[D10 ME] Faith (Benikage)

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi's tiedye kimono could not be seen in the darkness of Benikage. Which was probably best for anyone with a hint of shame, or fashion sense. The Otomo had ordered a full meal for his guest and told the attending host to expect her. He might have flashed his Otomo ring to convey that he didn't want any questions or funny business about having her sent to his table.

A tall box was on the seat next to him and he touched it from time to time to remind himself it had not gotten up and left.

[Hato]

One might argue that Benikage was a pinnacle of wealth and power on the World of Dreams. True, the castle was the legitimate center of power, but some of the deals that shook the World of Dreams and the Empire itself were made in this dim lighting and accompanied by incredibly expensive food and drink.

It was the sort of place that one could easily picture a man of Koroshi's standing dining at on a frequent basis. Hato, on the other hand, couldn't have been more out of place if she showed up to the magistrate's office naked. Perhaps even more out of place than that, the magistrate had probably seen a naked criminal at least a few times.

While the staff may have been more than happy to turn away such a person, even if they could pay, the Otomo had made his will very clear. And so Hato was swiftly shown to the Otomo's table. The faster they did that, the sooner she would be gone from their fine establishment.

Hato bowed deeply to the Otomo.

"Lord Chrysanthemum, this one is happy to be in your presence once more. This one hopes that Lord Chrysanthemum has been in excellent health and spirits." she offered politely.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Hato-san, Hato-san!" Koroshi got up from the seat to give her a bow she could not see and then gestured uselessly for her to take a place across from him. "This one's body is vigorous! Truly a blessing from heaven to experience the strength of a million souls working in harmony! Please sit, we will share dinner in the wonder and awe of the dark setting before us."

He sat and picked up the box to push in her direction. "Your presence deserves a gift, please accept with my compliments."

[Hato]

"Hato-san, Hato-san!" Koroshi got up from the seat to give her a bow she could not see and then gestured uselessly for her to take a place across from him. "This one's body is vigorous! Truly a blessing from heaven to experience the strength of a million souls working in harmony! Please sit, we will share dinner in the wonder and awe of the dark setting before us."

He sat and picked up the box to push in her direction. "Your presence deserves a gift, please accept with my compliments."

Hato was seated in the darkness. It was such a tourist thing to eat in the dark in a Scorpion eatery. Of course, murdering someone at Benikage would be the height of stupidity given what it would do to the business's reputation. So it was a fake threat to make one feel bold. Still, in the presence of the Otomo, she felt anything was possible.

"This one was very surprised indeed to receive the picture of such a magnificent gift, Lord Chrysanthemum. But this one could not accept such for merely being with Lord Chrysanthemum. His presence is more than a gift indeed." she declined.

It had been a LONG time since Hato had played the game of refusals. Some clan samurai would be offended at a ronin following the customer, as if they were their equal and could refuse them. Still, Hato trusted in the wonderful spirit of the Otomo to make her remember those happier times so long ago, when one had presents and the prosperity to refuse them.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi was not used to eating in the dark or indeed being in the dark literally, though the less said about metaphorically the better. But novel experiences that did not immediately involve death or dishonor were good for his mood. New things made him happy.

"This great samurai has been most busy working on his divination and speaking to the spirits, and in the course of his work discovered a fated connection between the item and the ronin before him! One cannot deny fate and so this most exciting opportunity cannot be passed by! Please accept my gift Hato-san! Also, do you drink wine? I have not ordered anything yet. Though I think they have water and some kind of cracker on the table." Koroshi explained while hitting his hand on his glass of water. His reflexes were good enough to keep it from spilling at the last second.

[Hato]

Koroshi was not used to eating in the dark or indeed being in the dark literally, though the less said about metaphorically the better. But novel experiences that did not immediately involve death or dishonor were good for his mood. New things made him happy.

"This great samurai has been most busy working on his divination and speaking to the spirits, and in the course of his work discovered a fated connection between the item and the ronin before him! One cannot deny fate and so this most exciting opportunity cannot be passed by! Please accept my gift Hato-san! Also, do you drink wine? I have not ordered anything yet. Though I think they have water and some kind of cracker on the table." Koroshi explained while hitting his hand on his glass of water. His reflexes were good enough to keep it from spilling at the last second.

"This one would be honored to share wine with Lord Chrysanthemum." she agreed readily enough.

She paused a moment, considering the weight of the Imperial's words.

"This one cannot deny fate, nor claim to contradict Lord Chrysanthemum's skill in divination. Yet, if there is such a connection between this one and such a gift, this one believes that it may be that the connection is to serve as a reminder to Lord Chrysanthemum of his time spent with this one. This one would be greatly pleased for Lord Chrysanthemum to have such a reminder, and thus this one cannot accept." she declined.

