D12 EN - An eye in the storm

[Yasuki Masaki]

A letter from Yasuki Masaki would probably reach Sadako even before court, asking her to meet her at the Copper Hills Teahouse when the day calmed down.

The Yasuki had aparently gone to some efforts - Sadako will find herself directed to the private room, where Masaki will have samples of teas from Scorpion Lands (darker leaves and some branches, with a spicier note), Yasuki lands (a pure, delicate sencha) and even Phoenix Lands (lighter green leaves, no branches, a hint of a juniper on the scent) - the latter she may note is not an offer coming from the Teahouse itself. A box with 4 wagashi sits on the table - one of them shaped like a camelia, one like a chrysanthemum. The two others are pretty and colourful and covered with shiso leaves, but don't seem shaped as anything in particular.

Although no incense is visible, Sadako will feel a faint scent of cinnamon and clove in the room - especially closer to Masaki herself. The scent is delicate, as if it had been applied sparingly - which prevents it from overwhelming the scents coming from the teas.

Masaki will be in the room sitting in seiza, waiting for Sadako as she reads some notes.

[Seppun Sadako]

A Miharu enters the room, followed by the Lady Seppun. A second Miharu enters behind her, and the pair take up positions beside the door.

Sadako herself gives a bow.

"Yasuki-san has made quite the effort tonight," she says.

[Yasuki Masaki]

A Miharu enters the room, followed by the Lady Seppun. A second Miharu enters behind her, and the pair take up positions beside the door.

Sadako herself gives a bow.

"Yasuki-san has made quite the effort tonight," she says.

Turning to the Seppun while still in Seiza, Masaki will bow low, her head to the ground. "Seppun-sama. Thank you for finding some time in your busy schedule to meet me here", she will say, a bright smile on her eyes even though most of the face is serene.

"It wouldn't do to spare efforts for such a meeting, ne?" A nod. "And given everything at hand...it seemed some tranquility would be welcome."

She gestures to the seat opposite her, then to the teas. "Please, Seppun-sama, make yourself comfortable. I thought one of those teas might be a good fit for the occasion. Of course, if Seppun-sama would prefer a different one, that can easily be arranged."

[Seppun Sadako]

Sadako glides forward, kneeling onto the cushion provided.

"I have confidence in Yasuki-san's selections," she says. "And, as her guest, I have a small something for her, as well."

She withdraws a small box from her sleeve, places it on the table with both hands, and pushes it forward slightly.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Sadako glides forward, kneeling onto the cushion provided.

"I have confidence in Yasuki-san's selections," she says. "And, as her guest, I have a small something for her, as well."

She withdraws a small box from her sleeve, places it on the table with both hands, and pushes it forward slightly.

The bright smile widens on the Yasuki's lips, even as she shakes her head slightly.

"But Seppun-dono, your humble host couldn't possibly accept to trouble such an honoured guest", she says, moving the back and forth with the first refusal.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Yasuki-san," Sadako says, making the second offer, "you have done much to make space in a place not your own for me. I respect this. Will you not allow me to demonstrate as much?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Yasuki-san," Sadako says, making the second offer, "you have done much to make space in a place not your own for me. I respect this. Will you not allow me to demonstrate as much?"

"Whatever comfort is successfully offered to a dear, honourable guest as Seppun-sama is simply what you deserve - and if I succeed in meeting what you deserve, that will be a gift in itself. How could I accept any further gift for doing that, Seppun-sama?"

[Seppun Sadako]

"Because it is what Yasuki-san deserves, herself," Sadako says, nudging the box forward as she makes the third offer.

"So kindly accept this gift in friendship."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Because it is what Yasuki-san deserves, herself," Sadako says, nudging the box forward as she makes the third offer.

"So kindly accept this gift in friendship."

The Yasuki's expression is brighter still as she answers. "Seppun-dono's praise and friendship are gifts greater than I'd ever dared hope for - but how could one deny a gift from a friend, ne?" A nod as she finally accepts the gift. "I feel honoured for your kind offer, Seppun-dono, and receive it with great joy".

Before opening it, she pushes the sampler with Phoenix tea to the centre. "I suggest we share this blend tonight - hoping duty may allow Seppun-dono to try an Yasuki blend closer to its source in the future."

She then gets to the gift, her expression respectful, but still bright.

"It was good to see Court today give Seppun-dono at least some reason for comfort", she says, eyes down as she opened the box.

[Seppun Sadako]

"Oh?" Sadako asks as she takes the tea and sips at it.

The box contains a cone of incense. There is a mark upon it, one that Masaki will recognize as being from an eminent maker of such things. The smell is pungent, even unlit, but even a breath of it seems to soothe.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Oh?" Sadako asks as she takes the tea and sips at it.

The box contains a cone of incense. There is a mark upon it, one that Masaki will recognize as being from an eminent maker of such things. The smell is pungent, even unlit, but even a breath of it seems to soothe.

Sadako will feel the faint, piney spiciness of juniper after the grassy, but smooth, almost sweet taste of younger leaves in the tea. "I find it makes good company when unwinding is necessary", she says with a gentle smile. "I hope Seppun-dono enjoyed it".

Masaki, meanwhile, takes in the pungent, but relaxing scent of the incense with a first, tentative breath, then a second, deeper one. "This is perfect, Seppun-dono. Even more so for a time like this", she will say as she takes in a third breath, a bright smile still on her eyes.

