D6MA, Yeah, I Oughta Eat (open)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Refreshed from bathing, Yuuwaku makes her way out into the subdued streets of the town. Commerce continues, of course, but quietly, and Yuuwaku finds no trouble getting served a meal of fried rice with the local shrimp.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Yuuwaku was eventually joined by the magistrate, fully adorned for duty.

Perhaps it was a sign of his reputation, the dread he inspired, the terrifying stories associated with his name or something else, that a cup of piping hot tea and a bow of the daily special was in front of the magistrate's seat before he could even open his lips or motion any desire to eat.

Nodding to the staff as they left, he turned to Yuuwaku and bowed.

"Kakita-san. Would I be interrupting if I joined you?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku looks up at his approach and, recognizing him, stands to bow.

"Kakita-bugyo's company is an honor and a privilege, of course."

She awaits him taking his seat before she resumes hers.

"How may this one serve?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Yuuwaku looks up at his approach and, recognizing him, stands to bow.

"Kakita-bugyo's company is an honor and a privilege, of course."

She awaits him taking his seat before she resumes hers.

"How may this one serve?"

He takes his seat, signalling for her to do the same.

"No service - It has just been a while since we talked. I am checking to see if all is well, especially considering the news."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"News, Kakita-bugyo?" Yuuwaku asks. "This one apologizes; there was an incident last night, and this one spent the morning recovering from it before bathing. So this one has not yet heard any news--though things have seemed subdued.

"Is all well?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

It was a long, forlorn face on the magistrate. The face one would give as if explaining to a small child that father was never coming home because he did something terrible and needed to die.

Even so, it was his duty to report such things. There would be no hesitation, no Cranefooting.

Only the truth.

"The Empress has returned to the heavens. Her daughter, once Oturi Yuahime, has been named Oturi the second."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku's face goes stony, and she slides--gracefully, it must be said--out of the chair, folding into a full zarei.

"Long may Her Majesty reign."

She resumes her seat with the same grace.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Out of respect for her majesty, he almost follows Yuuwaku's example -

"May her reign be peaceful and prosperous."

He drank from his cup before continuing.

"But I meant personal news. Have you been doing well, any progress on what we discussed before arriving, things of that sort."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Ah," Yuuwaku nods her understanding. "This one has been generally well, although, again, there was an incident last night that occasioned some recovery.

"But relations with various groups' representatives here have been eased. Performances have tended to be appreciated, and broadly, and protracted discussions with Dragon and Mantis representatives have been particularly amicable. Those with a young Otomo have been lengthy and are moving in a direction similar to that being celebrated. And they would be beneficial, were they to continue in such a way."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Ah," Yuuwaku nods her understanding. "This one has been generally well, although, again, there was an incident last night that occasioned some recovery.

An 'incident'.

"By your wording, it sounds personal - I won't pry unless you have safety concerns."

"But relations with various groups' representatives here have been eased. Performances have tended to be appreciated, and broadly, and protracted discussions with Dragon and Mantis representatives have been particularly amicable. Those with a young Otomo have been lengthy and are moving in a direction similar to that being celebrated. And they would be beneficial, were they to continue in such a way."

A rare smile.

"I'm glad. I remember our talk in the Sleepy Willow and did fear some. Have you made plans to propose?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

An 'incident'.

"By your wording, it sounds personal - I won't pry unless you have safety concerns."

"It occurs that this one should seek spiritual counsel. Not of the kind in which the Kuni specialize, but more general. There was...dancing to music this one might have been the only one to hear in the middle of the night, and this one would seem to have tried to follow the First Crane."

A rare smile.

"I'm glad. I remember our talk in the Sleepy Willow and did fear some. Have you made plans to propose?"

Here, Yuuwaku looks frankly confused. "That is an option?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Here, Yuuwaku looks frankly confused. "That is an option?"

The man of law speaks the law thus.

"A union of such must be finalised by both prospective lords, but writing upwards and proposing such a marriage to one's lord is not unheard of or dishonourable if your lord has not announced or proceeded with any plans."

A sip before he continued, thinking back to his stint years of magistrate training.

"You will need to justify it to them, likely explaining the political, hereditary or military applications of the union, and they may simply decide not to allow it, but it's not illegal by any means. You would need to word it as 'securing an interest in an advantageous union' or 'mutual interest in a possible filial alliance' as opposed to 'I want to marry this person'. But if both samurai write to one's lord on the subject, they may decide to pursue legal courting."

"A Lord is a busy person who must care for many - depending on who you answer to, you may save them a lot of effort by lining up a good union. Be careful not to waste their time, however."

He then realised she wasn't aware of that option, and the implications thereof.

"...That means there's a different meaning to 'moving in a similar direction to that celebrated, doesn't it?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku listens attentively, working to commit to memory what the magistrate says of the matter. And then she responds to the question posed her.

