D7 EE - Two southern ladies enter a bar...

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki had been to a few matches over the years, but she was far from an ardent fan of sumai - which means her knowledge about the current banzuke was fairly limited.

Somewhere in Kyuden Ikoma, people ought to be better informed, though - and she thought she had a good guess of where that might be.

She was still at the door when she noticed that she hadn't been the only Crab to make that guess.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori didn't think this was going to be very hard, just a cup of sake and cozy up to some locals. That said, this was something she would find difficult to do at home, let alone abroad with some less familiar people. Maybe she just didn't know who to ask or it was a bad time. When Masaki arrived, Shoiri was milling around the bar, looking like she was at a loss at where to sit as she tried to wade through the early evening rush.

She raised her brows when she saw the Yasuki and approached her with a bow. "Good evening, Yasuki-san. It looks much like a bar at the docks of Sunda Mizu Mura but still, lacks a few things to make it home..." She murmured, a touch annoyed.

[Yasuki Masaki]

A quick scan of the bar done, she bows to the Kuni as well. "Good evening, Kuni-san", she says, some cheerfulness in her voice although it was still appropriate contained.... well, appropriately enough for a bar at least.

"Huh. It *is* reminiscent of Sunda Mizu in some ways, isn't it?" Another look at the tables and faces around, and she points at what seems to be two free spots at the corner of the counter, a spot free between them and the next patrons.

"Similar but different is an interesting, but at times confusing combination, isn't it?" A small grin. "Were Kuni-san looking for anything specific to *drink*?"

The intonation in the last word and the upcoming sumo championship suggested she might not mean drinks exactly.... or not only, at least.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori nodded twice at the find and shuffled her way toward that particular spot before anyone else in the house could claim it. It was quite likely that if they hesitated, it would have been claimed quickly. That was a fact of life when it came to hanging around Crab sake houses too.

"It can be, especially when you run into particular unspoken rules about the strict hours of operation or when a particular drink is served or where to site. However, the experience at least allows us to glean some difference in the locals. Much the same could likely be said with attending the courts here, actually," she smirked faintly at that thought before looking to Masaki. "...which I apologize for my absence today, of course."

She looked at the counter that they shared and specifically the drinks that were on the counter. "Yes and no...actually, I was hoping to find some gossip about the upcoming competition. Gossip isn't my forte, admittedly, and I was trying somewhat to stir the conversation to something more topical without much success."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori nodded twice at the find and shuffled her way toward that particular spot before anyone else in the house could claim it. It was quite likely that if they hesitated, it would have been claimed quickly. That was a fact of life when it came to hanging around Crab sake houses too.

"It can be, especially when you run into particular unspoken rules about the strict hours of operation or when a particular drink is served or where to site. However, the experience at least allows us to glean some difference in the locals. Much the same could likely be said with attending the courts here, actually," she smirked faintly at that thought before looking to Masaki. "...which I apologize for my absence today, of course."

She looked at the counter that they shared and specifically the drinks that were on the counter. "Yes and no...actually, I was hoping to find some gossip about the upcoming competition. Gossip isn't my forte, admittedly, and I was trying somewhat to stir the conversation to something more topical without much success."

Masaki follows suit, taking the seat beside Shiori, and nods at her words. The Kuni's note on the comparison with courts, in particular, results first in a slightly raised eyebrow, then in a chuckle, not so hastily covered with her hand given the environs. "That is a keen observation, Kuni-san. I suppose there is quite a lot to learn about court - and differences - in places such as this one, ne. Including how talks can proceed from the friendly to strained, from strained to... "

... strangled. Well, hopefully not..

"It is funny, ne?", she adds indeed, with a small grin.

"No apologies needed, Kuni-san. There are other important things to do here than court itself, ne? The others told me you went to see Lord Ikoma?"

Then, looking at the faces around. "Hm... Maybe we can get someone to mention something? The last match was quite some time ago now, but since the banzuke just came out, maybe there can be some interest?..." She scanned around the faces some more. "Think the patrons here follow the southern matches? It is in the north, but maybe they keep tabs on others? She gets a copy of the Banzuke from her sleeve, looks at it. "Hm... I was wondering about Miyagino. Did you think of someone else?"

[Kuni Shiori]

Masaki follows suit, taking the seat beside Shiori, and nods at her words. The Kuni's note on the comparison with courts, in particular, results first in a slightly raised eyebrow, then in a chuckle, not so hastily covered with her hand given the environs. "That is a keen observation, Kuni-san. I suppose there is quite a lot to learn about court - and differences - in places such as this one, ne. Including how talks can proceed from the friendly to strained, from strained to... "

... strangled. Well, hopefully not..

