Akodo himself might have been agahst to consider the evening hours 'early' in the court. But between the Lion's own delegation meeting (at the correct and proper time), Eiji's meeting, his rebuffment in court, and stalking of Gorobei, this was simply the earliest hour that Eiji could make.

It was a calming sight to watch Lady Sun set upon the temple complex, and the open air kept eavsedroppers to a minimum. What would come of this meeting, though, that Eiji could not say.

Kamoshita Kinuyo was clearly a bushi. Her every step bespoke calculated movement, the gauging of distance, the preparation to strike. As she ascended the steps to the shrine, she moved both up and steadily to the left, beginning at the center of the steps, she left them almost on their margin.

"Soshi-san." She bowed fluidly, swiftly, and smiled without mirth. "Cousin. Welcome to Kyuden Ikoma."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:02 pm

Kamoshita Kinuyo was clearly a bushi. Her every step bespoke calculated movement, the gauging of distance, the preparation to strike. As she ascended the steps to the shrine, she moved both up and steadily to the left, beginning at the center of the steps, she left them almost on their margin.

"Soshi-san." She bowed fluidly, swiftly, and smiled without mirth. "Cousin. Welcome to Kyuden Ikoma."

Eiji returned the bow as was proper. Perhaps he was smiling, his newly acquired mask saw to that, but his gaze was warm.

"Thank you cousin." he replied back, somewhat amused at the title. "I would like to say that it feels as if I'd never left, but an Imperial Winter Court....well it's like dropping a boulder into a koi pond; everyone gets soaked, the koi dart about in great confusion, and while the surface of the pond will still eventually, the pond is just a little bit deeper for the rest of time."

She blinks once. "Just so," she says, in that way people do when they are somewhat unsure what exactly was just conveyed to them.

"How are you finding life among the Scorpion?" she asks, trying desperately to be something she is not. You can feel the tension in her muscles from across the shrine, but she is making an effort to be polite. This is someone who wants something. Badly.

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:40 pm

She blinks once. "Just so," she says, in that way people do when they are somewhat unsure what exactly was just conveyed to them.

"How are you finding life among the Scorpion?" she asks, trying desperately to be something she is not. You can feel the tension in her muscles from across the shrine, but she is making an effort to be polite. This is someone who wants something. Badly.

A samurai of summer, not winter, I see Eiji straightened up a bit; this wasn't a meetng of close family, and what she wanted was not to be friends.

"Ah it is....an adjustment." he admits, refraining from joking about masks or licking poison bowls. "We are taught to serve our lord with our whole being, no matter who that lord is. After all, we all ultimately serve the Empress, may her reign be one of peace and prosperty. But life is certainly different when you marry into a new clan."

He looks back to her.

"Ah, and how are you and your family faring, cousin?" he offered, trying to nudge the conversaton in the direction indcated by the letter.

Soshi Eiji wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2025 9:55 pm

"Ah, and how are you and your family faring, cousin?" he offered, trying to nudge the conversaton in the direction indcated by the letter.

She nods once. "We would be doing quite well, I think, were it not for weak men trying to rise above their station. I trust you've heard that the Shimomura have sent a delegate here, of all places?"

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 1:33 am

She nods once. "We would be doing quite well, I think, were it not for weak men trying to rise above their station. I trust you've heard that the Shimomura have sent a delegate here, of all places?"

Eiji paused a moment, taking in the Ikoma's venom, before slowly nodding.

"Indeed, I had....well that he was attending, not the particulars of his merit or ambitions. It is the most dangerous battlefield, the imperial winter court at the most dangerous time. The rewards are tempting, but failure can bring down more than a man."

He looked at her curiously.

"Do you know more about the man personally?"

Soshi Eiji wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 1:47 am

Eiji paused a moment, taking in the Ikoma's venom, before slowly nodding.

"Indeed, I had....well that he was attending, not the particulars of his merit or ambitions. It is the most dangerous battlefield, the imperial winter court at the most dangerous time. The rewards are tempting, but failure can bring down more than a man."

He looked at her curiously.

"Do you know more about the man personally?"

Kinuyo scowled. "I know that he holds his honor dearly, that he has an absurd mustache, and that I killed his sister."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 1:50 am

Kinuyo scowled. "I know that he holds his honor dearly, that he has an absurd mustache, and that I killed his sister."

"Ah."

This was sounding less lke a story of Man driven beyond sanity for vengence, and more like Woman with an axe to grind. Kinuyo was a blade without a hilt. Eiji wasn't sure what twist of fate had brought her and the Shimomura both to this court, but it was shaping up to be a story that ended with a good deal of bloodshed. And what was that to him? He was no longer an Ikoma. He was not hosting this court. The two could stab each other in the open court, and even the gentlest Crane maiden would not expect Eiji to do anything. There was nothing in the Code of Bushido or Leadershp that bade him interfere. As long as she did not directly ask for help.

Eiji tucked his arms into his kimono to ward off the lowering temperatures.

He inclined his head to the Ikoma.

"Your warning is well-received Ikoma-san. Winter Court is a large place, I can be sure to give such a man a wide berth." he said politely, hoping that she was too proud to ask for help directly.

Such was not to be his luck.

She shook her head. "It would be well enough if I thought you could escape him, but that is not likely and I am not interested in escape. I'd much rather..." She paused, ordering her thoughts. "I would like for you to act to help diffuse the situation. Become his friend, let him puff and preen and strut, as middling bushi will. Then, when his mind is in the right place, I can put things right."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 2:20 pm

Such was not to be his luck.

She shook her head. "It would be well enough if I thought you could escape him, but that is not likely and I am not interested in escape. I'd much rather..." She paused, ordering her thoughts. "I would like for you to act to help diffuse the situation. Become his friend, let him puff and preen and strut, as middling bushi will. Then, when his mind is in the right place, I can put things right."

Well that wasn't ominous in the slightest. Eiji had no idea what this bowstring drawn to the breaking point thought it could do in the imperial winter court, but it was best to release it before it smacked his hands.

He half closed his eyes.

"Winter court is a time for such, indeed. Very well, Ikoma-san, in honor of our common bloodline, I can do that much, insofar it does not interfere with my other duties." he agreed.

She bowed deeply. "Thank you, cousin, for your assistance. I think we will all breathe easier when this is behind us."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 04, 2025 5:00 pm

She bowed deeply. "Thank you, cousin, for your assistance. I think we will all breathe easier when this is behind us."

Eiji returned the bow.

"Of course, cousin, I will let you know when I know more. Carry the Fortunes." he said, ready to wrap up this particular family reuinion.

It seemed that she was as well, because she replied with a sharp bow. "Carry the Fortunes."

And she stalked back down toward Lion House.

/exit.

Oblivious to the intrigue Akodo Kenji had returned to the library for another session of scour the scrolls! This time he wanted information on Lord Gorobei's family history and it didn't take too long before he was on to something.

Several scrolls later and he was back to the immaculate note taking in his fine script. Hopefully this was going to prove useful to his Clan.


Roll
D1. EE. Consulting the Ikoma libraries. Looking into the family history of Lord Gorobei. Lore: Heraldry. Sage for skill. | 5k4 ⇒ 36 (TN: 20)