D4 MA - The good food, the good talk

[Yasuki Masaki]

After an eventful, but unexpectedly quiet day for her due to an unwelcome indisposition, Masaki arranged to meet the Centipede daimyo again - once again for food.

Walking into the Inn, she greets Nobuko again and asks to be shown to where the Lady Centipede would be.

[Moshi Akane]

"Ah, Yasuki-san," Akane says, bowing from her seat. "Please, join me."

There is a good spread of small plates arrayed on the table.

"I find the tamago especially pleasant."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Ah, Yasuki-san," Akane says, bowing from her seat. "Please, join me."

There is a good spread of small plates arrayed on the table.

"I find the tamago especially pleasant."

The Yasuki bows deeply, gestures to a servant to ask for a bowl, then moves to take a seat as offered.

"Oh, tamagoyaki is often a delight, isn't it?", she says warmly when settled. "Thank you for the recommendation, Moshi-dono."

She looks at the food items displayed again, specifically the tamago and rice, a small smile on her eyes.

"A great pleasure to share a meal with you again, Moshi-dono - and for the chance to work with you to bring our clans closer. In fact... I was hoping to come back to our discussion on the ways in which the ties between us can be made stronger with musubi-no-kami's blessing, Moshi-dono willing, of course"

[Moshi Akane]

"Of course," Akane says, and, as soon as Masaki receives her accoutrements for joining the meal, she bows her head to pronounce a blessing over it.

So much done, she picks up a bowl and chopsticks. "Yasuki-san spoke eloquently in court today. It was a pleasure to hear it."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Of course," Akane says, and, as soon as Masaki receives her accoutrements for joining the meal, she bows her head to pronounce a blessing over it.

So much done, she picks up a bowl and chopsticks. "Yasuki-san spoke eloquently in court today. It was a pleasure to hear it."

She similarly says her own blessing - again finished with a louder 'clap' of sorts - and picks up her chopsticks. The woman's words are received with a contained, but warm smile.

"You are too kind, Moshi-dono. This one but puts in all possible effort to do justice to Hida-no-kami's sacred duty - and to our friends, of course. It would not do to have our dispositions misunderstood, ne?"

She will wait for the Moshi to serve herself first, as proper.

[Moshi Akane]

snip

"Do eat, Yasuki-san," Akane says. "It is better fresh."

She suits deeds to words for a time. But upon emptying one dish, she sets her bowl down and asks "What unions do you foresee between our peoples, now that there is such amity between us?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

"Do eat, Yasuki-san," Akane says. "It is better fresh."

She suits deeds to words for a time. But upon emptying one dish, she sets her bowl down and asks "What unions do you foresee between our peoples, now that there is such amity between us?"

And eat she would - a good serving of tamagoyaki with rice. Her answer comes after a first mouthful is washed with a small sip of tea.

"Moshi-dono had said you had two of your people who would need their spouses to move into the Valley, ne?" A pause, another small sip. "I have a few dear cousins who might make fine candidates - some trained in my family's lessons, some as bushi. One of our higher-ranking Hiruma delegates, gunso Hiruma no Tetsumura Daichi-sama, likewise has family looking for suitable matches that could potentially move north."

Another pause, slightly longer now. "There is also Kaiu no Nagao Toshinosuke-san. The good man is hoping for a spouse from the north to help him do the best by the two young ones that he now raises alone after unfortunate circumstances. If Moshi-dono has someone willing to move south to embrace and build a large family, I figure Nagao-san would make a dedicated husband."

[Moshi Akane]

snip

Akane sips at her drink and says "It would be a shame to take a dedicated and trained soldier away from the war against the Wayward Son--though he carries on, may he find no peace. But it may be that Moshi-ke no kashin Moshi Setsuna [Status 6], who serves in high capacity, would welcome such a husband. There would be opportunity for him to advance among the Centipede army, and rapidly, with such a wife."

She sips at her tea again. "As to the other, Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Fuyumi [Status 4] finds herself in a position to teach, which suits her well with her love of children. Someone to assist her with children would, I think, be most welcome. And I might note that her House stands coastward in the Valley, if that informs any decisions."

[Yasuki Masaki]

Akane sips at her drink and says "It would be a shame to take a dedicated and trained soldier away from the war against the Wayward Son--though he carries on, may he find no peace. But it may be that Moshi-ke no kashin Moshi Setsuna [Status 6], who serves in high capacity, would welcome such a husband. There would be opportunity for him to advance among the Centipede army, and rapidly, with such a wife."

She sips at her tea again. "As to the other, Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Fuyumi [Status 4] finds herself in a position to teach, which suits her well with her love of children. Someone to assist her with children would, I think, be most welcome. And I might note that her House stands coastward in the Valley, if that informs any decisions."

The Yasuki nods along as she listens, considering her words carefully. Another bite of tamagoyaki gives her some more time. When an answer comes, it does so with another pensive nod - although some warmness is visible in her eyes.

