[Day 14, Mid-Morning] I Fucking Knew It (Open)

[Shiba Raizo]

"What would you do to be with her? What would you do to offer a save haven for her, to be happy and together?"

It wasn't the booze talking.

"Anything that wouldn't, by her association with me, invalidate the haven I could offer by bringing her down with me."

He paused.

"Big part of why I've been... trying to behave myself around here, to be honest."

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

The Kitsu interjected.

"You remember where we first met, Shiba-san, Aimi-san? Head about three miles north and there's an unmanned river where me and the pride worked out once."

The implications were obvious.

[Kasuga Yoshi]

It wasn't the booze talking.

"Anything that wouldn't, by her association with me, invalidate the haven I could offer by bringing her down with me."

He paused.

"Big part of why I've been... trying to behave myself around here, to be honest."

The Kitsu interjected.

"You remember where we first met, Shiba-san, Aimi-san? Head about three miles north and there's an unmanned river where me and the pride worked out once."

The implications were obvious.

-snip-

"My offer is something similar. I don't doubt that you would turn to the life of a ronin Raizo-san. But I think there is a way that we all can get out of this...well, with some drama, but all of us saving a bit of face. As I mentioned earlier, I suspected that Aimi-san might be a Musha Shugyo. With the vagaries of that, the samurai ceases to be themselves at the start and the ronin vanishes into non-existence at their return. And if the ronin ceases to be, then well" Yoshi shrugs "How can there be any slight upon myself for losing a bride. If anything, it would be a slight upon the Shika for not taking it into consideration. And with myself taking a position in the Chisei district of Otoson Uchi, it could even be a blessing to be unwed."

Yoshi looks at the pair. "Now, the Tortoise makes an open status of accepting ronin. It would be of little difficulty for Kasuga Aimi...or whatever name you wish to return from Musha Shuyo. Now, perhaps it might make a stir in the Phoenix to break your miai partner Raizo-san, but the Tortoise care little for such things. In fact, it would likely help relations between the Clans. A mild scandal that is quickly forgotten, and the shame of the loss of my bride ought to counter any slight the Shika express at losing you as a son in law."

"That is what I offer: a home. A stipend. Legitimacy...or at least as a legitimate as a Tortoise can be. And each other." Yoshi looks at the pair. "What do you say?"

[Shiba Raizo]

Raizo looked at Aimi.

"This means more for you, love. The choice should be yours."

[Aimi]

"...it feels almost wrong to quibble, honestly," Aimi says with a frown, "Your scheme is very clever, Yoshi-san, and it may even work. But you speak of a stipend, legitimacy, things that I have never had and learned to live without. So I ask this instead - what would Kasuga Aimi be doing, then, as her trade and duty? I'm a wanderer and a priestess, but you said yourself the Tortoise have no shugenja tradition of their own."

[Kasuga Yoshi]

"...it feels almost wrong to quibble, honestly," Aimi says with a frown, "Your scheme is very clever, Yoshi-san, and it may even work. But you speak of a stipend, legitimacy, things that I have never had and learned to live without. So I ask this instead - what would Kasuga Aimi be doing, then, as her trade and duty? I'm a wanderer and a priestess, but you said yourself the Tortoise have no shugenja tradition of their own."

Yoshi offers a smile. "As you said, we have no tradition of our own. Virtually none of us are born with the gift. Therefore, whatever you do would break no traditions. But as to what you would do...you call yourself a wanderer? Have you ever wondered about the lands beyond Rokugan? There are many secrets I cannot share, but a visit to Slow Tide Harbor would be illuminating. Men of skin as dark as charcoal, and others, pale of skin and with eyes the color of the sea, with ships that cross deep waters. The Mantis have shugenja on their ships, to guide and to speak to the winds. It would be a boon to any captain to have one such as that on their ship, as they go beyond..." Yoshi leaves off, not quite mentioning what beyond quite means, leaving it implied.

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

"Oh so when I suggest it I get called a villain and a rogue but when Kasuga-san does it suddenly it's all well and good..."

The Kitsu mutters under his breath.

[Aimi]

Yoshi offers a smile. "As you said, we have no tradition of our own. Virtually none of us are born with the gift. Therefore, whatever you do would break no traditions. But as to what you would do...you call yourself a wanderer? Have you ever wondered about the lands beyond Rokugan? There are many secrets I cannot share, but a visit to Slow Tide Harbor would be illuminating. Men of skin as dark as charcoal, and others, pale of skin and with eyes the color of the sea, with ships that cross deep waters. The Mantis have shugenja on their ships, to guide and to speak to the winds. It would be a boon to any captain to have one such as that on their ship, as they go beyond..." Yoshi leaves off, not quite mentioning what beyond quite means, leaving it implied.

"...huh," Aimi says, the very picture of eloquence and grace. "That... doesn't sound too bad, actually. I think I'd be willing."

She stops then, and looks to Raizo. "And what about you? I don't have a family or a duty, there's none of that weighing on my mind. But you... you do."

[Shiba Raizo]

"...huh," Aimi says, the very picture of eloquence and grace. "That... doesn't sound too bad, actually. I think I'd be willing."

She stops then, and looks to Raizo. "And what about you? I don't have a family or a duty, there's none of that weighing on my mind. But you... you do."

"I have a family I don't speak to, a duty I've grown to hate, and a Crane-made back banner that pronounces to the world that 'I like to travel.'"

He picked up his empty sake cup and and raised it to her in a sort of salute.

"I also have superiors who gave me a heavy damn bronze prayer wheel honoring Benten to carry to an event that's more about Musubi, so, you know, if those brilliant theologians couldn't see where that was going to end up..."

[Kitsu Moshumaru]

Kitsu raised a cup of his own in salute.

That's at least one tragedy averted...

...He couldn't help but wish the other had worked out, however.