[D1, LE] The Wedding Reception (Open, Event)

[Hisomu Fumi]

With a graceful turn, Hikaru bowed. "Greetings to you, Hisomu-san." Hikaru said, his voice deep and soft. "And "And you, Hisomu-san? This is your first wedding, or so I gather?"

"It is my first and is not. The only one I ever attended was that of Hisomu Kanna and the then Ryoshun Mai of the Bat. I was quite the small child, and the reception was a quieter affair."

"You see, this is my first time leaving the lands of the Spider. Is this the way of gatherings in Crane lands?" She paused, "you mentioned when you are on duty? I don't see a charge. Are you perhaps a guard?"

[Anjing Sagara]

Anjing Sagara finally was able to join the rest of guests in the great hall after leaving her gift behind. Not much might have been expected from the Crab when it came to courtly manners, but the samurai-ko had done her best. The samurai-ko grabbed a cup of sake the first chance she had and wandered in the room observing the grand room. The alcohol would drain down the tension that she had gone through in the offering.

"Exquisite", she thought as she went along the walls and around the room. Everything was a piece of art, from the structure to the materials, the paintings, statues...everything before her was beautiful.

Sagara was wearing the colors of her clan in a kimono that had cost her more than she had wanted. But the event demanded it. The dark blue tomisode had patterns of dark red flowers that only grew in the mountains of the north, her home, glistening gently as they would under the moon light in a dark night.

[Akodo Moshi]

(I know I'm really late to this, but I'm there too. Ping me if you want to talk)

[Isawa Kyosei]

She returned a polite bow. "Certainly, Isawa-san. I am Ryoshun Rei. How may I help you?"

"I am Kyosei, as you noted, of the Isawa, though of little note as yet. I have met several persons in my travels, with differences of their person from the norm, such as Sora, uh, -sama, over there. Some have gifts to go along with those differences. Would you be one with such gifts?"

[Reiko Machiko]

Gifting all done, Machiko walked around idly carrying a small plate of the food on offer. More watching people, but certainly not looking unapproachable.

(pm please - open to interaction, feel free to approach!)

[Saru Takurou]

A young, rather inconspicuous man was standing around somewhere. He looked a bit lost and out of place.
His clothes were not dirty or broken, but in the context of what some of the other guests were wearing, his kimono seemed almost too simple.
People near him could also detect a subtle smell of spices emanating from him.

[Shosuro]

He nodded, “You could say that. But the past few decades have brought great change to all of us no doubt... Learning to float on the winds of change can take one far from the home they knew.”

He looked over to the couple and thought a moment on the life he had known with his father and sister.

“But we all find new purposes... new roles to fill the ones blown away by the winds.”

"Yes... Things change and we become different people than who we once were, whether we wish it or not," she agreed, eyes focused on some point far beyond the castle. "Who, then, is Kakita-san now?"

[Ryoshun Rei]

"I am Kyosei, as you noted, of the Isawa, though of little note as yet. I have met several persons in my travels, with differences of their person from the norm, such as Sora, uh, -sama, over there. Some have gifts to go along with those differences. Would you be one with such gifts?"

She considers his words for a moment. "The most significant would be my connection to the Void and the training with it my mother has given me."

[Doji Tsubaki]

Tsubaki flows through the reception like a fish through water - making the rounds and ensuring that she had acknowledged all the right people. Stopping here and there to make the necessary small talk to maintain her web of connections. In her wake her two Blossoms, Ni and San, trail behind doing their best to absorb the lessons on display... and to not raise the ire of their mother.

The Crane's outfit was not her most ostentatious, it would be uncouth to be flashy on someone else's big occasion... at least if they were allies, but it was still exquisite and elegant in soft blues and whites.

(Quote or PM if approaching)

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai is in the room, milling as appropriate, but his player, vacationing, is relatively disengaged at present.

[Chai Kotsume]

The young, athletic Ki-rin is clad in a purple and white gi with greenish-blue details which is similar enough to a kimono to be appropriate, but with a smaller number of layers and thus more simple - but also less cumbersome.

After presenting her gift to the couple - with... interesting manners - she walks back to the crowd, taking the time to sample some of the food provided, but otherwise keeping more or less quiet and to the side.

Something seemed to make her feel a bit uncomfortable, but it wasn't clear what it was, exactly...

