Riyashi Park

Nee-san Tetsudashi had an appointment with a young Chuunin by the name of Marx. It was an uncommon and interesting name for an uncommon and interesting shinobi. Puppeteers in Iwagakure were rare although perhaps not as rare as Konoha or Kiri given that it used to be a territory of the Kazehana Empire. A puppeteer who had become eligible for promotion via recommendation was even more curious. Nee-san had requested to see a few of the Chuunin's designs and he was relatively impressed. Marx had a level of creativity and genius with respect to Kugutsu that reminded Nee-san of himself when he was at that age. The Tsuchikage had thus requested a meeting with him to discuss his future with the village. Depending on how the talks went Nee-san was open to the possibility of sponsoring the young man for future projects. Nee-san arrived on the scene wearing a black turtleneck sweater, black dress pants, black dress shoes, his Kage robes, and of course his signature black shades. The style was minimalist but it fit his personality and overall aesthetic. The weather was fair but with a bit of mountain chill in the air. Nee-san walked over to a pre-determined area that had been cleared and blocked off from other citizens and shinobi. He took a seat at a nice table that had finger foods and drinks laid out on it. Nee-san's aide Menza had outdone himself as he often did. The Kage plucked a grape from a bowl and put it in his mouth nibbling thoughtfully as he contemplated what he would say to the young man. It appeared he had arrived first but that was fine considering that he normally was early.

Marx was a bit surprised to find that he had an invitation from the Tsuchikage for a meeting based on the recommendation his sensei gave when he received his promotion to Chunin. He had thought that all the recommendations where either blindly approved by the Tsuchikage, or were looked at by a secretary and never actually reached the desk of the village's head. The thought that someone of such a high station brought a smile to his face, if he played his cards right he could quite possibly work his way into the Tsuchikage's good graces and find himself a powerful sponsor or even mentor in the man. He needed to make a good first impression, so he put on a bit of eyeliner and that was all for his face. He painted his nails a black with red hour glasses on them, paying homage to one of his favorite creatures: the black widow spider. He dressed in simple black slacks, with a red silken shirt and a black coat with white fur around the hood and sleeves, and black dress shoes. He wanted to look the part of the merchant's son and the higher one percent of society, and he thought he got that across. He made his way to the Riyashi Park and to their designated meeting place, seeing that the Tsuchikage was already seated and apparently waiting for him. He walked over, his eyes scanning the food and refreshments set out before giving the older male a bow "My lord Tsuchikage. It is truly a pleasure to be able to meet you." His voice was polite, but definitely held a tone that said he thought highly of himself. Elitism was ingrained into him, after all "I must say, I was shocked to have received this summons. I thought that the recommendation would have been handled by another, not by you personally." He took a seat across from him and picked a cube of cheese from a platter and began nibbling on it "If you don't mind me asking, what about my recommendation intrigued you?"

Marx was a young man as his file indicated but the physical description did not do him justice. Nee-san found him to be well dressed, well mannered, and comely. The Tsuchikage's expression did not change however upon seeing him and behind his sunglasses his eyes gave no hint towards the satisfaction that he found when looking upon the Chuunin. Marx bowed and took a seat before helping himself to some cheese. When he reached for the cube, Nee-san noticed his immaculately manicured and painted fingernails. It was an uncommon aesthetic for a young man but a welcome one for the older gentleman. He seemed surprised that Nee-san had actually read the recommendation and asked what it was that intrigued him. The Tsuchikage spoke honestly and bluntly:

"I rarely see puppeteers who are skilled enough to be called Chuunin. When I read the recommendation I asked for someone to produce some of the designs that you have worked on in the past and are currently working on" Nee-san plucked at another grape and ate it. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion" Nee-san didn't really care if Marx felt it to be an invasion of his privacy but he felt obligated to at least pretend to care considering that he already found the young man a beautiful curiosity. "I am a puppeteer myself actually and when I read your designs I could tell that you were every bit as good as the recommendation suggested and possibly better" Nee-san stroked his chin and eyed Marx from across the table. "Whether you can become as good as I am is something else entirely but I am willing to help you get there if you show aptitude and loyalty"

The Tsuchikage reached for a bottle of sake and poured himself a cup. He would then pour Marx a cup as well. It was a very uncommon gesture for someone as selfish and proud as Nee-san but Marx's naivety and innocence had apparently brought out a gentler side to the man.

