Andrew
Kita was becoming much more comfortable about the Phoenix embassy. It was starting to feel like home and she didn't have to think much about where she was going within the grounds. Today though, she was looking for someplace in particular she had yet to visit. She rubbed her fingers together absently as she made her way through the halls, keeping an alert eye out around her.
She made her way up to the east hall of the second story, hunting for the room that she had heard had been converted into the art studio. She was hoping to find the artist who had stopped by the library when he first arrived. 
Finding the room she believed it was, hoping it was the right place, she knocked and called a greeting, hoping as well that Naoki would be present.

"Hello! Isawa Naoki-San?"

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Veronica
Turmeric dye. Vibrant Gold. A ratio of 3 to 7 of crushed brown pottery and gold. Held in suspension of soybean or rice bran oil in order to stain the whitest sailing canvas he can acquire.
Impious and semi-heretical it may be, but he may have just outdone Lady Amaterasu on that sunny afternoon in that marketplace, not for outmatching her natural splendour, but because he had brought a scenery not natural and otherworldly to form in this canvas to be admired by all.
His heart grew gladder to see his musings have proved to be correct, and now he has made a new painting, a material where you can colour it, roll it up for storage and it wont be creased or ruined, a medium of paint that can provide brighter and powerful colours for use in their intent, and most importantly it is a form of painting that could last decades, perhaps centuries.

A voice draws him out of his merry stupor. He thinks, how goes the state of his studio, is he presentable enough?

The stuff the local lacquers use to thin down their lacquer has some funny smells, so he always kept the window open to carry it away, his sketches were in a corner somewhere, so were the rest of his equipment and experiments scattered haphazardly he figures.
Yet that unfinished painting, with its gold dust speckled sun rays and lady Ameterasu herself may just excuse the state of it, after all its an art studio after all.

"Hai, hai... I am here, please come in."

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Andrew
As she entered the room, she took note of the state of things. It appeared he had made himself at home and had wasted no time in putting his gifts to work. Turning her attention to him now, she bowed politely,

"Isawa-san, it is a pleasure to see you again. It looks like you are settling in. I hope things have been going well for you since we met?"

She gave him a gentle smile, hoping to ease any discomfort she may be causing by her arrival. 

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Veronica
Eyes that have clearly been overused in these past days turned to greet his guest, the Asako who has taken up the duties of librarian for his clans embassy to see, after some blinking has comes into view. 
Bowing in return he replies. 

"Ah, yes Kita-san, it seems its been going better than expected". 
"Please turn your eyes to these paints I have made and the start of this painting and know that I have succeeded."

Closing to rest his eyes he flashes a heartfelt smile, his work had just begun he feels.

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Andrew
"It is good to hear things have been going well. I had been meaning to come find where you had been set up to work. It seems to be serving you well."

Kita moved closer to admire the work of the painting. She was no artist herself in three manner he was, but could appreciate the colors and beginnings of the large piece. 

"Oh, you have started on the painting. I you had said it would be bigger, but it will be impressive when finished! The golden colors reflect the sun just so, it makes it look as if it is capturing the light. Did you find the paint here or something you brought with you?"

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Veronica
He directs his newly refreshed gaze once more to his pride and joy.

"Since I have not yet been assigned a yojimbo Karo-sama instead bade me instruct the servants on what I needed."
"Yes indeed the pigments used are a mix of local and whatever the Unicorn and Mantis have brought to their markets."
"However I have made it so that it is mixed in oil, not water as one normally does, nor am I painting over paper but the canvas the Mantis use for their sails."

Tilting the painting a little bit over to the sun so they may see its full hue, he continues rambling on, explaining his newest piece.

"Thus sake or water spilled on it wont ruin the already more brilliant colours and the gold dust mixed in with the yellow dye does capture the suns brilliance right?"

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Andrew
Kita's expression turned curious at the explanation, looking now to the animated Naoki, enjoying his delight in the subject.

"How intriguing, so it is new things you are experimenting with, both the paint and the canvas? I don't have any knowledge of such, but I hope it works well. It certainly appears to be turning out very well so far. The hue is beautiful."

