Mark
The front of the embassy library looked the same as it generally had, a few small tables with their allocated chairs surrounded by rows of shelves and racks of the respectable collection. The back however...
Asako Kita had made herself at home, balancing time between the initial stages of Steel Talons project and taking stock of her curation duties. It had quickly become obvious to her that over recent time several individuals had *Tried* To manage the collection; several different fragments of organization and cataloging techniques were apparent. The long table she had claimed as her desk was piled with various books and scrolls, neatly stacked papers, and a cleared space in the middle flanked by sticks of charcoal, brushes, and ink well. Other stacks of un-cataloged books piled around with labels laid on top. 
Kita stood in the middle of the organized chaos, running a stained hand through her messy ponytail. Her normally fresh kimono showed signs of grime and charcoal smudges. She had looked up a the sound of someone entering, 
"Hello? I'm just here in the back if you need something."

||
Pauline
After catching up to the political clime in Ryoko Owari, Naoki was dismissed from the Karo's office having being told accommodations will be made for him, after which he fancies a trip to bathhouse would be just the thing that can ease his aching bones after a whole day's aimless wandering.
Coming back to the thoughts of his for the moment abode in the Phoenix embassy, he can already envision what he needs for the requested commission, four and a half jo lengthwise seems nice, no two tsubo and one jo should be the canvas this isn't coming from his pocket after all, and this is not for him but for all of his clan.
Without realising it his wandering footsteps had taken him to what seems the embassy library, putting in thoughts of catching up on some inspiration about reading about the markets history and rewriting his spell scroll to fit the situation he is.
Pacing through the rows of scrolls, he hopes for the chance that he can get the chance of acquiring the material which the Unicorn had brought in to Rokugan refer to as glass, which he hopes can be used in the making of more exquisite paints. From the small samples in which he has seen so far, that smooth surface would do good in his planned experiments in mixing in rarer exotic pigments with equally as rare oils as he heard some Unicorn had done. 
Heretical barbarous gaijin they may be, Naoki cannot help, unbecomingly for a samurai, feel envious of their free spirited nature as demonstrated by their adventuring far beyond the Lands of Emerald seeking new and wondrous things, however the commitment to defending the Empire abroad can be brought into question given their stance as of now, but if they maintain the status quo, keeping their given lands and perhaps expanding it outwards not in and recanting their heretical meishodo he would be sure they would be welcomed back into the fold sooner or later. 

A voice called out to him as he dwaddled aimlessly in his thoughts, it would be rude not answer.

Facing to where the call was and resolving not to fumble up on his courtesy he heads to the source of the noise, he was still in his semi-formal attire emblazoned with the Phoenix and Isawa mon with a red thread about the symbol for fire to denote his status as tensai so he was as well dressed as ever to make good first impressions he tells himself.

The short walk to the back of the room brings Naoki to a state of affairs he hasn't seen since his youth, scrolls and books piled on heaps and someone with the Asako mon, funny as it could be, the embassy was really beginning to feel more like home already, it been a long while since has he helped with organising a library.

"To be amongst the company of kinsmen is a need in these turbulent days, yet it seems that you have needs that exceed mine."
Mark
Kita looked up at Naoki upon hearing his observation and gave him a pleasant smile and a polite bow. 
"Hello Isawa-sama! Welcome to the library. I am Asako Kita, I have not made your acquaintance yet. In fact, I have not met many of our clansmen here yet, as I have recently arrived myself."
She glanced around at the state of her attempt to create some order here that made sense and shrugged. She understood that the mess may make some people uncomfortable, and had tried to keep the worst of it contained to this small area. To her, though, she could see the plan-where each item would end up, the vision of a clean and tidy collection where she could easily point anyone to what they required.
Her smile turned somewhat apologetic and she waved a hand at the nearest pile.
"It seems to be looking worse before it gets better. Thank you for your concern, it is progressing. Is there something I can help you find?"

||
Pauline
"Please, just -san would be enough, I am Isawa Naoki, I have only just arrived today and to find some work to be done with company to spend it with a nice way to pass the time."

