(D1, LM)-Broom Closet Sweet Broom Closet (Guest Room) (Open)

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

The castle servants had been scrambling to house an entire winter court's worth of refugees on short notice. The older servants got to tend to the needs of the people of note so their years of experience could be utllized to getting the important people settled.

Yuki, one of the most junior servants lost at rock, paper and scissors and got to escort the low status creepy Yogo to her "room". She was nervous, who knew what sort of madness the Yogo would unleash once she saw her quarters.

"Um, we're here Yogo-sama." she offered shyly preparing to bolt.

It was a single tiny room big enough for Aya and her possessions and a poor quality futon and little else. No windows, no artwork, no bonsai tree, no books, no tea set, no go board.....they were clearly not meant to serve as proper samurai quarters, but the castle was getting packed to the bursting.

Aya took "all" of it in.

"It's....perfect." she declared.

Yuki opened one eye, "Yogo-sama?"

"You're dismissed," Aya said with a wave so she could set about unpacking her belongings.

Yuki fled.

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

Hida Goro, as it turned out, was not in the greatest of moods. He had been thrown out of his room in place of some middling Crane courtier and placed into shared accommodations with a bunch of low-level nobodies.

Of course, it hadn't been phrased in such a way - no, he fumed privately, it had been phrased in that polite language that courtiers loved to use to talk down to the "less-civilized" bushi.

It was in that fuming mood that he turned a corner, almost knocking over a servant who was busy scurrying away from... someone. He barely even noticed the girl's stammered apology for in that moment he hit his head on a low hanging lantern and cursed - loudly.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya's ears perked up at the vulgarity, and deigned to investigate. Locating the source, she let out a low whistle.

"You would be just the perfect size and shape to block the door to the room they gave me in a siege. I see the Crab really are the wall." she mused.

She offered a short bow.

"Yogo Aya, new broom closet resident. And you are?"

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

The sumai glowered for a second then, with great effort, regained some sort of composure upon seeing the colours of the other samurai - if there was anyone he would attempt to maintain some sort of composure around, it was a Scorpion. He knew all too well the stories about how they could get their pincers into the smallest chip in your armor.

He managed a bow, maybe a bit more than was necessary if only because he didn't immediately recognize the face nor the name of the woman. He found those who really cared about how deeply he bowed were more likely to overlook bowing too deep than not deep enough.

"Hida Goro," he says, rising from his bow. The words new broom closet resident stuck in his mind after a moment of blank staring silence; that meant it was possible the Scorpion had been moved like he had but, as he didn't recognize the face after long weeks cooped up in the Lion castle...

"Yogo-san is fresh from the long march, hm?"

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya grinned.

"Well, nothing like a brisk march through the dead of winter after a great tragedy to really get the heart pumping, ne? she says somewhat airly.

"Given I did not see you standing head and shoulders above lesser men, I should assume that Goro-san was already wintering here?"

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

"Mmm." The giant Crab nods. "Hida Goro came to Toshi no Omoidoso to stand watch over the most astute Yasuki Daisuke." Despite the Crab's frankness, it is hard to tell if there is any sarcasm in his voice. He shrugs a little, "Hida Goro has found it a most long and... uneventful winter."

He pauses for a moment, considering the phrasing of his words, "Perhaps Hida Goro should have been grateful."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

"Perhaps Hida Goro should have, but one never truly knows the quality of a blade until it is tested, ne?"

She glances back at her closet.

"I would invite Hida Goro to have tea with me, but I seem to be out of snacks, tea, cups, tea sets, and pillows. And I'm not sure you could get through the door Or if you did get through the door, if there would be anyplace for me to sit besides atop your head."

She was exaggerating the size of things, but not by a lot.

She shrugged a bit.

"Perhaps Hida Goro would consent to a stroll about the castle? I'd be interested enough to know more about my unexpected winter getaway from the lips of a possibly skilled, if yet untested yojimbo, and perhaps I could recipriocate with an amusing tale from the road."

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

The Crab exhales sharply through his nose - he is unsure about whether the Scorpion's comments are meant as jabs at him but assumes they are and does his best to maintain control.

"Hida Goro is unsure that Hida Goro is a very good guide or able to tell about the tales of an otherwise boring court..."

But, of course, the alternative was to return to his domicile with the young Lion bushi who always seemed to be looking down on him even as they stared up at him.

"But, if Yogo-san wishes the company, Hida Goro would be... enthused to hear the tale of the trip."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

She favors Hida Goro with a bright smile.

"Excellent! I just got done dusting all my nothing, so I would appreciate Hida Goro's company."

She closes up the broom closet. Security was important after all.