His last statement gave her some confusion, and she tried to clarify,

"Do you expect someone to be throwing drinks at your work? Or just a precautionary step?"

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Veronica
"Hehehe, least of my concerns as it is a precautionary step, a hobby of restoring old works makes you wish that better steps were taken in order to preserve them."

Looking over the mess that is his studio he finally finds the bottle of milk he has also requested from the marketplaces and begins warming it up. 
Taking a sip to take him back out of his minds room he turns his full attention to his visitor.

"Now what can I help you with today Kita-san, I wager its not for this as I have yet to send word about its completion to everyone."

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Andrew
"A wise precaution. I do wish such thought was given to the preservation of books and scrolls more often. It would make the duties of curation much easier."

She observed as he had rummaged through the disorder that had already accumulated in his space and inquired the purpose of her visit, thinking to herself, *I've heard the creative process often involves chaos in the course of creation. I suppose that's accurate here...*

"Ah yes. I'll admit my visit was not purely social in nature, although I was curious to see how you were settled in and the progress of your work."

She turned an admiring eye briefly back to the painting before she continued.

"I had told you when we met about my assignment of administering the Steel Talons project. It will need to have a sort of identification for those that are named as Talons, which would serve as a prize to award as well. Some sort of medallion I think? The production will have to be commissioned, but I was hoping you could help me with the design? My skills lie in the area of words, and I will be quick to admit I don't have much in the way of that sort of artistic sense. 

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Veronica
"Hmm, yes just a moment."

Arising from his mat, Naoki steps around the mess around him to reach one mess in one corner of the room, to which he fetches handfuls of rice papers and takes out one of the pieces of charcoal of which he has sharpened to a fine point. 
Tools acquired he steps back about and settles back unto the floor, turning back to Kita he posits his question in order to bring to life her vision.

"Now tell me about this medallion of yours, what shape does it take, of what material is it made of, is it too heavy handed that we just plainly put genuine birds talons on a string and call it a day?" 

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Andrew
Kita tensed for a moment, her eyes growing wider, not expecting him to turn his immediate attention to the request. 

Oh, I... I didn't mean to take your time right now, it is not an urgent thing."

She glanced down at him on the floor, looking up at her expectantly, charcoal
Poised. Well, it certainly wouldn't hurt to take the time now... She moved to a nearby clear space and lowered herself gracefully to sit near him. Placing a thoughtful finger over her lips she started to voice her thoughts to answer his questions.

"Very well, I hadn't given it very much thought yet, just that it would need to exist. Let's see, it would need to be sufficient size to be identified without being unwieldy. I would think a metal, whatever sort would be workable, for the material. You think it is too on the nose to be a the image a talon itself? Perhaps stylized somehow?"

She thought a moment more, then her expression became more animated as she exclaimed,

"Oh! You mean having the shape like an actual bird's foot?"

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Veronica
"Well... Honestly I was thinking we have some skilled hunters hunt down some fierce birds of prey or purchase fighting roosters to acquire their feet and use that instead, straightforward but... Unless the birds in question were troubling others it would be quite cruel wouldnt it be?"

Naoki posits the thought, having a smith exactly forge metal in shape of a talon would be a such a pain, not to mention costly.

"Ah well, some of the peasants winning roosters were getting quite old and have lost already, that could make a fine material, something something representing the romanticism of the duel and duellists partaking in them, the mono-no-aware symbolism it gives the medallion.

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Andrew
Kita's eyebrows knit together, 

"How would you propose to keep it from rotting? Mono-no-aware and romanticism are all well and good, but I'm not sure we can't ask these duelists to wear something quite like that as identification. Maybe something a little more ... Durable?"

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Veronica
Pondering, Naoki replies,

"I have heard of a way by the Unicorn to keep dead flesh from rotting, like those riding saddles of theirs... Speaking of you haven't told me on how does the tournament operate?"

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Andrew
"The Unicorn hmm? Well, maybe..."

Content to give the brainstorming a rest for a time, Kita absently rubbed her thumb against the palm of her opposite hand. 

