[D2 ME] A Shot In The Dark (Open)

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

A Dragon, dressed in his court finery and looking a little like he had been rolled by a carriage in the face area, arrived outside the 'Lion House' such as it was. Not that any of the houses weren't also the Lion's which had confused Jinkan mightily when he had arrived but polite fictions were polite he guessed. He requested someone to speak with regarding 'court things and such as might be expected'. If asked further he would begin quoting the Tao from the first pages of the standard text, but replacing every geographic figure mentioned in metaphor or specifics with the sound of loud nose blowing into a silk square he carried.

[Akodo Kenji]

It just so happened that a young Lion Scribe was taking a break from the libraries and available for 'court things and such as might be expected'. His notes were now nicely organised by topic with drlightfully neat kanji. After a few moments to prepare he made his way over to meet the visitor.

"Ah, good evening Dragon-san, welcome! I am Akodo Kenji, Imperial Scribe of House Kusama. How can I be of assistance?"

He politely ignored the scar and the output of nasal fluids.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

It just so happened that a young Lion Scribe was taking a break from the libraries and available for 'court things and such as might be expected'. His notes were now nicely organised by topic with drlightfully neat kanji. After a few moments to prepare he made his way over to meet the visitor.

"Ah, good evening Dragon-san, welcome! I am Akodo Kenji, Imperial Scribe of House Kusama. How can I be of assistance?"

He politely ignored the scar and the output of nasal fluids.

"Excited to meet you Akodo-san! I am Mirumoto Jinkan, cool person and friendly face to the Lion. My business today, such as it is, is to see to the zucchini. Ah, wait." He held up a hand and pulled from his sleeve for a moment before folding out a small square of paper.

"Belay the zucchini. I am here to 'further the continued alliance between our clans' and..." he continued folding out the paper and then looked on the back. Both sides of the paper appeared blank in the first place.

"Well, that might be it. I wouldn't mind some tea while we talk?" Jinkan asked putting the silk square and paper piece back into his sleeve in a rolled up ball.

[Akodo Kenji]

"..."

Oh right, the Dragon Clan! He briefly mentally reviewed his brother's comments on them and decided to bury them and play it safe.

"Well met Mirumoto-san, I am delighted to meet a...'cool person' such as yourself. And where are my manners?" He looked over at a servant and raised his eyebrows slightly. "Would you be so kind as to bring us some tea? Perhaps something with a hint of mint?"

Kenji then gestured to the somewhat austere seating area. "Please, shall we sit and discuss the alliance? Perhaps it would be helpful to consider ways we can assist each other with trade as well?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"..."

Oh right, the Dragon Clan! He briefly mentally reviewed his brother's comments on them and decided to bury them and play it safe.

"Well met Mirumoto-san, I am delighted to meet a...'cool person' such as yourself. And where are my manners?" He looked over at a servant and raised his eyebrows slightly. "Would you be so kind as to bring us some tea? Perhaps something with a hint of mint?"

Kenji then gestured to the somewhat austere seating area. "Please, shall we sit and discuss the alliance? Perhaps it would be helpful to consider ways we can assist each other with trade as well?"

Jinkan would sit like a puppet with its strings cut, floppily righting himself once there.

"Mint would be great. I was hoping the Lion were nice enough to give me tea, and here that hope was rewarded. If you come over to the Dragon side I will not put rocks in your tea." The Mirumoto said sagely.

"Trade and military support are the name of the game I think. Naturally the Dragon will continue to support the Lion in their fighting. Well, as soon as the Lion get permission to fight again. The whole thing in court today suggested we won't be seeing interclan warfare so long as the halo remains above the Empress." Jinkan began his speel upright and slowly grew more diagonal as he continued speaking.

"But yeah, trade. Are you a merchant patron by any chance, Akodo-san?"

[Akodo Kenji]

"I would appreciate that Mirumoto-san, I prefer my tea to be free of rocks." This was not the conversation he had been expecting, but it was the one he had.

"I am pleased to hear that the Dragon intend to support the Lion militarily where needed. We anticipate a time of peace, but it is always best to be prepared." His thoughts on the Empress were kept to himself.

"Would you care for some rice to go with your tea Mirumoto-san? No. I am not a merchant patron. I do, however, have excellent penmanship. Also some idea of my Clan's trade needs."

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"I would appreciate that Mirumoto-san, I prefer my tea to be free of rocks." This was not the conversation he had been expecting, but it was the one he had.

"I am pleased to hear that the Dragon intend to support the Lion militarily where needed. We anticipate a time of peace, but it is always best to be prepared." His thoughts on the Empress were kept to himself.

"Would you care for some rice to go with your tea Mirumoto-san? No. I am not a merchant patron. I do, however, have excellent penmanship. Also some idea of my Clan's trade needs."

"Oh good, someone who knows things. Well the details might need some working from our side but the long and short of it is that...wait I need a convoluted metaphor." Jinkan put his fingers to his head and strained until he was red.

"Ok. There is a fish, his name is...Ondra. He likes eating little bugs, little white bugs, that come from rice patties. There is another fish, whose name is Nova. What would Ondra have to give to Nova for some of the...white stuff?" Jinkan wigged his eyebrows up and down. Then he suddenly sucked in some air and his eyes rolled up for a moment before he righted himself and sat upright.

"Forget the white stuff. That was...look, the Drgaon want to continue to offer the Lion support and be supported in turn. Hypothetically speaking, could you turn your head that way for like, 10 seconds?" The Mirumoto asked pointing directly behind the Lion.

[Akodo Kenji]

"..."

Kenji was both curious about where this was going and unsure if he should be looking for a physician. Or a priest.

