2023.12.27 Tea and Magicry

Tea and Magicry
After a few strange sparring sessions, Shinju invites Graham to the Shrine Office... and finds out the strange man is indeed unlike anything she's yet seen
IC Date	2023.12.27
IC Time	Evening
Players	Shinju, Graham
Location	Shangye Shinsha
Spheres	Mage, Changeling

Graham slowly walks under the Tori gate once again, two large painting canvases, one under each arm, along with two briefcases, one in each hand, and to round it out an elderly couple just behind him, they all slowly make their way to one side of the grounds, just to one side of the moat of water. Gram starts setting up the easels, chairs, and a small blanket to protect the ground before taking a sigh and shortly conversing with the two.

The shrine gounds are decently busy today, people getting in their mid-work-week routine and blessings for the end of it to come. The man bringing in the elderly couple is, currently unbeknownst to him, being watched by someone walking along the path. The unnoticed woman waits to see what it is they're doing, even though the easels make it quite obvious already....

Graham nods to the older man "Do you think this is a good angle, Mr.Ambrose?" The old man smiles and takes a seat, Graham already pooring a cups of tea for the three of them on a small tray as he hands it to him "Why yes, Graham, this is a place works wonderfully! why, look at the veiw of the shrine!" The old man gestures to it in turn, Graham smiling and shaking his head slightly in a chuckle.

The woman watches for a bit longer before shuffling around to the path next to Graham and the couple. Clearing her throat, she makes herself known. `Back already are ya Graham? Are you bring your... parents here to paint?`

The other two wave for a moment before returning to their work, bringing out paint and brushes, Graham turns to The woman "Ah, no, these are my employers.." without turning Graham moves the old man's tea out of the way and replaces it with a small bowl of water, the old man almost on que puts a brush into it without checking "..I met them out in Fairveiw." Graham gestures to them "Mr. and Mrs.Ambrose."

Shinju stares for a few moments, then nods. `Ah... hello there Ms. and Mrs. Ambrose. Welcome to the shrine grounds.` She says plainly towards the couple before cocking her head back to Graham. `I assure you, you don't need to worry about protectin' them here. Nothing of harm gets onto these grounds.`

Graham smirks, as he pulls to one side with her, facing away from them as he speaks under his breath "It was my idea after all." Graham winks to her and turns to the two again "Well, are we all set up? need anything else?" The only answers he gets are murmurs of aprovel, contented with this he turns back to Shinju. "It is such a pretty place after all, and I hope you don't mind them doing their art here, perhaps I should have asked."

Shinju watches quietly, side-eying graham as he pulls her aside. `I mean... it's fine, better than the crap some people do. Art is a sacred way of venerating the kami... I do a lot of it myself to say the least.`

Graham raises an eyebrow "I hadn't thought you as the artist type, but I guess so, they wanted to use inks as well, maybe you could give them a pointer or two?" Graham nods to himself "and I'm sure you have a peice or two you have I could see? always wanted to see some in person."

Shinju glances between the man and the canvases, mumbling under her breath as she debates with herself. `Well... I suppose I could show ya somethin'... do you have an extra canvas I can use?`

Graham nods and pulls out a slightly smaller extra one, along with another easel, setting it up for them and taking a step back, the other two stop to turn and watch her, although strangely don't seem to talk to Shinju.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Shinju rolls Dexterity(5) + Crafts(5) (10 dice) vs 6 for 3 successes. 1 1 2 4 5 +6 +6 +8 9 10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Grabbing one of the ink brushes, Shinju dips the brush and prepare its ink an a way showing she's obviously done this many times, glancing up a few times before turning her attention towards a minor shrine between the trees. Quickly, she throws together a set of strokes that come together to form the shape of the small structure and the surrounding trees. It's quite admirable work for how fast it was done. `Eh... not my best piece, but you get the idea.`

A small set of claps ring out from the trio as she finishes, with the older couple smiling and giving their thanks for her display, Graham gently stands at one side letting them mengle, the older woman asks "Where did you learn to ink wash painting? are you classicly trained?"

