The Peony House

[Rumiko]

The Peony flower is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture. It is a traditional floral symbol of China, where it is called (mu-dan). In 1903, the Qing Dynasty declared the peony as the national flower.

Peonies have been cultivated in Asia for more than a thousandjears. Requiring such careful cultivation, they were flowers that only the rich could ajjord to grow in Japan. Therefore the peony symbolizes prosperity for the Japanese.

The peony flower grants its recipient the power to keep a Secret. In its tightly clenched petals, nymphs could hide.

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Saki had insisted that her parents allow her to go to the capital on her own, she did not wish to see her family embarrassed any further than necessary or to be embarrassed by them.
She is a call girl spending nearly 6 feet and carriage herself with a Regal bearing, her long hair gleaming in the sunlight and her movement so graceful. Many who see her pass in silent dignity believe her to be some member of the court, none conecting to her the gossip that has spread to the city like fire.
As she turns up the avenue of flowers she pauses deep in thought, her delima a most troubling one and try as she might she can see no way outt that would not insult the Emperor..
As a member of the house of the Whirlwind and it's heir she has been chosen to bear the weight of the Emperor's displeasure, she must marry a Barbarian of the house which is her families rival. For 20 Long years the 2 houses have been at war and through many battles the balance of power between them both has never favored 1 more than the other.
It was this long war which has brought her here as restitution, and offering a peace. By forcing the 2 houses to marry the Emperor world end the siege for the highest law is that family shall not fight family.
Stopping before the gate of The Poeny House Saki dusts off her Kimono and smooths her garment then knocks on it's sounding post.
Soon she hears the gate opening stands knowing little of what lies within.
Standing on the other side of the wall is a dwarf like little old lady who smiles up at her.
Ah if it isn't daughter of the whirlwind Saki, please come in, we here at the Peony house have been expecting you says yhe ancient dwarf, then adds in a conspirators tone her voice teasing
You're so eager Snake, your lover has not yet arrived, I may call you Snake if you'll please call me Aunt Hara. she says giggling like a really old school girl.
Bowing respectfully to Aunt Hara Saki answers
I consider the privilege of calling you Aunt Hara a most welcome honor and it should be a most wonderful delight that you call me Snake.
I do hope my eagerness to meet she who I will share my final days, I do hope she is as eager to see me
Aunt Hara cackles slapping her thigh with her hand
Thr stories are true, the Snake's voice so seldom heard is like silk and woven by a most skillfull tongue.
I do hope your sweet attendent Mriko doesn't miss it too sorely and your new lover come to know how lucky she is.
Please, please enter snd once more welcome says the Dwarf ushering Saki inside.
Soon only the bids make sounds on the avenue of Flowers and the Peony gate stands guard in the old high wals

[ManaLove97]

"This is ridiculous, ordering me to the court like I am some kind of call girl. Where did they get the notion of me wanting to marry that person anyway? Everyone knows we are the stronger clan, proud and fierce, not made up of poisonous snakes and backstabbers." Asa of the Godsvalley clan mumbled to herself angrily as she rode through the city gate and into the capital. She had insisted on going to this meeting by herself, she just wouldn't have been able to let her family see the shame she would have to bring over herself. That whirlwind clan had mercilessly killed her older brother in his sleep, leaving none other than her to pick up the duty as future heir and establish a lasting peace between the two rival houses. As if this would work anyway. This kind of plan was doomed to fail, after all, she was certain that snake would poison her the moment an opportunity arose.

"Hmpf, you will see." Asa, also nicknamed tiger due to her fierce and powerful attitude in battle, called out to no one in particular as she rode down the huge street, causing passerbys to turn around and look at her in irritation. When she finally reached the large gate of the palace she was supposed to meet the snake at, Asa got off her horse and looked at the guards that stood next to the entrance. "Asa, I am here on behalf of the Godsvalley clan, summoned by his highness the emperor to sign a marriage contract." she growled lowly, every word paining in her mouth as she waited for the guards to open the door.

