So, it was really hard to find a stock photo to properly convey the whole “Beautiful Man from Yamatai” angle, especially considering the traditional samurai hairstyle looks kinda like going bald…
To get an idea of what he’s supposed to look like, picture Akechi Mitsuhide from the Samurai Warriors games (especially circa 1 and 2) or a Japanese version of Libra from Fire Emblem — who, admittedly, inspired in large part the “gorgeous man constantly mistaken for a woman” angle.
Reminder that Japanese names traditionally go “Family Name, Personal Name”, the reverse of typical Western name order. The names of people from after the Meiji Restoration tend to be written in Western order in Western, or at least English, contexts (even though they still use the traditional order in Japan itself), while names from before the Meiji Restoration tend to be written in the traditional order.
Shirasagi means “White Heron”, a nickname of Himeji Castle, one of the most famous Japanese castles. Nobuyuki comes from Sengoku period samurai Sanada Nobuyuki, who is perhaps best known for having a much more famous younger brother…
Copyright
J.B. Norman
The six members of the Lyte Brigade have come to the Guild Authority of Porthaven to renew their Adventuring Licences. Nolan is requiring the guild to go together as a team-building exercise.
Mostly, though, they’re bored. Though Matilda’s attention is focused primarily on the beautiful stranger ahead of them at the counter of the Guild Authority.
“Wow,” Matilda mutters at the sight of the beautiful Yamatai woman at the counter “She’s beautiful.”
“And that dress is gorgeous,” Amara says. “I wonder if Tsuru and Tsubame could get their hands on one for me.”
The stranger has obviously overheard them, but doesn’t turn away from the counter before answering.
“He.”
“What?”
“He,” the stranger repeats, turning from the counter towards Matilda. “I am a man.”
He tucks a strand of long, black hair behind his ear.
“Oh,” Matilda says quietly. “Oh my.”
“Is, uh, is time moving slowly for anyone else?” Pela asks.
“Perhaps a little,” Tancred mutters.
The Yamatai stranger glances at Amara.
“And this is not a dress,” he explains. “It is a pair of hakama.”
Amara stares in fascination that the pleated trousers.
“Do they come in woman’s sizes?” she asks.
“Yes,” the stranger answers graciously. “In Yamatai, hakama are worn by both and women.”
“I’ve never seen you at the Guild Authority before,” Nolan offers. “Are you a new registrant?”
“Yes,” the stranger answers. “I am a freelancer. I arrived in the city not long ago. I was born in Yamatai, but I spent most of my life in Pelayo.”
“Well,” Nolan says, “your Gardian is excellent.”
The stranger from Yamatai bows.
“I’m Nolan,” Nolan says. “This is Matilda, Pela, Amara, Tancred, and Falcata. We’re the Lyte Brigade. I’m Nolan.”
“You already said that, Captain,” Falcata notes.
The stranger from Yamatai bows again.
“I am Shirasagi Nobuyuki of the Bokujo Domain,” he explains.
The six members of the Lyte Brigade stare blankly.
The stranger puts his hand on his chest, indicating himself.
“My name is Nobuyuki. My family is the Shirasagi, originally from a part of Yamatai called Bokujo,” he explains. “Though, as I said, I have spent most of my life in Pelayo. My parents are envoys at the Pelayan court in Guarda Ribera.”
“So,” Matilda asks, sidling up to him and touching his arm, “is there a a Mrs. …um, that?”
“I…” Nobuyuki stammers. “No. I do not have a wife.”
“Lucky me,” Matilda says, resting her head on his shoulder and blinking enticingly up at him. “Right?”
“I suppose?” Nobuyuki answers.
“Well,” Matilda continues, “why don’t I show you all around Porthaven, and you can tell me all about Yamatai, or Pelayo, or whatever. I’m up for anything as long as we get to be together.”
“I suppose we could do that,” Nobuyuki says, feeling himself being stirred towards the door with a growing sense of bemusement and increasingly conclusive appraisal of Realmgardian girls as utterly bewildering.
“Wait,” the woman behind the Guild Authority counter calls. “Sir, you forgot your forms! Sir?”
Nolan steps up to the counter.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll make sure he gets them.”
Matilda Lyte: smoothest woman in Realmgard.
Also, I think I need to work out a better system for Japanese-inspired names…
And, incidentally, I actually own a pair of hakama. In fact, I have a full-on samurai cosplay outfit that my Mom and I made.
Check out the rest of my Spring 2024 writing exercises here.
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