"And I hope you will accept my apology as well for my brusque behaviour and harsh words. It was unseemly of me to act that way towards a fellow samurai, especially one who is part of our little group here in Room One," she said, bowing her head respectfully, awaiting the Doji's response.

"O-" she furrowed her brow. Pausing, "Oh course, Utaku-san but.. I don't think you really should be apologizing. It was I who offended- I should have behaved more properly, as befitting a samurai."

Kami-damnit, she just wanted them both to apologise, accept it, and move on...

"Still, my tone could have been better, Doji-san. I should not have spoken so harshly. It is something I will try to improve myself on... perhaps with your help?"

Glancing down a moment, she fiddled with her finger a bit, "I-" she shook her head a little, "Mmm. Of course, Utaku-san," she dipped her head. "I would be happy to help in any manner you feel needed. Maybe you could help me too?" she asked, raising a brow as she looked up.

"Ah... of course. I'm not sure what I could teach Doji-san though...?" she looked questioningly at the other woman.

"I'm.." she chuckled, very awkward and quiet, more like a huff than an actual chuckle. "Well- maybe with my confidence, Utaku-san?" she asked, looking far more appropriately toward the woman. Straightening her shoulder a little as she sat up.

"Oh."

Well, it did seem like there was something to work on there.

"Well... hmmm... I suppose the first place to start with when overcoming a weakness is to get to the bottom of why it is that way. You don't have to share it with me if you find it too personal, but does Doji-san feel she knows why she is not as confident as she wishes to be? Is it family that have held you back, or a failure in your past that you dwell on perhaps?"

Hyeon-ju was no psychologist, but she knew how she approached her own failings.

Looking down, she nodded, "I- I do," she admitted, not quite fiddling with a finger in her lap but holding it as she gently brushed it with a thumb.

She nodded, not wishing to push her to reveal it. "Acknowledge it. It has happened. Then overcome it."

"Your flaws are part of who you are, and while we can always improve our flaws, we should not be ashamed of them because that is to be ashamed of yourself. Like the eyepatch; I think it makes Doji-san different from any other Doji maiden."

"Mmm," she says, reaching up and adjusting her eye-patch a little as Hyeon-ju spoke of it. "Different is not normally very good," she said, glancing to the left a little. "Especially as I'm supposed to be a good bride to someone.. maybe very soon. It's.. ugly to look at," she said, looking back but not meeting Hyeon-ju's eyes.

"A memory of the mistake I made.. the one my family is paying for," she said sheepishly.

"Different is what makes us stand out - and it's not bad unless you let it be."

She cleared her throat, continuing more softly. "It's not ugly, Doji-san. It's why I suggested that you can be more decorative with it - because that is a way for you to acknowledge that it is there, but embrace its presence as a part of who you are. Mistakes are what we learn and grow from. To become better samurai from."

She gave a gentle nod. "When you begin to consider it as a part of your self that is still beautiful, as the rest of you is, that is when it will no longer hold you back."

"Mm," she vocalized. Looking toward Hyeon-ju she didn't catch her eyes, just below. "T-" she shook her head, "Thank you, Utaku-san.. I will try," she said sheepishly before stirring from her seat and shifting.

"I- I shouldn't keep you any longer though, yea? Have a whole day ahead of us both," she said with a light smile and soft nod.

"Of course," she nodded, seeing it more as a natural stop for the conversation there.

"Just don't hesitate to tell me if you wish to speak more, Doji-san. We are roommates, and as Daigotsu-san said, that makes us temporarily like a family while we are here."

"Yea," she nodded, a nice small smile crept up. "I'm happy for that, Utaku-san," she said, tilting her head just a tad to the side for the added charm to her smile.

"You can always rely on me too, yea? With whatever you want or need," she said with a little smile as she turned from the seat. Collecting up what she had and making an effort to get things gathered so she could clean them later in a sink.

"Of course, Doji-san. I will remember your offer," she nodded, hoping that the Crane heard the sincerity in her words. Out of all the Crane she had met, Ichika was by far the most pleasant one.

And she felt lucky to be sharing a room with her.


/scene?

/scene!