Sapphire Ambassadors

[Expecting, but public]

Choudai was out looking for a quick lunch, and had settled on a likely-looking noodle stand. He refrained from shouldering the vendor aside to see what seasonings were in use and simply ordered a bowl of ramen, having a seat and waiting his turn.

It had already been a hell of a day, and it was a sign of how tapped out he was feeling that he didn't simply head back to the Jinabori to make his own lunch.

Kakita. Mikan. I would ask which Fortune I've offended, but I fear the list would be a long one...

Inori was a little between things, really. Painting took time, after all, and while she had some time yet, she was out and about on her business. But it was hungry work. And here was the food she herself could afford.

Well, affordable food that still wasn't barley gruel

But it was not just noodle soup she found, but another, familiar face. As things stood, even with her cousin here, she was feeling a distinct lack of those in recent days. Inori smiled, approached.

"Bayushi-san! Fancy meeting you here!"

and bowed.

He turned... and smiled.

The younger samurai were so refreshing, still so shiny and new, like freshly-forged blades.

"Matsu-san! Would you care to join me for lunch? It's been a while. How have you been?"

"I've been good" she answered "Turns out my actual cousin is here - and competition so far seems friendly, even though I heard the judges can be quite scathing. I wouldn't know, I was not around for any of that."

She was a bit flustered, to be honest. Deep breath, Inori, Deep breath.

"Anyway, yes. Lunch sounds lovely!"

Choudai gestured toward the stool next to him and held up a finger to the vendor.

"One more for my young friend. So. Matsu-san... don't worry about the judges being scathing. One of them practices sadane, and the other practices a demeanor of studied boredom. It's their job to find fault, and, being Crane, they have Views on art. That didn't translate to anything being treated unfairly yesterday, in my estimation."

"I'll trust your judgement then, Bayushi-san" even though I have a hard time understanding or respecting those games Cranes play

She smiled

"Still, to see your art on display...I'd wondered what form that would take. It was a smart take, I think - measured, not going all-out to prepare the most spectacular dish. Reminds me that I still have a lot to learn about Bushido from my elders and ancestors."

"Well, again... our judges are a bored man and his sadane-playing wife. If I were to exercise all of my abilities and the choicest ingredients in Rokugan to prepare some magnificent dish to the absolute best of my abilities for every day... it wouldn't really go over all that well. Better to keep to the themes of the contest, and excel in facets."

He shrugged.

"At least, that's been my thinking in preparing my options. I may adjust my plans for Rei, though."

Inori nodded, eagerly, smelling the food that was being prepared but, oh so tantalizingly, had not arrived yet.

"I agree with Bayushi-san. The thought rings true, if anything I am a little humbled because it did not occur to me. Restraint and showing judgement and knowledge rather than a show of force is...sophisticated. Civilized."

She shook her head

"That said I am not thinking far into the future here. Perhaps I should, and learn more about Bushido, think ahead further. Right now...I'm painting what occurs to me. Some, like today's, will be a bit easier"

"Yes, I imagine a Matsu would have little trouble with Yu."

He seemed amused.

"My own demonstration should go well. Or kill me outright. One of the two."

"Sounds intriguing" she said, smiling "Maybe that's the best kind of demonstration"

Inori went over the picture in her head. She had an idea, and a pretty clear one.

"I will definitely take a close look once Bayushi-san is done"

"There will be a chance to do more than look today. My art, after all, is not the sort that lasts, and it would be a shame to let it go to waste."

"I'll take you up on that" the Matsu said, just as the noodle soup also arrived.

"Just as I intend to here. Thank you."

Lifted her chopsticks up, made a short prayer.

"But also...how have you been those last few days?"

Swinging from ecstasy to misery and back again.

"Oh, a bit busy. Running around a Crane town with everyone acting nervous when they think I don't see them, trying to secure ingredients."

Grabbing every second I can with the woman I love.

"It's not really an environment that encourages settled stability, no?"

"Hmmm" Inori considered. "No it's not, especially with so many people from multiple clans stirring the pot and imperial positions in the offing"

Something was clearly occupying the Scorpion, but Inori had no idea what it could be.

"I find it hard to think far ahead with all the work we do every day for the art presentations, the new people we meet - hard enough to keep up with all that. Well, we always show back up at that place" she said, then grinned "And see another really strange painting from that one Kakita. That's some stability I guess...."

"Yes, and to flatter my ego, I always seem to have a starring role!"

Inori nodded "I noticed, yes. I am rather unsure what to make of it. Or what exactly she means, but..."

maybe it would be rude to bring it up that directly

"It is most peculiar"

"Eh. Not so much the part about me."

He took another mouthful of noodles, chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed.

"Turns out we're betrothed. I gather from her artwork that she is less than enthused by the prospect."

Inori stopped for a bit to process that, tapped her upper lip with an index finger, in thought. Marriage, huh?

"Well. That is a bit surprising but would explain some things"

Defensive noodle slurp.

"Still, wouldn't someone from Bayushi-san's family have told you or been involved with the arrangement? You seem surprised at least, and of course I have never spoken to this Kakita-san, so I couldn't tell either"

"I have literally never laid eyes on the woman. I only got the letter informing me of it this morning. I knew negotiations were underway, but had no name to work with."

"Hmmm. I suppose it is the way these things go, sometimes. Still, It would be interesting to know who set this up"

Even duty-bound to go through with it...I would like to know.

"It seems strange that she's making such a spectacle of the whole thing"