(D2, LE, Open) The Naked Truth

[Soshi Eiji]

"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."

Eiji nodded.

"It's a good time to work on such endeavors, there are both talented single samurai attending the court, and the delegations routinely have various potental marriage candidates lined up to conclude trade deals." he agreed.

He looked curiously at the Phoenix.

"While any samurai is expected to be willing to marry whom they are commanded to, I personally find it more harmonious if the match is a good one. And I assume that Shiba-san would like a good match for his siblings, both for the House's benefit and their own. Might I inquire what sort of qualities Shiba-san and his siblings are looking for? I may be able to offer some suggestions if Shiba-san would care to entertain them." he offered.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"It's a good time to work on such endeavors, there are both talented single samurai attending the court, and the delegations routinely have various potental marriage candidates lined up to conclude trade deals." he agreed.

He looked curiously at the Phoenix.

"While any samurai is expected to be willing to marry whom they are commanded to, I personally find it more harmonious if the match is a good one. And I assume that Shiba-san would like a good match for his siblings, both for the House's benefit and their own. Might I inquire what sort of qualities Shiba-san and his siblings are looking for? I may be able to offer some suggestions if Shiba-san would care to entertain them." he offered.

"For myself, I already have a prospect in mind... a bit... swift, but perhaps, but... As you say, a good match. She seems to think so too."

He actually smiled.

"I won't mention her name in connection with myself in an informal conversation just yet, you understand- if it comes to nothing, I would have her unencumbered. Socially. But generally speaking..."

He raised a hand out of the water and started counting off on his fingers.

"An interest in spiritual matters is helpful- less so for my sister than for my brother and myself, but we are all Phoenix. A literary bent is also of use- mother was born an Ikoma, and again, we're Phoenix, so the whole family has a bookish streak. My brother, like me, is a bushi- my sister is an artisan. So whatever attractions may present themselves, a shugenja is unlikely. I, as heir, cannot marry out of the Phoenix Clan. My siblings are... freer. So much for the general."

He put his hand back down.

"More specifically.... Saburo is a bit quiet, a bit melancholy, and I think someone with a quiet or gentle nature would be a good fit. He.... it was hard, for him. Growing up. Someone who likes poetry, and who doesn't expect him to go about cheerful all the time."

He chuckled.

"As for Mai... someone who can handle her fire. She'd probably tell you she wants some handsome, dashing Kakita duelist, but her first crush was on a skinny kid from her dojo who never wielded anything deadlier than a paintbrush."

[Soshi Eiji]

Quite the list.

"Well, I will not tempt the Fortunes by wish you well on what probably is gong to happen. Shiba-san. " he said with a knock on the side of the tub for extra luck.

He pondered.

"Unfortunate neither of them can speak with the kami. We do have a shugenja looking for a spouse, but given how precious that gift iis, I can't see them marrying a non-shugenja. But for the others....personality-wise, Shosuro-ke no kashin Takemitsu Toru could certainly match your sister's fire, and Ryoko Owari certainly has a lot of firemen just in case. On the other hand, emerald magistrate Bayushi-ke no kashin Chiaki Minoru might be a more appealing option for your family. As for your brother, I think gunso Shosuro-ke no kashin Maeda Bibari might be a good fit." he offered initially.

It wasn't his clan's entire list, but a good start to see what the Phoenix thought.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Hm, you know, putting aside my siblings, the Phoenix do have a few unwed shugenja on offer. Could be something to discuss more formally. But perhaps for the time being, as we enjoy this bath, you could tell me of Takemitsu-san. Ryoko Owari is hardly a bad place for a young artist- and it sounds, by your mentioning Chiaki-sama in the next breath, that there may be some complications."

He chuckled.

"House Shigi cannot afford to be upset by... complications."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"I did not mean to imply that that there would be complications," he offered. "Since I do not know your sister, I wanted to provide balanced options for Shiba-san to consder."

He raised his right hand as if weighing the man in question.

"Takemitsu-san comes from a fairly prominent merchant patron family. He's young, wanted for nothing growing up and is surrounded by the seemingly endless possibilities of Ryoko Owari Toshi. He has sharp eyes, quick hands and fast feet, but is perhaps struggling a bit to find a way to distinguish himself among the crowds. I think of him as a passionate choice who could distinguish himself with just a bit of guidance."

He raised his left hand.

"On the other hand, we have Chiaki-san. A bit older, I would describe him as....affable. He's clearly distinguished himself serving as the Emerald Magistrate of Shiro Matsu, and among those honored samurai I think you'd truly struggle to find anyone who had a bad word to say about him."

He shifts his hands as if weighing the two.

"So it's really a matter of risk and reward. Takemitsu-san has all the tools to succeed, and all possibilities open to him...but that also means he might rise no higher than his current standing, that is, after all a possibility. And the two might get along like a house on fire...they also might find each other insufferable, hard to predict."

"Chiaki-san, however, is established. He serves an important role surrounded by honorable samurai. But realistically, there's not much room for upward growth for him. I'm sure he'd try his very hardest to be on good terms with your sister and your family, but whether she would find such a life comforting or stifling.....again, impossible for me to predict."

