[Day 12 EA] Reversal of Fortunes (Expecting)

[Yūrei]

Yūrei bustles around a small gazebo in the Garden, setting the cushions and table 'just so'. A pot of tea brews over a small portable radiator as she finishes tastefully arranging some blankets hanging from the roof to provide some protection from the wind and a little privacy.

Finally satisfied with it all she tips the custodian handsomely before sitting down to await the arrival of her guests.

[Miya Nishida]

Nishida arrived with his bodyguards in a tow. They made sure to stay away a bit, before he approached Yurei in the very familiar gazebo.

"Nice to see you, Yurei-san" he said with a bow.

[Yūrei]

Snip

She rises and bows respectfully before stepping forward to fluff a comfortable pillow for him.
"And you as well Miya-sama. Thank you for taking the time to come see me. I have what I hope is a mutually beneficial proposal, but first, have you been blessed? I have both tea and some rather delicious rice crackers on hand."

[Miya Nishida]

She rises and bows respectfully before stepping forward to fluff a comfortable pillow for him.
"And you as well Miya-sama. Thank you for taking the time to come see me. I have what I hope is a mutually beneficial proposal, but first, have you been blessed? I have both tea and some rather delicious rice crackers on hand."

Nishida laughed weakly, "I don't think the last few days can be counted as 'blessed', and judging from your tone, you don't have very good news for me either?" he asked, sitting down next to the ronin.

"But I am willing to listen to your suggestions, be it that of '....'. He searched for the right term, acquaintance? Partnership? Friendship? ",... for the sake of friendship." he decided.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Just because it is unexpected does not mean it isn't good news."
She carefully pours some tea for him before perching on her cushion, leaning forward slightly.

"I was sorry to hear about Hato-san, I am sure she would have served you well. But that is the way of things with us ronin. So much uncertainty, so much risk. Unless....."
She arches an eyebrow conspiratorially.
"Say there was a group of trusted middle men and women who could match the needs of clients with the skills of ronin. Who could leverage their knowledge of the less than savoury parts of the planet to put together effective and reliable teams. An honoured samurai such as yourself could approach this group with a request, and the group in turn would provide you with ronin who meet your needs. You could then meet with them and determine whether you wished to hire them or not, with a small portion of the proceeds going to the organisers."

Leaning back
"The ronin receive protection, clan samurai receive reliability and ease of access. Everybody wins. It's a better way of doing business, neh?"

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"hmmmm" he muses aloud. "How long do you think you can maintain this organization Yurei? One generation, two?" he asked provocatively. "What is your plan to deal with ronin who don't hold up their end of the deal, or clan samurai who don't hold up their end? What will you do if a clan decides to hunt you down? Who will you turn to?" he began to poke holes in her business concept, if only to make her considering these things.

[Yūrei]

Snip

She pours her own cup of tea as she answers.
"I think over time it will become less an organisation and more a way of doing things. Once samurai are shown the benefit of such things it's in their interests to continue them."

Taking her drink and blowing on it gently
"If a ronin attempts to betray the confidence of their employers punishment can range from blacklisting to more permanent solutions. Everything is about reputation, and those who seek to erode it cannot be tolerated. Clan samurai are more difficult as they are better protected. I think it would be more likely that ronin would just refuse to do business with them, but if it were truly serious..."
A small shrug
"Well, an organisation familiar with all of the underworld is familiar with all the underworld. Things can be made to happen."

Brightening.
"Of course, the right clients and the right patrons can help smooth all of that out. Someone who's trusted and reliable can probably command lower prices than a newcomer."

[Miya Nishida]

After she had a cup, he picked up his cup and looked at Yurei, "I see you've put some thought into it,.... But are you sure this is what you want? To remain a ronin?"

He actually had a... worried face when he said that

[Yūrei]

After she had a cup, he picked up his cup and looked at Yurei, "I see you've put some thought into it,.... But are you sure this is what you want? To remain a ronin?"

He actually had a... worried face when he said that

She smiles gently

"For now at least, this can only be done if I don't join a clan. And I think this way maybe, just maybe, I can change things for the better. Lots of wave samurai are dishonourable thugs. But some of us...I think we can do better, we deserve better."

Looking across at Nishida
"I would have loved to join you on your journey. But now, would you do me the honour of joining me on mine? If only in spirit. The Imperial families would of course enjoy a privileged status..."

