Back to Back[D4, Black Elephant, Midnight CLOSED]

[Rixy]

"Help more, you move more fast." The girl's tone was teasing around the accent, her pace not slowing appreciatively even as she spoke over her shoulder. "My dada, strong in make not bleed. Will help, ask with smile."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi found some appreciation in her haste despite her injuries, she didn't think there was time to rest when one was injured. It's bound to make for an awkward scene. "I'll do my best once I see him..." She said, unsure if she was supposed to be asking for favours. Perhaps it's a cultural thing.

[Rixy]

Their alley branched swiftly into others, a maze as convoluted as any Hoshi could recall, save perhaps the rumored labyrinth beneath Kyuden Bayushi. At the end of it was a small row of equally small houses, well-kept but far from prosperous. In Rokugan, they would be houses for moderately successful merchants. Reaching a blue one with a tidy herb garden in front, the girl tapped and then hissed something out in her own tongue. After a few moments, the sound of metal on metal sounded just inside and the door opened, revealing the candle-lit face of a boy who looked to be no more than ten. Seeing the woman, his face went from 'worried' to 'welcome' and he started gabbling at once in the same language.

The girl, however, cut him off, pushing past him while ushering Hoshi inside the neat little chamber, combination kitchen and living space. The boy, gaping, stepped readily aside and, after a few more orders, darted off.

Hoshi's guide turned back, smiling again. "Come. Sit. Drink?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

As if being in the Ivory Kingdoms wasn't already awkward, Hoshi managed to feel even more out of place when she was brought to this small community. She tried her best to not feel particularly...embarrassed for intruding, she had little options for finding herself back without incident. A guest in a home of gaijin, this was going to be one worth keeping to herself as a secret. She gave a small nod at the boy in acknowledgement before she found a place to sit. Delicately removing her mask, she breathed out slowly with a tired smile. "A drink, after, wouldn't be a bad idea."

[Rixy]

The girl, who showed no reaction at all to Hoshi's features, nodded and rose, returning in short order with two cups of golden liquid in a carefully carved wooden mug. These were held out so that Hoshi could pick one, the girl's smile never fading. "Is good. Dada makes. Better than shared before."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi smile's grew more sheepish when the drinks were brought out regardless of her request and gave both cups a glance before finally taking one, and her chances with it, on the right one. "Oh. Arigato." She stalled with a motioned toast before taking a careful sip of it.

[Rixy]

The sweetness of honey hit the Bayushi's tongue, tingling as any alcohol does. The girl was quite happy to drink, too, sighing her enjoyment after the first long pull. 'Dada comes. Old, so slow. Will sew tears for you."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Tasting the alcohol, she did drop her guard to indulge in a little more and drank as much as her company did. It did help soften the edges of her wounds above tasting distinctively sweet. "We hardly met for long and I'm already troubling both your dada and the little one this late. It almost doesn't see fair..." She managed to smirk.

[Rixy]

"Brother. Will enjoy stories to tell, yes? Dada, may ask about boats." The girl shrugged some. "Not first bali brought, first of slit eye." Sipping her mug again, she added, "More afeem for hurt less, eh?"

In one of the rooms through a beaded curtain, a discussion was happening between the boy and someone older and male, the later's voice creaky with age. Shuffling soon followed and the girl put her cup down at once. "Need water for wash tears. Drink, I go. Recall, smile!" She winked, then rose and slipped into the kitchen to fetch a large bowl before slipping out the front door again. Not a minute later, the boy returned, leading a very old man in a robe as red as any of Hoshi's own kimono. He eyed her through age-faded black eyes, then mumbled something in that liquid tongue that so many people here spoke before holding out his hand, palm out. Upon it was a strange symbol, a triangle made of four other triangles with a great eye over it's peak.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi...only caught the first part of her words before it fell into a number of foreign words that found their way there. She lost her there. With another shy smile, she drank more of the exotic alcohol while waiting for who she assumed, would be her father.

When the old man appeared, Hoshi honoured his presence with polite bow. "...I"m in need of your help." She did the asking part, with a smile too!