"It is funny, ne?", she adds indeed, with a small grin.

"No apologies needed, Kuni-san. There are other important things to do here than court itself, ne? The others told me you went to see Lord Ikoma?"

Then, looking at the faces around. "Hm... Maybe we can get someone to mention something? The last match was quite some time ago now, but since the banzuke just came out, maybe there can be some interest?..." She scanned around the faces some more. "Think the patrons here follow the southern matches? It is in the north, but maybe they keep tabs on others? She gets a copy of the Banzuke from her sleeve, looks at it. "Hm... I was wondering about Miyagino. Did you think of someone else?"

Shiori gave a few nods at that and then her gaze roamed the sake house, perhaps either in search of a server or recalling the previous table she sat at. "Actually, I did make the acquaintance of Daidoji Ryu here first and I think I made a similar comparison too. Not just of trying to sus out customs and become a part of the social circle but I went further and questioned this could be considered a court of sorts. Of course, this casual observation might be considered preposterous by someone as experienced as you, Yasuki-san. Still, this is a social gathering and people do their business here."

She gazed around the room with a pensive frown. "It is lacking a central floor to grab attention and make your purpose clear though...I'm sure that would aid greatly in getting us some drinks sooner, if they had such a thing."

At the topic of the Lord Ikoma, she inclined her head once. "Yes...It was likely that he has a share of attendants looking after his health but I was curious enough to lend my expertise on the matter. Two days of inactivity is concerning to a body but there is more at stake than physical health. That is something beyond my personal experience, although something that is a great fascination in my House and Family. But I digress, all I can properly say is that he should be okay physically in the short term. I just hope he recovers, for his health and others."

She tilted her head at the document that was produced by Masaki. "...Actually, I was wondering about Miyagino myself, too. I had thought that sake and sumo should have gone hand and hand, regardless of Clan territory."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori gave a few nods at that and then her gaze roamed the sake house, perhaps either in search of a server or recalling the previous table she sat at. "Actually, I did make the acquaintance of Daidoji Ryu here first and I think I made a similar comparison too. Not just of trying to sus out customs and become a part of the social circle but I went further and questioned this could be considered a court of sorts. Of course, this casual observation might be considered preposterous by someone as experienced as you, Yasuki-san. Still, this is a social gathering and people do their business here."

She gazed around the room with a pensive frown. "It is lacking a central floor to grab attention and make your purpose clear though...I'm sure that would aid greatly in getting us some drinks sooner, if they had such a thing."

At the topic of the Lord Ikoma, she inclined her head once. "Yes...It was likely that he has a share of attendants looking after his health but I was curious enough to lend my expertise on the matter. Two days of inactivity is concerning to a body but there is more at stake than physical health. That is something beyond my personal experience, although something that is a great fascination in my House and Family. But I digress, all I can properly say is that he should be okay physically in the short term. I just hope he recovers, for his health and others."

She tilted her head at the document that was produced by Masaki. "...Actually, I was wondering about Miyagino myself, too. I had thought that sake and sumo should have gone hand and hand, regardless of Clan territory."

She lets out a soft chuckle. "No, no, it makes a lot of sense, Kuni-san. A very different sort of court indeed, but it still has some similarities. And you're right that the lack of a central floor does change the dynamics a fair amount..." looking around, her gaze finally seems to meet an attendant's, and she makes a quick gesture... only to be ignored again. Next time...

"Ikoma-dono... you think there's something beyond the shock itself going on?", she asks, her eyes still fishing around the bar and thus not really looking at her. A quick gesture again - this time apparently with a successful catch, although the attendant takes their sweet time to come to them. "And, well, as you see I made a similar guess! Maybe it will still pay out in the end, let's see."

(OOC: Sorry, Monday was a mess and I ended up focusing mostly on the Art Festival this week after that - we could talk some more here, or try and get another thread going later!)

[Kuni Shiori]

(OOC: No worries! It's been busy with the events find myself a bit preoccupied this weekend myself.)

"I would hope not..." she said with a cautious note at first as she narrowed an eye, casually watching the attendant walk up to them. "Such states of mental arrest typically have a sort of elemental imbalance attached to them, often awakened by great shocks or a drastic shift from normality. While the imbalances are complicated matters that need to be attended to by medicine and sometimes the kami, the cause is more mundane than the look. At least, in typical cases. There is a non-zero chance it could be something else but I don't think he's been acting awkwardly. That said, I feel there are other things afoot around here."

