[color=00a651][h3]Meirin Kurenai[/h3][/color]

[color=00a651]"Hmm... I wouldn't say I'm talented. More like interested. After all, I had to have some hobbies beside training."[/color] Meirin stated as she began to scoop out the seeds and guts of the pumpkin. The monks at the monastery tend to emphasis strict minimalism and ascetics. Meirin... Didn't. Sure she followed their rules well enough, and understood the enlightenment of their teachings, but personally Meirin wouldn't be able to live as such a spartan. She likes having things. [color=00a651]"Actually, I never really thought about being a dancer. Even weaving to me feels more like an extension of my martial skills than dancing. I suppose I would have the physique to do well if I ever started to learn, but I never picked up any dancing skills. The monastery has a very odd view about the arts. If I had to describe it in a word, they were practical. They would never use something that couldn't be versatile."[/color]

After cleaning out the guts Meirin started poking the surface of the pumpkin with the tip of her knife, sketching out the rough outline of what she wanted to make. It was simple: triangular eyes, nose, and a crescent mouth. [color=00a651]"I can't say I liked it though. They were practical and spiritual, but also very picky, I think. I only carved pumpkins too old to eat, and even then I had to do it behind the backs of my teachers. They would have rather use the pumpkins for compost than have us play around with them. They also never really let me use the money earned from protecting the caravans; I was allowed whatever was given to me personally, but pay was given to my teachers first. And even if I used that money to buy myself something... Well my teachers never said it implicitly, but I had a feeling that they thought I could live just fine if they took it away from me. Hence why I tried to stay on my best behavior."[/color] Meirin started to carve out the details of her pumpkin as she spoke. Soon she realized she was starting to go off topic and stopped herself with a laugh.

[color=00a651]"Ah! Sorry, I'm rambling again. I guess what I meant to say is this: I never learned any artistic skills. It simply wasn't something that anyone was interested in teaching back at home. My home was more about preserving the old traditions than expressing one's self. It makes me kind of glad to be here. I feel like I'm able to talk here more."[/color] Meirin presented her [url=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/sites/default/files/pumpkin-500.jpg.jpeg]pumpkin[/url] to Ssarak. She even put a candle inside of it to give it some illumination.