[Day 2 - EE] Welcome Dinner [RP thread]

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He looks up to her to her announcement. Yes, he definetively should have asked to give the discourses. He would remind this next time. At the same time, despite how crudely it was delivered, the meaning of the words sparkled joy on his heart.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

(Deleted; got threads crossed.)

[Kakita Masao]

Masao, having paused to hear the Crab lord's words, bows deeply to the dais. But he immediately returns his attention to the pretty Mantis.

[Moshi Minari]

Having seen a bit more of the act, or the attempt at it, Masao gets a better grasp of what is happening. Not sure exactly who he's helping, but feeling somehow that it's the right thing to do...

"Moshi-san," he says, in the calm voice of a soldier around the campfire. "My apologies for that little... jest. Congratulations on persevering. And, to be clear, there was no jest about how visually blessed we are by this child of Lady Sun." He bows his head deeply in respect.

The Kakita nikutai draws his own fan, opens it gently, so Minari might see how he holds it easily, without great pressure. He steps beside her, and raises the pale blue fan in front of his mouth. With his head leaned toward her just slightly, he asks, "Might a friend be in order for this evening? Your shipmates do not seem to be... singing the same tune as you are?"

"Oh, I do believe we are all singing the same merry melodious tune." She somewhat-tittered behind the fan, copying Masao a bit better. What a strange thing to be congratulated about, really.

"But, a friend in need... uhm, a friend does sound perfectly satisfactory. I am much unusued to such fantabulous festivities."

Minari was wholly unphased by the daimyo's words. Eh, Fuboshi could suck a fat one, for all she cared.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konoharmaru bowed to the Dais, then nodded to the Crane delegates. He would have to remember to make a note of this tomorrow.

As expected. I hope you can tell from this that I am proud. He had no way of communicating this, but he hoped his general improvement in demeanour indicated as such.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Oh definitely and I'm happy to let them handle all matters of spiritual purity and security. My focus has been on being the de facto chaplain of our important Crane delegation.

Which for now has mostly consisted at patiently explaining that the local religious practices are compatible with bushido and the Tao and actually not much weirder than most other religious traditions through the Empire."

"Quite so... their traditions are important to them..."

Hida Fuboshi spoke at length.

He bowed to the crane, as praise was given.

"A fortuitous outcome, Doji-san."

[Kakita Masao]

"Oh, I do believe we are all singing the same merry melodious tune." She somewhat-tittered behind the fan, copying Masao a bit better. What a strange thing to be congratulated about, really.

"But, a friend in need... uhm, a friend does sound perfectly satisfactory. I am much unusued to such fantabulous festivities."

Minari was wholly unphased by the daimyo's words. Eh, Fuboshi could suck a fat one, for all she cared.

Masao keeps his voice low, in confidence: "One of the great reasons to not be a courtier, in my experience, is to avoid having to always be pleased by the whims of the court's lord." He smiles, perhaps a little more broadly than he should, but with the fan as it is, only Minari might notice.

In a more normal volume, he asks, "Would Moshi-san like to become more accustomed to such things? There are different levels of ... intensity ... in different courts. Some more like this and others... quite different."

[Ichiro Taiki]

Interesting - while he wouldn't ask here, the services of a strong warrior such as Taiki could be a good way to make up for the limited bushi presence the clan had - especially based on his showing at the peppers festival some while earlier.

"Indeed. There is an... earnesty here. It is nice. I've been allowed to assist the law here by sincerely requesting. If I tried it at home, I would simply be rebuked."

The Badger nodded, his expression impassive.

"A s'pose ye could say the Crab are foc'sd on results. Fer good res'n, if ye ask me. Bu'..." he stops for a moment, thoughtful.

A deep sympathy made is way across his face. He looked for something he could do - an offer he could make, a deal he could cut, anything, but nothing came to mind.

"My sympathies."

When Konoha says this, he just nods again, his deadpan expression broken by a sincere smile of appreciation for just a moment. "'s appreciated, Kakita-sama. Bu' it is wha' it is. We do wha' we can. Do our best to keep strong 'n steady 'n do our share, nuh?"

He then gives a somewhat long blink, then comes back to what where he had interrupted himself before. His face is still impassive, but his eyes show a slight bit of... worry, maybe?

"Bu'... sae. Kakita-sama's assistin' in an investigation, then? That's... heer i Fire Shrimp ville i'self?"

[Doji Yuma]

"Quite so... their traditions are important to them..."

Hida Fuboshi spoke at length.

