(D3, EE) Stuffed Crab and Spicy Mountain Tuna

[Soshi Eiji]

Having so been invited to dinner, Eiji made his way over to the Dragon House to meet with the charming Dragon and the....reasonable Crab. He made his way in, looked around....turned back around and looked outside the door again. No, he was certain this was not, in fact, the Scorpion House. He hadn't gotten that lost. While the identical exteriors could be forgiven in the name of efficiency, Eiji had expected the interior design to be....richer? More stylized? A big rock with a skylight?

Still, he was here, and let the servants know that the Scorpion dinner guest had arrived.

[Hiruma Daichi]

A Crab arrived not long after, the umbrella he carried with him kept off the worst of the light drizzle that had plagued them that day though it was impossible to keep completely dry. Setting it in the holder near the door as he stepped inside, he offered a polite bow to the Scorpion who had arrived before him.

"Good evening, Soshi-san." He offered politely.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna greeted them as they arrived.

She gave a deep bow to each of them.

"Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat. I hope you were not unduly shaken by the earthquake earlier. Let's start with tea and the rest of the meal should arrive shortly."

"I look forward to comparing notes on what we might each need, and each have in excess, to the extent you wish. At the least, I can let you know what we are looking for and see if that opens up an opportunity."

Inside, tea was brewing on a sunken hearth. The tea set was elegantly made - moriage pottery with gilt covering many of the surfaces including the image of a dragon. Dragonware. (See: https://ibb.co/M2Y1YfJ).

The space for entertaining guests included seating and a low table.

The walls were decorated by calligraphy. Several scrolls depicted verses from the Tao. One calligraphic wall hanging that expressed the kanji for dragon and for mountain in a way that suggested the shape of each. On closer inspection, it included black and white (since it was ink on paper) bu-sized depictions of each family and house mon represented in the delegation into small circles around the kanji for dragon, helping to form the shape of a dragon.

There was a shintao shrine and space for meditation to the side of the common room.

[Hiruma Daichi]

In all honestly Daichi wasn't quite sure how much either of the other two might have that his clan would desire. That was no reason not to see what they had though, and to his knowledge his clan had yet to approach either group.

"Tea sounds pleasant." Daichi offered, avoiding the topic of the earthquake altogether. "And I admit to looking forward to whatever kind of dinner you have planned." He continued as he followed the young woman inside, giving a polite nod of appreciation at the time her clan spent arranging their temporary home. It was quite nice all things considered.

[Agasha Yuna]

She poured him a cup.

"I had wondered if the Crab might need jade. The Little Teacher told Hantei: "...for the more corrupt the soul, the more painful it becomes to look upon the pure. So it is with crystal and jade and the creatures of the dark lands. Remember this, Hantei, for it will one day save your life."

[Hiruma Daichi]

The tea was accepted with a grateful nod and Daichi took a sip as he listened.

That was more than most knew about the subject, and it came at a bit of surprise that the woman knew that much, especially when the subject wasn't one many thought socially acceptable. "Jade is always something my clan is in need of, in some years more than others. Though I admit it is also a fairly well-known fact that it is precious to us, and many have already approached us with that knowledge."

"But even then, depending on the hopes of your own clan we can still possibly come to an understanding."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji had, of course, bowed to the Dragon upon being greeted and been shuttled along to tea and dinner.

When the Dragon offered the Crab jade, he started to regret this meeting just a bit. Of course the Dragon had jade, now they'd have to compete with the Dragon for the Crab's attention on that matter.

The Crab's reaction though was totally unexpected. Many had already approached the Crab with jade? Either the Crab was just really good at concealing his clan's needs, or Eiji would have to rethink his approach.

"Ah, that is quite fortutious for you, Hiruma-san. I'm sure the artisans of the Empire will rejoice that not every scrap of jade need go to the Crab this year. With the upcoming succession, I'm sure many will want jade sun netsuke, hairpins and the like. We had our own surplus, so we can start making plans in that direction." he offered casually.

He looked thoughtful.

"Perhaps weapons would be of more use for Hiruma-san's needs? Scorpion blades may not be able to match the Kaiu's for quality, but they're still quite good and useful for those who intend to fight a great deal." he countered.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"I am sure that the Scorpion make very fine blades Soshi-san, though at the moment we'd be more interested in the jade out of the two things offered, it's something there is a benefit to having an abundance of." He placed his teacup back on the table, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Our greatest wish at the moment is of Inari's great gift to ensure our armies fed, as well paper for the filing of reports and dyes to please those artisans we do have." Daichi continued looking first to the Dragon then the Scorpion. "Jade and as stated Lumber aren't completely unneeded though."

