#[ tales from the okiya ]

[willow-of-hingashi]

A New Town’s Light [RP]

 (( Rating: PG ))

 (( Genre: Slice of Life, Drama ))

 (( Cast: Kikyo Hagane of @the-firetouched​ and Nobuyuki ‘Ichihiko’ Ienaka ))

 Maple leafs rustled in the wind outside, pitter-pattering as they landed delicately upon the stone pathway. The sleeves of Nobuyuki's layered kimono were folded over his hands as he moved towards the entrance to the onsen, mail in tow. He shifted through it as he slipped off his zori in the genkan entrance, stopping in his tracks when he found one observed one scroll-holder that stood out. It wasn't unusual that he received the occasional scroll from the Far East, but this one bore the Ichimitsu Okiya's kamon; a stylized paper lantern inside a circle.

 With tabi-covered feet, Nobuyuki shuffled into the ryokan's main foyer, halting when he opened the scroll to read over it. He only got halfway before he want to summon the resident shikomi. "Kikyo," he called as he rounded the corner where the door to her working quarters sat. ["Stop what you're doing for a while. I have a message here from the otou-san."] A long pause. ["He wants to speak with you. It's important."]

 Kikyo was humming and scrubbing the wood floors before Nobu came around the corner. She sat up at once and, once he spoke in Hingan, she nearly jumped to her feet. Her first instinct is to smile, of course, but that falters as soon as she is given word that she wishes to be...spoken with. Even at a mere 17 summers, she knew that could be troublesome indeed! Or perhaps it is a good thing?

 ["O-of course, Ichihiko-sensei. What does he want to speak with one such as myself about...?"]

 Finally, a small frown. Was she being rejected once again?

 Unfurling the scroll on its jikugi, Nobuyuki kept his gaze on the Hingan characters before him. ["It's about your career,"] he replied. ["First, I need to explain some some things to you. Let's go into the ozashiki hall."] Quite expectant of Kikyo to follow, he started to make off.

 With her carrying on, Nobuyuki continued. ["You're starting as a shikomi, and then a minarai. Your misedashi is your official debut as a maiko, where you will perform dances and serves clients. The shikomi period normally lasts a year and you spend a moon as a minarai. Your nameday changes things a bit, but. . ."] He drew a short breath. ["The otou-san wants you to start as a minarai before your nameday. You'll only spend a moon as a shikomi. There is a reason for this."]

 Just before they entered the hall, Nobuyuki paused and turned to Kikyo. ["Do you know the process of who leads an okiya? You understand the need for an heir, right?"]

 She quickly tries to store away her cleaning materials before dashing after Nobuyuki, following with her hands folded in front of her all polite and nice like. She tilts her head to his questioning.

 ["Of course, all great houses need heirs and I am sure okiya are no exception,"] she says brightly. Though it fails to dawn on her the reason for this questioning. ["But I am not sure how okiya decide this, no."]

 She watches him carefully as they go. Does Otou-san mean to pick Ichihiko-sensei as his heir? Does that mean their training will be short? She is unsure how to feel! Luckily, she manages not to frown too much.

 The shoji door to the ozashiki hall was slid open quietly. Nobuyuki allowed Kikyo to get inside and get comfortable before he continued. ["Well, in truth, Ichimitsu Okiya is not among the largest houses of Igarashi Hanamachi, but the geisha there do have many relations to more prestigious okiya. Masami Okiya and Umecho Okiya have bigger reputations in Nagoya."] The Hyur slid the door shut behind him and moved to take a seat. ["Because of this, finding an atotori is harder. Many geisha left Ichimitsu Okiya and even Masami and Umecho because of the Red Throat outbreak. Only a few among those became jimae geisha, or independent from their okiya."]

 Upon one of the cushions, Nobuyuki lowered himself into a seiza. ["The otou-san of Ichimitsu Okiya is Mitsu-no-Ichinori. His surname is based on the okiya's name. It denotes that he was selected as atotori. . . however, that was long ago. The okiya needs another atotori."] His serious gaze landed on Kikyo. ["The otou-san wants to consider you for the next atotori."]

 Kikyo listens quietly and with some intensity, as is her way. She slips in past Nobuyuki only after being given express permission via his gesture, and then sat upon a cushion with a seiza of her own. At least that was one thing she was well-practiced in: sitting in the proper way for long chunks of time for meditations. She trains her eyes on Nobu's collar to try and focus hard on what he was saying. And then...when he reaches the end...

 She can't help her mouth from popping open in shock. She tries to recover from this quickly, covering it with her small hand.

 ["M-me? But this one is...I am just..."] She looks to the table and scrambles for a polite way to go about this question. Her fingers tighten against her work shift. ["I do not doubt the wisdom of the Otou-san of Ichimitsu Okiya, of course not. I simply..."] She looks then to Nobu. ["Why are you not considered, sensei, if it is not too rude to ask?"]

 The only sign Nobuyuki gave of his reaction to being reminded he wouldn't be chosen was the purse of his lips. Not that he held any ill will towards the okiya father, as they had a cordial relationship. ["Likely the same reason other okiya turned me away,"] was his only answer. He wasn't looking forward to cluing at his heritage. ["It's nothing to worry about."] He gave Kikyo a polite smile. This was despite the clear fact most okiya picked an atotori later in a geisha's career, though it was plausible Kikyo was unaware. ["Ichimitsu Okiya is likely seeking a younger atotori because of the few number of geigi there."]

 In a rare display of visible confusion, Nobuyuki's brows furrowed. Why a Koshu-based okiya would consider an ijin was beyond him. Not that he was against it! It was rather his surprise that the otou-san cast aside previous xenophobia. Luckily, Nobuyuki's expression didn't last long. He righted it to content neutrality. ["The otou-san wants to meet you in Kugane,"] he continued. ["As you likely learned, ijin aren't allowed anywhere outside of Kugane in Hingashi. The meeting, he looks to hold at the Shiokaze Hostelry. He's never been to Shishu so he'll likely have an entourage from the okiya with him."] Briefly, Nobuyuki's expression softened. ["Don't take this as a means to be too strict on yourself, alright? Certainly put on your best show, but don't see yourself as unworthy so soon. That's for the otou-san to decide."]

 She fidgets with her hair, braiding the ends over and over again in a sight of girlish nervousness and dismay. As soon as she notices this, she squeezes her hands together upon her lap until her knuckles turn white. Well, whiter than they already are...

 She has so many questions but knows it is rude to ask. If ijin cannot leave Kugane (a lesson she DID learn the hard way), how would she ever run an Okiya? Why did she interest the Otou-san? Why did other Okiya turn Nobu away? Her young mind is awash with curiosity, but she's long since learned the dangers of it. So she nods. Even so, she cannot help but notice some of Nobu's own confusion and perhaps...dismay? No? Was she imagining it? She frowns in turn.

 ["Of course, Ichihiko-sensei."] And after a moment, she can't help but add: ["My success will be your success, too. You will be teaching me. And in Doma, there is no greater honor one can bring but to bring success to those that reached their hand toward you."] A bit of an awkward phrasing in the Hingan dialect, but hopefully the point came across nonetheless. ["Maybe we will surprise everyone!"] she adds, in a more characteristic display of optimism!

 Nobuyuki looked to Kikyo and gave a smile that reached his eyes. ["I am, of course, honored to be able to teach the possible atotori of Ichimitsu Okiya,"] he declared. ["Nonetheless, I'm happy to be teaching you in general. It is my pleasure to share the joys of gei with others. If the otou-san permits, I could be selected as your older brother. For a maiko, a relationship to her assigned older sibling is one that lasts forever. She does not stop seeking guidance from her older sibling, even when she becomes a geisha. Is it not exciting?"]

 Firmly, Nobuyuki bowed his head in agreement. ["I have no doubts we will certainly surprise a number of those within the okiya. For my erikae, instead of kurosode, I wore a white kosode with embroidered hydrangeas. I wanted to be fashionable, to emanate the styles the tayuu were wearing that summer. I think it did surprise a number that attended, to sway away from such tradition. It is likely your chance to do the same. You'd be the okiya's first ijin maiko and their first ijin atotori, above all else."]

 She listens dutifully, though her face brightens further as she sees him smile for real. She clasps her hands together before her chest. ["Oh, truly? An older brother? I have had only younger brothers all my life! I would be so excited for this! Yes!"] Her excitement can be heard in how her words become a little more sloppy in the Hingan dialect. Her eyes sparkle. Wow! The potential!

 At the talk of clothes, she turns thoughtful. She did not have a lot of opinions or knowledge about fashion, other than finding the dresses of the geisha so beautiful and refined. ["That does sound most elegant,"] she says in agreement. ["I love many flowers. I love peach blossoms most of all...I know that geisha uphold the traditions of Hingashi. But many things are changing in the world, yes?"] A surprisingly insightful bit from the young woman, if a bit obvious to any learned person. ["There must be a way to be traditional and accepting of the future..."]

