[Moon 16, Afternoon, Open] Needs less Crusher, more McCoy

[Shiba Nozomi]

Understanding the concept entirely, she replies,"M-my family are the Nasu, s-so it seemed a sure th-thing I'd be doing s-something with ships... eventually."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

He cocked his head. "And what would you have done in the meantime?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

She shrugs."P-Probably trained as a b-bushi? One of m-my brothers says I w-would have made a g-great yojimbo... quiet and o-o-out of the w-way until someone n-needed me."

It had been something that was under debate when everything... happened.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

One eyebrow arched.
"You aren't? Forgive me, but I assumed. How would you define your role?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

Nozomi shifts in her seat. It wasn't exactly an unusual assumption to make, but it made her uncomfortable all the same. "Ano... I'm a healer, D-Daidoji-san. An Isawa t-trained one."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

He smiled.
"Truly? Then you are strong in Water. That's good; one of us ought to be."

[Shiba Nozomi]

"Hai. My s-sensei thought medicine would be f-fitting."

She looks up at him somewhat curiously from underneath her bangs. "D-does the Asahina school tu-train one in the m-medicinal arts, or was it s-something you took up o-on your own?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"The Asahina serve as healers to the noble families of the Crane. As that was one possible way for me to serve, I received some training in it. Art took precedence, however."

[Shiba Nozomi]

"Oh?" The single word is an open invitation for him to go on about whatever type of art it was that interested him, but also an attempt at expressing her curiosity without being too nosy. Nozomi was a little uncertain how the Crane would feel about the slew of questions that his last comment had inspired in her, and she felt it best to play it safe.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

He chuckled. "I am--was--the maker of wooden religious statues for use in Northern Crane provinces for a period of two years. You might have seen my work in the temple of Benten in Nikesake. Woodcarving is a delight to me that has no real equal, save perhaps the rumble of the Earth and the sweet singing of the Air."

[Shiba Nozomi]

Her pale eyes widen slightly. "A t-temple artist? What an h-honor... wh-what types of wood do you prefer to w-work with?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"That would depend on the work in question. I am sometimes considered detail-oriented, and my favorite medium for conveying a set of complex, fine details is plum. For more durable work I prefer oak and mahogony, cedar for the fragrance, but one must be careful to match wood with subject, otherwise the Fortune may find it displeasing."

[Shiba Nozomi]

She'd never really considered that one fortune may favor one wood over another. "If you were to c-carve one for s-say... Suitengu... what w-would be most f-fitting?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

He considered. "Cedar is robust enough to match his fury, but I should think that something simple, rough, perhaps composed of driftwood would convey his wild aspect appropriately."

[Shiba Nozomi]

She definitely looks interested i the idea, and it shows, as she has little to no courtier training."If... if I found you s-something like that... w-would you be willing to c-carve us a small f-figure for the sickb-bay?"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"I should be honored to do so, if you believe that it would not dishonor the one here already."

[Shiba Nozomi]

"I d-don't think Jizo and Juroj-jin mind having another s-statue around." Nozomi brushes her fingers lightly over the bases of the two.

A pause. Then, her ears begin to pink up a bit in memory of occurrences the other day. "Also, even th-though there's a l-lovely shrine to him in the m-map room, I think having a p-place to pray... elsewhere... m-might be acceptable to him, t-too."

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi smiled. "Then I shall do so. Do you practice an art, Shiba-san?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

"I enjoy w-writing that resembles a-art... but I'm n-no great h-hand at it..." She traces her fingertip lightly over the tabletop, ghosting the movements one would use to make the calligraphic figure for art.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

"I received training in calligraphy from the Asahina, but it was by no means my strongest art. I should be pleased if you could share a hint or two..."