"And of course we have yet to talk about what the Dragon and Scorpion might want. We have tea and sake in abundance, as well as Iron, though I doubt the Dragon have much need of that. Then there are other things we can provide, fortifications to guard your trade routes, a tunnel to open one anew? Now to mention some of the best armor to be found in the Empire to protect those dear to you."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I am sure that the Scorpion make very fine blades Soshi-san, though at the moment we'd be more interested in the jade out of the two things offered, it's something there is a benefit to having an abundance of." He placed his teacup back on the table, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Our greatest wish at the moment is of Inari's great gift to ensure our armies fed, as well paper for the filing of reports and dyes to please those artisans we do have." Daichi continued looking first to the Dragon then the Scorpion. "Jade and as stated Lumber aren't completely unneeded though."

"And of course we have yet to talk about what the Dragon and Scorpion might want. We have tea and sake in abundance, as well as Iron, though I doubt the Dragon have much need of that. Then there are other things we can provide, fortifications to guard your trade routes, a tunnel to open one anew? Now to mention some of the best armor to be found in the Empire to protect those dear to you."

Paper? Seriously? We really need to get more people skilled at that craft working in our lands.

"Well it would be easier to ship lumber from Scorpion lands than from the lands of the Dragon. I think that we'll see Crab and Scorpion sake fighting each other for dominence in the sake houses this season. But tea....our smaller plantations aren't keeping up with the demand this year. Fortifications...hmmm, our trade routes suffering the most right now are river routes, I wonder if Crab fortifications could help there?"

"Ah, and rice. We do have a small surplus, but we haven't commiitted to trading it yet. We have an opportunity for using that for internal growth, but we also don't want our fellow samurai to hunger. We're trying to weigh the demand for it and whether we should stockpile it or trade it."

"As for needs, our biggest concern is metal. Our smiths and jewellers have a hunger for anything that's not gold or jade."

That he had at least some hope he could get metal from one of these two.

He then turned to the Dragon, he and the Crab had put more cards on the table, what did she think?

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled brightly at them both.

"As it happens, I am looking for tea and for sake. Perhaps there is an opportunity there. Tea from the Crab and sake from the Scorpion, perhaps? I do have metals, yes. I could definitely trade metals or stone or jade.

"I fear I need dyes also."

"And the Dragon have spiritual services - kinds of wisdom that might appeal."

The attendants began bringing in the dinner meal. The first course had appetizers - a sweet black beans dish and a miso-glazed eggplant dish - and an appertif - plum wine.

[Soshi Eiji]

She smiled brightly at them both.

"As it happens, I am looking for tea and for sake. Perhaps there is an opportunity there. Tea from the Crab and sake from the Scorpion, perhaps? I do have metals, yes. I could definitely trade metals or stone or jade.

"I fear I need dyes also."

"And the Dragon have spiritual services - kinds of wisdom that might appeal."

The attendants began bringing in the dinner meal. The first course had appetizers - a sweet black beans dish and a miso-glazed eggplant dish - and an appertif - plum wine.

"Or perhaps sake from both, depending just how thirsty the Dragon clan is." Eiji said with a bit of a smile.

"As a counterpoint to Agasha-san's offer of wisdom, we do have knowledge of a more...pragmagtic sort for trade. Dragon questions are not meant to be answered, after all, it's the examination of the question that leads to one's growth. Meanwhile, the Scorpion have answers to questions that are not meant to be examined."

"There is ONE other thing the Scorpion would consider trading depending on how much iron and tea the Crab are willing to offer, or how much metal the Dragon are willing to offer. It is something potentially very precious indeed, and we can only trade to one delegation.....but it's concerning a matter best discussed after dinner. It may not spoil Hiruma-san's appetite but I would not wish to cast a pall directly over the lovely dinner Agasha-san has arranged." he concluded.

Instead, Eiji would take a moment to savor the plum wine. A very fitting choice for the Dragon.

[Hiruma Daichi]

No mention of dyes or paper was a bit of a disappointment. It seemed they would need to seek those out elsewhere, it was just a matter of finding the proper seller as it were. All might not be completely lost, depending on the nature of the spiritual services and information. One also couldn't discount extra jade.

With the meal Daichi would pause for everything to be situated before speaking. "It seems there might be some room for all of us to find something of value then. Though from the sound of it there is some overlap too."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at both of their words.

"May this meal prove a blessing to you both."

"I expect it is the case for all of us that we can make tentative offers but will need to coordinate with the rest of our delegations and Daimyos to make anything official."

"I'd like to establish as host that it is absolutely fine with me to pass notes here if the two of you wish to discuss something in greater specificity that no longer needs my ears. My house - the Ageki - greatly value the virtues of the earth. I can enjoy being still while you take advantage of being silent, and the ways of earth can be honored. If you both find that welcome, I will consider it an opportunity for myself also."

"And I can also discuss inter-marriages. That is always a fine chance to increase our ties. The Dragon welcome greater connection to both of your clans."

"Any topic is welcome while we eat - more conversation about trade and connection, or the chance to simply get to know each other better."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Thank you Agasha-san." Daichi replied dipping his head and placing his palms together in thanks for the meal.