 ["Perhaps this is what the otou-san is looking for,"] Nobuyuki commented, his hands folding in his lap. ["Someone new, full of bright ideas for the okiya. Yes, I can see that."] He looked down to the scroll for a moment before rolling it up. ["We'll be meeting with the otou-san in a moon. As the one responsible for your training, I will cover our boat tickets across the Sirensong Sea. After the meeting, your shikomi period will come to an end and you will be minarai until you turn eighteen. You will join me for ozashiki and tea ceremonies, watching how I do things and speaking only when spoken to.]"

 Placing the scroll back into the holder, Nobuyuki then tucked the holder up into his kosode sleeve. ["My career started somewhat outside of tradition,"] he replied. ["I was ten, not five, when I started training. It was because of my grandparents' jobs that I didn't enter an okiya at a 'typical' age."] He didn't clarify. It could have been for financial reasons, for all Kikyo knew. ["Now I'm following the newest trends of Hingan fashion and arts. The customs may stay the same, but the ijin have brought a lot of newfangled ideas. Maybe there's a new art form you will practice that others pick up?"]

 Many emotions rattle through her at once. Excitement and worry; pride and fear. She nods seriously at the description of what is next to come. ["Of course, Ichihiko-sensei. I will make you proud,"] she says. ["I will be very quiet and refined, as taught!"]

 To the rest of it, she tilts her head. She tries to copy his very fancy stance, sitting nicely with his sleeves and hands folded, but her sleeves are purposefully pinned up for cleaning purposes so she does her best, folding her hands in her lap and sitting up a little straighter. For Nobu's sake, her naivety comes in handy; she knows not what to ask about his grandparents' jobs other than perhaps to assume that money was a factor, which she certainly understood. She smiles brightly. ["Oh, like the kupos -- er, moogles! And the beautiful leather riding boots...oh...I do so like those....they seem so elegant...oh, and the paintings! I saw an ijin's painting at the market once...it was um...impressiony?"]

 She means impressionist.

 ["What is your favorite ijin thing?"] she asks curiously, before she can stop herself.

 Nobuyuki was used to sitting for long periods with his back straight, his position proper. Even his facial expressions were under control and refined, but the question about his favorite thing of ijin caught him off guard. However, he wasn't offended. In fact, he was pleasantly surprised. ["I might have to think a bit on that one,"] he admitted. ["Perhaps it is the people? Some are brash and loud and very strange, but. . . many are caring and it is very apparent they wear their heart on their sleeve. They are mindful of protecting people's face, even if their own is at risk sometimes. It's a bit endearing."] Namely, a certain Lominsan mercenary came to his mind, her kinky orange hair and freckled visage easy to envision. ["Selecting a thing is hard. . . maybe it's predictable of me, but I quite like foreign fashions. Eorzean cocktail dresses and patterned stockings and heeled boots are very lovely."]

 Considerate of his own fashion, Nobuyuki raised a sleeve to his mouth. His kosode was a fall orange colored, decorated with yellow ginkgo leaves and seasonal autumn flowers. Granted, he was largely pulling up his sleeve to conceal his small smile. ["Ah. . . and I think you mean 'impressionist.'"]

#ffxiv rp #the-firetouched #kikyo hagane #nobuyuki ienaka #mateus rp #geisha #ffxiv #[ tales from the okiya ]

[aimachat2]

Gion Kobu Hassaku Favorites

As with many traditions, Hassaku is an expression of thanksgiving. Humble are its origins, this day of celebration was first introduced by farmers making their rounds to thank those who had provided favors in the past year. Offerings were made up from the first harvest and quickly evolved in small tokens and presents over time. But this custom to thank supporters regardless of their standing spread throughout every class even the aristocracy. The old capital of Kyoto still cherished this tradition and it is observed in a uniquely spectacular fashion in the kagai of Gion Kobu.

For Gion Kobu's Geimaiko there is this added feeling of enduring the discomfort of wearing the full regalia during the extreme summer heat of August 1st with high humidity and sometimes strong sun. While running around from ochaya to okiya during their greetings, there is a quick respite in the air conditioned houses but they need to arrive looking flawless and looking all smiles, like it's a pleasure to be there. Hassaku is in essence ceremonial theatre with a flair of religious procession. But if we examine how tight knit this community works and lives, how dependent they are of each other to succeed, how unique the equilibrium of their world is, it's not that peculiar that a tradition like Hassaku has survived here.

Because this event requires their protagonists to look their very best, observers get to witness some of the most gorgeous black crested Kimono Gion Kobu has to offer. Add to it, that oftentimes this pieces don't get nearly as much outings as their winter counterparts, we get to behold luxury in its very essence.

Of course i mentioned my absolute favorite summer Kuromontsukia few times before. And many of you know that Kuromontsuki in general are a passion of mine. I love the deep black, love the play with intense colors and motifs, love the masculine energy and the stark contrasts.

To commemorate past Hassaku of Gion Kobu and the deep meaning it holds for the Karyukai, i compiled a list of my favorite items worn during Gion Kobu Hassaku.

Ninben's Calabash Kuromontsuki worn by Maiko Mamemaru

For the longest time i had Morning Glory on the brain when admiring this stunning piece. And Morning Glory would have been a great guess as it is a rather rare but beloved motif for Kanzashi during August. But i wanted to be sure and after some closer examination i decided that we are looking at Calabash Gourds or Yugao growing in the shade. Incidentally Yugao is also a chapter in the Tales of Genji, an epos that is just as intertwined with the Karyukai as are the vines of the titular flower. Yet since we are in the height of summer, Ninben's Kuromontsuki doesn't feature this delicate flower but the green gourd, curvy and cute. Because of its round shape and versatility, the Calabash has become a symbol of good luck, good health and prosperity.

[koikishu]

March 2019: Aoi-tayuu, of Suehiro okiya, posing backstage while she waits for the interlude between Noh plays to perform a reading of Aoinoue (葵上, “The Lady Aoi”). Interestingly, Aoi-tayuu's myoseki (”inherited name”) is derived from the character Aoi no Ue from The Tale of Genji.

In fact, Aoi-tayuu has coordinated her kitsuke to evoke images from the story of Aoi no Ue. Her white uchikake and aigi kimono are representative of the white birthing robes common to Heian women as well as the white robes worn by the dead. Her black spider-web-sakura-petals obi is supposed to invoke the angry vengeance of Lady Rokujou no Miyasudokoro (六条御息所). Her kanzashi features a hollyhock (i.e. “aoi”) design. The dragon on the uchikake could be a reference to the Buddhist sutras used to perform the exorcism. Even her choice to wear the Tsubushi Shimada hairstyle is symbolic due to its purple ribbon. Purple was a color of privilege and status for Lady Rokujou no Miyasudokoro (六条御息所), as she was born a Heian princess.

Source: https://twitter.com/ayaka8700119/status/1108655945410699264?s=20

#kimono #tayu #tayuu #aoi #aoitayu #aoitayuu #suehiro #suehirotayuu #suehirotayu #suehirotimeline #suehirookiya #suehiro2019 #shimabara #shimabaratayu #shimabaratayuu #jigokusugata

[konohagakurekakashi]

Flake Okiya 🌀

Closed Starter for @minaa-munch, @swirleysarefun, @strawberry-medic

Brows pinched together as fingers raised to feebly tug and twiddle with sleek, brown strands, grey hues (a shade lighter than his own) narrowing at the itch at his neck and shoulders, whilst his mouth (free from the familiar cloth of his mask) parted to sneer at his reflection. He looked ridiculous. Like a child in fact (a bright-eyed civilian that would not know how to hold a kunai or fashion a Rāiton clone) and Kakashi hated it, despised it. Calloused digits lowered from the wig strands to prod and poke at his cheeks, a wounded grunt seeping from his throat at the stubborn baby-fat endless hours of training had yet to burn and firm out, afore he turned around, back to the mirror to glower at the door instead.

On the other side he could hear the tell-tale shuffling of the Uchiha, followed by the lighter, surer steps of their Sensei, the two of them locked in a conversation regarding their mission specifics. Kakashi would have perked his ears for any additional information under normal circumstances, but as it stands, Kakashi merrily took a few steps forward to make sure for the utmost time that the bathroom lock was still in place, before he started to sift through the garments his sensei and the Okiya Mother picked out for him. The garments were just as horrible (if not more so) the Hatake having to steel himself against further whimpers at the soft, silky feel of the Kimono against his palms.