When the attendant arrived, Shiori would speak up to talk over the background noise to get some local sake (whatever was plentiful and being served). There were other options but she figured with the volume and the service, it was better to stick with something that they couldn't screw up.

"I admit, I find the sport of sumo and its surrounding prestige more difficult to understand than medicine. I know that it's apparently a sport that is quite lauded around the Empire but the Crab have a good about of stake in it."

[Yasuki Masaki]

(OOC: No worries! It's been busy with the events find myself a bit preoccupied this weekend myself.)

"I would hope not..." she said with a cautious note at first as she narrowed an eye, casually watching the attendant walk up to them. "Such states of mental arrest typically have a sort of elemental imbalance attached to them, often awakened by great shocks or a drastic shift from normality. While the imbalances are complicated matters that need to be attended to by medicine and sometimes the kami, the cause is more mundane than the look. At least, in typical cases. There is a non-zero chance it could be something else but I don't think he's been acting awkwardly. That said, I feel there are other things afoot around here."

When the attendant arrived, Shiori would speak up to talk over the background noise to get some local sake (whatever was plentiful and being served). There were other options but she figured with the volume and the service, it was better to stick with something that they couldn't screw up.

"I admit, I find the sport of sumo and its surrounding prestige more difficult to understand than medicine. I know that it's apparently a sport that is quite lauded around the Empire but the Crab have a good about of stake in it."

She nods, somewhat hesitatingly, at the answer on the Lord Ikoma, but doesn't take up the matter further. The 'other things', on the other hand, immediately draw her attentions.

"Hm. Other things... that we ought to be worried about? Not the sort of other things that often become a worry in the south, hopefully?" A slightly tired sigh. "This week has made for very interesting times, hasn't it?..."

Waiting a moment to have their bottle arrive and their cups served, she takes a first sip of the sake - which brings a small smile back to her lips. She takes the chance to shoot a question about the Southern Sumotori to the attendant - which does reveal some information.

"It is an important one back home, isn't it? But then when what I've watched before were mostly local matches, the greater importance of it ended up mostly lost on me, I suppose."

[Kuni Shiori]

She nods, somewhat hesitatingly, at the answer on the Lord Ikoma, but doesn't take up the matter further. The 'other things', on the other hand, immediately draw her attentions.

"Hm. Other things... that we ought to be worried about? Not the sort of other things that often become a worry in the south, hopefully?" A slightly tired sigh. "This week has made for very interesting times, hasn't it?..."

Waiting a moment to have their bottle arrive and their cups served, she takes a first sip of the sake - which brings a small smile back to her lips. She takes the chance to shoot a question about the Southern Sumotori to the attendant - which does reveal some information.

"It is an important one back home, isn't it? But then when what I've watched before were mostly local matches, the greater importance of it ended up mostly lost on me, I suppose."

Shiori frowned to herself, probably really at herself for not bringing these 'other things' up sooner. Perhaps she had been enjoying her time too much around here and had forgotten about the core tenants of being a Kuni, which much of it was made of paranoia and vigilance. "Well, there was the earthquake the other day that wasn't quite looked into since then. The temptation was to involve myself heavily in its rebuilding, especially when my House has some familiarity with the mining trade, but that would likely be overstepping my polite bounds."

She put a pause on their conversation for a moment when their sake arrived and she didn't want to ruin the talk further until they took a sip of sake.

"There was also the... disturbance that happened the day after. I don't think I've talked to anyone about it, at all. It couldn't have been experienced solely by me." She would hope so, or else she might have been afflicted with something and carrying it unknowingly still. That would be very negligent on her part.

There was the bit about the sumo but her attention on that admittedly were pushed off with the concerning topic.

[Yasuki Masaki]

.

The concerning topic did get Masaki's full attention - after a first shared sip of sake, of course.

She nods, slowly, pensively. "I've been wondering about that too. Somehow it felt connected to... what came later in the day." It was still hard to mention it directly, perhaps understandably. "But it *was* a strange happening."

Her hand unconsciously moves to her chin, stays there for a while as she seems to think. "It... somehow seemed as something wider, but at the same time specific. Was it also a 'spiritual gale' of sorts for you, followed by a visit?"

[Kuni Shiori]

.