"Two very valuable retainers - it isn't hard to see the importance of their remaining in the Valley." Another small nod. "Hiruma no Tetsumura Daichi gunso's only male cousin is just such a dedicated, trained bushi - although one in a rather simple position [OOC: Status 1, Influence 1] at present, unlike Daichi-gunso himself. But if Moshi-dono thinks Moshi Setsuna-sama would be willing to accept him, the Crab would be more than happy to arrange that match - as would Tetsumura gunso himself, I'm sure."

A sip of tea provides another small pause before the next words.

"Otherwise... Kaiu-ke no Nagao Toshinosuke [Status 1 as well...], who I've just mentioned. We've been hoping to find someone to come south to join him, since he has children already. But with Moshi-dono stressing Moshi Fuyumi-sama's love of children, I do believe sending him and his two young'uns to join the Valley could make for a fitting and blessed union - although, of course, Moshi-dono's opinion is firstmost on this matter."

Some more tea.

"We would also receive one of the Valley's people among our own with open arms, of course, if Moshi-dono might be hoping for such a match"

[Moshi Akane]

snip

"It would not be a good match to yoke together two with such divergent experience, I think," Akane says. "Better to match in more even measure, and far more auspicious.

"So much said," she continues, "Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Atsui, [Status 1], would be a fine husband to an up-and-coming wife."

She turns her attention to her own food for a bit.

[Yasuki Masaki]

"It would not be a good match to yoke together two with such divergent experience, I think," Akane says. "Better to match in more even measure, and far more auspicious.

"So much said," she continues, "Moshi-ke no kashin Murakami Atsui, [Status 1], would be a fine husband to an up-and-coming wife."

She turns her attention to her own food for a bit.

Masaki answers with a slow, respectful nod. She is right of course - those *would* have been rather unbalanced matches.

"Moshi-dono is right, of course. It is unfortunate that we do we have a rather short supply of our people in higher stations looking for marriage at the moment. If anything changes, I will be sure to let you know, of course."

A sip of tea and some more tamagoyaki are downed before she speaks again. "My cousin Yasuki-ke no Kawagoi Miki [Status 1] might make a fine wife for Moshi Atsui-san, I believe, if he's looking for a courtly type. If Moshi-dono thinks he would do better with a strong woman, my dearest cousin Yasuki no Kawagoi Yukari [Status 1] is a skilled bushi - as well as a delightful and loyal friend. Other than that... well, maybe one of our delegates. I might do better to check in with the delegation in that case, but it could be a possibility."

She reaches for the fan for a moment, covers her face. She was thinking about Kuni Shiori [Status 2] at first, but.... she should be looking for a match herself, shouldn't she?

"Would Moshi Atsui-san be willing to come south to marry? Or would the prospective bride also be moving north? If there are any others of similar position to our prospective matches, a two-way exchange might be a good way to seal and show our shared best intentions to the Court, if that would be possible."

(OOC: Sorry for the delay, was phone-posting and organising OOC stuff most of the day!)

[Moshi Akane]

snip

"Murakami-san will do as he is told," Akane says. "So, yes, he would be happy to move south. And reciprocity is a good thing.

(No worries. I'm at work even now.)

[Yasuki Masaki]

snip

"Murakami-san will do as he is told," Akane says. "So, yes, he would be happy to move south. And reciprocity is a good thing.

(No worries. I'm at work even now.)

She nods to the Moshi, then nods again after a somewhat long time of consideration.

Miki-san... Ryoichi had mentioned there might be something else in mind for her. So best not her. Yukari... keeping her close might be good. Or Shiori, or...

"Well, then. Does Moshi-dono think Moshi no Murakami-san would be happier with a skilled warrior [Yasuki no Kawagoi Yukari, Status 1], or one more focused on the spirits by his side [Kuni Shiori, Status 2]? And for someone to head to the Valley - do you have other matches in mind? Of positions more similar to Kuni-san and my own, if possible - as I noted, we have a rather limited number of samurai in higher positions looking for matches this year, unfortunately"

She takes a sip of her tea, notices it's almost over.

"We could also settle on a march for Moshi no Murakami-san and meet again to arrange who will be moving to the Valley if Moshi-dono prefers, of course. I don't want to take up too much of your time today", she offers with a warm smile.

[Moshi Akane]

snip

"He has been raised to stand beside shugenja," Akane says. "It would be fitting for him to join with Kuni-san, I think."

Chopsticks and bowls are set aside.

"But you are correct; time passes for us all. I shall look forward to reprising discussion and finalizing details, Yasuki-san."

[Yasuki Masaki]

"He has been raised to stand beside shugenja," Akane says. "It would be fitting for him to join with Kuni-san, I think."

Chopsticks and bowls are set aside.

"But you are correct; time passes for us all. I shall look forward to reprising discussion and finalizing details, Yasuki-san."

She nods, a small, pleased smile on her lips. "I believe this match will be a fitting one for Kuni-san as well." A nod-bow "We will arrange another meeting to discuss the other match and finish details then. Thank you, Moshi-dono, it was a pleasant and productive lunch, ne?"

(OOC: D9 it is for the next talk then! Thanks for the thread!)

[Moshi Akane]

"Indeed so," Akane replies with a nod.

(Made it!)