[She's outright smiling fondly, a soft expression.]
When I was eighteen, I was brought to Emperor Toba's court. Well, he had retired, so the real emperor was his son, Konoe, but since Konoe was so young, Toba had the real power... Ah, but you don't need to care about the politics.
Emperor Toba had heard about me, you see. I'd already built up a reputation! He called for a poetry recital, and... Well, there was some incidents, but I impressed him. In fact, I wowed him so much that he gave me a new name, and made me his personal consort. No longer Mizukume, I had been named Tamamo-no-Mae, and was serving the Emperor himself. It was love at first sight for both of us, it seemed.
... I spent about a year that way. I was foolishly in love, and he loved me as well. There was always some political problems, of course, Toba always had a habit of doting too much on those he cared for, and giving little attention to those he didn't. But it didn't concern me, since I was part of the first group. As his consort, as a courtesan, I polished my skills and knowledge, until I was the center of it all... I especially liked our talks on philosophy. It was so much fun to turn everyone's expectations and preconceptions on their heads, you know?
[She takes a drink herself, steeling herself for the next part, but her voice doesn't waver.]
Then, one day, I woke up, and realized my head felt... heavier. I had grown these adorable fuzzy ears, and didn't understand it.
no subject
When I was eighteen, I was brought to Emperor Toba's court. Well, he had retired, so the real emperor was his son, Konoe, but since Konoe was so young, Toba had the real power... Ah, but you don't need to care about the politics.
Emperor Toba had heard about me, you see. I'd already built up a reputation! He called for a poetry recital, and... Well, there was some incidents, but I impressed him. In fact, I wowed him so much that he gave me a new name, and made me his personal consort. No longer Mizukume, I had been named Tamamo-no-Mae, and was serving the Emperor himself. It was love at first sight for both of us, it seemed.
... I spent about a year that way. I was foolishly in love, and he loved me as well. There was always some political problems, of course, Toba always had a habit of doting too much on those he cared for, and giving little attention to those he didn't. But it didn't concern me, since I was part of the first group. As his consort, as a courtesan, I polished my skills and knowledge, until I was the center of it all... I especially liked our talks on philosophy. It was so much fun to turn everyone's expectations and preconceptions on their heads, you know?
[She takes a drink herself, steeling herself for the next part, but her voice doesn't waver.]
Then, one day, I woke up, and realized my head felt... heavier. I had grown these adorable fuzzy ears, and didn't understand it.