(Open but expecting)

Ayeka was never a great study of history... or anything, really. But she was trying her best to be well rounded, and that meant a visit to the library. She selected scrolls... basically at random. She didn't really know what she wanted to study, just that she did.

This was how she ended up at a table reading the "Agricultural Effects of the Fall of the Kami on Grains during the Month of Akodo." Thrilling. She looked like she was going to fall asleep.

Machiko was very very good at being quiet and hard to spot. Or hear. She also enjoyed abusing this skill to wander around libraries entirely undistrubed. However, seeing a clansmate suffering just made it all the more tempting to make them jump.

So quietly, she walked up behind Ayeka, until she was close enough to whisper "fire!" in her ear in a dramatic way.

D1 EA super quiet sneaking up on Ayeka: 8d10o10k5 30

Unfortunately for Machiko, Ayeka's senses are fairly keen. Still, she would play the game and act as if she hadn't heard the quiet footsteps up until she felt Machiko's breath in her ear. The shout of fire was somewhat painful, but instead of a quick, alert jump to action, Ayeka just flinched slightly at the sudden noise.

"Machiko-san, is it your aim to deafen the entire library today?" The ever light toned bushi turned to look at Machiko, smile oh so serene.



Noticing Machiko!: 5d10o10k3+7 37

"Hmph. If it means they're not falling asleep and drooling on important work, that's fine to me" Machiko shrugged before leaning over Ayeka "what's your choice of bedtime story? I hope it's something good."

"No fun stories today," Ayeka blinked, stifling a yawn. "I have stumbled upon the joys of agriculture, and I shall tell you I wish I had not."

"Ooh, Ayeka has decided to give up her career and become a farmer? About time, I knew the bushi life wasn't for you."

There was a smirk, she was kidding right?

"What did you want to know anyway? I can likely tell you somethnig about the different kinds of ways someone can be made ill from a grain of wheat if you want."

"I have no interest in such things," she waved off Machiko. Smiling cheerfully. This joking was far preferable to the scroll. "It was the first scroll I found, and so I simply started reading. And before I became rather intrigued by your breathing in my ear, I was in danger of ruining the scroll by sleeping upon it. So thank you for saving me from it's ever so exciting contents."

"You're welcome, but I'm sure it can't be that bad. At least not compared to a lecture from Susumu" Machiko sat down next to Ayeka, nudging the scroll more in her direction.

"Ah, hmm. So you literally picked the one about best farming techniques for rice. Ok, maybe it's pretty close. Should we look for something more interesting?"

"Anything more interesting. Perhaps there is a scroll on swordsmanship techniques or the like," she rises long enough to actually start looking at scrolls. "Or perhaps something on crane smithing techniques?"

"Scrolls on swordsmanship? Hm...I know where I'd keep them if it was at home, but here?"

She had a brief look around, but shrugged.

"Not a clue. Grab random scrolls?"

D1 EA investigation to look for scrolls on swordsmanship: 2d10 5

"It worked out so well the first time," she teased, nevertheless just grabbing a nearby scroll. She studies it a moment, her head tilting. "How do you feel reading about the Financial Implications of Border Villages on Larger Settlements?" Eyebrow raise.