(D5, MM) Grey clouds, grey buildings, grey talk

[Hato]

Hato had another job to do, this one taking her back to the slums. The clouds of the morning made the rundown area of the slums seem even more so. As if the joy and happiness of the world had been turned off like a television, just leaving a soft hum, a dimming light and a fleeting warmth.

Still, Hato had promised she would ask questions, and so she asked around a bit, a few coins passing from hand to hand. She hoped at least as it wasn't the dark of the night, people would be a little more willing to talk about things that stalked such.

Int/Lore: underworld 29

[Hato]

Having acquire the information she needed, Hato commed the client to let them know she had it. She was surprised to receive a summon so swiftly to relay it.

It''s a bit of a walk, but I can make it there if I hurry. she thought and she hurried off to the rendezvous point.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Having acquire the information she needed, Hato commed the client to let them know she had it. She was surprised to receive a summon so swiftly to relay it.

It''s a bit of a walk, but I can make it there if I hurry. she thought and she hurried off to the rendezvous point.

The Otomo was hard to miss in a bright yellow and white jacket among the greys of the city buildings. His Seppun minder was also there, but less easy to spot at a short distance from the loud samurai.

Koroshi was sitting on a ledge near a food truck trying to figure out if the sauce of the fried fish he had just eaten contained mustard. He was accomplishing this by staring at the color of the sauce on the wrapper of his fish. Soon it would come to him. Soon.

[Hato]

The Otomo was hard to miss in a bright yellow and white jacket among the greys of the city buildings. His Seppun minder was also there, but less easy to spot at a short distance from the loud samurai.

Koroshi was sitting on a ledge near a food truck trying to figure out if the sauce of the fried fish he had just eaten contained mustard. He was accomplishing this by staring at the color of the sauce on the wrapper of his fish. Soon it would come to him. Soon.

He was quite hard to miss. Hato had to briefly wonder if the food truck was where the Otomo also got his fashion sense from. He did sort of resemble an advertisement in his bright colors. Not that anyone would dare use the Imperial Chrysanthemum for advertising. Yet his bright coloring and his cheerful energy would have made him an excellent mascot. Otomo Onion Rings: They'll make you go Ooooooo.

Closing the unwanted ad in her brain, Hato made her approach.

Hato bowed deeply.

"Lord Chrysanthemum, this one is pleased to once again be in your august presence. This one has completed the shopping errand that Lord Chrysanthemum had set for this one." she offered.

[Otomo Koroshi]

He was quite hard to miss. Hato had to briefly wonder if the food truck was where the Otomo also got his fashion sense from. He did sort of resemble an advertisement in his bright colors. Not that anyone would dare use the Imperial Chrysanthemum for advertising. Yet his bright coloring and his cheerful energy would have made him an excellent mascot. Otomo Onion Rings: They'll make you go Ooooooo.

Closing the unwanted ad in her brain, Hato made her approach.

Hato bowed deeply.

"Lord Chrysanthemum, this one is pleased to once again be in your august presence. This one has completed the shopping errand that Lord Chrysanthemum had set for this one." she offered.

"Hato-san!" Koroshi got off the ledge with a quick leap and then bowed to the ronin. "Hato-san, come try the fried fish. Come, come."

He walked towards the truck and rang the bell for service a dozen times before a beleaguered cook took his order. Then Koroshi got down to business.

"Alright, once you get the food you must tell me if the sauce contains mustard. This is vital." He said looking her in the eyes and making various hand gestures to indicate how important this was.

[Hato]

"Hato-san!" Koroshi got off the ledge with a quick leap and then bowed to the ronin. "Hato-san, come try the fried fish. Come, come."

He walked towards the truck and rang the bell for service a dozen times before a beleaguered cook took his order. Then Koroshi got down to business.

"Alright, once you get the food you must tell me if the sauce contains mustard. This is vital." He said looking her in the eyes and making various hand gestures to indicate how important this was.

"Of course, Lord Chrysanthemum." she says, taking the offered place, and the offered food.

She sampled the fare.

"Hmmm, this one would say that no credible food critic would say that this is mustard. There are those who might take issue with the chef and claim any great number of horrible things, but in the end, it is unlikely to be true." she offered.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Hato-san!" Koroshi got off the ledge with a quick leap and then bowed to the ronin. "Hato-san, come try the fried fish. Come, come."

He walked towards the truck and rang the bell for service a dozen times before a beleaguered cook took his order. Then Koroshi got down to business.

"Alright, once you get the food you must tell me if the sauce contains mustard. This is vital." He said looking her in the eyes and making various hand gestures to indicate how important this was.

"Of course, Lord Chrysanthemum." she says, taking the offered place, and the offered food.

She sampled the fare.

"Hmmm, this one would say that no credible food critic would say that this is mustard. There are those who might take issue with the chef and claim any great number of horrible things, but in the end, it is unlikely to be true." she offered.

