Amiko Kobayashi (hotlittlehands) wrote,
@ 2013-01-28 22:34:00

Island Meme
She fully recognized that they'd been through a lot lately. Certainly, her people needed rest, even now that their wounds had pretty much healed.

...She just wasn't certain that being included in the mandatory retreat for government operatives was the right kind of rest. But she hadn't had a firm legal, tactical, or ethical reason against it when they were included, so here they are.

And apparently, there was a beach party. And those not dealing with other recreational concerns were highly encouraged to participate in an informal sand castle competition. Amiko learned this when a very maternal bureaucrat ~~cornered~~ encouraged Amiko and Hajime.

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	get_medieval 2013-01-29 02:35 am UTC (link)
	Hajime is... very confused by this entire thing. An enforced vacation? What, precisely, is with the beach. And, of course... "Amiko-sama... what is the purpose of a sand castle? And what is a sand castle?" (Reply to this)(Thread)

hotlittlehands
2013-01-29 02:41 am UTC (link)

She smiled sympathetically. "As it sounds, a sculpture in wet sand, generally of a castle. Usually just an artistic exercise for children, although adults occasionally as well." Pause, gesturing towards teh shoreline. "Clearly. It is more convenient with two, if you are willing to work together. I was a fair hand at mixing the right proportions of water as a child."

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	get_medieval 2013-01-29 02:45 am UTC (link)
	"Of course I will work with you on this. So... wet sand and what can be found on the beach for the making of a castle?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2013-01-29 02:49 am UTC (link)
	She nods. "It's always -- well, it was," she's around 30 after all. This isn't something she's done in a while. "--a judgement call how close to make it to the water, balancing access and the risk of its being washed over by the waves before it's completed." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2013-01-29 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Hajime nods, narrowing his eyes and surveying the surroundings. "I will let you and your experience make that judgement. I have a few things to find, and will be right back." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2013-01-29 03:43 am UTC (link)
	Amiko nods, although she wonders what there is to get besides seashells, twigs, and maybe a good bucket. She finds a reasonably high-ground-ish spot that's still easy to get the water to, especially via a few temporary foot-dug furrows further toward the waves. She's getting a good wet foundation patted down after just a bit. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2013-01-29 03:50 am UTC (link)

Hajime returns with a bucket full of supplies. Seashells, rocks, seaweed, driftwood and other odds and ends. He first begins digging furrows with a larger piece of driftwood. Then he uses some of the larger rocks, placing them at the four corners out a ways from her central castle, setting 'foundation stones' as he starts building well-rooted defensive walls just beyond the furrows to protect from eventual incoming tides.

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	hotlittlehands 2013-01-29 03:52 am UTC (link)
	Amiko takes all this in. She blinks. Then, just before getting back to her own work, she bows shawllowly. "...It is always an honor to work with you, Hajime-san." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2013-01-29 03:57 am UTC (link)
	"The honor is mine." he responds honestly, as he takes a twig, and begins carefully putting murderholes along the length of the wall, poking them into the sand fortification. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2013-01-30 05:26 am UTC (link)
	Amiko keeps up her end of the work with study, solidly packed sand and occasionally looks around with amusement to notice the occasional person making their own appreciation of Hajime's technique. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2013-01-30 06:00 am UTC (link)

Hajime shows no signs of noticing anyone else. He probably knows they're there... but all his attention is directed towards the castle.

Ok, after murderholes, next comes the false walls, thin, but nicely obscuring, set up next to the sand barracks so the troops can mass or move about with some cover and protection. Barracks, of course, distributed evenly and uniformly around the courtyard so there could be troops anywhere within the compound quickly.

And once the military is done... balance is needed.So he dumps out his bucket of very, very carefully selected white and dark rocks, and begins placing them, one by one in perfect pattern to give the castle a relaxing rock garden.

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	hotlittlehands 2013-01-30 06:04 am UTC (link)
	Amiko's too wired for keeping up, keeping busy, to just stop and stare... so she'll work and stare. "...Perfect." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

get_medieval
2013-01-30 06:10 am UTC (link)

"No." Hajime responds, simply. The rock garden gets about twenty more minutes of attention, everything must be in perfect place. Then, seaweed is used to add greenery and life. Finally, he finds a suitable bit of driftwood, then takes some of hid folding paper out of his pack. More seaweed is feted and wet down to make it flexible, and so it will stick to the paper - where he very, very carefully plasters it into the Yashida family crest.

The flag is wrapped about the flagpole, and the flag placed at the gateway.

"Now, it is done."

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	hotlittlehands 2013-01-30 06:44 am UTC (link)
	To say that Amiko is impressed is an understatement. "Yes, you're right. Now it is." As for the people who don't know Hajime and his dedicated, perfectionistic ways, there's a bit of staring. ...And some feeling very awkward about their clumsily sculpted mounds of sand. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2013-01-30 07:07 am UTC (link)
	Its very simple. She is his daimyo. This is her project, her castle. To put less than his best effort forth would have been an insult. He barely notices the people staring, and certainly makes no effort to take notice of any less than perfect castles. That would be rude. "The central keep is very nice. When did you learn to build these?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2013-01-30 07:21 am UTC (link)
	"The first was when I was ... five, I think? My Lady-Mother used to let me come with her when she went to Hayama on important clan business. Toni, on her staff, showed me how." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2013-01-30 07:29 am UTC (link)
	"Ahhh, yes. I can see how this would be a useful project to put a five year old to." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	hotlittlehands 2013-01-30 07:49 am UTC (link)
	She laughs slightly. "Nothing quite so well done as this one, of course." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	get_medieval 2013-01-30 08:19 am UTC (link)
	He raises a brow. "Well, yes. It would not be expected of a five year old, but it is a good age to begin practicing." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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