[D2 MM, open] Location Scouting

[Doji Shinnosuke]

Shinnosuke nods but doesn't press Shiori about the offer of a role. A gentleman doesn't badger a lady. There will be plenty of time for her to decide if she's interested--well, a few days, at least.

"A good point. You are a shugenja, and this..." he grins, "this is the Court, isn't it? Nothing in all the Empire is more a Court than this. Isn't it exciting?"

Haku is watering the juniper shrub; Shinnosuke politely keeps his attention on Shiori, leaving Haku his privacy.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori offered a smile that was slightly on the sheepish side, allowing herself a small chuckle on that note. "It is a bit difficult to overlook the circumstances on paper. I'll agree on that point, Doji-san. Although, I still think there's a bit of a milestone somewhere that you have to touch before you can earn that honour. Yasuki Masaki-san has been very helpful and instrumental to our court negotiations, I think we can consider her the court shugenja with full confidence. By comparison, I might have been more trepidatious, not that I intend to remain so."

She nodded as she addressed the question. "It has been fascinating meeting other samurai, the few I've acquainted myself with. I've been hoping to get more insight into how each Clan approach the courts and in general, their methods of productivity."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"There's just being at Court, and then there is... doing whatever it is shugenja, particularly, do at court?" Shin suggests, not totally certain.

He has a vague idea of the stuff priests and priestesses do at court--purification rituals, blessings, sanctifying agreements, things like that, right? So perhaps one isn't a real court shugenja until one has done a certain amount of all that stuff, in the same way he wouldn't consider someone a court performer unless they'd actually performed at some court, not just stood around propping up the walls.

"Are you finding us all really different from one another, then? I should have thought there are only so many ways to give a speech or plan an agreement between houses, but maybe that's a lack of imagination on my part."

Haku is finished with the juniper shrub at this point and comes bobbling back toward Shinnosuke, his short tail waggling under its silky waterfall of hair.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori inclined her head once at the concept, recalling a list of expectations in her potential role. "Yes...a court shugenja usually excels in providing a key support role to delegations, and at times, having a key involvement when it comes to negotiations and diplomacy. Often support comes in advising in spiritual matters, which could be anything from the potential yield of agriculture in the next year to putting together arranged marriages and providing them with proper blessings. There are also certain rites that are needed during the course of the court, including arranging proper shrines and maintaining purity on the embassy grounds. I suppose there's an inexhaustible list of potential duties where I could find my own niche while Yasuki-san has already carved out her own in our delegation this season."

She narrowed her encircled left eye for a moment, wondering if the Crane were without a court shugenja this year or Shinnosuke was truly uncertain. Her learning notes did inform her that a proper Crane delegation in court would never be without an Asahina. Admittedly, the same couldn't be said about a Kuni.

She nodded a matter of factly. "In my observations, I have noticed the differences but they are subtle. I think as a basic requirement, each member of every delegation is encouraged to maintain a sort of courtly speech when it comes to meeting other Clans. That's not to say that the differences would be so pronounced that we would be speaking in drawls or strange accents but maybe the differences aren't so obvious because of maintained appearances. Not so far as the Scorpions would like to have you believe but speaking through a screen, in a sense? Also, that's also not to say that we don't have different ideas of what is proper courtly speech too."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

It's not that Shin hasn't seen court shugenja around regularly, so much as that he hasn't given any systematic attention to figuring out the full scope of their duties--especially where those duties happen at different places and times than everything else a more mundane courtier typically busies himself with. Asahina Hoshiko certainly seems to have had plenty of work to do with setting up shrines and pondering the sanctity of marriage lately, though, so he nods along to Shiori's list.

"Ah," he cocks his head curiously, "do you mean that you converse differently with me than you would at home? I'm not sure I could say the same." He bites his lip, thinking. "Well, though one does have different registers for all sorts of things. Family, teachers, subordinates, the floor of court. And handsome little fellows!" This last, as an afterthought, is delivered in a slow, exaggeratedly syrupy voice to Haku while Shin reaches down to scratch the white dog on the head and behind the ears.

"All right, I see your point, then, Kuni-san." He grins.

((should we work at winding this down, and maybe do something D4 onward?))

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori flashed a sheepish smile before responding, "Yes and no. To be clear, I don't think there's often any sort of intentional deception done when it comes to presenting themselves. As an example, there's certainly a difference between speaking and politely speaking. I wouldn't say the differences are found at home or merely around Clan members but I'm sure you notice how different others may talk when you catch them at a sake house over drinks or in a bath after a long session at the dojo. Or maybe in private conversation near the end of the season."

She looked down when Haku joined them once more after his brief moment with the shrub. Such a spoiled creature with little concept of obedience or duty. "The alternation in speech might happen without even knowing, natural in some cases."

"I should continue with my stroll of the grounds. Admittedly, there's so much of the kyuden I haven't acquainted myself with. I shall also keep your proposal in mind. Thank you for the chat, Doji-san," she said with a bow to excuse herself. "And your company too, Haku."

[Doji Shinnosuke]

"Natural, yes," Shinnosuke agrees, nodding. "We ningen are accommodating creatures, after all."

"Why, thank you as well, Kuni-san." He bows in return. Haku just stares doggily. "The pleasure was mine, of course. I hope we shall meet again soon," he adds with a winning smile before lady, man, and hound make their way in (two) different directions.

((Apologies, end of the week really ate my brains!))

[Kuni Shiori]

((OOC: No worries! You've been planning and managing a lot!))

/scene!