"Then why is it named Do's Famous Mustard Sauce?" Koroshi questioned, possibly rhetorically. He scrunched up his face and thought for a bit but came up with nothing worth mentioning. "Ah well. So Hato-san is successful? Then she is most amazing and spectacular to do so quickly! Does she require gifts to deliver to the supply merchants?"

[Hato]

"Then why is it named Do's Famous Mustard Sauce?" Koroshi questioned, possibly rhetorically. He scrunched up his face and thought for a bit but came up with nothing worth mentioning. "Ah well. So Hato-san is successful? Then she is most amazing and spectacular to do so quickly! Does she require gifts to deliver to the supply merchants?"

Hato nodded.

"Hai, Lord Chrysanthemum. This one tried impressing upon them the honor of providing supplies on behalf of Lord Chrysanthemum, but as impressive as he is, one cannot feed people with sheer awe." she admitted.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Hato nodded.

"Hai, Lord Chrysanthemum. This one tried impressing upon them the honor of providing supplies on behalf of Lord Chrysanthemum, but as impressive as he is, one cannot feed people with sheer awe." she admitted.

"The words of a wise man can feed the soul, but soldiers prefer rice I think. Akodo made his position on that pretty clear." Koroshi mused while nodding to his Seppun to hand over a small plastic chip with the appropriate funds. It was passed without words and the yojimbo went back to his position.

"Now, how is the movie?"

[Hato]

"The words of a wise man can feed the soul, but soldiers prefer rice I think. Akodo made his position on that pretty clear." Koroshi mused while nodding to his Seppun to hand over a small plastic chip with the appropriate funds. It was passed without words and the yojimbo went back to his position.

"Now, how is the movie?"

Hato puts away the chip without mentioning it.

"Ah, a fairly standard contrivance, Lord Chrysanthemum. A surplus of accidents, some fatal give rise to stories of otherworldly influences. But in the end it's a tale of greed, not ghosts that is the true cause of the suffering."

She takes another bite of the fish.

"Not that Lord Chrysanthemum would be unmoved by such a tale but if Lord Chrysanthemum is looking for a spine-chilling tale of the supernatural, Lord Chrysanthemum would be better served by a different tale."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"That is most impressive, Hato-san. Tales of greed will interest the Imperial tax collectors, like Miya-sama. My own movie preferences are towards romance and historical dramas. Occasionally I like nature documentaries. The myriad winged creatures are very fascinating." Koroshi replied as he imagined giant drakes flying the skies.

"What about you Hato-san?" He asked after a moment of silence.

[Hato]

"That is most impressive, Hato-san. Tales of greed will interest the Imperial tax collectors, like Miya-sama. My own movie preferences are towards romance and historical dramas. Occasionally I like nature documentaries. The myriad winged creatures are very fascinating." Koroshi replied as he imagined giant drakes flying the skies.

"What about you Hato-san?" He asked after a moment of silence.

Another moment of silence passed as Hato considered the question.

"Lord Chrysanthemum is surely a more frequent atendee of the movies than this one is." she noted. "This one does enjoy historical dramas as well. But this one would say it's not so much the genre that interests this one, it's how much effort is put into the side characters."

She took a sip of her water.

"The story cannot exist without a main character, of course. Typically a Villain to cause problems, and Hero to react to those problems. But what I tend to be interested in is the quality of the supporting cast. Freed of the burdens of carrying the story, they can be many things, quirky and eccentric, or quip-happy, or just someone who has dedicated their life into the perfect delivery of just one line. Seeing that level of attention to detail is very satisfying to this one, whether it's a gimmick minion in a horror movie, or a bento salesman in a romance." she explains.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Hato-san thinks a lot when she watches movies." Koroshi guessed from her explanation. "Looks for details, little nuances, hoping the writers and actors have been diligent in their scene building."

He leaned on his (it was now Imperial property after he sat on it) ledge to think without having the trials of staying upright. "Perhaps this suggests Hato-san wishes the world would put a little more thought into its own patterns? Or maybe she thinks of herself as a good side character and game recognizes game!"

[Hato]

"Hato-san thinks a lot when she watches movies." Koroshi guessed from her explanation. "Looks for details, little nuances, hoping the writers and actors have been diligent in their scene building."

He leaned on his (it was now Imperial property after he sat on it) ledge to think without having the trials of staying upright. "Perhaps this suggests Hato-san wishes the world would put a little more thought into its own patterns? Or maybe she thinks of herself as a good side character and game recognizes game!"

Hato smiled softly.

"It could be both Lord Chrysanthemum. Surely a world could have a little more thought put into it, and this one could be good in such a world as well." she suggested.

She tilted her head a little bit.

"This one wonders what Lord Chrysanthemum would change about the world, if he had the power to do so." she asked indirectly.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Hato smiled softly.

"It could be both Lord Chrysanthemum. Surely a world could have a little more thought put into it, and this one could be good in such a world as well." she suggested.

She tilted her head a little bit.

"This one wonders what Lord Chrysanthemum would change about the world, if he had the power to do so." she asked indirectly.

Koroshi considered the question in blessed silence for an unusually long time. He stares into the skyline with the intensity he gives to everything that he does.