He looked to the Phoenix, curious to see how his own match would calculate such things.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Well. Mei is very much our mother's daughter- I think Chiaki-sama might find his... affability a bit put upon. And while an Imperial Magistrate of any sort is prestigious, Mei strikes me as wanting to build something. I suppose much would depend upon how she and Takemitsu-san got along. Because as you say, sometimes strong personalities blend harmoniously. And sometimes..."

He chuckled.

"Sometimes the damage can rival a decent earthquake. And what of Maeda-san? I'd like to hear about her..."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Well. Mei is very much our mother's daughter- I think Chiaki-sama might find his... affability a bit put upon. And while an Imperial Magistrate of any sort is prestigious, Mei strikes me as wanting to build something. I suppose much would depend upon how she and Takemitsu-san got along. Because as you say, sometimes strong personalities blend harmoniously. And sometimes..."

He chuckled.

"Sometimes the damage can rival a decent earthquake. And what of Maeda-san? I'd like to hear about her..."

Eiji nodded. The Phoenix's assessment was how Eiji had ranked the two possibilties for Mei. It was good to know they were on the same page.

"Well, Maeda-san has inumerrable good qualities, I would probably say her strongest one is her sense of humility. She's young, and serves dutifully as a gunso in our clan's army. And she does love the performative arts, whether it's plays, poetry or music. A short description I realize, but it's hard to speak loudly of those who prefer to speak softly." he offers.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded. The Phoenix's assessment was how Eiji had ranked the two possibilties for Mei. It was good to know they were on the same page.

"Well, Maeda-san has inumerrable good qualities, I would probably say her strongest one is her sense of humility. She's young, and serves dutifully as a gunso in our clan's army. And she does love the performative arts, whether it's plays, poetry or music. A short description I realize, but it's hard to speak loudly of those who prefer to speak softly." he offers.

Where Mei's prospects had been considered dispassioantely, the description of the gunso immediately clicked.

"I think that is a very promising match for Saburo. Obviously we'd both need to consult with our delegations, but... that is... as you say, it is a brief, description, but as your clan's nakodo have cleared her, I think it a distinct possibility."

[Soshi Eiji]

Where Mei's prospects had been considered dispassioantely, the description of the gunso immediately clicked.

"I think that is a very promising match for Saburo. Obviously we'd both need to consult with our delegations, but... that is... as you say, it is a brief, description, but as your clan's nakodo have cleared her, I think it a distinct possibility."

Eiji did seem pleased with that assessment.

"That is quite good to here, Shiba-san. Ideally it'd be to cement some sort of trade between our clans, but I shall definitely mark that it is something your clan is interested in." he says.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji did seem pleased with that assessment.

"That is quite good to here, Shiba-san. Ideally it'd be to cement some sort of trade between our clans, but I shall definitely mark that it is something your clan is interested in." he says.

"Perhaps we can discuss trade at a later date... maybe tomorrow? I'll be at the dojo when I wake, and we have a meeting after that, but there'd still be time to at least discuss details before court."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Perhaps we can discuss trade at a later date... maybe tomorrow? I'll be at the dojo when I wake, and we have a meeting after that, but there'd still be time to at least discuss details before court."

Eiji considered that.

"Ah court is so busy...perhaps a sidebar during court?" Eiji suggested. "We do have to be there after all, and there should be enough privacy while the main players take the stage."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji considered that.

"Ah court is so busy...perhaps a sidebar during court?" Eiji suggested. "We do have to be there after all, and there should be enough privacy while the main players take the stage."

"I think that will work nicely, and as you say, we do have to be in attendance... I would hate to monopolize your time, though."

[Soshi Eiji]

"I think that will work nicely, and as you say, we do have to be in attendance... I would hate to monopolize your time, though."

"Noted, Shiba-san. I'll make sure to cast you aside once I've stripped you of all your worth." he said, clearly joking as they were both currently stripped of their clothes.

He looked thoughtful.

"Then again, perhaps it would be well to give Shiba-san more personalized attention. Would a morning meeting be more to your liking? (EM-LM) Or perhaps after dinner? (ME)" he said with the clarity of things to come.

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Perhaps the evening... give the day's events some time to settle."

[Soshi Eiji]

"Perhaps the evening... give the day's events some time to settle."

Eiji nodded.

"If Shiba-san will come to the Scorpion house, at that hour, we can discuss things in a more....formal settng you might say." he said.

It did feel like it was about time to towel off and head out.

[Shiba Ryusei]

Eiji nodded.

"If Shiba-san will come to the Scorpion house, at that hour, we can discuss things in a more....formal settng you might say." he said.

It did feel like it was about time to towel off and head out.

"I look forward to it!"

[Soshi Eiji]

"Then I believe I shall depart before I become so waterlogged as to become a monster of legend." he said.

He made his way over to the towels to dry off and dress.

He'd bow when he could do so without risk of offense.

"Until tomorrow, Shiba-san."

/exit

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Carry the Fortunes, Soshi-sama!"

[/Scene!]