Pretty spring blossoms (D7 MA Open)

[Matsu Inori]

"Perhaps there are. I have not seen them though. There are other charms to Lion lands, but...this level of splendor and hospitality not so much. Barley gruel, marching and endless hours in the Dojo. They did teach me some excellent skills with the Yari." Inori replied.

Not many flowers though. Especially not so many that you can smell them from half a step away

"Plus, Doji-san - the artwork will be judged. I think your presentation might have some influence on it, but...maybe I'm being a bit idealistic here"

[Doji Yoshino]

"That's beyond tough..." Is all she could say. Were some yari skills worth some harsh training? She'd never understood why the Lion had so many armies and warriors. It wasn't like there was any external threat, such as a neighbouring aggressive neighbour, to use them against. Well, the South didn't count in her thought exercise.

She wraps her arms about her knees, hugging them close to herself. "Sounds nicer than being cynical."

[Matsu Inori]

That was more of an emotional outburst than the Lion expected, or indeed, was able to process right away.

"I mean...it is. I think. What would be the point in trying after all if we were hopeless to begin with? You...do have a chance. If you have a good idea. Besides, the Dojo thing...you get used to it, I suppose."

[Doji Yoshino]

"Hmm?" Yoshino looked up to Inori. Such a remark was too interesting to be left be. She tilts her head as she looked expectant to hear more. "I might, but there is a point in trying regardless. I was told to and so it is my duty, ne? Setting that aside... do you have stony relations with your family too?"

[Matsu Inori]

"Used to be pretty good - that was when I was still on track, you know. Doing all the right things, placing in the top third of the Dojo, doing all the things expected of me to become an officer"

Inori shrugged. She had told parts of this before, but only smaller ones, bit and pieces. Stringing it together. She sat back, next to Yoshino. This felt...too awkward for direct eye contact

"Things happened. First my performance slipped - seeing things no one else can see, regularly, does, and my Sensei had little patience for it. It is a discipline issue, you know? The remedial training did not "fix the issue", and how could it? Turns out I wasn't imagine most of the things I was seeing, it's just that I was seeing spirits and they were not, you know...Imaginary"

She fidgeted a bit with her hands, continued.

"Made me question a few things, miss some others. I also started painting - and while Samurai are supposed to be cultured, it was only grudgingly accepted in someone who was beginning to lag in her studies in the Dojo. Eventually they pulled strings to have me sent to the thousand stances Dojo. Well. People there did not make me into the bushi my mother hoped for, but made me figure out WHAT I was seeing. Not only that, but other...things happened there"

By some standards, my own even, I should have died a warrior there. I'm glad I survived, but I carry a piece of shame and regret with me,

"I've been in Limbo since. No clear posting, no gear - because I clearly didn't need full armour or a Katana. No stipend either, it would be paid for my position of duty. My family hasn't precisely abandoned me, no. They invested a lot of favours - that was not cheap. Yet it looks like they were content to let me fall through the cracks"

[Doji Yoshino]

There were some similarities between them. Enough that Yoshino could empathise. There were more differences, but not enough to stop that. It sounded to her like Inori had a caring family right up until she'd cost them too much investment. Who said samurai didn't understand commerce?

She listened quietly without judgment. It was rare for someone to divulge this much. Perhaps it was the right moment and her own honesty had played a part. She felt some resonance there.

As Inori fidgeted her hands she did the same, that feeling of discomfort at the past something that was mutual. The Lion were as heartless as their reputation, but all samurai were capable of it. She'd seen that with the Doji after what happened with her immediate family.

"..." Yoshino said nothing as she got up and stepped closer to Inori. She wore a sympathetic smile. Instead of saying anything right away she extended her hand toward her fellow samurai-ko.

"Walk with me?"

[Matsu Inori]

That reminded Inori a little of something she'd done before - albeit not as, let's say, extreme. Still...it was something of a fond memory.

She's a Crane, yes, but they can't all be horrible. She's not a Kakita, after all.

So, taking the Doji's invitation at face value...she accepted the offered hand and nodded.

[Doji Yoshino]

Yoshino's grip was gentle as she turned to lead them both unhurriedly to the northern part of the garden, toward the low wall.