"Education and certainty of punishment." The Otomo said. "This one would enforce educational standards and create the certainty of punishment for those who commit crime. This would bring this planet into a more overall honorable state. Of course, if you are asking about the wider universe the answer changes a little. I find it difficult to accept that the Celestial Order is treated as a suggestion to many samurai, that dishonorable behavior is tolerated, and that allowing institutions to turn against their divine purpose is normal. If this one could, they would make the Empire into its honorable ideal."

Koroshi continued to look at the barest hints of sky above them after he spoke.

[Hato]

Koroshi considered the question in blessed silence for an unusually long time. He stares into the skyline with the intensity he gives to everything that he does.

"Education and certainty of punishment." The Otomo said. "This one would enforce educational standards and create the certainty of punishment for those who commit crime. This would bring this planet into a more overall honorable state. Of course, if you are asking about the wider universe the answer changes a little. I find it difficult to accept that the Celestial Order is treated as a suggestion to many samurai, that dishonorable behavior is tolerated, and that allowing institutions to turn against their divine purpose is normal. If this one could, they would make the Empire into its honorable ideal."

Koroshi continued to look at the barest hints of sky above them after he spoke.

Hato was quiet for quite awhile too.

"Forgive this one a foolish flight of fancy, Lord Chrysanthemum. This one remember stories of old of The Shining Prince. Forgive this one's impertinence, but between Lord Chrysanthemum's words, actions, dress, and name, this one cannot help but think of the Shining Prince. This one feels that Lord Chrysanthemum is destined for greatness in our time." she offered.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"You speak too highly of me." Koroshi said with a trace of a grin. "But the compliment is welcomed for what is meant. This humble servant of the Emperor will be glad to accomplish even a fraction of the Shining Prince's legacy. And will break mountains and split seas if necessary."

He looked down at his hands which had clenched into balls and relaxed them. "And what about you? What changes would Hato the most excellent samurai seek to achieve with the power to make it certain?"

[Hato]

"You speak too highly of me." Koroshi said with a trace of a grin. "But the compliment is welcomed for what is meant. This humble servant of the Emperor will be glad to accomplish even a fraction of the Shining Prince's legacy. And will break mountains and split seas if necessary."

He looked down at his hands which had clenched into balls and relaxed them. "And what about you? What changes would Hato the most excellent samurai seek to achieve with the power to make it certain?"

Hato was quiet for a bit. After all, why dream of things that could never be?

"I would hold those who hold authority over others to a higher degree of accountability." she finally says. "Those above are meant to protect those below them, not use them for their leisure. They should not be allowed to do as they wish in this life, punishment deferred until they stand before Emma-O."

She shook her head.

"Of course, if this one had that sort of power, this one would be need to held most accountable."

[Otomo Koroshi]

Hato was quiet for a bit. After all, why dream of things that could never be?

"I would hold those who hold authority over others to a higher degree of accountability." she finally says. "Those above are meant to protect those below them, not use them for their leisure. They should not be allowed to do as they wish in this life, punishment deferred until they stand before Emma-O."

She shook her head.

"Of course, if this one had that sort of power, this one would be need to held most accountable."

"I agree with Hato-san. Samurai do not occupy their place to be unwise stewards of the Emperor's blessings." Koroshi nodded with feeling. "One must remember that duty to their lord means enforcing correct action upon themselves. It is the inner life of a samurai, their consciousness, that must also align with their duty in order to fit properly in the Celestial Order. A poor boss is a poorer servant of their boss. One who abuses those below them abuses the trust the Emperor has bestowed upon their Champion, the trust the Champion gives to the daimyo, the daimyo to the governors, and on down."

"Protection occurs at the end of a sword. One should never forget that to take up the sword is to accept death." The Otomo threw his wrapper into a nearby can. "Does Hato-san have anyone in particular they would like reminded of their oaths?"

[Hato]

He'd do it too. Hato had no reason to doubt the utter sincerity of the Otomo's words. If was a little unnerving to be honest. The World of Dreams was full of 'Sincerity' that held a million 'almost, sort of true in a way depending how you look at it' Seeing the genuine article in the Otomo's gaze was like staring at the sun.

She couldn't help but fantasize about it for a moment. A righteously furious Otomo, shining ike the sun with his colorful attire announcing his presence to the world bearing down on her tormentor.

'I, Otomo Koroshi have come to smite thee for thine villianous treatment of the honorable Hato!' he would say, for some reason talking like a historical drama.

And then He would turn, and smile at the Otomo and reply, 'Oh, let me tell you about the 'honorable' Hato.'

[Sequence Expunged]

Hato sighed a bit.

"This one cannot know the hearts and honor of others, Lord Chrysanthemum. This one has witness no local transgressions for Lord Chrysanthemum to punish. The only one that this one would see punished, is not even on this world." she admitted.

She tossed the finished remains of the meal in the trash.

"But should that no longer be the case, this one could hardly ask for a more perfect protector than Lord Chrysanthemum." she admitted.