(D3, EE) Stuffed Crab and Spicy Mountain Tuna

[Agasha Yuna]

"Oh maybe I can meet your cat at some point, Hiruma-san. Is it a girl or boy cat? And what is their name?" She smiled, enjoying the thought and perhaps influenced by Soshi-san's imagery of how nice it is to have a cat.

"House Ageki in particular is always interested in shugenja uniquely talented with the earth. But our shugenja have a vow to only use earth magics. Many do not wish to take that vow, within clan, let alone outside of it. But it gives them deep insight." Them. Us? But she was not a shugenja.

"It is always good to keep an eye on where connections are possible and sought."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"He might have some issues with that Agasha-san." Daichi admitted. "Though there is always room for negotiations, as Soshi-san said matches for Shugenja can be somewhat difficult." He took another sip of the wine, having finally taken a chance to pass some notes of his own as well.

"He is only one as I said though, and we might be able to find something more suitable in another match. Was there anyone in particular the Dragon or the Scorpion were seeking a match for?"

That said he moved to the more casual topics of pets. "Nyoko, is her name, and she just turned three this Winter. As for coming to see her? Certainly. She most likely to be out when I'm there, but she can have a bit of an adventurous streak, so you may be able to meet her any time you stop by the Crab House."

[Soshi Eiji]

"He might have some issues with that Agasha-san." Daichi admitted. "Though there is always room for negotiations, as Soshi-san said matches for Shugenja can be somewhat difficult." He took another sip of the wine, having finally taken a chance to pass some notes of his own as well.

"He is only one as I said though, and we might be able to find something more suitable in another match. Was there anyone in particular the Dragon or the Scorpion were seeking a match for?"

That said he moved to the more casual topics of pets. "Nyoko, is her name, and she just turned three this Winter. As for coming to see her? Certainly. She most likely to be out when I'm there, but she can have a bit of an adventurous streak, so you may be able to meet her any time you stop by the Crab House."

Eiji tilted his head at the Crab's question.

"Possibily, but I wished to hold conversation of such until dinner is finished. It has certainly been very enjoyable thus far. I wanted to make sure that everyone has had a chance to enjoy the food Agasha-san has arranged, and that she wasn't planning on springing another course on us. You know how these Winter Court affairs are, and truly there is no rush." he said, looking to the Dragon.

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled.

"There are in fact two more courses. This is the steamed and simmered course." The entree course.

Attendants brought a steamed dish of conger eel, clams, yuba, shimeji mushroom, and mitsuba parsley steam-boiled in a teapot, with citrus on the side. And a platter of simmered sea bass with turnips, plated side-by-side on the dish. And, with these items, plenty of rice accompanied by miso soup and tsukemono pickles.

"All that remains after this is dessert."

[Soshi Eiji]

The Scorpion offered a broadly appreciative smile.

"Ah, I thought I sensed more in the offering. You never can be completely sure, each clan has it's own traditions after all." he said, taking a moment to enjoy the offering with his eyes.

"You've really outdone yourself Agasha-san. This looks amazing." he sincerely praised.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Soshi-san, has the right of it." Daichi replied, making a mental note to prepare for multi course meals in the future. Not that he'd be hosting them, but he may have to eat a few more. "It really is quite amazing."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled shyly. A little flush of pink in her cheeks. Delighted by the compliments.

"It was my pleasure to organize. It is an honor to host the Crab and Scorpion."

"Perhaps you could share a favorite dish from your lands? I mean, a description of it? Or a story of any kind, personal or otherwise, that involves food."

They would need time to savor their entrees, and it did seem like a good chance to get to know them better.

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji eyes gleamed.

"Given how much generousity you've shown us Agasha-san, I would be happy to share a story. Given your choice of parameters, a humorous tale I heard from a Mantis about a fish pie comes to mind, if the pair of you would care to hear it." he offered.

[Agasha Yuna]

"Oh that sounds perfect!" She looked at him with an encouraging smile.

[Soshi Eiji]

With the host's permission, Eiji drew upon his training as a storyteller to relate a very tragically funny story about a Mantis and a fish pie (with eternal thanks to the original author: Mikal the Ram):

KNOW YOU THIS: there are three good things in the world; the taste of good
sake, the singing of a good war-song, and the kisses of a good woman.
But pay heed: there are no things more terrible than these; to wake in the
morning after drinking too much sake, to be singing a war-song on your way to
battle, and to be wholly in the power of a woman!
Keep a careful ear on what I say, you young unmarried men, for this tale
pertains especially to you!

