[D2, EE - Expecting] The Short Sharpe Tea-Time of the Soul

[Daidoji Sae]

Sae makes her way quietly out of the castle, nodding politely at the gate guards before continuing out into the Eye. While it wasn't exactly friendly territory (was anything in the Lion lands?) it was at least, slightly less formal and a good excuse for her to find some quiet tea-time on her own.

Slowly navigating through the streets she spots one Teahouse sign and, with a slight smile as she reflects on the names significance to her, headed inside.

Politely refusing the offer of the private room (it seemed rather egregious to spend so much) she settles in a corner and places in an order for tea (strong) and whatever snacks the hostess would recommend. Her posture remain ramrod straight but after a few minutes she starts to subtly relax.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

It was nice to get a break from all the pomp and circumstance of the kyuden itself now. Not that the tea or snacks there were bad, far from it, but Sayomi felt she couldn't sit down for tea without stumbling into a daimyo, emerald magistrate, princess, or some sort of very important person.

Gosh, it was exhausting hosting a winter court! No wonder why Ryota was already old.

Stepping into the teahouse, she could take in the lovely calm of the place. And the new addition of a Crane. It seemed even the mighty Crane took refuge from the hustle and bustle of the court. "Good evening, Daidoji-sama," she greeted, assuming that the white-haired woman was a guest here for winter court as well, and so it was best to say hello.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Kitsu-san." Sae bowed her head politely, eyes lingering curiously on Sayomi's family mon for a moment as the server arrives to deliver tea and snacks.

The Daidoji glances at back her table and turns to the departing hostess: "Oh not that is far too mu-...." But she had already bustled off to another table and it would hardly be proper to shout after her.

Slowly turning back to Sayomi. "I imagine you are here for the same reasons that I am. I will promise not to speak of court and politics if you would be free to join my table and help with...all of this. I am but one samurai and this looks as though it will require a squad.

I am Sae of the Daidoji."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"Ooh, I like the sound of that, Daidoji-sama!" she sounds absolutely delighted and takes the offered seat at Sae's table. "I am quite adept at drinking tea, and not talking about court and politics," a pause to bow, "I'm Kitsu Sayomi, of House Tatsukawa. Pleasure to meet you over tea. And Copper Hills Teahouse is the best place for tea, it so happens."

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Then I am doubly blessed Kitsu-san, perhaps I have been guided to find the best tea and company to share it with."
Sae doesn't quite smile, but she leans very slightly forward in what was probably a welcoming sign.

"I have never had the honour of attending an Imperial Winter court before, it is quite-" She takes a small sip of tea while searching for the word. "-Brisk? I am envious of my cousins who seem born for the courts. Myself I need to be fortified by tea from time to time."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

In contrast, Sayomi smiles without any restriction as she picks up one of the earthenware plates with treats on them. "Yes, this is my first winter court too as part of the delegation. Normally I've just been on guard duty and watching the show without taking part in it. Never thought my first would be *the* Winter court of them all."

She almost hums as she picks up the teacup. "You've been to winter courts among the Crane then?"

[Daidoji Sae]

In contrast, Sayomi smiles without any restriction as she picks up one of the earthenware plates with treats on them. "Yes, this is my first winter court too as part of the delegation. Normally I've just been on guard duty and watching the show without taking part in it. Never thought my first would be *the* Winter court of them all."

She almost hums as she picks up the teacup. "You've been to winter courts among the Crane then?"

Sae politely picks a treat from the same plate as Sayomi (The Lion clearly knew her food and the spot, better go default to local expertise).

"Guarding might not have the glory, but it is an honourable duty all the same. To know that by your action you have kept others safe is no small thing. Besides, a guard with sharp ears receives a free education."

Carefully nibbling away (it was good!) Sae shakes her head at the question. "Less than you might think, my duties to the Emerald have often kept me away, I am thankful to have a capable family that can serve in my absence when required. It surely won't be long until your family is choosing between sending you to such events or your ever more important duties, hmmm?"

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"It is," she nods in agreement, "and I am thankful for the duty I have been able to fulfill so far in my life. Loyalty is its own reward." Some would say such words as a lip-service, but the Kitsu seems fully sincere in her words.

"As for me? I don't know. If I do well here, perhaps I will in the future. Or maybe I will be married and have other duties. The future is so full of possibilities!" She nibbles with a smile on one of the wagashi. Delicious as always.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"If it's not too forward of me, I would say you remind me a little of a younger version of myself, right down to the appreciation for local cuisine."

Indeed, the Crane's nibbling was slowly turning towards biting and might even one day reach chomping.

"Or perhaps I am still too young to be thinking such things, but they have been on my mind as of late."
Gesturing with her free hand at Sayomi.
"The sword you carried on the way in, it's handle was unusual? I have only ever seen such a make in Lion lands."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"A younger version of yourself? Daidoji-sama, you can't be that old!" she exclaims mirthfully, but does view Sae with a bit of a different light now.

What was it like to be compared to a Crane? She wasn't sure, as she couldn't quite tell Sae's spirit in such a short meeting, but... surely, it couldn't be bad if she was an Emerald Magistrate!

