[Day 2, LE - Expecting] The Mane Attraction

[Daidoji Sae]

Sae dips her head and thanks Nobuko for finding a small private dining area for her at such notice. She was pretty sure the fee would not be quite so small, but it would be worth it.

A little privacy would be nice and to see a friend doubly so. A nice way to end a busy day...but she resolved not to stay out too late with a busy day on the morrow.

Doubtless there would be talk of the new betrothal.

She takes a deep breath and holds it before exhaling slowly through her nose. But that was fine, maybe better than fine, Masaki would understand her concerns better than most.

[Yasuki Masaki]

.

The other woman arrived not long afterwards, a volume in a rectangular shape hugged by her right arm under her dark blue haori. She bows to the innkeeper, and is quickly shown the way to the inner area where Sae was waiting.

The Daidoji is greeted with a low, respectful bow - and a warm, if contained, smile.

"Miyahara-sama. It's been far too long", she says, even before straightening herself. The smile remains in her eyes as she takes a look at the woman and nods again. "A great pleasure to see you again - and here, and doing so much better."

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Kawagoi-san." Sae bows back politely, her own On visibly relaxing. "Far, far too long. But your letter brought me some comfort at least. And...yes, I hope I am in a somewhat better state this time.

I did not expect when next we met it would be at the Imperial Winter Court, but here we are. Perhaps this is some greater significance to it? But please, sit, it has been a busy two days and I for one find myself more tired than I would like."

She gestures at the comfortable pillows across from the low table.
"And I hope you are in good health and good spirits? It is a long journey from the south to here."
She eyes the rectangular shape and then looks back at Masaki with a faintly amused expression.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Kawagoi-san." Sae bows back politely, her own On visibly relaxing. "Far, far too long. But your letter brought me some comfort at least. And...yes, I hope I am in a somewhat better state this time.

I did not expect when next we met it would be at the Imperial Winter Court, but here we are. Perhaps this is some greater significance to it? But please, sit, it has been a busy two days and I for one find myself more tired than I would like."

She gestures at the comfortable pillows across from the low table.
"And I hope you are in good health and good spirits? It is a long journey from the south to here."
She eyes the rectangular shape and then looks back at Masaki with a faintly amused expression.

"I'm happy to hear that my letter helped, Miyahara-sama, however little. Although it's certainly your hard work and spiritual strength that has done the most, ne?"

She starts to kneel to take the seat offered, but stops halfway through to reveal the volume she held, producing it from a sleeve that held it (somewhat uncomfortably, as the volume suggested).

"I figured if we're having tea, we might enjoy some of the first of those two drinks promised", she says with a smile as she puts the box of tea on the table, the phoenix mon visible under the lanterns' light.

"The journey is long and not one I make often, but not uncomfortable. And it's always a pleasure to see new horizons, isn't it?". A small but friendly smile. "I hope your journey was safe as well - I assume you didn't have much time to rest before or during it?", she adds, her eyes showing some signs of concern behind the smile. "Miyahara-sama's position hasn't placed more hard work on your shoulders here, hopefullly, has it? Beyond the court itself, of course."

The new betrothal was likely to come up at some point - but not just yet, it seemed.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"You have done well to bear that in your sleeve. Most I have seen keep handkerchiefs or ribbons or sometimes birds, but you are the first to produce excellent tea. Surely I could not accept it after you have carried it all this way."
Sae politely begins the gift ceremony, with an upward twitch of her lips.

"New horizons, and new cuisines to tend to light the end of a longer journey. I was certainly occupied right up until my departure, but one can hardly complain. It is a privilege to have such labours, and a responsibility. But that makes time with companions worth all the more."

Sae, of course won't take a seat before Masaki, causing a classic Rokugani gift off.
"And your own duties? I trust your family is recognising your talents?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

"You have done well to bear that in your sleeve. Most I have seen keep handkerchiefs or ribbons or sometimes birds, but you are the first to produce excellent tea. Surely I could not accept it after you have carried it all this way."
Sae politely begins the gift ceremony, with an upward twitch of her lips.

"New horizons, and new cuisines to tend to light the end of a longer journey. I was certainly occupied right up until my departure, but one can hardly complain. It is a privilege to have such labours, and a responsibility. But that makes time with companions worth all the more."

Sae, of course won't take a seat before Masaki, causing a classic Rokugani gift off.
"And your own duties? I trust your family is recognising your talents?"

The comment does produce a soft giggle, which the Yasuki quickly holds back, turning it into a warm smile again. "Well, it's roughly as far from home here as when it departed towards Kawagoi lands - and its travels gave it all the more experience for just this moment, ne? Surely the tea leaves could't be deprived of their life's purpose, could they, Miyahara-sama?"

The other comments are followed with nods before she speaks again - still not seated. "I have mostly been a fixture in southern courts for the last years... but I suppose the efforts to send me here do suggest Koigawa-dono must recognise some talent, ne?" The smile changes a bit, perhaps a slightly uncomfortable note to it, but only for the shortest moment. "It is a great responsibility, but also a great privilege, as Miyahara-dono says. I can't imagine it's an easy one to conciliate with the responsibilities of a whole House on one's shoulders - and yet Miyahara-dono seems to be handling that gracefully, ne?"

Another nod, the warm smile a bit more contained, but still on her eyes and lips. "Kyuden Ikoma has been treating you well these first days, I hope?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"We are in private and you know me well, I would not mind if you wished to you my chosen name. And again, if the leaves have traveled so far, surely further travel to your home would be no further hardship? I am not sure I can accept them at the midpoint of such a journey."

The (quite literal) gift standoff continues, although it is now in the endgame.

