Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

When learning what you're up against, Himeko always went to the top and worked down. Unfortunately, the very top wasn't available, but the main event was. It would do well to get to know the man, so Himeko capitalized on this chance and arranged a meet.

Dressed in her nicest robe, the pretty Scorpion made her way to the castle, and informed the guards that she was here to meet with Hida Yoji.

The door was opened and large dog up to her waist started barking at her and then sniffing at her fine clothes and trying to lick and show her all the love in the world. The interior was sparse with an open balcony on the far side. Rising to greet her was Hida Yoji in a fine kimono of his own, his armor neatly displayed in a corner behind his daisho.

"Well hello there" Himeko said with a smile, quickly offering her hands to the dog to receive approval before giving the animal some much-wanted petting "aren't you an impressive boy. I don't have any treats for you, sorry."

She noticed the man arriving, and gave him a bow.

"Good afternoon Hida-sama. Would this wonderful animal be your pet perchance? He is very energetic."

“Yes that is my best friend, Bujaro,” Yoji responded kindly.

“Thank you for coming, I have to admit I am a bit surprised you wanted to meet. Seems like the Crane would be the more important person,” he finished.

Bujaro was glad to leave thick slobber on her hands. The large dog then sauntered back to a bone and began gnawing at it.

"Bunjaro. A lovely name" Himeko managed not to make any comment about the slobber, just petting the dog a little more before turning back to Yoji with a shake of her head.

"I must disagree Hida-sama. You are the host, and you are the groom. Your importance is just as high as the Crane, and besides I have always enjoyed the company of the Crab. While the Crane has an elegance to how they are, and I won't deny I am trained in the courtly arts, the Crab have ever been direct and honest in how they approach things, and I enjoy such ways. I would like to think we could become friends Hida-sama, and not just because of your delightful companion" she peeked at the dog again before looking back to Yoji "I'm sure both you and he are as delightful a company in different ways. I would offer my thanks to the governor also for hosting everyone, but I understand she is a very busy woman."

She moved closer to the man, letting the dog happily gnaw a bone.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Shosuro Himeko, an honoured guest as you know and one that is very much looking forward to enjoying the Crabs hospitality once more. It has been a while since my last visit to these lands, and that was under different circumstances. I hope you are well?"

“Well, I am pleased to meet you Shosuro-san, I can’t complain really,” he gestured for her to follow to the balcony.

“I am just a soldier, so I am not sure how great of company I will be.”

Littering the table were many attempts at origami, but were now just crumpled balls of paper.

"I don't know why anyone would speak badly of a soldiers company. A soldier has the best stories, because they live their stories. My mother once told me a story about her great grandfathers achievements, and while she told it in a quite wonderful way that kept young Himeko entertained, there is something different about hearing it from the people who have been there, seen it. I have a lot of respect for soldiers Hida-sama."

Himeko followed Yoji to the balcony, looking at the table for a few moments before back at the man.

"and it seems this grand soldier is facing off against a new battlefield."

“Ain’t that grand, just served on the Wall like everyone else. Killed some goblins, killed some bandits, been stabbed a few times. It Is a duty I do proudly, but never really considered it grand. Crab just do the work and hope we do it well enough that our ancestors are made proud,” he said.

“What was your grandfather like?”

"You stood against honourless beings in the name of the Emperor, may he forever be blessed. One would say there is no better duty than to defend those who are less able to do so, such as your future kin from my understanding. She is an artist I hear."

Himeko moved over to the paper, carefully smoothing some out.

"Hm? My great grandfather? I never knew him sadly. He was a caravan guard. A very good one, if my mothers stories were true. He would stay out later than any other, allowing others to rest more, and took on more duties than needed to ensure the safety of the people who traveled. It wasn't just his skills though that marked him out, it was his humility."

She started to fold a piece of red paper as she talked.

"My mother told me one very specific tale. There was a night, where the Moon was obscured by a terrible storm, so there was little light. Many of the other guards were struggling, yet my great grandfather persevered. During the night, bandits struck under the cover of rain, attempting to steal from the caravans. Thieves in the night, with no honour nor care for who they would kill to get their prize. My great-grandfather tracked these thieves for three days, catching them when they thought they were safe. He struck three of them down, and allowed the forth to live when he surrendered. Instead, he taught the boy how he could be better in life. He showed him to help, and taught him to care. In time the boy was even welcomed into the group, and became a great guard in his own right, passing down the lessons my great-grandfather taught."

Himeko looked back at Yuji, putting down a little origami crab on the table.

