一 ; yī

[getsomesleep]

[New handwriting today, and it's quite beautiful. Those who read the original Chinese characters might appreciate the skill behind the expert strokes: flawless calligraphy, itself poetry of sorts, yet not slow and cautious but decisive, the writing emerging complete and without hesitation. Those who get a translation miss out on some of the finer points of the art, perhaps, but the effect is the same in every language.]

Warmest greetings to the residents of Edensphere.

This humble servant, the lowest of souls, begs leave to dwell among you and hereby be known, in lieu of a more appropriate name, by the character ‘Huo'.

Although I do not yet know my own measure, and indeed expect that it be the very image of mediocrity, it is my outmost desire to be of some use in the undertakings of the city. I will take up whatever profession is required, and toil in that capacity to the very best of my ability.

Sincerely, I offer my prayers of good neighborhood in the hope that they be accepted in the same spirit in which they were made.

-- 火

Comments

[of-mindelan.livejournal.com]

[Great formality. Peachblossom is familiar with a pseudoJapanese culture. It's not pseudoChina, but she sees it written in kanji and is vaguely pinged for people she knew in the Emperor's court.]

[She spends a while trying to think of how to respond, aware that she can't do it that prettily, and isn't sure how to go about being formal. She decides to write back in kanji. It doesn't look as nice in pen, but it's clear and even.]

You write so elegantly. The custom here is to be less formal, but people here can choose otherwise.

[getsome-sleep.livejournal.com]

You flatter me. I have a trifling talent, perhaps; yet it behooves us to do our best, even when there is still much for us to learn.