[Maybe the appropriate thing really would have been putting on the layered kimono and putting her hair back, decreased movement and weight of it all be damned, but the kariginu is already somewhat difficult to get dressed up in without an extra set of hands. There is no chance of Youko getting into a kimono properly on her own.
Thankfully, Abe no Seimei is a permissive person.
She manages to fashion herself into a halfway decent little lordling, wearing a dark blue over-robe with forest green strings threaded through the sleeves, a soft green, and black hakama. Maybe the colors are more austere than someone her age should be running around in, but they're the colors she likes, and the blacks she was accustomed to for formal settings would probably get her in more trouble. Foregoing an eboshi may already be one liberty taken too many, but she has too much hair to properly tie into a top knot. It is a gamble that the heir won't be offended, but if it is someone who keeps Seimei's company, they might be willing to take her strangeness in stride. She settles for a ponytail tied with matching green strings — and grabbing a flask of sake for the host — before setting off for the estate.
It takes her less time to wind the right path through the streets every time she visits. Setting a new record, and leaving instructions for her shadows to wait outside, she peeks in the gate at the overgrown garden with a smile.]
[ Just as promised, two little deadpan faces peek back at her from the other side of the gate, their usual silent elegance following their every move as they respectfully bow and position themselves to escort Youko further in.
Out on the veranda sits Seimei enjoying the afternoon sun, but for once he isn't the most attention-grabbing thing out there. Next to him sits a small lacquered box, its intricate patterns of black, red, and gold interrupted by spilling fabrics shining in even more colors. Judging by the way Seimei's trying to tidy the fabrics back up they're meant to knot and spiral into some kind of nest, coming together in a brilliant rainbow that shifts as the light hits it.
And in the center of all that color, peep-peep-peeping in protest at Seimei's hands futzing with all the fabric, sits a much more modestly colored ball of fluff. ]
Come now, your father put so much work into this--ah.
[ Once the trio is a little closer in his peripheral vision he'll look up, offering a smile and nod as the chick keeps up its complaints. ]
[It is easy to fall in behind her little escorts, matching their pace and straightening herself up, taking the posture she bears walking to her throne before she has a clear shot of her host. Or rather, before her host and his guest have eyes on her. No point in going to the trouble of dressing up and then looking sloppy in presentation. Shoukei would wring her neck.
She catches sight of Seimei first and — with no guest in sight — almost immediately falls into habit, starting to raise a hand to wave hello. The peeping cuts through the first syllable of a greeting, stopping her short and just as quickly piquing her curiosity, eyes searching around for the source.
It is plain where the epicenter is, so she starts to take in the tangle of fabrics, the lacquer box, and the chief peeper himself nestled in it. She murmurs thanks to her escorts, and gives Seimei a polite bow before starting to move closer, neck craned to better look at the chick in the box.]
[ Mitsumushi and Mitsuyo offer her proper, respectful bows, and won't be there should she look back again as per their usual routine.
Meanwhile Seimei, normally riding the line between polite and far too casual for court, straightens just long enough to make himself the image of propriety to present the little fluff who's stopped in his peeping to curl himself up in a ball of suspicion pointed right at Youko. ]
Nakajima Youko-dono, may I introduce to you His Highness Hou-ou, youngest of his kind.
[ The little prince braves the presence of a stranger long enough to launch one more pointed PEEP, then promptly nestles back into a protective ball. ]
You'll have to pardon him. He still hasn't learned what a proper greeting looks like yet.
[Hou-ou. A name that paints a vastly different portrait in her mind than the ball of apprehensive feathers before her. A much better one though, even if it makes her steps falter.
The moment passes and she carefully kneels, offering the no longer peeping bird a proper bow.]
No. Please... forgive me for not realizing his guest was present.
[She may not know what Seimei means by 'youngest of his kind', but she is certain that answer will come along sooner or later. For now, she will simply follow her lessons and shoot a curious glance at the host of this odd meeting, before bowing her head.]
I am Nakajima Youko, Empress of Kei, known by the regnal name Sekishi. It is my honor to make your acquaintance, Hou-ou.
[ The bird watches Youko intently, deeply considering something...and whatever it was, his conclusion is to stuff his face back into his fancy fabric nest about it.
Seimei sighs, letting his posture relax again. ]
Elusive as they are, their unique relationship to mankind demands a hou-ou be socialized early. This one's father entrusted him to me for that very reason.
[ The look on his face says well enough that he isn't sure why he was chosen of all people--humans aren't exactly a regular sight at his home, nor does he go out often enough to see them. ]
[Hearing it said a second time, not as a name but as the species, she recognizes it as a word she knows from picture books. Youko gives the fabric nest and the chick a wide-eyed look, before turning the same look on Seimei, an undercurrent of excitable energy running through her.
