[D2:MA] Compassion

[Otomo Koroshi]

Today the samurai had forgone his sun shining outfit for one in varying stripes of purple with a tiny green cloak that just covered his shoulders. The overall effect was that a giant eggplant had grown legs and sentience.

Koroshi had requested a table next to the window so that the pair could look down on the city below. Being many hundreds of meters above the streets below gave the Otomo a birds eye view of the traffic, the hustle and bustle as he called it. He was nursing a drink of his own as he looked blankly through the window, waiting for the ronin to arrive. Koroshi was always early.

The Otomo played with his ring for a little bit.

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei tries to be punctual but is well beaten the Otomo she was only half sure would arrive. The maitre'd had given her a look of mild contempt but dropping Koroshi's name had seen her escorted to his table. Doubtless they were making sure she didn't lift any silverware.

The ronin's outfit is a simple black dress that was probably second hand from a friend, but at least it didn't draw too much attention.

"Otomo-sama."
She bows deeply
"You look positively...fresh. Thank you again for the invitation, I'm sure you are very busy."

[Otomo Koroshi]

The Otomo looked up from the window with a blank stare that morphed into puppy-like joy at the sight of the ronin. "Yūrei-san! You made it, please, sit, sit, sit." He got up from the high chair to bow a polite, not very threatening bow, and gestured multiple times for her to take a seat across from him at the unusually small and high table.

"Our glorious ancestors shine from Tengoku's gates to allow us the opportunity to bask in the honor of being a part of this great and magnificent Empire!" He said while scooting himself up into his own high chair. "You may order whatever you like, it has been taken care of," he said rubbing his ring with his thumb absently.

"I have gotten something that tastes vaguely like window cleaner but I am afraid that I have had too much of it to remember its name!" Koroshi relayed with vigor. "But I ramble, how is our fine maiden this afternoon? Has she gained new insights into the nature of her being and soul?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Otomo-sama is very kind."
Yūrei decides to go a little lighter on the alcohol given her day ahead and orders some iced sake.

"This maiden is a little older and maybe a little wiser, it is hard to say. I hope my ancestors approve though. I have had the opportunity to meet with several off-worlders, some new arrivals for the court, some already here. It's been invigorating to meet new samurai and see what kind of person they are."

Looking out the window and enjoying the view for a few moments.
"What has kept you occupied? Are you fully recovered from your journey yet?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Otomo-sama is very kind."
Yūrei decides to go a little lighter on the alcohol given her day ahead and orders some iced sake.

"This maiden is a little older and maybe a little wiser, it is hard to say. I hope my ancestors approve though. I have had the opportunity to meet with several off-worlders, some new arrivals for the court, some already here. It's been invigorating to meet new samurai and see what kind of person they are."

Looking out the window and enjoying the view for a few moments.
"What has kept you occupied? Are you fully recovered from your journey yet?"

"I have been making plans to make my service successful, gathering information, adjusting expectations, the normal duties of managing and so on. I do not feel recovered, I made the mistake of going out to the Wicked Wasp last night! Not that the most excellent club was not bouncing and hopping and otherwise enjoyable but it made my long day into a long night and this one found it difficult to rise as the alarm in my room went off. It is shameful to require motivational speeches merely to begin my hygiene routine!" Koroshi said as he began to drink some more from the clear liquid in his glass.

"Also politics is terrible and I hate it." He sniffed the air disdainfully and took another drink without pausing. It smelled strong. "If people would recognize their place among the Celestial Order then life would be far more harmonious and joyous to experience. It would be right action, right result!"

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei looks at him for a few long moments then slowly accepts her glass from the arriving waiter and takes a deep drink.

"I see."
Another sip

"I think many would agree with you Otomo-sama, it can be unpleasant and drive samurai to dishonourable behaviour. Not that I have ever been involved in it directly."
A little curious
"Is it just the lack of harmony that frustrates you?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

Yūrei looks at him for a few long moments then slowly accepts her glass from the arriving waiter and takes a deep drink.