"would Hida Goro be willing to tell me what Hida Goro has already heard? I find it best to not bore people with what they already know."

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

The Hida begins to lead the way - careful, this time, to avoid the lanterns swinging dangerously close to his head.

"Hida Goro only hears stories - that there was an attack, by ghosts, or spirits, or some other evil creature. Hida Goro has heard that..." He hesitates for a moment, "... that the most Heavenly Sovereign, the Hantei, was struck down by treachery. That those who survived the cowardly attack departed in all directions."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Yogo Aya considered that.

"Hmmm, not too shabby Hida Goro. Given the refugees just arrived a few hours ago, you must have quite sharp hearing, an excellent trait for a yojimbo, truly." she said, her tone difficult to read.

She turned a corner quickly, sending a servant skittering away.

"Oh, but that part about ghosts or spirits is wrong....evil creature....well I guess it depends on what you think of Emperors returning from the dead. But it is my understanding the assailant is fully mortal....well, insofar as one would consider such an unusual background mortal Hmmmm....then again, mortal does indicate subject to death, so I guess that does apply to both former Emperors after all."

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

"Stories move quickly, Yogo-san." If he noticed the fact that the Scorpion was using his name without honorifics, he didn't care - or didn't give any indication he cared. "The servants already whisper when they think samurai aren't listening and stories grow. It is something most clans do not stamp out. We do not allow it among the Crab - loose lips can bring down the Wall, after all."

The Crab hears rest, the correction, as he watches the servant skitter away, having to take half-steps to not desperately outpace the Yogo. His eyes widen, his nostrils flare, and he tugs slightly on his hair, "An emperor returned from the dead? That is... that is..."

He stops and closes his eyes, "Hida Goro is conflicted."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Yogo Aya pauses alongside her unwilling tour guide.

"Hida Goro is likely not alone in this regard. After all, the Emperor is infallible, the whole system of government hinges on that fact. It's not like they stop being infallible when they die. And you can't have two infallible Emperor's at the same time. Typically succession only passes forward from generation to generation, not backwards. Still, others are iikely to offer that one has returned from the dead and sent the other to death would indicate which side Heaven is truly on."

She shrugs.

"I'm sure the various courtiers will no doubt spend the weeks up until summer debating the semantics of it until armed conflict breaks out."

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

The Crab lets out a sound through his nose, "There should be no debate. The dead should not return. It is against the way of things and anything that returns from the dead is an abomination. Perhaps it is time for the Empire as a whole to learn a thing the Crab have known since the dawn of time."

He resumes his march through the castle, forgetting for a time to take half steps so the Scorpion isn't left behind.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Yogo Aya doesn't mind the slightly brisker pace. When one didn't concern themselves with walking like a courtier, it wasn't too bad.

"Hmm. Perhaps I have misunderstood Hida Goro then. Was the conflict Hida Goro mentioned then whom Hida Goro would make that point clear to first?"

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

The bushi seems confused - and it clearly shows on his face as he tries to play the words back in his head and untangle the meaning in them. It is very clear that Hida Goro is not the sharpest katana in the armory.

"Err... that is..."

Hida Goro punches his fists together as his mind makes what he hopes is the proper connections, "Yes! Hida Goro is only conflicted as to who is the first one that should be told about the correct way of dealing with such an abomination and who can be trusted to do what must be done."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Yogo Aya scratched Yogo Aya's chin.

"Well....it would make sense to me if Hida Goro first approached Yasuki Daisuke about it, but I don't really know the nuances of the situation." she admitted.

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

There's a slight shrug from the large man, "Daisuke-san is Crab. He, like every samurai born to our esteemed clan, will already know how this must be handled. Just because he is Yasuki does not mean he has not be taught the practicalities of our place in the Empire!"

The sumo is clearly proud of the clan's teaching and stands a little straighter, "Hida Goro will be sure not to mention any insinuations from Yogo-san's statement to Daisuke-san."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya shrugged at that.

"I was really thinking that he might not have heard the news of what actually happened, and as someone from a more political family and from a clan who already knows where they should stand, he'd be ready to help once you armed him with the knowledge but....."

"....Whatever." she said, her tone clearly indicating the Crab had offended her.

She resumed her walk, whether or not the Crab continued it was up to him.

Hida Goro · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:11 pm **Posts:** 67

"It is not Hida Goro's place to tell Daisuke-san things." It's unclear from his tone whether the man truly believes that of his position or if, perhaps, he just doesn't take his appointment seriously. "Daisuke-san is no doubt already finding out the things he needs to know. If he wishes to know something from Hida Goro, he will ask Hida Goro."

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