Brenda
When there was a break in the storm, Miyuki and Kakita-san made there way down from the cliffside temple back to the dormitory.  He had already fallen asleep once up at the temple.  She had woken him up, fearing that if they did not take advantage of the break in the weather, that they would have to spend the night at the temple.

Her yojimbo went on to bed.

She remained in the lounge.  She was working on turning some sketches into a full page treatment, in preparation for painting.
Serj
Somehow dry, the Scorpion emerged at the doorway to the common rooms. Ever dark and mysterious looking as ever, he glided behind the Crane lightly; not stealthily, for sneaking was dishonorable! But faintly enough she may or may not hear him, for he was light of foot. A skill learned of necessity in time of war. But if she did not hear him when he approached from behind, she would surely hear him when he would speak. "Your art seems to be coming along quite nicely, Miyuki-san," he would whisper into her ear. Definitely couldn't miss that.
Brenda
She was intent on her sketching and did not realize he was there until he spoke.

She startled.  A little gasp.

And then turned to see him.  Smiling.

"Shosuro-san, how are you?  How did you manage to stay dry?  It is quite a storm.  I fear our music did nothing to hold it off."

Her clothes were dry only because she had changed them.  Her hair was damp.  Clinging to her.
Serj
You know it really is a plot hole why he did not end up getting wet. So he lifted a small parasol, black and red but now soaked and in a most sorry state. "I am well; my parasol will need recuperation before it tries to withstand such a mighty opponent." Oh right, public space. Luckily no one ever heard him when he whispered aside from his chosen message recievers. "More likely, your beautiful voice drew the stormclouds ever nearer, Doji-sama, that they may get to hear your melodious and haunting voice."
Brenda
"I think you are the wisest person here to have brought a parasol to a place that apparently had three months of continuous storm like this, and perhaps could again.  They may have to build covered walkways between the buildings so we are not trapped in these small dormitories."

"I think I would go mad.  I wish we could go for a walk."  And she could call him Shirou-san, as she wished.  And other things would be possible.

"I do like singing.  Though I shall perhaps not soon enjoy a performance as much as I did when I had that chance to sing for you."

"And you sang for me."

Could she say that?  People sang for each other.  Perhaps they had only run into each other on the beach.

"I do lack enough subjects to sketch here.  Particularly when stuck inside.   Would you like to sit for a bit?  Join me here?  I could sketch you.  For practice."   And not because she wanted to keep a picture of him on hand.   Not because she wanted the excuse to stare at him.
Serj
"It is less wisdom, and more that being on rivers and the ocean leads one to prepare for the water where ever it may come from out of habit and the loss of many kimonos, Doji-sama." No, proper names would be best in this kind of environment. Although the author does wonder what other kinds of possible things she means. "You know, if we went for a walk, none would be out there to join us except madmen." He toyed with the idea for a second, but likely the Doji did not have clothes she was willing to use up like that. She was a lady after all.

He could not help but beam at her once more, his heart almost a flutter. Her singing indeed that night, had truly just blown him aaway far and beyond anything he could have imagined. "When you ever wish for a partner to sing for a duet, Doji-sama, you only need to call my name and I shall be there at once." People sang all the time together! Granted they didn't sing love songs at each other unless they were performers, but it was not so weird! Next time they would just have to sing about the majesty of nature or something just as droll.

O-oh. The Scorpion was caught off guard by her suggestion. He had always been the painter, never the paintee. He stood, dumbstruck for a second, before he lightly stepped into position in front of her. "I shall be the finest clay for your creation; do you have a pose in mind you would prefer?" Although hopefully none with his weapon drawn. That would be quite a sight to walk into, a Scorpion wielding a blade in the presence of a Doji-hime.
Brenda
"Have you spent much time on the water?  I must confess traveling by boat was not my favorite."

She glances at the door at the mention of a walk.   "It probably is very quiet out there.  But, you do have a parasol.  Perhaps if I stood close enough, under it, the rain would not touch me."

"Oh, I am sure we could work on a duet!   There is no reason we could not.  There is a group of us that have been performing together up on the cliffside.   We would just need to pick a song.  And then we would have to practice."  More excuses to spend time together.  But something that truly did sound very enjoyable to her.   Even if they might have to pick a different song.

Did she have a pose in mind?

"Hmmm..." she looks at him.  A very intense head to toe look.  No doubt necessary for an artist.

"Comfortable is best, since it takes a bit of time.  Perhaps just sitting comfortably.  As you might, if you were relaxing with friends."  In agura, perhaps.  "As you might look to me, sitting beside me.  Looking at me."
Serj
"About two years Doji-sama. Rivers throughout the Empire. I had an important mission prior to coming here, the Mantis were most gracious in assisting me with it." He grimaced slightly; Kami he did not love boats at all even having spent so much time on them. But his expression lightened, and then turned sly, a hand coming to his mouth. "We would have to be so close; if anyone saw us what would they think, of the Crane and the Scorpion huddled together under the parasol. Surely there would be talk." Gasp. "But yes. A duet sounds most intriguing. I have not yet had the opportunity to perform with someone before in such a way. With your dulcet tones I would be most honored to have you as a partner." Oh, he would indeed love to have her as a partner-- to help with many things! Like dancing and such..!

