[D11, EE] Like Cats and Dogs?

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi invited the fabulous Noh actor to enjoy tea before the evening's artistic event. As she went over the preparations of her tea-set, such a rural earthware set really, she felt she was becoming more and more confident in performing the ceremony for guests.

She hoped to talk about the arts and theater, but there was some more pressing issues to consider too.

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D11 ME. Tea Ceremony/Void. Untrained | 3k3 ⇒ 24 (TN: 15)
Posting this here so Shinn's player knows he has a Void Point.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Sayomi would hear the sounds of someone arriving in the vestibule of the Lion House, and... a dog's bark?

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Bark?

It was a curious sound, and filled with more curiosity than before, Sayomi rose to her feet to greet the guest... maybe guests? "Doji-sama, welcome." Already she went into a bow after sliding the door open for the actor.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Ah, Kitsu-san, good evening." Shinnosuke bows in return. "Thank you so much for inviting me."

In his hand is a braided cord leash attached to... well, it's probably attached to a collar, but to all appearances the other end of the leash simply disappears into the silky mane of a small white dog.

"I apologize for Haku." Shinnosuke explains with a little chagrin. "He dashed in here before I could hand him off. Toichi will take him back to the Crane house now." The neatly dressed young page has also bowed to Sayomi--more deeply, obviously--and remains in that attitude.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

As she lifted her gaze from her bow, the eyes followed the delicate hand of the actor to the braided cord, and to the white fluff. Fluffy dog.

"Oh," for a moment her On breaks as she smiles a silly smile at the dog, "it seemed like he was an eager guest too, huh?" The Kitsu actually giggles, her attention still on the dog.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"As an aristocrat among dogs, he believes he has the right to enter everywhere," Shinnosuke explains, smiling wryly.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Truly an aristocrat with such a fine fur!" she exclaims with giddiness. At least she has the forethought to ask before raising any hands. "May I pet him before he goes, Doji-sama?"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Of course," Shin says warmly. "If it doesn't offend you, he can come in with me. He's quite house trained, I just shouldn't like him to barge in where he's not wanted." He clicks his tongue at Haku, who's looking from Sayomi to Shinnosuke to Toichi, waiting for a cue which way to go. "Be polite to this lady, old fellow, I know you will be."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi lifts her hand and holds it out for Haku to sniff, to make him aware of her presence. "Oh, he's more than welcome. Because he's so cute. Yes you are, Haku-sama!"

Then she realised she was maybe getting a bit too carried away, and awkwardly clears her throat. "He is perfectly welcome, Doji-sama. Just like you, he is a guest of the Lion for the winter." Now her voice had returned a bit more to her usual poise and calm, and she gestures for the Crane and their fluffy overlord to come inside for tea and snacks.

"I don't know if the snacks I prepared will be suitable for him..." While enamored with the pet, she had no idea what dogs could safely eat. "Toichi-san is perfectly welcome to have some tea and snacks too of course."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Haku sniffs Sayomi's fingers regally, his short muzzle hanging open a little so he can smell with his mouth too. His tail wags slowly in approval of her admiration.

"Oh, well, in that case," Shinnosuke says, chuckling. "I'm sure we'll all be quite at home. Toichi may prefer to repair to the servants' room, if we don't need him... Toichi?" he glances at the page, who nods, looking a little relieved. "Yes, go ahead, just be back in time to prepare for the party."

He smiles at Sayomi. "Getting on well with animals is a good sign of a new friend's character, I always think. Thank you for your double hospitality, then. Haku has had his d--" he reconsiders the word as the little dog's waterfall ears perk up "--er, his evening meal, so you mustn't inconvenience yourself on his behalf."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

As he didn't seem scared, Sayomi dares a few pats on Haku's little head, her smile widening again.

Toichi is given a shallow bow as he departs, and her attention returns back to Shinnosuke and Haku, guiding them inside to sit down. "Thank you for saying so. I'm not very experienced with dogs, but my family does maintain a decent stable of horses, which I'm very fond of."

Already the scent of earthy yet light tea could be sensed in the room. Next to the cups and pot was a tray of toasted rice cakes and a couple of wagashi. "I believe being kind to animals is a good sign of character as well. As humans, it is part of our duty, in a way, to be kind to the ones below us."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"We are all on the same Great Wheel," Shinnosuke agrees, seating himself in the spot Sayomi had indicated. "Who knows, one day I may be a beast myself. I hope not, of course. One does try to keep up standards, right? But it's all in Heaven's hands. Sit, Haku. Good boy. Lie down. Good!" Obviously, that last is not directed at Sayomi.

"What a charming spread, Kitsu-san," he adds, inspecting the tea utensils and the tray of morsels. "Simple, but refined."

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"I don't think Doji-sama would ever be reborn as a dog, but Haku might be reborn as a noble samurai one day," Sayomi couldn't stop her silly smile as she watched Haku do as commanded, and receiving lots of praise for it. He really was a good boy it seemed!

"Ah, thank you. I did not want to overwhelm you in case you had already eaten, Doji-sama, I figured something light would be better for the stomach at this hour, before the artistic events later tonight."

