[D5 EE] Lord of Shadows

[Tassu]

Lord Magistrate's car would show up upon agreed hour at the Spider embassy, a rather inconspicuous doshin asking for Susumu Yakumo, pulling the door open as she waited for the Spider diva, rolling her eyes behind her sunglasses. The lord magistrate's assistant knew exactly what was up and while she hardly had the right to complain about her duties, she still felt a little mismanaged. Having graduated from the Soshi Magistrate dojo, this was not how she had expected to serve her lord. Yet she would perform her duties without complaint, offering Yakumo all the courtesy as she entered the car, remaining quiet as she navigated through the winding streets of the endless city. On the back seat of the car, the Scorpion songstress would discover a single carnation along with a letter of invitation - as much as the security knew that lord magistrate was bringing a guest, it seemed that Mineichi was playing by the book.

One the car reached the kyuden, the chauffeur stepped out, helping Yakumo out of the car (even against her best wishes), escorting her politely through the security - a bored looking Soshi shugenja who wiggled her fingers as they approached her, nodding to let the duo pass. "This way, Susumu-sama." the doshi would escort Yakumo all the way to a somewhat hidden elevator, using her keycard to open the doors. Within, the elevator was decorated with 27th century religious art, depicting the price the samurai had to pay should they fall to one of the three great sins. An elaborate painting showed a cowardly samurai chained to a wall of a dark cell in afterlife, unable to ascend to heavens. Another piece of art depicted a white-clad woman on her knees, what seemed like her lover's letter in her hand, holding a knife to her throat. The third peace showed a young man lost in a garden brimming with fresh fruits and blooming flowers, his steps taking him away from a temple painted on the far left.

Once the elevator came to a halt, the doors would open, letting Yakumo to step into a small lobby with an empty desk sitting at the side, the doors to the lord magistrate's personal champers wide open.

[Susumu Yakumo]

The Spider songstress has dressed appropriately for the "date", if she could call it that, wearing a floor-length black cheongsam with gold and blue accents, and of course gloves - this time opera-length black gloves. Last time she went on a date, it was with a half-melted Spider officer who choked her out after, so she didn't have a great track record with dates - but she hoped this would be better? Rumor had it that the Lord Magistrate was a widower and he probably should be looking to remarry... so maybe this was something to that pursuit?

It was kind of an awkward silence in the car-ride as she picked up on the doshin's dissatisfaction with the whole thing, and she didn't think the woman's mood would improve with some small talk about tomorrow's concert.

At the insistent help, Yakumo murmured polite thanks, and mostly tried to keep herself calm with the even more awkward ride in the lift. While it wasn't the same imagery as she'd seen back home on Shiragiku, the tone was eerily similar and was reminding her too much of old things from the past. Old voices, old feelings...

Yakumo stepped into the small lobby, looking around at her surroundings to gleam some idea of what sort of plans would happen this evening...

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Welcome, Susumu-san." Mineichi welcomed Yakumo, standing at the doorway. "I am glad you came." He was wearing a rather casual red kimono woven from fine quality silks. Instead of his usual war-like mempo, the lord magistrate wore a simple veil, allowing the Spider songstress to better read his expressions. The veil would also make dining far easier - something of a relevant consideration for the evening. "Please, come in. I hope that that your day has been pleasant so far?" he stepped back, bowing slightly, his long fingers gently beckoning her to enter.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Thank you for your gracious invitation, Bayushi-sama," she bowed, and as she did a few errant wisps of her fell forward to frame her face.

Yakumo did give him a warm smile as she stepped forward to enter, keeping her violet eyes focused on him for now. "It has been pleasant enough. A bit busy, to get everything ready for tomorrow's concert. But nowhere near as busy as you, I wager?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"The city never truly sleeps." he murmured, nodding in agreement with her assessment. Mineichi lead Yakumo into the room, guiding her to a low mahogany table, the piece of wood likely worth more than most samurai saw during their lives. Three pillows, covered in red silk, laid on the floor by the table, lord magistrate taking a seat, leaving Yakumo a choice to either side to his side or opposite of him, mischief glimmering in his eyes for the briefest of moments. "But we manage." Mineichi added, is if to dismiss the ungainly topic. "Yes, I have heard Susumu-san is performing tomorrow. I am sure it will quite the success. Susumu-san is rather popular here after all." A fact that infuriated the lord governor to no end. If she would have had her way, the Spider songstress would have had no place on the world. But being both diplomat and having been sponsored by the Imperials, Yakumo was far too important to deny an entry. Mineichi didn't quite know what was her issue with the songstress, but also knew better than to ask. "Sadly, I have previous engagement. Well, engagements." he added with a sigh. "I assume that the Otomo will record the occasion?" Imperial Families never passed a chance to make money or flash their power.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo saw the seating arrangement, and for a moment thought they would be joined by a third... but since he didn't make a mention of it, she took the seat across from him without hesitating. In her mind, it was best to be able to sit across from eachother, rather than sitting at an odd angle while eating and conversing.