A phoenix. A phoenix chick left in his care by a full-grown phoenix. A phoenix chick who just snubbed her.
She buries her hands in her sleeves to keep still, schooling the buzz out of her voice.]
Maybe... maybe he knew the friends you keep would be a good introduction to people?
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no subject
[Maybe the appropriate thing really would have been putting on the layered kimono and putting her hair back, decreased movement and weight of it all be damned, but the kariginu is already somewhat difficult to get dressed up in without an extra set of hands. There is no chance of Youko getting into a kimono properly on her own.
Thankfully, Abe no Seimei is a permissive person.
She manages to fashion herself into a halfway decent little lordling, wearing a dark blue over-robe with forest green strings threaded through the sleeves, a soft green, and black hakama. Maybe the colors are more austere than someone her age should be running around in, but they're the colors she likes, and the blacks she was accustomed to for formal settings would probably get her in more trouble. Foregoing an eboshi may already be one liberty taken too many, but she has too much hair to properly tie into a top knot. It is a gamble that the heir won't be offended, but if it is someone who keeps Seimei's company, they might be willing to take her strangeness in stride. She settles for a ponytail tied with matching green strings — and grabbing a flask of sake for the host — before setting off for the estate.
It takes her less time to wind the right path through the streets every time she visits. Setting a new record, and leaving instructions for her shadows to wait outside, she peeks in the gate at the overgrown garden with a smile.]
Mitsumushi? Mitsuyo? May I intrude?
no subject
Out on the veranda sits Seimei enjoying the afternoon sun, but for once he isn't the most attention-grabbing thing out there. Next to him sits a small lacquered box, its intricate patterns of black, red, and gold interrupted by spilling fabrics shining in even more colors. Judging by the way Seimei's trying to tidy the fabrics back up they're meant to knot and spiral into some kind of nest, coming together in a brilliant rainbow that shifts as the light hits it.
And in the center of all that color, peep-peep-peeping in protest at Seimei's hands futzing with all the fabric, sits a much more modestly colored ball of fluff. ]
Come now, your father put so much work into this--ah.
[ Once the trio is a little closer in his peripheral vision he'll look up, offering a smile and nod as the chick keeps up its complaints. ]
There you are. Good afternoon.
no subject
She catches sight of Seimei first and — with no guest in sight — almost immediately falls into habit, starting to raise a hand to wave hello. The peeping cuts through the first syllable of a greeting, stopping her short and just as quickly piquing her curiosity, eyes searching around for the source.
It is plain where the epicenter is, so she starts to take in the tangle of fabrics, the lacquer box, and the chief peeper himself nestled in it. She murmurs thanks to her escorts, and gives Seimei a polite bow before starting to move closer, neck craned to better look at the chick in the box.]
Good afternoon, Seimei-san. What are you up to?
no subject
Meanwhile Seimei, normally riding the line between polite and far too casual for court, straightens just long enough to make himself the image of propriety to present the little fluff who's stopped in his peeping to curl himself up in a ball of suspicion pointed right at Youko. ]
Nakajima Youko-dono, may I introduce to you His Highness Hou-ou, youngest of his kind.
[ The little prince braves the presence of a stranger long enough to launch one more pointed PEEP, then promptly nestles back into a protective ball. ]
You'll have to pardon him. He still hasn't learned what a proper greeting looks like yet.
no subject
The moment passes and she carefully kneels, offering the no longer peeping bird a proper bow.]
No. Please... forgive me for not realizing his guest was present.
[She may not know what Seimei means by 'youngest of his kind', but she is certain that answer will come along sooner or later. For now, she will simply follow her lessons and shoot a curious glance at the host of this odd meeting, before bowing her head.]
I am Nakajima Youko, Empress of Kei, known by the regnal name Sekishi. It is my honor to make your acquaintance, Hou-ou.
no subject
Seimei sighs, letting his posture relax again. ]
Elusive as they are, their unique relationship to mankind demands a hou-ou be socialized early. This one's father entrusted him to me for that very reason.
[ The look on his face says well enough that he isn't sure why he was chosen of all people--humans aren't exactly a regular sight at his home, nor does he go out often enough to see them. ]
no subject
A phoenix. A phoenix chick left in his care by a full-grown phoenix. A phoenix chick who just snubbed her.
She buries her hands in her sleeves to keep still, schooling the buzz out of her voice.]
Maybe... maybe he knew the friends you keep would be a good introduction to people?