So it is spoken like a true sociable regular person, a sure sign of proper politeness and humility one may go without, yet it is encouraged because getting people to like him would do some good for him the long run.
Now if he remembers how the Asako organise things just like his uncle thought him so long ago, then this would be as easy as keeping memories in his mind's room.

"I do hope I am not intruding or making a mess of things in here, but let's see if we can make this pile less dense than before."

Ah, did he bring her out of her zone? Was he was being polite enough to offer help?
His uncle said he mustn't just willy nilly interrupt him when he is busy and he has to wait to be noticed before trying to help. 
He was noticed when he entered the room so that makes it fair game, and looking at all this pile of unorganised information waiting to be organised tickles him funny, and helping his fellow Phoenix and making a good first impression would accomplish both his goals in coming to Ryoko Owari.

"Although I must admit after a long time I may forget how some things are done and I am not familiar with how you personally run it, so if you may, please feel free to correct me."

So Naoki hits across from the mess and sets aside his bundle of canvas papers and his travelling pack to begin the process of labelling scrolls and books their proper names. 

||
Mark
Kita was pleasantly surprised about her visitor's willingness to jump in to get his hands dirty, although it appeared, as she took a closer look, that Naoki's hands were darkened similarly to her own from recent use of charcoal. She held up her own stained fingers with a delighted laugh. 

"Isawa-San, it seems we have some similar interests, or at least similar tools that you use to complete them. Tell me, what have you brought? Is this what brings you here?"
She motions to the pack of canvas he set down nearby with interest.

"I would be more than happy for the help. I have been here just a few days myself, but have been sharing my time between the library and my other assignment. This is certainly has started out as the less challenging of the two." She wrinkled up her nose at the thought of her *Interesting* Visit to city hall.

As he reached for the nearest stack and started to take down titles she nodded, and moved back to work on her own list.
"There, yes. For these I just need to know what is here, if you will take down the names. I was sent here from the Asako library with some requested additions for the library here. I wasn't sure how complete a collection they held, but I must say I am pleased with what I've found so far."

||
Pauline
Snapping out of the fond memories of his youth which he uses to remember how knowledge must be catalogued and taking care to not leave stains on paper, he reaches out for the canvas containing the market place, holding it out for her to take and see.

"Painting is one of the blessings the kami gave me, there was a call for artisans by the embassy which explains why I am here, and these were drawn this morning as was arriving here hence the freshly stained fingers.

Returning to his stack cataloguing and sensing the fire within Kita being stirred up, he takes the chance to let her take up the bulk of this conversation which leaves him to play to his strengths as a listener.
With two conversation pieces set up, one being his painting and other being the previous thought he will bring into action, Naoki is assured this encounter won't lead into the dreaded awkward silence he has previously sat through for so many times, someone would be sent to bring him to his accommodations eventually before any topic ceases to be right?

"With this wide an assortment I'm surprised this library sent for more, although as I peruse through this stack it may be found lacking." 
"Speaking of how have your days been since you came here, and how goes the Imperial Family's representatives in City Hall, Asako-san?"

||
Mark
Kita looked at the artwork of the marketplace, she was not trained in the arts much herself, but the work appeared skillfully done.
"This is a beautiful piece, Naoki-san. And you just did all this thismorning? It is wonderful that the embassy will be graced by your talent. Will you have a specific piece you are working on first?

In answer to Naoki's question she pondered for short while before answering, 
"My days? They have been full, but mostly pleasant. I have been settling well into my role as curator here at the library. My visit to City Hall was for an appointment with the Otomo Secretary to answer some questions for the dueling organization project i am overseeing. It was... Enlightening. She provided me the information I requested, along with several requirements for the project. I believe some will be easier to fulfill than others."

Kita paused again, as if deciding how much to add to her answer. She continued with a wry smile. 
"I will admit, I have had plenty of opportunity to put my foot in my mouth, as it were, as I get my bearings. I hope for your first few days to go more smoothly in that regard."

||
Pauline
"Well Kita-san, Isawa Noburu-dono recommended I start making a bigger, more complete version of that piece you have there and the Karo-sama agreed, and since the Unicorn have been slighted by one of my cousins, I plan to throw them a few koku by perusing their wares to use in this endeavour."