"Oh no doubt they will. I don't understand much about this sort of thing myself," of course a proper samurai wouldn't stoop to actually dealing with economics and finances, "but I understand there is profit to be made on this sort of thing if it's labelled exclusive and once in a lifetime - buzzwords to drive up the hype."

And well, she was famous, so once you combined fame with Exclusive and sell it at a limited print, it would drive up prices. Again, most of that went over her head as she just nodded, smiled, and took her fat paycheck.

"A shame you won't have time to be there, but I understand duty demands much of us all. And with so many people visiting for the season, no doubt it adds a great load of extra work to your burden," she offered her sympathies. "I suppose you don't go to parties like that one yesterday all the time in your precious sparetime?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Of course." he nodded, equally willing to avoid that particular topic. Otomo did what Otomo wanted to do, the buke considering them something of a force of nature. When the storm raged, you hunkered down. "Mmhmh. They say people are willing to go to lengths for anything exclusive." he nodded, reaching to pull up the wooden dome that had covered their dinner - various slices of raw fish arranged into flowers with seaweed and pickled ginger serving as 'leaves'. There were small ceramic plates, cups for sake as well as small dishes meant for soy sauce. Acting as a host, Mineichi handed Yakumo a plate and a soy cup before helping himself, leaving the sake cups and the glass tokkuri on the table, figuring that she would figure out what to do. "A little snack - nothing too heavy before the bed." he explained the offerings, reaching to pick a pair of dark chopsticks, laying them down by his plate.

"Susumu-san would be correct yes. One does not shed the cloak of responsibility that easily. There are always things demanding one's attention, one way or other." A soft sight escaped his lips, Mineichi turning to look at Yakumo, smirking ever so slightly. "Every now and then I'll make an exception for an exceptional reasons, though."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Her Crane-trained sensibilites did find the comment about the bed a bit forward, although... all things considered, she shouldn't be surprised. Or so Yakumo told herself.

"Barring exceptional reasons, what else does Bayushi-sama do when he's not the Cat Lord, or chasing the vermin of his city?" Yakumo asked while returning the favor to her host, by picking up the sake bottle. Good Crane manners showed as her gaze shifted from Mineichi to the tokkuri to take notice of its design and make before proceeding to pour - first for him, then for herself. "Fantasy Fight perhaps?" she asked with a small tease in her voice as she recalled there was a tournament of it today.

Yakumo might be a nerd in secret, but not that big of a nerd.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

Meanwhile, Mineichi acted as if everything he had said was perfectly normal, Yakumo's host acting with all the grace and dignity, even if his words didn't quite match the presentation. "Alas, the city is full of rodents, so the Lord of Cats is often rather preoccupied. However, I do study the sword when I have time to myself." he replied. "On occasion, when things are calmer, I stroll in the gardens and work on my penmanship." There was a short pause. "Merely a distraction from more earthly matters. I doubt anyone has ever read my verses, likely for the best for everyone involved." Mineichi added with a soft laugh, his laughter dying quickly . "Well, besides Kaede-chan." For a moment, sadness crept into his dark eyes, the lord magistrate taking a moment to compose himself. "She too did think that my talents lay elsewhere." he added, trying to sound more cheerful, haunted as he was by his past.

Accepting the cup, he murmured his thanks to her, shaking his head softly. "I leave such games for those who truly enjoy it. I am told the game is complex enough to be studied seriously. I am sure that is the case. However, one has never been one to flips cards. I rather play other games." Mineichi's fingers danced on the table, lord magistrate mimicking the moves that one might take to place down a stone in a game of go. "How about the mysterious peacock? How does she relax, when she is not on stage or on the way?" he asked, reaching for a piece of fish with his chopsticks, dipping the thin slice in soy before carefully tucking it under his veil.

