D6MA, Yeah, I Oughta Eat (open)

[Kakita Masao]

"Here indeed, though I've no idea what she knows," Masao says, untroubled by that news. "She seemed a bit shocked at the news herself, but how could one not? I mean, she wasn't the obvious choice."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Her Majesty is here?" she says.

"And I've already shared a drink with her."

He thought more about Masao's interaction with the Mantis.

"The Mantis you say? With Ikeda Ishi and two ronin?"

Konohamaru mused the implications.

"I think I know the ronin. If I'm right, then it was good that you took the higher ground."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"And I've already shared a drink with her."

He thought more about Masao's interaction with the Mantis.

"The Mantis you say? With Ikeda Ishi and two ronin?"

Konohamaru mused the implications.

"I think I know the ronin. If I'm right, then it was good that you took the higher ground."

"This one is entirely out of her depth at this point," Yuuwaku notes. "How may this one assist?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"This one is entirely out of her depth at this point," Yuuwaku notes. "How may this one assist?"

There is a silence as Konohamaru analyses the situation. He is only one man,

"There's too many moving parts to say for certain, Kakita-san."

The big thing is that if Yuuwaku was caught out of place, it would be trouble with a capital T.

"This is the Empress we are talking about, so any and all cautions are advised. She has a warrior's heart and a strong sense of independence, so remember that when interacting with her. Otherwise, stay safe and focused."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"This is the Empress we are talking about, so any and all cautions are advised. She has a warrior's heart and a strong sense of independence, so remember that when interacting with her. Otherwise, stay safe and focused."

"Interacting with Her Majesty, Kakita-bugyo?" Yuuwaku's eyes widen at the idea. "This one is unworthy of such a thing."

[Kakita Masao]

"The Mantis you say? With Ikeda Ishi and two ronin?"

Konohamaru mused the implications.

"I think I know the ronin. If I'm right, then it was good that you took the higher ground."

"Apologies, Kakita-sama, but it was one ronin, who I know," there was an angry edge to the soldier's voice, "and two Ikeda. Ikeda Ishi, and, ah, Ikeda Hiro? The Mantis seemed to think I should know them all from his boat."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Interacting with Her Majesty, Kakita-bugyo?" Yuuwaku's eyes widen at the idea. "This one is unworthy of such a thing."

"If you wish to, now would be the time to try. The worst the fates can do is tell you know in that regard. Perhaps if she was invited to a party of some kind, she might be willing to converse."

"Apologies, Kakita-sama, but it was one ronin, who I know," there was an angry edge to the soldier's voice, "and two Ikeda. Ikeda Ishi, and, ah, Ikeda Hiro? The Mantis seemed to think I should know them all from his boat."

A nod.

"Ah, the first sword as well. I ask that you let this incident slide for now - I cannot speak for how they acted, but with the presence of Ishi-san and the first sword, I imagine it must have been serious."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"If you wish to, now would be the time to try. The worst the fates can do is tell you know in that regard. Perhaps if she was invited to a party of some kind, she might be willing to converse."

Yuuwaku considers. "A celebration might well be in order, of course," she says. "All is Hers, of course, but a gathering in Her honor..."

She trails off, thinking.

[Kakita Masao]

"Ah, the first sword as well. I ask that you let this incident slide for now - I cannot speak for how they acted, but with the presence of Ishi-san and the first sword, I imagine it must have been serious."

The nikutai looks a little sulky, but he nods agreeably enough. "Hai, Kakita-sama, of course. I noticed the imperials and knew there was something going on beyond what I know. Had they been speaking, we would have had no issue." With a level of emotion neither of them have seen from the soldier before, he adds quietly, "But I will not be bullied by that little Mantis again."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The nikutai looks a little sulky, but he nods agreeably enough.

Perhaps it was time to think of brighter things.

"Besides that, how have you been? Have you met anyone of interest?"

[Kakita Masao]

"Besides that, how have you been? Have you met anyone of interest?"

Masao's face changes immediately, from anger at the Mantis to... embarrassment? It clearly takes him a few moments to find his words, and even then they are modest: "Uh, good, I think... There've been some interesting people to meet." He glances over to Yuuwaku, hoping for less focus on himself, and realizes that was a mistake.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku rises to the bait, turning to the nikutai with wide eyes.

"Oh, please, do tell, Kakita-nikutai!" she says. "Because I quite agree with you in the thrust of it, but I'd wager we find different interests, eh?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes grow large at Yuuwaku's enthusiastic question, and he knows Konohamaru's eyes are upon him as well. I warned you, grandson. So did the artist. And that silly Imperial. And you didn't have to tell her, you idiot. But you may as well tell them all, now.

The soldier takes a deep breath, and then speaks slowly, still guarded. "I have been... very pleased... to spend time with a special samurai-ko over the last few days." He replays his words, trying to think if he's said anything untoward. Special is ok, right? Special is safe. Oh, grandson... "On very honorable terms," he adds preemptively, although even he isn't sure what that means.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku smiles, and her muscles tense, as if she is restraining great joy.