"An odd tale I know Hida-sama, but it is one that made me smile. He could have slain the boy and nobody would have batted an eyelid. Instead, he gave him a new chance in life. A chance to change who he was, and become something more. Maybe something we can all do, ne?"

(ooc:
D1 MA unskilled origami: 4d10 15
D1 MA storytelling: 4d10 24

“Wow,” he said though it was unclear if it was at the origami or the story.

He remained silent for a long time before realizing he should say something and added, “So is this your first time to the Crab provinces?”

"This is my second visit to your clans lands. I attended a minor court a few years back alongside one of my superiors to discuss a trade deal at the time" Himeko smoothed out a few more pieces of paper "come, sit. We can talk and fold."

She smiled up at him.

"Have you ever left the Crab lands to visit other clans?"

Yoji shrugged and said, "Been to the Wall, grew up around here. Visited my mother's provincial castle a couple times. Never really thought about leaving here."

"What do you know about the Crane?" he finally asked.

"More than I know about the Crab, and perhaps twice as much as I know about your famous wall that guards us from the things further south" Himeko said with a nod, pushing a piece of paper over in front of Yoji.

"What in particular would you like to know about the Crane? I can potentially provide plenty of information if I know what it is you wish to know about them."

Now he felt dumb and just said, “Well what do the Scorpion think of them, I know that your two clans have been rivals for a long time, yes? Well that is what I am told. Most I have seen of Crane until now was usually in stories or on the battlefield.”

"There are likely two different answers to that question Hida-sama. One is that I respect what they do for Rokugan. While our methods and ideals do not always match, and we are rarely going to call one another friends, I do not dislike them. The other answer would be that their single-minded dedication to a single thing in order to achieve a measure of excellence or perfection blinds them to how the empire truly works."

Himeko took on a more thoughtful expression.

"Both of us know that things the empire face are not always as black and white as the Crane and Lion would like it to be, yet they would rather focus on the tenet of honour and claim that will answer everything. I would suspect as you are marrying in, while you may gain assignment in the short term to the armies of the Crane your skillset may not be as well suited as it would be in the Crab. Less creatures to smash, and more arts. Until your wife bears children of course."

Yoji chuckled at the smashing comment and said, “We don’t love to smash, we have to, it’s our duty. Since the founding of the Clan, we are at war every day not just the Summer. But it’s not like the Wall is constantly under siege.”

“Guess it’s just that we have to be ready to fight and if we fail the stakes are larger than just a loss of farm land, it’s the destruction and corruption of the Empire.”

He waved it off and added, “But I have other interests, like failing at origami.”

"I understand" Himeko nodded "while I don't know what you face, I know your clan is always facing a terrible foe. The Scorpion, while not facing the same foe and the same fight, are not as different as one might think. We have our wars that protect the Empire, and we generally dislike having to waste paper making little animals" she laughed, nudging the paper "however don't of it failing. Think of it as studying for your next battle. Let me teach you. I'm no expert, in fact I'd consider myself a novice, but my mother was an artist and she would be horrified if I couldn't do this. I'm more of a dancer than a paper folder though."

Himeko leans on her hand, looking at Yoji, waiting for him to start.

Yoji nodded and began to follow her instruction.

Himeko spent a little while offering advice and instruction on how to fold the perfect origami Crab. Her skills were not great, but the intent and advice would at least hopefully be helpful. After that she started to fold her own again as an example.

"Tell me more about your family. You've heard a little of mine, but I don't know a lot about yours. I'm a curious soul, so forgive me if I ask a lot of questions."

(ooc - no ranks in origami so no co-op, sorry!)

Yoji laughed as he folded something that approached a bird but needed to be put out of its misery. He shrugged and said, “That’s a big subject, my family isn’t noble like my bride, we are buke; my mother earned her position as daimyo and she drills that into us daily that we must be better than her.”

OOC: Hida Yoji Origami TN 15: 2d10 8

"And you take her lessons to heart? My parents were pretty relaxed, they had no expectations for me. I'm same as you, part of the buke. No blood of the nobles here. Still, you have a chance to become more, ne? Although it won't be easy."

She looked up at the big man, adding "that you're marrying out I think is a surprise. When did you hear about it?"

"About six months or so ago, while I was still at the Wall, it took them awhile to find someone of the right lineage I guess," he responded.

"I never considered leaving the Crab, being a Crane will be an odd fit but if that is what Hida-dono needs of me then I'll do it. Your parents never pushed you to be more than they were? Must be nice."