"I see."
Another sip

"I think many would agree with you Otomo-sama, it can be unpleasant and drive samurai to dishonourable behaviour. Not that I have ever been involved in it directly."
A little curious
"Is it just the lack of harmony that frustrates you?"

"Hai! Harmony in the greater things is representative of harmony in the smaller things." Koroshi was not a great philosopher but he was capable of talking about how he felt. "There is a place for everything, a moment for every action, a fitting? Something like a groove in the surface of our existence that things slide into. To act dishonorably is to cut into the groove and begin to distort the things that come afterward from their proper place. The actions of a single samurai might seem small but they do change what has come before. Enough of these dishonorable actions lead to cataclysmic effects across the Empire, breakdown of social order, lack of filial piety, cowardice, rampant and unchecked violence!"

He put his drink down, having finished it and signaled for another. "The Tao speaks of the same, though its answers are not always what scholars of Leadership would recognize as answers. Being trained in both traditions I see similarities, though it is possible that I am finding patterns that are not there. The Tao tends to speak to the internal life of a samurai, but the inner world of your consciousness is not something separate from the wider reality. Disharmony in you is reflective of disharmony in the world."

[Yūrei]

Snip

She does her best to follow along, although she feels her knowledge of the Tao pales next to Koroshi's

"So it's the disorder that Otomo-sama finds most concerning?"
She thinks for a moment before looking across the table.

"What would you say if a samurai found themselves in the wrong groove? Perhaps by accident perhaps by the machinations of others' politics? Would you prefer they stay in this new groove? Or are they honour-bound to right that wrong and return to where they should be?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

She does her best to follow along, although she feels her knowledge of the Tao pales next to Koroshi's

"So it's the disorder that Otomo-sama finds most concerning?"
She thinks for a moment before looking across the table.

"What would you say if a samurai found themselves in the wrong groove? Perhaps by accident perhaps by the machinations of others' politics? Would you prefer they stay in this new groove? Or are they honour-bound to right that wrong and return to where they should be?"

Koroshi considers this series of questions as his next drink arrives. He noticed the server giving Yūrei a bad look and wondered if she looked like an ex-girlfriend or something.

"If a samurai is misplaced, this is disharmony. They must return to their proper place to promote the welfare of the Order," one could hear the capitals being used, "or be removed such that their next turn on the Wheel is better managed. And those who were responsible through their own dishonorable conduct should be required to right their mistake or also be removed to try again on the Wheel."

[Yūrei]

Koroshi considers this series of questions as his next drink arrives. He noticed the server giving Yūrei a bad look and wondered if she looked like an ex-girlfriend or something.

"If a samurai is misplaced, this is disharmony. They must return to their proper place to promote the welfare of the Order," one could hear the capitals being used, "or be removed such that their next turn on the Wheel is better managed. And those who were responsible through their own dishonorable conduct should be required to right their mistake or also be removed to try again on the Wheel."

Yūrei certainly seems to be shooting the server a look you might send an ex-partner....a very ex-partner.

"That is what I thought as well. Either they return to where they belong or they'll disappear. And either way the responsible parties should pay."
This seems to improve her mood.

"Have you ever had the opportunity to right such a wrong?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

Yūrei certainly seems to be shooting the server a look you might send an ex-partner....a very ex-partner.

"That is what I thought as well. Either they return to where they belong or they'll disappear. And either way the responsible parties should pay."
This seems to improve her mood.

"Have you ever had the opportunity to right such a wrong?"

Koroshi started drinking his new cup. "Well, it is best that people be removed who cannot belong in a honorable relationship to others. Acting like some people will disappear without assistance is naivete."

He put the cup down and shrugged. "No, not on my own power. There have been dishonorable samurai who have run afoul of me, but I was not an adult until a few months ago. Before then, my only honorable recourse was directing them in the right manner and then speaking to their lord about providing them with opportunities to be successful in ethical behavior. Now, I can do more."