Shinju glances down, crossing her arms. `Thanks, thanks... and no, I wouldn't quite call it 'classically trained' or nothin'. A brush is used for many things in the cultures I come from... my mother was damn good at calligraphy, so it was something I did with her when I was young.`

The Ambroses pat the ground next to them, offering Shinju some tea in exchange for more of her stories, Graham visably signal 'No' to Shinju, looking slightly embarrassed for the couple and Shinju.

Shinju shakes her head at the couple. `No, I'm afraid I've gotta get back to the shrine office... maybe another time.` She offers them, stepping away from their blanket. `Say... you wanna come in with me for a bit big guy? They'll be fine here.`

Graham nods and says a few short goodbyes to the two before spliting off with Shinju "I'll take you up on that, and I'm sorry, the last time a stanger told them stories they had them at their house for a week just talking it was.." He sighs and shakes his head, looking back to Shinju."

Shinju nods. `C'mon, it's just this way... the next biggest building other than the main Shrine.` She says, gesturing forwards as she takes him down the path and in through the front door of the rustic building.

Graham takes his shoes off at the door and puts them down with the rest of them in the room, returning to Shinju after a moment, he looks around in awe of the browns and golds of the interior, and watches the staff slightly, thinking.

Shinju's raised sandals need only be flicked off to be put neatly into place as she steps up onto the floor of the public greeting area. She waves to the worker manning the counter before glancing back at Graham, waiting for him to finish ogling. `There's a sitting room down the hall... why don't I show you some proper tea? More privacy too.`

Graham nods "that sounds great, although I've never had 'proper' tea by your reckening I'm guessing?" He follows Shinju to the room.

Shinju pulls back a part of the wall to reveal a small room with a low table and cushions for seating. Probably what the workers use for meals. She gestures him inside. `Get comfy... I'll be right back with the brew.`

Graham takes a seat on one of the cushions, looking around the room as he waits, he smiles a bit as he nods to Shinju.

After a few minutes, Shinju comes back with a platter of small wooden cups and a teapot. She sets it down in the middle of the table before crossing her legs to sit and pouring out two cups of the hot tea. She gestures up with it before taking a sip herself, not even waiting for him.

Graham watches her for a moment before mimicing her movements and sipping from his cup, a few seconds as he savors the tea before looking back to Shinju, speaking in a quite tone "Why did you bring me back here anyway?"

Shinju shrugs, continuing to enjoy the exotic tea. `The fact you agreed to randomly go out sparring with me... actually did it... then came back to do it again. Now that's something, no one's ever agreed to my taunts so bluntly. And you know what they say, come back a third time and you're fast friends, eh? But tell me... why in the world is someone as big as you employed to protect a couple like that? Who the hell would give them any trouble?`

Graham sips from his cup "They are fairly wealthy and more then a bit eccentric, they do get into some trouble, but I think it's mostly to have me around for help and such, more then anything." He sits back a bit and smerks "And not everyone has the stones to spar or taunt me, much less beat me at both, so I do like the new company a bit."

`Well, 'beat you' is a strong word. I took you down like a bag of bricks and you got up from it looking no worse for wear. You're decently big, but man... haven't seen someone that tough in a long while. What kind of training have you actually done? I'd like some of that!` Shinju says in earnest, pointing her cup towards the man.

Graham shrugs "I don't know of any training to make your skin stone, so to speak, but other then some book reading here and there I have not been trained much.." It's almost convincing, but only almost, he stiffens just slightly at the questioning, looking strangely meek.

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Shinju rolls Perception(3) + Intuition(5) (8 dice) vs 6 for 5 successes. 2 3 3 +6 +8 +9 +10 +10 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Shinju narrows her eyes. `Not trained much... how do you get a body guard job without being trained? I now you could't land a hit on me, but didn't hold a weapon like someone who's never done it before. Why are you so afraid to tell me you've had combat training?` She speaks softly but firmly, laying into him.

