Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Ren has been dreading this moment for hours, even as much as he has been looking forward to it. It was a strange divide that was about to take place, and he truly didn't know where things were.

"Forgive me, but I sincerely don't know how I should me addressing you. We had been keeping it one way before, but with the Curse..."

He tries to keep his On, something harder for an Ikoma than others.

It probably did not help that three Crab soldiers and two Imperial guardsmen stood just outside the door. She responded politely, “Yuahime is fine, Ikoma-san. I am sorry that things are so difficult for you now.”

She wore a dark blue Crab influenced kimono probably gifted to her by the Local Crab.

Ren bows. "It's strange ground Your Majesty, but I had already begun playing the game of purposefully ignoring one mantle while dealing with the other. There is no hardship to be had."

That wasn't quite true (see, the five guardsmen outside the door), but it was hardly worth quibbling over.

"I suppose my first part is my farewells to Sutorenja-san." Ren offers a soft smile. "She was an intriguing and bright companion, and it would be a shame to let her departure go unmentioned. I had hoped to spend more time with her, but such is the life of duty"

“I see,” she said considering her words.

“If you wish you can say any words of goodbye now and I will make sure she gets them in a timely manner,” she said warmly.

Ren replies with a smile to match. "I would say to her...well, quite a few things. That we were both right: that my need for a yojimbo and her need to a guarantor were both wildly beyond reality, but that it was still a privilege for me to act as one to to have her for the other. That I would have enjoyed traveling with her to the Wall, and whatever came next, and that I will think on that on my own journeys. That her talents and her character will be sorely missed in my planned band, but that I intend to make it one that she would feel proud to join, were she ever to be looking for work again. Just, you know, in case the need were ever to arise and she found herself traveling again." Ren's smile grows mischievous at the last part.

"Some journeys will have to be delayed but she would still like to see the Wall and what becomes of this venture that Ikoma-san has proposed," she replied.

"Traveling would be good, but we shall see."

"May the Fortunes bring us together then." Ren bows. "The rest I fear is slightly more impudent Your Majesty. I hate to fill you with requests while you are still in mourning."

"One...I had shared with Sutrenja-san my intent and my reasons. There are one or two figures that I have targeted to request to join my endeavor, but as Sutorenja-san herself mentioned, there would be a feature that could make it simpler. If there was a call for forces to act as your personal service, one that would require bushi to forswear any claim on inheritance, or to leave their clan, I suspect you would see a great number of volunteers."

"The other is more selfish. Your exploits are already a grand epic Yuahime-sama. I would request that I stay in your court for a while, to document and retell what is to come. It would be a delight for any Ikoma to bear witness of what is to come"

She smiled and said, “You’re request to remain in my court is granted Ikoma-san, it will be good to have an Ikoma in my court and I value your friendship. I will have to consider the matter of such a group carefully, give this one time to properly assess how best to move forward on that matter.”

"It would be a privilege to be beside you on the next leg of your journey. " Ren beams, excited at the chance. Yes, his original plan was off the rails, but this was too intriguing to pass up while not ruling out finding a path for his Clan in his future. Even more so...friendship? Well, yes, he considered Sutorenja a friend, even if their time was short, but this was...

Perhaps not all different. She had known of the true imbalance in their positions when they had met, and while it had grown, Ren wouldn't have changed anything really.

"I do worry about what is to come. If forces at play were looking to take your life before word was passed to you, those same forces may become more desperate as your coronation approaches Oturi-sama"

"I am aware, tough decisions will have to be made," she said with resolve.

"Yes. But you do have your quail with you." Ren pantomimes a flapping motion. hoping to draw a laugh before things turn serious.

"This is a second chance for the Lion, Your Majesty. Please, consider me at your disposal when establishing their support."

The mention of the quails brought genuine laughter to her and then she sighed and said, “I trust you, and I think I will need their support if the worst comes to pass. Tomorrow I plan to put some ideas into action. I hope to avoid any severe conflict, but I would be naïve to expect that my brother will simply submit to good order and reason.”

“I want to believe he is not involved but more and more signs point to his hand moving to take my life,” she said grimly.

Ren's posture relaxes. "It's good to hear you laugh again Yuahime-sama. You seem to be well protected in the meanwhile" he nods in the direction of the door, where five guardsmen waited. "I believe that I can arrange for a few more figures to be armed and ready outside of your retinue, so that our colors do not scare away the game. Other than that, I am at your call for when you put your ideas into place"

She rose then and said, "Then I will see you in the morning, Ikoma-san, I should retire."

"Does this mean that I have the room to myself again?" Ren quips drily, rising as well and offering his own bow. "Please take care Yuahime-sama"