(D6 LA) Between Kishu and Chin (Expecting/Closed)

[Asahina Sanaharu]

Drinking tea, table set properly (much like it was yesterday), things set aside, he orders one of the servants to go fetch Masao. Of course, only if he wanted. This was an invite.

He took the biwa on his lap and started to play a few notes, staring intensively at the door. Bedrooms reunions were becoming his favourite.

[Kakita Masao]

The Crane nikutai is conveniently available in his room, and is happy to have tea with his friend. Friend? Friend.

In no particular rush, Masao politely scratches at the door and awaits recognition. I know he worries less when I do things the right way.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He opens the shoji and bows.

His heart pounded, but not in agony. After more than a week idle, enduring insults, he was to be called again for his function.

"It's great to see you again, Masao-ue. I would be the most honored if you took a seat. I'm sorry not to know your favourite blend, so I ordered simple matcha." No one disliked matcha. No one proper, that is.

"I wanted to speak about what has happened earlier, if you would wish to hear. Otherwise, I may play a melody if you would prefer."

[Kakita Masao]

The soldier smiles. "Asahina-san, do please go at the pace you prefer. But if you would take my suggestion, it is to not delay saying things you feel need to be said."

He gracefully accepts the tea, having smiled at the mention of matcha.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I saw that it apparently left your honor wounded. Should you seek to defend it, I may present some options.

The one that drew your discontempt is young. For his limited knowledge of the world, he is as well fallible. The problem, however, is that he is a little too eager to defend what he perceives as truth before he can ponder on their perceived adversary being right or wrong. It is as well my suspicion that he has something against our Clan in particular. Both attitudes are self-destructive, Masao-dono, one draws ire and the other one leaves you without allies. Were him a composed man, he would not have angered the son of the lord of one of the Crane's major trading posts, when he has need to care for a merchant vessel. One of the very options is simply waiting, that in five years he may either apologize to us or carve his own shi duel against someone else.

You may wish to call him to a first-strike duel, specially as a bushi. I would suggest then to let me call over the duel on your stead if that would be your choice. Should we win, he will remove his words to us both. Should we lose, my honor will be the one affected. Since his words were directed at our Clan, I may convince Doji Kintaro-sama to fight on our stead as my champion.

The blade of a ronin is not so loyal. Regardless of who would call said duel, we may pay her not to fight on this stead. On a similar note, we may convince Kitsuki-san not to intervene... Or even to intervene on our side, should things go really well. Remind you that he knows not to maintain allies.

Such a duel should be marked after the wedding, of course, not to disturb our honored hosts and to follow Kakita-bugyo's words. If, on the challenge, he sets it up weeks away in an attempt to hide from conflict, I may ask your lord and father for a Kakita-trained duelist.

There is the possibility, however, the magistrate would decree us too apart in the Celestial Wheel, where it would need to be you or Doji Kintaro-sama to issue the challenge.

I'm much in favor of less violent and more courtly cruel options, however, to show the consequence of his actions rather than generate personal satisfaction, for he is young and needs to learn." His on stood neutral. He wished that his heart smiled like a devil and sought vengeance, but actually he pretty much had the same headache as a father thinking on how to discipline a child.

"Your father is a man of power, Masao-ue. If I merely tell him what he did to his son and to me, what he did to the Crane, he is sure to take some action. I could attempt to direct it towards blocking commerce of his vessel on Cold Wind City and perhaps her allies, which includes Mura Sabishii Toshi. I could also attempt to direct his action towards writing a letter to the Tsuruchi's lord. The Crane and the Mantis are allies much greater than a single Crane and a single Mantis are enemies. To preserve this relationship, I believe the Captain's lord would take action, even if it was to force him to write an apology.

I have talked to Tsuruchi-sama personally, and he had offended me greatly. We could attempt as well to talk to Hida Fuboshi-dono and Hida Kitusuchi-dono on how we would not rather spill blood on their wedding, but on how uncomfortable the Crane is with their offenses. Perhaps they would take some action as well."

He bows again as he finishes to talk, bringing the tea cup to his lips. He stops before the water touches his lips, noticing he forgot to add something.

"I am not one to direct your actions, of course. At least, not the ones of your father. If you wish so, I could give counsel on how I think it is wise to proceed on what my judgement says to be best, specially after Kakita-bugyo's words.

Those are the most viable alternatives in case you want to see your honor rebuilt, which you showed interest on. My current efforts are towards pacifying, interacting like allies should, showing no hatred. Asahina-shiryo was not one to fight back."

Then he partakes the tea in long gulps.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao listens politely through Sanaharu's analysis, nodding at times in understanding and agreement. When the artisan finishes, the soldier considers briefly and then responds.