Alright, he can work with this, they are now first name basis so this means he has been successful at being polite and friendly so far, a significant improvement ever since he left Slumbering Thunder Mountain and his home province.
Naoki puts down his list of titles on top of his finished pile for the sake of organisation and moves over to another pile of books and scrolls, the piles are starting to look a bit more finished already. 
The realisation slowly dawns on him, for it seems he will have to actually converse a long while this time, a challenge but a welcome one for someone unsociable like him but if he wants to make his mark he would have to talk to people.

"My sympathies for your first days and I do hope yours and mine would get smoother from here on, but since it is my first time being in service as an painter rather than being called upon to do assist bushi I do wonder what I am to do, aside from duties as a shujenga of course making sure to keep the well being of the city's spirit, but as an artist I suppose making gifts to the other embassies to keep the peace? Most likely."

He picks up yet another charcoal piece preferring it over ink brushes for this sort of work, they do have less chances of leaving stains, are easier to wash off and are dirt cheap and correctly reading the room Naoki turns the topic from the discomforting city hall and to-

"Still never thought that we would be the ones to do a dueling organization, what has prompted the Karo-sama to do this?"

||
Mark
"I look forward to seeing the finished piece, and the progress along the way. You will have to tell me where to find the work in progress once you get a painting studio set up."

Kita cast a sideways glance at her fellow Phoenix. He seemed to be relaxing somewhat, possibly even enjoying the conversation beyond the sense of obligation that may have prompted him to join her initially. She found the company was enjoyable outside of the help. 

"To be honest, I was not sure what to expect here, the reputation of the city is at odds with itself; sinister and alluring. And while there is tension; undercurrents of unrest, people are people, coming and going and living life. It has been a good change. We all just do as we are asked, don't we?"

She continued on, not expecting an answer to this, content to carry the bulk of the conversation as their hands stayed busy with their task. She moved the completed pile over into a row with several other completed stacks.
"Not too much more now..." She added as she reviewed the remainder. She was broken out of her mental calculations by Naoki's question.

"Yes-the Steel Talons. Not exactly a Phoenix specialty, although according to Karo Asako-sama there are quite a number of duelists in the city. Publicly it would promote betterment of these individuals and clan relations, and incentivize dueling as a more common means of conflict resolution. I haven't sought out the duelists here at our embassy yet, and I believe there are other newer arrivals here as well, maybe there are some duelists among them whom I'm sure will be among the first challengers of the Steel Talons."

*They had better be. If they weren't before they will be now, if they like it or not.* She thought to herself, quirking an amused eyebrow at her own thought.

She looked up then at Naoki, as if watching his reaction, unsure what information the Ambassador and the Karo had shared during his orientation. 
"Beyond that, I'm sure you have been briefed on some of the current climate around the city. With that in mind, having an opportunity to keep a closer eye on some individuals outside our own seems prudent." 

||
Pauline
"You still will be found in this library by then right? I will be sure to tell you."

The time passes by and he finds himself at peace, the flipping of books and the unravelling of scrolls, a foot in reality and another to a happier past. It has been at the least... A decade ago since he had felt safe in the company of others, away from the politics and competition rife within the tensai, coming here was the right choice.

"Such is the nature of duty, yet at the very least I think, at the Carpenters Wall you can at least your trust your fellow man to stand by you when the Shadows come knocking, but here all reason seems to fall at deaf ears, and all men are making ready to abandon our duty of protecting the heimen who are just going to and fro with their blessedly unaware lives to grasp at each others necks." 

So replied Naoki bringing him out of his scroll and book sorting trance for short while to notice a intermediate guide to learning haiku composition in his left hand, is this a sign from the kami for him to actually learn better communication skills? 
Most likely coincidence, but his uncle telling him over and over again seems to convince him otherwise, that even if it does not make sense at first, all things are connected.
Besides he should be thinking positive thoughts now he is leagues from Slumbering Thunder, there should be no uneducated critics to darken his day now!- so he thought before realising they will most likely be concentrated here more than any other place, maybe he should have never come here at all.