Graham's normally relaxed demeanor evaporates in an instant, his eyes keen and flair as he sits back up in a rigid, proper stance, something vaguely reminiscent of a knight or a samurai greets her and he politely but firmly says "I'm not comfortable discussing something like that with you, nor would I be allowed, I will admit I've had it and leave it thusly, Shinju."

Shinju holds up her hands, grinning slightly. `Alright, alright, sorry... just have a hell of an intuition on me to tell when people aren't being straight with me. But I get it, I don't go spoutin' everything to every random person either. I won't pry in ya anymore than you're comfortable with...` she mumbles, going back to sip her tea.

Graham clears his throat and relaxes slightly, although he gives Shinju a slight eye, returning to his own tea "I am sorry, despite my formidable size I do, at times, afford myself some anonymity as to my... personage, I hope you understand..." He drops his shoulders and looks to her kindly "I do wish to hear what you would have to say of me, if you are indeed possessed of a certain degree of intuition."

`Say of you? You're a weirdo, that's what I have to say... but I like weirdos. Unless there's another kind of reading you're looking for.` She winks, placing her cup down to refill it. `No need to explain to me about anonimity... I know it all to well. But, say, you never told me what you think of the tea?`

Graham nods "it is very good, although not what i'm used to... very..." he starts to say something else as he looks down at the tea, but no words flow from him.

`Mhm, getting used to real tea takes time, I know.` She teases in a completely serious voice. `Say, you seem to like that big blunt stick of yours seeing as you carry it around everywhere... wanna see mine?`

Graham looks back up, his face clearly deep in thought, but he nods "yes, although I'm not sure how closely."

`Pfft... I'm not threatening you. You seemed to quite like our sword sparring, so I thought I'd show you my -real- one.` She reaches into her kimono slowly, drawing out at first a shiny black wooded sheath. Golden designs flow along its curve, up to the black and gold hilt with a bright pearl laden at the very bottom. She sets it on the table in front of them, flat, letting him see the designs fully. `A real beauty, huh?`

Graham leans forward and peers at it closely, although not touching it, he looks it up and down in a long inspection, finaly he smiles "Indeed it is, how did you even get your hands on this? it's a masterpiece."

Shinju picks the blade back up, one hand on the middle of the sheath and another on the end of the hilt. She peers down at it for a moment before removing the hilted hand, propping the bottom end against the ground as her other hand clasps around the end, holding it almost like a cane. `Yeah... it's my favorite one of those I have. I got it for pretty cheap from someone who didn't want it anymore years and years ago....`

You lose one Willpower <---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Shinju rolls Arete(4) (4 dice) vs 3 for 3 successes. 2 +3 +4 +9 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Graham smiles and offers his hands "I'd be honored to hold it, but I'd understand if not, that is a great boon to yourself." He looks over the blade closely as she props herself up with it. "I imagine even 'cheeply' it costed a small baron's hord."

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======---> Shinju rolls Manipulation(2) (2 dice) vs 6 for 0 successes. 4 5 <-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

Shinju's head lies tilted down, eyes staring up towards the large man, unblinkingly. She keeps that stare for longer than is normal or polite in casual conversation, them narrowing before she finally shifts position and pulls the sword down to rest near her waist. `Well.. dunno about a "baron's hoard" whatever that means, but it was about a thousand bucks. Doesn't much matter now, though... I'll be replacing it as my regular weapon soon.`

Graham stops, looking at her with a sinking in his gut "what is wrong?"

`Wrong? Nothin', nothin's wrong.` She says, plainly, finishing up her second cup of tea. `My gut's real good at telling me when someone's trouble, but you've yet to give me that. And I -was- the one that invited you into here, so I just want you to know... if you don't wanna tell me anything, that's fine. If you ever want to leave, you can just get up and walk right out that door. You could say I'm more like you than you thik... I protect this place and everything in and around it, that's my job. So I don't care who or what comes here as long as they respect that, everyone deserves a place of respite and connection in this cold world. You feel me?`

Graham looks to her blankly for a moment before getting up and checking the door, making sure no one was near, he looks to her closely "I had a feeling you where, but not in that way, if you share the meaning..." He watches her for a long moment before returning to his sitting spot, a bit uneasy, he takes another sip and emptys his cup "I... what are you?"

