(D15 MA-Expecting) Will Someone Rid us of this Troublesome Plague Upon our Houses?

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Whatever came of court, there were still plans to make and talk over, connections to reinforce, and so on this winter. So Hoshiko played host again today. Her workroom table was cleared for tea and light snacks. Most clutter cleared behind the screen that hid her tiny sleeping space.

Crane house smelled of the shrines' incense, courtiers' perfumes, acres of silk, and fresh polish on the wooden frames off all these wall screens.

[Soshi Eiji]

Court had been a trial, but it was over. No more treaties to present, no more people hearing what they wanted to hear rather than what was said, no more Otomo smugness (at least for now). So tea with a Crane who was insightful enough to know what she spoke of AND communicate it clearly was a welcome relief. There was something striking about the scent of incense and perfume though. It did bring to mind the treaty with the Crane. It was bad enough that the Empire could not figure out who to rule (probably), but their was a plague coming.

Once admitted, he bowed deeply to the Asahina.

"Good afternoon, Asahina-san. I am pleased to have another chance to speak with you before we must return to our various little corners of the empire. What tea blend have you prepared today?" he offered as greeting.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

She bows deeply as well. There are the endless appropriate angles for status and influence, sacred position and more, but there's a subtle difference in a bow made to the precise degree required by the rules, and one made in respect, this was the latter.

"I thank you for coming Soshi-san. I've invited Yasuki Masaki-san as well, but with the chaos of this court season, we're all a bit busy" She sweeps her robes into order as she kneels upon one cushion, indicating another for her guest. "The tea is a warming one of aged black tea and ginger. Good for the winter and for physical and mental wellbeing. Which seemed appropriate to the topic."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiles.

"It's promising to be a rough year, Asahina-san. There will be much tea for calm and focus for those attempting to work through it, and much sake for those who do not care to." he offered, then settling down into the seat.

"I'm glad to share tea with you."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

There's a nod, and slight lift of her lips in that hint of a smile courtiers perfected and she merely copied. "I admit to taking a bottle of sake to aid with sleep last night." That expression sobers rapidly and she bows her head a bit. "My condolences for the loss of your clanmate. With Emma-O's personal appearance, I doubt the court will need my brief to see his soul judged worthy, but I will offer it."

She pours the tea carefully, left-handed, but takes the cup in her gloved right to lift in a hint of the sort of toast one might normally do with sake. Not an actual toast, but the sense of one, and the respect owed to Kiuchi's heroic end. She sips, both to complete the 'toast' and allow her guest to drink.

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji had been informed that a certain Yogo had not made it back to the embassy last night, or ever again, and he was now in charge of his dog. He had not been briefed beforehand about the Yogo's....academic pursuits, but a clan of secrets valued it's secrets. He'd only really been informed on the off chance someone tried to infilitrate the embassy posing as the Yogo.

He sipped his tea solemnly.

"Despite what the rumors would have people believe, Yogo-san was a good samurai. It is unfortunate that I did not have more time this season to get to know him, but one never knows how much time they have to spend with someone until it has run out. He offered a great service to the court, I only wish that it was one that could be praised in the court itself." he admitted.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"There should have been a moment in court to acknowledge..." there's some bitterness to the sentiment. One life perhaps seemed small next to settling the succession. She shakes her head.

"But It's true, we don't know when our time in this realm will be done, most are surprised to leave. It's widely said that a samurai should live as if already dead, thus they are prepared. Sometimes that works, but I've seen few enough examples." She asks, "Lady Bayushi asked," that was a polite verb for the cold finality shed used, "us to burn Yogo-san's mask. Is that standard?" Or special for a mask potentially marked by a gaki?

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered the question.

"I would probably say it's more out of caution than tradition that Lady Bayushi told you such. While I certainly see how it is quite symbolic, the burning away of the face you've presented to the world, to face your reincarnation as none have truly seen you, it doesn't have the same force of tradition that, say white being worn for weddings and funerals does." he offered.

He nods.

"A moment in court to at least reconize his passing would have been appreciated.....but not that court. And as I understand it, Yogo-san's relationship with his immediate family was...tense. I'm not certain there will be much regonition of his passing at home save for the acceptance of his daisho and passing along of his scrolls."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I see." Her expression is lightly troubled, though more by the lack of remembrance than the lack of tradition. "Yes, the burning of something that had been perhaps touched by the spirit was pragmatic."

"It sounds as if his family will not mind if I add him to my own remembrances then. Are there traditions in that regard that I might know?" After all the Scorpion were a clan of many secrets. Possibly some of them swirled around the practices around death.

*******************
(Dr Who warpy sounds as results of the court conclude and leave that available to discuss)

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"I don't believe so, Asahina-san. Given his family's attitude, I don't imagine they'll care much one way or the other." he admitted.

Eiji considered it awhile.

"If Asahina-san is willing.....I know that she is skilled in origami. Were I to fetch his paper from his quarters, perhaps she would consent to use it in small offerings in whatever shrine she might be visiting at the time? I know that traditionally spirits wish to be guided home, but in Yogo-san's case, I think his spirit would be more at peace visiting shrines in other parts of the Empire." he suggested.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I"d appreciate that, and be honored to offer his spirit that peace. A spirit can be guided toward their proper place from any shrine." She sips the tea, appreciating the warmth.

"I appreciate too, that we have found some connection across our clans, and in some shared political support. I hope it would not be unwelcome to continue the correspondence begun before the winter? It seems like keeping lines of communication open in the coming days may be valuable."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiled at that.

"I would like that Asahina-san. I have truly appreciated your insights this Winter, and I would be quite pleased to continue to benefit from them as we move forward in this turbulent year." he said honestly.

He took his tea and sipped a bit. It was better before it got cold after all.