That was two declines, etiquette was pretty clear that unless she wished to dreadfully insult the Otomo his next offer would be accepted.

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

"Your willingness to bear the mark of fate is admirable, but this one had been remiss in not mentioning the most important reason for Hato-san to accept. It has your name on it!" Koroshi flourished the box in her direction a final time, and indeed the box had a tag that could not be read in the darkness.

"Wine for the lady and myself then, whatever the chef thinks is good for the food." Koroshi asked of the waiter who he realized was there only by a slight touch on his elbow. He hoped it wasn't an assassin instead. That would be embarrassing to ask an assassin to bring the table wine.

[Hato]

snip

"Your willingness to bear the mark of fate is admirable, but this one had been remiss in not mentioning the most important reason for Hato-san to accept. It has your name on it!" Koroshi flourished the box in her direction a final time, and indeed the box had a tag that could not be read in the darkness.

"Wine for the lady and myself then, whatever the chef thinks is good for the food." Koroshi asked of the waiter who he realized was there only by a slight touch on his elbow. He hoped it wasn't an assassin instead. That would be embarrassing to ask an assassin to bring the table wine.

Hato offered a seated bow unseen.

"This one cannot argue with Lord Chrysanthemum's flawless logic, and will accept the gift as a reminder of Lord Chrysanthemum when our ways must inevitible part, in the hoipe that someday somewhere we will meet again. This one will also do their best to not eat the hat in the darkness. Though this one has heard that the hot sauces served here could make even a hat tasty." she remakred, accepting the gift.

[Otomo Koroshi]

The Otomo smiled as he ate some kind of rice cracker. "You cannot see it, but I am happy." He supplied uselessly for the ronin to confirm though his voice said the same regardless of what his words had been.

"I do not often eat fine dining, though this may surprise you! My parents consider the act a work of art and my father is an art curator. Very exacting man about art, very high standards about what a meal must be in order to be worthy of attention. Sincerity is probably his greatest virtue!" Koroshi rambled on while nibbling. "So he would not recommend a chef he had not eaten at and found most excellent. Not very many could meet his professional standards. And we would not go anywhere he did not think was worth his time. Though he personally would visit many restaurants or have celebrated chefs cook for him and the governor at events. He would come home to my mother after a long night and detail in every way he had been disappointed by the artists, culinary or otherwise. I have since learned this is a way for him to organize his memories for recommendations to the governor."

The Otomo finished the cracker with a final bite and took some water for his thirst. "And what about Hato-san? What does her parents do? Does she like fried food? Has she any experience with art? Not merely culinary art!"

[Hato]

The Otomo smiled as he ate some kind of rice cracker. "You cannot see it, but I am happy." He supplied uselessly for the ronin to confirm though his voice said the same regardless of what his words had been.

"I do not often eat fine dining, though this may surprise you! My parents consider the act a work of art and my father is an art curator. Very exacting man about art, very high standards about what a meal must be in order to be worthy of attention. Sincerity is probably his greatest virtue!" Koroshi rambled on while nibbling. "So he would not recommend a chef he had not eaten at and found most excellent. Not very many could meet his professional standards. And we would not go anywhere he did not think was worth his time. Though he personally would visit many restaurants or have celebrated chefs cook for him and the governor at events. He would come home to my mother after a long night and detail in every way he had been disappointed by the artists, culinary or otherwise. I have since learned this is a way for him to organize his memories for recommendations to the governor."

The Otomo finished the cracker with a final bite and took some water for his thirst. "And what about Hato-san? What does her parents do? Does she like fried food? Has she any experience with art? Not merely culinary art!"

Hato could indeed feel the Otomo's happiness. It was like standing before the sun with your eyes closed, you still felt it's reassuring warmth.

She listened to the Otomo breathlessly recounting things about food and his father. It was truly a fascinating glimpse of a world she had never known.

She took a sip of the wine when it arrived and considered the Otomo's questions.

"This one enjoys fried food when it is available to this one. It is much hearty fare than normal, and when one is fortunate enough to be able to feast upon it, one feels like they need not eat for a week." she said.

Which...not eating for a week was something the ronin did have experience with.

"Lord Chrysanthemum, no doubt, remembers this one's perchance for song. Though that is the art this one primarily involves themselves with, this one has been considering taking up drawing. This one was also fortunate enough to meet the firefly artist who is here this season carving asteroids. Art on such a large scale is truly amazing."

She sat the wine glass down and skipped the question about her parents.

