(D2, LE, Open) The Naked Truth

[Soshi Eiji]

After a long day of court, Soshi Eiji was definitely looking forward to relaxing in the baths. Almost as soothing as the water was getting to take off his mask and his red and black robes. True, in Scorpion lands, there were some bathhouses that provided 'bathing masks' but those were not a thing in Lion lands and he wasn't required to bring his own. No, here he could set his mask aside in the name of cleanliness and just be free of the gazes that followed it. If it weren't for the dual facts of it beng completely socially unacceptible to run about naked and the practical reasons of weather, Eiji could see leaving his clothes behind for good.

He washed in the cold, cold water, and then slipped into the hot baths, letting the stress of the day melt away.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei's day had... Not actually started yet, but his player was going to strike while the boards were working and he was present, so the young Phoenix found his way into the baths around the same time.

[Soshi Eiji]

Ryusei's day had... Not actually started yet, but his player was going to strike while the boards were working and he was present, so the young Phoenix found his way into the baths around the same time.

Eiji noted the entrance of another samurai into the baths. As was proper, he provided the seated bow of the baths, neither getting up to showcase what his father gave him, nor drowning himself in the waters.

"Good evening. This one is Soshi-ke no kashin Miura Eiji and I can assure you the water is at just the right temperature" he offered politely.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Aha! My downstream fellow!"

Ryusei smiled as he slid into the water.

"I am Shiba-ke no Kashin Shigi Ryusei, and it is a genuine pleasure to met you in person."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Aha! My downstream fellow!"

Ryusei smiled as he slid into the water.

"I am Shiba-ke no Kashin Shigi Ryusei, and it is a genuine pleasure to met you in person."

"Ah, the pleasure is mine indeed, Shiba-san. Was your journey here was more pleasant than it was brief?" he inquired.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah, the pleasure is mine indeed, Shiba-san. Was your journey here was more pleasant than it was brief?" he inquired.

"It was good to be on the sea- I haven't had many opportunities since my gempukku, and the weather was pretty good."

He dipped lower in the water.

"We put ashore at Shiro Daidoji to overland the rest of the way. I think our ship's captain had some family business there. And since ti was the farthest from home I'd ever been, I spent the overland trip looking around like the biggest goshi from the hinterlands imaginable."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Ah, the pleasure is mine indeed, Shiba-san. Was your journey here was more pleasant than it was brief?" he inquired.

"It was good to be on the sea- I haven't had many opportunities since my gempukku, and the weather was pretty good."

He dipped lower in the water.

"We put ashore at Shiro Daidoji to overland the rest of the way. I think our ship's captain had some family business there. And since ti was the farthest from home I'd ever been, I spent the overland trip looking around like the biggest goshi from the hinterlands imaginable."

That did provoke a good natured laugh from the Eiji.

"Ah I can see it now..." he offered.

He put on his best puzzled face.

"Why is everything so.....flat?" he asked mystified.

He grinned a bit.

"The Emire has wonders across it's breadth, it's good you've gotten a chance to experience more of them."

[Shiba Ryusei]

That did provoke a good natured laugh from the Eiji.

"Ah I can see it now..." he offered.

He put on his best puzzled face.

"Why is everything so.....flat?" he asked mystified.

He grinned a bit.

"The Empire has wonders across its breadth, it's good you've gotten a chance to experience more of them."

"I hope to see more... but making it to the Imperial Winter Court isn't a bad start!"

He chuckled.

"And you, Soshi-san? How was your journey?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"I hope to see more... but making it to the Imperial Winter Court isn't a bad start!"

He chuckled.

"And you, Soshi-san? How was your journey?"

Eiji smiled a bit.

"It was a homecoming of sorts. These are the lands I grew up in after all, although my wardrobe these days tends to draw more....cautious looks than it used to. "

"And of course, the Imperial Winter Court puts an entirely new spin on Kyuden Ikoma, one I've not seen. It feels a bit as if I've been asleep for many years, only to return as if a stranger in a strange land." he admitted.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji smiled a bit.

"It was a homecoming of sorts. These are the lands I grew up in after all, although my wardrobe these days tends to draw more....cautious looks than it used to. "

"And of course, the Imperial Winter Court puts an entirely new spin on Kyuden Ikoma, one I've not seen. It feels a bit as if I've been asleep for many years, only to return as if a stranger in a strange land." he admitted.

"Is it... difficult? Coming home, but it's not home anymore? Do you have old friends here you can look up?"

[Soshi Eiji]

"Is it... difficult? Coming home, but it's not home anymore? Do you have old friends here you can look up?"

Eiji considered the question quietly for a moment.

