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Master Yoshitsune and Esther are easiest to happen across at Camp Constantine. It's where Yoshitsune's hours are spent when serving the Order. His free time he likes to spend at home or at the Shofuzo. Here, he wears his kimono and a full hakama. The white and gold of the kimono accentuate the blue and gold of his hakama wonderfully. The saya resting in his gold silk obi rests as familiar as two old friends. He moves about in his sock feet on the bamboo floor mats, old but bustling and quick despite that fact. It's his turn to deliver the tea to the go board, you see. He kneels down across the table from Esther, and gets to pouring with his usual care and precision for the undtertaking.
"You are very bad at this game," he assures Esther gravely.
"Shut up, you old fraud. You're trying to throw me."
"As off balnace as your play is, it is really more of a gentle push."
"Shut up, old man."
"Hmmph."
Izumi Masaki
-This was a little bit of both business and pleasure for Izumi, well at least she was hopeful for it to go that way. She'd been actually wanting to do a little sparing with some of the other Arrows but never managed to catch anyone around. Plus as the old saying goes "You'll never get better if you don't challenge people who are stronger than you" or at least that's probably a saying right? She was pretty casually dressed today, normally the obrimos preferred to wear clothing that showed off the her years of hard work but the current climate didn't really "agree" with such a desire. Plus going around in gym wear when it's 46 degrees out might catch a few eyes. Though it wasn't as if she wasn't basically immune to the cold. She makes her way inside to where the other two were currently engaged, she's got something slung over her shoulder. Though most people wouldn't bat an eye at it, anyone who's ever wielded a weapon before in the life would recognize it to be some kind of sword case (most likely). She offers a nod to the two and sits down fairly close by as she waits for a few moments. She had a hasty personality but she wasn't rude.- (picture of the item is in picspam if you're curious) (edited)
Yoshitsune and Esther
After a little more deliberation, Esther places one of her black tiles and Yoshitsune answers it in about as long as it takes him to reach out and drop the tile. He's just grinning at Esther who grumbles in frustration and goes back to examining the board again.
"Let me know if you need help," Yoshitsune says in a perfectly dry deadpan to Esther.
Esther, for her part, begins chuckling ruefully, "Ohhhhh ho ho ho, I will. I just will."
His eyes glittering with amusemnet, he looks aside to Izumi and dips his head. "I am playing Go." He ticks his head aside to Esther, "Not sure what she's doing."
"Contemplating homicide," she answers with faux menace.
"So. Not go, then." (edited)
Izumi Masaki
-She offers a small incline of her head to the two of, she was more than aware of her culture's background when it came to etiquette. She simply smiles for several moments before her eyes drift to the board. She briefly cants her head to the side as if she was pondering what she'd do given the current circumstance on the board but remains impartial for the moment. She waits a little bit longer before actually speaking-
"I'm glad I was able to capture both of you in the same place at the same time. I get to take care of all of my business at once."
Yoshitsune and Esther
"Yes," Yoshitsune answers, "fortunate for you. What is it? Your business."
Esther puts down another tile after another good deal of thought only to be answered by Yoshitsune almost blindly which makes Esther give an annoyed, "Come on!"
Izumi Masaki
-She crosses her arms and closes her eyes as if lost in thought for probably longer than was necessary while pursing her lips. Finally she exhales the breath that had been so long held-
"I'll go with the important bits first. You are both aware of the call of action that was recently proposed?"
-She looks between the two of them, her eyes resting on Esther for perhaps slightly longer-
Yoshitsune and Esther
"Of course," Yoshitsune answers with a nod. "the Elder Peacekeeper is in my cadre."
Esther adds as a bit of a tacked on anti-climax, "With, uh. Me." She wiggles her fingers.
Izumi Masaki
"Then I don't really need to explain too much there. It was suggested that I speak to the two of you to find a place for my particular skill set. I feel that's for more than just the up coming fighting though. I would like to request guidance and hear the thoughts of those older and wiser than myself. I could of course simply use Time to try and find the most appropriate place for me but."
-She pauses her and smiles-
"Adaptability is Strength. I can not always rely on my magic to save or guide me and I feel this is a good opportunity to gain insight from the two of you."
Yoshitsune and Esther
"Ah," Yoshitsune replies with an approving nod of the head. "This is an excellent idea with only one small problem as I see it."
Esther is mouthing along with his words as he says it, which is to say the old man recycles his jokes a lot, "I have no idea what your skillset it."
He pours a third small cup for Izumi, then offers it acorss to her with a dip of his head. It is, at the very least, some pretty excellent tea.
"So? What is your skillset."
He puts another tile down almost immediately after Esther does. Cl-clack. She doesn't even have it in her to be mad this time, she just stares at him with such a look.
Izumi Masaki
(A possibly strange question, what kind of tea is it?)
