【ｆｉｖｅ 】 〜 ｖｉｄｅｏ

[tsuridasu]

[The first thing that friends and aquaintances of Kiyoha might notice is the drastic increase of ornamentation in her hair. Like from this to this. She's lazing about in her room, but there's still some semblance of practiced formality to her words]

Well then, dear ukiyo, I have something of a present for all of you.

[The way she says the next

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[struck_first]

[ He regards the feed, amused, leaning his face onto a hand. ] I'll try not to take it personally in this case, Miss Kiyoha.

[ After a chuckle, he straightens up. ] Congratulations, though, on your, ah... promotion?

video

[tsuridasu]

I should hope that you would not! It is nothing of my decision for household politics, though it makes any sort of friendship between rival houses reminiscent of Niulang and Zhinü.

But thank you, Lockon-san. I am glad to have it, though I'll be gladder once the novelty of being the newest tayuu has worn off.

[struck_first]

I'm afraid that's another reference that's over my head... [ She should not be surprised. ]

Not one to hog the limelight, eh?

[tsuridasu]

[she smiles] It is a Chinese fairytale about two lovers, one a goddess, the other a cowherd, who can simply not be together because of such a difference. So to separate them, the Celestial Queen Mother took her hair pin and made a river in the sky. We can still see the Silver River, though we tend to call it the Milky Way. It's an easy story to apply to situations where politics out of one's control interfere with normal, simple things.

Not at all! It may surprise you, but I hate being the best. I'd much rather be second best, if not for the better pay.

[struck_first]

[ Something changes about his smile. ] It reminds me of another story -- star-cross'd lovers, quite literally, in your fable, would be much more figurative in the tale I'm thinking of.

You know. I wonder if I can find that in book form, here. It's a classic piece of literature. [ It might even make a nice gift, he thought. ]

Some just aspire to greatness, I guess, Miss Kiyoha. Whether by intent or by accident...

[tsuridasu]

Perhaps so. There are many foreign books, I have noticed. What is it called, out of curiosity?

[she laughs] Then mine is surely accidental. Even in Yoshiwara, becoming Higurashi-oiran was a matter of luck, only because the previous oiran had been killed by her lover.

[struck_first]

"Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare. Classic literature -- had to read it in school when I was young.

[ A wince. ] Hopefully the circumstances surrounding this promotion were less... unfortunate than that.

[tsuridasu]

What a lovely sounding story. I suppose they are to be names? It sounds completely foreign to my ears, so it may as well be "The Pail and the Fishhook," for all I know.

Much less unfortunate. Okaa-san encouraged me to take the examination, and it turned out well.

"The Pail and the Fishhook" is totally a Troll romance novel. XD (or smut)

[struck_first]

They are. [ A bit sheepish. ] I should have been clearer. I'll see if I can't find a copy for you. Just a bit of a spoiler warning for that author: all his works are tragedies.

Good! I didn't think there would be a test but... then again, it makes sense.

...ngl I had to google it to see if you were joking

[tsuridasu]

[oh, awkward] Your gesture is very much appreciated, Lockon-san, but... You should not waste your money. I cannot read.

In all honesty, I did not think there would be an exam either. Moving up was a household matter, not one of the Union.

/homestuck joke orz

[struck_first]

[ He was going to say something else, but what she said gave him pause. ] ... really? [ And there he had made all those text posts. Mental note: avoid text posts he expects replies from. ] Sorry, I just assumed that you were, you know. Learned. [ Since she was sophisticated, and all. ]

[ But he bounces back from the awkward, and smiles a bit. ] I could read it to you. It's not a short tale, but... we've got nothing but time, right?

..oh lmao

[tsuridasu]

[she sounds slightly embarrassed] I can read some characters, but for the most part, I cannot. Only okaa-san needs to read, and if we need something read to us, we merely asked her to read it to us. Ah, but Shouhi-oiran could read, so she would often do so. Not that I received anything at that time, but I remember the other older sisters asking her to read the letters their lovers had written/

But I would like that. I apologize for being so inconvenient.

[struck_first]

I hope that doesn't involve reading important contracts and such, because that sounds like a one-way ticket to someone taking advantage of you. [ And... that's not an uplifting thought. ]

[ He puts up a hand. ] Oh, it's not inconvenient! I mean, I'm not exactly the best narrator, either. [ Neil laughs a bit. ] If you're expecting funny voices and meaningful recitation of prose, you'll be a little disappointed in my performance. [ A grin. ] But this story is a play, so the stage directions are easier to read off.

[tsuridasu]

[she considers it, but then shakes her head] No, nothing of the sort. I don't even think our original contracts to the household were ever written down. It's just petty things, like love letters and clients asking for special engagements.

Ah, then that would make it all the more interesting. I've never seen a play, but several actors were regulars of Tamagiku. [Though, by what she's heard of plays, they do interest her at least] I would be glad even without funny voices, I think.

[struck_first]

I guess that's alright. [ His concern is mollified, somewhat. ]

Then it's a deal. A small repayment for all the questions you've entertained from me. [ He smiles. Even if she doesn't think he owes her anything, he likes to stand on even ground when it comes to being indebted to his friends. ]