[Rumiko]

The gate of the Peony house opened and standing there on the steps behind it was the mummified but still mobile dwarf of Peony.
Ah it is a Tiger and here I was worried that drunken brigands were at my gate she says giggling with a graveled voice
Welcome Daughter of the Gods Valley Asa the Tiger, I love it we here at Peony graced by both the Snake and the Tiger.
While you are here you will please call me Aunty Hara and I shall call you Tiger says Aunt Hara snickering
My, my but you both seem so eager and full of life, ah it will be wonder to hear you both giving into your passions tonight. I suspect you're eager to rid yourself of that pesky virginity and finally feel the passions of a woman love, worry not the Snake has a clever tongue Says the old dwarf as she motions for Asa to follow.
Beyond the gate lies less a prison and more palace, the grounds Bender landscaping defy description in their beauty. Crossing a the bridge to a small island with a little house on it Asa sees swimming Koi that captue the Sun and reflect it back in gold and yellow brilliance.
Pointing to the little house Aunt Hara says in a knowing chuckle This is the Red Peony house or as we like to call it ”The place of passionate noises and estatic screams”
Here lies the lover which only today said she can hardly wait to meet you the woman that she will spend her final days with
Stepping up to the pourch Aunt Hara calls out Snake please now open the house for your love the Fearsome but shy virgin Tiger
The wall panel slides back, wearing a blue gray and white kimono made of simple cotton is the Snake helpless unarmed and on her knees.

[ManaLove97]

Asa stared down at the old woman opening the gate and speaking to her. She bowed to her, as was custom to greet someone of apparently higher rank, and then followed her inside, looking around and taking in the beautiful scenery. Ignoring the old hag's taunting and teasing, Asa silently followed her, staring down at the beautiful Koi. In spite of her rash and fierce nature she had a soft side regarding all things in nature. Letting the old woman go on, she stopped on the bridge for a couple of moments to behold the beautiful fishes before hurrying after the crone. "The place of passionate noises and estatic screams.." the tiger replied with a chuckle and stopped next to the woman to take a look at the beautiful building, until Hara called out for the snake to reveal herself.

Glaring at the door, Asa waited for the woman to do just that, glaring at the kneeling woman as she opened the door. "You..." she growled in her low voice but was suddenly interrupted when she heard Hara's words. "Shy? Who are you calling shy crone?" she called out, grabbing the handle of her sword and turning towards the old woman.

[Rumiko]

So hasty Young Tiger, I have nothing to loose but you have everything.
Drawyour sword if you wish but remember, your life, your house andthose of your wive's are forfit.
Also know this, steel blades are forbiden in Peony house, you will relinquish it to me and if you feel naked without a sword you make sure it is a wooden sword.
I will judge when it is safe and right that the Tiger and the Dragon recive their terrible fangs, now greet your wife or husband as the case may be.
Says Aunt Hara without a trace of fear or anger and only a pleasent smile.

::::::::::::::::::

SNAKE
Saki looks on her face wearing only a serene smile, she knees with a soft grace as if she were in meditation. Her hair is long and shimmers in the light casting the deep blue of moonlit shadow.
She is exceedlingly tall, her face a perfect oval of fine porcelain, her lips full and pink.
Please Tiger sit and let us talk says the Snake her arm forming a languid arch that to the untrained would appear lazy but to a skilled Bushi shows extreme skill.
I would like it if you would suspend formality and call me Saki

[Rumiko]

Meanwhile outside Peony house in every market, every tavern, temple, shrine and down to the smallest meeting place where two bums urinate in the river ”The Snake and Tiger are discussed, the favored subjects are their sex life or when they will kill each other.
In odd hidden corners and by people who wield power gather the common subject is has the Emperor gone mad, among the wise is pondered the power of a unified God's Valley and Whirlwind.
At a placard board stands a pretty and petite young woman mooning over the two pictures of Tiger and Snake, underneath it reads
.......
By Imperil edict of his most August personage the Emperor
All people take note that in an attempt to stop a bloody war that has gone on so long between the House of Whirlwind and the house Gods valley they shall be forced to marry or perish.
..........

Ho by the dancing maid of crystal water they are just soo yummy,makes you wanna just eat them both she says giggling
Nearby three samurai sit two playing Go the last in meditation, why they are here is a mystery.

[Rumiko]

(OOC:: Are you still interested, please respond)