[Susumu Yakumo]

She did note the sadness, but felt it would be rude to draw attention to it, considering he clearly wanted to keep himself composed.

"I'm certain you're a man of many talents," Yakumo offered kindly, but was happy to move on the conversation. Deftly her gloved hands managed the chopsticks to handle the food for her own plate. "Me? Would it sound very trite if I say I listen to music in my sparetime?" she laughed softly, raising her hand slightly as she did. "I haven't had much sparetime the past year, but I do like watching movies, on some occassions I might read a book but I am a slow and picky reader. These are things I can easily do while travelling."

She sighed a little, realising she probably sounded very boring compared to folks who had very exciting daily lives. "But like now when I'm in one place for a time, I get to do other things I like - photography, or practicing other arts like traditional instruments, tea ceremony. Spending time in good company too is another nice one," a smile was directed to him, "you get very tired with handlers, managers, and a retinue after a while."

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"One exceedingly polite might put it like that, I suppose." he replied, trying to downplay the compliment. "Realistically speaking, my talents lay managing... all that." Mineichi pointed at the tinted window, the lights of the city shimmering beyond. Lights that ran all the way to the horizon, the city vast and seemingly without measure. "Sometimes, I wish I could tie everything down. Alas, the city is far too lively for that." he chuckled, his mood slowly improving. "One would assume that a musician might listen to music on their free time, yes. Not that one is a musician, but I do study the old masters of law occasionally." Sometimes, your duties became your hobbies. "Oh, I can only imagine. They do say your tour was rather extensive." His dark eyes scanned her slowly, almost as if he was trying to see beyond the woman sitting in front of her. Lord Magistrate had rather piercing gaze.

"Mhmhm." lord magistrate nodded approvingly when she mentioned tea. "Maybe one would be allowed to enjoy some tea when we are dong with this?" he asked, his gaze drifting to the fish that had been prepared for them. "I do have everything might need here." There was a tall cabinet behind him, several chawan standing on one of the shelves. "Oh, one can only imagine. Everyone - and I mean everyone, wanting a piece of your time." Another sigh escaped his lips. "Sometimes I feel like there's no escape, no chance to truly rest. In times like that, I do enjoy entertaining interesting guests." Mineichi returned to her smile, his lips faintly visible through the veil he wore. "When the occasion allows the pleasure, at least."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I must apologise ahead of time that I am still very much a novice with chadō, Bayushi-sama," she said with a bow of her head. It wasn't just modesty, but she also was still not as good with it as she would like. And that gaze was rather piercing.

The meal so far at least was rather excellent. "Hm, now I am curious of other illustrious guests that have been here? Maybe great actors like, Shosuro Hashinako, or this Bayushi Mariko I have heard of?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"One assumes we all are. The true masters are all of silver hair, no?" he offered, smiling softly still. "Though if Susumu-san would prefer, one can also carry out the ceremony." he had merely offered Yakumo a chance to 'return to favor' so that she could return without feeling a weigh of social obligation on her shoulders. "I have to admit that, I never quite had the honor of meeting Soshuro-sensei. I do adore her work, but she retired rather suddenly." Mineichi murmured, reaching for another morsel. "I actually used to have people over more often back when... before. Yes." Yakumo could her him swallow. "Bayushi Mariko..." Mineichi frowned, deciding to be sincere instead of honest. "She is famous, but well. She is famous the same way Crab plays are famous."

"As for how many, dozens? A person of my position is often called to entertain people." As much was true - being responsible for the security of the province meant that Mineichi had dined with nearly all trade patrons selling equipment his men used. "Surely same is true for Susumu-san? Surely Susumu-san has dined with the high and the might?"

[Susumu Yakumo]

Sincerity was always an interesting choice to describe someone, instead of honesty. How sincere indeed, Yakumo thought, picking up the cup of sake for a sip. Still, Mineichi could probably catch a glimpse of her amused grin before the cup concealed it. Haha, I am still the more famous one.

"In the past year? A few yes, but not like this. It was always big events, with lots of important people in one place gathered for a banquet and such. Not much time to sit a chat privately over dinner." As if her handler would've let her do that anyway even if she had the time and opportunity. "Compared to you, I am much more someone who is paraded around to show off, rather than the one the important people talk to during such parties. They want to speak with the Imperials - the ones pulling the threads. The songbird is just admired. You know how it is." Still, she didn't seem too bothered by it. "The most interesting people I meet at such events are usually fellow musicians. Similarly I guess you also are drawn to people of the same profession at such formal events, no? Or are you always on the look out for colorful birds to catch?" she teased gently.

