(D9 LM) Fork of the river (Expecting)

[Miya Nishida]

For this one i cram out Theme Music!

In his garden pavilion, in the middle of the city, Nishida sat on a cushion. Next to him was his small, familiar table with the tea kettle, which he had become very fond of in the 9 days he had been here.

The rain pattered heavily on the roof of the pavilion and a small stream of water ran down its edges, while in the distance the thunderclaps could be heard again and again. The Imperial Carp just sat and listened to the play of nature, a cigarette in his hand. His Bodyguards standing on either side of the small building, waiting, watching for their lords guest.

He had thought about it for a long time, he had an offer with him that was hard to deny. The question was, would the Kestrel take it?

[Yūrei]

Snip

The heavy rainfall masked most noise from the city, and the approach of a certain ronin who seems to silently vault into the gazebo and settle herself opposite Nishida with a respectful bow. She's even dressed in something approaching fashionable clothes.

"Miya-sama, I still think you pick the best meeting spot of all my clients."
She turns and waves to his bodyguards with a wave before snapping back to the Imperial.
"Your message was intriguing? What can I do for you, other than pouring the tea?" She raises an eyebrow to ask permission as her hand moves to the kettle.

[Miya Nishida]

The heavy rainfall masked most noise from the city, and the approach of a certain ronin who seems to silently vault into the gazebo and settle herself opposite Nishida with a respectful bow. She's even dressed in something approaching fashionable clothes.

"Miya-sama, I still think you pick the best meeting spot of all my clients."
She turns and waves to his bodyguards with a wave before snapping back to the Imperial.
"Your message was intriguing? What can I do for you, other than pouring the tea?" She raises an eyebrow to ask permission as her hand moves to the kettle.

His Bodyguards were genuinly suprised at her sudden entry, but as she was his guest after all, they didn't acted upon her sudden vault. They, however, gave her a distrusting look.

He waved his hand to give her way, and nodded his head slightly in greeting. "Yurei-san, nice of you to come, how have you been? I hope you haven't gone to any expense?" He pursed his lips at her new clothes, "They say clothes make the Samurai, apparently these aren't the only ones who've gotten bolder?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

She starts pouring the tea, first for him and then hers.

"I would never refuse your summons, Miya-sama. But I've been-" A half second pause "-Busy, lots to do, professionally and personally. The clothes were a gift from a kind client."

She sets down Nishida's cup in front of him, respectfully, the 'clink' lost in the falling rain.

"They do lend a certain degree of boldness, but I've always thought most ronin cannot go far without it."

[Miya Nishida]

...

"I see, I see." he replied and thanked her for pouring with a grateful nod, "I hope you have not often been in demand of strong and healing tea?" he asked, examining her from top to bottom, "It would be unhealthy to rely too much on its healing properties."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I got shot five times one day. That was rather unpleasant. But I found aid from an unlikely source. I've kept your tea in reserve for any emergencies."
She raises her cup in salute before sipping it, finding the whole scenario rather relaxing.

"May I ask how you have been? I understand the court season has been very busy."

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"It's been quite a season," he began, "If you take out all the ghosts, pirates and the like, you'd almost think you were in the most peaceful place in the empire." he said with a great flourish of sarcasm.

"But of course the Great Game goes on, I suppose you've been an industrious pawn in it?" he asked, taking a sip of his tea.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Well, some of the ghosts are just getting by." She raises a hand over her heart with a grin.

"I've certainly played my part here and there as work has really picked up. Even if I am only the most humble pawn of forces far beyond my ken; it has kept the lights on and the ramen flowing."
She takes another sip

"It is always my honour to ably serve."

[Miya Nishida]

He chuckled and put down his teacup, "I didn't expect any less from you Yurei-san.

He turned to her a bit more, "I have two offers for you today, I hope you will like them, even though your reputation will probably affect your price."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Of course Miya-sama, but I am honoured you have come to me."
She settles herself, back straight, gaze attentive, hands in her lap.