"Tell me about your approach to puppetry" It was an open ended question or rather open ended command. Nee-san would place more responsibility and attention on someone like Marx. He had captured the attention of his betters and he would be expected to deliver results to Nee-san in any way the older man saw fit. Nee-san decided to qualify the statement in case he had not made his intentions clear. He was not interested in a opinionated conversation on Marx's philosophy of engineering and puppetry, he wanted to hear something insightful and useful. "Impress me"

Marx had been taught etiquette from before he could walk, before he could even talk. Politeness when talking to your equals and betters, table manners, and the best posture possible. He couldn't help but sitting a little bit straighter as he was in the presence of the Tsuchikage. The man held a high position and was definitely someone to impress, but he also held an air of, for lack of a better word, superiority that made Marx want to impress him and earn his approval. And that was rare, Marx had hardly ever felt the urge to impress anyone in his life, the only such people being his parents. And now the Tsuchikage. Maybe it also had something to do with the fact that the man was also attractive? The shades gave of a sense of mystery, and Marx had always been attracted to the mysterious. Though these were probably not thoughts to be having about a man more than twice his age, he had thought the Tsuchikage would look differently. It was a pleasant surprise. Marx took the sake that was poured for him, only for something to take his mind off his thoughts. He took a small sip and noticed how the drink blended well with the cheese, taking a moment to appreciate that fact. Whoever had set it up did a splendid job indeed.

"My approach to puppetry? Well...advancement. My parents deal in many things, one of which being generic puppets imported to the Land of Wind and other places, that was how I became interested in them at the ripe age of four. I noticed however, that the way of making puppets, of structuring them and their tools, their equipment, is largely the same. There is also little variation in how they are controlled. I wish to change how puppetry is perceived and eliminate the weaknesses of the current puppet making system and forge new strengths. I have more...ambitious goals, but I have no way of reaching them now. I have developed a better way of making materials for puppets, and a better way to control them while leaving one's hands free to do other things." Marx plucked a grape from where they sat and placed it in his mouth chewing slowly and savoring the flavor for a moment before continuing to speak "I just recently perfected the schematics for clockwork puppets, a group of puppets that can be powered by imply turning a key and directing them via chakra. I suppose it might've been useful to bring my schematics with me, but I forgot in my excitement to get here. I could possibly show you another time, if you are sufficiently impressed that is." He let his confidence show in his voice as his face and body language remained neutral, bringing his sake glass to his lips and taking another sip. He set the glass on the table and drew his tongue across his lips slowly before looking at the Tsuchikage, waiting for whatever he had to say.

Nee-san sipped from his cup of sake as he listened to Marx's response. He gave a brief genealogy of his interest in the fighting style and then exopounded on his approach. He was interesed in autonomous puppetry it seemed. He cited his schematics on clockwork puppets that would allow for a puppet to be remotely controlled via chakra as opposed to using chakra strings attached to one's fingers. It was a pretty smart idea but one that was difficult to execute. Nee-san had written on the subject but had never explored any practical designs. After he had become the Lizard King, he found his interest in the subject waning, that and he preferred to have his puppets attached to him. There was a sense of familiarity with such a control scheme that he could not depart from. All the same, he found it quite intriguing and had never read or heard from another puppeteer who ambitiously pursued that style of Kugutsu.

Nee-san enjoyed hearing Marx talk. He had a soft and naturally soothing voice. This coupled with his intelligence made the lunch far more pleasant than most meetings. He could see these talks becoming a regular occurrence provided Marx was able to deliver on his lofty design goals. The Tsuchikage noticed the way he licked his lips and for a moment the corner of Nee-san's mouth upturned just a bit. If Marx was perceptive he'd catch the glimpse of a smirk indicating amusement but more importantly stimulation. Nee-san finished his drink and set it down.