The Furisode was lilac in colour, with pink and silver lotus flowers embroiled along the sleeves and Kakashi was sure that if the garment was to be worn by someone like Rin or Kurenai, it would have been pretty to look at. Now however, it took everything in the Shinobi not to stomp on the silk brocade and push it out of the window. ‘How do you even tie the Obi? Into a knot, a bow? Did you tie it at the back or at the front? Kami this wig tickled his ears’ Another frustrated grunt flittered from the boy’s slumped form as he picked out the warm timbre of the team Iryō-nin as she joined the other two in their borrowed living quarters, the rich, toasty scent of Hōjicha denoting that she brought a brew of tea with her. Kakashi loved Rin’s tea, she never made it too sweet or over boiled the leaves, but at that moment it only served to remind him of the missing Ochaya girls and the nature of their mission. In the end Kakashi merely flung the broad, silver obi around his neck, before he barked at the door, nails digging welts into his palms. 

“This is stupid! We’re shinobi, I-I’m using a Henge.”

#konohagakurekakashi #Hatake Kakashi [The Scarecrow] #Namikaze Minato [Flake-sensei] #Uchiha Obito [The Crybaby] #Nohara Rin [The Iryo-nin] #Team Flake #Team Minato Chapter I #Crack Thread #Crack-no-Jutsu #minaa-munch #Swirleysarefun #Strawberry-medic

[ao3feed-ineffablehusbandz]

Elegance and Grace: The Royal Courtesans of the House of Acheron

by rev02a

Lucifer, the bastard cousin of the Prince Regent Gabriel, is Lord of a okiya in a southern District. He has trained a mismatched group of talented companions. They're not the rich and cosmopolitan courtesans of the capital, but still connected enough to present Crowley to the youngest prince as a potential consort.

If the goddess of courtesans blesses them, the trip may lead to love and stability for two of the companions from the House of Acheron.

Words: 5797, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Beelzebub (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), Aziraphale (Good Omens), Gabriel (Good Omens), Uriel (Good Omens), Michael (Good Omens), Ligur (Good Omens), Hastur (Good Omens), Satan | Lucifer (Good Omens), Sandalphon (Good Omens)

Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Beelzebub/Gabriel (Good Omens), Hastur/Ligur (Good Omens)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Courtesans, Alternate Universe - Fairy Tale, Fairy Tale Retellings, Eventual Smut, Eventual Happy Ending, Love at First Sight, Reunions, Worldbuilding

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/25983391

#ao3feed ineffablehusbandz #ineffable husbands #good omens #aziraphale #crowley #anthonyjcrowl

[geimei]

do you have a guide on how exactly to get into the geimai scene? as in become a fan and understand things? i’m very interested but the terms are confusing and i’m lost in general but i’ve seen pictures on your blog and everyone looks so beautiful !

Aww, that’s really sweet of you, I’m so happy that you’re so interested! It was very overwhelming to me at the beginning, too, and I think it is for everyone, so take your time and don’t feel like you’re stupid if you can’t remember everything in just a few weeks.

A great way to get some basic knowledge on Geimaiko in a more fun and easy way is to watch documentaries! Here is a list of a few that I have watched and that are accurate (at least for the most important parts, minor inconsistencies are acceptable):

Geisha Girl by the BBC (2005): It tells the story of Yukina on her way to becoming Maiko and later Geiko Kikuyuu. It shows most of her Shikomi-stage and later her Misedashi.

History of Geisha: I don’t know if the name is accurate, but it’s a documentary by the NHK, which usually make great documentaries about Geimaiko. They were allowed to shoot at the Kaden Okiya in Miyagawacho, and it shows interviews with okaasan Koito and retired Geiko Korin and the still active Geiko Koume as Maiko. It also talks about the history of the profession, as the name suggests.

Beautiful Kyoto: Being a Maiko: A short, but very sweet one, as it mainly shows interviews with now retired Maiko Fukunae (Shigemori Okiya) of Miyagawacho, and Geiko Kofuku also makes an appearance.

Begin Japanology: Maiko and Geiko: Again, produced by the NHK, this is a really great one, and Begin Japanology is a really cool programme in general. This is a documentary meant for those who don’t know anything about Geisha yet, so it’s a great place to start. Japanology Plus’ episode on Geisha in other parts of the country is also worth a look!

Real Geisha Real Women (2009): I don’t like the man behind this documentary very much, but the documentary itself is pretty decent, albeit not of the highest production quality. It features Geiko Miehina, her okaasan Harutomi, Geiko Umechika and several others, and consists mainly of interview-type scenarios.

Gion - A Tale of Love and Honor: This is a really great and relatively new one, it’s from 2017. It focuses on the now retired 8th generation proprietress of the Tomiyo Ochaya, one of Kyoto’s oldest and most renowned teahouses. It shows the inner workings of the ochaya, and the succession process of the ochaya from Kimi to her daughter Naomi, who is now the 9th generation proprietress. But it also shows many interviews with Maiko and Geiko (Makino and Mao in particular).

Face to Face - Yachiyo Inoue: Tradition in Full Bloom: This one doesn’t focus on Maiko and Geiko, but on the head of Gion Kobu’s dance school, Yachiyo Inoue V., so it might be interesting for further background knowledge.

Other than that, I have a list of all of Kyoto’s active Geimaiko’s Misedashi and Erikae dates, and a list of their okiya affiliation. @missmyloko also has one, but her’s are sorted by kagai. In general, I would recommend going through her tabs, she has so much useful information on her blog! She has tabs on the kamon currently in use in Kyoto, book reviews on books about Maiko and Geiko, a glossary with explanations on the most important terms, a calendar of recurring events, a tab dedicated to the outfits of Maiko and Geiko and much more. I also have some tabs on my blog, but I really need to do some work on them ^^’.

#ask

[k-p-p-d]

Chapter 1. The Meeting

Word Count: +/-1900 Summary: It’s time he lives up to his birthright...

“This way,” the small elderly woman bowed delicately.  Her body still held the grace of a geisha, even if time had robbed her of her majestic youth.  The solemn man followed her down the hall, his hand gripped around the handle of the weapon tucked in his obi.  The soft shuffling of her feet masking the quiet murmurs of voices in the various rooms they passed.  Seeing the woman made his mood darken, broken memories of the shell of a woman he once knew as mother fluttering by.  “If it would please you my lord,” so deep in his trance like state he barely noticed they had stopped.  He turned to the small woman.  “Make yourself comfortable here, I will inform otousan of your arrival and have tea sent in for you.”  With a kind smile and a deep bow, she backed out of the room.

Taking in the warm decor of the room, he sat at the center table.  The cushion beneath him much softer than it looked.  The short blade now on the floor behind him, unseen yet still within reach if needed, he resigned himself to await the proprietor.  

Eyes closed and body still, he waited.  Strong hands resting on his knees, he concentrated on his breathing, his mind traveling back to all the tales he had overheard of this famed ochaya.  His father had been coming to this place for as long as it had stood.  He could hear his father now, “the lords of this clan will be the patrons of this ochaya, and all honorable sons shall continue this tradition for generations to come.” 

A young boy, no more than thirteen, looked up to the man walking next to him on the busy street.  He had grown much these past few years the man constantly joked that soon he would be looking up to the younger instead.  

“This,” the man started, his strong voice not booming but clear enough to be heard over the clamoring crowds going about their daily lives.  “This is what I hoped for all those years in battle, that one day I would be able to protect and provide for my son.  Now here I am with not just one,” he looked to the slighter boy on the other side of him, “but two sons to carry on after me.”  

The older of the two smiled, happy to be the filial son his father dreamed of.  

“You have two sons,” the younger boy spoke loudly.  “But only one true son and heir papa.”  The father stopped, his head lowered as he took a deep breath before crouching down in front of his youngest child.

“Dai you will never say that about your older brother again.  Despite what your mother has convinced herself to believe, your older brother is my legitimate son and so he is my rightful heir.”  Their father looked between the two boys, “I know that you both will be honorable men and shall take care of each other, our clan and the lands with which we own.”  The look in his eyes was so painfully sincere, it broke the eldest of the two, he hugged his father despite them being in public much to his younger brothers disdain. 

Honorable sons, he scoffed.  His brother had no honor, had never had it and never would.  He took after his mother in that sense.

The door slid open slowly and a young girl, no more than ten, slowly brought in a tray with tea and desserts.  Namagashi, higashi and daifuku laid before him, a bountiful selection that reminded him of youthful days long gone.  He smiled softly at the memories of sneaking a treat before supper, while the shy servant girl left as silently as she had come.  Abstaining from the decadent treats, he continued to peacefully wait, the soft lull of the night calming his darkened spirit. 

Music was being played.   Life was being enjoyed.   Dancers danced.   Singers sang.   

The steam from the steeping tea traveled through the air, the slight spice invaded his nostrils and warmed his cold, restless body while the serene voices cooled the firefight of nerves.  Just as he resigned to fill his cup, the door opened to reveal a tall man clothed in black silk obscured by a flowing kimono.  

