[Day 3, Early Evening - Mogami's Room] A Moment Of Respite

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 3:27 pm

After a battle, a good general takes the time to analyze the events, going over the details of enemy tactics, troop performances, strategic decisions and the like.

Mogami was not a general, but being on the path to command, she took the practice to heart and returned to her room.

"Clean your armor and then enjoy the warmth. You are free to do as you wish, but do not leave the room."

She gives a bow to her budoka

"Thank you. You both have proven your lessons are coming along nicely. You did well today. I believe every one of your shots found a mark."

Mogami follows her own order first and spends some time cleaning her armor. She hums to herself as she does.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:19 pm

After she is finished cleaning and praying over her armor, Mogami sits at the low table in the room and goes over the battle in her mind. Occasionally, she murmurs something out loud, but for the most part she sits there with her eyes closed, scenes playing out inside of her.

In the back of the room, Tsuruga and Fuwa pack their things. Once finished, they take out a kemari ball and begin playing with it, kicking it into the air with their feet and trying to not let it touch the ground. The men both laugh and smile as the not-quite-the-rules kemari game is played.

Hearing her mens joy brings Mogami out from her battle meditation and she smiles. Inspired, she uses the rooms inkset and a piece of parchment to write a letter. She folds the work up when finished, an elegant piece of calligraphy but not her best work, and calls for a passing servant to deliver it.

After sending the servant, Mogami leaves the door to her room open, an invitation for anyone seeking company before the nights march.

----
Meditation/Void, Roll: 11
Calligraphy/Int: Roll 27

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 5:49 pm

It is at about that time that Kasuga Seitouna, dressed in his simpler kimono and straw cloak, and carrying his ditty bag, walks by. Seeing the door open and thinking What the hell, I've got a few minutes, he taps lightly on the doorframe to announce himself.

Even the appearance of sneaking is inadvisable, given the circumstances.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:02 pm

Mogami looks up from her battle notes.

"Hello. Please, come."

She motions to the table.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:05 pm

Seitouna bows as he enters. He sets his ditty bag down inside the doorway, shrugs his cloak off atop it, and finds his seat with another bow.

"Kasuga Seitouna," he says. "And to whom have I the honor of speaking this evening?"

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:07 pm

Mogami stands and returns the bow, a little bit shallower.

"Ah, forgive me Kasuga-san for not standing sooner. I did not see your daisho at first. I am Matsu Mogami."

She remembers that the Kasuga deal with peasants often, so she motions back to the two budoka playing their made up version of kemari.

"These are my budoka, Tsuruga and Fuwa."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:12 pm

"No forgiveness for not seeing a thing that is not; I carry a wakizashi, yes, but no katana."

And he makes a short bow to the budoka, the gesture calculated to create a favorable impression...(Courtier 32)...which seems to be pretty damned well received by them.

And showing kindness to those beneath is in line with the Lion's ways, neh? he thinks.

As he settles, he nods at her notes. "The day's logs, Matsu-san?"

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:23 pm

“At least from my own eyes. I was atop the wall during the attack. What if yourself?”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:26 pm

"Nothing so glorious, certainly. And nothing of moment, given the word that has come down of the pending...redeployment." That ought to be a decent way to frame it, he thinks before he goes on.

"Fortunately, I've long learned to pack tightly. There's only so much room at sea, after all, even if things need doing ashore."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:29 pm

“I imagine. We have more of a load to carry, though only because part of my leadership training has me practicing logistics and army outfitting. So, we carry enough to set up a camp and have the things we need out there.”

She motions to the three large packs ready to go near the entrance.

“It is a shame to have to leave, I wanted to enjoy the Onsen for some like longer.”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:33 pm

Seitouna nods.

"There's a tea-shop in town that I had quickly grown to appreciate. I can hope it will reopen once all of this is done; I hope to visit again when I make the nearby port of call."

He looks at her.

"I would assist in the planning, if I might. It would be a small thing I could do for being hosted so well as I have been here."

The offer is made sincerely (25).

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:14 pm

Mogami looks curiously at him.

“While the offer is appreciated, I don’t know what much I can do with it Kasuga-san. I am not the one planning the further defenses of the city. Just going over the battle from earlier to see what lessons it holds”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:21 pm

A polite refusal? he thinks.

He says "Perhaps a different perspective might illuminate matters, then. The sailor watching northwards cannot see what approaches from the south, after all."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:26 pm

“I am certainly glad to get another’s appraisal. Are you studies in the arts of battle command and leadership as well? A scholar of tactics and strategy?”

She smiles and waves a hand over the notes

“Please, share your insights Kasuga-san. Having another’s perspective is an excellent resource for a commander”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:32 pm

"Less tactics and more logistics, and somewhat of making much with little."

He looks at the notes, seeing what he can see.

Poring over the notes with an eye towards material and distribution, he offers several stunningly adept insights (Commerce 52).

"Really, the issue being faced is not unlike outfitting a warship, rather than a vessel sent out to patrol against southeastern wako or directed towards other ends entirely. But keeping crew morale up is important in all circumstances, and small things can do much in that regard."

He offers the comments freely. Good will is good business, after all, he thinks.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:42 pm

Mogami raises her eyebrows in an impressed expression.

“You certainly know your trade. It’s good to speak to another who venerates the aspects of Daikoku many of my superiors have scorned. I agree wholeheartedly with you. I wonder though if I could ask your insight into the Heimen? I’d love to hear the perspective of someone who’s clan deals so closely with them. It could help me grow greater trust and loyalty from my Budoka here.”

She nods he head in Tsuruga and Fuwa’s direction.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:47 pm

"I've only just met your formidable-looking budoka, of course."

Again, a respectful nod to them.

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:52 pm

“No, not mine. I mean in general. What have you learned that helps you in your interactions with them. Ways, customs, beliefs, values.”

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:00 pm

"Ah." Seitouna nods. "That is a different matter, and, as with samurai, such things differ by region and, if my seniors are to be believed, time.

"But there is a useful principle, I find, and it is one that works with our budoka friends and their families no less than with samurai.

"As time and circumstances permit--and they do not always, to be fair--showing respect does much. Far better to ask for a thing than to demand it--again, when time and circumstances permit. If it is refused then, matters change, of course, but even opening with the request rather than the command does much to set a helpful tone. Or so I find, but I will concede that my experiences have been, shall we say, more narrowly defined than those of many."

Matsu Mogami · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:18 pm

“Ask first, tell later. That makes sense.”

An eyebrow raises

“Narrowly defined? Such as?”

[Day 3, Early Evening - Mogami's Room] A Moment Of Respite

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