Shiori was relieved that it wasn't solely her who felt the disturbance but comfort was sort of short-lived when there was something obvious at stake. "I had assumed the same, as I think it fit the timing but I can't be too sure. Has there a documentation of the effects of the passing of an Emperor or Empress? Enough that it might have a reverberation with the local kami or the spiritual surroundings? Maybe it's because we were in such close proximity with the late Empress in court."

She wasn't too sure but she could believe it. "It was like a wave of outrage, at least that's what it seemed to the sense. Is that what you meant by a visit or was it something else?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori was relieved that it wasn't solely her who felt the disturbance but comfort was sort of short-lived when there was something obvious at stake. "I had assumed the same, as I think it fit the timing but I can't be too sure. Has there a documentation of the effects of the passing of an Emperor or Empress? Enough that it might have a reverberation with the local kami or the spiritual surroundings? Maybe it's because we were in such close proximity with the late Empress in court."

She wasn't too sure but she could believe it. "It was like a wave of outrage, at least that's what it seemed to the sense. Is that what you meant by a visit or was it something else?"

She nodded at the thought that the disturbance might have coincided with the Empress' passing. "It is an interesting thought, Kuni-san. The Child of Heaven certainly bears great spiritual importance, so it wouldn't be out of the question." A moment pondering while she drinks another sip of the sake. "I wonder if the library at the Temples here might have any records of such things... although I would have to ask permission to use at any rate."

She was about to take another sip, but stops halfway through the motion. "I... believe it was said that the passing occurred in the evening? This disturbance, I sensed it in the afternoon. Was it the same for Kuni-san?" She lingers for a moment with the cup halfway through to a sip, somewhat comically. "Not that... well, they might have found out later, of course. But it might be interesting to have the timing correctly ordered to find out if there might be a causal connection there."

The sip finally happens, the cup almost seems relieved to be back at the table.

"Outrage... I suppose at the start. The wind - spiritual wind, that is - certainly seemed incensed. Air and water kami, in many different shapes, it almost felt like a hurricane - except the trees weren't moving. But the visit..." she shakes her head. "It was more... portentous, in a way?" She seemed thoughtful. "The spirits were still spinning around, but I could swear it was an aspect of a Fortune that came and spoke to me. Although given the whole incident... it's hard to be sure, I suppose."

[Kuni Shiori]

-

Shiori nodded at the idea of checking the temple records for some clues as she took a pensive sip of her sake. It was something surely future Shiori might be able to do at a later time.

"Yes, I felt it in the afternoon, sorry for the bit of confusion." She narrowed her eyes, recalling her forensic studies with her sensei, even though she wasn't an active practitioner herself. "There's a difference between announcing and when it occurred. I don't quite have an idea of how the last Empress's chambers are structured but there may be a likelihood that the passing happened before and she was only discovered dead later on. Not a matter of foul place but just a small mistake people make."

That said, it did make her wonder if there was an element of foul play but that might be getting suspicious over nothing, especially over someone who was far larger in importance in the caste and surrounded by people with still more importance than her.

"I realize that we might be talking about several occurrences or time zones but I want to get some clarity on the matter. When did this manifestation speak to you? Was it after the spiritual wind disturbance?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori nodded at the idea of checking the temple records for some clues as she took a pensive sip of her sake. It was something surely future Shiori might be able to do at a later time.

"Yes, I felt it in the afternoon, sorry for the bit of confusion." She narrowed her eyes, recalling her forensic studies with her sensei, even though she wasn't an active practitioner herself. "There's a difference between announcing and when it occurred. I don't quite have an idea of how the last Empress's chambers are structured but there may be a likelihood that the passing happened before and she was only discovered dead later on. Not a matter of foul place but just a small mistake people make."

That said, it did make her wonder if there was an element of foul play but that might be getting suspicious over nothing, especially over someone who was far larger in importance in the caste and surrounded by people with still more importance than her.

"I realize that we might be talking about several occurrences or time zones but I want to get some clarity on the matter. When did this manifestation speak to you? Was it after the spiritual wind disturbance?"

She nodded, still a bit pensive, but apparently more convinced it could just a matter of time between the occurrence and it being found out by others. And they weren't even sure that there *was* a connection yet.

"Hm. It was... *during* the disturbance, I guess? The spiritual winds started first, I think. Or maybe the manifestation was already there and it just made itself evident later. But... I think the winds and the koi fish swimming around the air were still there while Daikoku-no-kami talked to me." She noticed she just now mentioned the name. "Or... that is who the Fortune seemed to be?"

She looks at Shiori a bit quizzically. "Were there specific spirits or manifestations for you as well?"