The man was beautiful; no, that word was an insult.  It did nothing to truly describe the entity that graced mere mortals with his presence.  Tall and poised, everything about him screamed muted elegance and refinement.  His eyes, almond in shape and glittering like topaz in moonlight, seemed to peer into the deepest corners of the soul.  Yet they gave nothing away about him.  His kimono gently caressed the floor as he moved, the soft whispers of the silk adding to the shroud of mystery that covered him.  His movements were so graceful, it was as if he was floating on air, each stride of his long legs exuding confidence and power.  He was, in a word, magnetic. Something about him pulled those around him in yet no one would know what it was. They just knew they could not resist him. And he knew they would never try.

“Konbanwa Kyoto Kanrei, Ishihara Takamasa.”  the entrancing man said as he bowed smoothly, his voice dark, warm and smooth.

“Konbanwa,” the seated man reached for the blade behind him.  His movements concealed by the wide sleeves of his black haori.  Leave it to them to have him killed by such an enchanting creature.  “Apologies, dear beauty.  As much as I would love to partake in the Eden of your company, I'm waiting for som--” his words were cut short by the abrupt entrance of a second man of equally unnatural beauty.  His blade was drawn before the second man was completely in the room.

“Shitsurei shimasu.  Otousan, Daimyo.”  The obviously flustered young man gave a bumbling, yet still graceful bow to the elegant man still standing in the middle of the room.  The tall man looked at the younger with aloof amusement before turning back to the man armed and seated before him.

“You’ll have to forgive my darling meiko, Yuta” the tall man said with biting endearment.  “What he lacks in grace he atones for in beauty.”

“Otousan,” the daimyo questioned, shocked at the title bestowed upon the godlike creature.  “You’re awfully young to be the proprietor of an ochaya, are you not?”  He sheathed his sword, a tad uneasily, before lifting a delicate yet calloused hand. Years in training and battle with a sword had made his reflexes quick but this newfound battlefield of politics made him unreasonably cautious.  “Please join me,” his small yet full pink lips pulled up into a smirk, offering the tall man a seat.

Merely saying the man kneeled would be a misrepresentation of his body’s movement.  It was as if he drifted down, his body no more than a petal slowly descending to the earth from the branch of a sakura tree as a warmed spring breeze sifted through its pale blossoms. The Daimyo leaned forward, arm resting against the low table between their bodies, as he reached for the tea between the two only for long and elegant fingers to stroke the top of his hand in a delicate caress.  He glanced up into the bewitching eyes of the man before him.

“What kind of proprietor would I be, if I allowed you to serve the tea?”  The man's lips arced up into a breathtaking smile.  “If you do not mind, Daimyo, I will have my meiko serve us.”  With a snap of his fingers the younger man from earlier rushed across the room, much more gracefully than before.  “Yuta, show your respects.”  The younger man quickly fell to his knees in a full bow, delicate fingers coming together in front of his bowed head.  The action did not hold the same grace as the elder, but it was obvious that his body could be as fluid with proper training.

Yuta rose and set about fixing the tea; and, while waiting, the mysterious man lifted a pastel confectionary to his mouth.  “May I be so bold as to ask you for your name?  I gathered the young man under your tutelage to be Yuta, but who is his master?”  

The Daimyo couldn’t help but to chuckle at the way the man's eyes just barely widened, his carefully constructed mask of elegant disinterest slipping only slightly as he realized his misstep.  “I humbly apologize for that, it is not often I enter a meeting with a Daimyo as young and handsome as yourself.  Introductions completely slipped my mind.”  With a slight bow of his head, he purred, “I am Terada Takuya, Otousan of the Vixx okiya and proprietor of Starlights Ochaya, at your service.”  

Yuta poured each man their respective cup of tea before quietly sitting back, as if he was not in the room.  “And yes, as you said, I am the youngest Otousan to manage an okiya and an ochaya.  Okaasan, the former proprietor, fell ill and named me her successor.  But I gather you know exactly how that feels, Daimyo, to be thrust into a new position before you’re ready.”  Takuya lifted his tea to his lips, a smirk hidden behind the cup as he took a slow sip.

“You are very well informed Takuya-san.  Not that it would be much of a secret.”  He lift the tea cup to his nose breathing the aroma deep once more.  The scent was fresh yet earthy and the citrusy spice of a flower he couldn’t quite place intrigued him.  “This tea is quite interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever had any like it.”

Takuya smiled as he set his cup down.  “I’m sure you haven’t unless your travels have taken you to foreign lands.  It is 감잎차, persimmon leaf tea.  This is special blend we serve here thanks to my patron who has it shipped here regularly.  Something from his home to keep me warm until his return,”  Takuya spoke of the man, with a deep reverence.  It was obvious the man cared deeply, that was nice to see considering it was expected of the Daimyo to become a danna to one of the geisha or taikomochi here.  

“Please pass my compliments on to your danna.  The tea is a wonderful change for the palate.”  Takuya looked pleased to hear him compliment the tea, a demure smile graced his lips as he bowed his head.

“I will be more than happy to pass on your approval.  I’m sure he will be happy to know it my l--” Takuya stopped at the visible discomfort on the other mans face.  “Forgive my boldness, but would you prefer if I called you by another name?”

The man looked taken aback for a second and Takuya feared he had offended him.  Damn him and his tongue, he had been told time and time again he should think better on his words before speaking.  He could hear his adopted mother now, “If men wanted the prick of a thorn when they see a beautiful flower, they would stay at home with their wives.”  

The man smirked, his eyes downcast as he released a muted chuckle startling Takuya from his reverie.  “Here I was thinking I was keeping up pretenses quite well.”  He looked up at Takuya, his full yet small mouth pulled up into a twist of a grin, round eyes shining with mischievous mirth.  

“If you would please, call me Miyavi.”

~Admin Winter

Chapter 2

#Terada Takuya #Miyavi #Takamasa Ishihara #NCT Yuta #Cross Gene Scenario #Miyavi Scenario #NCT scenario #VIXX Geisha AU #Wind of Starlight AU #Winter Wonderland

[kasumi-ffxiv]

The Moriyama Family: A history

OOC: Just a bit of backstory for Kasumi and her mother’s side of the family, the Moriyama. 

It is speculated amongst many Au Ra that the Xaela and Raen once lived side by side in the Azim Steppe. Throughout the ages, the tale of the brave and wise Narantsetseg has been passed from mother to daughter and is known throughout Fujin, a humble village in the mountain range separating Yanxia and the Azimm Steppe.  

Like almost all Raen, Kasumi's ancestors left the steppe and their nomadic life behind. The reasons why are not known, only the first woman of the family that would become known as the Moriyama. A shaman, this woman was renowned for her ability to commune with nature, a hearer of the kami and medium for the undead.

What is known is that the first winter in Yanxia was hard. The clan were not welcomed by the hyur of local village, instead having to set up their own village, gathering fruit and hunting local wildlife to survive. Having arrived so soon before winter though, they barely had enough supplies to make it through the winter. By the middle of winter Narantsetseg's people were starving. She travelled to the next village, begging for food in exchange for her people farming the land for the hyur villagers for the next cycle. The Hyur disagreed, denouncing her people as oni. With her people starving, Narantsetseg was desperate calling for help from the spirits of the forest. One voice answered, a kitsune, appearing to the shaman to offer her help. A deal was struck and upon returning home, the raen found boxes upon boxes of food. Enough to keep them well stocked through the winter.

It wasn't until moons after the deal had been struck that Narantsetseg released the kitsune was not as benevolent as she appeared or even a simple kitsune. She had cursed the land to grow no crops, knowing the shaman would seek out aid. Seeking to be adored and honoured, she convinced Narantsetseg that if the women of her line honoured her for a hundred ages, the crops would always grow. A temple was built to the nine tailed fox in thanks, the kin of Narantsetseg serving as priestesses for many ages faithfully. Over the ages, the village prospered as promised, never having a failed crop as long as the women of the kept their promise. 

The villages around their own however seemed to be cursed, every crop failing and the livestock were inflicted with a mysterious plague. Eventually all of the people of the surrounding villages were forced to leave, denouncing the village and claiming that Narantsetseg had struck a deal with a yako or nogisune, a malevolent kitsune who thrived on chaos and destruction.

Worse yet, the yako had lied. in order for the crops to continue to grow, the nine-tailed fox kept making more and more demands. At first, larger and more extravagant offerings were often demanded by her but after a while the requests grew more sinister. Over time there were whispers of human sacrifices and dark magic. The Moriyama family, became known as tsukimono-suji “hereditary witches”, people of the village and the local area claiming the family had a kitsune that served the women of the family generation after generation.

 It had been almost an age since the villagers had heard of the yako making demands of them through her priestess. While she slumbered much had changed. The land had been invaded by foreigners who now suppressed the religion of Yanxia, including her own worship. Many of the villagers had stopped believing in the tale of the dark spirit that provided both a blessing and a curse to Fujin. It wasn't until the night eighteen years when the village drunk decided to sell his wife’s illegitimate child to a passing scout from a Doman okiya that the villagers folk tale proved to be real.

