[Day 14 - Mid Morning] Nyoko and I (Open)

[Kuni Shiori]

With some time prior to the start of court, Shiori thought it would be a good idea to take Nyoko out of the Crab housing and walk with her around the Kyuden to give her a change of scenery. Perhaps, they could find a spot where she could study the cat's behaviour and inclinations so that she could potentially command her effectively in the future, maybe some tricks could be involved. She did read that food was often a good motivator for animals.

However...the reality was much different as it took a good amount of time to coax Nyoko even to go outdoors, especially with the sporadic rain that appeared here and there made the outdoors look very yucky. She would offer long glances at the shugenja to make the rain stop, which wasn't the most outrageous thing a cat could ask for but unfortunately for her, she wasn't that sort of shugenja. When she finally got Nyoko out, the cat found her way atop her shoulders and had been sitting there ever since on her new perch. This was not how Shiori envisioned things were supposed to go...

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Isn't that Hiruma-gunso's cat?" asked Ryoichi sympathetically as he passed through the Courtyard. "Did she get out of the house somehow? I don't think I've ever seen her try to leave the house before."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori had been doing her best to walk around with the added weight on her shoulder. She supposed it wasn't something that was so taxing but still quite an adjustment to be walking with something that was furry, moving, and with able claws at the ready. It was her hope that she wasn't going to make things difficult for Nyoko and that she was going to start clawing her to keep up.

"...oh?" she said as she stopped in her careful step before giving a nod to Ryoichi in greeting, following it with an abashed laugh. "Good morning, Yasuki-san...and not at all. This was done with Hiruma-guno's blessing. I had hoped to perhaps acquaint myself better with Nyoko here. I had thought that would walk fine on her own...as you see, it seemed she's quite shrewd."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Oh, I see," Ryoichi said, smiling. "It seems Nyoko prefers to be carried about, rather than walk on her own? Perhaps we should secure a palanquin for her."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori couldn't help but giggle at that thought. "That seems like a bit much but if Nyoko-chan is used to being pampered this much, that might seem to be appropriate in spirit here. I don't know if she prefers to be carried around but I was a bit cautious in picking her up, she just found her way on my shoulder. Perhaps being close to people is what she seeks."

Nyoko would perk up at the approaching human and stand from her lazing spot over Shiori's shoulders. She would unceremoniously bump her body against the side of the Kuni's face with much fur and stand on one shoulder like she was trying to get a better look at Ryoichi.

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

Seeing Nyoko's interest, Ryoichi solemnly and slowly extended one hand towards a spot under the cat's nose. Nyoko sniffed at the Yasuki a couple times, then signaled with a graceful motion of her head that she might permit a little petting. Accepting this invitation, Ryoichi very gently scritched around Nyoko's ears, to her evident pleasure.

"I daresay you are right, Kuni-san," Ryoichi said. "She does seem to enjoy the attention."

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14MM Try to befriend Nyoko, unskilled Animal Handling/Awareness TN15 | 4k4 ⇒ 37 (TN: 15) <-- this is my best roll all game

[Kuni Shiori]

"I'm not surprised she's taken a liking to you," she nodded as she watched Nyoko purr as she was given attention by the other human, half-closing her eyes in a bit of contentment. "Actually, she seems to take interest in anyone who can either give her a place to lay or some pets. A bit surprising for a pet for Hiruma-sama but, it's not like he brings her along when he's on duty. Does Yasuki-san have a pet in your estates too?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I ... I do not," the Yasuki admitted. "The cook keeps cats, I think, but none that would claim me as their own. My duties have kept me away from Shiozaki House in recent years, so it would've been difficult. But perhaps after Winter Court there might be an opportunity to adopt an animal. I've certainly come to admire cats and their good qualities."

"What about you, Kuni-san? Are there pets of yours at home, perhaps?"

[Kuni Shiori]

"Personally, I don't..." She said with an abashed smile on the matter as she tried to keep still with the standing cat on her shoulder. "Actually, the idea of owning a pet is a bit new to me. We do have animals in House Kuroyama and they are favoured among Kuni Witch Hunters, but I'm not sure if I'd call them pets. At least, pets in the manner I see them in court, as I've come to learn. They are mostly kept for guarding and hunting."

Nyoko seemed to curiously look back and forth between the humans as she was comfortable favouring Shiori's shoulder as a sort of perch. There is a bit of sizing up on Ryoichi, considering he provided a taller vantage point and maybe the promise of more scritches later.

"I am considering one too. Nyoko seems to work best for Hiruma-sama, and there is also Doji Shinnosuke with Haku, too. That said, I don't think either seems to take well to orders, much to my chagrin..."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Yes, it seems common cats do not share the strict discipline of the Lion Clan," Ryoichi chuckled. "Still, they seem quite pleasant to have around. Perhaps I'll have to see if the cook can spare a kitten when I get back home."

"I suppose you will be preparing for your wedding once you return from Winter Court?" he asked. "Has a date been set yet?"

[Kuni Shiori]

"No, I didn't expect Nyoko to have the same rigid mentality of a Lion samurai," she chuckled as she lifted up a hand and gave the cat on her shoulder a few pets, maybe to keep her still. All that did was make Nyoko reconsider and start stepping on her shoulders. "It's not like she can hunt or guard on Hiruma-sama's behalf."

That said, a few days ago, she did consider if that was a silly possibility.

"I should," she said with a tinge of reluctance. "I think I still have around a year before such a ceremony. A date hasn't been set as of yet and I'm still settling on that fact...How about you? I mean, I know there are no matches made yet but there are discussions with your own affairs?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I know Hiruma-gunso has had some intense discussions with the Matchmaker about my future," Ryoichi said. "But I don't think anything has definitely been settled. Though, Hiruma-gunso himself has managed to secure a good match, so ... that's good for him, at any rate." There was, perhaps, a hint of disappointment in the Yasuki's voice at his lack of a match.

"Perhaps next season, though."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori nodded soundedly at the bit of news. "That's good that Hiruma-gunso managed to get a match. I had imagined that he would have been the first to be arranged in court, given his standing. That said, you and Yasuki Masaki-san have both been very active in court that I imagined that would have gathered some bit of attention, even to at least inquire about your marital status."

She looked a bit sympathetic as Nyoko flopped to a comfortable form of sorts that only cats were capable of on her shoulders. "We are a Clan of Duty, Yasuki-san. This is a facet in our lives that is an eventuality than just a mere possibility. I am sure that the Clan will see to your future, if that is what you seek. It's a bit doubtful that you'll be considered a footnote after your efforts here. It also comes unexpectedly, as I've found out. Despite my low profile here, it seems I've only lucked out because of my talents with the kami. I can only imagine that you're destined for an arrange more specialized, maybe even personal."