[D2, EN, Expecting] A chance encounter

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna was on her way back from a meal and an absolutely delicious white tea with an old friend from school, when she nearly bumped into a young man who could only be a Crane.

"Oh, forgive me. I was thinking about an earlier conversation and not paying enough attention to where I was going. I... I'm Agasha Yuna. Part of the Dragon delegation."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Yuna was on her way back from a meal and an absolutely delicious white tea with an old friend from school, when she nearly bumped into a young man who could only be a Crane.

"Oh, forgive me. I was thinking about an earlier conversation and not paying enough attention to where I was going. I... I'm Agasha Yuna. Part of the Dragon delegation."

In fact, Ryu was on his way back from somewhere himself. In his case, it wasn't anything in particular. Instead, he had been walking the halls, lost in thought, a thoroughly abstracted expression on his face.

As they nearly collided, he gave a start, pulling back, blinking. A moment passed, his grey eyes narrowing, and then he bowed.

"No, please, forgive me, Agasha-sama. I am Daidoji Ryu. Of the Crane." He spoke both softly and slowly. "In truth, I fear my mind was elsewhere." Another brief pause, as it seemed his mind briefly went elsewhere again.

Then he refocused on the Dragon, the corners of his lips just barely curling up. "I hope you don't mind me asking... was it a pleasant conversation you were thinking about?"

[Agasha Yuna]

Ah, she remembered him from the gift-giving.

"I remember you. You gave the scroll. A letter written from the Kami Lord Hantei to his sister, Lady Doji, in his own hand and carrying his seal. Quite a treasure. How did your family come to possess it in the first place? Was your family founded in the 1st century?"

She nodded at his question. "Yes, a pleasant conversation. In truth, I have enjoyed many conversations since arriving here. I was so nervous to be given this momentous assignment. This is my first winter court."

"How about you? Have you attended a winter court before? Have you traveled to Lion lands before? Are you a diplomat by training? I'm a librarian and advisor."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu shook his head slowly; he seemed to do many things slowly, as though taking care with each action. "It was not so old as that, no. It believe it was a gift, as part of a marriage between two of my ancestors. A gift and a charge, of course. Something like that requires safekeeping. My cousin, Daidoji Sae, could perhaps tell you more."

As Yuna spoke, Ryu's grey eyes narrowed, the corners of his lips turning up just a little more. It was undoubtedly a smile now, albeit a very small one. "That's a great many questions." He said. "Which I am happy to answer. Let's see. This is my first winter court. I..." his forehead creased, "-cannot say whether I've enjoyed my conversations or not. I suppose I have, in a way." That seemed to briefly throw him off.

Then, blinking away his confusion, Ryu went on. "I... have visited Lion lands before, yes. I've had diplomatic training, although I would call myself an attaché to my cousin." He did wear not just wakizashi, but katana, both very neatly tucked through his obi.

He inclined his head to her. "May I ask where you are going? I can escort you there, and you can ask me more questions while we walk." Again, a tiny smile. "And perhaps you can tell me about yourself. A librarian and advisor, hmmm? And I gather you're not nervous anymore, not if you're having so many conversations. Are you?" A lift of an eyebrow accompanied that question.

[Agasha Yuna]

"Oh, I didn't realize you and the other Daidoji are cousins. I remember her. She gave a historical scroll. Her own compilation from records of the Emerald Magistrate. And she is an Emerald Magistrate, yes? And your role is her attache? Does that keep you busy? Can you say what it's like? Is it like a yojimbo? But to another bushi?"

"I am on my way to the Dragon House, if you'd like to keep me company on the way. "Thank you. I fear I have gotten a little lost on my way there."

"As to how I am feeling, I am feeling less nervous about simply talking one-on-one to other delegates and even some of the more important folks here, but court still intimidates me. The possibility of failure. In front of so many extraordinary people. I will need to find my voice."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu waited patiently while the questions continued.

"It does keep me busy, yes. But it is not like being a yojimbo. She is much more than my match in a contest of arms." He frowned, a thoughtful expression rather than a sour one, although it was a little hard to tell. "As an Emerald Magistrate and the head of our House, she has a great many duties. Responsibilities. Challenges. I assist her in seeing to them as best I can. Ideally, she need only tell me of a problem, and I will see that it is solved. Thus, she can focus on those challenges befitting her station."

