Despair and Wisdom: Imperial March

"Hey, hey hey, watch that, these are the speciality provisions!" Yoshi ushers a crate through the camp before setting it down. The rank and file are getting tucked away, but here he was, an actual officer! Alright, maybe low ranking for an officer, but progress can be incremental, and it never hurt to butter up the people who were going to stop you from getting stabbed. And for the price he got them at, it was practically a steal. In fact it might have been

Sneaking in Supplies for 4th Kaisha - Attempting to get 4 bottles of sake, one 4 pack of sweets (base level 1 koku)-Commerce/Air | TN: 2 | Success: 4 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2


Yoshi places out the bottles and sweets at the officer's tent and lies back, pouring some out for himself.

"I'll report to the Rikugunshokan before retiring, but first, I have to check on my people."

A muffled voice grows clearer in the moments before a tent flap moves aside, and the slender form of Daidoji Kumiko enters.

She looks at what is on display and on the person behind it. "I'd been told a Doji was assigned as my adjutant," she says in a voice clearly accustomed to issuing orders on the march. "You do not appear to be that person."

It takes a moment for things to click as the petite...no slender beauty walks inside the tent.

Her people. Adjutant. Oh. Oooooh ooohhhh

Yoshi scrambles to his feet and bows.

"Kasuga Yoshi humbly offers his services Chui-sama. I have been assigned to the 4th Kaisha as Logistics Officer. I was unaware that included assignment as your Adjutant but it would be an honor to serve"

"Daidoji Kumiko," comes the reply, snapped off clearly but not brusquely, and with a slight bow of the head.

"But I don't think you've been assigned as my adjutant," she continues. "That's, what was the name, Doji Hametsu. You'll want to liaise with them, I expect."

Her eyes return to the goods on display for a moment before her gaze returns to Yoshi.

"Kindly explain," she says, and she moves to the head of the table to take a seat facing the tent flap.

Yoshi pauses a beat, appraising his new commanding officer. The comments are no-nonsense, but not necessarily disapproving. Creative retellings of the truth might not even be necessary

"I intend to hold a gathering for our officer corps Daidoji-sama" Yoshi replies, attempting to match the tone. "The practicalites of our muster have as consequence of their design, resulted in an officer corp that has not spent much time together. I do not mean that as any sight upon our organizors, only to suggest that it is a natural result of pulling from a wide and disparate pool to achieve the quantity of seasoned samurai we have seen deployed. Hosting a small gathering of the kaisha officers seemed that an excellent way to build comradery and I thought I would show the initiative." He pauses a beat.

A bit of pragmatism too.

"And people often give a bit more of themselves when they've received a small gesture of being welcomed."

"But as you indicated Daidoji-sama, I did not liase with your Adjutant. My ignorance of the matter is no excuse." He bows again. "As such, I did not adjust any gathering to your tastes. I believe that, if you desire, I can make adjustments if you believe the idea sound."

Kumiko nods as Yoshi explains.

"Unit cohesion matters," she says. "And initiative is appreciated.

"But as to my taste," she continues, "I have spent much of my adult life as a fighting woman. I am not some overinflated ego as to need stroking."

There is not ire in the words; they are delivered as if simply statements.

"What, then, is on offer here? Some of the packages appear unlabeled."

Yoshi rubs his chin in thought, relaxing slightly. "Refreshments. I acquired them with my own funds before it was a burden to carry on a march, but there was no need to flaunt it to the other Kaisha. Our people would know, and that seemed enough." Yoshi slides the panel back to reveal sake and a few local sweets.

"I believe I understand. Is there a way you wish to be addressed? As family name, or rank perhaps?"

Yoshi coughs for a moment. "If I may be so bold, the officers may appreciate meeting our commanding officer in a more informal setting as well should you wish to join us. Entirely to your own discretion, of course, but it may prevent them from excessive flattery that you seem to dislike."

"Daidoji-chui will suffice for address," Kumiko replies. "There are no others in the Legion that would take such, so it will prevent confusion as well as being accurate. Both matter for the work we do."

She focuses on Yoshi. "Morale matters. Discretion is not inadvisable, although care must be taken that it does not become secrecy. Soldiers must feel that they can trust their comrades in arms, or they will look for attack from within as from without. That...negatively impacts unit effectiveness.

"Substantially."

