(D3, ME) You look different with your clothes on

[Soshi Eiji]

Time for the events of the day to settle indeed. Earthquakes and courtquakes had certanly made the relaxng soak in a tub seem like a far distant memory. At least all courtiers had a second stomach for tea, as Eiji was comng from a tea and on his way to a sake date. He'd brewed a nice pot of herbal tea, and provided a small selection of sweets, now he simply had to wait for his guest.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei arrived with the air of a man whose day had included the highest of emotional highs, and who was not yet completely drowned in tea.

He had with him a couple of scrolls and a calligraphy set, and if the thought of accepting Scorpion hospitality was even remotely disconcerting, he didn't show it.

"Good evening, Soshi-sama. Has your day been productive?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Ryusei arrived with the air of a man whose day had included the highest of emotional highs, and who was not yet completely drowned in tea.

He had with him a couple of scrolls and a calligraphy set, and if the thought of accepting Scorpion hospitality was even remotely disconcerting, he didn't show it.

"Good evening, Soshi-sama. Has your day been productive?"

He bowed to the arriving Phoenix.

"It certainly moved me in more ways than one." he said, still in a bit of good humor. "I'm just glad that we were able to coordiante our schedules to talk about well, the business of court. Not that I don't enjoy kemari, plays, and many other diversions of the court, but we do have things our clans expect us to accomplish beyond having a good time."

He poured the tea.

"And yourself, Shiba-san?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

He bowed to the arriving Phoenix.

"It certainly moved me in more ways than one." he said, still in a bit of good humor. "I'm just glad that we were able to coordiante our schedules to talk about well, the business of court. Not that I don't enjoy kemari, plays, and many other diversions of the court, but we do have things our clans expect us to accomplish beyond having a good time."

He poured the tea.

"And yourself, Shiba-san?"

Barring an unexpected development that might force a retcon of the following statement, Ryusei could respond with some confidence.

"This has been the best day of my life so far."

He didn't seem to feel a need to elaborate as he got some notes out.

"And hopefully, we can find area in which the Clans of the Twin Kami can assist one another."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"I have spoken a bit with another member of your delegation, and assumping that he communicated back with your delegation we can perhaps cover a bit more ground tonight. Both of our clans have an excess of lumber, so nothing to be gained there. You do have a surplus of paper, which is something we are actively seeking. We hadn't hammered out what the Phoenix might need as far as goods go to try and acquire your clan's paper, so perhaps we can start there?" he suggested.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah, well... following some fruitful negotiation with the Crab and the Dragon," again assuming no retcon demon had struck to obliterate either deal, "our biggest needs are copper, arms and equipment, dyes, and silver."

He tilted his head to the side.

"For our part, we have ample paper, a small supply of, shall we say, foreign objects, and the services of the Phoenix toward various ends..."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nodded.

"We did discuss the well travelled objects and other services. My apologies, but I'm still waiting for the final word on the services. Court is a busy time after all."

Theoretically Eiji had already met with his delegation head this morning, but apparently whatever she'd said about it was still out being formally written up in beautiful calligraphy.

"But weapons and armor you say? Living next to the Lion inspires a certain productivity in our smiths, you're bound to be trading arrows with them one way or the other. Perhaps we could work out something along these lines?" he suggested.

Trading Scorpion weapons and armor to the Phoenix for paper was certainly not the kind of negotiiation Eiji had been expecting to engage in.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Our needs there are rather slight..."

Ryusei offered a piece of paper with some notations on it. [2 units]

"... but they are still needs."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Our needs there are rather slight..."

Ryusei offered a piece of paper with some notations on it. [2 units]

"... but they are still needs."

Eiji considered the order.

Well it's the Phoenix, not the Lion.

"Certainly well within our capabilities to meet. Hmm, and how many pieces of paper does Shiba-san think that many swords and suits of armor is worth?" he asked.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji considered the order.

Well it's the Phoenix, not the Lion.

"Certainly well within our capabilities to meet. Hmm, and how many pieces of paper does Shiba-san think that many swords and suits of armor is worth?" he asked.

"How many would the Scorpion Clan consider adequate to filling their needs? We have other items we must track down, after all, so I hesitate to overcommit one of the only resources we have a surplus of. But at the same time, we do possess a surplus."

[Soshi Eiji]

"How many would the Scorpion Clan consider adequate to filling their needs? We have other items we must track down, after all, so I hesitate to overcommit one of the only resources we have a surplus of. But at the same time, we do possess a surplus."

Eiji inclined his head.

"I am pleased that Shiba-san asked in such a matter. It shows his compassion to ask about the needs of others. And I am not the sort of person that would demand all that Shiba-san has for his own needs, when Shiba-san has other needs to track down."

He took a sip of his tea, and tapped the paper that the Shiba had laid down.

"Three times as much. I truly doubt that Shiba-san would agree to those terms. But there are marriages to consider, as well as your request from the Master of Air for something only the Scorpion can provide, and the information services we have offered. And perhaps we have overlooked something that we can provide the Phoenix. I remain hopeful that we can come to some sort of arrangement that leaves both parties satisfied." he offered, hoping the Phoenix could provide some more insight to balance the scales.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Three times as much. I truly doubt that Shiba-san would agree to those terms. But there are marriages to consider, as well as your request from the Master of Air for something only the Scorpion can provide, and the information services we have offered. And perhaps we have overlooked something that we can provide the Phoenix. I remain hopeful that we can come to some sort of arrangement that leaves both parties satisfied." he offered, hoping the Phoenix could provide some more insight to balance the scales.