[Rixy]

A small frown creased the brow of the old man but the boy whispered some and it disappeared. Slowly, the man nodded and lowered himself with the boy's aid to sit. One hand, age-knotted and with skin thinner than parchment, extended toward Hoshi's empty one, this palm marked with a strange serpentine character in the same ink as the first.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

'Kami...What am I doing here? Hoshi made sure she was on the same level as her generous elder host if need be. She eyed the hand for a cautious moment before offering hers forward, it won't only be a palm reading with some luck.

[Rixy]

The wrinkled hand clasped hers, the skin warm and dry, fingers surprisingly strong though the grip was by no means painful. The other hand began to move in archaic patterns as the old man mumbled a sutra which started a tingling in Hoshi's skin, the flesh at the edges of her wounds in particular. Slowly, the flesh stopped aching and the bleeding slowed to a crawl, though the gaping slashes did not knit appreciably. {{Heal 1}}

About this time, the girl returned. A spate of conversation passed between her and the elder, who resolutely shut his eyes and released Hoshi's hand. The young boy, sighing, rose and went back into the room as the girl said, bluntly, 'Must be bare. Tears wash, then more sutras."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"...Hai." She breathed out in understanding. There was only a moment's hesitation from Hoshi before she began doing the bounds of her armour, followed with the ruined clothes that was worn under, she wasn't shy about being nude when it was necessary.

[Rixy]

The girl did her best to help with the ties of Hoshi's armor where the injuries made it difficult for the Scorpion woman to reach them, her fingers deft and clever. Once Hoshi'd stripped, the girl handed her the bowl of water, some rags, and a bar of soap that smelled of herbs. "Water cold, but make clean. Then dada help more, give afeem for hurt."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

I get to look forward to...afeem, whatever that is... Hoshi gave the girl a faint smile after she finished helping her with removing her clothes. "Thank you." Being somewhat used to the hospitality on the ship, she was hardly one to complain about cold water. It was difficult though, doing so with wounds and a weak hand, exhausted in the middle of the night. She muffled any involuntary complains when the water hit her wounds, and kept to cleaning herself of blood and sweat with everything given.

[Rixy]

While she washed, the girl darted off again, coming back with a folded pile of crimson fabric, hints of copper showing here and there. "For after. Borrow, yes?"

The old man, eyes still closed, muttered something and the girl replied, then said, "Dada say, one more sutra for you, then herbs, but only if you will not be...sad?" She frowned, not sure of the word, giving Hoshi a helpless look in the hopes she'd provide the right one. "Naked with man makes it so...makes skin red?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi gave a glance at the fabrics, if it was one of those dress wraps (sari) she saw before, it was going to be a challenge to put on.

There was a wide blink given at the girl before Hoshi broke off in a weak chuckle to brush the concern off. "Iie, iie. Dada is hardly my type at all. It's fine, I won't be sad at all."

[Rixy]

This led to more talk between the two and then the old man opened his eyes. He took in Hoshi's bare form for a long moment, seeing her exotic good looks but more interested in the series of cuts across her upper body. Tsking, he directed his...daughter?...after this and that, the young woman obediently fetching bundles of herbs from cabinets, the rafters, and other places Hoshi couldn't see. They were all mixed into a paste which the old man carefully painted onto the wounds. It burned at first but then a blessed numbness spread, followed by a pleasant warmth. {{Heal 19}}. Nodding to himself in approval, the old one directed the girl to wrap the wounds in strips of cotton, muttering a bit more.

"Dada says, leave on for one sun, no washing. Says he will do another sutra now, if ask."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

She took in small breaths as she went through the procedure, first what she assumed was the analysis then the treatment. The medicinal paste that was used on her made her appreciate the simplicity of a shugenja's control over the water kami...but it wasn't a thought of distaste of their ways. She didn't flinch from the treatment however, moving whenever needed to best patch up the wounds.

Hoshi let out a small breath once the last one was done, giving both the girl and the old man alternating glances. She spoke carefully to the elder. "You've done a great deal to help me, thank you...I'm thankful for anything else you wish to impart, please."