A long time ago, (and I will not say how long, for this tale concerns me,) I
lived in a village with peculiar traditions. One of those was that the eldest
born boy should marry the girl of his choice, the fairest of the lot. The second
eldest would then marry the second most fair, and the third then should have his
choice. Being born quite late, I saw the fairest of the maids married far before
I had a chance. At length it was my turn, and the pickings were poor. It was
between an old maid of sixty winters with no teeth beneath her lips nor hair above
her ears, and a sheep. I must admit the sheep seemed the better of the two.

I complained to my father that it seemed a bit unfair that I be required to
marry with such poor pickings to choose from. But he told me, "Son, a man is made
noble and honorable by marriage, and if you do not marry, you will be fit for
nothing but to go a pirate!" I listened carefully to his words, and realized he
was right. I joined the first pirate ship I could find!

Oh the life of a pirate! How I wish you could see the world as I did from
the deck of a ship. Ah, the comrades, the smell of the sea, the rolling of
the deck, the crack of the wind on the sails, the singing of the wind in the
lines, the rolling of the deck, the pull of the oars, the rolling of the deck, the
crash of the sea, the rolling of the deck, the rolling of the deck, and the
rolling of the deck...Even now, I feel my spirit rising within me...

At length we came to the shores of the Crab, a hard place of hard rocks and
people with harder hearts. We decided to split the crew into two groups of
twenty, and search the country for booty.

My own group of men encountered a group of a hundred armed Crab on the
road. Now my lords and ladies, you know me. I am no coward; but it seemed a bit
unfair to me. After all one hundred Crab are hardly a fair fight for twenty
Mantis. Why that's only five apiece! A hero such as I cannot soil my hands
with such a paltry brawl. So I sat myself down, to wait until a few hundred more
might show up.

I sat down not far from the fight, beside the road, which was a short walk to
the brush pile, that was a stone's throw from the ditch, which was a spear-cast or
two from the fighting. Fairly near. Then I found my senses alerted by a most
subtle and powerful magic; Drifting on the air there came the scent of a fish
pie. It was glorious, this wafting perfume. I could not help but follow. So I
quite literally followed my nose to the source of this magic.

There, in a clearing, I saw a small, blind hovel, with a narrow door, locked
solid. But around the back through a single narrow window was the origin of the
odor. Inside, on a rude wooden table, lay the most perfect of all fish pies!

Oh, the crust was a golden brown, with little tiny cuts all along the crest
to let the tempting bits of fish peek through. At the edges the crust was crimped
in just such a way to let you see the flaky edge. And there, on one side, you
could see just a drop or two of sauce dripping on the side. It was truly the most
perfect fish pie I had ever seen! I had to have it! I stuck my arm through the
window and...

And then, good gentles, I suffered the first of the curses the gods had laid
upon me: My arm was too short to reach through the window! I stretched! I
strained! I cried! I cursed the very heavens! But not one inch closer did I come
to that beautiful pastry!

Then it occurred to me; If I were to take off my helm, drop my spear, and cast
aside my armor, it might be possible to wriggle my way into the window. Well
to think was to do! I threw aside my helm and spear. I slid free of my armor,
and by turning and struggling and wiggling myself most cunningly I reached a point
at which my feet just touched the ground outside and my body rested upon the table
inside, and my hands were on that wonderful fish pie.

Oh, my lords and ladies the crust was so tender! And the sauce was so
fragrant! The tender cuts of fish were so flavorful! I could not help myself! I
ate the whole thing right then and there!

Then it was that the fortunes visited their second curse upon me; For that fish
pie had so ruined my slim and boyish figure that I could not wriggle back out of
the window! I struggled! I fought! I scraped skin from my sides! I strained! I
cried! I cursed the very heavens! But not one inch did I move from that accursed
window! I was trapped like a rabbit in the jaws of a dragon! Here, I thought, is
the worst thing that could happen to me! What could possibly be worse than this?

Just then, someone began to lay most smartly upon my backside with a heavy
stick. On and on the blows rained down without let or slack. I cried for mercy,
but none was given. Oh, the pain! Oh, the indignity! Oh, the damage to my
asssssssssential nobility!

When at length the blows ceased, I heard a voice say, "There! And now I
shall go fetch the village elders to see you punished as the thief you are!"

"I am no thief!" I cried. "I am a samurai, and a noble besides! I can
pay for what I ate!"
"Pay?" quoth the voice. "What could a vagabond like you pay? How much
koku?"

Now good gentles, it is a matter of common knowledge, one goes a-pirate to
make ones fortune. Not to carry it about with you! I had not two coins to rub
together nor the purse to put them in.

