Interview 1: Ikehara Hikaru

[Cearnach]

The door slides open to reveal Lady Doji, with Kakita Irie standing behind her and a number of servants waiting in the wings, seated in a chair. Another, empty chair sits across the low table from her. That one must be yours.

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru still himself as the door slides up.

Think of it like a duel. Swiftness does not matter as much as knowing the moment to strike, and to do that one must read the one across from you.

Hikaru bows lows before entering. "I am honored by your summons Lady Doji. Greetings as well, Lady Kakita. I hope the day finds you well." He waits for an indication to move forward or to sit.

[Doji Minehime]

Kakita Irie gives a nod to Hikaru, but it is, of course, Lady Doji's smile and nod of acknowledgement that carries the most weight.

"Good Afternoon, Ikehara-san." She gestures toward the seat opposite. "Have you had rice?"

[Doji Hikaru]

"I have, thank you." Hikaru's eyes flicker for a moment, appraising the room as he takes his seat. "The Lion have been impeccable hosts thus far."

Not that that's saying much, but it's still true.

"Forgive my ignorance Lady Doji, but I was surprised at the honor of a private audience. How may I serve you milady?"

D1-Crane Interview-Etiquette (Courtesy)/Awareness | 7k4 ⇒ 35 (TN: 25)

[Doji Minehime]

She smiled warmly. "That is the purpose of the interview, Ikehara-san. I would like to learn from you, and for you to be able to learn from me."

She gestured to the tea set, an invitation for him to begin the ceremony.

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru takes the cue as it is given to join the ceremony. The ceremony had been part of the basics at the Kakita Academy, and the lessons are still fresh enough to carry it out without issue.

"As I said, this is a great honor. Especially considering the esteem of some of the other members of the delegation"

Hikaru waits to the proper moment to sip to continue.

"I am self-aware to know that I am one of the less established of the delegation. I am newly a samurai, with few accomplishments yet to my name. I am from a newly formed House, and while I am utterly grateful to it, and what you have offered us, I know that in all likelyhood what I stand to inherit is the sword at my waist, my wits, and the words on my lips and where they take me. If there is a place to test all three, there is no better place and for that you have my thanks."

Hikaru bows again.


Doji interview-Tea Ceremony/Void | 5k4 ⇒ 32 (TN: 20)

Doji Interview-Sincerity/Awareness | 5k4 ⇒ 20 (TN: 20)

[Doji Minehime]

Minehime raises a hand to her mouth to suggest laughter without being so gauche as to actually perform it.

"Your thanks are warmly received, Ikehara-san, but you shall have to save some of them, or I shall run out of places to put them! It is well that you see this moment as an opportunity to benefit yourself as well as the clan, but I imagine that you have some idea of the challenges that face us this year. Tell me, of them, which do you suppose to be the most pressing?"

[Doji Hikaru]

Hikaru mulls on it. "If you are asking directly? In full honesty, I would take it to be our current exclusion from and formal alliance"

He absently counts with his fingers. "It would be ideal if Doji Noriko were to assume her rightful place, but conditions would likely still improve so long as one particular claimant does not take the throne."

"The ban on interclan marriages is a millstone, but we have already seen the cracks begin to form in the levy. There will always be a House on the precipice of doom or ambitious enough to risk the consequences of a marriage. It would take time, but a master sculptor prefers small correct strokes with a chisel than the smash of a hammer"

"Our current relationship to the Lion Clan is something I hope we can remedy. I can respect them, their devotion to the art of war in the way that we could consider mastery of the brush. They have a Bushi my age who is" he pauses knowing the context "skilled enough to stand with some of the graduates of the Kakita Dojo. I see no shame in repairing relations"

"But time may ameliorate those problems. Time is something we may not have if the Lion were to attack us with their full might if we stand alone. Oh, I believe we can make red years of it. We control long coasts with rivers that can transport and supply forces. They can't defeat an army not on the field, and forcing them to bring their supply train and fight in times and places of our choosing would make it hurt. But we'd lose that advantage to invade their territory and if they are prompted by a particular Son or Daughter of Heaven they might not care about the losses they'd take. A formal alliance means they cannot bring their full might against us without exposing themselves"

Hikaru sips his tea.

"Forgive me that was a lot"

[Doji Minehime]

"Not at all, Ikehara-san. It is well that you have given these matters some thought, and I do appreciate your perspective. If you were to select a clan with which to make a formal alliance, who would it be?"

[Doji Hikaru]

"If it's my pick?" Hikaru is surprised to be asked and mulls on the question even though he has the answer. "Knowing that we'd have to find someone willing to take the chance on the Empresse censure, and that we'd need to bring something to the alliance: The Crab. "

"Apart from possessing cavalry and infantry that would give the Lion pause, they have developed systems for producing weapons, which our growing forces could use. But to keep their undertakings fed they are likely going to need support. Support that the current Daughter of Heaven does not feel a particular need to grant and they have made few inroads at Court. If we provide a path for them, what losses would censure cost them?"

[Doji Minehime]

Lady Doji nods once. "The Crab would be an excellent friend, from our perspective. And you do have a point about our ability to meet one of their needs. However, the Yasuki War has cast a long shadow. Do you believe that this delegation can tell a story that allows the Crab to leave the baggage behind? And what of the Daidoji who once wore the Yasuki mon? Can we capture their imagination as well?"

[Doji Hikaru]

Wheels begin to churn in Hikaru's head at the question. This had been a followup that he hadn't considered, but words come quickly.

"There are some pragmatic issues I believe the Yasuki could agree on: marriage and trade deals. but you are correct that a story makes it more compelling"


His voice unconsciously changes. His volume does not change as much as his projection, as if he were on a stage

"Two people, each isolated. The Crab, by their duty. By the Crane, for their choices. A family in between, split by those choices" There was a double meaning there, for he presentation, both the Yasuki war and the shame of the Gozoku, even unspoken.

"When a blade snaps or a pot cracks, there is no putting it back as it was. No...we remake them. The sword reforged, the pot lacqured and guilded. They are made better, more beautiful for their history. We achknowledge the condsequences of our choices, to know the break, and that we are willing to help make it right. We want to be the first ones to make the step, to show up" Hikaru pauses a beat "because will anyone else be coming when it matters?"

[Doji Minehime]

"A good story, Ikehara-san. Perhaps an effective one. I would encourage you to tell it quickly, though. I believe the Lion tire of their relationship with the Mirumoto and may be looking for other partners."

[Doji Hikaru]

"You speak truly Lady Doji." Hikaru bows. "I have a meeting scheduled with a member of the Yakuki family later this evening. He had reached out to contact me before Court began."

[Doji Minehime]

She smiled genuinely. "Excellent. Making connections early is a key component of court, and I am glad to hear that the Crab were willing to reach out. It could so easily have been otherwise."

[Doji Hikaru]

"I shall ensure that your trust in me is well placed" Hikaru bows, expecting dismissal soon

[Doji Minehime]

"Be well, Ikehara-san." She rose. "If you would be so kind as to invite Miyahara Sae in to see me after you have departed, that would be most kind."