He bowed to the crane, as praise was given.

"A fortuitous outcome, Doji-san."

"Did you expect anything else but the Crane being praised and the other clans less so? The manner might have a local touch but the outcome was predestined. No one else could have stolen the show save for a truly exceptional performance.

Actually, you didn't tell me what whim of fate brought you here did you?"

[Fuzake Hifumi]

With the presentation finished, Hifumi sat down and looked around the gathering. Beyond her usual habit of doing this, she was looking for the woman from her vision. If she would encounter her anywhere, this was a likely occasion.

OOC: Investigation TN of 13.

She continued to look around.

- - -[Day 2 - EE] Welcome Dinner [RP thread], Investigation TN of 13: 6d10o10k3 21

[Dapper Dog]

She continued to look around.

- - -[Day 2 - EE] Welcome Dinner [RP thread], Investigation TN of 13: 6d10o10k3 21

She sees the woman sitting near the Otomo eating politely.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Did you expect anything else but the Crane being praised and the other clans less so? The manner might have a local touch but the outcome was predestined. No one else could have stolen the show save for a truly exceptional performance.

Actually, you didn't tell me what whim of fate brought you here did you?"

"No simple whim, my clan has an interest in the region achieving peace finally. I am here to report what happens, and if possible to make inroads with the Crab and Crane."

[Fuzake Hifumi]

She sees the woman sitting near the Otomo eating politely.

The woman must be of some importance to be seared near the Otomo, but Hifumi had no idea who she was. Deciding it would be best not to draw attention to herself by approaching, the Monkey decided to look for Shitoru or Sutorenja instead. Shitoru was easy enough to find.

[Ichiro Taiki]

Fuboshi would have been insulted that some clans performed poorly but really she had low expectations for outsiders to begin with. She frowned when it seemed the Crane had sent people that were actually competent… horror of horrors.

It did give her pause that her son would be joining their ranks and he would not be surrounded by inbred idiots preening in mirrors.

She rose and said, “We are gathered here to honor the union of the beautiful Daidoji Yushoko and my son, Hida Yoji; we are humbled by the…”

“Piss on this, the Crane didn’t anger my sensibilities and I wish to honor their members with my praise and recognition. Eat and be merry and a personal thanks to the sons and daughters of Doji for giving this old soldier something to be pleased about this evening. It removes the bitter ashes of the Dragon and Mantis from my tongue.”

She sat and began to eat.

OOC: Each member of the Crane gains 1 full rank of Glory. You can continue RP.

Taiki's conversation with the Kakita was paused for a moment to hear Fuboshi's words. After some words... she was straightforward as always - which was good, in fact.

Even better was the fact that her last words did not include the Minor Clans, himself, or the Badger. He knew he had, to his great frustration, screwed up. But...she did not seem as displeased with him as she was with some of the Great Clans, at least. That was... something.

Either that, or the Badger, and by extension himself, were just too minor to mention. Either way, it was better than receiving the sort of... praise the Mantis and Dragon had.

As he pondered on that, he turned his attention back to the Crane.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Bu'... sae. Kakita-sama's assistin' in an investigation, then? That's... heer i Fire Shrimp ville i'self?"

"More general law-keeping. Keeping people in line. Questioning people. Peacekeeping. If investigations start, yes."

He nodded at the question, but denied any ongoing investigations. If he knew he knew, if he didn't he didn't.

"This is a high stakes wedding - the start of a Crab-Crane peace, we hope."

[Moshi Minari]

Masao keeps his voice low, in confidence: "One of the great reasons to not be a courtier, in my experience, is to avoid having to always be pleased by the whims of the court's lord." He smiles, perhaps a little more broadly than he should, but with the fan as it is, only Minari might notice.

In a more normal volume, he asks, "Would Moshi-san like to become more accustomed to such things? There are different levels of ... intensity ... in different courts. Some more like this and others... quite different."

She gritted her teeth for a moment. Then took a deep breath. "I honestly do not care about their whims, but my opinion would not be proper in polite company."

It was probably a shocker for anyone of the crew to hear Minari actually shut up about her colorful opinions.

"I do not think it is something I wish to be accustomed to in the long run, to be blunt," Minari said quietly behind the fan. "I prefer the intensity of a ship, not... parading."


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D2 EE checking for Contrary: 3d10o10 41

[Ichiro Taiki]

"More general law-keeping. Keeping people in line. Questioning people. Peacekeeping. If investigations start, yes."