-She first gives a nod of thanks then takes the cup and smells it briefly by bringing it up close to her lips then takes a small drink. She holds the cup in both of her hands, clearly not yet done with it-
"If we speak without the bolstering of magic, I have taken the fighting style of staff fighting to it's peak along with the original spear and bayonet style to pair them with for use with my naginata. Of course I also use regular spears, I'm simply more accustomed to the naginata. I'm working on learning Iaido for my swordsmanship but I am a beginner. However, I have used the katana since as far back as I can remember. In recognition of my path's connection to noble weapons and the material gold, I had a katana forged from gold a long time ago. A constant reminder of where I am from."
-She laughs briefly and shakes her head-
"Look at me getting sentimental over such things. I have taken to being able to fight with my fists should I ever need it and have learned the Adamant Hand of Weaponry." (edited)
Yoshitsune and Esther
"So you kill," Yoshitsune summarizes with a small gesture of his hand, perhaps inviting elaboration. Perhaps confirmation.
Izumi Masaki
"Perhaps a personal justification, I prefer to think of myself as a blade. I am capable of killing, yes as are many of us. However, I don't strike unless it's necessary." (edited)
Yoshitsune and Esther
"A blade's only purpose is to cut. It has no other function," Yoshitsune suggests. Perhaps argues. "You prefer to think of yourself in this way?"
Esther stops watching the board at this point, and is now watching Izumi instead.
Izumi Masaki
"I would rather be thought of a blade that can cut for just and righteous reasons than something who's only purpose is to kill. I took your words to mean that; that's all I am. A killer. A cut can be healed, it's why I'm an Adept of Life. Death? Well my feelings on death are another matter. If you want to know what kind of person I am, well it's going to take more than one interaction with me and probably you going to a few places that may or may not be in your comfort zone. But at the end of the night I am Izumi. Unless you want to know Kaminari instead." (edited)
Yoshitsune and Esther
"In my school, a blade's only purpose is cutting. A cut's only purpose is killing. And a warrior's only purpose is to grip the long and the short sword and to die. All wisdom that you will find here begins and ends with these truths. Once you can accept them, you can kill with purpose. And die for causes. But this does not escape the fact that the blade cuts, the cut kills, the warrior dies. Knowing your place in this relationship is crucial."
Yoshitsune turns his attention to the board. He's demonstrated already he doesn't have to do that, really.
"However. Based on what you have told me so far, I would suggest you volunteer to provide security for the intelligence missions. When it comes time for the strike missions, you will naturally be called to do your duties. But we have little use for blades here from day to day. So I would counsel you to become something else more useful to the caucus."
Izumi Masaki
"In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice."
-She utters softly, perhaps more to herself than anyone else-
"I know my way around medicine and the occult. My Masteries are that of my Path, Forces and Prime. But I am a thrice Adept of Life, Matter and Time. I'm sure that Time is fairly common around here but I'm not sure about Matter and Life. I haven't gotten to speak with too many other awakened yet about their various levels of enlightenment. From what I know we need practitioners of Spirit, I am not even an Initiate of Spirit. It would take me about two months to reach even that level, which we don't currently have."
Yoshitsune and Esther
"If you wish to study Spirit, by all means study Spirit. I admit we have often worked closely with the Children of the Tree as a result of having Peacekeeper and Balm as cadremate or ally. I might encourage Yisrael to study it as well. Now that he has concluded his foundational training."
Esther finally plays a piece, and once more Yoshitsune answers rather quickly. A little distracted this time, admittedly. "You might volunteer for the raid on Centralia. It would goot be an excellent mission for you to learn more about Spirits on. Many of them will try to kill you during it, I am given to understand."
Izumi Masaki
-She finishes her cup of tea and sets it nearby-
"Thank you both for your time an council. I have only one last question. Would you consider a sparing match with me tonight?"
Yoshitsune and Esther
Esther starts trying to hide her grin before Yoshitsune answers her. "Yes." He then settles his focus back onto his tiles. "Good night, Izumi."
Esther rolls her eyes a little at that, but inclines her head to the other Arrow, "It was good to finally meet you. Definitely check with Fox."
Izumi Masaki
-She offers a very traditional bow- "I will be happy to wait until your game is done. It was nice to finally meet the two of you as well and thank you for the tea. I will have to reciprocate the next time."
Yoshitsune and Esther
"He's usually not such a dad about it," Esther assures Izumi, as though making apologies for Yoshitsune's behavior. The old man doesn't answer to it, though, or disagree that Esther's behavior is warranted. "We'd be happy to come by for a visit, or have you over for tea some time. Things are a little tense right now, so any excuse to focus on the good things should be taken." She says the last word aside to the old man, who gruns dubiously.
Izumi Masaki
"Oh I understand, I've been taking good things when I see them. My place is fine if you want, I'll have to clean up all the costumes and materials I have but it's not an impossible task to accomplish."
- - - End Scene - - -
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