[D5 LM] Sins of the Scorpion

[Miya Nishida]

It was probably an unusual sight to find an Imperial Samurai, along with two bodyguards in the slums. Especially when said samurai was here apparently voluntarily. But Nishida was no normal Imperial Samurai and he had made up his mind to make the Scorpion pay for his personal misery on Asakaze.

He just needed information, information about what they had done here in the name of the 10th kami and why no one had been punished for it yet.

D5 LM, Gather Secrets, Investigation 3 / Awareness 4, VP +1k1, 2CR | 8k5 ⇒ 39 (TN: 35)

[Hato]

The mean streets were dangerous, Hato having gathered the intel she had been looking for was making her way down them. Still, you had to watch out for the various thugs and lowlifes that haunted the streets, looking to prey upon the weak out of sheer desperation.

Take for example that escorted trigger-happy Miya tax collector. Probably shaking down a handful of zeni from the local merchants, 1 for the Emperor and 5 for him. And if you didn't pay? His killers gunned you down as an example to the others.

It was sad seeing such naked corruption loose among the populace.

Still, not wanting to be gunned down by the man for one whim or another, she took out her battered communicator to pretend not to see him, and hope he passed by without incident.

[Miya Nishida]

For Hato, her plan almost worked out, Nishida was indeed distracted with talking to the Local Ronin, interrogating them for information and gathering it for whatever reason.

He walked past Hato and looked like he was about to turn into the next alley when he turned around, "Wait a minute," he muttered.
He walked back to Hato "I know you, don't I? You are Setsu's ronin,... Hato-san, right" he asked her.

[Hato]

For Hato, her plan almost worked out, Nishida was indeed distracted with talking to the Local Ronin, interrogating them for information and gathering it for whatever reason.

He walked past Hato and looked like he was about to turn into the next alley when he turned around, "Wait a minute," he muttered.
He walked back to Hato "I know you, don't I? You are Setsu's ronin,... Hato-san, right" he asked her.

Hato put away her communicator and bowed deeply to the Miya.

"Lord Chrysanthemum has a memory as excellent as his eye, this one is known as Hato. Although this one would not refer to this one as 'Setsu's ronin'. This one would not wish to burden Lord Crab's name any more than it has been burdened in the past few days. This one hopes Lord Chrysanthemum has been well and that fhe Fortunes have smiled upon his endeavors." she offered, deferentially.

[Miya Nishida]

"Is that so? Setsu has always been quick to hire and fire staff, no matter..." he shook his head. "I've been doing just fine, I hope you have too?" he raised an eyebrow. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his suit and lit one, "Tell me Hato-san, how long have you been living here? Have you" he made a wide gesture "grown up here?"

[Hato]

"Is that so? Setsu has always been quick to hire and fire staff, no matter..." he shook his head. "I've been doing just fine, I hope you have too?" he raised an eyebrow. He took out a pack of cigarettes from his suit and lit one, "Tell me Hato-san, how long have you been living here? Have you" he made a wide gesture "grown up here?"

Uh-oh, it was the Imperial inquisition. Nobody likes the Imperial Inquisition!

"That would be a fair assumption for Lord Chrysanthemum to make." she offered. "Perhaps Lord Chrysanthemum is looking for authentic local food as Lord Phoenix was? This one recommended a rather charming pop-up food stall that sells roasted potatoes run by an old couple. Humble food by humble people, yet the warmth one receives on a cold night from it is quite wonderful."

[Miya Nishida]

Uh-oh, it was the Imperial inquisition. Nobody likes the Imperial Inquisition!

"That would be a fair assumption for Lord Chrysanthemum to make." she offered. "Perhaps Lord Chrysanthemum is looking for authentic local food as Lord Phoenix was? This one recommended a rather charming pop-up food stall that sells roasted potatoes run by an old couple. Humble food by humble people, yet the warmth one receives on a cold night from it is quite wonderful."

"Hmmm I've already had a good breakfast,..." he took a drag on his cigarette, "I'm interested in other things, precarious things. I've heard stories, and read reports. Stories around experimenting on children and lost souls?" he said in a lowered voice.

[Hato]

"Hmmm I've already had a good breakfast,..." he took a drag on his cigarette, "I'm interested in other things, precarious things. I've heard stories, and read reports. Stories around experimenting on children and lost souls?" he said in a lowered voice.

Hato nodded.

"Ah, Lord Chrysanthemum is a collector of ghost stories." she offered, knowing that his interest was not in being entertained. "It is truly said that every story needs a Scorpion as a villain. Of course, such a reputation tends to feed on itself, like a snake devouring it's own tail. Most Scorpion villainy tends to be limited to a propensity towards cruelty to those beneath them, or some infidelity that would shock a pious monk, but little more."

She looked off in to the distance.

"But is there true evil hidden behind lesser evil? Who could say with certainty? This one has noticed that it is a common trick of poor writers to end their tales with 'but actually' as if the master of their worlds simply must beat the poor reader and make him the fool. The really good stories, the true stories, those are certainly well hidden gems indeed."

