived in the grand audience hall of the palace, the room is open and richly decorated, with servants scurrying around to bring tea, sake, and food as needed. At the head of the room, particular places of honor are occupied by the Emperor, his consort, and the bride and groom on the dais. There, the couple are largely occupied with greeting their guests one by one and accepting gifts. The Emperor keeps a watchful eye on the room, a small smile crossing his lips.

Yuzuru was at his side, with the grizzled old fox at his side. A sliding scale of Imperial authority in heights.

One Hisomu Ayeka makes her way into the reception. Her finest black kimono, a spider web motif starting from the bottom hem and climbing to her neck, and a fine jingasa holding a sheer veil that only partially disguised her features. She makes all appropriate bows to the imperial dais before finding a place to stand somewhat out of the way. A small smile ever graced her lips as she watched what was to come.

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The highest ranking of the Lion contingent makes a quiet entrance. With all the festivities, Ayano's poor constitution was starting to manifest. It would simply not do for her to be seen exhausted, so for now she detached herself from the general mingling and took advantage of some refreshment. The gift from her family was close at hand...soon she would have to deliver it and for that she needed to look her best.

Besides let others make the first gaff.

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Viveki glided into the room after Ayano, her colorful clothing and dark skin a stark contrast to the other guests. She helps herself to a cup of tea, nodding her head to the servant in thanks, and then takes up a position near the rear of the room, allowing her to observe the event without seeming intrusive. Her smile was inviting, and her expression was one of genuine interest and curiosity. Weddings were always a good way to get a sense of a culture's values, especially when it came to their leaders.

A quiet man stood at the side of an ethereal young woman dressed in the dark tones of the Bat clan.

He watched over the procession with a certain air of... nostalgia. A man who seemed to be both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time... as if he knew and did not know the world he was in at this moment.

The Queen of the Stag enters the room dressed in a golden and white iromuji handmade by none other than Doji-kami herself. Kinsen politely bows to those of equal or higher status and nods with a warm slime to others.

Her golden eyes glint with joy as she sees so many young faces around. For many years she has helped the tribes to join the ways of the Kami. This court, for more than one reason, feels like savoring the finest taste of victory after many years of strife and hardships.

She glances around, trying to find one person in specific. One of the loves of her life: Genji-kun.

Who would be looking at, though, is what floats her head.

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A tall Crab woman was there as well, looking a little ill-at-ease behind a courtier's fan. She snagged a cup of tea from one of the servants and tried to look like she belonged. She should say something, probably? That's proper behavior at these things, she was pretty sure.

"Quite an... impressive wedding, didn't you think?" Chizu said, to whomever happened to be next to her.

Yoshitsune Chizu wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:10 pm

"Quite an... impressive wedding, didn't you think?" Chizu said, to whomever happened to be next to her.

“Indeed! Quite impressive.” Replies Kinsen with a nod to the Crab samurai-ko, and then looks up to say, “Crab-san looks like she shares some of this impressiveness herself.”

Kinsen isn’t very used to look up when talking to most people, if not her direct family.

Hantei Kinsen wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:14 pm

“Indeed! Quite impressive.” Replies Kinsen with a nod to the Crab samurai-ko, and then looks up to say, “Crab-san looks like she shares some of this impressiveness herself.”

"Thank you, Hantei-sama," the Crab said, composing herself quickly and bowing to Kinsen respectfully. "This is the first Crane wedding I've attended; they certainly made it quite a memorable event."

"I'm called Yoshitsune Chizu," she added, by way of introduction.

Shinjo's daughter arrived at the fete, bowed to the Throne, but instead of looking around or choosing her place, she closed her eyes. She remained like this in a rather conspicuous spot, standing motionless for a good while, her expression resembling that of an ama pearl diver, tense but serene; wherever she was descending in her mind, it obviously required constraining chaotic movement.

Jiyo Sora arrived, dressed in a kimono less ornate than what some of the guards in attendance wore, although still plainly well-made. He carried a scroll case with him.

In a rather unusual gesture, he did not bow to the Emperor as others did- instead, he knelt and bowed his head from there. Those able to catch his expression would note that as he knelt, he wore a slightly amused smile.

Those who had seen him enter Shiba's presence in the past six years would not find this surprising- he'd been doing it since the Emperor had persuaded the Isawa to join the Empire.

That formality completed, he rose, and looked around.

