[D7, LA - Expecting] Mark It, This Is A Crime Scene

[Daidoji Sae]

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"It was a simple enough expedition, truly. And I had good samurai by my side."
Thankful for the subject change she looks at the newly offered gloves, eyes lingering on the dogs for a moment.

"Well, I mean...at the right time, in the right place. This ivory set is quite bold too, but as you say."
She uhmms and ahhs for a few moments before nodding.
"Perhaps I shall take both. Yes, in case one of them is damaged it would be important to have a backup pair, right?""

The gloves are acquired with the air that money was generally not an obstacle.

"Very good for evening entertainment I'd think. But yes, I-" she frowns slightly. "-I think it is a little different for me. It is as though every criminal in the empire agreed together to do their business when the sun is down, then it is revealed by Lady Amaterasu the next day. A fuller moon means better light for that business."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko nods. "Lady Sun delights to shine upon the honorable, while Lord Moon has less care for such things." She nods as she removes the gloves to fold and tuck into her satchel, pulling out coins and counting carefully to pass with a small, rote blessing invoking Daikoku's favor. "All answer to Emma-O, of course. But it's better for the Empire that they answer to mortal laws first."

She looks around at the bustling market. "How many here hide nighttime misdeeds? A strange thought for me. Probably common for you? It's a lot to manage too, with so many people."

Which reminds her. "How's the new yoriki working out?"

[Daidoji Sae]

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"With the worst crimes there is but a short delay between the two."
Sae turns and looks at the market, her head slightly cocked.

"Most, I would imagine. But little things, a lie, a drink too many, a secret from a friend. It does not make them bad people, simply...people. Although there will be a few that are worse."

Before her expression can sour slightly the question interrupts Sae's train of thought.
"Masumi-san? She is young, honourable and full of the energy to prove herself. In some ways it reminds me of a younger, well me I suppose. I look forward to providing her with the skills she will need to become a magistrate herself some day, even if she is likely to be a little more, hands on. Have you had any dealings with her?"

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Her own expression is somewhat softer. All the small crimes that filter into ones karma and the ledgers brought out to judge the soul are familiar.

However... "Matsu-san? Oh yes..." Hoshiko laughs a bit. "Doubt I've made a good impression. She caught me first at the reception when I'd just been rather an idiot trying to talk to Miya Hachi-sama, and again recovering from the angry spirit wind. I don't think she was impressed that I couldn't think of what she meant when referencing our unwelcome visitors. I was still a bit too stuck on the spiritual ones rather than the merely human ones."

"She seems quite earnest though. Do you think she'll ease your workload enough to free you for a visit next season?"

[Daidoji Sae]

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"She has a great deal of focus, I am sure the possibility of any other unwelcome visitors other than the exact culprits she was hunting did not factor in. It is not a bad thing, sometimes you need that drive."

Nodding with a faint sense of amusement. "Earnest indeed. I cannot predict the future, even less so in dark times such as these. But I would hope that is the case, I would very much like to visit."

She clears her throat. "For many reasons, obviously. And having made the acquaintance of several Yasuki I would doubtless have to use the opportunity to journey across the border."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko nods. "We're near enough for that border to make sense on your trip. Closer than here certainly. Which Yasuki?" She frowns slightly, considering a somber future where they *don't* settle the succession before court has ended. "I hope the future is more settled than the moment, and brighter. Even if the way is uncertain right now."

[Daidoji Sae]

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"Yasuki Masaki-san is an older acquaintance, I met her when my husband passed."
Sae's tone is carefully neutral.

"And Yasuki Ryoichi is far more recent, he was part of the team that retrieved Tatsuya-san, I do not know him as well but I was impressed with what I saw. He is also a fierce negotiator, so I'll make sure not to bring any business with me."

Noting Hoshiko's frown Sae answers with a small nod of her own.
"That is, if you say, things are looking brighter. I hope your lands do not see war in our lifetime."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko looks up at mention of Keiji curious at how those things connected. "I hope Yasuki Masaki-san wasn't *involved* in that! We studied together for a short time at the school, she has always seemed quite proper. Of course she would have been trying quite hard to be, studying with another clan."

"Not in our lifetime and beyond, from your lips to the Fortunes ears," she says.

[Daidoji Sae]

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"She was involved in the...aftermath, I suppose it could be called."
Sae looks around and finds a rickety selling knick-nacks and starts focusing on it, her demeanor carefully neutral.

"In a positive fashion, she assisted with resolving what had happened and providing advice and comfort where needed. But I had no idea you two had crossed over in a Dojo, perhaps an excuse for me to get the three of us together?"
Pause.
"That is if you find her agreeable."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko nods. "Quite. She's very talented and conscientious. I would welcome a change to converse together." She follows Sae's gaze, approaching the knick-nacks. That bookmark might make a reasonable gift for the scholarly Master of Water to thank her for the rather odd introduction.