"I'm unsure if I have a need to be passing any notes back and forth at the moment." Daichi admitted after a moment. "Though I won't mind if he two of you chose to do so, to me or each other. I'd merely be asking about a more in-depth explanation on the spiritual services of the Dragon after all and perhaps the quantity of the goods the crab have that each of your clan would be interested in. As well as a rough estimate of what you would be willing to part with in turn."

He glanced to the Soshi. "Not to say I have No interest in the Information you offered, but I'm a bushi my trade and I don't know how best a thing would be used or how to properly value it. I do admit some interest in that last thing you mentioned though.

Daichi picked up his glass of wine. "These are just the start of negotiations after all, and I will have a much better idea of how to proceed after that. and if other things can be added as well. Like marriages for example."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered the Dragon's hospitality.

"Agasha-san is truly a thoughtful host. I've enjoyed the open nature of our opening talks thus far, but with the introducion of marriages, I might indeed have a use for her suggestions of notes." he said taking out his writing implements.

"We do have a bevy of candidates for marriage lined up. Since there is a topic that interests Hiruma-san that I would not wish to bring up for Agasha-san's sake until the dinner concludes, I see a good opportunity for parity. We have a shugenja, an emerald magistrate, and a distinguished taisa of our armies in need of a spouse. We also have one even more important candidate."

He jotted down two notes.

"I can put Hiruma-san's topic of interest on a note to him, and the most important marriage candidate on a note for Agasha-san. At the end of the dinner, I will of course reveal what I told to each other, but you can each enjoy the advantage of thinking about what you value the contents of the note first. You could even reveal it immediately. What you do with it until the end of the dinner will be your choice entirely." he says.

He slides each of them their super secret scorpion note to peruse.

(PMs incoming)

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled that they both seemed comfortable, and took the note from Soshi-san and took a moment to read it.

She prepared two notes of her own.

The attendants brought the next course.

A lightly seasoned broth and vegetable soup. A selection of seasonal sashimi with a soy dipping sauce. A larger portion of grilled salted salmon.

"Do you two have siblings back home? Anyone in your personal family - or even yourself - you are looking to see married, beyond the delegate lists?"

[Soshi Eiji]

She smiled that they both seemed comfortable, and took the note from Soshi-san and took a moment to read it.

She prepared two notes of her own.

The attendants brought the next course.

A lightly seasoned broth and vegetable soup. A selection of seasonal sashimi with a soy dipping sauce. A larger portion of grilled salted salmon.

"Do you two have siblings back home? Anyone in your personal family - or even yourself - you are looking to see married, beyond the delegate lists?"

That got a small chuckle out of the Soshi.

"I, myself, married this past year Agasha-san. I think they might react poorly were I to negotiate to marry again in the coming year. As I married out of clan, I no longer can truly speak for my birth family, and my new family is handling their own arrangements. I believe Yogo no kanshin Itoh Kiuchi is single and looking to marry someone in and has a cousin they're looking to marry out. I can't speak on the cousin, but Yogo-san strikes me as a thoughtful young man, and he's a dog lover, and if you're beloved by dogs, how bad can you be?" he offered

The answer to that question was plenty, but Sosh-san was already on to savoring the the oh so flaky skin of salmon grilled well.

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at the comment about the dog. "I have never actually had a pet. Have either of you?"

"Oh, you were not born a Scorpion? That's interesting. Can I ask which clan you were born into? I am simply curious now."

"This Yogo is a shugenja? And the cousin is ... a bushi?" A guess.

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi accepted the notes taking a few moments to read them. as he ate and listened in on the conversation between the other two. "Pets? I have had cats since I was a child." He admitted, looking up from his meal. "I even brought one with me here."

As for Marriages, I myself am unwed, and I have a younger sister also in search of a husband." One more of age as well, but she wasn't looking to be shacked up at the moment. "Though there are several others in my clan looking for matches. A shugenja and Master poet, among them."

[Soshi Eiji]

She smiled at the comment about the dog. "I have never actually had a pet. Have either of you?"

"Oh, you were not born a Scorpion? That's interesting. Can I ask which clan you were born into? I am simply curious now."

"This Yogo is a shugenja? And the cousin is ... a bushi?" A guess.

"Ah, born of the Lion, I am, Agasha-san." he said, with a bit of pride that hadn't had long enough to be quite trampled down. "I've had pet cats up until this year. They were....not exactly part of the deal given my new clan's traditions. Despite never having one, I can envision Agasha-san sitting by a warm fire, with a a scroll in one hand and the other stroking a cat curled up in her lap. Though I recognize that life in the Dragon mountans might not be best suited for cats." he mused.

He took a moment to jot down a response to the Dragon's note and pass it back to her.

"Hmmm, I'll need to check. I believe his cousin is also a shugenja, but I would want to confirm that."

He looked back over at the Crab.

"Hmm, a Crab shuenja. That might make for an interesting pairing. Shugenja can be a bit hard to match properly given how rare thier gift is and the effort that must be taken to pass it down to their children." he suggested.