"Of course." Now Ryu made a mental note. "And, ah, thank you. I suppose." Ryu grimaced a little. Sae would know that Ryu had not been involved in a courtship for a while, since one went sour a few years back. Then he bowed. "As you wish, cousin. No cooks shall be harmed." He hesitated. "Not that I w...

Making the approach was easy enough. Ryu had done this often enough. It was simple to catch the Bayushi at a quiet moment between conversations, allowing the two a moment to themselves. What Ryu didn't count on is how difficult it was to have a quiet conversation with a Bayushi and have it not appea...

"Hmmm." Ryu acknowledged that noncommittally. He, too, looked around. "Indeed. I find myself wishing I'd made more of a study of this sort of thing, but there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day." Ryu exhaled, almost a sigh. "Shall I ask the servants on your behalf? You already have a lot ...

Snip "You're hardly that old." Ryu said reassuringly. "There may be a few fresh out of gempukku here, but not many, I expect." As they walked, he looked slowly around before returning his attention to Sae. "Perhaps. I'm a bit out of practice, I'm afraid. But I will do my best." He shrugged. "And if...

snip "Perhaps..." Ryu said, frowning again. Did he want to compare notes on that subject...? He cleared his throat. "Yes, let's continue." As they walked, Ryu seemed pretty much as cheerful as always; not very. But his cousin might notice that the worry lines in his forehead did seem less, at least...

Snip Ryu bowed. "That's kind of you to say. But don't undersell your own accomplishments." He straightened. "Although I admit, the line between too much modesty and braggadocio is finer than one might expect." "Hmph." Ryu waved a hand. "That's hardly necessary. She's just a bit difficult sometimes....

"I suppose I did give you my word." The two finally reach said stump, it's top polished by generations of Ikoma giving stump speeches. Sae looks to the castle and then back to the Dragon House, then to Ryu. "Two Clans to start with, I understand other members of the delegation will reach out to the...

"Is that so?" Looking back at Ryu with a neutral expression. "Then it seems you are stumped." Miyahara parties must be a riot. "In truth my guide pointed it out to me...several times, then one of the servants mentioned it, every Ikoma I have spoken to has brought it up." As the two approached the s...

When it was Ryu's turn to give a gift, he stepped forward, bowing gracefully. Like his cousin, he offered a ornate box, although it was smaller and wider. Straightening, he spoke to the Ikoma, his voice soft and low. "Within this box is a letter written from the Kami Lord Hantei to his sister, Lady ...

A nod and she sets off, sandals quietly padding through the snow. "The gardens here are so...ordered. It will take some getting used to. I suppose it does make it harder to sneak up on someone. No courtiers lurking in the hedgerows." Looking ahead and pointing, her voice sounding genuinely excited....

So of course Ryu rose as well. He bowed, low and respectful. "I am glad to hear that, Doji-sama. And I assure you, I shall do as you say." He straightened. "If there is anything else you wish of me, please do not hesitate to reach out." With that, and last murmured goodbyes, Ryu would see himself out.

"My new yoriki is a Matsu, I hope she is more straightforward." pause "But not too straightforward, perhaps my expectations are rather high." Nodding. "Good. Do what needs to be done, the less I know about the methods the better I will sleep. And if ever there was a time to be particularly careful....

In what was perhaps going a little too far, Ryu looked up at that, his eyes meeting his superior's. "In that case, Doji-sama, allow me to say again, I shall keep both eyes and ears open, to both friends and enemies." Remembering himself, he lowered his gaze once more, having another sip of tea. ----...

Sae would likewise receive an almost-smile back, a little lip-twist of friendly acknowledgement. Friendly-ish. "Quite busy, I expect." He said, touching his chin thoughtfully. "And it is an honor, as always." He said the words blandly, but he'd proved them true often enough. "Hmph." The exhalation w...

Ryu approached quietly... but not too quietly. He did not wish to unsettle, and he certainly didn't wish to startle his cousin. Sae would hear the sounds of his feet on the path from perhaps ten paces away as he drew closer. He stopped, a few paces away, behind her and to the side. It was a familiar...

Ryu inclined his head again, almost like the tiniest of bows. "Indeed, Doji-sama."

His head came back up, eyes narrowing again. "One of several avenues? If you have wisdom" or suggestions "-I would of course be open to it, Doji-sama."

Ryu, likewise, picked up his teacup, sipped it lightly, and then set it back down. If he wasn't drinking tea, he wouldn't be applying any pressure on her to drink tea. He inclined his head, acknowledging her words, but remained silent for a few moment, his expression thoughtful. Finally, he spoke, s...

Ah, blast. Gamely, Ryu went about performing the ceremony as best he could. Alas, there were still a few gaps in his social training... still, he did his best, moving slowly and carefully, and hoping it came off as grace. "Quite, Doji-sama." Ryu agreed blandly. "She is the face of my House. I work t...

The tea he left; it seemed unlikely that he would be pouring it, and he certainly shouldn't be the first to drink. But he would be ready to take his teacup when she did. Ryu's head rose up, just a little in response to Minehime's words, a little flicker visible in his grey eyes as he shifted modes o...

"I have, thank you, Doji-sama. I trust you have as well?" Ryu kept his head and gaze politely low, in deference to his social... super-superior, if that was a thing. His tone was likewise polite; Ryu knew how to be respectful in court, after all.