OOC:
REAL late to the thread, but she's here. Please PM if approached

[Kakita]

"Yes... Things change and we become different people than who we once were, whether we wish it or not," she agreed, eyes focused on some point far beyond the castle. "Who, then, is Kakita-san now?"

He paused for a moment, slighting nodding his head in thought.

“That is a great question Shosuro-san.” He gave it another moment of thought.

“The best I can tell... a blade. A blade for the defense of the realm...”

[Hantei Kinsen]

The tall Crab was still present, having observed some of the gift giving. "Hello again, Hantei-sama," Chizu said, bowing again as she saw Kinsen seek her out. "That looked well done."

"Well, thank you. I confess I've been practicing it." She says with a nod. Glancing around to find additional familiar and yet unknown faces, the Stag mentions, "I see there's another Crab clanswoman here. Interesting, indeed."

[Yoshitsune Chizu]

"Well, thank you. I confess I've been practicing it." She says with a nod. Glancing around to find additional familiar and yet unknown faces, the Stag mentions, "I see there's another Crab clanswoman here. Interesting, indeed."

"Yes, we are trying to increase our presence in court," Chizu said, nodding excitedly as Kinsen spotted the other Crab. "Would you like to meet her?"

Sagara was wearing the colors of her clan in a kimono that had cost her more than she had wanted. But the event demanded it. The dark blue tomisode had patterns of dark red flowers that only grew in the mountains of the north, her home, glistening gently as they would under the moon light in a dark night.

Chizu waved at Sagara, trying to get her attention. "Anjing-san...!"

[Doji Hikaru]

"It is my first and is not. The only one I ever attended was that of Hisomu Kanna and the then Ryoshun Mai of the Bat. I was quite the small child, and the reception was a quieter affair."

"You see, this is my first time leaving the lands of the Spider. Is this the way of gatherings in Crane lands?" She paused, "you mentioned when you are on duty? I don't see a charge. Are you perhaps a guard?"

Hikaru nodded evenly. "It is much the same as those found in Crane lands. Lady Doji's influence on courtly weddings can surely be felt, even in the Imperial Court." His smile managed to avoid being smug, if only just

His chin tilted up proudly. "I have the honor of serving Lady Doji as one of her retainers. Or, at least, I do in normal times. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented her from attending this wedding." A slight crease on his forehead. "I am assisting the rest of the Crane, instead."

[Hantei Kinsen]

"Yes, we are trying to increase our presence in court," Chizu said, nodding excitedly as Kinsen spotted the other Crab. "Would you like to meet her?"

Sagara was wearing the colors of her clan in a kimono that had cost her more than she had wanted. But the event demanded it. The dark blue tomisode had patterns of dark red flowers that only grew in the mountains of the north, her home, glistening gently as they would under the moon light in a dark night.

Chizu waved at Sagara, trying to get her attention. "Anjing-san...!"

"Ara. Mochiron!" She says, reassuring her intention with a sound nod. "Anjing-sama and myself were friendly... u-hum... to each other," Rivals, but friendly, indeed.

[Wu Zhe]

Last but not least, another dragon appeared and took a seat after his gift presentation. The young man was quiet and content to observe the room for a moment, looking at so many different folks and taking notes on their manners, the way they dressed and so on.

He was also worried Shu would cause some form of trouble as he left him in their room

(Please pm if approached)

[Bayushi Sasori]

Arriving to the audience Hall in her nice kimono, Sasori walked around trying her best not to call much attention. The silent girl just made her way to a not so crowded corner of the hall trying not to feel to encrouched by all the people.

[Hadananzi]

After receiving so many gifts, it was time for Hadananzi to play the benevolent host, intermingling with those gathered and offering greetings and thanks where appropriate. His clothing was immaculate, and his smile warm and cheerful, and if it didn't quite reach his eyes when addressing someone who gifted jade, it would be hard to notice with the way he doted on his wife as she glided along beside him. In many ways it seemed he only had eyes for her, as his attention was frequently being diverted to Ananzihime and her needs. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he maintained an air of openness and approachability.

[Makime Ayano]

Spotting the bride and groom now free, Ayano approaches. She stays a little back until acknowledged, not wishing to be rude.

Her eyes sweep the rest of the room, and a pang of regret does hit her. Was she sending the wrong signals to the court? Did that even matter...