Shinju leans down, placing an elbow on the table and propping up her head. The sleeve of it drifts down, something golden peeking out from it... some kind of tattoo on her arm? It appears to be -scaled-, and so realistically made that the scales both look like they have -depth- as well as the ink somehow being -shiny- in the light. Lines of color like ink flowing through water wrap around it and wispy hairs of deep crimson stick out from one side... perhaps one part of a serpent? `What am I? Man, and people call me rude sometimes... I'm the Keeper of this shrine, the "high priestess" as you might know it. I juggle a lot of things, as you might imagine.`

Graham takes a look at the tattoos for a moment before shaking his head "You know I don't mean your profession, and I mean no disrespect, but... most people can not read taht deeply into such things..." He leans over to fill his cup, looking at her closely, senses flairing as he looks a bit flustered, color shifting in his face.

`Yeah, and most people aren't High Priestesses and defenders of the land either. Your point? Besides, what exactly do you think these "things" are that I'm "reading deeply" into?` She watches him, moving her arm back down.

Graham smerks "I saw your face, you saw something odd in me for a moment, I would want you to say, so that we might clear areselves of misunderstandings, and..." His eyes turn away, in a way pained although still on guard "...You are right, I do both need and want a place of respite and connection here...."

`I mean, I already knew you were a weirdo, being a magical weirdo just gives you more of an excuse. Certainly makes ya look better in that light...` Shinju says, grinning. `And I got that hunch... I do mean what I said. You're welcome as long as you continue to not be stupid. I don't think you will be, though.`

Graham nods slowly and looks at her for a long moment before speaking "Thats good and all but I'm still a bit unsure what you are, you seem human, but you are somewhat like me, but in turn not a...." He hitches his breath, not going onto say anything more, but he watches her and mulls over his options.

`I'm human, more or less. Just good with "magic" you could say. Not like the folks who've forgotten what being a High Priestess actually means nowadays. But, really, at my most basic level... I'm just a girl from the Chinatown slums who's real good with a sword and at staying alive.` Shinju states, humming a little tune as she examines her blade, a bit of that silver peeking out as she draws the hilt back a hair. `Needs a sharpening...` she mumbles to herself.

Graham thinks to himself, looking at her "that must be why you are so... not like most humans now-a-days, I am human as well, but also more if you would..." he ponders to himself again before saying "what did you see to make you think I was "magical" as you so put it?"

`I've seen a looooot of things. A lot of weirdos.` Shinju starts. `But you're right... you -are- human. In body at least. But what's beyond that? I don't even know how to describe it... it's so... I ain't a poet, I can't put it right. But it ain't like anything I've ever seen, but your aura is so full of energy... "magical" is an understatement, you're damn... colorful! Fuzzy around the edges... ugh, it's given me a headache.`

Graham nods and says "I am sorry that I'm giving you a headache, although I'm not sure how I'd help with that other then leaving, but at the same time I want to show I'm no threat, and more over I'd like to learn more about yourself, although I'm not sure if that is against your customs or not."

Shinju waves her hand. `Nah, nah... that's on me. Just gotta get used to it. Play your cards right and maybe you'll learn... dunno if I'd say it's "against my customs", but it's certainly not my usual style. Seems it is against yours, though, so... guess we'll just have to leave it here for now. Maybe I'll figure somethin out without you having to compromise yourself, hm?` She stands, slipping her sword back in her kimono. `But really... I do enjoy our sparring. Maybe I'll show you my personal spots next time, if you're lucky....`

Graham stands and smiles to her "That would be something to see, and I do enjoy our meetings, maybe one day I can return the favor, although I should go check on the old folks." he nods deeply "thanks, again."

`Of course... see ya later.` She says, opening the wall of the room and leading him back to the door of the shrine office.

Graham walks out of the office and heads out, looking back as he does for a moment before joining with the others and heading out.