He nodded at the question, but denied any ongoing investigations. If he knew he knew, if he didn't he didn't.

"This is a high stakes wedding - the start of a Crab-Crane peace, we hope."

The Ichiro took some time before nodding in answer this time.

His was not the brightest head around, that much was true. But... questioning people needed reasons for questioning, as far as he could understand.

"It is. 'S a great thin' too. Unity is strength, if ye ask me. 'n strength is needet tae keep the truest dangers a' bay."

He nods again before continuing.

"Sae... questionin', eh? 'S good tae keep problems out o' such a momentous occasion, yeah. A hope... this wouldnae ha' somethin' tae do wi'... those rumours aboot threats. Tae Hida Yoji-sama A mean. A assumed those were jus' that - rumours. Nuh?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji had smirked at the provincial Lords words. The were irritating but it was no fault of his the average Crab couldn't tell the difference between piss and wine.

At least the peasants would likely actually enjoy it.

[Kakita Masao]

She gritted her teeth for a moment. Then took a deep breath. "I honestly do not care about their whims, but my opinion would not be proper in polite company."

It was probably a shocker for anyone of the crew to hear Minari actually shut up about her colorful opinions.

"I do not think it is something I wish to be accustomed to in the long run, to be blunt," Minari said quietly behind the fan. "I prefer the intensity of a ship, not... parading."

Masao smiles, unsurprised by the answer. He shakes his head as the soldier voice continues: "It is amazing how proper people assume every Crane must be. Perhaps I wasn't clear about my own desire to avoid courts. Limited success, but strong desire."

"What is the appealing intensity of a ship? Having not sailed a great deal, I would appreciate your enlightenment."

[Doji Yuma]

"No simple whim, my clan has an interest in the region achieving peace finally. I am here to report what happens, and if possible to make inroads with the Crab and Crane."

"Sure. But why you in particular? For me it was mostly timing... and, in retrospect, probably that I've got some experience with religious ceremonies performed with little clothing due to my time in Dragon lands."

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Sure. But why you in particular? For me it was mostly timing... and, in retrospect, probably that I've got some experience with religious ceremonies performed with little clothing due to my time in Dragon lands."

"My lord thought it wise to have someone to look after Shosuro-san should she have a need." Shitoru nodded toward Himeko. "I am not her yojimbo per se, but should her honor be impugned, it would fall to me to stand for her."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Sae... questionin', eh? 'S good tae keep problems out o' such a momentous occasion, yeah. A hope... this wouldnae ha' somethin' tae do wi'... those rumours aboot threats. Tae Hida Yoji-sama A mean. A assumed those were jus' that - rumours. Nuh?"

"Hida Yoji was scared by something said to him. Whether it's a threat or not is still just a rumour right now."

[Ichiro Taiki]

"Hida Yoji was scared by something said to him. Whether it's a threat or not is still just a rumour right now."

The Badger kept his eyes on the Crane's for a moment, then let them drift off, but kept silence for some more time, a somewhat puzzled look not entirely hidden behind his façade.

Hida Yoji scared, huh? He wasn't as close to him as to his other cousin, of course, but he didn't think the Crab was one to be scared of just anything.

Finally, he nods just slightly.

"A see. Sae... Hida Yoji-sama scared, eh? Threat or nae threat... it must've bin somethin'. Tae frighten' tha' un'."

Maybe he should say no more. Maybe he should go and meet with his cousins soon. But then... now was probably not the best time.

Damn egg.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"A see. Sae... Hida Yoji-sama scared, eh? Threat or nae threat... it must've bin somethin'. Tae frighten' tha' un'."

"True. Have you spotted anything... odd, Ichiro-san? Anything off or unusual?"

[Moshi Minari]

Masao smiles, unsurprised by the answer. He shakes his head as the soldier voice continues: "It is amazing how proper people assume every Crane must be. Perhaps I wasn't clear about my own desire to avoid courts. Limited success, but strong desire."

"What is the appealing intensity of a ship? Having not sailed a great deal, I would appreciate your enlightenment."

"Crane are known for their excellence," Minari remarked, fanning herself because it was kind of hot to wear this finery instead of her usual style of dress.

She gawked at him as if he asked her what was so great about breathing.

"What... pffft... you might as well ask me what is great about a good sake and a good pipe. Being on a ship out at sea is thrilling, intense. To be surrounded by the elements, to put your faith in the craftsmanship of the ship-builders and the material, as well as the captain to keep the crew on top of their game and the priest to keep the favor of the Heavens on their side."