A comfortable pose. Agura, that was simple enough indeed. He obediantly went down for her, legs folding underneath him as he sat in the cross legged style. He imagined Shinjo Soetsu sitting nearby, being an antisocial while his body loosened up and he imagined chatting up his companion indeed. His fingers ran through his hair to slightly smooth it out, before he stared at the empty space that was now his brother in arms, with a slight smile on his face. He was not totally loosened up, but fairly casual for a samurai, and he held the pose for her.

12 unskilled acting!

Brenda
"An important mission?  That sounds interesting.  Can you speak of it?"

She smiles at the image of them under the parasol.  "Perhaps they would only think you found me out in the storm, and were a gentleman in helping me home."

"I'll think of a song for a duet.  We would make such good partners.  I'm sure of it.  You have a strong voice."

She watches him settle into a comfortable pose.  Well done.  And the look on his face was not entirely scandalous.  Though she kind of wished she had a picture of him looking at her like he was looking at a woman he was very fond of.  But this was a good - and non scandalous - start.

"You have a good instinct for this.  Are you imagining speaking to a friend?  One of your fellow Scorpion perhaps?"

She begins sketching rapidly.

"Hold still, if you can.  But it is fine to keep talking.  I'll tell you when I am working on your mouth."
Serj
[ I almost have my reply done. ]
Brenda
((wishes she was at the finish line to truly cheer for him in his race))
Serj
He bit his lip for a second, still posed, before stopping and returning to his casual look. He did not shake his head. Or move a muscle. It would look odd, but he could talk through this frozen facade, although it still did not look the most natural. "Unfortunately," the poser said, "I cannot. Another time, but for now you must trust me that it is confidential. For I would not lie to you." They would look pretty good under a parasol together. Black and red with blue and white. A most alluring combination, no?

"Your voice is far stronger than mine; you would be carrying me." Ahah, he who said to not be humble was being humble! But it was true, her performance had pierced his normally hard exterior and made him feel feelings. She was more than talented; she had a gift from the Fortunes and the Kami themselves!

Aha, if she wished for a certain pose, she could certainly simply ask. He was here to obey and be a good subject. Unruly subjects for paintings were the worst. "Shinjo Soetsu," the words came out through still stiff teeth and lips. "An old companion of mine from when I served under Toturi-tenno, a Unicorn courier. He is a bit... antisocial, at times, but seems to have warmed up to me. I joked to him that I would secure him a bride, one who would do all the talking for him." Ooh girl she could work on his mouth any time any day.
Brenda
She continues to sketch.  She is looking at him so intensely.  Her absolute undivided focus.

She nods that he cannot speak of his mission.  Understood.

"Part of skill in a duet is blending the voices.  Learning to be exactly what the other needs.  Well matched.  I am sure we could find how to be that.  With practice."  She smiled.

She clearly recognizes Shinjo-san's name.  "Oh, I know him.  He is very kind.  He helped me the other night when there ... when there was some trouble.  I didn't know he also served under Toturi-tenno.  Ah, I owe him more thanks, I think."

"A bride for him!   How exciting.  Do you have any young woman in mind that you think would make a good wife?"

Her own blush suggests she too is thinking - after she said it - of all the possible meanings of working on his mouth.  Her eyes are glancing to his mouth more than could possibly be necessary.  Particularly when she is not sketching that part of him.

Serj
His frozen smile widens and as he gazes upon her, he looks much more natural and relaxed now as he posed, a dimpled smile finally appearing. Only she got to see them more often than not. "Two tones, in harmony together." Blended, mixed together? "It would be my sincerest pleasure, Doji-sama." Oh yes. Perhaps someday their voices could mix together in a duet not meant to be heard by an audience.

"Shinjo-san is very kind and compassionate. He is a Unicorn after all." Stereotypes, man. "But he is also withdrawn, quiet. He needs a social butterfly to shore up his weaknesses, a good speaker. Most beautiful as well. Have you any sisters, twins in particular, Doji-sama?" He laughed through his frozen face.

"Unfortunately, I do not know many of the women around who would be eligible. I can steer him their way, teach him to court, but he would have to make a case to the nakodo and his daimyo, as well as her and her daimyo. True love," he sighed while  looking right at her , "is a most rare and precious thing to find nowadays. More precious than jade, since it appears that we are sitting upon a goldmine of them." On one occasion when she looked at his mouth, he slowly licked his lips, tongue slowly making its way across the bottom one before returning to his mouth. There was a lot he could do with that tongue, if she had the imagination.

Acting unskilled 20!

[ Okay I am going to pass tf out. Thank you for the scene Doji-sama :heart: ]
Brenda
((Sounds good - at the end, he will see the sketch of him is AMAZING - Art: 51))
((I loved the dialogue.  She is savoring every word.  And the image of him licking his lips.))