"First, Asahina-san, thank you for your attention and good consideration of this matter. All your thoughts are helpful." He pauses, trying to show due reflection.

"This Mantis has offended me, you, and certainly others. He should be held to account. But his foolishness and bad behavior should be beneath our... proper notice. Let us be seen to focus on the wedding, and on the new empress and the needs of clan and empire, while appropriately notifying those who need to be aware of his errors. My father chief among them, I believe, as the captain's impediment to our efforts should be well detailed."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He nods. "I believe the attention deserves only the attention of your father, then. I'm happy with the decision selected." He nods, taking the biwa on his lap and beginning the first notes of a melody. "Now, for what is of relevance as well... Masao-ue, sure you wish what happened earlier to be shed a light on? All the conversation about flutes." He says with a smile. Even an hour after the fact, it was still too funny.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nods, slightly surprised to hear that Sanaharu is happy about anything--Grandson! He's not so cold as that. Just better at keeping the emotion off his face than you.

The soldier looks a little confused when the flute subject is raised. He smiles and says naively, "I confess, I was surprised by the attention to flutes earlier. I mean, as you know, I've been playing my flute for years." He shrugs a little.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

The sly smile of the sly Crane grew out of his control.

"Words are not used as to what they mean, frequently. They are used in phrases that signify other meanings. This is the base of courtesy, and as such, the very base of our Clan. But, more straight to the point, to say one plays the flute is to say that one fiddles, with their mouth, on a man's flute."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes go wide, and he sits for a time, realizing now what the earlier conversation had really been about. He is simultaneously pink with embarrassment and white with shock.

"Wha, we... I would never speak about Toritaka-san that way! I... She wouldn't do that! I mean... And you shouldn't talk... Wait, how oft... Do you talk about people like that all the time?"

Masao's mind is reeling from the possibility that courts he's been to have been even more dangerous than he realized.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"We know, Masao-ue, we know, that was not your intention. And, since you asked, I prefer sadane when I am to talk about others in such a fashion, although much of sadane lives on wordplays. I tried to save your face this entire conversation, but you kept evading any of my attempts."

He fans himself in a neutral expression. What will be of him on his father's own house?

[Kakita Masao]

Masao settles into something resembling neutral as he considers that. "Grandmother taught me something of sadane. It seems... unpleasant, speaking well of something when you mean ill. I do not understand why it's encouraged." He sighs. "But at least a game, just with strange rules, I can mostly understand. These wordplays... Wait, Otomo Saisei-san did the same thing when... Ok, ok, this is starting to make sense..." The appearance of wheels turning in Masao's mind is so strong that the wheels can almost be heard.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Because speaking ill of something is an insult, and insult draws offense, Masao-ue. Sadane is a core subject in the Academy. For example, on his house, I would not say that it has the artistic depth of the Wall. I would say that it is really mindful of our hosts to have put up for us this live exposition of art, to live as their soldiers do in their greatest castles, so we can relate to them better. But they also were careful enough so it relates to our living, such as the Daidoji barracks."

He continues almost playing his biwa, like he usually did when talking to Masao.

"That was already somewhat too offensive. I'm not good at Sadane myself, too bitter for it. I thought about training as a jester."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao marvels, slightly, that the barracks that he's so accustomed to are an insult to others, but then this is why as a soldier he dislikes so many things that are more revered among his clanmates.

"Ah," he says noncommittally, being more interested in the biwa notes than many of the words.

"And what would make one wish to be a jester, Asahina-san? I am not familiar with that art."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"For first, a jester is an artist that is trained to mock and insult through their art. This is the shortest resume I can give. The theme of their art are others' dishonorable actions and flaws. They do this through humor as well, but one that is bitting and acidic. For why one would want to become a jester? They live interesting lives for sure."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao chuckles at the last comment. "We are all living interesting lives now," he says thoughtfully. "Does training in one art give greater skill in dealing with interesting times?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"You may already be aware that Iaijutsu is still taught by the New Academy, and that's only the most obvious example. Art is an instrument of diplomacy or critique as well."

[Kakita Masao]

"Yes, of course." Masao takes a sip from the tea he's been unintentionally ignoring.

"What I meant, is whether Asahina-san finds an art among those practiced by the artisans that is... more conducive to maintaining one's face, when one feels the strain of interesting times?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Do you see... Ah, pardon me. Of course you don't." He blushes slightly and gets up to get a star origami, putting it on the table. "Now... Do you see this star? This is one I did to ease my anger after I was insulted. Was it not as well a testimony to something great, I would have burned it. I'm not someone who does origami frequently, but it is what works to soothe myself. Dance spirits the soul of some. This is a thing that depends on each person their own."