"That's great!" she says, enthusiastically.

Sana-kun will be happy to hear it! she thinks.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao seems confused. And... disappointed?

"It's good?" he asks naively. "I mean, I think it is. But..." he seems to be looking around for a friend. "If it is, uh... I mean, since it's good, maybe we could... talk more about it? Later, of course."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Masao's reaction to Yuuwaku's reaction.

Was he expecting some kind of retribution? Some kind of anger over finding a good friend? To be rebuked, perhaps, so he could rebel?
Or did he want something more? Had he taken Yuuwaku's words as dismissal?
It was not worth aggravating the situation to find out.

At Masao's request, his nod is an attempt at fatherly, but comes off more mechanical and indecisive.

"As you prefer. My chambers are always open, should any of you need anything. Since we've all shared experiences, should I share mine or is there something else we should discuss?"

An open opportunity to change the topic either way - his posture showed he was leaving the floor of discussion open.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Kakita-bugyo's words are always worth attending to," Yuuwaku notes. "If he would share them, many ears would be glad of them."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

A little too flattering there for his tastes, but they had been warped by the passage of occupation.

Nevertheless, with a nod he shared some of his experiences.

"Firstly, do avoid the docks at night - we still need to verify whether or not they are safe. Secondly, how familiar are the two of you with one Torikata Hanatsuko-san? We did a lot of work together in resolving the issue."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nods as the magistrate mentions the docks, and goes to take a drink of tea -- which he proceeds to choke on at mention of Hanatsuko. After he regains his composure, he sits silently, praying that Yuuwaku has something useful to say while he composes his thoughts.

Oh grandson, what are you going to do now? Hm. This should be good.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The immediate thought was that they had been poisoned.

He violently turns to the cups, checking to see if they had similar drinks. Each drink is separate, which means either different speed poisons or different poisons entirely, but the consideration also had to be made that Masao was a sergeant and is related to a city governor, but who would go so far as to -

Oh. Oh, he's alright. Just regular choking.
His hand, white with pressure, relieves itself of his blade, thankfully still in its sheathe.

But then why? What could have triggered such a reaction?

Hold on. The first person Torikata-san mentioned to me was...

...Hmm. He had forgotten - the name felt...relevant, somehow, but he couldn't place what the name was.

Another time, perhaps.

"Is everything alright, Kakita-Nikutai?"

[Kakita Masao]

The soldier forces a smile to his face. "Hai, Kakita-sama, thank you." He stifles another cough. "Just an unfortunately timed cough."

"Er, you had mentioned Toritaka-san, Kakita-sama? We are... acquainted. Her animal companions are quite memorable."

Worst. Liar. Ever. Grandson, you don't even have anything to hide...

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"As it happens," Yuuwaku pipes up, her player finally getting to this point in notifications and updates, "I enjoyed a bath with Toritaka-san just now. Lovely conversation, really," the dancer continues in an upbeat tone. "She mentioned that she was hoping to attract--"

And Yuuwaku realizes what she has just put her foot in, a graceful step into a hitherto unseen squishy pile. But she has to tread the dance she's started.

"--someone."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The soldier forces a smile to his face. "Hai, Kakita-sama, thank you." He stifles another cough. "Just an unfortunately timed cough."

"Er, you had mentioned Toritaka-san, Kakita-sama? We are... acquainted. Her animal companions are quite memorable."

Ah, young love.

...He was no father himself, he was approaching 20 years. Even so, there had been one too many crimes of passion, especially romantic elopes, to be blind to the occurrence.

Ah, so it's like that. A good choice of companion - reliable, earnest, hard-working. A great choice, rather than simply good.

"I am glad we are getting along with the Falcon delegation - in uncertainty, friendships can become alliances. That's why this wedding is occurring, after all. Her research into the curse was thorough and well thought out."

"--someone."

A nod of understanding from the dreaded one.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Where was everyone? He asked as he entered the Blue Bird House for lunch and saw no one eating or waiting. Kintaro-sama should have been taking the meal at his quarters, Yushoko-sama may be with her groom. But a meal taken in solitude was depressing, and thus he went to town.
There was everyone. He saw inside a building and approached pretty happy at first, before a thought crossed his mind.
Why did they not invite me? What did I do of wrong?
Then he lowered his steem. Ah, Sanaharu, nonsense. Yuuwaku is here. Masao is here. You just arrived late to lunch.
Brushing everything out of his head. Closing the plain, unpainted wagasa, he enters the building and approaches his betters with a deep bow. "It fills me with joy to see we all gathered together. May I join?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Brushing everything out of his head. Closing the plain, unpainted wagasa, he enters the building and approaches his betters with a deep bow. "It fills me with joy to see we all gathered together. May I join?"

"Ah, Asahina-san. Welcome."

He stood from his place, bowing to the artisan as he arrived.

"Please, do tell - how have you been since we met last?"

((OOC: I'm fine if everyone else is fine.))