"I am" he replied honestly. Autonomous puppetry was very difficult, so difficult that he had abandoned it himself as a young and adventurous puppeteer. As a lad he always despised the old and infirm who rarely innovated and were too afraid to take Kugutsu to new heights. This disdain never truly left him and although he had become somewhat complacent in his work with respect to Kugutsu he appreciated seeing the same spark in the eyes of someone younger. If this is what Marx had in mind then it could definitely be the bedrock for sponsorship and even a direct mentorship.

"When I'm ready I'll summon you to my office. Bring your schematics and we'll discuss them in detail. If I find them promising I will sponsor their creation with the village's funds." Nee-san expected that Marx would enjoy the good news but he hoped that he understood what was being asked of him. A sponsorship from Iwagakure came with a lot of responsibility and hard work. That aside, Nee-san's interests turned towards mentorship. Marx displayed admirable knowledge and understanding of Kugutsu which made the Tetsudashi wonder how he fared in other subjects.

"What else do you study Marx? Are there other skills you possess aside from Kugutsu?"

Marx saw the smirk on the other's face and took that as a good sign. He was on the fast track to the Tsuchikage's side as his student, which would help him out immensely in a great number of areas. When he confirmed his interest in Marx, the Chunin couldn't help the small smile that came to his lips. He could bring his schematics to the Tuchikage and gain sponsorship from the village, allowing him to build as many puppets as he wanted, puppets as powerful as he wanted. And based on the funds given to him by the village, he could open up his own business. He could sell the more generic puppets he makes to others and turn a pretty profit for himself and the village, which could benefit everyone if he sold to the right people "Thank you for the opportunity to show you what I can do and think up for puppets, I will do my hardest not to disappoint. Your support would be invaluable, not to mention the support of the village." He picked up another piece of cheese and ate it, his eyes quickly scanning over the rest of the table for something else to try.

He considered the Tsuchikage's question for a moment before speaking "Outside of Kugutsu, I am skilled in Bukijutsu, Fuinjutsu, Chemistry and Crafting. The last two I use in the creation of puppets, but I found myself interested in the first two right around the time I entered the academy. Some people, Genin and Chunin mostly, came around the academy classes talking about the different skills available to Shinobi, and while some did practice the fine arts of weapons, tools, and seals, no one had truly set out to master them. I decided to use them all together in order to form a style that supplements the long-range support nature of puppetry." He picked up his glass and swirled the sake around within it for a moment, not raising it to his lips but just requiring something to do with his hands. It was a strange compulsion he had developed thanks to his constant tinkering with various objects, though he didn't really mind it all that much "I call the style Manipulated Tools. It is very simplistic, hence why the name is such, but with a good collection to weapons and a variations of techniques within the style it can be as deadly as any Ninjutsu. I have been writing down some ideas on tools I can make to be used with the style, and I am even going to use our patented Explosive Spheres alongside it. The style also relies on seals to hold all the weapons, obviously." Marx wanted to test something, so he bit his bottom lip slowly and watched the Tsuchikage for his reaction towards it. The smirk from before had come just after he had licked his lips, so there could be something there...

Marx had an impressive array of skills centered around the finer arts of shinobi combat. The boy's other abilities were geared towards assisting his overall fighting style with respect to puppets. He mentioned being skilled at Chemistry which Nee-san took as a fantastic sign given that he was in need of a personal Chemist. He had considered an Amandi given their clan's skill but was rethinking their position in the village at the current moment. Marx could fill the role or at least he could be groomed into fulfilling the role until his mastery of the art became sufficient for a Kage to rely on. Nee-san poured another cup of sake and sipped from it coolly as Marx went on to talk about his custom style known as Manipulated Tools. The style intrigued Nee-san and he was curious to hear more about the style and what precisely it aimed to accomplish. He noticed Marx's seductive play for his attention, and that was of course what it was, there was no mistaking it now. Unfortunately, the recognition would not be displayed on his face. The young man was deliberately enticing him after he noticed the subtle smirk that had flashed after he licked his lips. Nee-san found the lip bite just as titillating but he had no intention of playing his hand this early. Marx was his. Whether the Chuunin knew it or not he had become the Tsuchikage's latest amusement. This would come with its own perks and benefits but Nee-san had no intention of revealing this fact to him until such time as he saw fit. He knew what Marx was about but he'd prefer it if Marx was a bit unsure of where he stood at this juncture in the relationship. Even if Marx knew what he was quickly becoming to the Tsuchikage, the man would not never directly state his intentions nor would he ever ask Marx to state his. Plausible deniability and all that in a village as conservative as theirs.

