Kristin
A short time after his arrival, the new painter would find his way to the gardens of the palace. He had changed clothes already, now in a yukata styled with far shorter sleeves than the norm, coming only to his elbows. The fabric was the deep red of the clan, with a striking bronze trim. Gone were the rough traveling sandals, replaced by very simple thong slippers. The hare kami mask remained in place, and he settled himself on a stool brought along by a house servant. 

Once comfortable, he set up a folding, collapsible easel carefully. Wood and brass pegs were slid into place. Paper was applied, and he began to carefully mix black sumi ink and water. Consistencies were tested on a spare sheet carefully, before he nodded. 



Message "An Artist in Residence"
Carl
Tomura was taking a stroll through the gardens today, it was calming and brought him enough mental peace to plot, scheme, and navigate rumors in quiet. He wore a black kimono with designs of crimson spider lilies at the bottom hems, his fox mask fixed to his face, in has hand he fiddled with a folded up fan, tapping it against his palms as he was in thought. While it was rude to eavesdrop he did take notice of the artist, a man he did not recall meeting as of yet.

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Kristin
Okita continued his painting for a bit. The artist was well caught up in his work, seeming to relish the slow, deliberate ritual of the act of creation. Andd yet when the Bayushi approached within the prescribed distance that courtesy dictated an ackowledgement be given, he set his brush down, put his knucles to his knees, and bowed toward the other samurai. "Ohayo. This one is Yogo Okita." His accent was cultured, with the carefully controlled notes of the Scorpion in it, but with hints of the broader, more rural accents of the southern river lands, especially on the Os.
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Carl
Tomura gave a respect bow in return.

"Ohayo, Bayushi Tomura." He replied, "The gardens I've found, are a peaceful environment, an island of true peace in the chaos of the city, I should not be surprised artists come here for inspiration." He mused, "I apologize if I have disturbed your work, Yogo-san." He gave another, more apologitic bow
Kristin
Okita gave a laugh. It was light, almost musical. A courtly affectation, if anything. "A poor portraiture I should make were I to be disturbed by peoples' presence, Bayushi-san. Every painting needs time to sit and breathe with itself. Your company is no imposition. You may look if you like."

He'd tilt his head a bit. "Truth be, I have hoped to meet some of our fellows. It is always a strange time when an artist takes up residence with a new house. I do not know who to greet immediately, and whom to wait on greeting until the Sencha has been served."
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Carl
Tomura chuckled, "Ah yes, while not an artist myself, I can say I know the feeling of a new home, I only just arrived in the city myself." He did move behind the artist to look at the piece, "What brings you to the city, Yogo-san, a quest for inspiration?"
Kristin
"My lord Yogo-dono heard that this fine palace lacked a formal artist in residence. So I am to offer my services as such, for entertainment, education, and edification of the clan here." He said it with some sense of accomplishment.

The painting was... Confusing at first. But then it clicked. It wasn't a view from his seat to the garden. It was a view from the garden, of himself, painting. He even had the drooping branches of a tree in the view of the picture. It was a daring attempt, to paint something like this half from memory, and half from imagination.
Carl
"Interesting," Tomura muttered as he gazed from upon the art, "I'm no great student of the arts, so I doubt my own taste means anything to one of your sophisticated skills, but it's a fine peice, if I may say so." *Not really his taste, but he's sure it's good work non the less* "I will say, it takes a true artist to bring to life the image he can only see in his mind, as beatiful as the natural world is, the realities in our heads can be so much more intriguing."
Kristin
He nodded. "You are very kind to say so. I know what my father would say. It's whimsy and indulgence." His lips quirked in a very faint smile before resuming a proper *On.* 

"He would be correct, but I chose to try it for the technical challenge. I cannot rely on what I have done before if I wish to serve well here, can I?" 

He would pick back up the brush, applying some more ink, and beginning to work on some of the ground-level details. "And yourself, Bayushi-san? What is your role in this fine place, where we have art, and peace, and fine sencha?" 
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Carl
Tomura shook his head. 

"I'm sorry to disagree with both you and your father, but your wrong, it's not whimsy or indulgence, even in this world, their are imperfections, the blessed Kami did what they could to replicate the Celestial Order in this world, our Empire is that replication, but it will forever be a pale image, in art, in this canvas, we can try and bring more true representations that live in our minds, without the limits of the imperfect, so forgive me for saying it's not whimsy, it's bringing to life the possiblities of true perfection." 

He then simply chuckled, "Forgive me for running off like that, sometimes I forget where I am, I'm a simple courtier, a man of no real significance." 

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Kristin
Okita paused a moment as he listened, then continued. He was sketching in the outline of another figure standing at the edge of the visible image. It probably would not be too hard to guess who it would be.

"As you say. It would be churlish to argue, and I abhor churlishness. Though I must say, if someone with such a fine talent for complimenting another is an insignificant courtier, then the significant ones must be incredible indeed." There was a hint of playfulness to the words.
Carl
That earned a laugh from the courtier. 

"Please, you flatter me, yes there are those who can prevent wars with a few choice words and looks but sadly all I can do is exchange simple pleasantries." He gave a light shrug, "This is my first assignment since my Gempukku, and while it is a blessing to be stationed in what is the jewel of our lands, I just hope to be of use to the clan with what meager skills I posses."

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Kristin
"As it should be, one supposes." Another nod, his posture resuming its languid character. His entire manner seemed to suggest he was only awake on sufferance. The painting continued, lines gradually lying down bit by bit, creating the skeleton of a work he would color in once he had the look of it.