"It should probably wait for some tea to be enjoyed first, ne?", she adds, leaving the cone close to her as she takes a small sip of the tea herself. "but would Seppun-dono be opposed to lighting it tonight after we share the tea?"

[Seppun Sadako]

"Not at all," Sadako says. "It is the incense I prefer to use, in any event, taken from my own personal stores."

She sips her tea again. "This is good tea," she adds.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Not at all," Sadako says. "It is the incense I prefer to use, in any event, taken from my own personal stores."

She sips her tea again. "This is good tea," she adds.

"Oh! I will cherish it even more, Seppun-dono", she says, taking in the scent of the incense again. "And yes... I find this blend good for the end of a busy day", she adds with a nod and a warm smile.

She keeps silent for a minute or so, then. A minute of peace and silence.

When the silence is broken, it's with a soft voice, her expression unusually bashful. "There is something... particular I would like to ask Seppun-dono - if you'll allow me, of course."

[Seppun Sadako]

"Please," Sadako says.

She sips at her tea again.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Please," Sadako says.

She sips at her tea again.

The Yasuki takes a sip of her tea as well, her eyes kept on the table for a while after that, as if still a bit hesitant. Her eyes are still down when the words come out.

"Seppun-dono is... I think we're about the same age? And... the festival to musubi-no-kami that's coming tomorrow..." she shakes her head slightly, then makes an effort to look at Sadako for a moment, with limited success. "If this one may ask, Seppun-dono, I imagine you must be held to... expectations?" Her eyes are down again by now. "How do you deal with... you know, all of this?"

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(OOC: Sorry, new job consuming me, but trying to see this through! Thanks for this )

[Seppun Sadako]

"Which 'this,' Yasuki-san?" Sadako asks. "There's a lot of 'this' going around at the moment, after all."

She smiles slightly, making clear that it's not rebuke, but the strain in her voice creeps through.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Which 'this,' Yasuki-san?" Sadako asks. "There's a lot of 'this' going around at the moment, after all."

She smiles slightly, making clear that it's not rebuke, but the strain in her voice creeps through.

Her bashful expression is even clearer now, some flushing in her cheeks.

"Um." She takes a breath. "Finding a match for marriage", she blurts out finally. "And the expectations that come with it, related to age, being an heir, position... everything." She shakes her head slightly. "I don't mean to say that the expectations on me are even close to those on Seppun-dono, but..." a faint smile "I couldn't help seeing some similarities in our situations, and Seppun-dono is someone I highly admire, so... I couldn't help but wonder"

[Seppun Sadako]

"Flatterer," Sadako says, but, again, there's a smile; it's not a rebuke.

"I am in a interesting position in that regard, being the Lady Seppun and as yet unwed," she continues. "In effect, I have my pick of husbands; even unwed Clan Champions would join my line rather than me joining theirs, and who would balk much at being made a peer of the realm with a few words? But for that same reason, I am not free in the choice of spouse; whomever I would pick, I would also be not selecting others, prompting resentment and unrest, and if something did happen, what House or Family or Clan would be held to blame?"

She sips at her tea again.

"Yet I am also not going to recourse to the Nakodo," she adds. "I do not often assert many of the privileges of my station; that is one upon which I insist, that, under the Throne, none will require me to wed other than I will. And there are none, as yet, who have taken the first step towards which my will might incline. At least none with whom a marriage could be made."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Flatterer," Sadako says, but, again, there's a smile; it's not a rebuke.

"I am in a interesting position in that regard, being the Lady Seppun and as yet unwed," she continues. "In effect, I have my pick of husbands; even unwed Clan Champions would join my line rather than me joining theirs, and who would balk much at being made a peer of the realm with a few words? But for that same reason, I am not free in the choice of spouse; whomever I would pick, I would also be not selecting others, prompting resentment and unrest, and if something did happen, what House or Family or Clan would be held to blame?"

She sips at her tea again.

"Yet I am also not going to recourse to the Nakodo," she adds. "I do not often assert many of the privileges of my station; that is one upon which I insist, that, under the Throne, none will require me to wed other than I will. And there are none, as yet, who have taken the first step towards which my will might incline. At least none with whom a marriage could be made."

Masaki's first word made her flush a bit more, which was quickly hidden behind her cup as she took another sip.

She nods a number of times as she hears, her eyes shifting from Sadako to her cup. It was clear that, similarities as there might be, Sadako's circumstances were clearly very different due to her station.

"That is such a heavy burden to carry, Seppun-dono. I hope the topic does not itself trouble you further?.." The words are accompanied by a respectful nod and a slightly apologetic smile. "It seems like even when choice is a blessing it can be a mixed one, ne?"

She raises her eyes to the Seppun again, her expression still bashful, but the friendly smile on her face now a bit wider. "That makes one wonder... if you were a woman about your age - with your thoughts, beliefs and values, yourself in most regards - but a position that did not carry the same duties and risks tied to choices. Do you think it would be easier to make a choice? Or... do you think you'd made one by now?"

[Seppun Sadako]

"I don't think it's possible to separate all that out," Sadako replies. "I hold my beliefs because of my position and my duties, because of what risks exist for every action I take or do not take. Even now, taking tea with you, I have made a choice; I have not taken tea with others at this time, or played Go with them, or shogi, or any number of other things."

She sips at her tea. "Pleasant as it is, and it is, to take tea with you.

"But as to other things," she shrugs. "I have duties to the Family that I must discharge. I will undertake them eagerly, because there is no other way."

Another sip of tea.