(D10, EE) A Scorpion walks into a Crane House

[Soshi Eiji]

Given the general child-like exuberance the Kitsu daimyo had displayed in court with the idea of communing with the recently departed Empress to ask her who she wanted to succeed her, hearing the evoaction did make him smile a little bit.

After all, if you didn't have time for a full-on play, why not enjoy the company of a talented actor?

"Ah I see. Perhaps the celestial Dragon was simply preparing for Her ascencion to the Heacens." he suggested.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke nods. "That was the priests' conclusion, I gathered. Perhaps the Former Empress was already making preparations to move on then, and the celestial beings were distraught that she was about to depart. It was very... there was a great feeling of distress, but it was fleeting. I suppose even spirits can be sad when someone important to them passes to the next world."

He shakes his head slightly, something like a very graceful version of a dog shaking off a raindrop, and lifts the teapot to test whether it needs refilling, possibly just to have something solid and material to do. "An intensely strange experience. I don't know if I would care to repeat it. We actors say that putting on a mask to act in Noh is a sort of spirit summoning, but that is more, well, controlled. Not so direct. I had bruises on my knees." He shakes his head again in remembered wonder. "One experience like that might be enough for me."

[Soshi Eiji]

It was a serious topic, and the Crane seemed on the verge of becoming maudlin. And so Eiji changed the topic.


"Ah, it is fortunate then, that Doji-san was not trained a bushi. He would have had to become very adept at dodging very quickly. But I cannot believe that word of Doji-san's bruised knees did not spread through the courts like wildfire. There would have been samurai-ko lined up around the temple to offer prayers for their return to their umblemished state." he offered.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke smirks, the silly flattery having achieved its intended effect. "It's not the bruises I object to. I'm not as delicate as all that!" he protests. "But imagine a wind and roar fit for an angry typhoon, out of nowhere, knocking into you like a roof beam falling, and by the time you've recovered yourself it looks as if actually nothing happened at all. At least nothing that touched anything around you. I can assure you that is disorienting enough for anybody! Most spiritual experiences one hears of don't leave marks."

He sighs a little theatrically, clearly for effect. "If only these were happier times, I might have been happy to seek comfort after my adventure with the court's fair ones. But the passing of an Empress... well, that's rather dampening, isn't it."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nods.

"True enough, Doji-san. On the upside, physical marks at least are easy to identify and treat. Sometimes they scar, but often not." he mused.

He took a sip of his tea.

"Wounds to mind and soul are a lot more difficult. We all saw how Lord Ikoma was after the passing of the Empress. He seemed mortally wounded in his spirit. Thankfully, it was not a mortal wound after all, thanks to those who gathered to him to share their strength. Still, I fear these turbulent times will see many wounds, both physical and mental."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Lord Ikoma did seem rather shaken for a few days," Shinnosuke agrees. "I ran into him once during that time and tried to offer a little conversation, but I'm not sure he even really heard me. I'm glad he seems to have recovered his composure. It really is rather unnerving to see a person of such power in such a fragile state of mind, isn't it?"

He shakes his head, then straightens a bit as a thought occurs to him. "I wonder, suddenly, did he share that strange experience on the afternoon before the fateful day too? That would certainly help unbalance a person. But perhaps he'd been through enough even without that."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Difficult to say with certainity." Eiji agreed. "The Ikoma are the heart of the clan. To cry out, in sadness and in joy for all the Lion who cannot. One can only imagine what it feels like who already bears the weight of the emotions of the Lion clan loses his ruler."

He shakes his head.

"Dark times. Though the various gatherings of art have certainly brought a needed light to them." he said.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"I'm very glad the Imperial officers saw fit not to cancel all of those," Shinnosuke says. "I suppose it might seem frivolous if one thought about it for only a moment," he opens a hand, conceding this point to an imaginary debate opponent, "but really, those rituals are the lifeblood of the Empire, aren't they? We create order so that we can have beauty and meaning." Sobering, he adds, "I do hope we can keep all those things."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I'm very glad the Imperial officers saw fit not to cancel all of those," Shinnosuke says. "I suppose it might seem frivolous if one thought about it for only a moment," he opens a hand, conceding this point to an imaginary debate opponent, "but really, those rituals are the lifeblood of the Empire, aren't they? We create order so that we can have beauty and meaning." Sobering, he adds, "I do hope we can keep all those things."

Eiji considered the Crane with a serious look of his own.

"I would argue, Doji-san, that were you to consider the length of the years the Empire has existed versus the length of the current struggles, it is easy to see that the Empire and it's traditions have peresisted for much longer. While there is currently disagreement of the direction of the Empire, no one is seriously villianous enough to not see them resolved. If nothing else, the Imperial families and their buearcracy won't stand for it."

He considered the tea set a moment, moving to the next point.

"I would imagine, however, that however the succession crisis resolved, none of the potential heirs would seriously consider ending order, beauty or meaning, let alone all three. I could see what is in fashion changing to reflect the new Empress's tastes. I would think there would be quite a boom in the traditional arts such as poetry and noh should Doji-sama be successful, while Tatsuya's ascenion might see themes of travel and adventure becoming more prevalant and perhaps a wider acceptance of more rustic arts like puppetry." he suggested, guiding the conversation away from darkness to something more light.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Hm. Soshi-san is at least as much an optimist as I am, after all," Shinnosuke says with a smile, taking the hint that his guest would prefer not to discuss the more serious uncertainties of the day. "Your vision of the near future is as civilized as any Crane's. From your lips to Heaven's ears," he adds, lifting his teacup for a toast in lieu of wine.