[Bayushi Mineichi]

If Mineichi had seen her grin, he made no show of it, pushing his veil up a little so that he could bring his cup to his lips, his eyes still resting on her. "That sounds somewhat familiar." Yakumo could see Mineichi grimace. "Though, I suppose I had a bit more control over whom I was dining with." There was a particular Ide merchant that had bugged him for months, Mineichi refusing to sit down with the man out of principle. "Ah, Otomo would do that, yes. A gilded cage is still a cage, no?" he asked, a smidgen of sympathy creeping into his voice. "A songbird is an asset and an assets must be used." Mineichi added, shaking his head softly. "Duty is a fickle thing. As rewarding as it can be, it can sure take us to strange places." The lord magistrate could have spent hours ranting about the people he had met because of his duties.

"Well. I mean, of course I know most people working with law on the world, but we meet only ever so often. The provinces are largely independent and so it is the trade patrons and diplomats I find myself entertaining, not my colleagues." he explained, laying his cup on the table for a moment, his chopsticks picking up yet another piece of fish. "It is indeed beauty that catches my eyes, yes." Mineichi admitted, making sure to catch her eyes with his. "One has seen enough ugly things to truly appreciate beauty where it can be found, feathers or no feathers."

[Susumu Yakumo]

His gaze did catch hers, and she held it for a moment before coyly looking down to her plate and the food she was working her way through. "Mm, I agree. It is nice to have a change of scenery, especially one for the better." Her eyes lifted back up at that, clearly looking back at him.

"Though on World of Dreams, I'm sure there is no lack of beautiful sights to draw the eye... not to mention all the dangers possibly lurking behind them, hm?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Mhmhm." he nodded, never shying away from her gaze. "As brief as those moments might be. "As they say. no moment ever really repeats." Mineichi quote and old adage. "There is a lot of beauty here, yes." he nodded in agreement. "As for the dangers, well..." She could see him licking his lips for a moment, his lips curling into a sly grin. "...perhaps I prefer it that way." His eyes were devouring her, even if his posture remained languid, Mineichi leaning to his knee as they chattered.

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Good words to live by," she nodded in agreement. Too many people forgot such words of wisdom, getting caught up in stuff like attachments and committments - rather than just appriciating the fleeting moments for what they were.

"Bayushi-sama likes to lives dangerously?" Yakumo giggled, picking up the bottle to refill their cups. "Is that a common trend for all Scorpion men, or just exceptional ones like yourself?"

[Bayushi Mineichi]

"Regret is a sin, as they say. If you ask the Crane, egret might be sin too." Mineichi jested, his cheeks reddening ever so slightly. "Mhmhm. I think it might run in the family, though I am hardly the only Scorpion who thinks this way." Bitter Lies dojo was dedicated to the philosophy and while the dojo had few students, every now and then a graduate would make oneself famous by reckless bravery. Many Scorpion propaganda movies depicted actions of such individuals, the most unlikely hero rising to the occasion when hope seemed lost.

After they had dine, Mineichi laid his chopsticks down, slowly pushing himself up. "Come.." he whispered softly, beckoning Yakumo to follow. Waiting for the songstress to stand up, he would lead her to a large curtains covering the wall. With a swift tug he would pull the curtains open, revealing the lights of the city gleaming below them, World of Dreams stretching far into horizon. "They say this is a dangerous world." He started, pausing as if to allow Yakumo to take in the sight. "In many ways they are right. Sometimes, the city feels like a living being. A monster, perhaps. Yet, one cannot deny the beauty of it. Millions and millions of lights in the darkness, each telling a tale of a single soul, all souls connected to others, forming an invisible weave. And yet, that weave just as real as the lights." Mineichi explained, pressing his palm to the window as he peered into the distance.

[Susumu Yakumo]

It was an impressive sight, to look at it all from this high up, and to see the lights stretch on endlessly. She placed her hand on the glass as well, near Mineichi's but not touching him yet.

Standing beside him, Yakumo leaned in closer as her words were almost whispered. "A beautiful monster, huh... it sounds kind of poetic, how you say that it's all connected. I suppose even these lights up here, are connected to lights all the way down there, towards the desolate areas?"