#backstory #head cannon #kasumi gakunin #oc history #part one #asks

[sobriquett]

Dear Yuletide Author

Dear my wonderful Yuletide author,

Isn’t it the most magical time of year? What follows is possibly information overload but, apart from my one big DNW, I want you to write something you’ll enjoy, and I’ll enjoy it too.

I like gen or romance; I love women in starring roles; I adore gut-clenching, heart-in-throat angst, although I’m also partial to fluff; I like happy endings, unhappy endings, happily for now but ultimately doomed and everyone knows it endings. I love missing scenes that reveal more about a character or alternate perspectives of canon events. Above all, I love close-canon AU/canon divergence – a story with a clear point of departure that explores an alternative ‘what if’ sort of scenario within the rules of that world.

Basically, I love any story that makes use of the characters’ context and takes advantage of it. The social, historical, political, cultural context is what makes me interested in particular characters and relationships – how they react to the opportunities, restrictions and spoken or unspoken rules of their worlds.

My one big DNW: please don’t take the characters out of their context (no coffee shop AU/high school AU/modern AU/omegaverse AU, etc.) – I prefer either canon-compliant fic or close-canon AU, just something that fits into its source’s universe.

My other do-not-want is graphic depictions of (physical) torture or mutilation – if I can imagine it in cinema quality and I wince, no thank you. That doesn’t mean bad things can’t happen – violence and terror is a way of life for some of the passengers on Snowpiercer, for example, and Nobu has been badly injured in the past – but I would prefer it not to be gratuitous or too vividly described. (Violence is fine, if appropriate, it’s just torture and mutilation/permanent damage that’s not.) Anything else goes.

In terms of sexual content: if that works for you, I am there for it. I am happy with a fic at any rating and any degree of explicit-ness. I’ve listed my letter under Yuleporn before with details of interests and DNWs, I may do again this year. If you want to write something that way out this year, look here. (If I write a 2020 letter, I’ll edit to add that later.)

Fandom 1: Victoria (TV)

William Lamb 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Queen Victoria

I loved the first season of this show. I haven’t actually seen the rest of it but, for these two characters, I don’t think that matters. Oh, the shippy feels I had that autumn…

I know this relationship wouldn’t work, could never work, for at least fifteen thousand reasons, but God, I want it to. (Not least that actual Melbourne is forty years older than Victoria; I’m totally there for older man/younger woman but that’s a little extreme.) My pie-in-the-sky weeping-with-joy dream fic would explore the constitutional consequences of them saying ‘oh fuck it’ and getting married, or being forced to by circumstance. (Can queens have shotgun weddings?) I’d also enjoy fic about the method and consequences of them enjoying a more formal ‘companionship’. Don’t worry if it gets messy and ends badly, just tell me what happens.

Alternatively, and I admit more realistically, any of that period drama not-quite-touching not-quite-saying-what-they-mean thing – and Melbourne’s a master of that – absolutely delights me, or those moments they spend alone where they get just a little bit closer and they’re only talking in metaphors but you just know they have feelings – I have feelings, we all have feelings, so many feelings. Or, perhaps, they move past all of that and subtext becomes text – smutty, romantic, whatever, as long as that relationship that’s canonically played out in carefully chosen words, extended metaphors and difficult flowers gets to become a tangible something.

If shippy fic is not your thing here, then I’d ask you to explore the mentor relationship between them. Melbourne is Victoria’s teacher in many ways, but he also has ghosts of his own to haunt him. They have both been deeply unhappy for a long time until they first meet. What joy do they find in each other and their friendship?

Fandom 2: Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

Toshikazu Nobu

Nobu’s appearances are the high points of the novel for me and I love the curious balance of bickering and mutual respect that characterises his relationship with Sayuri. (Nobu/Sayuri is my rarest and dearest of rarepairs.) However, Sayuri wasn’t nominated and so I can’t request that, so I have a completely open mind. I would be delighted to know more about Nobu’s relationship with any of the other characters, nominated or otherwise, or even simply his own thoughts and his personal history.

Neither Sayuri nor Nobu seem to have known much kindness in their life; I like to think they’d find that in each other, sort of kindred spirits. I would enjoy more of their wit, kindness and mutual respect in any form.

Both place importance on the kindness of the Chairman. Nobu and the Chairman have been friends for such a long time, and it seems a complex friendship worth exploring – mutual respect and obligation, trust and reliance. And the triangle between Sayuri, Nobu and the Chairman is a strange, fragile thing. Each pair has such a strong bond, each of the three relationships so different from one another.

Nobu is perhaps second only to Mameha in the degree of his influence over Sayuri’s career. They are both intelligent, independent survivors in their respective worlds (teahouses, factories, okiyas, battlefields) but neither is totally free nor happy and I would enjoy seeing their interaction or one’s perspective on the other.

Do Nobu and the Baron ever meet? I’d like to imagine they have quite different philosophies regarding the role of these women in their lives, but perhaps they’re more similar than we think.

If Hatsumomo is your girl, I’m sure she and Nobu have some strong opinions on one another and have met at one time or another.

I always enjoy fic in this fandom; you can’t go wrong.

Fandom 3: Snowpiercer (TV)

Any character(s)

I haven’t requested any particular characters because I have no preference; I also have no ship preferences, canonical or otherwise. I’m most fascinated by the design of the train – that is, the way everything is interconnected and interdependent in terms of resources and the associated peril. Also, I’m fascinated by the social design of the train – the class structure and the differences in privilege, as well as the mobility or lack thereof between classes, and the difference between what is and what was intended (or not). What strain, exactly, do the Tailies put on the train’s resources? They weren’t part of the physical or social design.

Above, I requested no graphic descriptions of torture or mutilation. I recognise that violence and mutilation is canon here, so if it’s going to add your story please don’t let my DNW stop you as long as it’s not gratuitous. This is a dark and dangerous world, so your fic could easily be dark and dangerous too. On the other hand, perhaps you might explore a moment of joy or relief in the darkness instead.

Please, explore this world in any way you like – any character, any ship. The setting – the train – is the star for me. If there’s something in particular that resonates for you, please use it.

Fandom 4: Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre

As problematic as it may be in some ways, this has been one of my favourite novels since I was quite young.

I enjoy Jane’s relationship with Rochester and would happily read anything on the subject at any point in the timeline. I would also happily read more about her relationship with any of the other characters in her life, nominated or otherwise.

I love exploring the historical contexts of my fandoms and pushing their boundaries. What would have happened if the wedding hadn’t been interrupted in time? Please, go as dark as you like (or not, maybe they get an early HEA), but consider Jane’s morality and the prevailing mores of the time. What if Rochester had died in the fire at Thornfield? How does Jane respond and what direction does her life take? What if the night after the wedding, before Jane ran away, had gone differently – what if she yields, against her character and reason, runs away with Rochester after all? Or merely succumbs to his physical advances? I enjoy a Victorian fallen woman tale, it’s a difficult life and it pushes all my buttons of following the society’s rules/angst/exploring consequences/angst.

Of course, while these fics could happily be written as devoutly Jane/Rochester fics, please feel free to make him the villain, or at least less-than-a-hero. If he corrupts Jane and damages her spiritually or physically, by all means explore the consequences – do they come back from it, or does their love fail?

If you just don’t want to write Rochester at all, I’m especially curious about Jane’s relationship with Mrs Fairfax, both during the timeline of the novel and after. Jane feels such affection and warmth towards Mrs Fairfax, how does she mark this? How do they spend their time together? Are they reunited post-canon? They are the closest thing to peers at Thornfield, as ladies but both dependents, but there is a gulf in age, experience, outlook and temperament between the two.

But I could also happily read about Jane and Adele, during or after the novel, or Jane and her grown-up cousins, or Jane and Bessie, or Jane and the Rivers siblings. If you use, feature or push the context of the novel in any way, the boundaries and rules of Jane’s world, I will be delighted.

#dear author letter #yuletide #yuletide 2020 #memoirs of a geisha #snowpiercer #victoria (tv) #itv victoria #jane eyre

[tetragon4-blog]

Rereading Vol. 60 & 61, Chap. 620-641, A Sip of Bourbon

Finally, we are entering the Bourbon Arc! If we keep this up, we’ll be caught up before Chapter 1000 is released...