"Then let us prepare a proposal I can bring to Shiba-ue... the Scorpion wish for [6 units] of Paper. I believe, unless I am much mistaken, that we can afford to spare that. We wish for the arms discussed. You have expressed an openness to trading them. My younger brother to wed Shosuro Bibari-san and marry into the Scorpion Clan, and perhaps the accommodation of the Master of Air's request- for as you say, who else could fulfill it?"

He tilted his head to the side, and nodded once.

"I think it is a beginning. Your thoughts?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"Three times as much. I truly doubt that Shiba-san would agree to those terms. But there are marriages to consider, as well as your request from the Master of Air for something only the Scorpion can provide, and the information services we have offered. And perhaps we have overlooked something that we can provide the Phoenix. I remain hopeful that we can come to some sort of arrangement that leaves both parties satisfied." he offered, hoping the Phoenix could provide some more insight to balance the scales.

"Then let us prepare a proposal I can bring to Shiba-ue... the Scorpion wish for [6 units] of Paper. I believe, unless I am much mistaken, that we can afford to spare that. We wish for the arms discussed. You have expressed an openness to trading them. My younger brother to wed Shosuro Bibari-san and marry into the Scorpion Clan, and perhaps the accommodation of the Master of Air's request- for as you say, who else could fulfill it?"

He tilted his head to the side, and nodded once.

"I think it is a beginning. Your thoughts?"

Eiji nodded.

"That seems more equitible indeed Shiba-san, it's a good start. We'll need to work out a lot of details on the Master of Air's request. For example, the Yogo will likely want the full details of the Master of Air's research interests so they can mark other sections of the library off limits, they are a secretive bunch after all. And they'll probably want to assist with and share in the research. The Master of Air is a great mind, but it is their scrolls after all."

Eiji allowed himself a small smile.

"I think we can present this as a rather good opportunity for the advancement of knowledge. And if that fails to impress we can ask what they think of conducting their research correspondence via woodcut."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"That seems more equitible indeed Shiba-san, it's a good start. We'll need to work out a lot of details on the Master of Air's request. For example, the Yogo will likely want the full details of the Master of Air's research interests so they can mark other sections of the library off limits, they are a secretive bunch after all. And they'll probably want to assist with and share in the research. The Master of Air is a great mind, but it is their scrolls after all."

Eiji allowed himself a small smile.

"I think we can present this as a rather good opportunity for the advancement of knowledge. And if that fails to impress we can ask what they think of conducting their research correspondence via woodcut."

Ryusei chuckled.

"As you say. And I believe the Master of Air will understand the need for security- after all, I doubt the intention was for unescorted access to rummage the shelves at will."

[Soshi Eiji]

Ryusei chuckled.

"As you say. And I believe the Master of Air will understand the need for security- after all, I doubt the intention was for unescorted access to rummage the shelves at will."

Eiji grins a bit.

"Well if that's on the table, I'm sure they'd take it." he offers in return. "But yes, we'll need to write a very careful proposal, outlining the security measures, the terms of access, the focus of the research and so on. Most of that will likely be above my station. The fewer the people who know details, the easier it is to keep things a secret."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Well if that's on the table, I'm sure they'd take it." he offers in return. "But yes, we'll need to write a very careful proposal, outlining the security measures, the terms of access, the focus of the research and so on. Most of that will likely be above my station. The fewer the people who know details, the easier it is to keep things a secret."

"Oh, likewise. Family secrets within a Clan demand respect, as does the station of Master of Air. We probably shouldn't presume that the details are something we're competent to arrange. Just a broad statement of principle."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji chuckled a bit.

"Given Shiba-san's training, perhaps he might understand a bit of it. As for me if you gave me the Master of Air's research notes, I could comment on his calligraphy with some confidence, but the content would likely be like explaining honor to your horse." he returned.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah, but all I know of the Yogo Libraries.. are that they are libraries, operated by the Yogo family, and that their contents are generally kept secret."

He grinned.

"Truly, my knowledge is vast."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiles.

"Truly without peer, at least within the population of this room." he jests.

"But let us speak of those who are more knowledgable. I realize that both parties in this, the Master of Air, and the master of the Yogo Libraries value their secrecy. Neither wants their projects to be the talk of the court...at least until some beneficial results can be announced."

He takes out a calligraphy kit to start writing down the outline.

"So, I think we should seek to limit those who know the full details of the research project. The Master of Air and their students they will be taking to the library. The master of the Yogo Library and an equal number their students to serve as assistant researchers. And finally, Bayushi-ue, who will want to review the details for clan security purposes.

We can present a sealed research proposal to Bayush-ue. Two copies of it so both the Scorpion and the Phoenix can possess a signed copy once it's approved. Those privy to the research can know of the contents, but other than that we lock the proposal away for the knowledge of none other."

He looked up from his writing.

"Would that work for the needs of the Phoenix? "

[Shiba Ryusei]

"As it meets the Master of Air's request in all particulars, i believe that is a suitable proviso. Shiba-ue might actually appreciate the specificity..."