[D1, EE, EVENT] Meet the Daimyo: Crab

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Huh," observed Masahiko.

"Well, there's elements of teamwork that are learned in adversity. Like when an oni's coming at you, or when your Daimyo's gotten a little too ambitious with his expectations. I appreciate the effort you all put into supporting each other. We'll just have to work on our reasoning and our execution. Fortunately, no one else is going to be asking you to put together a tension-driven device, so there's that."

As he spoke, he began to assemble the tool, his hands moving surprisingly deftly, until the little wind-up ice-pick was sitting on the table.

"And I'm always here to help out keeping the team running smoothly. You guys got Lord Hida's general statement? Any questions I can clear up?"

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori dipped her head in confirmation at the question. "Yes, there are no questions from me at the moment. From what I gathered, the proposal is rather," there was a momentary thoughtful pause before her next word, "...conservative, I suppose. Perhaps not unlike us, in some aspects. Too much consideration might cost us some opportunities, however."

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Part of the issue is that Lord Hida knows that we are well out of touch and expects us to adapt to the situation as it develops. I do have some contingency instructions, but I also take your point, Kuni-san. Are you aware of an opportunity the clan as a whole ought to be considering?"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Any questions I can clear up?"

"Excuse me for asking, Lord Kaiu, but I wonder if you could give us some guidance on the official protocol for wearing armor in this court," Ryoichi inquired respectfully. "I have heard that wearing armor is sometimes considered improper in northern courts, so I've avoided wearing mine so far. But I'd like to make sure I don't make an error in etiquette."

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Oh, the Seppun don't like it when you wear armor at all within the host site. It makes them antsy, and no one likes an antsy Seppun. Hard to fault 'em, though, because it's sort of like when the goblins wear armor: you can still kill them without too much trouble, but it's rude of them to make you go to the extra effort."

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"Well, I definitely would not like to annoy the Seppun guards," Ryoichi agreed with a chuckle. "Thank you for the advice, Kaiu-dono." He bowed.

[Kuni Shiori]

"Part of the issue is that Lord Hida knows that we are well out of touch and expects us to adapt to the situation as it develops. I do have some contingency instructions, but I also take your point, Kuni-san. Are you aware of an opportunity the clan as a whole ought to be considering?"

Shiori shook her head at the question, looking a bit pensive and disappointed at the same time. "Sadly, none at the moment, Kaiu-ue. I suppose I just speak for the potential future. We have a lot of competitors where and no doubt we will see many opportunities unfolding before us. If there are any that present themselves with a limited window, I'm sure we could consider a meeting on an emergency basis."

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Experience tells me that limited windows are usually preludes to a swindle. There are an awful lot of liars here. But you are absolutely correct that something may come up that we've just got to see to quickly. When that happens, you reach out to your fellow delegates and clue them in. If we get a solid consensus and good enough answers to satisfy our questions, I'll get out the shovel to dig my stick out of the mud."

[Yasuki Masaki]

.

The other Yasuki nodded at the Kaiu's words - multiple times, in fact, as he gave them feedback, then advice, then answered the others' questions. After his last question, she raised a hand slightly, suggesting a question of her own.

"Kaiu-dono, I suppose I do have one question. Using Kuni-san's words, the position we were asked to present is conservative. Yet, if my understanding is correct, we are to show and remind others that our strength is not limited to fields other than the courts."

She shifts her position a bit, looks outside, to the others, then back to the Kaiu.

"Given our position, showing strength through direct manoeuvres - as some others may do - doesn't feel sensible, at least in the most pressing matter at court. So... would Kaiu-dono have suggestions as to others matters we might want to pursue to... test the waters, as it were?"

[Kaiu Masahiko]

"Huh. Good question." He thought about it for a moment. "Well, other clans sometimes do things like have an art show or put on a theatrical production. We could do something like that. Or maybe something featuring Crab cuisine, if anybody can cook? I mean, you know, something with the community spirit, but low stakes. That'll get folks to understand we know how the game is played. Or, maybe you can get a Crab appointed to some Imperial job? Not sure what's open and it'd be a slog, but it could maybe be done."

[Kuni Shiori]

"Cooking?" Shiori would bring up curiously on the matter. "Personally, I don't have the skills for it but I'm sure we could consider the delegation or the attendees in court. I could only envision a communal stew potentially befit for the winter months but I don't know if it would quite fit the palate of many here who might not had the pleasure of experiencing such a privilege. Getting such a role, even as just a figurehead, would likely be more useful"

[Yasuki Ryoichi]

"I'm most interested in eating food, but have little talent for cooking it," Ryoichi said with a rueful smile. "Certainly I'd be happy to support any efforts along those lines if I can, though. Or perhaps we can name someone to a minor Imperial position as Kaiu-dono suggests?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I can burn rice." Daichi offered helpfully. "It even tastes alright if you have a half dozen cups of sake before you give it a try." It seemed thus cooking was straight out the castle. Unless of course Masaki was good at it.

"On that note though, I'm not sure if we have supplies for it but maybe a tea or sake tasting might be a decent idea? Try and highlight some of the things the clan produces a lot of." It probably wasn't very courtly though. "Unless we have a lot of artists here?" He glanced at the others.

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki nodded at the Kaiu's suggestions and the others' considerations.

"An imperial position would definitely be interesting. Trying to gauge what might be open might be a good first step, then? What do you think? Kaiu-dono?"

She stops to thunk for a moment, the corner of her mouth twitching a bit.

"Sadly I cannot say I'm good with cooking either. A pity, as Crab cuisine is definitely unique in some ways ne?"

A pause as she considers the other suggestions.

"My training and my interest did lead me towards some artistic pursuits... but I don't know if straws would draw as much interest as the theatre. Maybe as part of something larger? Although even having us *propose* something artistic might come as the sort of surprise and show of competence we might want to put forward... provided we put on a good showing, of course."

She looks at the others. "Are there any other particular arts you are good or interested in, minasan? Or other particular talents we might maybe put to use?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I do a little bit of carving." Daichi offered after a moment. "It's really not anything I'd show off in front of a whole crowd of people though." It was more a hobby something he did in his spare time. "I suppose I don't have the worst hand at calligraphy either." His uncle has always said he wrote too pretty for a boy. That wasn't saying all that much though.