Kita-san brought him out of his mental slump by answering his concerns about the duelling organisation, he should go keep asking about that instead of being so gloomy and not ruin the mood.
Having opportunity to keep a closer eye on some individuals outside our own huh.

"Oh, is the Karo-sama gathering all the duellists to our doorstep to see how much our own measures against theirs is that it, and by making sure all the other excuses are acceptable in the eyes of the other Clans and the Imperial Court, the Karo-sama is really taking measures that can ensure the peace in kept here."

||
Mark
Kita nodded to Naoki's reply,
"Given the brief experience I've had with the state of affairs here, any effort to promote goodwill would be well placed. I am hopeful that it will work as intended and not be used as an excuse to escalate tensions. There is still quite a bit of work left to do to make it a reality, but it will come along soon enough."

She noticed the prolonged attention given to the haiku guide.
"Are you interested as well in the art of haiku? I have never been able to master it myself, preferring to stick with prose. But I do admire those that have the skill.

||
Pauline
Naoki snaps out of staring into empty space and brings his full attention to the current task at hand and the company he has to spend it with, starting to list down titles on a new sheet of paper.
He is not good at carrying along conversations, but this is fine they are going along swimmingly well, are they though? 
He should check on that.

"Ah, we have the same preferences it seems, although it does not matter whatsoever the form of literature that deigns to land in my hands, I cant help but admire and learn a great deal from their writers." 
"For when it comes to conversing with others, even right now I find it a difficult to convey or parse the intent being displayed sometimes, I am no courtier after all but... Well I did learn right?"
"So while we are on the topic of the Steel Talons, may I ask you about the well being of our other duellists and also our kinsmen in the embassy I have yet to meet, just to ease my nerves about greetings please?"
Mark
Kita carried the last few items from her stack that she had reviewed to the completed row and gave him a friendly smile, 
"Your conversation has been quite pleasant, I have appreciated the company. Did you have family that were courtiers as your teachers? 
As far as our other kinsmen here, I am sorry I don't have much to offer you. I have met only two others, beside the ambassador and karo. When I first came to see the library, Shiba Terumi-san was here, an odd sort but I believe he may be one of the duelists I need to find again now that I know what questions to ask."

She thought back to that first day in the city, how her head was spinning with the possibilities here, the busyness of the streets, and the strange familiarity of the high stone walls of the embassy. It made her feel even more at home here to have found another friend. A twinge of loss pinged still as she thought about her previous home, her father now alone there. But she pushed it aside. 

"The other aquaintance I've made so far is Asako Sotetsu-san. A bushi from Kyuden Asako. He arrived the same time as I did. He was assigned as yojimbo to Isawa Noboru-san. I do look forward to meeting others as our respective duties permit."

||
Gary
Shion would tacitly admit to herself; she did poorly in places that were unfamiliar to her, and the City of Lies was as foreign to her as the sands beyond the empire's borders. So she took to things bit by bit, familiarizing herself with the embassy first, its different rooms, wings, shrines, and surrounding enterprises. The Library was an especially important location, as she would have need of the information stored therein for the sake of her investigation.

The door slides open easily, and Shion notes the usual dust and stale air of an archive seemingly absent here than the many others she had encountered in her tour of duty. This place had been put to use recently. Perhaps then she would not need to search overlong for what she might need with a suitable curator in place.

"Forgive my intrusion." The bushi breathes from under her scarf, stepping into the room and looking about. She could tell immediately there were two bodies speaking in the back, their voices softly muffled by the shuffling of paper and the many shelves of scrolls arrayed about.

The idea of speaking with others casually stirs a hesitance within her, memories of the unnerved looks of her peers back home adding a tension to her shoulders that she struggles to undo. Surely her reputation has not preceded her here. But eventually it may well catch up to her, and then what will her clansmen think?

