Kyuden Shika

Shiba Raizo wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:55 pm

"Only without the refreshing honesty of wearing masks to remind everyone of who and what you're dealing with."

Raizo chuckled.

"As I told Shosuro-san the other day, I have no idea why everyone gives the Scorpion such a hard time, it's not like they ever let anyone forget who they are..."

"Because we've been taught for generations to doubt and mistrust them. Then we trust them, then we get caught in their schemes, then we regret ever trusting them."

Kitsu Moshumaru wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:16 pm

"Because we've been taught for generations to doubt and mistrust them. Then we trust them, then we get caught in their schemes, then we regret ever trusting them."

"Oh, I didn't say to trust them. They tell us we can't, after all, every time we see a mask and remember that they don't even trust their own faces not to betray them."

Another lateral stroke with the naginata.

"But it's the odium heaped upon them for being what they have always been that baffles me. I may not like a viper, but if I pick it up and it bites me, I don't exactly have the viper to blame for that."

Shiba Raizo wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:20 pm

"But it's the odium heaped upon them for being what they have always been that baffles me. I may not like a viper, but if I pick it up and it bites me, I don't exactly have the viper to blame for that."

The Kitsu shrugged.

"I'm a Lion, I can't unravel Scorpion politics so easily. But mark my words if they didn't want to be hated, they wouldn't."

Kitsu Moshumaru wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 08, 2021 8:15 pm

The Kitsu shrugged.

"I'm a Lion, I can't unravel Scorpion politics so easily. But mark my words if they didn't want to be hated, they wouldn't."

"Which begs the question, again, why everyone seems to give them what they want without... examining it."

"Were I to guess?"

Another strike.

"Because they've spent years learning how to make people regret doing that exact thing."

"And yet here I am, unstung."

"Well that's because you're talking about this with me and not with them. The most usable answer you can get out of me is guesswork at best which I doubt anyone could rely on - if you were at risk of getting real information from a Scorpion?"

He shuddered.

"I'd rather become a ronin again."

"Again? Odd thing to let slip when you're cautioning someone against prying..."

"I- you-"

He sighed, realizing his mistake.

"All of my worrying about the miai has let my guard down."

"I wouldn't be too fussed about it. I think my opinion on ronin should be pretty clear by now, hm? Besides. If Tessho can tell me that a much younger, more foolish man hit the waves, I don't see that the Lion samurai in this dojo with me has anything to do with some ronin who once existed unless he wants to."