[D4, LA, expecting] Time for serious drinking

[Matsu Ishioka]

Ishioka's eyes remain narrowed as she changes the subject, but he makes an effort to relax. There's a long exhale as he realizes just how tensed his body had become.

"Yes, I do want to learn... about the Otter..." His awkward stressing of words thankfully alerts him that he's acting out of sorts. "Ah, Usogawa-san, perhaps... Perhaps a bit of food, or drink... or both," he suggests, trying to brighten their time together. He pours the heated sake, hoping he's doing an acceptable job, then pauses to consider a toast. Looking at her he can't keep from smiling, even though he's pretty sure he's not supposed to right now.

"Um, it's not very eloquent, but I would raise a glass to Kyuden Shika and the nakodo here. Let this always be a home for love and happiness, never a site of war or destruction," Ishioka says solemnly. "Cheers."

-----------------
D4, LA, agenda (Keep the Deer Clan from committing military assistance to the Crane) @Narumi. Courtesy/Earth for speaking to calm, ease our own conversation. | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 0

Opportunity to remove 2 strife from Narumi if she has any. 2 agenda points.

[Usogawa Narumi]

"This one would never deny a Lion what he wants, and if spending time learning about my clan is what he chooses, then I happily accept," Narumi understood he was also making an attempt to salvage their conversation, and could've sighed in relief. But inwardly, she began to spiral again, chiding herself for being such a hot mess, it was unbecoming and she was risking friendships and alliances.

Then he made his clumsy toast, and Narumi's heart sunk in her chest. She tried to keep a neutral expression.
Oh no.
She didn't want to oppose Ishioka, but she also had absolutely no choice. There would be ears that would hear if she said nothing now.
Picking up her sake cup, "And I would also toast to the Shika- may they continue to honour us with harmonious choices, bringing together wayward clans and making each stronger and safer for it."
Once the words leave her lips, she does begin to feel better and to celebrate she takes a large mouthful of sake. "Kampai."

D4LA Agenda at Ishi, Garner Deer clan military support for the Crane clan (Water/Courtesy) | TN: 2 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 1


(Narumi has 2 strife resolved by Ishi, but gains one on her own, so... 1 strife resolved. Also 2 agenda pts)

[Matsu Ishioka]

There's an awkward exhale at the phrase "what he wants," but surely it wasn't too noticeable. Except to someone as observant as Narumi.

The choice of words for the toast strikes Ishioka as curious, but he's more focused on the relief of a more relaxed setting and simply raises cup and drinks. Heartily. Draining it, in fact. His eyes flicker to the now empty cup, and he sets it down to be refilled when he needs to pour for Narumi again.

"Ahem. So one thing I'm curious about is your clan's history. I understand it's relatively young, and my clan is... not prone to studying minor clans' histories, as you've probably heard," he says politely. "Has there been much conflict to navigate?" Yes, polite talk about history. Nice and safe, he thinks. He claims an onigiri and takes a small bite as he listens.

[Usogawa Narumi]

Another large drink while he speaks and the cup is emptied as well. She sits it down and barely nudges it towards the Lion with her fingertip. She wasn't even close to done drinking with just one cup, she'd only just begun, and she planned to drink away the last 12 hours, more or less.
"Conflict? Neh, the Otter clan makes friends wherever we make port. Diplomacy and trade are our business." For the most part. 'Trade' was a loose term.
But that was neither here nor there.
"You've the right of it- a young clan, certainly. Three generations to our name, in fact. Descended from a geisha who saved the life of an Imperial and thusly was elevated in reward. She tragically passed too soon, and Usogawa Chiitan-sama... Emiko-sama's father..." she adds, "-became our clan champion and daimyo. Some say he was too young, at the tender age of 15, for such a position, but his gift for leadership and intelligence far beyond his years set all minds at ease."

[Matsu Ishioka]

The small push of the cup is quickly noted and obliged, Ishioka refilling both cups and without hesitating suggests, "A toast to wisdom beyond one's years? In honor of those who have it, and those who need it," he says seriously, raising his cup.

[Usogawa Narumi]

A few drinks later, probably no more than two but who's counting?, Narumi's woes have lessened and her smiles come more easily once more. No longer does darkness reign, and the weight on her shoulders is noticeably lighter.
"Tell me, Lion-san," she leans in and with a dramatically hushed voice, continues, "What of the samurai-ko who has captured your attentions? Any further pursuit?" the conversation has veered from clan histories to a less reserved topic, it seems.

[Matsu Ishioka]

Even with the relaxing effect of a couple of drinks, the Stone Matsu shows some reserve. Or would, if that question didn't cause his eyes to widen in an obvious way.

"Um. It is... still complicated, I think," he says nervously. "Er, not just that I think it's complicated. I think that's... Um..." He looks at the table. "I am... drawn in conflicting directions," he says vaguely. Its stoniness loosening, the Matsu's face suggests not a man in love but one in torment.

[Usogawa Narumi]

"Between what is right, and what one desires?" Desire is a sin, some tickling part at the back of her mind reminded her - but she brushed it aside before it could do any further damage.
Meddling, meddling, this one is always meddling in the love lives of others... but it was, in part, her job to meddle, she argued, though the truth in that was distinctly unclear to her at this particular moment. She didn't much care, either way.

[Matsu Ishioka]

The Otter's words strike a nerve, and Ishioka has to force an exhale. The Lion looks at her from under his eyebrows, posture still focused to the table. His eyes are intense now, more so than she has ever seen. But this isn't the intensity of fear or distress. It's the smoldering fire of a barely contained Matsu fury. The kind of intensity that wants to consume.

Ishioka forces his eyes back to the table, heavy breaths and the placement of his hands flat on the table seeming to ground him. But Narumi can see he's not blinking. "There is much to be desired," he says, voice low but heavy with emotion.

[Usogawa Narumi]

If she kept poking the Lion, maybe he'd put her out of her misery... it's barely a fleeting thought but it registers nonetheless, and Narumi sits up straighter, though her smile is the stark opposite of his expression- warm and inviting.
She reached out without another thought and pat the back of his hand closer to her. "Truer words were never spoken," she murmurs, and looks off to the side again, letting her hand idle on his.