"This one wonders, Lord Chrysanthemum, about Lord Chrysanthemum's preferences for food then, if he normally abstains from fine dining. Does Lord Chrysanthemum prefer food truck fare?" she asked.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi nodded along needlessly in the dark, making the appropriate humming noises and "oh yes" when necessary. "Yes, this one is constantly reminded of Hato-san's art! There is quite a bit of song being played at every corner of the city. This one would suspect the Scorpion of trying to drown out the more obnoxious street noises but conspiracy is unnecessary in the face of such offensive sounds. Even dullards would rather listen to a sweet siren while they consume their vaguely illicit substances than the rumble of an overweight truck on potholes."

He paused to take in some of the wine himself. He made a face but decided not to say anything. "Food trucks are most excellent! Though this one has discovered an appalling lack of cleanliness among the staff and chefs of such. If such was seen in Toshi Ranbo then they would be removed from the face of the planet with prejudice. Here such waste is the source of jokes! Very strange humor the Scorpion have. But as to preferences, this one prefers food shared with a friend, regardless of quality! Food trucks merely happen to be easy to order from and commonplace around the Empire. And this one's stipend is not so large as to justify to his lord many visits to Benikage. At least not without having some courtier reason, like building alliances or such. This visit will have to be billed to my account, as Hato-san is unlikely to be recognized for the great samurai that she is by the Imperial auditors. Such people look at status more than honor when accounting."

He stopped rambling after the first course arrived. "But enough about that. Has Hato-san been enjoying her time? This one was saddened to learn about that ronin, Okuri. I prayed for his soul. Have your romantic endeavors been successful?"

[Hato]

Koroshi nodded along needlessly in the dark, making the appropriate humming noises and "oh yes" when necessary. "Yes, this one is constantly reminded of Hato-san's art! There is quite a bit of song being played at every corner of the city. This one would suspect the Scorpion of trying to drown out the more obnoxious street noises but conspiracy is unnecessary in the face of such offensive sounds. Even dullards would rather listen to a sweet siren while they consume their vaguely illicit substances than the rumble of an overweight truck on potholes."

He paused to take in some of the wine himself. He made a face but decided not to say anything. "Food trucks are most excellent! Though this one has discovered an appalling lack of cleanliness among the staff and chefs of such. If such was seen in Toshi Ranbo then they would be removed from the face of the planet with prejudice. Here such waste is the source of jokes! Very strange humor the Scorpion have. But as to preferences, this one prefers food shared with a friend, regardless of quality! Food trucks merely happen to be easy to order from and commonplace around the Empire. And this one's stipend is not so large as to justify to his lord many visits to Benikage. At least not without having some courtier reason, like building alliances or such. This visit will have to be billed to my account, as Hato-san is unlikely to be recognized for the great samurai that she is by the Imperial auditors. Such people look at status more than honor when accounting."

He stopped rambling after the first course arrived. "But enough about that. Has Hato-san been enjoying her time? This one was saddened to learn about that ronin, Okuri. I prayed for his soul. Have your romantic endeavors been successful?"

Eating in the dark did certainly make one eat slower, lest they jab themselves with a chopstick. Still, she listened to the Otomo and his colorful commentary on the World of Dreams.

Once he seemed ready to hear from her with his own questions, she nodded.

"This one has found her time enriching this season, Lord Chrysanthemum, more sore than she had hoped for. This one has truly been impressed with the Imperial families. While Lord Otomo's style and Lord Miya's style could not be more different, you are both exceptional examples of what it means to be noble. This one also enjoyed this one's time with the Crab samurai this one met this season. The rumors about them have been quite harsh, but this one has found the samurai themselves to be quite good company."

She paused a moment switching the target of her chopsticks and her answers.

"Ah, Okuri-san's passing was indeed sad. He was a good man, but that is not a shield from Emma-O's spear. This one hopes that Emma-O judges him kindly. It reminds this one that we only have so much time to enjoy the company of others in this world. A fleeting dream before we awaken." she muses, genuinely sad about Okuri's passing, even if she didn't know he was gunned down for just being too dumbly earnest.

She laughed gently at the final question.

"Ah, this one has been far too busy honoring Fukurokujin this season to earn Benten's favor. Early in the season, this one had thought that she saw the ghost of Benten's smile, but it was not to be. Some people are simply too beholden to the past to make a future with."

She sipped her wine.

"Ah, but speaking of romance, what of Lord Chrysanthemum's own prospects? Surely a man as great as Lord Chrysanthemum is not destined to walk his road alone for very long." she inquired.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi ate the second course with the speed of the turtle, finding it easier to consume if he imagined the texture as a mystery. The guess of what it might actually be was too disgusting to imagine.

