[D1, EA - Expecting] As Fate Would Have It

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

A tall figure in green and black stalked the hallways of the Tenshu looking for something specific. He did not tell anyone what it was but every so often he would stop in some random spot before whispering to himself and move on. He loomed over a desk for a minute before passing to stand behind a chair and then to stare unseeing into a shelf. Finally he stopped at the corner of a narrow hallway and then moved carefully so that he could not be seen from the adjoining hallway.

Anyone trying to turn the corner into the hallway at any speed would not see him until they collided. There in the dim lantern lighting the Mirumoto waited for destiny to happen.

[Isawa Shingo]

Anyone trying to turn the corner into the hallway at any speed would not see him until they collided. There in the dim lantern lighting the Mirumoto waited for destiny to happen.

The Dragon's positioning does set up a fortuitous encounter, though it includes some brief discomfort when the bushi is bodychecked by a slightly shorter but more moderately built young Phoenix shugenja.

"Oof--er, ah, apologies, Dragon-sama," the surprised Phoenix apologizes reflexively. Simultaneously bowing, straightening his kimono and introducing himself, Isawa Shingo is somewhat rapidly composed and studying the skinny Mirumoto.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Snip.

The Mirumoto grimaces momentarily but he had been preparing himself for something like this and so the expression of discomfort is fleeting after he bows.

"Mirumoto Jinkan, no need for -sama I think." He peered at the Phoenix's mon collection to make sure this wasn't a Minor Clan samurai or servant.

"Yeah, -san is fine, Isawa-san. I am unharmed, and you are as well so no need for apologies." He said adjusting his own layers of silk into their previous order. Jinkan's scar makes the small polite smile he adopts look like it extends into shadow.

"But uh...if you have a moment, to talk?" He nodded toward an empty nook as another person walked by them in the hallway.

[Isawa Shingo]

"But uh...if you have a moment, to talk?" He nodded toward an empty nook as another person walked by them in the hallway.

"Of course, Mirumoto-san," the Phoenix says pleasantly, stepping into the space indicated and then turning to show a wide but still guarded smile. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance. I admit, you are the first of your clan that I've had occasion to meet."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"You are my second Isawa, though I did not get to speak to the venerable elder as I was only a child." The Mirumoto supplied in what he thought was a conversational vein.

"While it is the first day of the Winter Court, I wished to seek the stengthening of common ties with our nearest neighbors, your clan and the Lion, as soon as was possible. You might be aware that the Dragon have been very active this season and the last. In that spirit, would you be willing to discuss our common goals?" Jinkan said all of this in a slow monotone as if reading from a book in front of him. When finished he sighed deeply and waited.

[Isawa Shingo]

Isawa Shingo noticed the Dragon's rather unenthusiastic delivery but gave no indication of it troubling him.

"Quite pleased to discuss mutual goals, Mirumoto-san. As you say, our neighbors are a good first contact - especially, thinking practically, for discussion of any needed commodities. I expect that your clan, like mine, is highly productive, but not of everything needed to do our duty for the Empress." One of Shingo's eyebrows raises slightly as he takes close notice of the Mirumoto's reaction to discussing trade.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Isawa Shingo noticed the Dragon's rather unenthusiastic delivery but gave no indication of it troubling him.

"Quite pleased to discuss mutual goals, Mirumoto-san. As you say, our neighbors are a good first contact - especially, thinking practically, for discussion of any needed commodities. I expect that your clan, like mine, is highly productive, but not of everything needed to do our duty for the Empress." One of Shingo's eyebrows raises slightly as he takes close notice of the Mirumoto's reaction to discussing trade.

"Your understanding is also my understanding, Isawa-san. It is difficult for any one part of the Empire to be independent, as we are a quilt of many threads and colors. We each work to make the fabric orderly but the Dragon cannot do it all themselves. It should be obvious to you, but the Dragon do not have many rice farms. Or farms in general." Jinkan's voice became less monotone and he perked up as he finished. He gestured for the pair to sit on some cushions in their supposedly private corner.

"To be clear I have some understanding of how goods are produced, even if I leave the transport and other details to merchants. I am the heir to the jade mines of Shiro Yama, and am training to take over my father. I would like to know more about Isawa-san's perspective of how the Phoenix could work in the quilt with the Dragon. And how the Dragon can make such processes a fruitful endeavor for them." Jinkan would sit first like he was suddenly crushed by the pull of the earth.

