[D2 EA] Nothing Worse

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Finished with meeting one Crane, a tall Dragon stalked the court for his next target. This time he doesn't bother with the looming. Instead he bent his knees to match her height exactly and then stood next to her looking straight at whatever she might be looking at.

"I am a cool person."

[Daidoji Sae]

Finished with meeting one Crane, a tall Dragon stalked the court for his next target. This time he doesn't bother with the looming. Instead he bent his knees to match her height exactly and then stood next to her looking straight at whatever she might be looking at.

"I am a cool person."

"..." Sae takes a moment to realize Jinkan wasn't just making his declaration to the world at large as she blinks and looks up from where she had been observing the court.

"Mirumoto-san, blessings upon you. Your proposal was...very thoughtful and selfless. Certainly worthy of a 'cool person'.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"As I told Doji-sama, the trick is to only have thoughts after you are finished. Then there is no self to get in the way." Jinkan tapped his forehead with one eye narrowed toward the Daidoji.

"It should be no surprise to you that the Dragon seem pleased with the details we received about our previous talk. It might take a couple of days to get it through court but, working both ends will see it done before the frost gets us." He paused as the Empress let one rip.

"I can't come up with a joke that doesn't get me executed. You got any?" The Mirumoto said to her, still bending his knees to match her height.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"There is wisdom in that, as long as one takes care to not confuse speaking without thinking with speaking the truth."

There's the slightest twitch in Sae's cheek at the effort of not bursting into a smile.
"I am glad to hear that Mirumoto-san, we have appreciated the opportunity to work together, please pass my thanks to your delegation."

The muscle twitches again when Jinkan mentions a joke.
Through sheer strength of will Sae merely replies "I'm not sure I noticed anything joke worthy, although perhaps if you were to unbend your knees you could let me know what you see from up there."

Gently. "I am usually the taller in most interactions, there is no need to lower your height to me out of politeness."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I am trying to see things from your point of view. All the romance books say I should try it. So far, you seem awfully concerned with things two inches shorter than the things I am concerned with." Jinkan replied, easing off his bender position to stand normally. Well. Mostly normally. He had assumed an almost diagonal slant to his stand, giving the strange impression that the floor was tilted.

"I must say that your face looks just as nice today as it did yesterday. Do you use any skin creams?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"That is usually used less...literally. Usually one attempts to imagine the mindset of another, and how that may effect their perceptions of the world."
Slowly. "But it is kind of you to make the effort, very generous indeed."

Sae finds herself half cocking her had to meet his slant and quickly shakes it off.
"Uhh, I do have a few creams and powders I use. Your face is also...quite nice, do you use products?"

Quickly looking to change the subject away from skin.
"So, you have a charitable bent? I imagine with the wealth of the mountains your House is well placed to care for the less fortunate?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"We have a collection of jade mines that run the mountain and several peaks on either side. It isn't the largest operation in the Dragon lands, but we get by." Jinkan pulled his jade netsuke forward for her to look at it. It is a cartoon stylised cat raising a paw.

"Sometimes I dream that I am in another person's skin and wandering the ashen shadows of their lives. The poor and sick give me nightmares." One of his hands rubbed his scar. "No creams needed."

He smiled something that suggested violence but then smoothed it over by busying himself with putting the netsuke back fastidously. It took a few seconds before Jinkan leaned forward to whisper with his sleeve covering his scar.

"Do you have a plan for pulling one over on the Imperial Matchmaker?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Ah, but the craftmanship too. I have always preferred dogs, but anyone would enjoy such a noble cat."
Sae frowns ever so slightly when Jinkan mentions his scar, only replying with what sounds like frank honesty that "Most samurai dream, then do nothing. Dreaming and acting is more than enough, why would you need cream to hide such a deed?"

Her hairs raise slightly at the smile but she finds herself momentarily blindsided by the subsequent question.
"Plans? Uhhh, well I am sure Otomo-san will see reason with the right approach. A charm offensive can win a war before it has even began, doubtless some of my other Clansmen will have more sophisticated ideas."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"All the talk of creams and skin made me think of her. One wonders you know?" The expression he gave was something like amusement but it was dulled by the lack of movement of his eyes.

"Anyway, I figured you might want to know that I have been coming across more ominous signs since we last spoke. I had hoped you were the epicenter of something bad, and distance would make one safe. That hope being dashed is disappointing, because it sounds like we might end up in the same boat." More whispering from behind a sleeve. The Dragon moved closer to her to avoid being heard until he was at the edge of polite distance.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"Ah...yes"
Sae nods politely without digging deeper before raising her own sleeve as Jinkan moves closer.

"When you say ominous, is it still, well, of a truly significant nature?" Sae's gaze drifts to the shadow of the Empress and then back. There was a lot that could go wrong from a natural disaster to something more distinctly man-made."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Snip

"Disaster without specifics means sleep with a knife and keep an eye on water supplies. At least in the mines. Earthquake, avalanche, landslide, mudslide, wildfires." Jinkan pulled closer to her and began counting on his fingers. "Bandits, toxic water, drought, disease, rebellion. It could be any number of things, and humans don't do well without water after a couple of days. It dries them out you see, makes them rather stiff."

He smiled like a child who had caught a butterfly in his hands. "I am very scared Daidoji-sama. Would you comfort me in my time of distress?"

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"I have seen all of those things, some I see again in my dreams. I shall pray it is not so bad."

Sae takes a half step back at the last question with a raised eyebrow.
"...I would be happy to join you in prayer Mirumoto-san, or I can assure you that honourable samurai will rise to the occasion?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I only pray when my sister is around to tell me if the gods are listening." Jinkan replied, stepping back as she had to a more appropriate distance.

"And I would think you of all people know that honorable samurai rarely are helpful to anyone but their lord. And well...lords have a lot on their minds." The Mirumoto looked over the Daidoji's shoulder for a long moment.

"You know, I wouldn't put rocks in your tea." He said after the pause.

[Daidoji Sae]

Snip

"I...am going to choose to interpret all of that as stemming from your concern over ill omens and your confidence in my own character."
Which Sae thought, was mostly sort of correct.

"But, if I may. Pray when you think no-one is listening, then you will say your own truth, that can be valuable."

Quietly clearing her throat.

"But I should let you get back to the Court, if what you predicts occurs then tomorrow shall be a busy day for the both of us. But I hope you will not mind if I pray you are wrong."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Of course, Daidoji-sama. Don't worry about the screens. They will be fine just where they are." His nonsense finished, the Mirumoto bowed and took the dismissal with all the grace that he had. Which was little.

(/scene?)

[Daidoji Sae]

"Of course, Daidoji-sama. Don't worry about the screens. They will be fine just where they are." His nonsense finished, the Mirumoto bowed and took the dismissal with all the grace that he had. Which was little.

(/scene?)

Sae bows politely, still not sure what to make of the earnest Dragon before making her departure.

((/scene! Thanks for the RP ))