Log View

Source	Contents
Misa	The dojo is more of a small, abandoned shrine facility that someone has taken over and cleaned up. The small river god is long since departed in some corrupt venture, and the small building and the raised stone platform it sits on stand... well, still a little dusty, perhaps. Nevermind the worn-down dirt square next to the platform, creating two tiers of usable outdoor space in addition to the modest structure. And down in that bare-dirt section is a small outdoor stove, over which a small pot bubbles as a woman of Lookshyan appearance whirls about a pair of wooden practice blades idly nearby. There are no students, here, at least not right now. And yet various training dummies and racks of wood-and-reed practice weapons do suggest a dojo of some kind.
Holegn	Travelling along the road, which may or may not count as such this far out of Great Forks, it none-the-less leads /somewhere/. Seemingly in no particular rush, Holegn strides along, her sandals making the distinct sound of wood on... dirt, and occasionally rocks, and mud. A pack is carried over one shoulder, while in one hand is a small box-like package. In the other hand, she carefully holds something between a pair of chopsticks. Something that she takes regular bites out of. As she comes along to a fork in the road, she glances at the building, and its two squared circles. Holly eyes the dirt section, and its stove, and the woman of Lookshy persuasion. Innnteresting. The red-head begins to make her way down towards the bare dirt area. "A fine day for swordswork, isn't it?", the young woman says cheerfully, flashing a bright smile at Misa.
Misa	The darker-haired woman pauses, slowly shifting one of the short 'blades' to join the other in one hand, before the pair are stowed through the sash around her waist for the moment. "Good day," she returns- she's soft and quiet of voice by nature, and the sound barely carries across the distance. As she speaks, she begins walking closer, steps light and measured in much the same manner as masterful martial artists. "One might call it as much. What brings one to this place today, if I might?"
Holegn	Holly's expression brightens further, and she stops at the edge of the dirt area. "I am new to Great FOrks, and I am wandering to see what there is to see. Just walked out the gates, and along the road. It appears that you have a uhm dojo? At least it seems to be one, in my eyes. At least, it appears to be a fighting circle." The red-head offers a modest bow. "My father was the owner of a small dojo. I respect those who give of themselves to run one."
Misa	"Well, my reasons were not all altruistic," Misa admits straight off the top, smiling faintly. She shakes her head, and makes a small gesture inviting the other woman onto the grounds silently. She turns to return to the cookpot, stirring idly as she glances over her shoulder. "And truth be told, students are hard to find for someone like me- quite capable, at the risk of being arrrogant, but perhaps not the master of convincing others to come all this way."
Holegn	From behind her back, perhaps originally stuck in her belt, Holly pulls a seven-section staff. She places it upon the ground, and then steps out of her sandals. "Perhaps not, however, a person must eat, and if one does something well, it is not unfair to be paid in some fashion for it." The red-head bows to the area, before stepping across it, following Misa towards the cook pot. The package, ignored until now, is offered up, while the remaining piece of meatbun between her chopsticks is finished off. "I am a humble itinerant, and only have some now cooling meatbuns to offer. But they could be quickly heated again, to add to what you are already cooking." "It is perhaps a shame that one who was able to beat several masters is having trouble finding students. Perhaps your dojo is too far from Great Forks to be noticed? The walk was not difficult, I would add."
Misa	"I do not expect gifts here," says Misa plainly, shrugging a little. "The personal interests were more challenges of note that might come by in the travel to Great Forks and the environs," she explains, turning back around and glancing over Holegn's mannerisms. "My name is Hanase Misa, and to set you at ease, I have another profession that attends to my needs for food and the like. I am also perhaps more... pragmatic than preensome, and all I really ask of visitors is some amount of politeness, and perhaps not to destroy anything."
Holegn	"I wished to share my lunch with you, as a means towards gaining some trust or a seed of friendship." Holly tucks the chopsticks into the package, and fishes about. "Is it alright if I finish my lunch then, while we converse?" She nods to the other woman. "Tanaka Holly.", she says by way of introduction. "I was not uneasy, and preensome wasn't a concern either." The red-head offers another nod. "I have no intention of damaging or destroying anything."