Yoshi was silent for a moment. "I had a similar conversation with Karen-taicho earlier today and I see your point. In fact, as a result I feel it prudent to take abundant records of everything that will be issued to the Kaisha."

Left unsaid was Kimiko's point: that because Yoshi trusted Karen about as far as she'd go if he'd brained her with a tetsubo (and fondly imagined it) he'd be expending extra energy expecting the knife in his back.

He clears his throat, his tone with a clarity and seriousness and a lack of flattery, pretention or guile. "You seem to appreciate directness Daidoji-chui so I will say it: my Duty is to ensure that the army as a whole but the 4th Kaisha in particular is as well supplied and cared for as need be. My personal Honor matters less to me than ensuring every samurai under your command is fed, clothed, armed, healthy and prepared for you to lead. I will endeavor to keep the unit effectiveness as high as you indicated. If it is my personal character or the lives of your troops that would be impacted, I wholeheartedly offer the former to protect the latter. If I am doing my job well, I will reach the point where you need not ask me to aquire a thing, but I already have it. I hope to reach that level." He bows again, but less ostentatiously, meeting her eyes.

As luck would have it, it was at that moment of climax that Doji Hametsu entered the tent. Catching the tail end of Yoshi's address, he blinked once, slowly, and took an immediate step backwards out of the tent to enter at a more appropriate moment. If Daidoji-chui was about to countenance dishonor in the acquisition of supplies, he surely did not want to be in a position to have to lie about it later.

There is a ghost of a smile on Kumiko's lips for half a heartbeat, but only that, and only that long.

"You've spent time in Crab lands, it seems," she says. Then Kumiko adds "I expect that all will be handled appropriately and in a manner becoming the Emerald Legions. Although it is to be expected that each will sacrifice for the Legion at need."

She pointedly looks toward the tent flap. "And I am certain that your peers will want to begin to enjoy the provisions made for them. Perhaps you might begin to let them in, Kasuga-san."

"Yes Daidoji-chui." It was a very specific reply that told him a great deal.

I can work with that. I think she might actually like me. And that's a pretty smile.

"I have never been in person, but a great number of ships wash up in Slow Tide Harbor. A few lessons were passed down."

He bows at the polite farewell. "By your leave Daidoji-chui." Though as she begins to leave he drops his voice. "If any refreshments survive I'll see that they are delivered to your quarters."

Doji Hametsu wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2024 1:13 pm

Yoshi's ebullience returns. "Excellent, I was beginning to think no one would join me."

Hametsu smiled non-committally. "It is always inspiring to see a professional at work."

He stepped back inside the tent and addressed himself to the Chui. "This one is Doji Hametsu of the Niihara family." A formal bow for the Chui, a more open one to the Kasuga.

"I have been assigned to you as your adjutant. I apologize for my error in entering your tent while you were in conference with a subordinate." He bowed a second time, more deeply.

Kumiko returns the bow with a nod of her head.

"Nothing to apologize for, Doji-fukkan," she says. "It is not my tent, but one open to the officers of the kaisha.

"I trust your family is well?"

Another peer was nearby, curiously watching the activity at the chui's tent. It seemed people were reporting in. Edogawa was inclined to do the same, but he waited outside for now.

"As well as can be expected. My mother extends her greetings and commendation on your promotion. It is hoped that I will be permitted to learn from your example, if my service meets your expectations." He glanced Yoshi's way. "Perhaps Kasuga-san will be of assistance in that regard."

"As time permits, please return my regards," Kumiko replies. "And I believe many in this command will have much to learn from one another.

"In the meantime, I believe one of your comrades awaits entrance," she adds, making a small gesture towards the waiting Dragon. "Perhaps one of you might admit them."

The Crane were focusing on each other now so Yoshi takes the time to set up the bottles of sake and sweets, along with a few communal cups from the mess.

Kitsuki Edogawa wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 11, 2024 4:56 pm

Another peer was nearby, curiously watching the activity at the chui's tent. It seemed people were reporting in. Edogawa was inclined to do the same, but he waited outside for now.

Yoshi pokes his head out. "Yes, the officer mixer is in here." He face tightens in concentration. "Hey, weren't you at Kyuden Shika too?"

"Hai, I was." He bowed to the three of them. "Kitsuki Edogawa. We are having a mixer?"

"Something like that. It seems like we got an eclectic mix..maybe the the most out of any kaisha, so a mixer seemed appropriate. "