Nishida, who was usually very modest (if you want to call a tailor-made suit of noble materials 'modest'), dressed for this occasion in his best hakama, gi and haori, embroidered with the mon of the Miya family. However, a small blue carp was embroidered near his heart, a tribute to his old clan and family.

He was already waiting at his table and had instructed the staff to bring his guest here, should she, inevitably, reach the establishment.

Akechi and Himei sat, probably also more noble than usual, nearby. To stand guard directly would probably offend the owner.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 11:50 am

Snip

Yūrei arrives a few minutes after wearing a formal kimono she'd hurriedly borrowed from a girl friend who owed her big for that time with the hedgehog at the drug deal. The ronin's hair is pleated into a traditional fox tail, something that had taken her ages to remember, and she's dug out some old makeup.

Even with that she'd nearly been turned back at the door (the Benikage staff had a well earned reputation for being able to sniff out ner'do'wells) before she'd dropped Nishida's name and found herself escorted into the darkness and settled at a table.

"Miya-sama, I have arrived."
She squints into the blackness, able to make out a blurry shape.

"Greetings, Yūrei-san. I hope you had a pleasant day." he greeted her.
"I must say that I was not prepared for the restaurant actually being this dark. I've heard rumors, but they don't do this justice." From the tone of his voice, it was hard to tell if he was actually amused or if it was biting sarcasm.

"The meals should be coming soon, too. A three course meal should hopefully be to your satisfaction." he explained, even though Nishida probably didn't care what Yūrei thought of the food.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:07 pm

Snip

She mentally does the math and then converts the cost of the meal into instant ramen packs
"It will be more than sufficient for this one. I only hope it lives up to your expectations."

She does her best to force down any discomfort at not being able to see her surrounds.
"Not only does the darkness enhance flavour, or so I'm told. But it allows individuals to meet with some privacy."
She feels around for her water glass, and nearly knocks over the flower vase.

He failed to supress a chuckle.
"Certainly." If there's one thing Nishida has hardly ever had in recent years, it's 'privacy'.

"Be that as it may, I hope for a pleasant and fruitful evening." he said amiably, even if he had a predatory undertone.

One of the servants already brought the first course. In front of Nishida and Yūrei was served an avocado carpaccio with mango that had been laid out in the shape of a tanuki. The from could hardly be perceived in the darkness, but if you concentrated it was there.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:23 pm

Snip

Yūrei does her best to no knock anything over and and the food really is extremely pleasant.
"I can see the appetizer agreed with your desires for a fruitful evening."

Maybe the darkness was heightening her senses because she swore she could make out the quiet conversations of half a dozen tables around them.
"Does it live up to Miya-sama's expectations so far?"

"It's quite exquisite. I understand why my clansmen suggested this place to me."

In the darkness, all cats are gray, and Nishida was sure that someone, be it the staff or a specially assigned samurai, had them in sight. Just to be able to help them with a problem, of course.

"Well, I already told you that I'm with the IRS, right?" he continued the conversation.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:34 pm

"It's quite exquisite. I understand why my clansmen suggested this place to me."

In the darkness, all cats are gray, and Nishida was sure that someone, be it the staff or a specially assigned samurai, had them in sight. Just to be able to help them with a problem, of course.

"Well, I already told you that I'm with the IRS, right?" he continued the conversation.

"Mmmhm, I do recall Miya-sama mentioning it. An important body."
She may or may not be scraping the plate to finish every last piece of the carpaccio.

Yūrei was pretty sure she'd never heard anyone say a kind word about the IRS to anyone else, anywhere, anytime. But was willing to concede that given the sheer size of the empire it might have happened once.

"Good." Nishida emptied his plate and put the chopsticks neatly to one side. A servant took the plates and disappeared as quietly as he had come.

"After reviewing some documents I made for the preparation of this Winter Court, I noticed, among other things, that there were irregularities in your tax returns for the last five years. I'm afraid you owe the crown some koku, Yūrei-san," he said deadpan.

He let the statement hang in space for some time before clearing his throat, "I was joking."

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 3:48 pm

Snip

There's the sound of a nervous swallow from across the table.

"Ha ha, you had me there Miya-sama, a fine jest."
She quickly sips some water.

"I of course take my taxes extremely seriously, what little I have."

Nishida grinned, too often in the past he sat at the other end of such a conversation, usually just without the joke.

"Well, Yūrei, as you can imagine, there are plenty of elements who actually owe the Empire a bunch of koku."

A servant just came over and served the main course. There had been no description.
"The name of the main course is the Blossom of the Kestrel. I hope you will like it, Samurai-sama," the servant explained before leaving.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:57 pm

Nishida grinned, too often in the past he sat at the other end of such a conversation, usually just without the joke.

"Well, Yūrei, as you can imagine, there are plenty of elements who actually owe the Empire a bunch of koku."

A servant just came over and served the main course. There had been no description.
"The name of the main course is the Blossom of the Kestrel. I hope you will like it, Samurai-sama," the servant explained before leaving.

Yūrei was pretty glad nobody could see the mild look of horror on her face as she hesitantly poked a chopstick at her plate...the outside seemed crispy?