"I'm glad Yasuki-san was able to provide comfort." She pauses, debating whether it better to leave it there or not. But the few times she has spoken to mortal souls in Meido, the regrets strong enough to hold on to are of what wasn't said, more than what was. "If it's ever something you want to talk about, listening is both one of my duties to the clan, and one I welcome for my family. So I am doubly at your service."

[Daidoji Sae]

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"She has a kind soul, I am expecting to meet with her tonight. But perhaps if there is an outing suitable for the three of us?"
Sae idly scans a selection of small kitsch pottery, some clearly made with more love than talent.

"I am not averse to such a conversation Asahina-san. At the right time and the right place. I think one of the benefits of a Winter Court so busy is it has distracted my mind wonderfully. But I cannot imagine it brings you much joy to be the vessel for the same reminiscences of others?"

Holding up a wonky cat with a very wonky handle shaped like a kitten.
"Surely not as much joy as this would?"

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko laughs at the kitten handle. "I'm not certain I know anyone, myself included, who loves cats this much." Taking it, she tries catching the oversized cat-head-ball thing on the 'spike' of the kitten handle's outstretched paw, with a clumsiness that says she never playes such agility-training games as a child.

"I do find joy in the role, and some peace for myself as well. It's comforting hearing some of my own more deranged thoughts through other voices and realize that they are a commonality of grief rather than a sight that it has driven me out of sanity." She sets the bookmark back for now. Time enough for that sort of thing closer to court's ending.

She picks up a strange, and to her eye rather ugly, variant on the lucky cat figurines found throughout the market. "I am also not sure who loves these." The usual upraised paw is a fist with outrageously exaggerated musculature. "Perhaps it's meant to ward off thieves with the implied threat?"

[Daidoji Sae]

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Sae looks down at the terrifying figurine then back at Hoshiko before slowly turning and flexing her own right arm.
"It is simply a righteous creature, I can easily imagine a thief seeing such a thing and retreating." The Daidoji manages to keep her face completely neutral throughout.

"But if it were a dog, well, that might be more fitting." Or horrifying.

"Perhaps he eats with these?"

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The chopsticks came dangerously close to violating the celestial order.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko laughs at the flex. "Well I certainly find it terrifying, but maybe not for the same reason." She thinks a moment of the mental image of one of the guardian dog statues--only with the front legs oddly huge and human and muscular--and shudders. "Definitely worse as a dog."

She blinks, looking at the strange implements. "Those are not for eating. Those are surely..." she pauses. What would you use them for? "Rather ugly hair ornaments." There was probably a very offended Lion peasant vendor nearby who didn't dare speak of their offense to the tall, well-armed magistrate.

[Daidoji Sae]

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"The answer is simple Asahina-san, what if your rice bowl was around a corner? Mmmhm? One must not be afraid to think laterally."
Still, Sae simply can't bring herself to purchase implements quite so deranged.

"Hmmm, I feel as though I need one thing more, but I cannot quite think what it might be, is there anything else that catches your eye."
The possibly grumpy vendor might require all the custom he could get.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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Hoshiko examines the many, many odd wares upon the cart, ignoring the strangely flavored candies (mackeral? How?), and oddly shaped charms to pick up a...fish cup? vase?. Well the colors were tasteful. The big eyes sort of followed you though.

"Perhaps? It's a strange sort of cup, maybe?"

[Daidoji Sae]

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"How positively vibrant."
Sae makes eye contact with the merchant and nods to show she wasn't making fun...well she wasn't only making fun.

"Do you think this would be something Yasuki Masaki-san might appreciate? Or would it be in bad taste? I find myself wanting to clink these cups together, but also deathly afraid of what would happen if I ever tried to set them down."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

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"How positively vibrant."
Sae makes eye contact with the merchant and nods to show she wasn't making fun...well she wasn't only making fun.

"Do you think this would be something Yasuki Masaki-san might appreciate? Or would it be in bad taste? I find myself wanting to clink these cups together, but also deathly afraid of what would happen if I ever tried to set them down."
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"You know, I think she'd find them charming in a strange way. If you have a fussy Doji aunt, don't offer them there. They're artistically rather crude. And, as you note, of dubious practical use."

She considers the bookmark again, and her purse. No, better to wait a bit and think on the right gift than give into such an impulse buy. Continuing through the market, she asks. "Have you seen any craftsfolk worth patronizing?" Read...luring off to her house.

[Daidoji Sae]

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Fade to lured!

((Thank you for the scene ))