After rereading the chapters, Bourbon’s approach and mission becomes much clearer than it was to me the first time around. Gin ordered him to approach Mouri for two reasons: First, Mouri had been in contact with Kir, and Vermouth’s cover-story is not fully convincing. Even if the FBI only “used” him as a decoy, his name has recently cropped up in relation to a lot of their busted plans. Conan himself realized that while he has been more careful about his own involvement, he has left Mouri exposed to the BO. Secondly, the tracking device on Kir was similar to the one they found on Sherry. As such, Gin suspects that if he finds the source of the planted tracker, it’ll lead him to Sherry. And Mouri is indeed suspicious: Gin probably knows that Ai did not run to any officials, because their moles have not reported on any irregularities. Yet, she seems to have acquired professional help. Also, Sherry had been out investigating Shinichi’s death, and the house is located in the neighbourhood: The Beika area is supicious, especially if they assume she already received help to escape from their building in the first place. They do not know how she left, after all. Maybe Gin considers the possibility that she hired Mouri while she was in Beika back then.

Bourbon is not a direct threat to Conan: If he found evidence of any involvement with Sherry, it would be Mouri who’d pay. And that is why Vermouth is not averse to aiding him in his mission. She doesn’t care about Ai or Mouri, as long as Conan and Ran remain outside the firing range. Sadly, Bourbon cares about Akai way more than about Sherry, and it is Conan who will lead him to Akai. As such, their interests do not fully align, which explains Vermouth’s later ambivalent behaviour. Although she did not seem to care about Akai as a person before, she has a vested interest in his continued survival now that “Okiya” is staying at the Kudou mansion. The danger of attracting any attention to Shinichi’s not quite verified death is immense.

It will be interesting to focus on Vermouth’s and Bourbon’s interaction to see how and when these dynamics begin to shift.

I feel really bad for Akai, somehow. This image expresses his situation quite well, doesn’t it? I mean... what a life. His father was probably killed, he invaded a vicious crime syndicate, his girlfriend was killed in the aftermath, he was almost brutally murdered by Kir and only lived to tell the tale because he put his trust in an elementary student. Then, after he believed things to slowly settle down, his new accommodation burns down, now he lives in a mansion meant for a family... by himself. Like a recluse. When I look at this picture of Akai sitting in the library, surrounded by anything but life and drinking alcohol... I just wonder. Is he celebrating life? Or punishing it?

I do wonder.

#detective conan #Detective Conan theory #meta #theory #dcmk #dcmk theory #dcmk meta #shuichi akai #bourbon #Black Organization #vermouth

[whistlewhileyoucook-blog]

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, A young Prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, The Prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter's night, An old beggar woman came to the castle And offered him a single rose In return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, The Prince sneered at the gift, And turned the old woman away. But she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, For Beauty is found within. And when he dismissed her again, The old woman's ugliness melted away To reveal a beautiful Enchantress. The Prince tried to apologize, but it was too late, For she had seen that there was no love in his heart. And as punishment, She transformed him into a hideous beast, And placed a powerful spell on the castle, And all who lived there. Ashamed of his monstrous form, The beast concealed himself inside his castle, With a magic mirror as his only window to the outside world. The Rose she had offered, Was truly an enchanted rose, Which would bloom for many years. If he could learn to love another, And earn her love in return By the time the last petal fell, Then the spell would be broken. If not, he would be doomed to remain a beast For all time. As the years passed, He fell into despair, and lost all hope, For who could ever learn to love... A Beast?

I’d say “Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies of all time,” but let’s be honest here, I’m probably going to say that about all Disney movies so we can go ahead and just get that out of the way. Beauty and the Beast really resonates with me: Belle is an outcast in her village, I felt that way throughout school growing up. She escapes reality frequently by reading, I do the same. From Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania to the Nitta okiya from Memoirs of a Geisha, I have traveled to far off places just by the pages of a book. Belle seeks for a more adventurous life than the small town she’s stuck in, and while I may not live in small town, I do often feel stuck and wanting more. I am so excited to see the movie I’ve grown up watching be translated in a live-action re-imagining, and to celebrate the film I’ve decided to dedicate my first few recipes to this tale as old as time. 

Macarons. Very French, very complicated. In actuality, these delicate almond meringue cookies are not as hard as most people make them out to be. Yes things need to be precise, and yes it’s a bit time consuming, but that doesn’t equate to a difficult recipe and I’m hoping this will help.

Enchanted Rose Macarons

100 grams egg whites

45 grams granulated sugar

6 grams dried roses (make sure they are food safe please)

100 grams almond flour

200 grams confectioner’s sugar

2-3 drops pink gel food coloring

Start by grinding granulated sugar and dried roses in either a food processor or blender until fine. In the bowl of a stand mixer add the egg whites and rose sugar and mix until sugar is well absorbed into the egg whites (Normally I would have a picture here but in my excitement I forgot to take photos as I went along...oops!) Starting with the mixer on a speed setting of 4 whip the eggs and sugar for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, increase speed to 6 and whip another 2 minutes. Can you guess what’s next? Increase the speed to 8 and whip another 2 minutes!! Well, actually, whip for 90 seconds, then add the food coloring, and finish out the last 30 seconds. The meringue should be at the stiff peak stage, if not keep whipping until it is. The stiff peak stage is when you take the whisk out of the bowl and the meringue forms a stiff peak at the end, funny how that works out, huh? You could also test the stability of your meringue by turning the bowl upside down, over an unknowing friend’s head is always more fun, and the meringue will stay in the bowl instead of plopping onto your victim’s head. Once you have your meringue at the right stage, sift the almond flour and powdered sugar over the top and start folding: 37-40 times to be exact. The mixture should start getting a little runny and not be a stiff meringue anymore. The best way to test if you’re ready to start piping, that is if you aren’t sure and need to check, is to take a spoon of the macaron mixture and drop it onto a plate. If the batter smooths over and settles, but doesn’t spread, it’s ready. Fill a piping bag and start piping! I have a wonderful silicon macaron sheet that has nifty little circles that I pipe into and it makes life a lot easier....well at least when it comes to making delicate french cookies. I highly recommend getting one, their inexpensive and last a lifetime. If you don’t have one then just get some parchment paper and a small cookie cutter and draw circles on the backside of the paper. Flip over and pipe! Tap the tray against a counter to release any hidden air bubbles and let sit and dry. I usually like to let them sit no less than an hour just to ensure that they’re going to be perfect when they come out of the oven. Speaking of, you should probably preheat that to 350F while you wait. The macarons are ready to bake when you lightly touch the top and it’s nice and dry. They should also have a nice shine to them. Bake for 11 minutes, and when they come out allow them to rest for 5 minutes before carefully lifting off the baking sheet. 

Swiss Meringue Buttercream with Candied Roses 

2 egg whites

120 grams granulated sugar

250 grams unsalted butter, softened. 

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp finely chopped candied roses

So there’s my rose macaron shell, but I really wanted to drive home the rose flavor, so I made a swiss meringue buttercream with chopped candied rose petals. Swiss Meringue buttercream, to me, is the best buttercream. It’s sweet without being too sweet, it has a nice structure when piping, and the texture is marshmallow-y and perfect. Some may find it a bit daunting and, once again, it takes time to make, but the end result is oh so worth it. In the bowl of a stand mixer over a pot of simmering water combine the egg whites and sugar and whisk until well combined. Side note: Don’t let the bottom of the bowl touch the water, it should be suspended over it allowing the steam so heat the bowl gently. With the aid of a candy thermometer, cook until it reaches 140F. Bring the bowl over to the stand mixer and start whipping. Whip until the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch and it looks like you have a bowl of whipping melted marshmallow. It takes a couple of minutes so have patience! If you add the butter before the bowl and meringue in turn are cooled down enough you’ll melt the butter, the mixture will turn into a soupy mess and things will not taste good, so be like Belle and read while you wait! Once the meringue is cooled properly, start adding softened butter gradually by the spoonful, allowing the previous spoonful to be fully incorporated before adding the next. Once all the butter is added add the vanilla, roses, and if you’re so inclined a drop or two of pink food dye. 

When the shells and buttercream are both ready, pipe a layer of buttercream onto half of the macaron shells and sandwich with the other half. Yes I know that probably goes without saying but hey, I’m trying to be thorough here. Now if you’re impatient like me, start digging in. Hey, you made them after all, you deserve it! Or store in an airtight container and store in the fridge overnight. When you do this, the flavor gets a bit more intense and the shells soften just slightly to be perfect, or I may be crazy and none of that happens except in my own head. In any case, I’m definitely making another batch of these for the premiere of Beauty and the Beast and sneaking them into the theater to enjoy!

A couple of things to note when making macarons: 1. Use a clean, grease-free bowl (wipe it down with a paper towel with a little lemon juice or vinegar if you’re unsure.)  2. It is possible to over whip the meringue. Stop just at the stiff peak stage. 3. I find the best way to pipe the macarons is by keeping the piping bag straight up and down and piping directly downward.