"Fascinating menu they have here, all sorts of unexpected things, yet it all feels so personal."
Pushing down a desire to just bolt
"If my humble abilities can assist the IRS in such a matter I stand ready to do so."

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 10:02 pm

Yūrei was pretty glad nobody could see the mild look of horror on her face as she hesitantly poked a chopstick at her plate...the outside seemed crispy?

"Fascinating menu they have here, all sorts of unexpected things, yet it all feels so personal."
Pushing down a desire to just bolt
"If my humble abilities can assist the IRS in such a matter I stand ready to do so."

If Nishida knew anything about Yurei's nickname, he didn't let on, but it had to be said that the dish was quite exquisite. At least he had spared no expense.

"Obtaining such information for the Imperial Revenue Service, and by extension the throne, can prove to be extremely lucrative should you be interested in such a burden," he explained, eating a piece of the fried something in front of him.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 6:24 am

If Nishida knew anything about Yurei's nickname, he didn't let on, but it had to be said that the dish was quite exquisite. At least he had spared no expense.

"Obtaining such information for the Imperial Revenue Service, and by extension the throne, can prove to be extremely lucrative should you be interested in such a burden," he explained, eating a piece of the fried something in front of him.

Yūrei takes a moment to collect herself before hesitantly take a bite of it. Whatever it was, the savoury spiced interior tasted divine.

"I believe I could be of use in retrieving such information and ensuring that at the end of the day everyone pays their due."
She sips again, growing a little more confident with the restaurant's darkness.

"Such important work obviously has its risk from the reprobates who dare undermine the IRS..."

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 6:28 am

Yūrei takes a moment to collect herself before hesitantly take a bite of it. Whatever it was, the savoury spiced interior tasted divine.

"I believe I could be of use in retrieving such information and ensuring that at the end of the day everyone pays their due."
She sips again, growing a little more confident with the restaurant's darkness.

"Such important work obviously has its risk from the reprobates who dare undermine the IRS..."

"Rest assured that there will be fair compensation for the hard work, expotential with the value of the information obtained." Nishida explained calmly.

He ate a mouthful of the food in front of him. He didn't know exactly what it was, but was intrigued by the taste.

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 6:55 am

"Rest assured that there will be fair compensation for the hard work, expotential with the value of the information obtained." Nishida explained calmly.

He ate a mouthful of the food in front of him. He didn't know exactly what it was, but was intrigued by the taste.

Yūrei feels their presence a second before a waiter asks the two if they'd like anything further to drink.
"Miya-sama?"
The ronin reflects its hard to know what to pair when you don't know the dish.

"That is very reasonable, The Imperial family's great generosity in such matters is well known."

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:09 am

Yūrei feels their presence a second before a waiter asks the two if they'd like anything further to drink.
"Miya-sama?"
The ronin reflects its hard to know what to pair when you don't know the dish.

"That is very reasonable, The Imperial family's great generosity in such matters is well known."

He turned to the waiter "Another glass of water, please".

He slowly finished his main dish and put the chopsticks aside again.

"The generosity of the Crown knows no greed and it can fulfill other wishes should you have something else in mind."

----
Yasuki R1 against Yurei

When speaking with someone you may make a Contested Roll of your Commerce/Perception against their Etiquette/Awareness to discern some material object or service they want or desire."

D1, LE, Yasuki R1 Commerce 3 / Perception 3, Blessed by Daikoku, 1FR for +5 | 7k4+5 ⇒ 45 (TN: ?)

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:41 am

Snip

Yūrei resigned herself to not getting any free booze out of the imperial.

Day 1 LE, resist The Way of the Carp, Etiquette/Awareness | 6k3 ⇒ 25 (TN: 45)

But a keen mind might discern the ronin seemed to be after some information, information which presumably was hard to get.

"I can think of a few things, Miya-sama can always provide koku. Alternatively a more...specific arrangement could perhaps be reached, but it is not one without risk."

Yūrei wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 7:56 am

rself to not getting any free booze out of the imperial.[/i]

Day 1 LE, resist The Way of the Carp, Etiquette/Awareness | 6k3 ⇒ 25 (TN: 45)

But a keen mind might discern the ronin seemed to be after some information, information which presumably was hard to get.

"I can think of a few things, Miya-sama can always provide koku. Alternatively a more...specific arrangement could perhaps be reached, but it is not one without risk."

He understood the subtext. "Customized solutions are my specialty, Yurei-san. Should you wish, we can discuss your request in a,.... quieter place."

As if summoned, one of the waiters suddenly stood there again and served the dessert. " Enjoy the spring of the Kappa ".

Miya Nishida wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 04, 2022 8:24 am

He understood the subtext. "Customized solutions are my specialty, Yurei-san. Should you wish, we can discuss your request in a,.... quieter place."

As if summoned, one of the waiters suddenly stood there again and served the dessert. " Enjoy the spring of the Kappa ".

"I appreciate the discretion."
Yūrei takes the long spoon and carefully probes the desert dish, it seemed to be a chilled fruit dish served in a Kappa head ice sculpture. At least she hoped it was a kappa head.

The sweetness was nearly overpowering, but the cold of the dish and slightly dilution from the melting ice combined wonderful.
"Mmmhm, this is wonderful though. I just hope I don't knock mine over."
She gives it an experimental wobble but her seems steady enough.