[Isawa Shingo]

Snip

The Phoenix observed his Dragon counterpart's manners with some curiosity, but he maintained a pleasant expression throughout. Shingo sat to mirror the Mirumoto, and he had nodded vigorously about Jinkan's quilt metaphor, with which he deeply agreed.

"I confess to know little of mining, Mirumoto-san, as my house's lands are on the plain near Asahina Seido. But I know well the value of jade - the tears of Lady Sun herself, no?" He smiles and nods amiably, then continues. "My clan is fortunate to have reserves of jade ourselves, as Amaterasu blesses our mountains, but other metals have been in short supply. Even humble stone and copper would said our different service of the Empress," Shingo says honestly if a bit quietly, clearly not calling attention to such a mundane discussion.

"But to your question of how we support each other in the great quilt of the empire," the Isawa redirects, turning more energized. "In the many honors the Empress bestows on the children of Shiba, you can see her recognition of our wise counsel. As she recognizes it, so too do the clans, which is one way in which we can support our Dragon cousins." When Jinkan just blinks in response, Shingo realizes he spoke too vaguely and quickly clarifies. "That is, Mirumoto-san, if our wise cousins in the Dragon Clan should wish for the Phoenix to speak up for them in court - to help remind the empire of the important goals as well as needs of the children of Togashi - we would be happy to discuss such a supportive arrangement."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Snip

"Such an arrangement would be the Dragon's wish, at least in principle." Jinkan gave a seated bow with a smile. The smile turns his face from unpleasant to monstrous for a long moment before the shadows fade.

"As to details regarding which clan has been blessed and how those blessings can be best used in the motivation of a more harmonious future, those details might be best not discussed in a semi-public space such as this?" He made it clear he understood that haggling like fishmongers would be inappropriate in the halls of the Ikoma. Literally the halls though, one could haggle in their rooms.

"It is likely you will receive further communication regarding our hope for future cooperation. Agasha Yuna-san, for one, seems eager to make use of her talents in entertaining. Myself, I am no great courtier. Though I like to imagine being persuasive." The shadows on his face deepened again as he smiled.

"Would Isawa-san be willing to tell me a bit about themselves? Married? Children?"

[Isawa Shingo]

Snip

"Such an arrangement would be the Dragon's wish, at least in principle." Jinkan gave a seated bow with a smile. The smile turns his face from unpleasant to monstrous for a long moment before the shadows fade.

"As to details regarding which clan has been blessed and how those blessings can be best used in the motivation of a more harmonious future, those details might be best not discussed in a semi-public space such as this?" He made it clear he understood that haggling like fishmongers would be inappropriate in the halls of the Ikoma. Literally the halls though, one could haggle in their rooms.

"It is likely you will receive further communication regarding our hope for future cooperation. Agasha Yuna-san, for one, seems eager to make use of her talents in entertaining. Myself, I am no great courtier. Though I like to imagine being persuasive." The shadows on his face deepened again as he smiled.

"Would Isawa-san be willing to tell me a bit about themselves? Married? Children?"

"Wise words, Mirumoto-san. Wise words," the Isawa says, nodding. He smiles encouragingly when Jinkan smiles, trained enough in courtly conversation to seem unbothered by the effects of the Dragon's scar.

"There is only so much to tell about myself," Shingo says, preferring to start from a place of modesty with strangers. "I am honored to be the Lord of House Yoshinobu since my father's well earned retirement, and I have not yet married. While I sometimes joke that my younger siblings are like children, in truth they are not much younger than I and could soon be marrying, if the Fortunes will it. Save the youngest, of course: Sakura-san is not yet past her gempukku." Genuine pride shines on Shingo's face as he describes his siblings.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"You were passed the lordship before being married? You must be very promising or your father very much wanted to take vows. I will assume you are very talented, given your placement at court!" Jinkan said with a small chuckle. He looked over his shoulder once before speaking again in a less loud voice.

"I am unmarried myself, though I am looking, and there are not many of us left in my house. I considered adopting a child before coming here but it made my sister angry so..." He put his hands up, palms spread.

"You wouldn't happen to know any Phoenix members who are looking to tie the knot aside from yourself?"

