[D13 EE] One More for the Road

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

She snorted. She wasn't going to hide this opinion quite as much from him. "And a great many of them are getting back up on their mangy beasts and riding away after altering the face of the empire just by stopping in like it was a wayshrine." There was definitely an acrid hint there. "Some of them are ... decent people. Moto Baatar... I hope comes through the fighting well. He's a better man than most, but I have little love lost for the horse lords, even if you are correct. Their presence has ... complicated things, and does so today. I expect that their departure will inevitably cause history to repeat itself all over again."

The Kitsune would be told 'watch the lands. We'll be right back' and the Lion would wait twenty years, tromp in and demand the land back. It would be a bigger bloodbath with the remaining unicorn forces, the Onyx Bargain would be revealed to the empire without a champion to stand for them, and if the Kitsune were lucky, whoever sat on the throne would give them their land back. Maybe. She wasn't holding her breath.

"Forgive me. It's not a topic that gets me into the best of moods, Kasuga-sama. But that's not your fault."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Wed May 06, 2020 10:11 pm

Seitouna listens to her, nods. A few things fall into place in his head, but he doesn't say a damned word about them. Despite appearances, he's not quite that stupid.

What he says instead is "Then we'll change the topic, since the food's here and waiting after all. And it does smell good.

"Where's the best noodles you've had?"

And he picks up his bowl with a murmured "I receive it humbly" before tucking in as he hears her answer.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

Two plus two could easily equal four. She was circumspect, but in the end? Being able to summon animal spirits had occasional merits as a commodity, so she really didn't need to be that circumspect. It was her extra-curricular activities that were more the problem when it came to public reveals, and she was taking steps to make sure nobody ever learned unless they happened to notice her mid-cut.

"Ryoko Owari. Wish I could say somewhere else, but the truth is when I passed through the outskirts of town, I ran into a phenomenal stand there. City that big, there's probably rivaries over who has the best recipes," she said, clearly glad to just let the topic change bluntly and dive in a little. Chewing and swallowing, she winked back. "These are good, mind you. But that one had a knack."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Wed May 06, 2020 10:54 pm

"It doesn't take a big city to have such rivalries," Seitouna replies. He's not aware of her extracurriculars. "I ran across a couple of places in a tiny little port town we'd put in at to take on some water. Run by cousins, even. Saw people come to blows over which of the two did their grandmother's recipe better. Funny bit, actually."

He takes another bite, chews, swallows, and adds.

"Thing was, neither of them was right; I overnighted with another cousin, who had the grandmother's pots." He smiles. "She had the better take."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

She chuckled. "The best stories stay in the family," she had to admit, her smile broadening at the thought of it. "Family recipes can be as jealously guarded as a shugenja's scrolls at times. You never know the kinds of fights they might have just over who had it the most right."

She sighed, sitting back. "Now that's the kind of argument people should be having. Fists over who has the best recipe. Much more civilized." Not very courtly though.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Wed May 06, 2020 11:05 pm

"You've got the right of it," Seitouna replies. "And we'd live in a happier world for it, too, I think."

He smiles for a moment before eating more of the food. It'd be a shame to waste it, after all.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

She was plucking a piece of sashimi up and chewing it thoughtfully, enjoying the flavor and sighing. "Perhaps we'll finally live in a day of peace one day soon." Doubtful, not if the elements were continuing to be as hit and miss as they'd been lately. It was a sign of things to come. "I'll send word, to let you know that I've arrived, wherever I might be headed. A moshi kindly offered some supplies for writing."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2020 3:33 am

"Yuko, yes? But a letter will be welcome, in any event. I am unsure of my next posting, of course, but a message sent to Kyuden Kasuga will find its way to me, certainly."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"I had a feeling that I could send it that way and it would reach you. And yes, we just recently met. Rather endearing woman, though a touch ... how do I put this? Still getting her feet wet in the world? Yes, that seems accurate enough. She's looking for greater worldly wisdom, I think."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Thu May 07, 2020 1:44 pm

Seitouna nods.

"She's young and out of depth, but she'll learn to sail, if someone shows her the ropes."

He pops a piece of fish into his mouth and smiles. "I do miss the salt, though."

[D13 EE] One More for the Road

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