"Do you know where you'll be writing from, Asahina-san? I'm curious what you're anticipating seeing this year."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"Your stories have been an unusual, and welcome part of this court. Sometimes a bit askew of the point, mind," she says with a smile, "but just as often grounding the point in needed context, reminders of the larger picture we are trying to affect here. It's not an approach I've seen often in the provincial Crane courts. I value keeping a connection to such a unique voice. Is that approach more common among the Ikoma...or Soshi?" Not that she'd seen a lot of it here, but there hadn't actually been that many of either speaking in the courts.

She pauses, listening to the now-familiar life of Crane House. The pitch is higher, busier as packing begins, sooner than expected.

"I'm headed home. As heir to my house, I've responsibilities there. There's my cousin's wedding still to plan. Perhaps my own to arrange, maybe next winter." She sighs. "Though with things as they are, or will become, I may be called to other duties through the year. It's difficult to predict, but while I have the basic training to support troops, I've been steering more toward the courts. So I expect to be less personally involved in certain kinds of conflict that may develop. I hope that it doesn't come to that but..." It seemed pretty clear that the Winds couldn't find a solution in court, so what was left?

"And where will you be in the coming year?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji made a see-saw motion with the hand.

"Well, consider it an adaptation of the tradition to fit my current circumstances, Asahina-san. The Ikoma bards are at their finest when they are telling stories of the glory of the Lion. They...are the heart of the Lion, shedding tears and laughing while others must keep their On rigid. Now that particular skillset...well, the Scorpion approach to court is much different. When I arrived at court, it had been my intention to tell stories of the noble and heroic deeds of the winds and their followers. But aside from Doji Noriko standing up for Seppun Tomaru's honor in court, I saw very little I could boast about that was not immediately announced to the court, like the resolution of the break-in at the temple." he explained.

He took a quick pause for his audience to absorb.

"At the same time I found myself....serving as the defacto Chief Diplomat of the Scorpion. I had been handling the bulk of negotiations while the rest of the delegation tends to internal affairs, and when Shosuro-san fell off his horse....well, Lady Bayushi did not officially name me as such, but when Asahina-san's champion identifies me as such, it's hard to argue with. So, I was trying to find a way to use the talents I had for the task I was given."

He paused a moment as a servant opened the door with the intention of packing, then closing it again as they saw the room was still in use.

"As for the future, well Lady Bayushi has decided to continue to use me as a trusted diplomat among the Lion. I believe I will likely be posted to work at Shiro Matsu." he revealed.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

The priestess nods, "using what we have for the task we're given. That does sum up a lot of this court season." It hadn't quite been enough for Kiuchi to survive, but enough to banish the spirit. "It was effective, and does seem to have garnered you some recognition and a distinct voice in court."

Her eyebrows rise a bit at news of the posting. "Shiro Matsu? Definitely sounds like this season has given them reason to respect your abilities. If it's to be a permanent assignment, will your family join you? It seems a shame to separate those so newly wed."

Looking in to her tea, she seems to debate her next words. "Thank you for that support of Doji Noriko-sama. I do think she has the heavens' blessing, but if the rest of the Empire is to trust her as a Hantei, and not a Doji, it's important that those who are not Crane see and speak to that truth."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"That does seem to be one of her two difficulties. I've heard one whisper that if she's named Empress she'll elevate the entire Doji family into an Imperial one, and Shiba Ryusei is convinced that should she show even the slightest bit of favor to the Crane clan, people will...well perhaps not openly rebel, but do their utmost to sabotage her reign."

He shrugged a bit.

"I'm pretty sure the first person didn't understand that should she be named Empress, she and only her immediate family would become a Hantei. I also think it's....uncharitable to assume that people will not serve an Empress faithfully. But there are many who are filled with these sorts of doubts, and that is only the first of her two difficulties." he explained.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"Indeed. Even without the political difficulties, the spiritual have been building for quite some time, and she'd be required to address them rather quickly. And the power surrounding the Otomo candidates...well, any other taking the position might need to find ways to neutralize quite a few people in that camp who have shown themselves willing to stoop rather low to get what they want."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered that.

"Hmm, I will admit, Asahina-san, I was not taking the spiritual into account. Not because I believe it irrelevant, far from it, it's just...well, the political is my realm by training, and the martial my realm by virtue of the clan I was born into, but the spiritual, I know enough to give thanks to the ancestors and the fortunes, and what not to touch, but my options for dealing with spiritual problems default to, 'Call for a priest' and 'Did you try hitting it with a sword?'. I am fully reliant on those more in tune with the spiritual to let me know of their impact and what needs to be done." he said.

"But I believe you have hit upon what I view as the second difficulty. Each of the winds possess some talent to make them fit to be a ruler, not exclusively, but to a stronger degree than the others. Doji Noriko, as befitting a one trained as a Crane courtier, looks for solutions that are favorable to all parties involved. Were she elevated to the position of Empress, I can see her appointing Seppun Tomaru to something along the lines of 'Chief Imperial Advisor on Religion' and I believe she could find a spot for Otomo Gorobei and Tatsuya either in the Imperial Legions, or within the Seppun Guard that could use their talents."

"But Otomo Keihime is another matter entirely. She will not be satisfied until she is Empress. And while Otomo Keihime, were she elevated, would be quite happy to name Doji Noriko Chief Imperial Yam Inspector with a permanent residence in Kyuden Suzume or worse, I cannot see Doji Noriko 'neutralizing' Otomo Keihime in that or any other way."

[Yasuki Masaki]

After some time, a Yasuki also presents to the door of the Crane House, greets the servant at the entrance and asks for Asahina Hoshiko. After being shown to where she and Eiji are, she bows to them and greets then - but asks that they not interrupt their conversation because of her (in part because the Yasuki's player will have limited time to post for now!)