"Hato-san has impressed Miya-sama, though this one does not think it is through her song skills. Miya-sama is quite a different sort, has different hobbies and likes. But he is very good at his job, and this one has only good things to say about his character. There are many terrible lords and I am lucky to work with an excellent supervisor. Which means his approval of Hato-san is further proof of her great potential and virtue! A hundred candles will be lit for your ancestors, that they might continue to bless your life with honor and glory!" He thumped the table with the side of his hand and had to stop himself and wave off a waiter who thought he had requested something.

"Ah, tell me about the Crab? This one has met Kuni Sumie, and Kuni Koyuki, and heard a bit about Kaiu-san. I wonder if Kuni Koyuki is always so austere? She seems the height of poise. And Kuni Sumie is very eccentric! But filled with facts, very smart woman." The Otomo stabbed his weird fruit sculpture a few times and added sauces of unknown origin. "We will have to work on attracting Benten's kiss for Hato-san. This one has not been courted by anyone yet, but there is time yet. Sadly this one has no immediate prospects for marriage! This one wishes an army of children but the nakado seem to be waiting. Many first meetings that never go anywhere. Very disappointing to be honest. This one is worried he will pass another year unmatched. Another year, another moment closer to Emma-o, this one would like to honor his parents and be a fillial son with grandchildren. I am an only child."

[Hato]

Koroshi ate the second course with the speed of the turtle, finding it easier to consume if he imagined the texture as a mystery. The guess of what it might actually be was too disgusting to imagine.

"Hato-san has impressed Miya-sama, though this one does not think it is through her song skills. Miya-sama is quite a different sort, has different hobbies and likes. But he is very good at his job, and this one has only good things to say about his character. There are many terrible lords and I am lucky to work with an excellent supervisor. Which means his approval of Hato-san is further proof of her great potential and virtue! A hundred candles will be lit for your ancestors, that they might continue to bless your life with honor and glory!" He thumped the table with the side of his hand and had to stop himself and wave off a waiter who thought he had requested something.

"Ah, tell me about the Crab? This one has met Kuni Sumie, and Kuni Koyuki, and heard a bit about Kaiu-san. I wonder if Kuni Koyuki is always so austere? She seems the height of poise. And Kuni Sumie is very eccentric! But filled with facts, very smart woman." The Otomo stabbed his weird fruit sculpture a few times and added sauces of unknown origin. "We will have to work on attracting Benten's kiss for Hato-san. This one has not been courted by anyone yet, but there is time yet. Sadly this one has no immediate prospects for marriage! This one wishes an army of children but the nakado seem to be waiting. Many first meetings that never go anywhere. Very disappointing to be honest. This one is worried he will pass another year unmatched. Another year, another moment closer to Emma-o, this one would like to honor his parents and be a fillial son with grandchildren. I am an only child."

Hato savored the bite of the particular dish she had been served for the second course. It was a very different sort of spice than she was used to. Very complex....well definitely more complex than the cheap packets of hot sauce she had from time to time.

"They are as different as Lord Chrysanthemum is from Lord Miya, of course, but also good samurai. Lady Sumie is, as Lord Chrysanthemum says, quite smart, and deemed eccentric. This one feels that Lady Sumie feels....unchallenged in this day and age. Were she alive back when the Empire was but a single planet, she would no doubt have been a hero of the Crab, fighting the forces of darkness with everything at her disposal. But in these days her formidable skills languish in a very safe embassy job. She wishes to shine like a lantern, but cannot remove the hood."

"Lady Koiyuki is...quite complicated. She has borne the suffering that Lady Sumie wishes for in her ignorance, and has been left scarred by it. This one wishes it were within her power to truly help Lady Koiyuki, but there are some pains that must be healed alone."

"Lord Kaiu stands between the two. When I first met him, his smile was as wide as the famed kaiu wall. A very kind-hearted man who has angered the gossipmongers who in return they have stricken the smile from his face. His wounds are not so deep as Lady Koiyuki's, and this one hopes they heal soon so this one may see that smile again."

She shook her head a bit.

"This is one is saddened that the nakodo have failed Lord Chrysanthemum so badly. It must be hard indeed to find someone who can stand beside one so bright as Lord Chrysanthemum without becoming lost in his shadow. This one will pray that they find such a person soon, and that Lord Chrysanthemum's children are numerous indeed, each shining just as brightly as Lord Chrysanthemum himself."

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi filled his cup and Hato's again with the wine. The third course would arrive in a few moments he thought.