The tea set she was a simple earthenware set, glazed with soft dusty colors reminiscent of the Lion plains. Beauty in simplicity. "Are pets like Haku popular in Crane lands these days?" she asked as she began to pick up the pot to pour tea.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Wise." He nods agreement. "I suppose we'll be plied with all sorts of delicacies at tonight's event, and it would be awkward not to partake at least a little."

"Hmm. Popular? Well, not desperately unfashionable, at least," Shinnosuke says, thinking aloud, and with a fond smile at Haku (now licking his paw before fully settling down). "A small dog is easier to keep in town than a great huge hound, and just as good company. Also, we have colder winters in northern Crane lands than here. Haku is not a bad warming stone." He chuckles. "My aunt gave him to me, from a friend of hers who breeds dogs like him. She said his kind are guard dogs, though I've never been certain whether she was serious."

Haku makes a small but emphatic whuff sound.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

The thought did amuse her. What sort of intruders could something as small as Haku guard against? Mice? Rats? Particularly curious raccoons? Certainly not anything bigger or more dangerous than that, as Haku probably didn't weigh more than a pillow!

"He is certainly more charming than any other warming stone I've seen," she chuckled as well. "And I imagine he is very good at being your weapon of choice in disarming anyone you speak to this winter about any trade or political decision?" While she Sayomi was in fact teasing, there was also a little bit of truth to her words. Having an adorable pet to show off probably put many people at ease.

A cup of tea was passed to Shinnosuke.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke takes the teacup with a murmur of appreciation, turning it around gracefully before taking a sip.

"Haku is not a bad diplomatic assistant, no," he agrees, lips quirking. "Although, most regrettably, there are many venues where his abilities will never be put to the test. I have sometimes wished I might bring him to court," he admits. "But of course that is quite impossible. This is his first visit to another clan's lodging, and I didn't mean to bring him inside, so he had better set a good precedent for himself." He arches a brow at the little dog.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"A shame... perhaps something to request of the new Empress or Emperor, that animals be allowed to take the floor in court," Sayomi mused with a thoughtful smile. As if she was almost actually entertaining the thought to put forward such a petition.

The tea was light, yet somehow had an earthy flavour to it. A sort of quaint, rural aroma.

"But - that reminds me, we did arrange a trade deal that would be sealed with a marriage! Do the Crane have any specific ideas for candidates?"

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Oh, yes, of course." After another sip, Shinnosuke sets down his cup and leans a forearm on the table. "Let's see. Well, I did ask Otomo Mariko-sama what she thought of our Doji-ke no kashin Ikehara Hikaru and your Ikoma-ke no kashin Kamoshita Honoka--I rather suspected Ikehara-san of having some designs there, after watching the two of them together in rehearsals, and Kamoshita-san didn't seem entirely un-receptive. But they are both awfully young, and I'm not sure Ikehara-san will manage to bring his intentions to a point before the season ends."

He smiles ruefully. "So I suppose it would be wiser not to hang our treaty on that wobbly peg. However, another member of our delegation, Asahina Etsuko, is a little older and looking for a spouse to join her House. She's trained as a soldier but, of course, currently serving as a diplomat for the winter [status 2]. A young woman of peaceful temperament but strong character, as you might expect in someone from the Asahina who walks the path of the warrior. Well, if you know Asahina, that is," he adds this last as an afterthought. A Lion from the western provinces might not have as much familiarity with that family's eccentricities, after all.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

Sayomi sipped her tea while listening, and helped herself to a toasted rice cake.

"Ah yes, I did think there seemed to be something between those two, but as you say they are very young. Not children of course," except they kind of were still, "but when one is so young, their attention is fleeting and affections are said to be rushed." Oh wait, I sound like an old auntie now. Still, she agreed with a soft chuckle to what Shinnosuke was saying.

"An Asahina bushi? I was under the impression that their family was mostly dedicated to pacifism...?" so she knew some things, but was open to the possibility that her impression could be incorrect. "Someone with a strong character sounds interesting though - we have a man of similar standing, serving in Lady Akodo Sanae's retinue as a courtier. Ikoma Koh. Nineteen winters of age. I don't know him very well, but I know he considers himself a bit of a... hm, gourmand? Fine dining and good food. Not for the sake of gluttony, but more because of a refined palate," she adds in as she didn't want to portray him as some sort of rotund glutton.

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"It's a philosophical commitment from the Asahina founder, yes," Shinnosuke nods. "The shugenja of the family hold to it rather closely, in my experience, but of course I needn't tell you that not all members of families with priestly traditions are themselves shugenja." He opens a hand toward Sayomi with a warm smile that seems to convey this might indeed be something special and valuable, not a deficit at all. "Those Asahina follow a variety of paths. I believe many of them who train as bushi are especially expert in defensive techniques and strategy, although I haven't seen Asahina Etsuko-san in the dojo."

Mirroring his hostess, he selects a rice cake and nibbles on it. A veteran of rigorous Crane deportment training, he seems to have a that near-mystical Crane ability to drink tea, eat, and make conversation all at once without ever appearing rushed or talking with his mouth full.

"Ikoma Koh-san would not regret marrying into the southern Asahina provinces, then, I think," he says with a chuckle. "They have fresh fruit and vegetables nearly year-round down there, and cook as well as anywhere else in Crane lands."