In a supportive tone. "You have led an unusual life, but there is more value in that, not less. You would not be here to stand before the Empress if your talents were not recognised. And having seen them first hand, I must agree."

With a hint of self consciousness. "It is hard to say whether my services have had any effect or worse I have only embarrassed myself. But I have given my all, with many a long negotiation. Even if I would rather meeting with honurable samurai such as yourself. And you? I trust court goes well? I confess I have seen fewer Crab this year."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"We are in private and you know me well, I would not mind if you wished to you my chosen name. And again, if the leaves have traveled so far, surely further travel to your home would be no further hardship? I am not sure I can accept them at the midpoint of such a journey."

The (quite literal) gift standoff continues, although it is now in the endgame.

In a supportive tone. "You have led an unusual life, but there is more value in that, not less. You would not be here to stand before the Empress if your talents were not recognised. And having seen them first hand, I must agree."

With a hint of self consciousness. "It is hard to say whether my services have had any effect or worse I have only embarrassed myself. But I have given my all, with many a long negotiation. Even if I would rather meeting with honurable samurai such as yourself. And you? I trust court goes well? I confess I have seen fewer Crab this year."

The first words of the last bout of the game are spoken in a somewhat solemn tone. "I'm afraid the travel back would only take the leaves farther from their true life purpose" - a nod, acknowledging the older woman's words - "Sae-sama." The seriousness grows with the next words. "Even if it might not bring great hardship in itself, to leave behind their purpose would surely bring the leaves to tears."

A short pause, and the solemnity gives way to a grin. "And who likes damp tea, ne?"

The standoff continues for a moment as she waits for the Crane's final acceptance, of course.

"Sae-sama's words are kind as ever. I can only hope I do prove worthy of this opportunity." Her mouth twitches a bit as a well-known voice rings inside her head. It's not audible, of course, but her face seems to suggest the voice was saying something to the likes of 'or else'.

"Our people have chosen a... different approach this year. The smaller number of us making more overt appearances might reflect that, perhaps? There seems to be a clear statement with the Crane's presence on the other hand, ne?" A warm smile and an approving nod seem to make clear where her thoughts stand on this.

"That said, our efforts today did come to some fruition. A good start, one might say. I must say there were some moves I did not expect, or fully understand. But... such is always the way of court, I suppose - I should maybe have expected even more of that in one such as this, ne?"

"As for Sae-sama's efforts - those in court today were commendable, from what I could see! I hope these long negotiations have been productive as well?"

Before there's time for an answer, she shakes her head slightly. "You just said you were happy for a meeting instead of more court discussions, and yet I ask that? Please forgive the choice, Sae-sama! I'm sure there are other things we'd rather talk about instead, ne?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Then for the sake of dry tea with a purpose I would be honoured to accept, provided of course you share the drink with me."
Sae bows her head with a hint of humour before slowly starting to take a seat.

"I would not dare opine on Doji-dono's selection, but I trust we shall acquit her well. Even if I am with you, some of the higher levels of court intrigue clearly fly far above my meager understanding. But I was glad to see you in the thick of it, fearless indeed! I merely muttered some words and supported a simple cause. As for the negotiations, I simply hope that my plain speech is sufficient to move all parties forward. I am but a small piece of a larger whole."

She gently holds up a hand at Masaki's musings on topic.
"Well, it I am hardly going to tell a samurai who has just spoken before the Empress herself not to talk about it, you should be proud. One day you will tell your family about the time you did this, and then they shall be proud as well.

That being said..."
Finally settling into her cushion.
"...I would certainly be happy to discuss something warmer at least, my family send their best to you of course, oh and one of my cousins is present. Should you see Ryo of the Daidoji, a handsome man with resting concerned face, he is the one. I expect he would welcome the chance to speak with you, particularly if you had a topic of high culture in mind."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Then for the sake of dry tea with a purpose I would be honoured to accept, provided of course you share the drink with me."
Sae bows her head with a hint of humour before slowly starting to take a seat.

"I would not dare opine on Doji-dono's selection, but I trust we shall acquit her well. Even if I am with you, some of the higher levels of court intrigue clearly fly far above my meager understanding. But I was glad to see you in the thick of it, fearless indeed! I merely muttered some words and supported a simple cause. As for the negotiations, I simply hope that my plain speech is sufficient to move all parties forward. I am but a small piece of a larger whole."

She gently holds up a hand at Masaki's musings on topic.
"Well, it I am hardly going to tell a samurai who has just spoken before the Empress herself not to talk about it, you should be proud. One day you will tell your family about the time you did this, and then they shall be proud as well.

That being said..."
Finally settling into her cushion.
"...I would certainly be happy to discuss something warmer at least, my family send their best to you of course, oh and one of my cousins is present. Should you see Ryo of the Daidoji, a handsome man with resting concerned face, he is the one. I expect he would welcome the chance to speak with you, particularly if you had a topic of high culture in mind."

"Sae-sama's humbleness is equal to your valour, ne?", she answers with a gentle smile. "I know things are not always so simple, but I hope we have the opportunity to support each other in many things."

Then, setting into her cushion herself.

"Oh, I have seen Ryo-san's name among the deputies. I was hoping for a chance to meet other of the Crane delegates - much more so with your recommendation, ne?" The smile grows warmer for a while, and she calls a servant so they can get some hot water. "Sae-sama will be kind enough to share the gift with me, then?"

Her look seems to go a bit more distant for a moment, although the smile is still on her lips. A moment later, her eyes shift back to Sae. "How have you felt about.... everything, Sae-sama?"

The court? The new betrothal? There was some chance for the Magistrate herself to decide there.

(OOC: Sorry, life run me over, as I said. I'd love to get at least this thread properly done if possible - and then I'll see what I can manage later...)