[Day 10 - Mid Afternoon] Rokugani Self-Care (Open)

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori would glance at Eiji for some time longer than a standard moment, enough to seem like there was a suspicion of something. She would pull her gaze away for a moment and looked to the gardens. "Sorry, I suppose I was hoping that you might have had some idea who the author could have been. I don't think there was another letter, at least one that I have been aware of. It seems silly that something so blatant like that hasn't exactly taken the forefront of my mind. In many ways, I wish I could apologize to this person."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Well, I do have my suspicions, Kuni-san, unless...."

He took a moment to look at her upper lip.

"...I think the last line indicated to whom it was from." he mused, clean-shaven beneath his mask.

"As for further correspondance, if Kuni-san's mind has been occupied by the weight of more serious matters and did not respond to the letter, I am unsurprised they did not write again. While some may romanticize writing letter after letter until you win someone's heart....the truth of the matter is that if you tell someone you're interested in them, and they show no interest...it's pretty creepy to keep trying." he said honestly.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori would be lying if she said she didn't have some suspicions that it could have been Eiji, considering he brought it up and nobody else did. It was sort of like returning to the scene of the crime. That said, considering Eiji's marital status, that wouldn't be something she would voice out loud. Sure, such things could happen but less forgivable when someone has binding vows and insinuate that they couldn't follow them.

"...of course," she said, sounding a bit deflated. "It sounds like that I make for a terrible target for infatuation and they would be right to put their attention elsewhere. Maybe I am lucky and this was merely a passive fancy, their deserving attention was taken up by someone more attentive and romantically...gifted. Yes."

"All for the best," she said after a sigh, "Let's just say I've been included in some trades, as it were."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji brightened at the Crab's last statement.

"Ah, that is good, Kuni-san, I'm glad your delegation has found need for your....ah" he said halting himself.

He tapped on his fan, considering.

"I assume that Kuni-san will not be requiring a brand new wardrobe for next year?" he asked.

Surely the Crab were not marrying out one of their Kuni shugenja.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori shook her head at that. "No, I will be remaining with House Kuroyama for the duration of my duty as a samurai. So, I don't expect a large change in my surroundings but this will nevertheless be a new step in my life."

"If it's not too much to ask, may I ask how Soshi-san's affair went about?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji nods.

"Of course, Kuni-san, I would be happy to offer my insights. My marriage was to seal a very minor treaty of cooperation between clans, certainly smaller than any of the grand treaties that have been negotiated within these walls recently. Once I knew about it, I did spend time researching the customs and traditions of what would be my new clan. Then I gave my cat away to my family, packed up a few posessions, and travelled to the lands of the Scorpion to begin my new life."

He paused a moment thinking of it.

"I met my new family and wife on the day of the wedding. It was a small intimate affair, well, I'm sure I need not go into great details, weddings are largely the same amongst the clans. Then it was on to a tour of the home, and quite a long conversation with my new wife, laying the groundwork of our lives to come, as it were."

He looked back over to the Kuni.

"I will assume that Kuni-san's marriage is not to celebrate a treaty by marrying another member of the Crab. Cross-clan marriage, save perhaps between Crane and Phoenix do require a certain amount of understanding and adjustment, depending on how prepared the new spouses are. After all, I was not marrying into a family of villians, despite the plays you have seen on it, and every other word I speak is not quoting Leadership at people. It is, at it's heart, another Duty that is expected of us to perform and will perform if we but strive to do so."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori provided a deep nod in a small gesture of thanks to Eiji for going into the details of his marriage. Admittedly, she would imagine that it was a big ask from an acquaintance but considering the transactional nature of it, perhaps it wasn't as big of a secret that she imagined. "Thank you, Soshi-san. I was wondering if your arrangements came to be in a different manner. The change sounds almost...easy?"

"On the nature of my marriage arrangement, I don't have the full details of it but I am under the impression it was made under the pretenses of an alliance between Clans. I don't think I was given much of the specifics nor was I asked for input. However, my name was willingly submitted as a potential candidate for such a purpose. There are no villains here, only Duty."

[Soshi Eiji]

That got a small snort from Eiji.

"Easy? Then I have not told the story well at all then Kuni-san." he said with a small shake of the head.

"Think of instead like your gempukku. You were treated one way before hand, another way after. You were tested and passed. It was a challenge that you could overcome, that you were expected to overcome, and did overcome." he offered.

"At least there is no topaz championship of marriages. Can you imagine what the events would look like?" he asked.

[Kuni Shiori]

"My apologies, Soshi-san...That wasn't the appropriate word. I suppose you've kindly condensed your experience and that's appreciated. That said, perhaps I've missed the finer details, especially in the period of time that you've experienced them. Gempukku seems like a just comparison. I wouldn't go into much detail when it comes to my test," she nodded once.