"When was the last time you had contact with your family? Have you written recently?" She asks softly, turning to peek at Inori curiously. "Your path here has been demanding, and your current circumstances are not ideal. Still, your family valued you dearly, ne? And you said they haven't abandoned you so there is hope... what do you want your relationship with them to be like?" Yoshino goes on to ask as she shows the Lioness around a raised flower patch toward a more isolated spot by the far northern wall.

[Matsu Inori]

Inori was still surprised the other Samurai did, indeed, take her hand, but allowed herself to be led with no resistance. She was curious where Yoshino was taking her.

"They haven't cut me off entirely - my parents are busy, and so are my younger sister and brother. My father has seen me off before I left, which was" Inori figured in her head "A little over a month ago."

Complicated emotions played over her face.

"I think they were disappointed that all their plans, all their investments came to naught. And now that I am who I am they do not know how to deal with me...and they were content just to let it run for a while. It feels unfair, even if I....understand. I would have liked to have become the Matsu Yuuka they had expected me to become"

She broke off for a second.

"But I am what I am, and I have made peace with that. Now...now I want to be able to return, head held high. Make my parents and my clan acknowledge me, not as a failure, but as the Samurai I am"

[Doji Yoshino]

"It's nice your father saw you off and that you've made peace with becoming who you are instead of who your parents hoped you might be. There's surely no shame in the current you Matsu-san. You were acknowledged very publicly yesterday, and rightly so." Yoshino points out as she returned her hands to her waist. She moved to sit by the wall, legs to her side. She invited Inori to join her with an open palm gesture. "One could say being invited was an acknowledgement too. Is art failure? Or... your other talents?" The Crane glanced to the scrolls the Lion carried.

Yoshino made a thoughtful noise as she observed the Lion. "I was trained by the Yasuki after I was trained by the Doji, so I see investments from two perspectives. Sometimes a samurai acts as a patron to an a business yet it turns out differently than they anticipated. That doesn't make it a failure if one can adapt. I'm... trying that approach myself." She fiddled with the front of her kimono to smooth it down and brush off some grass. "My immediate family are all dead. It wasn't anything heroic or glorious that I could be proud of or take some solace in. It is a horrible memory." She says surprisingly calmly. "I was treated very well by my parents and sister, but I'd like to think that even if I wasn't that I would want to do my best to stay close to them. The other Doji keep me away because of what happened. Even so, I try to keep good relations with them. I sense you feel the same about your family." Her gaze returned to Inori.

"Even Sensei can make mistakes. Family certainly can too, though we may courteously leave some unaddressed. I can only see a woman who has given a lot of herself to please her family and do her duty. If they don't adapt and acknowledge you, will your hold your head up high regardless?"

[Matsu Inori]

Yoshino's past, or rather just the short glimpse provided, were definitely not easy to digest. Inori swallowed hard once during the re-telling.

Some people definitely have it worse than I do. It is good to be reminded of that.

"I have...really mostly come to terms with who I am, and what I do. I was irritated when I heard that I was invited - or rather that the Hatamoto of my Daimyo himself had me invited. Sent off to another imperial event AGAIN, with the last one having been both rather good and also very bad. Being forced to let go of the last bit of familiarity.
Later I thought it would be a thing they did to make or break me. I still think that, to be honest, but I don't see it as cruel anymore. Even if it had not gone well, just staying in limbo like I have...sure, it was bearable, but it would never have been good. If nothing else I got a chance to prove my art wasn't a failure"

Inori turned towards the Crane

"You will never not be also influenced by the Yasuki, I think. Nor...would you, I assume, now that they've taken you in. Do you take well to their approach and skills?"

[Doji Yoshino]

"You don't look broken to me, and this competition hasn't been very bad... has it?"

She placed her hands in her lap hoping Inori would join her.

"I need to learn to be more perceptive to really get the most from their teachings, but I'm enjoying seeing things from another perspective. It is very different to what I was taught as a child. Have you heard the idea that court is like a battlefield?"

[Matsu Inori]

"Make or break" she said, smiling, joining Yoshino and sitting down as well "I landed on the former of the two. This last week has been...good for me. Better than expected"

Inori looked thoughtful for a second.

"As for the courts being a battlefield, I have not heard that, no. Please elaborate"

[Doji Yoshino]

"Especially for one so young." How had she not noticed that earlier? Being so close surely helped.