#macarons #beauty and the beast #enchanted rose #foodie #food #foodblogger

[willow-of-hingashi]

The Ijin Shikomi [RP]

(( Rating: PG ))

(( Genre: Slice of Life ))

(( Cast: Kikyo Hagane of @the-firetouched and Nobuyuki ‘Ichihiko’ Ienaka ))

 Kikyo Hagane has been padding about the mansion for some time in her bare feet, feeling the tatami against her toes. How unusual to find a place like home so far from where she once had grown. She hums softly to herself as she goes, eyeing the curious decorations and trying to learn about the place where she will soon work. But really she was looking for one person: the geisha who apparently worked within these halls. Kiyo-chan so badly wanted to learn as the geisha learned in Kugane. To exalt in the music and the dance and the beauty that had captured her heart...but then, as she pushes through another set of doors, she spots a well-dressed individual. Worth another ask, even if this person also has no idea how to answer her! She performs the proper bow. "Hello. I am Hagane no Kikyo. Do you know where the geisha who works here is?" Her Eorzean is heavily accented.

 Nobuyuki Ienaka curled a finger in front of the neck of his shamisen, each pluck soft as the tuning pegs creaked with each twist. The sheet music that sat before him wasn't in Hingan notes, but Western order. A treble clef sat at the left of each page. ["Western keys. . . what is it with them and G major? I don't get the appeal. . ."] His muttering ceased when the shoji slid open. "Oh, good evening," he began with a bow of his head. He listened to the girl for a moment before tilting his head. She didn't sound or seem all that old, either. . . but he didn't know a lot about the aging of races outside of Hyur and Kojin. "You are speaking to him," he responded, going to set aside the instrument that was in his lap.

 ["Would Hingan dialect be easier for you?”] he asked. [”Your accent is Doman, though."] Hingan and Doman were essentially the same language, but their dialects were distinct in their sound and even word usage.

 Kikyo Hagane is Doman by nature and thus her reaction of excitement is reserved. But it would be quite clear to an Easterner such as Nobu. She clasps her hands in front of her and her eyes light up. She smiles. [”I can speak Hingan!”] she says. [”I lived in Kugane for...a short time. It would not sound as beautiful as yours,”] she adds quickly. She bows her head again. [”I am so honored to meet you, Geisha-sama!”] A phrasing which may...clue into her youth. [”I have searched for you all day. For it is my greatest dream to train in the arts...though I worry I may not be good enough,”] she admits. She keeps her eyes to the floor, respectfully. [”I am a new worker here at the onsen.”]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka hummed, his head tilting back a bit. ["So, you are a Doman,"] he noted out loud. He observed her for a moment, giving a polite look-over. ["Seventeen summers old is a good age to begin as a maiko. I started myself when I was fifteen. From the sound of it. . . you haven't been a shikomi, have you?"] He didn't sound disappointed, but it was clear he was scrutinizing her.

 Kikyo Hagane 's unflinching smile finally hesitates a little, sensing she is being scrutinized. She tries to stand a little taller and hold herself more elegantly. ["No, geiko-sama, I was never allowed service in any Okiya. I did try!"] And while her face remains placid, her eyes spark with determination. ["This is when I learn they do not prefer ijin in their ranks...for yes, I am from Doma."]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka blinked. Then, he sighed. It almost seemed like he was unimpressed for a moment until he spoke. ["That tends to be the case for ijin,"] he responded. ["They're turned away and sometimes, they run off and try to make their own okiya. Sanjo Hanamachi has only been slightly forgiving of this. . . you have to know people."] He pursed his lips. ["I do not doubt you didn't try. I'm Hingan and I've have a similar experience. . .  but, answer me this; when exactly is your next nameday?"]

 Kikyo Hagane nods politely as he speaks, still trying to impress with her politeness. ["The 5th sun of the 6th Astral moon! So soon, is it not? I am sorry to hear that you have seen the same...you're so fashionable,"] she says, slipping up. She starts and bows. ["That was forward of me, I apologize."]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka watched Kikyo fumble with a polite smile. It wasn't out of pity; it was rather cute. She resonated her youth. ["You're forgiven,"] he replied, content. ["It is quite soon. . . but I have a plan."] He folded his arms, raising a hand to his chin. ["I an Ichihiko of Ichimitsu Okiya. I will. . . send a letter to my okiya and see if they would accept you as a shikomi under their name and my watch. I'm a licensed professional geigi, so I have the authority to oversee your apprenticeship. If they would allow me to do it is another thing, but I got along well enough with the otou-san of the okiya. It should be alright."] His arms returned to his sides. ["I'm going to ask you something you might have already answered for, but I want the answer in detail. Can you dance? Can you sing? Can you play an instrument?"] He canted his head. ["Your conversation is fluid enough in Eorzean and Hingan. . . your etiquette is proper, but could use some refining."]

 For the first time, Kikyo hesitates in answering -- not out of doubt of her answer, but of the strange and dark memories it surfaces. ["I trained as a shrine maiden in my home village until the Empire finally decided they were no longer entertained,"] she says, as diplomatically as she can. ["I have sung hymns and know dances to calm the great kami of our mountain home. I am eager to work and learn!"] she adds, hopeful.

 Nobuyuki Ienaka 's gaze was filled with sympathy. So many Domans displaced at such a young age. . . and one was upon him. ["I am sorry for your loss,"] he responded softly. ["That will do as a foundation. I will see you trained in seasonal dances and in Hingan instruments. The shamisen is a good start. You'll be practicing the shamisen for two bells every morning. Your dance lessons shall be in the evening, also for two bells. These are daily. You'll also have tea cereony, calligraphy, etiquette, and lessons focused on another instrument. Ths shift throughout the week. I'll arrange a schedule for you and you'll follow it. Is this clear?"] His shoulders squared some. ["This will begin once I have the otou-san's permission. We'll arrange for getting you your gei license. Hopefully, your misedashi - your debut as a maiko and the start of your career - will be shortly after your nameday."]

 Kikyo Hagane is old enough to understand but, perhaps luckily, too young to truly grasp the exact level of devastation enacted upon her lands and family. Or perhaps her optimism is blind and wishful. But not today! As Nobu lists her training, she cannot help from rolling to the balls of her feet in true excitement. ["Yes, Ichihiko-sensei! You honor me so much! I hope to honor you by serving as a good student,"] she says genuinely, bowing. ["What would you have me do before the debut? Do you require maid services? I shall of course be about the onsen as well..."]

 ["As a shikomi, in between your lessons, you will be doing chores. Preparing food for ozashiki and for our daily meals, serving and cleaning dishes, folding and cleaning kimono, tidying the ozashiki hall. . . many simple things."] It hardly sounded like Kikyo would be getting any free time!

 Kikyo Hagane seemed perfectly fine with this -- excited about it, even! ["I will do this! I will be the best shikomi of Uranami Onsen,"] she declares seriously, for being the only shikomi at the onsen....

 Nobuyuki Ienaka clasped his hands together with a polite smile, but his eyes were still serious. ["Very good. I'll give you your first official duty after I send the letter. It may take a while to get a response, but seeing as the onsen's already hired you, I don't see why you can't already start. We just need to get your gei license for your misedashi. Then you'll be good to go. Your first business would likely be helping me attend the onsen's stall at Ketto-Sai, the festival of samurai in Kugane."]

 Kikyo Hagane seems a little nervous at the mention of Kugane...but she wouldn't be alone this time! She had a real job! She would be at a festival working in probably nice clothes. She recovers and nods. ["Oh, a festival...how exciting! What will we be doing there, if I may ask?"]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka gave the answer bluntly. ["Selling soap."] He shifted his weight between his feet. ["We'll also be advertising the ozashiki hall for banquets. Which do you think you can handle more? Advertising the geisha or selling onsen goods? The former might be good if you want to try your hand at explaining to others what we do as geisha."]

 ["Soap can be pretty and smell very nice,"] Kikyo says, nodding, taking everything seriously as she is wont to do. ["I love the geisha arts. I would be honored to explain it to others!"]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka nodded once. ["Excellent. You must keep in mind, though; there will be Eorzeans there. Westerners. They /will/ ask if or why geisha are sex workers. You tell them they are not! It is forbidden by Hingan law to hold both a gei license and a prostitution license."] He tucked some hair behind his ear before reaching for a notepad, of which also rested on the stage. ["I have a number of performances scheduled this moon. . . most notably at this strange 'KupoCon.' I think someone your age may enjoy it."]

 Kikyo Hagane looks shocked at this! That people would even think that!! ["I will tell them!"] she says seriously. ["It is a job of beauty and artistry..."] As Nobu obtains his clipboard, she watches curiously. As to the topic of Kupocon...she tilts her head. ["Is a Kupocon where they celebrate the poofy ball mail creatures? They are cute..."]

 Nobuyuki Ienaka 's eyes shifted. ["Eorzeans are. . . forward and don't understand our concept of keeping face,"] he responded. ["Respect becomes something foreign. Show them geisha deserve it. . . and that means being on your best behavior."] He glanced back down at the notepad. ["I am actually unsure. Sort of? It's in their logo. Anyway, I'll be one of the 'idols' performing there. I am also hosting a talk about how geisha actually function to teach the Westerners about them. Your assistance, if you'd like, would be appreciated. The performance, you are free to watch. There's a party towards the end of the evening. You're quite free to attend."]