[Miya Nishida]

snip

He smiled a little and shook his head slightly

Hotaru-san warned me about your free spirit. Do you remember our first meeting? In that little tea store?"

He rummaged out a box of tea, it was the one Yurei had recommended to him then. Placing it in front of her

"You have made a journey in my heart, Yurei. First you were a shaky tool, then a reliable sword, and now..." he sighed slightly, "...an unattainable treasure. You have my support, but know that a place in Miyada is waiting for you."

He took out something else from his pockets, it was a family seal, Nishdia's seal, and put it with the tea.

[Yūrei]

Snip

Nodding
"It's been emotional."
Her expression brightens "You kept the tea all this time? And your seal." she reaches out laying her hand gently on it
"I, it is an honour. And one day I know I'll see Miyada."
With a bow of her head she takes the seal and slips it into a pocket over her heart.

"But until then there is work to do, neh?"

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"The seal should get you out of most trouble" he replied, "And it should suffice as travel paper, or at least as a mean of getting some quickly"

He watched Yurei putting the seal away, stil having a smile on.

"And, yes, there's so much work to do. Did you know that i've setup a godfather project with the sanctuary? maybe we'll have some Drake in Miyada in a few years"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I hope I never need any quickly, but this will go in a very safe please."
Grinning
"You're going to be a drake godfather? That's wonderful news! How did you manage that? The scorpion are loath to let any off the planet. If some arrive in Miyada you'll have quite the tourist attraction."
Raising an eyebrow
"Will a sister sanctuary be built there?"

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"It will be an on-planet program so far, but it will be expanded gradually. Soshi Kioku-san is very,... restrained about the issue of the Drakes." he admitted, "But I will earn their trust. Not that I won't gain from it, of course. But it also has a practical use for both sides" You could put a Yauski in the Imperial family, but you can't take the Yasuki out of the man.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Ah, I see. It can take time, but once you have earned it then there won't be any limit to what you two can accomplish."
Cocking her head
"I was actually thinking of adopting a drake myself with a uh, ronin friend. So I suppose we'll both be learning about them."

Sitting back she sips her cooled tea with a thoughtful expression.
"Is this how you foresaw the winter court going?"

[Miya Nishida]

He chuckled, "No, absolutely not. However, I feel that I have tempted fate this year. First Asakaze, then here." He shook his head. "I'd like to say that I understood everything that happened, but that would be an obvious lie."

[Yūrei]

He chuckled, "No, absolutely not. However, I feel that I have tempted fate this year. First Asakaze, then here." He shook his head. "I'd like to say that I understood everything that happened, but that would be an obvious lie."

"What is the old curse? May you live in interesting times? It sounds as though you certainly have been Miya-sama. But where there is danger there is also opportunity...well mostly. Sometimes there's just danger. But it all seems to have worked out for the best? And I'm sure it hasn't been boring."

She winks
"I'll just have to be careful to avoid wherever you next go."

[Miya Nishida]

snip

He laughed, "Maybe that's actually better. Even though I'll probably be busy with my duty for a while. I don't think you'll have much to do with taxes. I also promised you no taxes for the next five years, so there's that too"
He took a piece of the rice cracker and drank a sip of tea.
"Although I think I'll stick around for a while. The documents you gave me are going to cause quite a stir over the next few weeks, I think."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Oh I look forward to seeing that, tax evasion is a serious crime and I think the Scorpion are going to be very surprised when it gets brought up. I'll have to invite you to my new apartment warming, I'm still hunting for somewhere where the roof doesn't leak."

Thinking to herself
"How do you know Eriko-sama, if I might ask? Asakaze?"

[Miya Nishida]

snip

"Yes, Asakaze." he said, nodding, "Altough it was a bit more than 'Ive met her there'"

He munched on the ricracker before telling the story.

"The Miai on Asakaze was riddled with disasters, two samurai lost their lives there. Eriko was, as well as , still part of the crab clan and although we had little contact at first, a samurai named Hida Akemi had quite a lot to do with her. As a man of the highest rank, Akemi-san then came to me and wanted me to unravel a diplomatic fiasco. Eriko-san and her crew were exploring a forbidden part of the planet in search of a family relic of hers, and there they encountered a maho tsukai and his zombie servants, a rather convoluted affair. I should raise the issue at the court, on the one hand to demonstrate the danger to the magistrates, and on the other hand to reduce the punishment for trespassing the forbidden zone."