"Of course. I imagine all courtiers are taught this idea and trained in its implications and applications, but the Doji School especially so. Like a battlefield, one wrong move can be the end of you. It can also cause the end of your allies, or a loss of honour, or the loss of land. Each Clan's courtiers seek their Clan's interests, and when these oppose or there have been actual battles... well, courtly intrigue becomes life or death. Subtle insults are issued, which are rapidly followed by duels. Important samurai are sought after to be influenced and persuaded. Their words can overturn practically anything, or cause the fall of practically anyone. So, like with a bushi, one must train, watch their surroundings and wield their weapons well when the time comes. Only, instead of a sword or a bow, we learn to train with words and gifts. We learn to read the factions, people and wishes of those in court. Or, so goes this idea."

She smiled awkwardly.

"I've never been invited to an important winter court to be able to see it in action when it is... most cutthroat. However, I can say the idea is sound."

Yoshino gestured to Inori. "If you wrote to your lord that one of my artistic pieces had insulted your Clan's honour, what might happen?"

[Matsu Inori]

"Depends on how much they trust me, I suppose, and how much they value my opinion on the matter."

Inori frowned.

"I suppose they would try to seek to redress the issue, by apology or duel, if needed, or by war. And if we're being a bit cynical, they might like to have a reason to declare war."

She reflected on the answers she'd given.

"Which means that the stakes can be quite high. Especially if there are also possible misunderstandings, or some people just...lie." there was clear distate in that word "Because then conflict can easily arise. Suppose, in that example, my Clan sought to retaliate against you personally and force an apology - even that much would probably do a good bit of damage to your prospects or career."

[Doji Yoshino]

Yoshino nods. "There you have it. It's harder for young students to grasp, as they lack experience of such things. However, you already have a good strategic perspective... perhaps you would have excelled learning leadership from the Akodo?" She compliments honestly. Having such a quick, broad grasp of something was admirable. Inori had taken the simple example from start to finish in one logical stretch.

"Fortunately, both our Clans comport themselves with honour. There are misunderstandings from time to time, and bad actors who do shame their families and cause incidents, but I honestly believe much of the troubles between us are due to outside interference." Rather tactfully she didn't go into any details of what she meant by that. She trusted that Inori had enough imagination to correctly interpret it.

"I've actually found the few Lion I've spoken to, including yourself, to be very reasonable."

[Matsu Inori]

I wish, I really, really wish I could return that compliment.

"Things are easier, I feel, if both sides act with honour and good faith. Part of the battle is knowing who to trust it seems - I feel like you are trustworthy, Doji-san. I wish we had met a little earlier, but things are the way they are."

Inori leaned back "I was trained to succeed my mother as an officer. I had the...eyes, they said, the perception. I suppose I did, but not the way they assumed. As strange as that sounds I feel the loss of this authority or command less keenly than giving up the purity and simpicity of my life as a soldier."

Slight frown.

"To let you in on a secret...I am relieved that I have not yet had to fight to kill. I am not sure I have the stomach for it. Isn't that...strange, in someone so invested in the arts of war? I wonder if some who do fight in the battlefield of the courts feel the same."

[Doji Yoshino]

"I grow concerned at those who take joy in killing, so I dearly hope those with reservations are more the norm." She ducked down a little to catch Inori's frown. "I feel you're trustworthy too. Let's enjoy the view here for a little longer. We'll be in the gallery again soon, ne?"

[Matsu Inori]

Inori was almost...relieved that what she had revealed had not, in fact, caught on.

"Yes, just so. Another day, another attempt. I'll have to start in earnest soon enough. Just not right away. A little longer, then" she said, taking another look around, making an effort to notice the individual flowers and take in the scent.

Opulence. Splendour. So casually displayed.

Nothing like the dry plains of her homeland. In more ways than one the Matsu thought, turning her gaze back to the Doji.

[Doji Yoshino]

Even with the ink scribbles on her face and hands, Yoshino still looked refined in large part thanks to her fine, top quality kimono. Like practically all Crane it was worn with casual indifference. Unlike many, the styling was plainer and understated. No flying cranes in white, silver and gold thread.

"A little longer, yes. I'll miss this view."

She let out a little hum.

"I'll need to water and collect my bonsai soon."