He nodded slowly, then turned, beginning to lead the way. He walked slowly as well, each step careful and precise. "You're quite welcome." He assured her.

"Hmph." It was almost a friendly sound, and Ryu gave Yuna a quick sidelong glance. "Court is intimidating. It is rather like battle, and I have a basis for comparison. In both, one finds one's place." He was silent for a few moments as they moved down the corridor. "But you've been doing well, one-on-one? To which delegates have you been speaking? Besides me, of course." Almost a smile. "Perhaps you might find your voice from those conversations?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"Ah, it is much more like being a Karo. Like me. I am a Librarian, posted to the Izaku library. But I have become the Karo to the Izaku daimyo. And it is problem-solving. Sometimes I simply give him advice. Certainly that is all I do on important matters. But, as you say, there is much that I can manage while he focuses on the matters befitting his station."

Like battle! She had rather hoped it would be like ... spiritual ritual. Like when the Empress had the Daimyo swear. Formal, but beautiful and ceremonial.

She'd seen how the Otomo had stirred trouble for the Crane with the exquisite fan made by the monk.

"Hmmm, let's see. I've spoken to Togashi-ue, Seppun Tomaru-sama, several of the Mirumoto and Agasha present in our delegation, Shiba Ryusei, Asako Kenichi, and Jihen the personal aide to Abbot Chou-sin. And you, of course! I need to reach out to some of the other clans. Perhaps some of the minor clans also."

[Daidoji Ryu]

"Hmmm." Ryu paused a moment, studying Yuna, his grey eyes narrowed. "It seems our positions are similar. Perhaps we should compare notes sometime. Problem-solving, indeed."

Dim light flickered as they made their way down the corridor. "Most recently, Daidoji-sama wished to have a shrine to Benten to make appropriate offerings. I reached out to several monks to see about such a thing being set up in the Crane house. Just a little thing, but I hope it gives her some comfort."

A quick glance. "An extensive list. I've not spoken with nearly so many. Perhaps I'm falling behind. I'll need to meet twice as many people tomorrow." He was joking, but it was hard to tell. He smiled, just a little. "At least this chance encounter has given me one more to my tally today."

As they continued, he nodded slowly. "I met Jihen as well. And the Abbot. Two abbots, in fact. Jihen seemed like quite a dutiful young monk, didn't he? How was your conversation with him?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"Arranging for a shrine is very good work indeed."

"Two abbots? I didn't realize there was another one here. Oh, a Fortunist Abbot maybe?"

A nod at his mention of Jihen. "I was very impressed with him. He is wise and kind."

And then, circling back. "I'm not sure there is an 'ahead' or 'behind' in all of this. And chance encounters can be lovely. “There is no such thing as coincidence There are only auspicious occasions." Like our chance meeting tonight. And, practically speaking, chance can best our own planning. It can push us to meet with an unexpected resource. It can create a new connection, where there wasn't one before."

[Daidoji Ryu]

"Arranging for a shrine is very good work indeed."

"Two abbots? I didn't realize there was another one here. Oh, a Fortunist Abbot maybe?"

A nod at his mention of Jihen. "I was very impressed with him. He is wise and kind."

And then, circling back. "I'm not sure there is an 'ahead' or 'behind' in all of this. And chance encounters can be lovely. “There is no such thing as coincidence There are only auspicious occasions." Like our chance meeting tonight. And, practically speaking, chance can best our own planning. It can push us to meet with an unexpected resource. It can create a new connection, where there wasn't one before."

"Indeed." Ryu didn't smile, but his grey eyes seemed to glint with amusement in the dim light. "The two abbots clearly had a bit of a rivalry. I suppose that's happened, historically. Perhaps we should feel lucky that they used cutting words instead of weapons. They were skilled enough with those, though."

"Hmm." Something in what Yuna said drew all of Ryu's attention at least for a few moments; he still walked slowly, but he turned his head to look at her, shadows playing across his even features. "I've heard similar things about chance and fortune. The one that I'm most familiar with is 'Fortune favors the prepared'." This time, he definitely did smile; still not much of one, but it was a step. "I'm not certain how that applies here, but I feel that it does."

