[D3 MA] Tea with a Sparrow

[Agasha Yuna]

"Could you say more about each person's age and stature? I think we can find a good match for at least one of them. The available candidates are somewhat limited in terms of age and gender to match. But I can check among the delegates and their families also."

"For where the Dragon would marry into your clan, I will look for someone slightly under their stature."

"For the one wishing to make his fortune in new lands, I will look for someone slightly over his stature."

[Suzume Ryobu]

"Of course," Ryobu says.

"Suga-san is but a score of years old, but has already been promoted; were the Sparrow to fly off to war, he would be a nikutai. Niitaka-san is four years older, and her standing in the Clan is equivalent to that of a magistrate, even if her duties are otherwise. Takayama-san is slightly younger than I at 34. She is a valued advisor to the Champion, with commensurate standing."

The teacup is set down gently.

"And it would be good to know what prospects they would face in marrying the children of your Clan."

[Agasha Yuna]

"I do think we have some options. Let me suggest two. All arrangements of this kind would need to be confirmed with my Daimyo, but I think we have some good opportunities."

"The young man sounds like a very good match for a younger woman newly placed in a role of potentially greater influence over time, particularly with a reliable partner who has served well in minor office. And she is fond of sweet things, like music. Mirumoto-ke no kashin Toda Yoshiko was just appointed the manager of the hereditary estate of the Grand Master of Niten, at the age of 16. She has a good relationship with Lord Mirumoto. It would be an advantageous marriage for your Suga-san, given her role and position. A fine estate. A place he could practice his music and help her manage."

"Alternatively, we have a calligrapher of acclaim parallel to your storyteller. Mirumoto Kichinitonda. If you wished to pursue an arrangement where a calligrapher captured stories and sent the records to a library in Dragon lands dedicated in part to that purpose, it is a good match. Her stories could be the first documented. A fine calling, and an enduring point of relationship between the clans."

[Suzume Ryobu]

Ryobu nods.

"Both such proposals show merit," she says. "Closer affinity with the Dragon is a worthwhile thing, as well."

[Agasha Yuna]

"A closer relationship with the Sparrow is something we would value."

"Perhaps we could consider, for the 7 vegetables, 2 stone, 2 copper, 2 gold which you could use to acquire the other resources you sought and we did not have, and one marriage, sealing the closer tie."

[Suzume Ryobu]

Ryobu shakes her head slightly.

"Accepting the gold would run against the honorable poverty upon which our Clan was founded," she says. "But the vegetables for the stone, the copper, and both marriages would work well for the Suzume."

[Agasha Yuna]

"Of course. I will take the proposal to our Daimyo."

"Your spiritual commitment, as a family, shines brighter than any metal. As the Little Teacher says: “In simplicity, there is honor.”

[Suzume Ryobu]

"Our Founder believed as much," Ryobu says. "And we have lived it since."

She rises.

"Thank you for the tea," she adds, bowing.

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna bows deeply to her.

"Thank you for the time and conversation. I hope it is a seed planted for an enduring garden."

(/scene? thanks so much!)

[Fukurokujin]

(/scene, and thank YOU!)