[Kuni Shiori]

She nodded, still a bit pensive, but apparently more convinced it could just a matter of time between the occurrence and it being found out by others. And they weren't even sure that there *was* a connection yet.

"Hm. It was... *during* the disturbance, I guess? The spiritual winds started first, I think. Or maybe the manifestation was already there and it just made itself evident later. But... I think the winds and the koi fish swimming around the air were still there while Daikoku-no-kami talked to me." She noticed she just now mentioned the name. "Or... that is who the Fortune seemed to be?"

She looks at Shiori a bit quizzically. "Were there specific spirits or manifestations for you as well?"

Shiori sat her cup on the table and gave a few small nods as she listened, making a few mental notes on the matter. "This manifestation sounds far different than anything I've experienced and thank you for sharing, Yasuki-san. Perhaps what I've experienced is something more shared or universal but I have some reason to believe this manifestation seems more specific and something only you experienced but we might have to ask more shugenja, get the conversation going."

She gave a quizzical look at her up and down. "If anything, it almost seems it would be tailored directly to your person."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori sat her cup on the table and gave a few small nods as she listened, making a few mental notes on the matter. "This manifestation sounds far different than anything I've experienced and thank you for sharing, Yasuki-san. Perhaps what I've experienced is something more shared or universal but I have some reason to believe this manifestation seems more specific and something only you experienced but we might have to ask more shugenja, get the conversation going."

She gave a quizzical look at her up and down. "If anything, it almost seems it would be tailored directly to your person."

"Part of it did feel that way. But the gales, and the spirits disturbed... that seems more general."

She looks at her cup for a moment.

"Have you already talked to any other priests about this, Kuni-san? Or... anyone else that might have felt it, for that matter. I suppose monks would...?"

[Kuni Shiori]

"Part of it did feel that way. But the gales, and the spirits disturbed... that seems more general."

She looks at her cup for a moment.

"Have you already talked to any other priests about this, Kuni-san? Or... anyone else that might have felt it, for that matter. I suppose monks would...?"

Shiori did her best to hide her self-disappointment and embarrassment on the matter. She slowly shook her head after a pause of consideration. "I haven't unfortunately, this is the first time I've brought it up. I know that it's not exactly a great conversation topic in public and in a busy drinking house but it seems that my timing fo such things just has a mind of its own."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Shiori did her best to hide her self-disappointment and embarrassment on the matter. She slowly shook her head after a pause of consideration. "I haven't unfortunately, this is the first time I've brought it up. I know that it's not exactly a great conversation topic in public and in a busy drinking house but it seems that my timing fo such things just has a mind of its own."

The answer from the Yasuki comes as a friendly grin, and her downing the remainder of the current cup of coffee.

"It needs to be addressed at some point... and sometimes an unexpected place is better as people are less likely to wonder and start paying too much attention, ne?"

The cups are filled again, although her own cup is filled only about to one half this time. "I still have another meeting tonight that might involve sake... I suppose we could slow down a bit?", she asks, a bit sheepishly.

"Taking the matter to otters may happen later. Just... the deals have been taking a lot of my time, as well as Hiruma-sama and Shiozaki-san's. But could you let me know if you find out something of interest in this matter?"

Even if some days after the fact, as PbP allows XD

[Kuni Shiori]

The answer from the Yasuki comes as a friendly grin, and her downing the remainder of the current cup of coffee.

"It needs to be addressed at some point... and sometimes an unexpected place is better as people are less likely to wonder and start paying too much attention, ne?"

The cups are filled again, although her own cup is filled only about to one half this time. "I still have another meeting tonight that might involve sake... I suppose we could slow down a bit?", she asks, a bit sheepishly.

"Taking the matter to otters may happen later. Just... the deals have been taking a lot of my time, as well as Hiruma-sama and Shiozaki-san's. But could you let me know if you find out something of interest in this matter?"

Even if some days after the fact, as PbP allows XD

"Yes, I suppose given the situation, it's better to talk about it than not. I've always had a concern that the courts would always value formality over urgency. Given that we're both Crab, I shouldn't have had any doubts that you would find my choice of topic to be offensive. At least, my intent here." She offered a returned smile at that.

Shiori looked down at the pour of sake for a moment and was quick to notice its lessened quantity. "Of course. I think I just meant this to be a casual drink rather than a nightcap. I did consider it, only if could get me closer to finding information on the sumo but I suspect I would have been in the same place but just a bit drunker...but yes, I'll keep you in the loop. I think that has my attention over spending all day with sumo, anyway."