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"The first offer is nothing out of the ordinary," he began, and his gaze went back to the rain, "The Imperials are concerned about the Dragon's own initiative regarding their exploration fleet. We would like to know more about it."

He turned his gaze back to Yurei, "What would you say to 200 Koku and the Imperial Clan's endorsement?"

[Yūrei]

"The first offer is nothing out of the ordinary," he began, and his gaze went back to the rain, "The Imperials are concerned about the Dragon's own initiative regarding their exploration fleet. We would like to know more about it."

He turned his gaze back to Yurei, "What would you say to 200 Koku and the Imperial Clan's endorsement?"

She looks visibly pained as she shakes her head slightly.
“I’m sorry Miya-Sama. If I could I would accept the offer in a heartbeat. But I have already committed to another job and it’s a promise I cannot break.”

Someone crestfallen she sits back and sips her tea.

[Miya Nishida]

She looks visibly pained as she shakes her head slightly.
“I’m sorry Miya-Sama. If I could I would accept the offer in a heartbeat. But I have already committed to another job and it’s a promise I cannot break.”

Someone crestfallen she sits back and sips her tea.

"You can't keep drawing an empty well" he said, nodding. "I appreciate your honesty but, did it never occur to you to get paid twice for the same job?" he asked. It was a standard Yasuki trick to get paid twice by two customers for the same goods.

[Yūrei]

"You can't keep drawing an empty well" he said, nodding. "I appreciate your honesty but, did it never occur to you to get paid twice for the same job?" he asked. It was a standard Yasuki trick to get paid twice by two customers for the same goods.

“I think it does to most ronin. But it’s a trick that many only ever pull once. It’s something to be wary for from a young or desperate wave samurai, one who doesn’t know any better or who has no other options.”

With a slightly pained expression
“The scorpion take a dim view of those who break their vows”

[Miya Nishida]

“I think it does to most ronin. But it’s a trick that many only ever pull once. It’s something to be wary for from a young or desperate wave samurai, one who doesn’t know any better or who has no other options.”

With a slightly pained expression
“The scorpion take a dim view of those who break their vows”

"They do. Altough it is babaric and heretical, it doesn't seem to have much effect, considering the size of the Grove. Perhaps fear is not a good way to ensure loyalty," he said bitterly.

[Yūrei]

"They do. Altough it is babaric and heretical, it doesn't seem to have much effect, considering the size of the Grove. Perhaps fear is not a good way to ensure loyalty," he said bitterly.

“You’ll hear no disagreement from me, Miya-sama.”
She sighs quietly and clears her throat
“I will say that fear keeps people in line until it turns to hate. And that’s when the fear stops working.”

[Miya Nishida]

“You’ll hear no disagreement from me, Miya-sama.”
She sighs quietly and clears her throat
“I will say that fear keeps people in line until it turns to hate. And that’s when the fear stops working.”

He nodded with a grim look, "Hate is a powerful motivator."

He looked e to the rain and then back to Yurei and cleared his throat, "But I think we are getting off track."
He looked her straight in the eye as he opened his Second Offer, "Yurei-san, the Kestrel, the Ghost of the World of Dreams, are you willing to join the House of Miya?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Say what now?"
A beat, the sound of rain grows painfully loud to her senses.

"I mean to say. Miya-sama, I- are you offering me the opportunity to join the Miya family as an...as an actual Miya?"

[Miya Nishida]

"Say what now?"
A beat, the sound of rain grows painfully loud to her senses.

"I mean to say. Miya-sama, I- are you offering me the opportunity to join the Miya family as an...as an actual Miya?"

"Yes. Nothing more nothing less. I offer you the Miya name, a place as my first retainer to my court. A home and a task." he said firmly.

He held his teacup in his lap, "You have earned my respect, so I offer you this path."

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei just stares at him for a long moment
"It would...it would change my life. Take me from nothing to-" she gestures weakly at him and his bodyguards.
"I don't- I mean." She takes a moment and steadies herself.
"What would my duties be, as your retainer?"