He circulated past several of the Jiyo guards, touching base, asking after their families, and otherwise catching up.

Then he nerved himself up to make his presentation.

He seemed amused after that, too.

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Genjibwas there, seperate from his mothery elegsnt kimono and fan in hand. He glanced around at all the surrounding people, after bowong in front of the dais.

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Hisomu Ayeka wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:38 pm

One Hisomu Ayeka makes her way into the reception.
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A somewhat pale Fumi moved through the crowd after presenting her gift. Fumi wore a well-made black kimono with the darkest of green accents and a silvery-white spider web motif. She looked about for a familiar face and finally spotted Ayeka. Though, as nervous as Fumi was she barely recognized her.

Yoshitsune Chizu wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:19 pm

"Thank you, Hantei-sama," the Crab said, composing herself quickly and bowing to Kinsen respectfully. "This is the first Crane wedding I've attended; they certainly made it quite a memorable event."

"I'm called Yoshitsune Chizu," she added, by way of introduction.

"Yoshitsune-neee?" She blinks a bit and then tilts her head for moment before regaining an ever broader smile. "I have great respect for the Family of the man that helped me make the fiercest of the Tribes to join the Kami." Kinsen closes her hands and provides a short bow back to Chizu. "It is a great honor to meet you. Please, treat me kindly."

Her eyes soon return to face the tall girl, and check her height against her son's. From a distance.

Hisomu Fumi wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 9:59 pm

A somewhat pale Fumi moved through the crowd after presenting her gift. Fumi wore a well-made black kimono with the darkest of green accents and a silvery-white spider web motif. She looked about for a familiar face and finally spotted Ayeka. Though, as nervous as Fumi was she barely recognized her.

"Ah, Fumi-san," Ayeka's smile widens just a bit. "You did well for your first formal gifting. Would you join me for some refreshment?"

Hantei Kinsen wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:06 pm

"Yoshitsune-neee?" She blinks a bit and then tilts her head for moment before regaining an ever broader smile. "I have great respect for the Family of the man that helped me make the fiercest of the Tribes to join the Kami." Kinsen closes her hands and provides a short bow back to Chizu. "It is a great honor to meet you. Please, treat me kindly."

Her eyes soon return to face the tall girl, and check her height against her son's. From a distance.

Chizu is unable to resist returning Kinsen's wide smile. "There is no way I could do otherwise," she protested. "Lord Yoshitsune has spoken about your famous battle with the Noriaki lord, and I am certain that he holds you in the highest regard. It is my great honor to meet you, as well. I hope that we may become friends!"

"P-please." Fumi still seemed rather shaken. "Ayeka-san, hopefully, Mai's gifts endear us to these Crane." Fumi tagged along almost passively, a good bit unlike her usual self. She dropped her voice low and leaned closer. "Are all big weddings like this? Or is this just the way of the Crane?"

She gratefully accepted some sake from from the a servant, first offering it to Ayeka. The offer was followed with a small plate of wagashi, which the servant had handed Fumi two of before disappearing into the throng, perhaps thinking the Spider were close.

Viveki steps forward when there is a lull in the gift-giving, motioning for a servant to follow her with a small box. The gift-giving ceremony goes well right up until the end, when she botches the refusal ceremony.

Annoyed and frustrated with herself for such a mistake, Viveki returns to her place near the back of the room. Though her expression was calm and serene, she was inwardly berating herself for the faux pas. Fortunately, she had learned the Rokugani word for "alcohol" and was soon nursing a sake while forcing a smile onto her lips.

Hisomu Fumi wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:21 pm

"P-please." Fumi still seemed rather shaken. "Ayeka-san, hopefully, Mai's gifts endear us to these Crane." Fumi tagged along almost passively, a good bit unlike her usual self. She dropped her voice low and leaned closer. "Are all big weddings like this? Or is this just the way of the Crane?"

She gratefully accepted some sake from from the a servant, first offering it to Ayeka. The offer was followed with a small plate of wagashi, which the servant had handed Fumi two of before disappearing into the throng, perhaps thinking the Spider were close.

"This is my first wedding, so I would not know," she said with a small smile. "Well, I was in attendance at Kanna and Mai-sama's wedding, but I was barely more than a child. I cannot say I recall the details terribly well."

Ayeka similarly took a cup of sake, before eyeing the wagashi. "Do you think perhaps the servant thought that you looked hungry?"