"If I understand your clever metaphor the Dragon are in need of what I hope is rice? As for your other question, I can hypothetically look in that direction, but I am not an owl so I would need to move. Is there something behind me that you wish me to look at Mirumoto-san, or is this another metaphor? Are you asking me if i can look into the past, or perhaps the future?"

Kenji pursed his lips and tried to consider what the Dragon was getting at.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"..."

Kenji was both curious about where this was going and unsure if he should be looking for a physician. Or a priest.

"If I understand your clever metaphor the Dragon are in need of what I hope is rice? As for your other question, I can hypothetically look in that direction, but I am not an owl so I would need to move. Is there something behind me that you wish me to look at Mirumoto-san, or is this another metaphor? Are you asking me if i can look into the past, or perhaps the future?"

Kenji pursed his lips and tried to consider what the Dragon was getting at.

Jinkan rubbed his face with obvious frustration. "Don't...ok so it isn't a metaphor but maybe I can do this without you turning around."

"You will find the answer to all your questions next to your heart." The Mirumoto patted his own chest while wriggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

[D2 ME] A Shot In The Dark (Open), Slight of Hand/Agility, 4k3 | 4k3 ⇒ 28

[Akodo Kenji]

"..."

The Lion hid his confusion and tried to play along, missing the sleight of hand as he was distracted by the Dragon's demeanor. He touched a hand to his heart, mimicking the Mirumoto. A piece of paper fell from his kimono.

"Hmm?" Kenji picked up the paper and read the passable script. "Oh! Hmm. I see."

At which point the tea arrived! "Oh thank, I mean, thank you." He nodded to the servant and stood. "If you will excuse me a moment Mirumoto-san, I will collect my brushes and be right back."


D2. Noticing Dragon shenanigans. Investigation(Notice)/ Perception | 4k3 ⇒ 22 (TN: 28)

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"You may take all the time in the world, Akodo-san. I am no longer in any rush." Jinkan smiled. It was something out of a nightmare as the lines gave the impression his grin stretched from ear to ear.

"I will try the tea though, I do like mint." The Mirumoto poured some for himself and stage whispered to the nearest visible servant. "I am secretly here for free tea."

[Akodo Kenji]

The servant was smart enough to nod politely and leave as soon as Kenji returned. Setting his Calligraphy set down the Lion looked much happier.

"This tea smells wonderful, I hope it meets your expectations Mirumoto-san?" He poured himself a cup and offered the thirsty Dragon a refill.

"Now, let me see." He placed the tea carefully away from the paper and began to write. Unfortunately there was already a smudge thanks to a loose drop of water which spoiled the effect he was going for. It looked fine and read well. Pathetic! Bland! Such is the pain of an artist.

With a sigh he handed over the ordinary note with normal kanji.

In fact it was an artistic masterpiece with the Kanji cleverly written to look like even more stylised versions of the items they described. Some artists are never satisfied.

D2. Calligraphy/Int. Trade can be artistic too! One free raise, 2 CR. | 10k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 30)
---
Edit: Actually thats a success as it should be a base 15 going to 25 not 30 (3 raises but one was correctly noted as a Free raise). So it's actually a 3 raise work of art!

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

Snip

"I am pleased to announce that you are a real artist, Akodo-san." Jinkan said looking the very fine calligraphy and putting two thumbs up for the Lion's efforts.

"Alright, with the Lion and Dragon being good friends already, we would definitely like to assist our friends in their artistic endeavors. I hear a lot of work can be done with stone, like uh...sculpture or pet rocks? Maybe the Lion could pioneer a new trend, rock gardens." Jinkan wiggled his eyebrows back and forth, one and then the other like they were snakes crawling across his face.

"What else do artists make? Gold jewelry, iron works, those fancy sets of armor? The Dragon support all efforts by the Lion to make art." The Mirumoto emphasized the words 'gold', 'iron', and 'armor' while making hand signs, keeping a certain number of fingers touching the table.

[Akodo Kenji]

Well at least this game was getting easier. Kenji nodded and seemed interested in a proportion of what was being suggested.

"Oh indeed Mirumoto-san, it is amazing what our artists are able to do with stone, gold, iron, and armour." He replied in kind using his fingers to indicate quantities.

"Perhaps you have heard of the latest trends in Akodo literature and Ikoma oratory? Or our new line in pottery, which makes for exceptional storage vessels?"

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"Good, excellent. You know Akodo-san, you had me worried there in the beginning. I told myself, he must be very smart to be one of them there scribes, but maybe it is just me, it seemed like we were having some miscommunication. You, not picking up what I, me, was laying down." Jinkan gestured to himself and the other samurai in intervals, before drinking from his tea cup.

"But now we are here, you know things, I know things, Tengoku knows things, its all good in the hood as they say. We will have to see about that art exchange, get that going soon." The Mirumoto said smiling like a hyena with a round of warthog in sight. The Mirumoto reached a hand out to touch the air near the top of the Akodo's head.

"Has anyone died recently around you, Akodo-san?"

[Akodo Kenji]

Not even a twitch. Perhaps a subtle change in demeanor.

"Yes, we seem to understand each other rather better at this point in the conversation. I look forward to working out the details of our 'art exchange'. As for your other question. A samurai is never far from death, Mirumoto-san."

He waited for the parlor trick to reach its conclusion.

[Mirumoto Jinkan]

"You will want to visit a temple soon." Jinkan said leaning back with a satisfied smile.

"Art bringing the clans closer together. Who would have imagined." He rubbed his cheeks, chuffed.

"Well, that should be everything, Akodo-san. It was a pleasure? Yes. It was."

[Akodo Kenji]

"I...yes Mirumoto-san, I will." Kenji gave the Dragon a slight smile and offered to refill his tea.

"It has been quite the experience and I am..." Pleased? Confused? Baffled? "...grateful that you decided to stop by. I look forward to our Clans' continued cooperation."