"Ah... my sword. It is what we call an Akodo Blade, Daidoji-sama. It is given to those who show exceptional courage and honor. I am... honored beyond words still to carry it with me."


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D2 EE. Lore: Bushido/Awareness vs Sae. | 5k4 ⇒ 24 (TN: 30)

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Ah! I have heard of such weapons." Favouring Sayomi with an approving look. "As you say, it is no mere thing to chosen to carry one."
Sae raises an eyebrow politely as a sweet simply vanishes with a 'crunch!'.

"So, you have shown exceptional courage and honour, is that a story you can share? I find myself curious, but I understand if it might bring pain or unpleasantness with it."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"Well, I am not much of a storyteller like my cousins among the Ikoma..." she admits sheepishly. "I was merely lucky in spotting an intruder one night when I was at my post, and like any dutiful samurai I put my life on the line to stop them from committing whatever foul crime they had intended for their Lord's family."

It didn't seem like she was aware of her own actions as she touches her own side, barely flinching. "Guess I'm lucky to survive too, but Lord Ikoma was very grateful that I succeeded in stopping the would-be assassin."

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

With a slightly raised hand.
"There's no need for a performance, hearing it from someone who was there is worth more than any glorious retelling."

The Daidoji listens quietly, nodding once or twice until Sayomi finishes.

"You risked your life to protect another dearer than yourself, no wonder you were chosen to bear that blade. Your family must be very proud."
Her eyes flicker down to Sayomi's side and then back to the Lion and her tone shifts slightly towards big sister territory.
"Such effort can leave a body needing time to heal, I hope you have found the opportunity during your duties to see your own needs. But that is what winter is for, hmmm? To allow us to prepare for spring."

There is a pause before she adds: "and Kitsu-san, I am sure luck had nothing to do with it."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"That is what the winter is for, and more courtly duties now, hai," she agrees with a small chuckle as she picks out another wagashi to munch on. Sayomi wasn't the first, and wouldn't be the last, bushi to spend the winter recuperating after an injury.

"Maybe not. I don't know. All I know for certain is that I won't be so vain as to think I have some grand destiny or something to have merely done my duty. But thank you, Daidoji-sama. Your words are very kind."

Munch munch.

"But enough about me! How did Daidoji-sama reach the height of becoming an Emerald Magistrate?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Most only find they had a grand destiny when they have the opportunity to look back."
((Or at character generation if they can afford the points.))

"Ah, my story is not quite so dramatic as thwarting assassins within the halls of a kyuden."
Sae did seem relaxed enough to recount it though, having found an equally honourable and hungry samurai.

"My House has some influence the broader family, my father and his father before him were wise. After my gempukku I showed enough skill to become Yoriki to an Emerald magistrate, a Kakita Goro. I served him for many years and was eventually considered to have learnt enough to strike out on my own. Now I have a yoriki of my own, a Masumi from the Matsu family and I must ensure she has learnt all I can teach before is she makes her own path."

Sae takes a pause to much before adding.
"Some of my duties have been a little interesting, bandit ambushes, alleyway battles in the imperial city, river pirates. Each a small piece of a greater whole."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

Sayomi listened with great interest, and recalled that Masumi had mentioned that she was a yoriki in service to Daidoji Sae the previous day during the clan's meeting.

"Matsu Masumi-sama seems a capable and honorable woman. It is good fortune for the Empire that the two of you are working together, a Daidoji and a Matsu." So much honor in one duo!

"Adventures in the Imperial city, river pirates, and fighting bandits though? She shared nothing of this with us during yesterday's meeting! It sounds like quite the adventurous career so far. I had heard many stories of illegal fights in dark alleys of the Imperial City, but I wasn't sure if it was true..."

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"She has much fire within her and is certainly very capable. I am sure she will rise to the task with speed, and yes it is a fitting pairing I think. Sometimes I am too polite, I am sure Matsu-san can assist with that."

Sae very nearly smiles before continuing on. "Well, it is a little like boasting to tell your yoriki of all the highlights. It is the longer and more boring cases, the slow investigations, the gathering of testimony, the fruitless searches that make those moments memorable."

Taking a sip of tea to wet her throat.
"I am sure the stories are somewhat exaggerated, but away from the bright light of day all sorts of criminals go about their business. Governors compete with one another and their subordinates seek to supplant them, and the lure of wealth draws many of the insalubrious sort in. Sometimes rather than risk dishonour they resort to violence. My cousins in the Doji or the Kakita would deal with it far more glamorously, but I am Daidoji and so dealing and living to serve another day is enough."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

snip

"Daidoji-sama makes it sound like she is a hero in a pillowbook, pardon my frankness for such a comparison," she adds in hastily at the end. Maybe Sae would take offense to being compared to someone like that! "Or at least, someone that inspires the more authorly among us to write stories about her. It almost makes it sound more glamourous to be an Emerald Magistrate when you think of it like that, and don't think about the more boring parts you mentioned."

"Paperwork truly is the doom of all things fun."