(D5 LA) The pathos of things (Expecting/Open)

[Asahina Sanaharu]

No answer still. Was he rejected? Did she forget? Did she think it was the work of another? Or have the servant taken the thing with himself when they all started to flee due to the war rumor? His head was in doubt, and he would want to believe the last. So here he was again painting another wagasa — due to the curse, both had woken up unpainted again. This one was themed on spring and blossoming cherry trees, carrying pink petals on the wind.

(D5 LA) The pathos of things - Artisan: Painting/AWA fluff roll: 4d10o10k3 18

This was good enough, although yesterday's was better. Now it was time to let it dry.

[Kakita Masao]

The Iron Warrior nikutai scratched at Sanaharu's door, having approached silently enough that the artisan likely heard nothing until the intentional sound at the door.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He wondered who it was. He knew the sound of Yuuwaku's steps — they were not hers, at least.

He gets up on his casual kimono filled up with ink to slide the shoji open.

[Kakita Masao]

"Good afternoon, Asahina-san. I hope the day finds you well." Kakita Masao looks -- unreadable? It's an unlikely look for the nikutai, who Sanaharu has previously counseled to strengthen his on.

"Might we speak privately?" Then a crack in the on, as he looks closer at Sanaharu. "Asahina-san is perhaps disappointed to find this one at his door?" He asks probingly.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He bows deeply. "Have you eaten your portion of rice today, Masao-ue? Don't worry, disappointed I am not, merely shortly surprised. I was about to change my dressing before I left this bedroom again. You are welcome here, in all cases, please make your seat."

The bedroom was as simple as all other bedrooms in the place — one unpainted wagasa near one painted and left to dry, his white biwa, a futon, a small table with several things over it and a wall with space enough for ten kimonos to be left to hang.

[Kakita Masao]

The soldier steps in, sitting as bidden, and again looks thoughtful. "I am glad to speak -- oh, yes, rice, yes, thank you Asahina-san." Masao belatedly responds to the greeting -- poorly -- but then returns to what triggered his visit. "I feel we have a number of things to discuss, and if I may impose upon your time, I'd like to do so now."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He does not raise an eyebrow on the "rice yes rice" part, but his look certainly lingers at Masao weirdly for a moment. He takes the thing out of his table and put them over his sleeping futon, sitting over it, taking a chair under it out. "Please come sit, Masao-ue. Would you like some tea?"

[Kakita Masao]

The Kakita nods, sits where directed, and says, "Yes, Asahina-san, that would be wise. Something calming perhaps -- I may have underestimated how much is on my mind."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

At least the servants had not fled today. He asks, no, commands one to bring all that was necessary for tea, serving the bushi in a cerimony. It was good tea, although not a good cerimony.

D5 LA Tea Cerimony TN 15: 5d10o10k3 11

(OoC: I'm never passing a cerimony roll all game )

[Kakita Masao]

Sanaharu is no Soon-ja when it comes to tea ceremonies, but the warmth is still calming, and Masao is hardly going to bring his conversation to Soon-ja anyway.

"Thank you, Asahina-san. This is helpful, as much of this day has not been." He alludes to the reasons for his visit, but he stops there, unsure what topic to broach first. In the end, he defers to the artisan: "How go your efforts?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"They are going not so..." He looks to the umbrella "Ah, pardon me, it is on my belief that you wouldn't be talking about those efforts. In the investigation, we know now how to find the ghosts of Hitomi's parents, to whom she is dearly enlaced, or so we think."

He puts the cerimony things aside, leaving there only the tea things. "Ah. I believe you were talking about other efforts still. I may disappointingly mention that I had found no good brides for you, Masao-ue."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao nods with a neutral expression on his face. "I'm glad to hear of such progress regarding the curse, though I had no doubt that you, Kakita-sama and others would sort it out quickly." He hesitates.

"And I am honored that you've even given thought to my marriage prospects, Asahina-san, with so many other issues needing attention. I have been thinking on such things, but it is easy to contemplate the future when one can trust the present to the good care of honored kinsmen." He hesitates again.

"Well, honored kin, and Toritaka-san." It takes no great courtier training to see how his face lights when he mentions her.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Ah, I knew not you would count in bushi. I had met with her, Kitsuki Naida-san, and a monkey samurai. Kitsuki-san is rather charming, may I say. Still, the three of them were trained to fight, not to court, much less to manage. I'm not sure your father would agree with this, Masao-dono." He spares not a moment to cast doubt. Training on criticizing art had its utility to criticize people as well, and he would much rather have him well-behaved instead of watching a fight between a father and maybe his only alive son by now.