"They were great practice for the existential questions of the Phoenix. Why are you like this? Why do you act like this? The nakado had me questioning my purpose in life in preparation of the difficulty of the Tao." Koroshi said with a light smile. "This one made the mistake of correcting an elder at one of those meetings, failure of courtesy that I am shamed for. They misquoted Leadership and I had just memorized the relevant passage."

He shrugged, realized she couldn't see it, and said "I shrugged."

"But let us discuss Benten's purpose in Hato-san's life! It is more difficult to find men among the waves, but this one would like to hear that Hato-san's opinion on who she would like to meet with? Does she have a face in mind?"

[Hato]

Unseen, Hato tilted her head a bit at the Otomo's persistence. It was so strange how many clan samurai had taken an interest in her love life. Not that they were writing her poetry and promising to whisk her away from all of this, just that they wanted to know who she was dating, when she was going to have children and so forth. Perhaps it was simply that having exhausted all their romantic possibilities at the court they had moved on shipping the wolves. Such a strange life to have such easy access to passion.

Hato thought for a moment, while savoring the meal.

"This one could, of course, list dozens of things that would make for an ideal husband. Honorable, Rich, Handsome, and so on. This one could draw the best elements of all the fortunes great and minor in defining the perfect husband." she offered.

She took a sip of her wine.

"But were I to pick a most important element, it is that he would be kind. There are.....far too many in the Empire who are not. Men who tell themselves that they are paragons of honor, yet all too often their 'honor' justifies the cruelty they wish to indulge in for their own gain. Men who treat their wives as just one more duty they must fulfill for their lord, one more tick on the ledger sheet of honor. They father their heirs, their replacements in the endless battle of life with all the care that a woodsman fells a tree. A sweaty task they must perform for their lord, and a burden besides. So while this one might wish for a husband with the strength of Hida, the grace of Doji, the honor of Akodo, and more.....if this one could find someone who is truly kind....that would be enough for this one." she offered.

It saddened Hato that there was likely no such person in her future. It was such a simple thing, yet so sorely lacking in her life.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Kindness is difficult to maintain in the face of duty. Even more difficult to maintain for those without compassion." He admitted. "This one himself struggles with kindness, my zeal to act often means making the wrong word or deed in ambiguous situations. We are called to act, but that does not always mean moving! This is a lesson that I struggle with, I am not most excellent in those moments where I harm others." Koroshi stopped talking for a bit to finish a fruit that he could not identify.

"Kindness is hard. Probably harder on a planet like this. But I believe in Benten's grace! And if not Benten, then at least Hotei's blessings. Contentment with your spouse is important, or so my mother says." The Otomo paused in eating. "And what are Hato-san's feelings on religion? I am definitely a Fortunist, but the Isawa were clear about the syncretic nature of the Empire's Shintaoism."

[Hato]

"Kindness is difficult to maintain in the face of duty. Even more difficult to maintain for those without compassion." He admitted. "This one himself struggles with kindness, my zeal to act often means making the wrong word or deed in ambiguous situations. We are called to act, but that does not always mean moving! This is a lesson that I struggle with, I am not most excellent in those moments where I harm others." Koroshi stopped talking for a bit to finish a fruit that he could not identify.

"Kindness is hard. Probably harder on a planet like this. But I believe in Benten's grace! And if not Benten, then at least Hotei's blessings. Contentment with your spouse is important, or so my mother says." The Otomo paused in eating. "And what are Hato-san's feelings on religion? I am definitely a Fortunist, but the Isawa were clear about the syncretic nature of the Empire's Shintaoism."

The fruit had an interesting tangy quality with a texture that felt like something was popping inside Hato's mouth.

"An interesting question, Lord Chrysanthemum. As this one is quartered at the Temple of Shosuro, this one has directly benefits from belief in the divine, even if this one cannot commune with the kami like those uniquely blessed by the Heavens." she offered.

She considered the matter briefly.

"One cannot deny the influence of the Fortunes. But this one feels it is a rare individual who feels a personal connection to them. Most of use are simply caught up in their influence. We all eat because of Inari's blessing, but are there those who are particularly favored by Inari?

Many, this one feels, finds shinseism more relatable. Sensible, relatable wisdom that can be applied to every day situations. The again, it ha been so long since Shinsei walked Rokugan, the words have surely changed over the years and the distances. Would he recognize them as his own today?"

She took a sip of wine.

"This one hopes not to offed the gracious host that Lord Chrysanthemum is, but this one feels that there is another group that Lord Chrysanthemum has omitted. This one is most curious on Lord Chrysanthemum's thoughts on those that the Spider clan pay tribute to."