Misa	A tilt of the head from Misa, and her eyes flick past Holegn for a moment. "Perhaps my misunderstanding then. But when one removes footwear before even reaching stone floors, and sets aside a weapon on the ground besides, then offers gifts, it reminds me of some... particularly ceremonious masters I have encountered in the past. For a variety of reasons those encounters were rarely especially amiable in the long run." She smiles faintly. Reaching behind the stove, she pulls out a pair of short stools, setting one down closer to Holegn and sitting upon the other for the moment. "If I may, what form or forms did you father teach?"
Holegn	Holly's grin returns full force. "My father always instructed me to respect the grounds, the arena, the dojo... I do not wear shoes or sandals across their hallowed surfaces. However, it also indicates my readiness to give battle. My apologies, I was not intending to challenge, though I am happy to spar." The red-head offers another bow, this one a bit deeper than the previous one. She settles easily onto the stool. The question of her father's teaching cause a faint expression of pain, but it passes quickly. "While he had knowledge of many styles, he only taught the form of the Snake. It was taught to him by his father, and so forth, back into family history."
Misa	A smirk from Misa, and she quirks a brow. "The more selfish reason I mentioned for opening? Potentially attract challengers of note." She waves that off for now, glancing over at the small building at the core of the shrinegrounds. "Perhaps my original teacher- my mother- was simply more pragmatic. I suppose my second was similarly results-minded... but regardless. I appreciate the gesture, all the same. And have heard fine things about the style, though I have yet to find any genuinely masterful practitioners around Great Forks. But then, I have been accused of overly high standards in the past."
Holegn	A snort is followed by light laughter, and Holly shakes her head. "Oh, I see. So... as I was approaching, did you hope that I was coming to challenge you?" A wink is followed by a cheeky grin. She relaxes a little, slacking on the stool as best one can without falling off. Her expression loses a little of its humour, and she nods her head slowly. "I would not dare call myself a master of anything, except for perhaps sleeping in past noon, on occasion. I have barely had a taste of what my father's style promises, and I would learn more. If anything, I would consider myself fairly acquainted on the beginnings of a career."
Misa	Misa stands then, stretching a moment as she moves the pot off the stove, hanging it from a hook next to it off the heat. She glances at Holegn again. "Truth be told, given the company that has come to visit to date... I was wondering if I have yet another sorcerer, or prince of the earth, or other sort of person arriving. It is... remarkably frequent, here, for some reason. Which I suppose does support my stated aim, though I begin to wonder if it is some ironic curse from the god whose shrine this once was."
Holegn	Holly laughs. "You do recall going around and beating the tar of what... seven? Eight masters? More, even, if the stories running around are true?" Another chuckle, "And yet, you are surprised there are those who would come to challenge you?" The red-head leans forward a little bit. "Have you remained, as yet, unbeaten by these challengers you speak of?"
Misa	Misa hmms softly, canting her head to the side a little. "I believe, of the visitors I have battled thus far, I have a fairly even record. A loss, a draw, and a win. Much to learn along the way, which is the purpose I suppose." She shifts her footing absently, eyes drifting down the road for a longish moment. "And, well. I suppose you are right about that. One must visit and see the lay of the land in a new metropolis, no? And I have had some of the most skilled teachers one could hope for. My mother was of the dragons' blood, after all. Fortunate in several ways, that being one of them."
Holegn	"That is a respectable record. And if you are learning, then even losses are wins if one cares to look at it that way." The shift in footing is noted, followed by a glance at Misa's hands, before the gaze returns to the other woman's eyes. "The very thing that I am doing, myself, checking the lay of the land." Holly nods, "A dragon-blood? What uhm... style? Are they called styles? They are grouped by the element they exude or represent, yes? Fire, water, and so on. I hope it is not rude to ask if you possess your mother's style?"
Misa	"She did not practice the dragon styles- she practiced one of the blade styles I know, yes. A blade-drawing formed of an overwrought and pretentious name, that I tend to shorten to simply Single Point style," Misa explains, head shaking. "Admittedly, one of the primary things I learned was to spend less time assessing a clearly-supernatural opponent. But well, I should have known that from the start."