"It is...an adjustment. Of course there are old friends I could look up. And yet even our relationship is somewhat different now. We no longer serve the same master....well beyond the ultimate everyone serves the Empress. But the goals of my new champion are not the goals of my old champion. Conversations have a different...sort of slant. What you might have once said freely, you now how to consider what it means for each clan."

He chuckled a bit.

"I do catch myself sometimes falling into old habits. Perhaps I shall fall afoul of the old saying about not quoting Leadership to a Lion." he joked.

[Shiba Ryusei]

He chuckled a bit.

"I do catch myself sometimes falling into old habits. Perhaps I shall fall afoul of the old saying about not quoting Leadership to a Lion." he joked.

"If you slip up, just cackle like a villain in a play and say something like, 'all according to plan.' That'll ease everyone's minds to the right state of trembling paranoia."

[Soshi Eiji]

"If you slip up, just cackle like a villain in a play and say something like, 'all according to plan.' That'll ease everyone's minds to the right state of trembling paranoia."

Eiji smiles a bit at that.

"It's not really the cure-all you'd believe it to be, Shiba-san. Eventually you'll find yourself in a meeting with your superior, and they certainly know what is and isn't according to plan. At least their plan, and if your plan isn't aligned well..." he says with a small shrug.

"But in honesty, that isn't unique to the Scorpion. Whether it's dueling everything that moves or speaking entirely in riddles, if you don't serve properly, you'll soon not serve at all."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji smiles a bit at that.

"It's not really the cure-all you'd believe it to be, Shiba-san. Eventually you'll find yourself in a meeting with your superior, and they certainly know what is and isn't according to plan. At least their plan, and if your plan isn't aligned well..." he says with a small shrug.

"But in honesty, that isn't unique to the Scorpion. Whether it's dueling everything that moves or speaking entirely in riddles, if you don't serve properly, you'll soon not serve at all."

"Truer words have seldom been spoken. Perhaps the trick is in finding how you may best serve according to your abilities."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji smiles a bit at that.

"It's not really the cure-all you'd believe it to be, Shiba-san. Eventually you'll find yourself in a meeting with your superior, and they certainly know what is and isn't according to plan. At least their plan, and if your plan isn't aligned well..." he says with a small shrug.

"But in honesty, that isn't unique to the Scorpion. Whether it's dueling everything that moves or speaking entirely in riddles, if you don't serve properly, you'll soon not serve at all."

"Truer words have seldom been spoken. Perhaps the trick is in finding how you may best serve according to your abilities."

Eiji nodded.

"Of course, best is a very hard standard to measure here. To stretch enough to grow and stll be successful perhaps." he mused.

He looked curiously at the Phoenix.

"How do you think you'll serve best, Shiba-san?" he asked.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"How do you think you'll serve best, Shiba-san?" he asked.

"Not as yojimbo, that's for sure!"

He chuckled.

"I've shown some talent as a staff officer, junior commander, that sort of thing. And so far, I've managed not to trip over my own words in court. So I have that going for me."

[Soshi Eiji]

"How do you think you'll serve best, Shiba-san?" he asked.

"Not as yojimbo, that's for sure!"

He chuckled.

"I've shown some talent as a staff officer, junior commander, that sort of thing. And so far, I've managed not to trip over my own words in court. So I have that going for me."

Eiji nodded.

"While perhaps not being enough to earn one a place in the histories, not trippng over your own words in court does safeguard you from being in the histories as an example of what not to do." he suggests. "A moment's thoughtlessness, and suddenly there's an entire minor clan dedicated to remembering your mistake."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"While perhaps not being enough to earn one a place in the histories, not trippng over your own words in court does safeguard you from being in the histories as an example of what not to do." he suggests. "A moment's thoughtlessness, and suddenly there's an entire minor clan dedicated to remembering your mistake."

"Ah, but you do get to be a daimyo if that happens! Think of the glory...."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Ah, but you do get to be a daimyo if that happens! Think of the glory...."

"Ah yes, the glory of being a daimyo of a people who inspire countless jokes when courtiers can't think of anyone else safe to make fun of. Glorious indeed Shiba-san." he said dryly.

At least the bath was nice and wet.

"But surely there is something that Shiba-san is looking forward to more than improving his streak of not tripping over his own words?" he questioned.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ah yes, the glory of being a daimyo of a people who inspire countless jokes when courtiers can't think of anyone else safe to make fun of. Glorious indeed Shiba-san." he said dryly.

At least the bath was nice and wet.

"But surely there is something that Shiba-san is looking forward to more than improving his streak of not tripping over his own words?" he questioned.

"Yes, it was so glorious the originator of the idea retired from the sheer weight of it."

He soaked for a moment after the question.

"Well. I have some modest ambitions regarding House Shigi. I... am working on a betrothal. And I have two younger siblings who also need spouses... and I need to do well enough to help improve my House's fortunes so it can be of service to more than itself."