[D9, EM] So, About the Other Day... (closed)

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

Sukima arrived and the Crane embassy bright as early, chased out of bed by the thundering voices of her Kitsu ancestors. It was quite grating. Fortunately, it didn't distract her too much as she presented herself politely and was shown in to wait for the head of the Crane embassy.

The question of the hour was how much of a fire would she have to put out.

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

Sukima is ushered into a comfortable meeting room, and a few moments later, Suiminko joins her. "Yogo-san, welcome." The Advisor bows and motions to a table, which has been set out with a light breakfast. "Given the hour, I took the liberty of having breakfast prepared."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

Sukima rose and bowed deeply to the Imperial Advisor, a small smile on her lips. "I appreciate your willingness to make time for me this morning, Doji-sama." She moves to where she will sit and waits for Suiminko to take a seat, as the higher ranked individual. "I hope your morning has gone well thus far, what little of it there has been."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

Suiminko seats herself and carefully pours tea for them. "It is always a challenge slipping into a new leadership role, particularly in trying times such as this, but given recent events, it seemed as it the Crane could benefit from having a ranking member of the Imperial Court on site."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

"I see that you've gotten things from the last couple of days resolved quickly, even with those challenges," she noted, picking up the tea and taking a small sip once it was poured. "That judgement seems to have been right on target."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"We will see how things turn out," she says, sidestepping the issue as she sips at her own tea. "I heard that Shosuro Uruwashii managed to escape the court. Please send her my regards when you see her next."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

"Of course. I planned to speak with her later today," She picked up her chopsticks and uttered a blessing before taking a delicate bite.

Once she was finished, she brought up carefully, "I hope any guests from my Clan haven't been too much of a burden?"

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"A burden? Of course not." She picks at her breakfast with deliberate care, chewing carefully before speaking. "One minor annoyance, at most, but it is nothing worth mentioning. Merely a samurai anxious to prove his capabilities."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

She closed her eyes and let out a breath, allowing a bit of honesty through. They did, after all, know one another very well in some ways. "I am very pleased it wasn't more than an annoyance."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"I see little point in becoming upset over such minor matters. This is a stressful time for everyone, so it is not surprising." She gives a faint shrug of h err shoulders. "The Crane and the Scorpion have a.... if not friendly, then at least a working relationship. I see no reason to jeopardize that over such a minor thing."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

She nodded. "Indeed. Everyone cooped up here and under stress," she agreed. "Many things it's not hard to attribute to that."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"I am glad that we are in agreement, then." She slowly sips her tea. "My condolences on the death of your brother, by the way. I worked with him rather closely since becoming the Advisor, and his absence is a great loss for us all."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

Sukima's chopsticks paused as she brought up his passing. "... Thank you, Doji-sama. Sometimes it feels as though he's been forgotten in the succession crisis. Though I wonder if he would be more at peace that way... Letting the trials of his reign fade and being remembered more by those who knew him."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"Very few people in the Empire had the opportunity to know him," she points out. "To many, he was merely the Emperor, the man sitting on the throne and telling them the mandate of the heavens." Her nose scrunches up for a moment. "They cannot properly mourn him, no more than you could mourn my second cousin, Doji Wasako, for her passing two years ago. You can offer sympathies and feel some distant connection with my own grief, but her passing does little to move your heart."

She waves her hand away. "There is no Doji Wasako, by the by, at least none that can call me cousin."

"The only thing of concern to them is who sits on the throne, and what that means for their personal lives. The longer they go without someone telling them to do, the more they must think for themselves. And that frightens them."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

She let out a long breath. "I know... It's not as though I knew him as well as I wished, anyway." Still, the woman's other words were making wheels turn in her head.

"Your point is not untrue, though." Sukima tilted her head to the side. "It's little better on the other side of the idea in the same situation. Those who can think for themselves end up shackled to sinking ships."

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

She makes a faint "mmm" sound as she sips at her tea. "I suspect that no matter who eventually claims the throne, there will be a great many corpses laid out at their feet. Both in the initial battles and in the aftermath. The Otomo will see to that, if nothing else."

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

"The Otomo, Doji-sama?" She looked curious.

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"Another purge, this time of those who supported those who failed to claim the throne." She offers Sukima a faint smile. "Interesting times, neh"

Yogo Sukima · **Joined:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 6:18 am **Posts:** 471

She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Of course they would. It's a perfect opportunity to secure power and discourage any further dissent." She sighed. "As if the spirits aren't bringing enough death. A bad start, not that it's ever concerned them much."

She never had gotten along well with the Otomo.

Doji Suiminko · **Joined:** Sat Apr 11, 2020 1:56 am **Posts:** 120

"Without the Crane to keep their power in check, it seems inevitable." Another sip of tea. "The former Chancellor may not have succeeded in killing the Emperor, but he still dealt a terrible blow to the Empire. I hope that the aftershocks of that betrayal end soon."

[D9, EM] So, About the Other Day... (closed)

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