D8LA, Wolf Dines on Turtle Soup? (Closed)

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:19 am

"Not only ronin. Many look for ways to be insulted or provoked by my Family." He shakes his head sadly. "It boggles the mind why. It is not as if we are doing what they would wish to do.

"Still, why would you doubt that you would persevere in such times as these?"

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

"Don't misunderstand, -sama. I will persevere. If the fortunes favor my being on this soil another day, I will be around for many more," she said, holding up a hand and shaking her head a little. "I am simply not meant or bushido. I know how to keep my head down just enough, and put on the forms that are expected. I know how to behave in court to draw a minimum of notice. But to live in adherence to the code? No. Even before I was wave-man, I was never very good at that sort of thing. Mother always used to joke that a mujina had blessed me as a child."

What... an odd thing to say, but she was laughing. Well, they weren't tainted, just ugly little assholes.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 1:14 pm

Seitouna joins her in laughing at the joke.

"That's better than some of them I've gotten, believe me. And as to what my sister has attracted..." He trails off into more chuckling.

"There's not enough holystone to scrub some of that mess away."

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

She laughed in turn. "I dare not ask. The amount of trouble that you can get into if you're anywhere near the big towns must be quite impressive. I've been in smaller communities for the most part in my life." She was a bit of a small town ronin come round now. "Ah, but a little of the realm of mischief's blessing is good for one's survival, wouldn't you agree?"

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:34 pm

"Mischief helps with many things," Seitouna says and smiles. "There was one time...ah, but a gentleman does not kiss and tell." The smile turns a bit more wicked. "Nor yet does he do more and tell!

"But," and he sobers somewhat, "I have seen several think they did but mischief, only to find that the joke was not nearly so well received as could have been hoped."

He pauses.

"Still, a bit of levity in such times as these is not unwelcome. If he does it again, Bayushi Degarashi's rakugo it quite enheartening."

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

She chuckled. "No. A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell. And most not so gentlemanly don't out of survival." A smirk and she shrugged. "But you're not wrong. Have to know which samurai have a sense of humor and which don't. I do hope that I get the chance to see one of this one's rakugo. It sounds like it might be worth seeing at the very east for a pass of an evening."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:49 pm

"I'd recommend it," Seitouna says.

Then he looks at the meal, which seems to have gone away.

"Dessert?"

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

She tapped her chin before smiling to herself. "If you are offering... I would not say no to mochi if they have it. A sinful little pleasure I don't get to enjoy that often." But really, why not? Life was too short not to enjoy a sweet or two, and she was no ascetic.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 6:22 pm

"For a friend? Of course!" he replies, and a servant is dispatched to that end.

While the servant is off getting the mochi, Seitouna asks "Sinful? Mochi? That's a new one on me."

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

"Hah, all indulgence is sinful... or a little sinful anyway," she barked out, grinning as she shook her head. "At the very least, we can enjoy being a little decadent without actually doing anything one ought not, yes?" Certainly that was her attitude. Sake and mochi were nice 'little vices.'

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:03 pm

"Ah, but other things can be so much more fun!" he replies.

Then the mochi arrives, and he takes one before passing the plate to her.

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

"They can, they can, but these won't get either of us in trouble tonight," she said as she chose one for herself and popped it into her mouth, smiling as she chewed. She winked over at him and after she swallowed continued. "I fear some forms of entertainment are a bit too much fun for one's own good, but it's always to keep on the lookout."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:30 pm

He smiles.

"I shall hope for better times, then."

Ah, well, I did expect to sleep alone tonight, he thinks.

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

She smiled over at him and actually felt a little sympathy. He hadn't once tried to push. It had been simply an open offer in those eyes of his, hadn't it. She reached down to pluck one of the mochi and offer it to him in a rather bold gesture. "You know... you're better than a lot of less reputable types at this," she murmured. "I feel I might owe you a little explanation, though it isn't the most pleasant of topics, if you'd forgive me."

As she stalled, her mind formulated an appropriate half-truth to serve as an explanation. She wasn't about to actually him that the idea of accidentally getting pregnant while under the Onyx Bargain might have been one of the worst nightmares she'd ever had on several nights since she went on Musha Shugyo, but there were ways to explain it that at least got the point across.

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:54 pm

He responds to the offer, of course. It'd be rude to not, among others.

He gently steadies her hand with his own, takes the mochi, releases her hand and chews while she considers.

Because he's also not going to turn down information.

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

"My family has ... come under a sign of ill omen, the sort of thing that you cannot ignore. It is part of why I left on pilgrimage in the end. More than that, I'd be less than comfortable saying, but let us just say that whatever protections I might take, there is a chance, and I cannot risk bringing a child into this world under that same omen. It would not be fair to one who never had a say in it," she said with a sad little sigh. Nothing she'd said was technically false, but oh she was holding a whole hell of a lot back in that explanation. Seriously, mentioning 'nightmares about zombie babies crawling to the shadowlands helped drive me to musha shugyo' was definitely not something she considered dinner conversation.

If he was good at picking up things, it wasn't her most convincing performance compared to most, but it also wasn't something she'd expected to have to lie about so soon on arriving. Most men and women didn't really look at her twice unless she put an effort in.

( Sincerity - 28)

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:12 pm

He chews thoughtfully as she speaks, and though he perceives her attempt to be sincere, he lets the matter rest. There are enough things he does not discuss that he is willing to let some matters lie unless he must disturb them, and he does not recall anything of note that aligns to her words, so he does not press the explanation.

What he does do is take that bold hand of hers again in his, stroke the knuckles with his thumb, and say "I hear you, and I do not envy you the burden. But if you did want to set it aside in certain ways, I would be happy to help, if and when you are ready, and not otherwise."

He kisses the hand briefly, as he has seen done in other places, then gently releases it and picks up his tea again.

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

That was, admittedly, a little bolder than she'd expected. It did remind her that there might be options... but the thought with a man was... perhaps a thought for another time. She appreciated him not inquiring too deeply though.

"There are perhaps ways, yes. But not tonight, though I appreciate you being honest about the offer. Most of them would couch it in pretty little word games and seduction. It gets... tiring at times how they can't be honest with themselves. I'll remember the offer."

Kasuga Seitouna · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2020 9:13 pm

He smiles and nods.

"To be fair, it is not often that so direct an approach is well received. But honesty between friends is desirable, I think. And I would be your friend, whether you avail yourself or not. Truly."

He looks at the service. "I think we've pretty much cleared the meal, though, Mari-san. Though if you are hungry, I am happy to order more up."

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

"No, I think you're about right. With the exception of a few in the minor clans, I doubt even the Scorpion would appreciate quite so direct an approach. Then again, I think some of them are being rather foolish about it all." She snorted and smiled to herself. "But yes. Friends should be honest with each other where they are able. However, as you say... I do believe we are at the end of the repast. I'm quite full, thank you. I should hope I have the chance to return the favor." She might not have been rich, but she did like the idea of being able to treat another. How many ronin could say that?

"I should like to continue our chats again. I am hoping, however, that tomorrow is not filled with too much madness." She had her doubts.

D8LA, Wolf Dines on Turtle Soup? (Closed)

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