[D11, EE, Closed] A Den of Vipers

[Kitsune Aiko]

Aiko's face fell. "I'd hoped..."

[Moshi Akane]

Akane gave a little half-shrug.

"This state of affairs will not always be the case. The throne need not remain empty for long. And indeed, as Otomo-sama can attest, Kitsune-san, a friend on the throne is the most precious treasure in the Empire."

[Kitsune Aiko]

Aiko turned to look at Akane for a second, the alarm bells beginning to ring in earnest, now.

She spoke slowly. "I understan' that all's true, Moshi-san. But it do create a certain prob'em, don't it? Diff'rent groups o' friends c'n sometimes find it difficult t' share members. An' who's t' say which friend will find 'emself..."

[Moshi Akane]

Akane's eyes darkened as her smile widened.

"Kitsune-san is most ast..."

[Kitsune Aiko]

Aiko squared her jaw. "Lemme finish, Moshi-san. I's saying cain't nobody know th' outcome of th' next few days. Clearly, it'd be in both our int'rests, Otomo-sama, for us both t' arrive where we b'lieve we b'long. But what I don't know is how much fire I can expect t' endure ifn you fail."

[Otomo Keihime]

Keihime raised an eyebrow.

[Moshi Akane]

But it was Akane who spoke.

"If you were worried about that, Kitsune-san, you should never have asked for this meeting. Do you not understand that you have already committed? All I need do is wave my hand and a message will reach your brother's partisans of what you and yours have been plotting here. What welcome would you receive? Would your sweet brother forgive all? What about his karo?"

Akane shrugged. "It is too late. You'll support Otomo-sama for the throne because it is the right thing to do, and because I will destroy you if you do not."

[Kitsune Aiko]

Kitsune Aiko nodded once. "That much's clear." She turned to address Keihime. "But m' brother's people're talkers, Otomo-sama. C'n your bid survive th' publicity of having entertained a corrupt bargain w' me?"

She turned to look at each of them in turn. "Moshi-san's been clever, puttin' us t'gether. We c'n both benefit, or we c'n both be destroyed. Which'll it be, Otomo-sama?"

[Otomo Keihime]

Keihime turned Aiko's point about Akane over in her mind for a moment. Indeed, she took a long sip of tea to buy herself the time. But then she spoke.

"Why, the former, Kitsune-san. Of course the former! Now, let us not have any more hard words. We are friends now, all of us, for ever and always. Now, Kitsune-san, you really must tell me all about your plans for Shiro Kitsune when you are its mistress. As I recall the entryway..."

[Cearnach]

The teatime would continue for the remainder of the hour, but no serious topics would be covered. For the duration, Akane studied Aiko, wondering where the backbone had come from.

But Keihime, Keihime thought long and hard on Akane, her friend and ally, and what Aiko had had to say about the nature of her weapons.

Yes, much would need to be considered, preferably long before the coronation. Much, indeed.

/scene.