"Perhaps though you have heard things that I should know, being new here? Names I should be ready to hear, facts I should prepare to work with? We do thrive on such information, do we not?" 
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Carl
"Our magistrate Rokugo Yuto-san, seems to have taken it upon himself to mend some hiccups that where made," He said a tad lazily, "I've also met another, Bayushi Kaori-san, she's a charming yet intimidating presence, not someone I would trifle with." He looked over the garden, "She did tell me of the baths here, which has been a god send." He laughed, "I would keep an eye on the Unicorn." He said simply

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Kristin
"Oh? Are our woolens-clad cousins performing acts of note within this magnificent city?" That would be a tidbit worth having. "I doubt I can convince them to sit for me, though," He would muse, taking on a distracted air. "Shame. People do talk so when you're capturing their likeness. Something about the intimacy of the act."
Carl
"I wouldn't know." He shrugged, "Merely they seem to have it out for us, so best to keep an eye on them... If you could sit one down for a painting, prehaps you can coax them into... Opening up." He chuckled

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Kristin
Okita would nod at that, continuing to paint. Tomura's shape took form on the paper. "I shall make a point of it. There is much to study. Proper calligraphy, composition. Perhaps I shall make a useful secretary and dogsbody." He sounded utterly, thoroughly disinterested in the idea. "What of our delightful, prideful, honorable feline cousins?"
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Carl
Tomura scoffed at the word 'honorable', "I've only had the pleasure of meeting... No, seeing one, and the moment she saw me she watched me as if waiting for me to stab someone or drip poison in a drink, so nothing new, I do however have learned that we're to be... Friendly with them, a courtship seems to be in place and we're not to see it ruined." He said, speaking of the talks of alliance.

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Kristin
"Do you say so? I shall probably be making a gift for the blessed couple then." He put the back of his free hand to his mouth, covering a silent yawn. Again, particularly on the "Do you say so," Tomura could detect the softened consonants and languid vowels of the riverlands. "Still, intrigue can always be turned toward the betterment of the empire, one supposes."

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Carl
"Oh, I don't know if it will be sealed in a union," He chuckled, "Hopefully, a wedding is always a joyous occasion, drinks, song, music." He closed his eyes and pictured such an occasion, "Always loved a good celebration," He continued to look at the developing painting, "The betterment of the empire is a labor that we work for night and day, the true duty of all true samurai."
Kristin
"I suppose there will be drinking." He said it the way one might say "There might be rain." Okita sat back from the painting and began tamping some finely shredded tobacco into a long pipe. "Well, one does what one must. What other plans have you today?" He'd take a bit of cord and light it from a nearby lamp, then use it to light the pipe.
Carl
Tomura simply smiled as he considered if all Yogo where this unintrested in conversation, maybe it's just the artist types

"Not much to be honest, it's a slow day with things being set up, so I've been making up my scedule as I go, as of now their is nothing for me to see to at the moment."
Kristin
Rather perversely, the mention that there might not be many demands perked him right up. His demeanour brightened and he took a pull on the pipe. "Do you say so? My my my. One had thought such a place to be bustling and industrious. But you say there might be time to relax and consider the day? How shocking." He said "Shocking" Like one might say "Wonderful."
Carl
"More a calm before the storm, tommorow my work begins in earnest so I'm taking this day to prepare myself mentally, I've found the city has much to offer in entertainment, I'd even dare say it might be impossibe to become bored with this many people in a single space."
Kristin
"Ohh, entertainment? Might there be some kabuki, or if necessary Noh theater?" He'd tilt his head, determined not to let the spectre of possibly doing productive work outside his artistic pursuits dampen his suddenly bright mood. "I could happily take in such cultural delights of an evening. It would be edifying and profitable to the soul."
Carl
"I'm more a fan of Kabuki and Rakugo then Noh, if I'm to be honest," He shrugged, "Noh is nice if you want to impress people, but I'd rather enjoy something more lively if I'm viewing for personal pleasure, prehaps we can see if we can catch a show, I'm sure there are plays today."
Kristin
"I should be delighted! But I'm a frightful mess, I must take some time to tidy up." 

In point of fact he had the barest trace of sumi ink on his fingers, and his clothes looked freshly laundered and put on only that morning. 

"Would you be a dear and give me an hour or so to refresh myself and put on something less ghastly?"
Carl
A wince behind the mask at being called a 'dear' but he nodded.

"Of course Yogo-san, I shall wait here for your return."
Kristin
"Delightful." He would rise, bow to the Bayushi, and then make some adjustments. The easel was astonishingly clever. The legs folded up and locked, allowing him to carry it with the painting still in place, obviating the need to carry them separately.
Carl
Tomura simply sat on a bench and waited
Kristin
As said, he would return most of an hour later. He was dressed in fine going-out clothing. Yukata, a pair of geta shoes in one hand, a lovely haori. His massive bundle of hair had been adjusted to hang differently, and even little tassels added to his lapine mask. "Ah, there you are. My thanks for your patience. It can be a chore to keep up appearances as we must."
Carl
Tomura rose from the bench.

"Let's try to catch one before it starts, I hate arriving mid showing and can't sit through something if I didn't see how it began, plus I want to see if I can get some dango on the way there." He said, gesturing to the exit
Kristin
He would pick up a parasol he'd left behind where he'd been painting. "Of course. Snacks are always a delight before a good show, nothing distracts more from a good performance than hunger."