In a stoic expression and tone of voice the Tsuchikage would further his inquiry:

"Tell me more about this style. How does it work exactly?"

There was no reaction from the Kage towards his flirtatious advances and Marx wanted to pout, but that wouldn't be very becoming of someone of his station. Not very dignified. So he simply finished his sake with a long sip and reached for the bottle to refill it. He ate another grape and then took a sip of his drink before considering the question for a moment, then answering "Manipulated Tools comes in two parts, essentially, the sealing of the tools for later use and then the unsealing and manipulation of the tools in the middle of battle. When the person using it is more coordinated, they are capable of using different kinds of tools alongside the style. At base, it is conventional projectiles such as shuriken, senbon, kunai and the like. When mastered, one will be able to use melee weaponry with the style, and even giant weapons." A smile crossed his face as he talked about it "I was planning on making a giant spiked metal ball for use with it. Should be fun for destroying constructs and changing terrain. The tools themselves can be manipulated by either ninja wire or chakra strings. I prefer the use of chakra strings and thanks to my new puppetry style I can manipulate my maximum number of puppets and my maximum number of tools at once with only a small drain on my chakra. It is a rather simplistic style that focuses on overwhelming a foe with the scale of the techniques within it." Marx loved talking and impressing people with what he did, and this was his chance to do both, so he was more than happy to answer whatever questions about how he fights that the Tsuchikage may have.

Nee-san stared without emotion as he listened to the explanation. The technique seemed vaguely familiar to him, it was a simple concept but one that could be devastating in the right person's hands. He figured that Marx would make a decent student and so he resolved to school the boy in the finer arts of shinobi combat when he returned from his meeting with the Kazekage. Nee-san grabbed a finger sandwich and nibbled on it before washing it down with a bit of sake. He inhaled and exhaled thoughtfully as if considering his next words when in truth they had already been formed. "The style seems promising but I'd need to see it in action before I make any concrete judgments on its value. I'll personally see to your training". It was an incredibly honor to be directly trained by the Tsuchikage especially one as reclusive and selfish as Nee-san but he did see potential in Marx. That and it would provide an excellent excuse to be around him as often as possible. Nee-san  turned and saw Menza approaching him but he raised a hand. He knew that it was time to head out. "You're very intelligent Marx and I have high hopes for your future here. When I summon you I expect you to be ready to give it all" the word was layered with a subtle emphasis. It seemed to be a lasting impression that Nee-san's interests were not isolated to the Chuunin's development. However, Marx took that statement the truth of it would be made abundantly clear to him sooner rather than later. Nee-san stood and extended his hand for a handshake. Once that was done, he'd say: "I must excuse myself. I do have important matters to attend to but it was nice meeting you and I'm sure we'll be seeing each other soon enough. In the meanwhile, I suggest training and taking a mission or two to keep your skills sharp."

And with that the Tsuchikage would leave the park closely followed by his aide.

[Exit]

Marx let a wide smile grace his lips at the other man's words, taking in the literal and hidden meanings behind them. A shiver went through his spine from excitement, partially from having a powerful sponsor that would allow him to truly blossom into a master of puppetry and partially from having said sponsor be an attractive older man that could quite possibly be attracted to him. It was a rather picturesque situation, but he knew it would only last so long as he held the Tsuchikage's interest and advanced at a rate the other saw fit. He didn't think he would have a problem with either, so he would definitely make the most of a good situation. Marx gave the other's hand a longing shake and his smile turned to something a bit more sultry "Thank you, Tsuchikage-sama, I promise you won't regret taking me under your wing." He watched the other leave and decided he would take on some missions in the meantime, he was a Chunin with very little else to do with his life, why not? He ate a little bit more before finishing his glass of sake and standing to leave, returning home to work on some more sketches that he was sure would blow his new sensei away.

[Exit]