Of Books, Paintings and Mononoke.((open RP, library))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Having received directions to the library, Kusuriyuri found himself a little baffled by the sheer number of books availible. He glanced around himself, relieved the walls were covered in bookcases. The moving pictures were too close to mononoke, and though he appeared unruffled, that all his instincts and tools told him there were no mononoke when his senses insisted there should be bothered him.

Another thing that was off was how differently everyone behaved. He wasn't used to the boldness, the confusion over simple conversations, having to be embarrassingly direct. Though, in his profession, directness was more expected than most. It was almost barbaric, but in a way, almost childlike. It wasn't something that bothered him, just something that would take getting used to. It wasn't in his nature to be as direct as some of the people he talked to.

It was in his nature to seek out answers, though. And, here, within the vast number of tomes, he would find answers.

Now, where to begin? Trusting the path that has served him well, he selects a book at random. After the first choice, the way becomes clearer.

((OOC: I know he can sometimes be difficult to understand. Just ask and I'll provided 'translation' or go with confusion *grins*))

Comments

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

The Chairman was interested in books on history, and he didn't have anything to do, really, so he decided to lurk in the library a bit.

"Good evening," he said to Kusuriyuri.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri looks up. "Ah, good evening."

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

He pulled down a book that caught his eye.

"And what brings you to the library?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"It seemed wise to learn of instruction methods," Kusuriyuri replied. "And you, sir?" He almost winces at the directness of the question. "If I may ask," he adds to soothe himself.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

"Just a fondness for history in my case. I don't read for fun as much as I used to, I thought it nice to be able to again."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri smiled. History he understood. He'd lived through a lot of it. "It is good to find pleasure where one can." He tilted his head a little. "You are Japanese?" Maybe a countryman would be able to help him understand the culture, help him know where and how to adapt.

[gourmetchairman.livejournal.com]

Kaga blinked. "Yes, yes I am. Takeshi Kaga." He bowed at Kusuriyuri. "Not many immediately pick up on that."

[callmewednesday.livejournal.com]

(( Completely crashed last night, so this tag is late ... apologies! ))

It amused Wednesday to hunt up obscure academic reference work for his students to read. Sometimes the scholars were close to practical, sometimes they were so far off the mark it made Wednesday's teeth hurt. Both sorts of monograph had educational value.

He had come to the library to find a new article for such recommendation when he chanced upon Kusuriyuri. Of a certainty he knew what the medicine peddler was. Perhaps the medicine peddler would also know what Wednesday was.

"Fancy meeting the likes of you here." It wasn't a challenge. It was a neutral observation, even shading toward friendly.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri had felt the other arrive. Something again almost familiar, and yet just different enough to make him uncertain. A kami, one that felt almost (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_sun_motif#Missing_sun_motif) like Amaterasu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaterasu), and yet not quite. "Indeed," he replied, his tone faintly amused that he would think of finding a Shinto kami in this place.

But, then, he was here.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am called Kusuriyuri. I look forward to knowing you," he offers, though he knows on some level the one before him already knows this. It is still proper to offer someone a name by which to address him. The ritual of greeting is something he finds soothing. It is something that is still familiar, even in this place.

[callmewednesday.livejournal.com]

"The pleasure's all mine, Kusuriyuri-san, or perhaps I should say Kusuriyuri-sensei. Congratulations on the post, by the way. News travels fast when you have friends like mine." The ravens Huginn and Muninn, Thought and Memory, eyes for the one-eyed All-Father. "I (http://callmewednesday.livejournal.com/1897.html#cutid1)'m called many things (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_names_of_Odin). Here and now I'm called Wednesday. I'm teaching runes here, or as much about runes as the students here will be able to learn."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Kami (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kami) are known by many names, Wednesday-sama." Curiosity, a constant trait, an occupational hazard. "It is a pleasure to meet another teacher. I am sorry, but runes are?" He'd not heard the term before.

[callmewednesday.livejournal.com]

Yes, the medicine peddler did know what Wednesday was. Kami would be the nearest analogue. Certainly not mononoke; though Shadow might have thought Wednesday something nearer a yōkai than was strictly applicable, after everything that went down back at the Masonic Hall. Wednesday would have thought yōkai more like unto the draugar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draugr) who'd plagued the farmsteads of his people in the old country -- yes, or even the corpse of Thorstein Eiriksson (http://books.google.com/books?id=m-4rb_GhQ5EC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=thorstein+eiriksson&source=web&ots=-YVvPN7og7&sig=yoYLyCe1GyD5zXq632M945BkRWo&hl=en), and that in the New World, in Wednesday's own uncharitable America.