[Isawa Shingo]

Snip

"Indeed, Mirumoto-san, indeed," Shingo says with a warm chuckle about his title. "I can say, with utmost honesty and diversity, that my lordship of House Yoshinobu is a testament to the great efforts of my parents to ensure I was ready for the responsibility. My father was Lord Yoshinobu for 28 years, starting at a younger age than he or his parents had expected, and my honored parents committed to make sure I would never feel such a shock in administering our house." The Isawa nods seriously, distracted for a moment by his appreciation of his parents. He smiles again as he withdraws from that reverie.

"Now I must concern myself with all manner of things, such as marriages as you note. And it is a priority, I admit, though I struggle sometimes with..." A different, more jarring kind of distraction passes over him, and Jinkan can see a more focused effort from Shingo to push that feeling away.

"Ahem," he says forcefully, clearing his thoughts as he glances at the wall beside him. "Mirumoto-san, I should be happy to inquire about marriage prospects within my clan. I know passingly of a few, but I believe among our delegation we have many relatives who might be found most suitable. Could you tell me more of your house, so that I can aid in your search?" The transition of focus seems to help Shingo steady himself and return to almost the level of courtly discipline he had before.


----
OOC: sorry for the delay! The outages seem to have eaten my last reply.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"The Ito are a long line of mountain lords. We have run mining villages since the dawn of time, eventually spreading to cover the nearest peaks surrounding Shiro Yama, the castle in the mountain. It is literally built into the side of a mountain. My father has not left his rooms in four years, and my sister spends most of her time staring at walls, so I do most of the management things of the household as my mother is dead. I have no cousins or uncles or aunts, they all died the same year my father took the lordship." Jinkan said counting the different facts on his fingers.

"I like beautiful faces. I am not above making conversation with myself. I don't mind people who lie to me." He nodded to himself. "That is about it for requirements."

[Isawa Shingo]

Shingo follows along attentively, containing his shock at what the other man has had to deal with.

"You... You carry quite a burden for your house, Mirumoto-san. I commend your diligence in the face of--" the Phoenix seems to struggle for a compliment that doesn't create offense toward the Dragon's kin. He gives up and rephrases.

"You are a credit to your house and family, persevering in a challenging duty." He emphasizes the compliment, and his own wisdom in framing it, with a serious nod.

"I shall endeavor to find you a wife who can support such a dutiful husband, and bring the light of beauty into your castle," Shingo adds. "I am curious," he continues, voice quite low now. "You would not mind a spouse who lies to you?" The idea is so foreign to the Isawa that his curiosity overrides his propriety.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Of course? If all of reality is an illusion then should I be concerned with the little illusions that people pass between each other or the great illusions that make up our perceptions? Obviously one should be concerned with neither, as one must rid themselves of illusions to know things. Given that I don't want to know, I don't mind lies." Jinkan waved his hand with a flourish of sorts.

He leaned forward to get really close to the Isawa. "What do you imagine happens when you try to drink a whole bunch of truth straight from the bottle with your nose pinched shut?"

"I will avoid that fate if I can." The Mirumoto leaned back.

[Isawa Shingo]

The Phoenix's face looks critical, but he nods grudgingly as he follows the logic. Kami-blessed Dragon, he thinks. Their philosophy is... A thing to behold.

"You are clearly a very thoughtful man, Mirumoto-san. I... I had not thought of lies in that way before. And House Yoshinobu has a commitment to truth that... Aligns with you at least in the ultimate goal of reaching the truth." Shingo maintains a courtly smile as he tries to decide what he thinks of this Dragon.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

The Phoenix's face looks critical, but he nods grudgingly as he follows the logic. Kami-blessed Dragon, he thinks. Their philosophy is... A thing to behold.

"You are clearly a very thoughtful man, Mirumoto-san. I... I had not thought of lies in that way before. And House Yoshinobu has a commitment to truth that... Aligns with you at least in the ultimate goal of reaching the truth." Shingo maintains a courtly smile as he tries to decide what he thinks of this Dragon.

What was that, Mother? Stop being a dick you say? Why I would never-

Jinkan suddenly winced as if he was poked very hard in the cheek.

"You are a credit to your House, Isawa-san. What do you say we meet up for drinks in a couple of days, and we discuss how my house can help your house in its pursuit of truth?"

[Isawa Shingo]

"You are a credit to your House, Isawa-san. What do you say we meet up for drinks in a couple of days, and we discuss how my house can help your house in its pursuit of truth?"

"Of course, Mirumoto-san," Shingo replies warmly. He shows no notice at all of any spectral poking and smiles like he really looks forward to talking more. "I shall give some thought to your wisdom and the relationship of our houses."