It matters little. Acquainting herself with the library and its curator is part of her duty as well as any other. With that she clenches her jaw and walks towards the voices, head peeking around an aisle of scrolls to greet them.

"I pray I am not interrupting. I was hoping to meet with the curator?"

||
Mark
Kita looked up in surprise at the sound of another person entering the library's door. Two visitors in one day, maybe the library was more of a happening place than initial impressions had led her to believe. It was a pleasant thought. 

She bowed politely to the newcomer, a shy-looking young woman who had poked her head around the nearest sack of shelves.
"Hello! I am Asako Kita, curator, at least for the past week. Forgive the mess, what can I help you with?"

||
Pauline
"Well, here is an opportunity to boast of my uncle, he is a genuine Scholar who found the time to raise me alongside my own parents before they died and the one who sent me off to my studies after I was picked, I would not know what to do if I had lost him too"

The piles of scattered books and scrolls, great at first now dwindled down to a manageable amount, how much time has passed really? 
It was a nice place here, and getting to know other people than in that hotpot of a dojo wasn't as bad as he thought, turns out a peace embassy greatly contrasts a place where one could put a lot of competitive and fiery individuals in one place.
The door slides again and with nerves calmed he gave his third greetings of the day.

"And I am Isawa Naoki, recently arrived this day, helping clearing this mess."

||
Gary
"Ah, 'tis no bother. A messy library is a well-loved one." Or so she was once told. But who was it that had said so? She cannot recall.

She glances at the mess and gently kneels down to examine the scriptures, wondering if at this point it was even necessary to help. 

"It is an honor to meet you both, Asako-sama, Isawa-sama." Her hand traces over a rolled scroll, habitually trying to ascertain its age from the wear and coloration of the paper. "My current duty may require the study of certain esoteric knowledge, and while I do not need it at this moment, I was perhaps hoping to meet and familiarize myself with the archive, to make things easier going forward."

||
Pauline
"Please -san is just fine, as for those texts I believe I had made a list of those around here and the location should be known on top of one of these unsorted piles."

Raising his hands and stretching them to crack his back he gestures to a pile here and another pile there. 
He rises up and gazes upon the shelves, these books have been aired plenty which makes them good to be shelved.

"Alright Kita-san, which books should be shelved where and please do tell me about your duties in Ryoko Owari Shiba-san." 

||
Mark
Kita grimaced slightly at the thought of a well-loved library remaining a mess. Temporarily maybe, sometimes a mess was necessary to move forward with new beginnings. But she would not fault someone for it, especially one claiming to have an interest in obscure literature.

"I will shortly have a full list of the titles in the collection here, with the assistance I've received today, and at least an idea where to find them. So should you decide you need something specific, please let me know and I'll try to have it pulled out for you. Or you're always welcome to come browse, ...?"

Kita raised an eyebrow at the new visitor, hoping that she would fill in the blank with a name. Under the wrappings of her scarf, it was difficult to make out much in the way of identification.

As Naoki rose Kita turned her attention back to him for the moment, 
"You mentioned your uncle raised you, he must he a very honorable man to take in a child as his own and provide for your studies. Although I am sorry to hear of your parent's deaths. I also lost my mother when I was young. My father raised me alongside his work in the Kajiro library, although I will say it was much larger place than this. Here, this bunch will go just over here."

She initially waved an arm to encompass the smaller scope of the embassy library, then more to the point of returning the sorted stacks to their home, turned to motion a certain shelf. As they continued to work Kita would inquire of the Shiba.

"Since you are not familiar with the library, are you a newcomer here as well? Or just taking on new duties that would entail the research?"

||
Gary
She had forgotten to name herself. Forgotten or instinctively witheld? She shouldn't dwell on it. She adjusts her demeanor to be a little more relaxed and returns her thoughts to business. "Ah, forgive me. My name is Shiba Shion, a bushi from Nejiro province."

She pauses a moment to examine the fruits of their labour, to buy time for herself as he searches for delicate words, and to glean the rhyme and reason of their categorizing. Organization was not a strong suit of hers by any means, and watching those with a sense for it was, to her, an opportunity to better herself.

