un: asano | text

[revengeisalie]

Now that things seem to be calming down somewhat, I was wondering if there's anyone with experience in woodworking who could help me a little? My house took a lot of damage, I'm afraid. I'd be really grateful, and I'm sure we could come to an agreement as to how I can pay you back.

And, just for curiosity's sake: what's everyone's favorite way of decorating interior spaces?

[ There, that should be at least a little distraction from the horrors. Just for a little while. ]

Comments

[illicitly]

I don't mind helping out. I find myself with a lot of free time on my hands since coming here. If I can make good use of that time, it's a boon to me as well.

It's the system we use to build and arrange structures where I come from. Many of our buildings and homes are designed with it in mind. By arranging spaces and alignments in certain ways, we can keep our homes - and our lives - in harmony and balance this way.

[revengeisalie]

It is like that, isn't it? Despite all the stuff going on, we're still away from whatever we did at home, and the people we did it with.

Right! That's what I remember. And why I thought my friend was talking about feng shui when she told me about how a house needs to be built right, or else bad things happen in it.

Of course, that was her rationale for putting a hole in the dojo wall.

[ Excuse her, she'll just go be nostalgic and missing people. And thinking she was so so wise for choosing to do this in text format. ]

[illicitly]

[Huaisang's not going to fault her for that. He's starting to feel a little homesick himself here in this strangely built city of islands with its odd mishmash of buildings and advanced technology now he's a little less confused and terrified.]

In some ways, it's a reprieve. I'm not accustomed to having this much time or freedom to myself, though. My schedule's been so busy of late that it feels very jarring to be suddenly be free of those obligations for the time being.

I don't know if the hole in your dojo's wall was the result of bad feng shui or not but I believe there's something to living in a tidy, beautiful environment that makes one feel better. And if there's something one can do to ward off misfortune and bad spirits in one's home, it's worth trying.

[revengeisalie]

What did you do in your homeworld that it's kept you so busy?

Well, she claimed she put the hole in because the house was badly constructed. Apparently, where she's from, all houses have a special exit for the offerings to the spirits. I don't think that's a feng shui thing, after all, though. She's not from the continent.

[illicitly]

I was the leader of a martial arts sect part of a greater alliance. I had disciples to oversee and teach. When I wasn't home, I was often travelling.

[There's much more to the story but the revenge quest that's consumed most of his life for the past ten years is a bit of an awkward subject to drop in a casual first conversation.]

I see. I'm not familiar with such a custom offhand but I lack expertise in the finer points of these matters.

[revengeisalie]

Really? That's such a coincidence. My family owned a sword school. Dad used to stay out late for discussions with other dojo leaders too... well, mostly they just went drinking. What kind of martial arts do you teach?

[ Ah... yes... revenge... not like that's a topic Rin's familiar with or anything. ]

That's fine! It's just a story. Guess I got a little nostalgic for home for a second there, sorry.

[illicitly]

There is quite a bit of socializing and politics involved in a role like that. I delegate the martial arts training aspects of my position to swordsman more skilled than myself but my sect specializes in the dao. I'm poor at swordsmanship so I focus on teaching my disciples other useful skills instead.

Please don't trouble yourself over that. Stories are valuable. I'd like to learn more about the other people here and where they come from.

[In the worst case scenario that their worlds don't make the cut, there'll be stories of what one was, at least, as long as there's the living to remember them.]

[revengeisalie]

[ This conversation is turning out to be very interesting for Rin. She lost her parents at fourteen, so this is like a look at what her father's life might have been from an adult's perspective, not a child's. ]

Yeah? What skills do you teach them?

I'm not all that good at swordsmanship either, but then I suppose, as a woman, it wasn't really expected of me.

That's very kind of you, thank you.

[illicitly]

I teach Daoist magic, tactics, and meditation mostly but I'm happy to teach others about the fine arts or fashion to any who express interest. I suppose I'm qualified to demonstrate basic sword forms as well to some degree but I usually leave that to the warriors.

[It feels so odd being this open about anything he does when normally he shrouds so much of himself and what's most important to him in secrecy. But Huaisang's sincere in his belief that alliances are going to be necessary for him to make and being a little more honest in his dealings with others might be the right course of action for keeping his world safe.]

I was the second son in my family and had other aspirations but my father passed away when my brother and I were still young. My brother had no children of his own so I was his heir instead. However, I've never had the talent or skill to be a proper warrior myself.

You're welcome.

[revengeisalie]

Then you have a lot of skills, though! Those probably come in handy as well.

Ah... that sounds like it might be hard on you. I'm an only child, but obviously wasn't really expected to carry on the dojo by myself. I suppose I would've eventually married someone my parents deemed suitable to inherit.

[ It's a little strange to think of this now. Almost sounds like another lifetime altogether. ]

[illicitly]

They have their uses. Many in my social circle back home exceed me in power and skill but I do what I can to make my ancestors proud.

[He may not wield his sect's weapon out of fear that the same death that's come for so many of his ancestors will come from him but he does what he can to make up for his peculiarities in other ways.]

It hasn't been an easy path but I've made it this far despite the odds stacked against me. The course of one's life can change so swiftly. Had I been born a woman instead of man, I suspect I would have shared a similar fate.

[revengeisalie]

Make one's ancestors proud, huh?

I don't know if I would've loved that kind of life, or if I would've hated it. My parents were killed before it ever got to that point.