(D3, LE) Are we there yet? (Open)

[Otomo Hana]

"Well, then, carry the fortunes, Yogo-san." she said apparently not needing the third cup, as she turned back to her Crane guest.

[Yogo Adoka]

Adoka turned to the Crane and offered a bow before continuing his stroll to a space, where none would freak out when he will take a dive.

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[Daidoji Nobu]

Nobu blinked in surprise at Adoka's sudden departure, but bowed his head politely to the retreating Scorpion before turning back to Hana.

"Well," the big Daidoji said, fumbling for an adequate response to what had just happened. "That... certainly was an interesting fellow. Have you met him before?"

[Otomo Hana]

Nobu blinked in surprise at Adoka's sudden departure, but bowed his head politely to the retreating Scorpion before turning back to Hana.

"Well," the big Daidoji said, fumbling for an adequate response to what had just happened. "That... certainly was an interesting fellow. Have you met him before?"

Hana shook her head at the Crane's question.

"No, I can't say I've ever spent that long speaking with a member of the Yogo family." she admits. "Not too many of them run in my circles, and Isawa Hana....well, she has a bit of a rivalry. Masters of knowledge as all that."

She poured tea for the Crane.

"Had you met him before? "

[Daidoji Nobu]

She poured tea for the Crane.

"Had you met him before? "

Nobu gratefully accepted the cup. "No, I can't say I've met Yogo-san before," he replied. "I only thought it might be a kindness to include him. I'm very sorry if this caused you any difficulty."

[Otomo Hana]

Nobu gratefully accepted the cup. "No, I can't say I've met Yogo-san before," he replied. "I only thought it might be a kindness to include him. I'm very sorry if this caused you any difficulty."

He really was the sort to try to rescue a stray cat, then wonder when it scratched him.

Hana shook her head.

"It WAS a kindness to include him Daidoji-san. That he chose to repay such kindness with the coin that he did, that is on him, not you." she offered. "You are surely not the first to hear the tragic story of the Yogo and think to themselves 'But if I show them kindness as Lady Doji would have, things will be different."

She sipped her tea.

"An entire clan wears masks to warn people 'I may be lying to you', whom play the villain in every play, and yet their deceptions still work."

Rather than pontificate, she looked to the Daidoji.

"Why do you think that is, Daidoji-san?" she asked, genuinely curious what the Daidoji's thoughts on such things were.

[Daidoji Nobu]

"An entire clan wears masks to warn people 'I may be lying to you', whom play the villain in every play, and yet their deceptions still work."

Rather than pontificate, she looked to the Daidoji.

"Why do you think that is, Daidoji-san?" she asked, genuinely curious what the Daidoji's thoughts on such things were.

"Well, as I see it, there are heroes and villains - good and bad people - in every clan," Nobu said philosophically, drawn out by the Otomo's question. "Some may view this as meaning that only members of their own clan can be trusted. But there are many opportunities for cooperating with other clans, where having a friend - an ally - in another clan makes you stronger. Stronger than if you trust no one and stand alone. You can see examples of this in court, in trade, and in war."

"To have a friend or ally necessarily means you must trust them," the big Crane continued. "But some people, let us say, may see some short term advantage in betraying that trust. Personally, I don't subscribe to this idea - I would rather be loyal to my friends. Even the Scorpion name loyalty as one of the most important virtues."

"But, as you said, sometimes deceptions still work."

[Otomo Hana]

Hana nodded along. It was useful to know that is wasn't blind faith the Daidoji had in people.

"And thus we have a Scorpion regent for the throne." she adds. "Clearly he was trusted by the Emperor who is, of course, infallible even in death. And yet people look upon the Scorpion mon upon him and wonder, 'Is he loyal and true, or is he pulling off the biggest deception in the Empire's history?'"

She took a small sip of tea.

"To gain the trust of an Emperor, yet not of his Empire. Quite the hiltless blade to hold in one's hand, wouldn't you say Daidoji-san?"

[Daidoji Nobu]

"It's...not my place to pass judgment on the Imperial Regent," the big Crane said, ducking his head slightly as he chose his words carefully. "I do not move in such lofty circles. I would like to think that such an important person must be loyally serving the Empire. Unless Otomo-sama has heard something otherwise?"

[Otomo Hana]

Hana shook her head at that.

"Not at all, Daidoji-san. These are merely interesting times we find ourselves alive in. Neither our great-grandparents nor our children will see the Empire in such a period of transition."

With that her tone changed to something more playful.

"Unless Daidoji-san already has children, of course. I can imagine Daidoji-san attempting to field his own kaisha of descendents, each more earnest than the last, but we haven't really spoken enough to cofirm their existence." she mused.

[Daidoji Nobu]

"Sadly, the Fortunes have not blessed this one with a wife and children yet," Nobu admitted. "Though your words paint such a pretty picture of family life that it sounds very appealing. Did Otomo-sama grow up in such a large family?"

[Otomo Hana]

Hana smies a bit at the praise. Truth be told, with her words she could make a trip to the Shadowlands sound like the highest honor imaginable.

After all she had.

"While Kisshoten, in her wisdom, may have given me no sisters by blood, I consider Isawa Hana and Kakita Hana to be my sisters by choice." she reveals. "We have known each other since I can remember and have always been very close. They've certainly been a great comfort as we march south together."

She pours a bit more of the tea.

"What about you Daidoji-san? Are you from a large family?"

[Daidoji Nobu]

"What about you Daidoji-san? Are you from a large family?"

"Indeed I am, and of them, I am the largest!" Nobu quipped. "Three brothers, two sisters, and more cousins than I could easily count. I'm the first of my generation to travel this far from our village, though. Perhaps someday, if the Fortunes favor it, I will have tales to tell about this journey to the legion of descendants you mentioned."

[Otomo Hana]

It was a joke that Nobu had likely told many times, but at least not to Otomo Hana yet, and so she gave it the smile it deserved.

"I pray that it is so, Daidoji-san. I believe the Empire could use more samurai like you, and who better to make more of you than you?" she offered.

After all, cheerful helpful sorts were always useful.