[Kakita Masao]

The Kakita flashes embarrassment, realizing he'd revealed more than intended so early. No surprise, really. Sanaharu has always been a sharp mind. Which is why you should pay more heed to him. He's also got more on his mind than service to us, grandmother. Please, what is he right now without us?

Masao's eyes close, in the way Sanaharu has seen regularly in recent months, and he gently shakes his head to clear it.

"Asahina-san makes a good point," he admits, grudgingly. "But if Kitora-san recovers, such a concern for my future wife becomes much less -- or none at all," he adds hopefully. "Er, or does it. Asahina-san, you were at my father's court for just the end of negotiations for Sango-san's betrothal. Was it clear what had... qualified Doji Ai-san for the honor?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"You need to negotiate what is viable or not with your father, Masao-ue, not me. You can only dream as high as this phrase will allow, a situation that is not within my power to chance. If you inquire about Doji Ai-hime, she is as much you can expect from Doji's legacy, raised to be a wife like She was — speaks politely, great with base etiquette, a good mind for numbers, and takes care of herself well." He takes a cup from leftover lukewarm tea. "Doji Ai-hime visited the court of your father once. It was a banquet, of course, and I was there when it happened."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao listens with care -- perhaps more than Sanaharu is used to receiving from him. "I have heard, on occasion at least, for the betrothed of one sibling who dies, to be betrothed to the next available sibling. Fortunes willing, even if that should be the case here, Doji Ai-san would marry Kitora-san. But if it came to that, Asahina-san, do you think... Do you think a match with her would... suit me well?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"I know not of what you would like, Masao-ue. I am also not one to badmouth those who did nothing against me on their back. But people treat differently those who they think can affect them in comparison to those who they think that cannot. On our talk, she never treated me badly, far from that. She did, however, wear a weaker on."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao looks embarrassed for a fraction of a moment. "No, Asahina-san, I know. I am not asking..." he takes a heavy breath. "I am not asking whether I would like a match with Doji-san. I want to know whether you think... it would suit me. You know, be... Be the right choice for a future city governor?" In the name of the Fortunes, what are you asking him? Of course she's the right choice, grandson, that's why she was picked for Sango.

"I mean, Asahina-san, do you think... Do you think father may have already settled this, at least in his mind? I mean, when we were home, he seemed pretty focused on Kitora's health, not weddings, but..."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

If I answer yes and it goes well, it will be what everyone expected and his father's choice.
If I answer yes and it goes poorly, it will be partly my fault.
If I answer no and it goes well, my credibility will suffer.
If I answer no and it goes poorly, I will have jinxed it.

He looks back at Masao, still with a good on. "It's a common Asahina tradition to consult the future, especially on the stars, before deciding new paths. Many important life choices are decided on a child's first year when they are brought to a diviner as close to birth as possible. Consulting the stars for marriage is almost as common."

[Kakita Masao]

Idiot grandson, listen to me. This man can't tell you what you want to know, and he certainly can't tell you what you want to hear right now. He's been stuck on that boat and here with you for days and days. Seek out a diviner if you wish, for they can tell you just as much of value, maybe more at this point, but stop accosting this poor ally of our house.

The Crane's head drops into his hands as so many words crash between his ears. He takes two deep breaths, rubs his temples, and slowly regains his focus.

"Ah, Asahina-san, thank you for... that, uh, thoughtful information. We should... Ah, wait." Masao takes a steady breath. "There may be more to say of the samurai-ko you have seen here. You mentioned managers, or at least courtiers. Are there women whose acquaintance I should be making?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Please give me a moment." He says, getting up from his seat and ordering a servant to prepare chamomile and ginger tea, returning shortly. "Masao-ue, I know of a court medic, a shugenja even. I could call him over if it is of your wish or necessity. This curse has been affecting we all more or less, it is known." He replies, noticing that Masao was doing this blanking out thing again. "Even if you say you are fine by your word, and this one I trust, you have been... spacing out like this with some frequency.

"The tea I asked for, if your wound is not worn outside, is good for the injuries inside in. About your question... For the samurai-ko I have seen there, I believe your best choice would be Daidoji-san. I'm sure you can fare better on any court you visit, though. Your father alone has some visitors."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao waves off the Asahina's concern, consciously not shaking his head. He closes his eyes for just another moment, inhales, and then he seems as bright-eyed as the beginning of their conversation.

"Asahina-san's concern is greater than the need, but its full measure is appreciated. I amm..." he stops, showing attention to Sanaharu's point. "I will be fine. This cursed place has affected me more than I like to admit -- more than any soldier could admit, I think. But I will see it resolved, to Asahina-san's satisfaction, after we leave here. If I am in some way infirm, it would not do to talk of marriage and the future, hm?" The smile that Masao musters is pretty convincing, or would be if Sanaharu wasn't so experienced with the false faces of a court.