"That's a question with several possible answers." He took a seat beside the medicine peddler. "The most mundane answer is that runes are an alphabet, a system of writing used by the ancient Germanic tribes."

(( reposted from correct account ))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri smiles slightly. "It is like shingon (http://www.jisho.org/words?jap=%E7%9C%9F%E8%A8%80+&eng=&dict=edict), is it not? With those who do not understand, it is nothing?" He knew that without belief, without understanding, even his simplest curatives would not have the same effectiveness.

((OOC, in case it wasn't explained...there is only one degree of respect higher than -sama.))

[doctor-hook.livejournal.com]

Boldness? Simple conversations? Embarrassingly direct?

That would be Dr. Hook.

"You wouldn't happen to be Professor Kusuriyuri, would you?"

The fellow just looked like a Kusuriyuri. (Also, Hook cheated and asked a house-elf 'who's that guy over there?' before approaching. The house-elf was happy to interrupt its reshelving of books.)

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri managed to keep his reaction calm. Though it was normal for his occupation to be known, especially since he had his medicine case with him, it was highly disconcerting for someone to come up and refer to him by it. It was polite to ask him his name, his trade. Though, he supposed it to be more of the directness of this place. "That is so." he turned to see the man dressed in all white. A condemned criminal? "I am at a disadvantage?"

((OOC: anyone with a planned death would wear white...criminal, ritual suicide. I think it was even used as funeral dress))

[doctor-hook.livejournal.com]

Hook had just enough cultural sensitivity not to offer a handshake. He wasn't exactly at home bowing, though he did incline his head in what passed for a token bow. "Dr. Jørgen Krogshøj. Most people just call me Hook. I'm presently working at the Hogwarts hospital wing under the supervision of Professor Snape, who mentioned you have some knowledge of herbal medicines."

(( thanks for the explanation! ))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuryuri bowed from his chair. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Hook-sensei. I am a medicine peddler, yes." He did not understand why ... "Please, if you have time, sit down and we will talk." He wondered if this, then, was one of the 'doctors' he'd heard about. "I have received a letter from Professor Snape." The title coming first was still odd to him, but it is how the letter was addressed.

((OOC: sensei does mean teacher...and doctor...and master [in the teaching sense]))

[doctor-hook.livejournal.com]

Sensei? Ha, that was a first for Hook. The medicine peddler's politeness and formality hit an unfamiliar note with the normally irreverent doctor, who found himself replying quite gravely: "If you have the time as well, I would appreciate a talk very much." Pulling out the chair beside Kusuriyuri's and turning it a bit to the side so he could face him, Hook sat as invited. "Ethnopharmacology is not a specialty of mine, you see. Recently I've been given cause to investigate it."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

'Ethnopharmacology' rendered into 'traditional medicine.' "Oh?" Kusuriyuri replied, interested. "And, how may I be of assistance to you? Are you perhaps ill?" There were only a few other reasons one would approach a medicine peddler. And, something about his demeanor didn't suggest the other reasons.

[beantheory.livejournal.com]

Bean likes hard copies of books. They're not practical - bulky and expensive to produce, compared to simply uploading information onto a desk - but there's something novel about selecting books from shelves, turning pages.

He's planning on devouring some more history, to see if this place follows the timeline he knows when he spots Kusuriyuri. Edo-era Japan? That was unexpected, considering they were in 21st century Scotland.

He pulls himself up onto a chair next to Kusuriyuri.

"Hello."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri looked over to see a small boy sitting next to him. He'd been aware of him coming in, wandering through the shelves. He just didn't quite expect to be addressed. "Hello," he replied, waiting to see if this will be what he has seen, just a greeting, an acknowledgment of his presence, or if it will be more.

[beantheory.livejournal.com]

Bean was aware of some of the basics of Edo-style etiquette. He was also aware that he appeared about five years old at the very most, and if there was a time he could get away with asking more direct questions it was now. (He didn't realise that Kusuriyuri had been plagued by direct-questioning since arriving at Hogwarts.)

"I'm Bean. When are you from?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"The second year of the Showa era. I am told that is 1927. Or that is when I am last from. And you?" he asked, faint amusement in his voice.

[beantheory.livejournal.com]

"1927?" Bean asked, puzzled. Either the man had been misinformed, or their timelines were different. The second possibility could be fascinating.

"It was 2178, before I came here."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"That is a lot more years than the 80 or so I was told." It is not disbelief that compels the comment, only curiosity and interest. Kusuriyuri wonders what exactly caused the puzzlement. It seems more than the normal surprise.