"I should think the future Emperor will have more to manage than setting fashions for entertainment, even if they're interested in that sort of thing. I admit, I find it rather hard to picture Lord Tatsuya caring particularly whether his courtiers are singing high Noh arias or folk ballads." His brows arch as he entertains this unlikely mental picture. "As for Lady Keihime, I suppose any song praising her would please her well enough. In any case, when this is all over it will make for any number of plays and stories, won't it? That is how most people make sense of history, after all."

[Soshi Eiji]

The thought of the Crane's refined voice being called upon to perform folk songs did amuse Eiji to a certain degree.

Three ronin in a boat, rowing down the shore....


Eiji nodded.

"i suppose that is true, Doji-san. Though I would imagine that they'll focus on the most important figures in the story. The five winds, and a few of the other truly notable figures of the court." he offered.

He chuckled a bit.

"If I'm in the play, it'll likely be credited as Scorpion Courtier"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Well, that depends whether you want to play a notable role, doesn't it, Soshi-san?" Shin smiles rakishly, leaning in with a forearm on the table. "I'm sure you could, if you wanted to. You're quite the most prominent courtier in Bayushi-sama's retinue this season."

[Soshi Eiji]

There was a certain allure to the Crane's words.

"You know, Doji-san, when I received my invitation to this court, those were my exact thoughts. That this would finally be my time to be recognized for my talents, to receive glory, to prove myself." he said.

He shook his head.

"But a candle flame only seems bright when you're in the dark. When you set it next to a bonfire, you can barely see it at all. I could have focused on bringing glory to my name, but instead I spent my time fulfilling my duties to my new clan. There is little glory to be had in making certain that your clan has adequate paper to supply it through the year. But....I do feel pride in the results of my efforts. Serving my clan rather than myself." he mused.

He chuckled a bit.

"Besides, a story really only needs one over the top villian, and while the truism is that it is a Scorpion, I think Doji-san knows which name of the court functions as that role."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Villains come in all sorts of colors," Shin agrees with a sigh. "Sometimes even jade and emerald. It is rather curious to hear that you assume if you appeared in a play it would have to be as the villain, though. I don't see why that should be guaranteed. Unless I quite misjudge you, of course," he adds, lips quirking.

"Great historical incidents hardly ever get only one play, anyway. There are positively dozens on the First War alone, each one about one person or one moment. The star doesn't have to be the greatest hero; he or she could be one person who made a difficult decision or faced a circumstance that will move the audience's hearts. The only sort of people I'm quite confident no one wants to watch a play about," he laughs, "are actors. How self-indulgent that would be!"

[Soshi Eiji]

"Hmm."

Eiji pondered the Crane's words. His eloquence took time to appreciate and distill.

"In truth, Doji-san, I did not seriously consider myself a villian, but you may have changed my mind on that, inadvertant though it may be." he admitted.

He set down his teacup.

'Difficult decisions. The hardest one I have had to face this winter so far was the agreement on the trade of the medical supplies. I certainly don't regret the trade. It may well mean saving many Crane lives, not to mention the boon to my own clan will reap economically with the investment of rice. However, should anyone memer of the other clans fall victime to the wrath of Jurojin's servant, or if we've miscalculated and someone ends up short on rice....they may well and truly mark me a villain. Not because I wished them ill, but because i could not save them from harm." he said with perhaps more than a touch of....sadness? regret? who could say.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke's brows arch and he looks rather skeptical. "By that standard, the Fortune Jurojin himself must be a villain, since he doesn't intercede for every single person every time--some people must still succumb to illness and old age. My learning on the subject is quite amateur, but still, that hardly seems theologically sound to me." He shrugs, opening a hand palm-up. "The karma of all of us born in ningen-do is to experience suffering. Who can say, if I fall ill tomorrow, that it's not my own karma at work? We can try to avoid causing it to other people, we can try to make less of it, but only the Fortunes and Heaven itself can take it away. And not all the time, either, I suppose."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"There is a difference in being viewed a villian and being a villian, I feel, but regardless the Fortunes and the Heavens are beyond mortal repproach. As I said, I do not regret the trade. However, with the Heavens being beyond mortal reproach, if those who wish to lash out at their misfortune strike at me instead for it, I can't say I entirely blame them. That will be my suffering to bear." he mused.

He chuckled.

"We started the conversation with a light-hearted talk of foolish monks, and now we've come all the way around to speaking of mortal suffering and the Heavens. I must admit, Doji-san, while you've been a sterling host and conversational partner, I would like us to part this evening on a more cheerful note." he suggested.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Not so strange, maybe, really. If certain of the religious orders aren't holding up their end, I suppose it's no wonder if some excess theology splashes out all over us lay folk," Shinnosuke suggests with a wry smile. "Blame the foolish monks for taking up all the foolishness, and not leaving enough for the rest of us?" At that his smile becomes a rakish grin. "It's always fun to blame one's failings on other people, isn't it?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji chuckles.

"Ah, I suppose Doji-san is used to the scent of sour grapes wafting from those about him. It must be such a burden being so talented, graceful, clever, and handsome." he teased.

"Having grown up as a Lion, I'm far too used to taking responsibility for my own failings, and even the failings of others if they were my responsibility, and then charging myself to do better. I would think I would need special training to take enjoyment in the manner Doji-san describes." he adds.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"You're the one who asked for levity, Soshi-san. Now you're too noble to enjoy it?" Shinnosuke laughs, seemingly unoffended. "I don't eat sugar candy every day, either, but I know how to appreciate a little treat when I can have one without harming anybody."