[Day 2 - EA] Pen is Mightier

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

That brought a smile to his lips and his eyes turned towards the festival proper. "But we should move to enjoy the festival proper shouldn't we?"

"Perhaps you would be so kind to tell me a bit about yourself as well? I hardly know a thing about you other then your name, I'm loathe to admit."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

“This one,” she said, gesturing to herself.

“She is a swordswoman of the Scorpion, one of the lost generation or inheritors thereof. She is a lover of the arts though she lacks any talent to create such beautiful things. She was married once but her husband was cut down in a duel, such is the way of the sword.”

“She is a mother, a warrior, and perhaps in the near future a friend of Captain Shouji.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He fell silent as she spoke, listening to her words. "So young and a widow and a mother. It seems you have faced your fair share of difficulties Bayushi-san. That is the life we lead though."

"friendship though? I feel like we are close to it already, Bayushi-san. Perhaps a bit more time together and we will firmly reach such a thing." Whether that was later today or in another meeting thoguh was hard to say.

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"You tease this widow, I had hoped for friendship but to believe it could be possible," she said with a light laugh, hiding it behind her raised sleeve.

"My difficulties are no more than any other samurai, but thank you for the kind words."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I suppose time will really be the telling factor." Shouji replied with an easy smile. "I just noticed that past all the flattery you're easy to talk with."

Perhaps he should leave his guard up though. "Which is something I find important in a friend."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"I hear it can be lonely being the Commander, I suspect such is the same for a captain at the end of the day, but I have never served on a ship," she said honestly.

"I would not wish to diminish what you do with an ill comparison, but from the outside it seems apt."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I wouldn't say it's lonely, I mean it's not like I don't have people I can talk to. There is a certain distance that should be maintained between me and the rest of the crew though." One didn't know when you would need to send one to their death.

"It can be hard to find that correct distance too, and I'd have to say its one of the parts of command I am still getting used to."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

She started looking at street food and said, "You have a great deal of Courage. Your family must be proud at what you have achieved."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Following her eyes he smiled. "Do you think any of those are good?" He asked before moving back towards what she said.

"Yes, though it's admittedly not often we get to speak. The Tsuruchi lands aren't exactly the closest to the sea, and it's hard for post to catch a ship in motion. Sending letters is easy enough, but recieving them is another matter entirely."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

“Oh they are spicy, want to try one?” she offered playfully.

When he mentioned the Tsuruchi she gave him a curious look and said, “I apologize but I have not had much interaction with the Tsuruchi or their ways. I am intrigued to know more.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He raised an eyebrow at that. "Is there one you would suggest?"

"Ah... It might seem odd to know, but the lands of the Tsuruchi aren't near the Shore. In fact they mostly consist of more wooded regions and well as some mountainous terrain. We're archers for the most part and it's a rare one that you will meet that wears a Katana."

"Not that we don't receive one at our gempukku, those of us that are bushi at least. But they are broken shortly after to symbolically tie us to the way of our family. Though a few have given up the practice since joining the Mantis."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"Why do the bushi shatter their swords?" she asked while gesturing to some rice wrapped treats shaped in suggestive ways.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Might as well. Approaching one of the vendors, Shouji purchased a pair of the treats, offering one of them to the Bayushi.

"It's a bit of a contentious topic to bring up in public." Shouji offered with a wry smile. "Our founder did not consider himself a Samurai though, he parted from that path and when he did so he shattered his sword. Those that followed him did the same, and eventually that group of men and Women became the Wasp. The raised their children and all those that wished to join them as Archers, not swordmen, and shattered their swords to show their deidcation to their path."

"The Code of the Wasp is what it's called, and while in a lot of ways it's similar to Bushido it's not quite the same."

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"That's an odd way of things but if it worked then I won't comment on it. Is this a school of thought you live by as well?" she asked.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"To a degree, though I don't cling to it like some of my cousins. The years I have spent away from the family have given me more an attachment to bushido." He admitted.

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"Interesting," she said kindly.

"So what are your thoughts then on Bushido and the Way of the Wasp?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"They are similar in some ways, though the Way of the Wasp seems to approach similar ideals but in a different direction I have always found judgement particularly interesting."

"In the end I'd say both have their strengths and I understand why people dedicate themselves to the ideals of both of them." Even if he wasn't particularly attached to either of them.

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"But what do you hold to?" she asked.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Bushido, though I do consider the way of the Wasp at times as well. When I think it might be relevant." Which was only on occasion.

[Bayushi Ijihime]

"I would keep that bit quiet around the Lion," she mused.

"Possibly the Crane as well."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"If they ask me, I'll answer them.with honesty. I have no plans to flaunt it though." He smiled slightly. "Still, thank you for the advice."