"No, Kakita-bugyo. Discussions with the young Otomo have touched on marriage and advancement, but this one is not aware of any enmities to be set aside in such a union nor any particular influence of the Fortune of Beauty. Nor has the Otomo been other than gentlemanly."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"No, Kakita-bugyo. Discussions with the young Otomo have touched on marriage and advancement, but this one is not aware of any enmities to be set aside in such a union nor any particular influence of the Fortune of Beauty. Nor has the Otomo been other than gentlemanly."

"I'm glad to hear it - It was the inquiry on marriage which made me think otherwise. From what I've seen, he's a good man - he helped me sate Hitomi and break the loops last night."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I'm glad to hear it - It was the inquiry on marriage which made me think otherwise. From what I've seen, he's a good man - he helped me sate Hitomi and break the loops last night."

Yuuwaku nods. "This one is glad to hear Kakita-bugyo endorse him--but more so that the repetitions are done."

She raises an eyebrow. "But may this one inquire as to what other thoughts Kakita-bugyo had in that line?"

What do you know? she wonders.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

She raises an eyebrow. "But may this one inquire as to what other thoughts Kakita-bugyo had in that line?"

There is not much tale to tell in that regard.

"For myself, no one catches my eye. But I imagine there are others in the flock who seek a partner - I should check on them at some point."

...Though having said that, the thought of tea with Aji-san might not be too bad, even if a union wasn't on the line.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

There is not much tale to tell in that regard.

"For myself, no one catches my eye. But I imagine there are others in the flock who seek a partner - I should check on them at some point."

...Though having said that, the thought of tea with Aji-san might not be too bad, even if a union wasn't on the line.

"This one will hope Kakita-bugyo finds somewhat to suit him," Yuuwaku offers and takes a sip of tea. He's done so, so it should be okay.

[Kakita Masao]

Another of the flock is about in the town, though with no particular direction until hunger gains enough of his attention that he ends up following, unknowingly, in Yuuwaku's footsteps. Coming upon the dancer and the magistrate, the nikutai has no reason not to attempt to join them.

"Kakita-sama and Kakita-san, good afternoon," he says from the appropriate distance to gain their attention. "Might I join the two of you, if it won't be an imposition?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku looks to Konohamaru. The ranking Crane, he has the call. But her body language is clearly welcoming to any trained to see it.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"This one will hope Kakita-bugyo finds somewhat to suit him," Yuuwaku offers and takes a sip of tea. He's done so, so it should be okay.

"We-"

Upon hearing the new arrival, he turned to Yuuwaku to see if such company would be acceptable.

He would have asked, but Yuuwaku's stance was clear from what he remembered of his years in courtier school. As he had no reason to dismiss the man, he stood bowed to Masao before inviting him over.

"By all means, Kakita-Nikutai. Your presence would be amiable. I have been meaning to catch up with everyone, so now is a good oppurtunity."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao happily joins the table of Kakita, waving at a well-timed server for the same thing Yuuwaku is having.

"I am glad the timing is favorable. It seems much has happened between last night and this morning." His expression suggests he knows something but mostly he looks curious. When another tea cup arrives he wastes no time in serving himself.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Masao happily joins the table of Kakita, waving at a well-timed server for the same thing Yuuwaku is having.

"I am glad the timing is favorable. It seems much has happened between last night and this morning." His expression suggests he knows something but mostly he looks curious. When another tea cup arrives he wastes no time in serving himself.

Interesting.

"You look like you wish to tell us about it with some urgency."

He gestured that Masao could proceed.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao looks slightly like a child caught reaching for a cookie.

"Ah, of course, Kakita-sama." The nikutai adjusts his seat slightly. "Well, I'm sure you've heard about the Miya's news, of the death of the empress, and the new empress who was actually here--" he makes no effort to hide his incredulity, "and she was one of the Ronin we've seen around. The, uh, older one," he clarifies in a quieter voice, not sure if the comment is proper.

"So as soon as the new empress is named, she departs with the Monkey bushi -- clearly they're friends -- and then as I'm getting ready to speak to Otomo Yusuke-sama, up walks the Mantis captain, the Tsuruchi one, with a ronin and two Ikeda -- they did not look like it was to be a friendly talk." The talkative soldier pauses for a sip of tea.

"And Otomo-sama really flinched when the new empress was named, so I'm guessing he's unhappy about that. Unfortunately, the Mantis decided to be rude to me and Asahina-san as he was interrupting our conversation with the Otomo, so we needed to not stay in that situation." There is a hard edge in the warrior's voice, suggesting that he still wants to put his sword through the Mantis.

Edited to align with outcome from the Masao/Mantis having words.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The magistrate listened intently, as one would with any news regarding the Empress. As he did, He thought of what he knew, formulating a plan.

The change in station vastly changes the situation they found themselves in - and the potential ramifications come consequences of what had transpired in the past. If, and this was a big if, she remembered the past. If not, then it should be an easy enough fix. But if she did...

"I wonder if she remembers the time loops."

((OOC: Feel free to fill in what else the Mantis say after, if there's any change.))

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku, whose payer had been away and asleep, takes in the news silently.

The Empress is here? she thinks.

"Her Majesty is here?" she says.

This is potentially worrisome.