(D7, LA, Open) Tea with a friend?

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji grinned at that.

"Ah yes, the vast wisdom that in the years he's lived since his far forgotten youth that Shiba-san has. All...what, two of them?" he joked.

"Maybe a year and a half?"

He grinned back.

"Luckily for all concerned, I believe Lord Togashi prioritizes education over harsh examples..."

Eiji nodded.

"May she learn from him as swiftly as she did her instructors, then." he replied.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"May she learn from him as swiftly as she did her instructors, then." he replied.

"In a duel, I would say most lessons are swift."

He chuckled.

"Even if the lesson is, to paraphrase something we say on the coast, that there's always a bigger fish."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"May she learn from him as swiftly as she did her instructors, then." he replied.

"In a duel, I would say most lessons are swift."

He chuckled.

"Even if the lesson is, to paraphrase something we say on the coast, that there's always a bigger fish."

Eiji nodded a bit.

"The lesson is swift, and we hope the student is as well. After all, oftentimes people learn the lesson that they want to learn, rather than the lesson that the teacher intends. We are, after all, dealings with the teaching of a Togashi. It's not a style of instruction that the Lion normally take well to." he replied.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded a bit.

"The lesson is swift, and we hope the student is as well. After all, oftentimes people learn the lesson that they want to learn, rather than the lesson that the teacher intends. We are, after all, dealings with the teaching of a Togashi. It's not a style of instruction that the Lion normally take well to." he replied.

"Maybe the lesson's... kinetic character will help a bit."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Maybe the lesson's... kinetic character will help a bit."

Eiji looked doubtful at that.

"Possibly, Shiba-san. Though as it's a duel, there should be no remedial lesson coming. One side will truimpth, the other falter. It pains me to not be behind a Lion, and her defeat here could easily shatter her entire future. But I feel that Agasha-san is in the right of this matter." he said, unhappy with the thought.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji looked doubtful at that.

"Possibly, Shiba-san. Though as it's a duel, there should be no remedial lesson coming. One side will truimpth, the other falter. It pains me to not be behind a Lion, and her defeat here could easily shatter her entire future. But I feel that Agasha-san is in the right of this matter." he said, unhappy with the thought.

"Well, naturally, Agasha-sama is in the right."

Ryusei winked, trying to bring a little levity back into the conversation.

"Only her taste in husbands is at all suspect, after all."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smirked at that.

"Ah, well since Agasha-san's good graces have so throughly tamed the former wildcat known as Shiba Ryusei, perhaps we should petition the court to expand the wedding agreement to include Ikoma-san. That way you could strengthen the Phoenix's ties to the Dragon AND the Lion. I'm sure Shiba-san is more than capable of serving two masters at a time, such that it would be." he joked.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei nearly debeveraged.

And had some difficulty regaining his composure, shaking with ill-suppressed mirth.

[Soshi Eiji]

Ryusei nearly debeveraged.

And had some difficulty regaining his composure, shaking with ill-suppressed mirth.

Eiji could have relented upon the defeat of his foe....but instead he pressed forward.

"Additionally, Shiba-san, just think of all the opportunities to improve your skills as a duelist....

'Husband-san! The morning rice is undercooked! Clearly this is a grave insult to my honor, and I demand a duel to prove the depth of sincerity of your apology!' he added, pitching his voice up in a shrill fashion.

[Shiba Ryusei]

The Phoenix started hammering the side of his leg with his left fist, trying to take a deep enough breath to re-center.

[Soshi Eiji]

Fortunately, the Phoenix would be given time to recenter. Still, how pleasant it was to hear such sincere laughter in these cold months.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"... That... was... incredibly unfair, Soshi-sama..."

He fought back a fresh cackle.

"But probably for the same reason, hilarious."

[Soshi Eiji]

"... That... was... incredibly unfair, Soshi-sama..."

He fought back a fresh cackle.

"But probably for the same reason, hilarious."

"I apologize for the unfairness, Shiba-san. But when one is attending the Imperial Winter Court, where one must normally limit themselves to grave soleminity or at most a sly smile, having an opportunity to hear genuine laughter is a great blessing indeed." he explained.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"I apologize for the unfairness, Shiba-san. But when one is attending the Imperial Winter Court, where one must normally limit themselves to grave soleminity or at most a sly smile, having an opportunity to hear genuine laughter is a great blessing indeed." he explained.

"Well. Should you ever find yourself in House Shigi's lands, consider yourself invited to swing by and share some, hm?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"Well. Should you ever find yourself in House Shigi's lands, consider yourself invited to swing by and share some, hm?"

Eiji nodded.

"Of course, Shiba-san. And if you and your charming wife ever find yourself at my doorstep, know that you will both be welcomed with open arms." he reciprocated.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"Of course, Shiba-san. And if you and your charming wife ever find yourself at my doorstep, know that you will both be welcomed with open arms." he reciprocated.

"'And'? I see how it is, Soshi-sama, bring Agasha-sama or be on my way!"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"Of course, Shiba-san. And if you and your charming wife ever find yourself at my doorstep, know that you will both be welcomed with open arms." he reciprocated.

"'And'? I see how it is, Soshi-sama, bring Agasha-sama or be on my way!"

That brought a small laugh from the Scorpion.

"Well of course, Shiba-san. If you dont bring her, you'll spend the entire visit gazing wistfully out the window and sighing dramatically. Better two happy guests than one mournful one." he explains.

[Shiba Ryusei]

That brought a small laugh from the Scorpion.

"Well of course, Shiba-san. If you dont bring her, you'll spend the entire visit gazing wistfully out the window and sighing dramatically. Better two happy guests than one mournful one." he explains.

"But then how can I properly cultivate the right level of brooding melancholy to make a good pillow-book protagonist?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"But then how can I properly cultivate the right level of brooding melancholy to make a good pillow-book protagonist?"

That got a sharp 'Tsk!' from the Scorpion.

"There's enough of those in the Empire. Benten has seen fit to smile upon you, Shiba-san. Don't question it, don't joke about it, just give thanks to Her as often as you are able." he said much more seriously.

Did this fool not understand the concept of tempting the Fortunes?

[Shiba Ryusei]

That got a sharp 'Tsk!' from the Scorpion.

"There's enough of those in the Empire. Benten has seen fit to smile upon you, Shiba-san. Don't question it, don't joke about it, just give thanks to Her as often as you are able." he said much more seriously.

Did this fool not understand the concept of tempting the Fortunes?

At the shift in tone, Ryusei blinked.

"Do you know what I asked Benten for, once I realized the interest was mutual? I asked that Benten never let me take her for granted. That I know, every day, how thoroughly I have been blessed."