"The idea is that, since the Crane just had their tournament, that the initial Steel Talons would be the tournament finalists. Then after a time we would hold the first actual Steel Talon dueling tournament, and confer the award to the next set of winners each time. Have it be more of a rotating title that encourages the challengers. Thats what I have in mind at least."
 
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Veronica
"Hmm hmm, a singular medallion then? So..."

Like flashes of lighting his hands scrawls out a design of necklace holding a singular preserved roosters feet and bits of steel shaped in the form of talons adorning it.

"Like this then? The bird feet will signify the winner of the last tournament which depending on the results will change hands, and these steel talons will be kept to signify to every time they have won."

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Andrew
"A two piece award..."

She leaned closer to look over the design as he scratched it onto the paper.

"Yes, that would be just the thing, have two parts; one they can keep as evidence that they held the title, and a traveling piece that stays with the current champions. An outstanding idea Naoki-san."

She straightened and looked back at the artist,
"As far as materials, we will have to see what craftsmen are available and what they can work with. But this will be a good place to start."

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Veronica
"I am glad to be of assistance Kita-san, do you suppose the Unicorn will be honoured to assist us with such a material?"

Setting down his piece of charcoal and leaning back down to lie he starts thinking about the exciting tournament to come, hoping that he would finally be free to attend it.

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Andrew
At this question, Kita's expression became somewhat guarded again. 

"I have to meet with the Unicorn, either their Ambassador or someone she assigns about some other details about the initial project launch. I think we will see how that meeting goes and then see about what additional collaboration could be requested."

She motioned to the sheet of paper where he had sketched the design.

"May I? Or can I have you make a second paper to take with me?"

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Veronica
"Oh please take it, I already memorised it."

Naoki rises back up to take another swig of his milk and hands over the paper.
Seeing her expression change at the mention of the diplomatic task ahead of her he asks,

"Its that bad huh? How much to they intend to squeeze out of us just for a bushi and a thief?"

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Andrew
She took the paper in had with a nod of thanks. Her eyes widened slightly at his following remark, but she shrugged, 

"I'm not sure. Things could certainly be better, and that's the goal.
A bushi and a thief may not be incorrect, but I understand it has put the entire embassy here in poor standing with them and strained already tense relations. Besides Asako Sanumo-sama says their ambassador is a 'strong personality'. I'm sure it will be fine, I will just make sure to tread lightly."

She seemed trying to convince herself as much as him with assurance that a common cause could be established.

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Veronica
Hearing her assurances and finishing off his milk he adds,

"From what I heard and unless further clarity can be shed upon that unfortunate incident, I believe we have a duty to uphold and those who are under our protection have laws they must adhere to."

The memories of his youth getting lost in one of the marketplaces and the various sights he had witness wandering it, remembering that strange feeling as he continues.

"Besides that I do hope our relations ease up so that I may be free to go to and fro whenever I wish, and the first thing I would do is to thank whomever raised these fine cows that have yielded such creamy produce."

|| we finishing up here?
Andrew
Just now noticing his beverage of choice, Kita's nose wrinkled, "Oh, yes. I suppose thanking them would be polite."

"The situation here is unfortunate, and as you say - duty should be upheld. But yes, for your sake I hope you gain some freedom of movement. I didn't realize you had been restricted here, although you seem to have made good use of your time. Seeing more of the city is... Enlightening."

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Veronica
"Hm, yes one day... I would like to get lost in this city again, better than being stuffed in here."

Rising to his feet he moves past the mess in the room to pick up his paint and easel, and begins his task of cataloguing the results of his colour mixing in order to hopefully find a hue of colour that matches the flower in Sanumo's office.

"Anything else I can help you with Kita-san?"

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Andrew
I think that will be all for today. Thank you for your assistance. Please, if I can ever return the favor, just ask."

Kita followed his lead, collecting herself from the floor and glanced again at the sketch that resulted from their discussion as she moved toward the door to take her leave.
"This will be most helpful. May the fortunes guide you, Naoki-san.

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