The talk of parents and upbringing struck a familiar chord in her, but she did not comment. Hardly her place in this moment. Though it did leave her to wonder just how many sons and daughters of the phoenix were raised by their aunts and uncles rather than those who birthed them.

"I am investigating an internal matter for the clan; the clues pointed me here. The Ambassador has most graciously allowed me to operate within the city until my duties are complete." Her gaze trails off with her thoughts, wondering how much of not she might find here. Surely what she is looking for would not be tucked away in some far off library for anyone to find. 

"I have put myself in service to the embassy in the meantime. So if you are in need of anything, I would be happy to lend my aid."

||
Pauline
"Ah the Kanjiro library? So you are from Kyuukai then, I haven't been there ever since I accompanied my uncle during his duties as Emerald Magistrate, although I assure you there is nothing to apologise for unless you were those who killed them of course." 

Naoki looks over to the shelves Kita has waved over to and starts shelving those scrolls and books as the list states. Thankfully someone is now here to continue the conversation and since he was shared some else's story, sharing another story before he listens shouldn't hurt.

"So at the time, my mother's brother thinks its too much of a risk to leave his nephew all alone surrounded by servants with his sister's killers on the loose than it is to take him along." 
"And one day his duties bring him to Michita Yasumi and I will remember that moment for the rest of my life, for one of the junior apprentices under the Elemental Master of Fire was there to be impressed by me struggling to control the fire kami so I was back to Ki-rin under his tutelage."

Going back to the other half of the pile he is to shelve he addresses the arrived scarved bushi.

"So Shiba-san please no need to kneel on ceremony, as you yourself a resident of Nejiro I shall tell you this." 
"In truth I have been dying to view the Ruins of Korihaka and while I would like to ask you about them, I would rather see it for myself."
"So instead I shall ask to hear news of the internal matters that bring you here, what you are allowed to say of course."

||
Mark
Picking up several items and moving to the appropriate location, Kita started to neatly put them away. The sense of nearing the completion of the task was quite satisfying. And knowing that whoever needed to find things here would be able to reference exact locations would be very helpful as well. Of course, there would likely be those few who came looking for something she had decided to move, but she would deal with those in time.

"Yes, I am from the Kyuukai province. Killed your... Oh, oh no." Naoki's reply caught her off guard. Her eyebrows knit together in response, "No, I've never killed anyone, unless you count a cricket and a few plants. It is good to hear though that your visit to Michita Yasumi led you to a teacher to help you such."

She didn't feel it was appropriate to bring up the other thought his statement led her to, a remembrance of the Karo's mention of a reckless Isawa causing havok in the city. Surely this Isawa would not have been sent here if there were any question about his competences. 

Turning instead to the new visitor, Kita addressed the Shiba.
"It is kind of you to offer you aid as well. I will let you know if there comes a time when I am in need of it. Unless of course you feel like carrying books." Kita chuckled, not expecting Shion to accept. It sounded as if she had plenty to handle, although she was curious as well about what the Shiba's assignment entailed.

||
Pauline
Naoki burst out in low chuckles, its been years since a pair of someone's fell for his teasing, though well she certainly knows that is a threat not directed at her right?
Has being among bushi and dealing with low lives for so long changed his sense of humour over the years? 

"I kid... Just a simple jest since its rather plain to see you are a paragon of Phoenix pacifism Kita-san." 
"Yet to come so far in life as I am now, making light of my parents deaths envying their place among our honoured ancestors and worrying that have not done enough to earn a spot next to them means I have accepted their fates is it?"

He remembers reputations and stereotypes don't just come out of nowhere, certainly out of some Scorpions mouth he would wager, and have some basis in truth.
Many of kin abhor violence that is a fact he has understood and is proud of.
Fools tend to misunderstand that choosing to not pick up a sword at times is not an act of cowardice, but of courage.
He comes back to the piles and starts picking up another stack to place in its place.

"Nothing I can do now except honour their memories and keep on with my life until my time is up huh."
||