"I suspect there might be, probably not in the guise of an actual championship. Is there not a dinner of some sort where you find yourself among other married couples? Perhaps those that have found themselves married at the same time or of the same Clan pairing? Or maybe among your new peers? If it's a grand enough event, especially when promotions are involved, people often like to show off."

[Soshi Eiji]

"My apologies, Soshi-san...That wasn't the appropriate word. I suppose you've kindly condensed your experience and that's appreciated. That said, perhaps I've missed the finer details, especially in the period of time that you've experienced them. Gempukku seems like a just comparison. I wouldn't go into much detail when it comes to my test," she nodded once.

"I suspect there might be, probably not in the guise of an actual championship. Is there not a dinner of some sort where you find yourself among other married couples? Perhaps those that have found themselves married at the same time or of the same Clan pairing? Or maybe among your new peers? If it's a grand enough event, especially when promotions are involved, people often like to show off."

Eiji nodded slowly.

"I suppose I had never thought of it that way, Kuni-san. This is why it is important to spend time getting to your partner, and for them to get to know you. Together you can face down the other couples, covering for each others weaknesses, and enhancing each others strengths. Being unable to work well together will make for a very long night indeed, though you will certainly provide entertainment for the guests, just not the sort you can be proud of." he admits.

He smiled a bit.

"I suppose I was a bit overfocused on the pagentry of a championship. Picturing the Imperial Matchmaker standing before a crowd of gathered couples, 'Couples of Rokugan! You are gathered here to prove which of you is worthy to be considered the finest couple of the land!'" he says, adding a bit of bombasity to the final line.

[Kuni Shiori]

"Much like you, I don't think I can start knowing my partner until we are married. I might have the advantage with the ball being in my court, so to speak. That said, I'll likely take some steps so that the relationship isn't entirely one-sided. I think that will at least ensure that things are started on the right foot with even ground," she crossed her arms and nodded to herself at that. It wasn't going to guarantee results but at least it will lessen the variables.

"I'm sure strange things have happened." She with a brief smile. "Now that you've mentioned it, I could see this playing out between matchmakers rather than couples. It is likely far easier to quantify success based on your accrued favours than individual couple happiness, right?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiled a bit.

"I'm not sure 'Couples' happiness' is a metric matchmakers would compare themselves on....hm. Well not as the primary indicator. Perhaps? " Eiji said, uncertain.

He thought for a couple moments.

"Honestly, I'm not sure, Kuni-san. We've ventured into a topic I'll admit I know little about." he admitted.

[Kuni Shiori]

"It is perhaps more of a muse of fancy than something I'm truly seeking the answers on, Soshi-san. I suspect maybe it's a bit of a coping mechanism when it comes to finding some perspective on my arrangement. I don't think I'll be put into such a situation where I will need to show off my arrangement and either way, it's bound to matter when it comes to our continued duty to all of our Clans." She shook her head on the matter. "Although, it would be interesting to think that there are some puppet strings found somewhere if we look deep enough in the business of marriage arrangement."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Ah well, as long as they don't distract from your duties, flights of fancy are one of the least destructive coping mechanisms. " he admitted.

Though he did make the connection between the Imprieal matchmaker and her coping mechanisms.

[Kuni Shiori]

"The gears of traditional customs aren't anything new to us, I admit. We've been swept up in it long before birth. Just sometimes it's surprising how complicated the whole 'machine' might look if you ever take a step back. It almost makes me wonder if the Kaiu should take to administration more with the Yasuki," she gave a shrug with a small chuckle, although she supposed it might be a one-sided joke, depending on how familiar Eiji was with the Families of the Crab.

"I should problem return to my quarters to return for the events tonight, thank you for joining me in the gardens and reflecting on some of the next steps in life, Soshis-san," she said with a polite bow.

[Soshi Eiji]

"The gears of traditional customs aren't anything new to us, I admit. We've been swept up in it long before birth. Just sometimes it's surprising how complicated the whole 'machine' might look if you ever take a step back. It almost makes me wonder if the Kaiu should take to administration more with the Yasuki," she gave a shrug with a small chuckle, although she supposed it might be a one-sided joke, depending on how familiar Eiji was with the Families of the Crab.

"I should problem return to my quarters to return for the events tonight, thank you for joining me in the gardens and reflecting on some of the next steps in life, Soshis-san," she said with a polite bow.

Eiji bowed.

"Of course, Kuni-san. And should you ever have need for my opinions again, I would be happy to make time for you, either in person or through correspondance." he offered sincerly. She was, after all, a pleasant enough conversation partner.

[Kuni Shiori]

Eiji bowed.

"Of course, Kuni-san. And should you ever have need for my opinions again, I would be happy to make time for you, either in person or through correspondance." he offered sincerly. She was, after all, a pleasant enough conversation partner.

Shiori would raise her brows momentarily and nodded. "Thank you for keeping your door open, Soshi-san. Have a pleasant rest of your day," she would say in parting before making her way back indoors.

/exit, thank you!