Picnic (D1, EA)

[Hantei Kinsen]

A bright cloth laid down on a patch of grass along with a quite formidable view of the mountains ahead. The lands of the Crab weren't not as ugly as many mentioned. The weather was actually pleasant, although sticky at times, it allowed for less clothes to be worn on top of another. Allowing some wind to refresh her neck, Kinsen pins down her pony tail up into a comb.

The blond maiden sits down and enjoys the view while listening to the water kami rushing down the fierce river. Not that she understood any of it, of course. A well made wooden bento is carefully placed under the patch of shade cast by a nearby tree over the picnic area Kinsen prepared.

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei emerges from the surroundings, and, seeing his lord's wife, bows, if with a bit of hesitation.

"Lady Kinsen."

[Hantei Kinsen]

Rather startled by the man's sudden appearance, a gentle shiver wakes her up from the reverie. Kinsen looks to the Seppun and nods while seated. "Dawei-sensei. How are you doing so far –– did you manage to find accommodation and food today?"

The woman looks to the cloth on the floor and back at him, inviting the hidden guard to approach, "Please, sit down. You should enjoy this view while we can."

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei joins her, putting his weapons--because they are outside and all--aside and sitting.

"It's a good view, indeed, and I've found decent enough billeting. Probably going to have an easier time than most getting sleep; I'll be out scouting late tonight, so I'm sleeping earlier."

He looks at the cloth. "Who's the weaver?"

[Hantei Kinsen]

Kinsen pins her ponytail up, so her hair wouldn't fall over and adjusts her legs to give more room. Carefully, she opens the wooden container with some dried food for them to eat.

She taps on the cloth, answering. "I'm glad you can rest. Your cousin, Okou-san, made it."

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei nods. "Technique's improved, then."

He smiles a bit. "And your little one still likes the figure I carved for him?"

[Hantei Kinsen]

"You Seppun are fast learners in everything." She mentions and takes something to bite.

Licking her fingers, Kinsen opens a smile when Dawei mentions her young boy. The woman giggles, while gesturing with her chopsticks what her child would do toy. "Yes. He absolutely a-do-res the figure. It is very well made. He bites it all the time, throws it around, and it is still in one piece. Good job. Dawei-sensei. Thank you."

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei chuckles.

"Spirited child, then. Good to hear. Too long with too few happy kids about."

He looks at her. "Plans for any others?"

[Hantei Kinsen]

Unable to lie, specially to that, Kinsen nods with sparkling golden eyes. "Oh yes! Several plans, actually."

The woman looks to Dawei for a moment, taking a deep measure. "Dawei-sensei can't live just by teaching students alone. Isn't it time for you to have a small one to show your ways?"

[Seppun Dawei]

"Youko-san is a remarkably promising student; I expect she'll expand on anything she learns from me."

He gives a wry grin.

"Don't tell her that, though, if you please."

The grin lapses, and he continues. "But I gather you're not speaking about that, so much."

[Hantei Kinsen]

"Well. I certainly expanded after dear husband intensive lessons." Kinsen takes another bite and looks to the river.

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei winces at the rough joke, shakes his head.

"I...doubt I'm much help for that kind of thing. Never have had any interest that way, but if I am bidden make more Seppun, I shall do so."

[Hantei Kinsen]

She glances him with the corner of her eyes, smiling internally. For some reason, she liked to see Dawei a bit embarrassed. He looked rather cute.

Kinsen reinforces his comments, saying, "Duty. Very much so, indeed. The smart thing is to find joy in it. For the Clan, even if not for you."

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei nods.

"Of course, Lady Kinsen. And there is always a certain satisfaction in ensuring that family is cared for."

He smiles.

"And that's why we're here, of course."

[Hantei Kinsen]

"I'll make sure husband is aware of your care for Youko-san." Kinsen thinks, instead of marrying him off to another Clan, as they would need to do soon, considering they just moved an Imperial into the Stag.

[Seppun Dawei]

"Care? She is a fine student, of course, but...I do not feel for any woman in such a way as is suggested."

And only the one man.

[Hantei Kinsen]

"Hmm." Kinsen nods, sliding the wooden box with food so he could take a bite. "Well, there are, indeed, many levels of caring. Benten-no-kami blessings are like snowflakes: one very much different from the other on close inspection. They all melt down with proper warmth."

[Seppun Dawei]

"Thank you," Dawei says as he accepts the box, picks a morsel out of it.

After he chews and swallows it, he adds "Seems a strange metaphor, for a blessing to melt away. I don't think I understand."

Then he smiles a bit. "Sometimes, the teacher has to be the student, in turn."

[Hantei Kinsen]

"As ice turns into water to nurture plants and grow flowers. Ice alone would only dry out the seed." She says, nodding to him. "Blessings come in many forms. Some people may wrongly think they are not even blessed."

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei nods, the explication helping.

"Some might say so. Some might even be right. Some might have had blessings they no longer have, as well.

"And some seem to continue to enjoy their blessings, indeed. A person might be happy for such people, indeed."