[Day 8, MM] The spear, not the brush (open)

[Matsu Inori]

"Figure it out, huh?" Inori said, mulling it over while she did some more pushups.

Right now things look mighty complicated, even if I do have a plan now. For what that's worth. Fortunes be thanked that I still have time to figure out other things, too. It's...manageable. Not so sure about Bayushi-san there...

"So is drinking copious amounts of sake a valuable life skill that I need to figure out then?" she asked, teasingly.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Well, I can't recommend it as a solution to any problem in particular, and Fortunes know it takes its toll. so..."

His tone was deadpan.

"It is absolutely a skill you must master."

He shook his head, and grinned.

"No, Matsu-san, consuming sake in too great a quantity is generally a sign of something wrong elsewhere in life. I can only recommend it insofar as other such attempts at temporary escapes are often worse."

Opium, for example.

[Matsu Inori]

"I....see" she said. "I get that, somewhat. I did not encounter a lot of things that would make me want to crawl away or numb myself so far. Only...once." she said.

"With the difference that for a while afterwards I just...sat there, paralyzed, learning to accept that I could not have changed much, and even if I could have done something, I did not. And here I am, still there. Whether or not I should be. Now that I am still here, might as well do the right thing, you know"

She pushed herself up to her feet unsteadily again.

"Took a while until I decided it was a good thing I was still around. But, you know, Bayushi-san...if there had been a lot of sake around, I might have been tempted."

Took a few unsteady steps in lieu of resting - standing would have been harder as winded as she was. And if she sat down or laid down....getting up against would be a bitch and a half.

"Ignorance spared me one hell of a headache" she said with a grin

[Bayushi Choudai]

"And that's not getting into how it makes your stomach feel..."

He shook his head ruefully.

"I've been meaning to ask, Matsu-san... obviously, your gempukku was a bit... fraught. But did you at least meet some friends in the process? I've found that sometimes it's the traumatic experiences that forge the closest ties."

[Matsu Inori]

She considered.

"Some, I think. There was the Otomo, although that was a strange relationship. A Phoenix bushi in training - he helped me figure some things out. I remember some of these other students fondly. Life being what it is I haven't seen them since - I had hoped to run into them again."

Stopped.

"I did run into Bayushi Ameiko-san. She was there too...but we weren't exactly friends. Not enemies either, just...we did not get along all that well. She was a lot more successful than me, of course. And quite aware of that fact"

Paced again.

"Maybe I should write to them"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Ameiko-san has always been sure of herself."

He chuckled.

"They had her sparring with students from my age group. And beating us. I imagine that engenders a certain confidence."

He was quite fond of the younger Bayushi, but saw little point in explaining why to Inori, since Ameiko had made her own opinion of the Lioness plain.

"As for the others... no reason not to write, I would say. At worst, you'd get no reply. And an Otomo, you say? Sounds like there's a story there..."

[Matsu Inori]

"Yes....a story" Inori said. The Otomo in question had some endearing qualities, but half of the time I wanted to kick her around like a Kemari ball

"But agreed. There is really no reason not to contact them. As for Ameiko...She can have all the confident, constantly chipper and overly ambitious people she can handle, and is very welcome to them" Inori said. She was halfway between impressed and envious and mildly disgusted - Which she supposed wasn't news even for said Bayushi.

"But yes. As unpleasant as events were, I was glad to meet some of the people I encountered there. Much like I assume you met some people during the...unpleasantness you must have been involved in"

She reflected.

"Guess it's always a mixed bag.

[Bayushi Choudai]

"We always take the good with the bad, Matsu-san."

And then some.

"The key thing is who we choose to stay in touch with."

[Matsu Inori]

Inori had been absorbed in her own problems, but just considering the advice the older Scorpion gave her...it was sound, but she couldn't help but think learning these things had cost Choudai.

A few more years of joy, heartache and unwelcome surprises

"Are there...people you met before that you still keep contact with? Or that you wish you'd kept in contact with?"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"There are people I wish I could, Matsu-san."

He chuckled.

"I mean, some people? If I never see them again, it'll be an entire incarnation too soon. And some, I'm fortunate enough to stay in touch with, but..."

But it's a lonely life being a spy, and that's what I became during the war.

"... there are some who, thanks to the circumstances under which we met, I can't simply drop a letter. Which is unfortunate."

[Matsu Inori]

"I guess these things won't get easier with time, huh" Inori said. Just a second reflecting on how she didn't even know how to really do it, but also how much time had already passed.

She had changed that much already. The others would have, too. At least some of them.

"And by the looks of it, you, Bayushi Choudai, have met old friends again" she paused for a second.

Friends. Right.

"made new ones...and new enemies. More letters to write. Wonder if that stops at some point"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"Only in death. And then we try again in the next incarnation."

He chuckled.

"Yes, I've met and made both friends and enemies here. My only consolation about the latter is that I'm more of an annoyance than a threat to them, and distance will probably help. The former? Life keeps putting some of us together. And when that fails... there's always a letter, hm?"

[Matsu Inori]

"I'll trust your experience there, Bayushi-san. And I do think the friends make the enemies worthwhile - although I have to say this place has been a lot less combative. Most people here are more in a friendly spirit of competition than trying to..." she scrunched up her face and laughed "cut each other's nuts off. Pardon me speaking like an old, cranky Ji-Samurai"

She turned to the rack with the practice spears, and then took out one of them, examining the tip more closely. It was a bit worn, and a splinter had started to shear off. Still servicable, just a bit...worn.

"I like that better. I know that we cannot hold back once it's actually time to fight, but at least we're not all looking to fight without good reason just for the slightest advantage"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"It's also good to remember that we, as samurai of Rokugan, have far more in common with each other than otherwise. I sometimes think we lose sight of that."

[Matsu Inori]

"I am not so sure about that" Inori said. "I really am not. But...it would definitely be a nice thing if it was true."

Inori launched into a short series of thrusts with the spear, then frowned and brushed a finger over the threadbare top of the practice weapon. Frowned.

"We may have learned a bit about each other this last week. The different clans, I mean" she added somewhat hastily.

[Bayushi Choudai]

You don't get to escape enlightenment that easily, Inori-chan.

"And not just the Clans."

[Matsu Inori]

"Well, not just them, no" Inori replied "People in general. Some of that makes me rethink things I thought. Some of the experience...affirms what I think"

She took another look at other parts of the practice spear, fussing over it.

"You, Bayushi Choudai, are one of the most confusing people here"

[Bayushi Choudai]

He sounded amused.

"Were I a monk, I would say 'good' and leave it at that."

He started doing some more stretches, still working through his hangover.

"Were I a more stereotypical Scorpion, I would do the same."

There was a bit of an audible pop from his neck and he winced.

"But, since I am Bayushi Choudai, I will say, 'all right then,' and leave it to you if you want to elaborate."

[Matsu Inori]

"Not a Scorpion monk then?" Inori replied.

Then chuckled and blushed at the same time.

"Well, I suppose no. Not a monk. At least if what I think is happening between you and Shosuro-san...is"

she raised a hand.

"This was not a question, don't answer it either. We both know that it's not really my business and no one is making any accusations here or anything. All honourable business among honourable folks and whatnot." the muscles in her face worked a little. "This is really what they meant when they said that Bushido lives in the conflict between human sentiment and duty. And the creative ways we find to work around, to get as much as we can of both."

The Matsu started pacing.

"That conflict, if anything, is something that most Samurai in Rokugan have in common"

[Bayushi Choudai]

"And sometimes, the conflict is heightened by tradition."

He shook out his limbs, loosening up.

"But I'm not sure I see how that makes me particularly confusing."