"Take my spear," I cried. "It is worth a hundred such pies!"
"Not enough for me!" the voice replied.
"Then take my armor," I said. "It is worth a hundred such hovels! A
million such pies! Take it and leave me in peace!"
"Still not enough!" the voice returned.
"Then what do you wish," I cried.
"A husband!" came the reply

It was then I noticed the voice was of a decidedly feminine nature.
Well, I was hardly in a position to bargain at that point, but I did not know what
the lady looked like. I knew that she could cook..."I am not about to take a pig
in a poke," I shouted. "I must know before I agree; Are you young?"

"Oh yes!" cried the voice. "As young a maid as the spring. And as graceful
as a deer!"
"And are you fair?" I asked. "And beautiful to behold?"
"Oh, beautiful as the sunrise, and as lithe as the wind in the grass!"

Well, I was not too sure she told the truth, but even if she was half as good
looking as she said, her cooking would make her a prize. "Very well," I said. "I
will see you married.

Just then I was lifted like a babe and pulled, POP! Like a cork from a bottle
free of the window, and I beheld the woman with which I had spoken.

She was six-foot-five by six-foot-five by six-foot-five! With long black
greasy hair that hung down over her warty skinned yellow-grey hide. Her nose was
a misshapen lump above her slash of a mouth that was lined with evil, green teeth.
"A husband!" she cried! "At last I shall have a husband."

I kicked her hard in what I took to be her chin, and hit the ground running
for all I was worth. All the way back through the forest, back over the roads.
Every step I took I could hear her massive tread, boom, boom, behind me like the
Thunder of Osano-Wo!

When I reached the shore I saw my ship pulling away, for they thought me
dead. I leaped the last twenty paces from the shore to the deck, and taking the
oars in my hands, I pulled us a good two arrow-shots from shore before I stopped.

I saw her then, standing in the waves, screaming after me. "YOU PROMISED ME
A WEDDING!"
"AND YOU SHALL HAVE ONE!" I yelled back. "JUST AS SOON AS I FIND YOU A
BRIDEGROOM!"

Now my lords and ladies, you know me; I am an honest man, and my word is as
true as any. I have not been able to eat a fish pie, or even fish itself, since I
made that vow. It must be satisfied. So I ask you, as a favor to me, is there a
young man here who would marry this woman and free
me of this promise?

I thought not!

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi chuckled as the story came to an end. "That was well told Soshi-san." He replied with a smile.

"Pretty hard to follow up too." He admitted with a wry smile, though his tone is playful enough to know he means no ill will. "I like baked sweet potatoes or the like just doesn't seem to hold the same appeal.

[Agasha Yuna]

She had listened to the story attentively, and smiled and giggled at all the right places. Just the faintest easing of her shoulders when Hiruma-san took the depiction of the Crab, as told by a Mantis, in the spirit of fun intended.

"You are a storyteller indeed, Soshi-san. A master storyteller. Thank you."

"Ah, Hiruma-san, we are not all storytellers, nor expected to be. And we do not need to tarry on food favorites, when Soshi-san has served up a delicious new topic with his story."

"What qualities are most admirable in a spouse? And why?"

The attendants began to clear the entree dishes, as everyone finished. Dessert would be coming soon.

[Soshi Eiji]

She had listened to the story attentively, and smiled and giggled at all the right places. Just the faintest easing of her shoulders when Hiruma-san took the depiction of the Crab, as told by a Mantis, in the spirit of fun intended.

"You are a storyteller indeed, Soshi-san. A master storyteller. Thank you."

"Ah, Hiruma-san, we are not all storytellers, nor expected to be. And we do not need to tarry on food favorites, when Soshi-san has served up a delicious new topic with his story."

"What qualities are most admirable in a spouse? And why?"

The attendants began to clear the entree dishes, as everyone finished. Dessert would be coming soon.

"Why Agasha-san, clearly with your beauty and the dishes you've had brought, you'd be considered the ideal bride by the Mantis in the story, ne?" he shamelessly flatttered.

"But I think the real answer to what makes an ideal spouse lies in the dishes that have been presented tonight. Black beans and eggplant. Broth and soup. Sashimi and Soy Sauce. Salmon and Salt. Bass and Turnips. A sea medley and citrus. Miso and Pickles. They each bring something that the other lacks, be it in taste or texture. Joined harmoniously to make something greater than the sum of their parts. That is what makes the ideal spouse, someone who brings something you lack, but still works with you. After all, oil and water also have things the others lack, but they don't work with each other. Great is the skill of the chef or the matchmaker who understands what will work together, and what never will." he explained.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I'd have to agree with Soshi-san at least to a degree. The ability to work with your intended and have your skill sets complement each other is a great thing indeed. It lets you accomplish together that you might not be able to achieve on your own. It is something you can develop though, over years of time as you spend them together." He paused thoughtfully for a moment.