 Kikyo Hagane straightens up her posture once again when he mentions being on her best behavior! She cannot erase her excited smile, however. ["I would love to attend and assist however I can. I like very much to be helpful. And..."] She looks away, blushing a little. ["...I would like to see this party. I want to touch one of the kupos..."] She doesn't know they aren't called that!

 ["It's a great mesh of Western and Eastern culture. It shall be interesting."] Nobuyuki sets the notepad aside. ["Ah, one of the moogles? There might be some. Many stalls are selling graphic novels. It seems to appeal to many Western teenagers, and I can understand why. Such novels are popular in Kugane as well, I've noticed from my time there. Having been a shrine maiden, I trust you can read."] Then, he started to make his way for the door. ["Come. There are pumpkin cookies at the bar, along with some tea. Let's partake of it while we talk."]

 Kikyo Hagane follows excitedly! ["A moogle..."] she tests the word. How strange. But her joy largely bubbles up fro the promise of cookies. Yay! ["I love reading stories...I am learning Eorzean words very quickly..."] she would say, as they settle in for their chat...

#ffxiv rp #the-firetouched #kikyo hagane #nobuyuki ienaka #mateus rp #geisha #ffxiv #ffxiv mateus #[ tales from the okiya ]

[ao3feed-crowley]

Elegance and Grace: The Royal Courtesans of the House of Acheron

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3azCC6s

by rev02a

Lucifer, the bastard cousin of the Prince Regent Gabriel, is Lord of a okiya in a southern District. He has trained a mismatched group of talented companions. They're not the rich and cosmopolitan courtesans of the capital, but still connected enough to present Crowley to the youngest prince as a potential consort.

If the goddess of courtesans blesses them, the trip may lead to love and stability for two of the companions from the House of Acheron.

Words: 5797, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Beelzebub (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), Aziraphale (Good Omens), Gabriel (Good Omens), Uriel (Good Omens), Michael (Good Omens), Ligur (Good Omens), Hastur (Good Omens), Satan | Lucifer (Good Omens), Sandalphon (Good Omens)

Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Beelzebub/Gabriel (Good Omens), Hastur/Ligur (Good Omens)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Courtesans, Alternate Universe - Fairy Tale, Fairy Tale Retellings, Eventual Smut, Eventual Happy Ending, Love at First Sight, Reunions, Worldbuilding

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3azCC6s

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #Crowley

[koikishu]

March 2019: Aoi-tayuu, of Suehiro okiya, posing backstage while she waits for the interlude between Noh plays to perform a reading of Aoinoue (葵上, “The Lady Aoi”). Interestingly, Aoi-tayuu's myoseki (”inherited name”) is derived from the character Aoi no Ue from The Tale of Genji.

In fact, Aoi-tayuu has coordinated her kitsuke to evoke images from the story of Aoi no Ue. Her white uchikake and aigi kimono are representative of the white birthing robes common to Heian women as well as the white robes worn by the dead. Her black spider-web-sakura-petals obi is supposed to invoke the angry vengeance of Lady Rokujou no Miyasudokoro (六条御息所). Her kanzashi features a hollyhock (i.e. “aoi”) design. The dragon on the uchikake could be a reference to the Buddhist sutras used to perform the exorcism. Even her choice to wear the Tsubushi Shimada hairstyle is symbolic due to its purple ribbon. Purple was a color of privilege and status for Lady Rokujou no Miyasudokoro (六条御息所), as she was born a Heian princess.

Source: https://twitter.com/ayaka8700119/status/1108655945410699264?s=20

#kimono #tayu #tayuu #aoi #aoitayu #aoitayuu #suehiro #suehirotayuu #suehirotayu #suehirotimeline #suehirookiya #suehiro2019 #shimabara #shimabaratayu #shimabaratayuu #jigokusugata

[ao3feed-goodomens]

Elegance and Grace: The Royal Courtesans of the House of Acheron

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3azCC6s

by rev02a

Lucifer, the bastard cousin of the Prince Regent Gabriel, is Lord of a okiya in a southern District. He has trained a mismatched group of talented companions. They're not the rich and cosmopolitan courtesans of the capital, but still connected enough to present Crowley to the youngest prince as a potential consort.

If the goddess of courtesans blesses them, the trip may lead to love and stability for two of the companions from the House of Acheron.

Words: 5797, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/M, M/M

Characters: Beelzebub (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), Aziraphale (Good Omens), Gabriel (Good Omens), Uriel (Good Omens), Michael (Good Omens), Ligur (Good Omens), Hastur (Good Omens), Satan | Lucifer (Good Omens), Sandalphon (Good Omens)

Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Beelzebub/Gabriel (Good Omens), Hastur/Ligur (Good Omens)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Courtesans, Alternate Universe - Fairy Tale, Fairy Tale Retellings, Eventual Smut, Eventual Happy Ending, Love at First Sight, Reunions, Worldbuilding

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3azCC6s

#ao3feed #fanfic #Good Omens

[squatsandshitt-blog]

Challenges of the imagination

After reading the "Geishments http://www.dicodunet.com/out.php?url=https://vipmovies.to Confessions" by Arthur Golden, I hovered for a moment in a different dimension, I went back to the old era and rose a little above everyday life. I wanted to stay in this state for a while, so I watched a film directed by Rob Marshall. "American Geisha Confessions" quickly brought me down to earth, stealing only the story I learned, a large part of what made it extraordinary. The story of Sayuri is a story about fulfilling a dream that accidentally sprouted in the interior of a little girl who is a servant in okiya, a geisha house. Sayuri, living the illusion that she can return to her childhood, find her sister and continue her old life, refuse to follow the path of the geisha she has been chosen for. However, when he meets a man who forever sneaks into her heart, he realizes that only on this way he can meet him again. He marks his goal, prays for success and waits for the development of events. One day he gets his chance, and the sky and the earth begin to favor her in striving to become a true geisha. First of all, the creation of Sayuri (Ziyi Zhang) fails. We were not shown anything above the mask of the geisha, while in principle, thanks to its title confessions, we get to know its interior.Sayuri for 145 minutes utters a few simple sentences. Not even the narrative comments save her. It seems empty, washed out of emotions, learned and artificial. It is terrible compared to the book's prototype of a complex personality, strong character, strong instinct of survival and great life wisdom. Instead of a charismatic and confident woman, we get a girl with the Cinderella mentality (a very apt and repeatedly used comparison) that can be carried with the wind. There is no better case for other characters who are as simple as a piece of paper, and in their personality there is no complexity that you can think about for a moment. During two and a half hours, despite the multithreading and the vastness of the plot, it was time to devote a moment to the characters in the film were somehow, and not only they were. Women's beauty and charm rule the world they see. An exaggeration, however, is to beautify the character to the limit. Geishas, ​​of course, have to be an object of delight, so their perfection is understandable. However, it is difficult to comprehend why the one-armed and repulsive Mr. Nobu (Kôji Yakusho) was originally perfected, depriving the protagonist of any cohesion, or Mama (Kaori Momoi), looking like a smoky work of art at any time of the day or night. To get rid of the impression that a lot a bit of realism would be better here. Perhaps, according to the creators, it would ruin the entire beautiful picture shown in the film? Because the picture is indeed beautiful. There is no doubt about it. The charm of Japanese streets, great scenography, wonderful costumes and beautiful people - that's what we find on it. It's hard not to fall in love with the fairy-tale atmosphere that creates these elements. Everything wonderfully complements the magic music of John Williams, which helps to move into a completely different, fantastic world. These beautiful particles together create such a delightful puzzle that the viewer wants to float above the ground. He begins to dream and turns off the reality around him for a moment in favor of the beauty that his eyes enjoy. Even for such aesthetic experience, a movie is worth watching. It is advisable then to turn a blind eye to the obvious passing of the truth, because it can spoil the reception of the picture. Was this the reality of Japanese reality in the 1930s? It was presented as the viewers from the West would like to see it. Without this trick, the audience would find it hard to admire the film, because there would be problems with understanding a culture so different from ours, with values ​​and patterns so different. That's why the film was Americanized, leaving only scraps of Japanese reality. Kneeling on tatami instead of sitting in armchairs is not enough to present cultural differences. It is hard to get rid of the idea that by Americanizing Japan, recipients have been robbed of the opportunity to learn something that could be much more fascinating than the values ​​and canons that we already know by heart. So we received a beautiful picture, which you can stare at for hours, and in it a fairy tale told so that we would like it and that we would gladly pay for seeing it. However, we did not get a story in Japanese but an American story that left us unsatisfied and dissatisfied with the fact that creating a film for mass audience, fed ...