[Miya Nishida]

He had never heard Hato talk so much, so he listened intently to her story. He nodded from time to time and tilted his head. "Hato-san, I see that you seem to know something about the tragic past of this planet. I collect these stories not for my own pleasure, but to restore balance here." And pissing off the Scorpion, she didn't need to know that, "Would you be willing to tell me more?" he asked

[Hato]

He had never heard Hato talk so much, so he listened intently to her story. He nodded from time to time and tilted his head. "Hato-san, I see that you seem to know something about the tragic past of this planet. I collect these stories not for my own pleasure, but to restore balance here." And pissing off the Scorpion, she didn't need to know that, "Would you be willing to tell me more?" he asked

It was amazing indeed how much more Hato talked when you didn't point guns at her or use her as a table.

"This one is honored to serve a dutiful servant of the throne such as Lord Chrysanthemum." she offered deferentially with a bow. "This one knows a bit about this and that, and would be more than happy to share what this one can. Was there a particular ghost story Lord Chrysanthemum was particularly interested in?"

[Miya Nishida]

"I've heard stories about experiments. Gene experiments. Do you know more about it?" he asked Hato in a serious voice.

[Hato]

"I've heard stories about experiments. Gene experiments. Do you know more about it?" he asked Hato in a serious voice.

Say what you would about the Otomo and the Miya. As opposite as the two men were, they both seemed to think their chrysanthemum mon gave them the power to talk on an entire world.

Hato shook her head at the question, affording her a glance around to see who was listening.

"The Scorpion have made it very clear that such stories are not welcome on their streets, Lore Chrysanthemum." she said, not denying hearing the stories, or that they were true.

"Authors who persist in writing what the audience does not want, swiftly find themselves cancelled and replaced by those who tell the tales the audience wants." she warned.

[Miya Nishida]

Nishdia crossed his arms "If I wanted to question the authors of the Scorpions, I wouldn't look for their wisdom in the slums of the city." he said, raising an eyebrow, "But I thank you for your care Hato-san. Should you need anything say so,..." he offered a small bribe. Information was more valuable than Koku right now.

[Hato]

Nishdia crossed his arms "If I wanted to question the authors of the Scorpions, I wouldn't look for their wisdom in the slums of the city." he said, raising an eyebrow, "But I thank you for your care Hato-san. Should you need anything say so,..." he offered a small bribe. Information was more valuable than Koku right now.

Hato wondered at the impending fate of the Miya before her. He didn't seem like the type to be silenced by a sudden scandal. Perhaps he would be found dead due to a sudden overdose of opium from his previously unknown substance abuse problem?

Hato bowed deeply.

"Of course, Lord Chrysanthemum. If this one hears of an unpopular story that would truly move Lord Chrysanthemum, this one would be happy to exchange it as a gift." she offered.

[Miya Nishida]

"Hmmm good" he replied, taking a drag from his cigarette. Something else came to his mind, "You don't happen to know any survivors of the blast, don't you?"

[Hato]

"Hmmm good" he replied, taking a drag from his cigarette. Something else came to his mind, "You don't happen to know any survivors of the blast, don't you?"

Hato nodded.

"It would be more surprising if this one did not know any survivors of the blast, Lord Chrysanthemum. Many, many people died that day, and there are tens of thousands of survivors, in varying stages of health and well-being." she admitted.

"There are even some who worked at the heart of the incident, but their lives were spared because they were off-site at the time. They lost everything and everyone important to them that day, and while their bodies may be healthy, some deep part of themselves still died there that day."

She offered a small shrug.

"One of them may be able to remember an unpopular story, and care little enough about the whims of the audience to share it with Lord Chrysanthemum."

[Miya Nishida]

"Would you be willing to locate such a person?" he asked. So far he had underestimated the woman, but maybe she really had something, here in the alleys of the city. At least it would be safer for Nishida, he had little desire to be stabbed by rats in the alleys.

[Hato]

"Would you be willing to locate such a person?" he asked. So far he had underestimated the woman, but maybe she really had something, here in the alleys of the city. At least it would be safer for Nishida, he had little desire to be stabbed by rats in the alleys.

Hato considered the matter. Would she be harmed by association with such a person? Then again, the Miya seemed like the type to stand and fight, which would hopefully give her time to slip away.

"This one does have projects to work upon...but this one feels that this one can add this as a side project, as long as Lord Chrysanthemum is willing to accept that this one accepts it as such." she agreed.

[Miya Nishida]

snip

Nishida grinned, "Isn't every business a side business for you ronin?" he shook his head slightly, "but yes, I can live with that. As long as you deliver results eventually, I'm happy." he replied, finishing his cigarette.

[Hato]

snip

Nishida grinned, "Isn't every business a side business for you ronin?" he shook his head slightly, "but yes, I can live with that. As long as you deliver results eventually, I'm happy." he replied, finishing his cigarette.

Hato bowed deeply.

"this one will do their best not to disappoint Lord Chrysanthemum." she said, awaiting a dismissal.