Despair and Wisdom: Imperial March

Isawa Hana sits with her rations, looking back at the dust as it settles sullenly in the Legion's wake.

"Itadakimasu," she says, clapping her hands and bowing her head in prayer for a moment.

Beside her, Kakita Hana does much the same thing, although her eyes linger on the horizon longer and her prayer is shorter.

Still, "Itadakimasu" must be said, and so it is said.

But it was the Three Flowers, not the two. And so in swept Otomo Hana, looking her regal best despite the realtively dreary landscape.

"Ladies, I hope you were not planning on starting without me." she offered, her voice playful, but there was an edge beneath it. "Surely Hida-san's cooking has not so moved you as to abandon your friends and consume as a beast in the field."

"It's better than what that one person was offering," Hana says, shuddering. "And that's saying something."

"If it's who I think you mean," Hana replies, "then I'm getting some of that experience, too."

She grins.

"Of course, I can get away with stabbing people a little bit."

Hana shook her head.

"It is sad is it not? He would be barred admittance to a financially destitute tea house in Sparrow lands...and yet here he marches as an Emerald Legionnaire. Surely not because someone loves him, not him, but as a gesture of contempt for someone else. Perhaps his sensei, perhaps his chui, but it matters not. Here he is." she says, with a glance feigning that he was right behind Kakita Hana.

Hana looks behind her.

"Gah!"

Hana giggles for a moment.

She collects herself, though.

"It is a possible problem," she notes. "We're not exactly going sightseeing here, after all. And it does seem there are some...issues...with information getting to command. One might almost wonder if somebody sees a threat in some high places."

Hana hid her smile behind her fan at the Kakita's start.

"Or an opportunity to advance themselves. If someone is standing in the way of your promotion, arranging for them to take a trip to a battlefield as dangerous as it is inglorious is not a bad strategy. Should they fall, their death will simply be one of many and should they succeed, they gain nothing." she proposes.

Hana blushes at being caught out.

Rather than open her mouth, she fills it.

Hana nods.

"Makes sense," she agrees. "Although one wonders why this promotion? After all, the second here has shown every sign of actual loyalty throughout, if the...more experienced participants are to be believed. And they gain little if anything from saying so, so..."

She shrugs.

"An outside force is more likely, I think."

Hana almost rolled her eyes. Of course it was an outside force, did that really need to be said?

"There's been plenty of whispers of those envious of the general's position. There are only so many legions to command, even when you count the paper ones. I wouldn't even be surprised if that influenced his choice of XO. Ronin have a tendency to betray for coin, not political ambition." she mused, taking a bit of rice.

Hana swallows.

"There's more to that, though," she says. "I've seen them spar. The ronin's better--not much, but enough. Similar techniques, too, though the ronin has an edge, there."

Hana looks at the Kakita.

"When did you see them spar?" she asks.

Yoshi has been meaning to take a walk over to the Sixth at some point. One can only hear of so many stories one can hear about flowers and noses without being curious. He overheard a few snippets as he nears and decides upon the approach.

"Greetings noble ladies" He offers a bow. "The 4th Kaisha had offered supplemental rations. I had hoped to see that they were properly delivered".

Offering better food seems safe enough an opening.

"Kasuga Yoshi, at your service."

Hana's eyes flicker over him, assessing him coldly.

Hana's eyes flicker over him, assessing him curiously.

"If it has not been satisfactorily provided I will need to see that it has been remedied." He bows again and pauses. "Oh...forgive this one, I could not help but overhear part of your words and in the absence of a screen... please do not fear. I am a soul of discretion. It just that, well, a great many strange beings wash up at Slow Tide Harbor. As one who has met the lowest of the low I am familiar with some of the reasons why a wave-man's commitment to the Legion may be so absolute."

The flowers deferred to their leader, which was right and proper.

Otomo Hana took a moment to assess the Tortoise.

"Ah the 4th has, Kasuga-san? I assume this is with the blessing of Otosanuchi-sama. Might I ask how she is doing, before we dive into your particular expertiese in ronin?" she asked, slowly fanning herself.

Hana eats a bit more, looking with continued curiosity at the Tortoise.