"She will be happy to have it back, I know it troubled her greatly," she offered calmly.

"How was your time with the Lion, by the by?"

"Fruitful." He said, simply. "As I suspected she has a knack for artistic expression, but lacks the environment to foster it properly. You wouldn't have guessed her first painting was done by an amateur at all, especially from memory. It was quite remarkable."

"She seems to lack some confidence in her own abilities," she responded.

"So that is not... surprising. Thank you for taking time to show her a new path to explore."

"I was delighted to do it. She even means to make a gift of the portrait she painted to the one she portrayed, Doji Misaki." Hadananzi laughed. "She seemed embarrassed by her own boldness in that choice."

"Interesting and useful, perhaps we can match them together to better cement an alliance," she said considering that information.

"Perhaps so. It would be a smart match, certainly." Hadananzi frowned for a moment. "There was one other thing, a painting I made of your mother that didn't turn out how I intended."

She frowned at the mention of her mother and then said, "What do you mean?"

Hadananzi sighed, then produced the portrait he'd painted the other day, with Doji looking worn and haggard. "Only your sister has gotten a close look at this portrait. Makime Ayano-san saw it from a distance, but not close enough to see the odd details. Ananzihime believes I painted my unspoken concern for your mother onto the canvas, but I'm not so certain it's that simple."

She looked at the portrait and said, "Why are you so uncertain? You feel there is something else at work?"

"I'm not sure, but I haven't seen your mother since the affliction took hold. I'm not so certain that I could accurately recreate her appearance just from extrapolation alone." He shook his head again. "I just don't know."

"If it matters her condition has worsened and she was barely lucid the last time I saw her, her bad days are many and her good are few," she responded.

"That doesn't do much to ease my concerns." He sighed and put the picture away. "I do hope she recovers soon."

Hadananzi wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 23, 2021 5:03 pm

"That doesn't do much to ease my concerns." He sighed and put the picture away. "I do hope she recovers soon."

"Hikaru-san is charged with finding a solution, he has made much progress to a solution," she said trying to comfort her kin.

"My Mother is strong, whatever assails her, she will resist."

Hadananzi nodded solemnly. "Yes, she will resist." He shook his head as if to clear it. "I am sorry to bring such back to your attention, I am certain you've heard enough on the matter for your tastes."

"It is my duty to carry such burdens, I will not run from it," she responded.

"But it's a poor brother who drags those burdens back to the surface." Hadananzi bowed softly in apology. "She will pull through." He paused for a moment, then said. "Is there any other matter which you'd like to discuss?"

"I am curious if you followed through with your pledge to my sister," she asked as she continued her ensemble construction.

"Oh, yes, I most certainly did." Hadananzi tried to mask his smile, but was only partially successful. "I'll not let it become an issue again in the future."

"Good, my dear brother, thank you for attending to my sister with care and affection," she said feeling proud she could be helpful.

"So what do you think should I go for a darker theme or keep it light and approachable?" she asked as the servants held up one ensemble and then another.

"Hmm, light and approachable. Plenty will want to approach you after the play is concluded, so you'll want to broadcast openness to that."