"I'd perhaps on my own instead say an open mind or an open heart. You may not at first like who the nakodo match you with, finding and marrying someone you love is a rare thing after all, and a thing that is not often taken into consideration when you wed. House and Clan hold much more importance in those sorts of decisions. If you close yourself off though, and are not open to learning about yourself, and learning about your spouse. Well, you will never achieve the kind of bliss that Soshi-san has spoken of."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled brightly at Soshi-san's flattering words about her and her menu.

And a nod for Hiruma-san.

"I think you are both correct. A balancing of traits. A combination that together brings out the best in each. That inspires new ... growth. An arc of a life well lived. I would also add kindness and intelligence and piety. Traits I value. I would want them in a spouse and life-long friend. And certainly in a father to my children."

"It is wonderful to imagine. And here we are, at winter court. Such an engagement could happen in a matter of days."

And, on that sweet thought, the attendants brought dessert. A brown sugar sorbet accompanied by seasonal fruits - in this case, since it was winter, mandarin and persimmon.

"It is interesting that the very traits we mention of a good marriage are relevant to a good alliance, yes? I think our clans have the potential to complement each other, to bring out the best in each other, if we choose to walk side by side, and bring that open mind that Hiruma-san recommended."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiled a bit.

"Very well said, Agasha-san, and clever too." he complimented. "With such a wonderful segue and dessert signalling the end of the meal, I think it is time I revealed what I wrote in the initial notes to each of you, so we might walk side by side together. Many paths, but one destination as it were."

He looked over to the Crab first, as the information to reveal to him was...weighty, but not heavy.

"The even more important marriage candidate I made reference to is Lady Soshi's daughter. We are...open...to negotiating for her to marry out, Lady Soshi does not lack for heirs, but it would please Lady Soshi personally were there someone smart and strong enough to marry in instead. I believe Lady Soshi wishes to name her youngest her heir, so whomever were to marry in would need to be an individual not just capable of supporting a position of such power, but dealing with elder children who have long envisioned themselves sitting at the head of the table." he explained.

He turned to the Dragon, wishing that she had announced more courses before having to trouble her with this news.

"As for the matter I told Hiruma-sama about. Our healers have seen clear signs that Jurojin's servant (the fortune of plague and pestilence) is gettng ready to walk the land again. To prepare for this, we have gathered medicinal supplies, enough to help spare our clan and one other clan Her wrath."

He offered his hands palm out.

"Thus are the secrets I wrote out at the start of the dinner for you each to consider."

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi nodded. "That's something to consider." The young man mused, his head clicking through the list of Crab marriage candidates. They did have one of similar importance, but he was unsure that one would match well with the Shosuro. Maybe if she married out, but if the woman were to stay in Clan? Well, one didn't use a hammer to cut the weeds. "I'll have to discuss the matter further with my clanmates and see what they think on it."

"Though the same can be said about your second bit of news as well." He snorted, a bit amused. "I seem to have many things to consider now."

[Agasha Yuna]

She looked thoughtful at Soshi-san's words.

"I understand. I can consider if we have a candidate to marry out worthy of her status."

"Your second news is more concerning. My first instinct is that it is a gift that should be given to the Brotherhood of Shinsei. That those in greatest need in all of our lands will have a place to turn for medicine. It is good to have the warning, regardless. And I suspect Togashi-ue would say think of the Dragon first. I will consider. Health is one of our greatest possessions."

"May all our families and those we care about and those who lead us remain safe in such times."

Perhaps the Agasha could research other medicines. She could at least pass the word.

[Soshi Eiji]

He nodded at the Crab.

"Such is life at court, where there is rarely a clear hero and villain." he said.

He looked to the Dragon.

"Agasha-san has a good heart. I would advise a bit of caution with the information, however. If it comes to the attention of the greater court, I suspect there would be a lengthy discussion of who is 'most' deserving, and a great deal of panic and frustration from those whose debating skills do not match their need. And no mortal truly knows the mind of a Fortune. She may yet stay her wrath, but she is a very capricious Fortune. We offer a helm against a blow that may not come, but should it...." he says.

A small shrug.

"One would rather be prepared than not."

[Hiruma Daichi]

Which was exactly Daichi's concern. What would come to pass if they traded so much, and the Fortune stayed her hand. Or if she came not this next year but three or four down the road.

"That very thing will undoubtedly cause no small amount of debate if it was so widely known. So, I will keep all talk of it here, and between specific members of my clan." Daichi assured the Soshi, It wasn't likely the Scorpion passed along such news lightly.