Holegn	"I... think I know of that style, though I am unfamiliar with any of it's forms. It sounds like it covers some of what the Snake style does, to strike before your opponents do." An eyebrow raises up slightly. "How do you mean?", Holly wonders. "Have you faced many supernatural opponents? And of the three challengers of late?"
Misa	"More that it seems foolish for a regular person to start slowly in battle with someone whose swings ripple through the air to strike you without striking you," says Misa with a sardonic sort of smirk. "But wisdom is perhaps not my greatest strength, all told. A mentor of mine thoroughly endorsed taking risks. It seems to have rubbed off, perhaps to my detriment."
Holegn	"Ah. I understand. The old one inch punch and so on." Holly straightens a little, fidgeting on the stool. "Is it really to your detriment, though? You appear to still have all of your limbs in working order, and you move gracefully with your blades. Your battles have left you with no harm that would affect your ability to fight, I would suggest. And you are learning from it." The red-head hmms, "So when was your last fight, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
Misa	"... A few weeks ago, perhaps?" says Misa. "If we are specifically discussing the dojo. I did get in a slight scuffle during my investigative endeavours the other day, but that is... not especially rare and far less instructive, typically. And well- there is much to say for some caution, really. One never knows when a passing godblood may wish to do serious harm."
Holegn	"Ah, just so, some may not wish others to look into their dealings, especially those who have less than honourable intentions." Holly nods. "May I watch you dance? Er... that is to say, may I watch you continue your practice? Perhaps after we both eat?" A gurgle is heard, and she rubs distractedly at her stomach.
Misa	"Please, eat away, do not hold off on my account. I should have enough here to supplement your own, if need be. Which may be another aspect of my earlier confusion- in my family the assumption was that the host would treat their guests particularly well, rather than the inverse." She waves that off, stepping back to the stove and retrieving from the pot... frankly, some kind of rice porridge with what appears to be some kind of fowl meat shredded within. Simple fare indeed.
Holegn	"In truth, I would hope that by sharing, you too would share. It may not give me more, but it would give us both more variety." The chopsticks are taken up once more, and she pops a meatbun into her mouth, chewing softly. After swallowing, Holegn grins once more. "We always treated our guests well, but, our guests would often share something. Maybe they would bring wine. Or vegetables. One brought a pie, once. Things like that." She pulls in her feet, ending up cross-legged on the stool. "So I have pork meat buns. What is it that you have made for yourself?"
Misa	"I am no great cook, so simply stewed rice and... some sort of bird. I did not ask many questions," Misa says, shrugging a little. "Some of the local ginger and spice, as well." Indeed there's a bit of an orange hue to the mix on closer inspection. She takes a seat again, offering a bowl forth and the pot for the serving of one's preferred quantity- indeed, it seems this is likely a dish intended to keep to some degree, as there's well past enough for a woman of Misa's size and shape. "It was something of a... showing, an opportunity to demonstrate one's means, among me and mine. But I was blessed to grow in relative wealth, priorities seem to shift at that juncture."
Holegn	"Beggars cannot be choosers.", Holly says softly, before offering the package of meatbuns in return for her taking the bowl and helping herself to some of the offered meal. "I am certain your food is good and wholesome. Birds can be quite tasty when cooked up nicely. Was it ground fowl, do you know? I would guess as much, those sorts of birds are easier to keep than ones that can fly off at any time." She offers a nod, "My thanks for your generosity." She wastes no time in digging in. Between bites, she pauses. "So. Would you like to spar? Or perhaps, have someone to practice with? You teach me, I teach you, we profit in learning together?"
Misa	"I will rarely say no, but often suggest letting one's meal settle first, for the sake of overall health," says Misa with a faint smile, plucking a single of the buns and placing it along the side of her bowl. "Ground, yes, though when I acquired it it was cleaned and salted for preservation. Hence the lack of identification." She shrugs at that, beginning to eat slowly- almost bored with the process, though not unappreciative of the chance to eat.