He turned his face back the way they were walking. "A new connection, indeed. If you wish to call upon the Crane, you may use my name. And may I use yours if I call upon the Dragon?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"Of course. And I will let you know if anything changes - if we, for example, designate a representative to a specific clan, or a specific person handling a particular resource. I'm not sure if we will try to organize in any way, beyond maybe tracking the contacts we have and listing the ones that we lack entirely."

"There are so many clans. And the minor clans, too. It may be too much to hope that we can find every item needed with a few deals."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu gave a slow nod, his gaze still forward. "As is appropriate. But even with specific representatives, I've found that it's helpful to know people. For instance, if, say, the Izaku daimyo wished to convey something to my cousin, it might go to you, then to me, then to her. Such is the nature of our system, in which personal connection can almost matter as much as position." A beat. "Almost."

They hallway emptied the pair into a little courtyard, somehow both better and worse lit, with fewer torches, but more moon and starlight, colors and shadows shifting once more. Ryu looked upwards, just for a moment, his expression unchanging.

"There certainly are." He agreed. "And they all want something. It's an unfortunate fact that not everyone will get what they want." He glanced at Yuna. "May I ask, how are the Dragon doing in that regard? I know it's early, but perhaps you've been exceptionally fortunate this year." Or unfortunate, but that seemed inauspicious to suggest.

[Agasha Yuna]

"I think some preliminary conversation has already happened between our Mirumoto Jinkan and one of your Crane. I'm honestly not sure who."

"As you might guess, we need rice most. Tea also. Our mountains yield surplus of ordinary and precious metals. There might be other overlaps in abundance and need."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu nodded. "Well, I shouldn't wish to step on a clan member's toes. Whoever they are. I shall confirm with the other Crane that they are satisfied with their proceedings."

He glanced at Yuna again, one eyebrow going up. "What about non-commodities? The intangibles, or at least, less-tangibles." He glanced up towards the moon again. "They motivate clans as much as things like rice or tea. Perhaps even more. We cannot grasp honor, after all, and yet..." He reached out, closing his fist around... well, nothing of course. Unless he somehow trapped moonlight within his hand. "I've always found those more interesting, anyway."

[Agasha Yuna]

"The Dragon - we always have wisdom. That is our intangible treasure."

She smiled.

"And we value peace. Perhaps there is a way we could work together towards that intangible goal as well."

[Daidoji Ryu]

"Hmm." Ryu glanced at her again, his grey eyes narrowed. "I've always found it hard to trade wisdom. Those who need it often don't accept it. But perhaps the problem was with the quality of the goods I offered." Once again, this was so deadpan that it almost didn't seem like he was joking. But he was.

"Peace." Ryu echoed. Once more, he frowned up at the moon, taking a breath. "The Empress has asked for peace. I expect that she, and through her, the Empire shall have it, at least for a little while." He looked at Yuna again as the two walked along. "Why do you want peace?" His tone, still soft, sounded curious.

[Agasha Yuna]

"Peace is harmonious. Peace is calm. Peace leads to prosperity. Peace is compassionate. The burden and suffering of conflict unduly falls on the peasants of a land invaded."

[Daidoji Ryu]

Ryu listened, his expression unchanging. Did the moonlight make his elegant Crane features appear more serene or more severe? That would be entirely in the eye of the beholder, of course.

"Clans often turn to war to achieve their goals. I have been in such conflicts. There are truths that one might learn in war. But as with so many things, they come with a price." He held out his hand again, this time palm up, letting the moonlight shine upon it.

Ryu let his hand fall back to his side. "The Crane value these things, even if I suspect we see some of them slightly differently. I think we can work together towards peace. I expect my cousin would like that very much, in fact. I could tell her so, tomorrow?" He glanced at Yuna.

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

“At times, the voice of peace must ring like thunder.”

"I look forward to more opportunities to converse with you and your cousin."

"Thank you again for walking me home."

They had reached Dragon House.

[Daidoji Ryu]

"Hmmm." Whatever that quiet murmur meant, Ryu did not otherwise comment.

Indeed, it was not far from the Tenshu to the various houses. Ryu turned to Yuna, giving her a bow both smooth and precise. "Of course. It was an honor." As he straightened, he looked at her, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "And it was a very interesting conversation. Chance encounter, indeed."

Ryu blinked, then went on. "Oh. The shrine in Crane House should be finished tomorrow. If any of the Dragon would wish to give offerings to her, please let them know they will be welcome."