[Yūrei]

Koroshi started drinking his new cup. "Well, it is best that people be removed who cannot belong in a honorable relationship to others. Acting like some people will disappear without assistance is naivete."

He put the cup down and shrugged. "No, not on my own power. There have been dishonorable samurai who have run afoul of me, but I was not an adult until a few months ago. Before then, my only honorable recourse was directing them in the right manner and then speaking to their lord about providing them with opportunities to be successful in ethical behavior. Now, I can do more."

She blinks, reevaluating his age.

"Yes, now I suppose you can. You must have impressed your teachers to receive such a prestigious posting so young?"

Drinking a bit more slowly than the Otomo
"The World of Dreams is known for having a considerable amount of dishonourable samurai. Will you set them all on the straight and narrow?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

She blinks, reevaluating his age.

"Yes, now I suppose you can. You must have impressed your teachers to receive such a prestigious posting so young?"

Drinking a bit more slowly than the Otomo
"The World of Dreams is known for having a considerable amount of dishonourable samurai. Will you set them all on the straight and narrow?"

"I was one of the best graduates of my class. And my family is not without their own aims for my career. I was not expecting this kind of opening, but it is a most exciting opportunity. This position is one of the most difficult to get, and normally requires a few years of work." He shrugged and started drinking again. "If I am able, I will move the sky and earth to make the world a more honorable world. Those who stand in my way will find my dignity greater than their lives."

[Yūrei]

"I was one of the best graduates of my class. And my family is not without their own aims for my career. I was not expecting this kind of opening, but it is a most exciting opportunity. This position is one of the most difficult to get, and normally requires a few years of work." He shrugged and started drinking again. "If I am able, I will move the sky and earth to make the world a more honorable world. Those who stand in my way will find my dignity greater than their lives."

Okay, now she starts drinking a bit more heavily.


"Otomo-sama, if this humble samurai may. Your goal is a noble one, truly. If you were to succeed I have no doubt the people of this planet would benefit. But-"

Drifting off, unsure of herself for a moment.
"-The opposition would be, considerable."

[Otomo Koroshi]

Okay, now she starts drinking a bit more heavily.


"Otomo-sama, if this humble samurai may. Your goal is a noble one, truly. If you were to succeed I have no doubt the people of this planet would benefit. But-"

Drifting off, unsure of herself for a moment.
"-The opposition would be, considerable."

The Otomo gave her a look of confusion and held up a finger to the sky as if in warning. "Do not mistake me Yūrei-san. The people of this world are many and vast and worthy of all treatment that is good and upright. But they are not my lord." He put his hand down, and picked up his drink again.

Koroshi looked out the window with solemnity that was out of sync with his normal attitudes. "I seek this for the glory of the Emperor, failure does not dwell within me."

[Yūrei]

The Otomo gave her a look of confusion and held up a finger to the sky as if in warning. "Do not mistake me Yūrei-san. The people of this world are many and vast and worthy of all treatment that is good and upright. But they are not my lord." He put his hand down, and picked up his drink again.

Koroshi looked out the window with solemnity that was out of sync with his normal attitudes. "I seek this for the glory of the Emperor, failure does not dwell within me."

She nods, hiding her expression behind her glass

"You are remarkable, to be so driven and with such clear direction. You may have missed your calling as a magistrate. I would only humbly beg that you work with other like minded samurai so that you can achieve more together."
Struggling for an example

"Like the...Thunders?"
She thinks that counts.

"Surely there are other Imperial samurai who can lend their aid?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

She nods, hiding her expression behind her glass

"You are remarkable, to be so driven and with such clear direction. You may have missed your calling as a magistrate. I would only humbly beg that you work with other like minded samurai so that you can achieve more together."
Struggling for an example

"Like the...Thunders?"
She thinks that counts.

"Surely there are other Imperial samurai who can lend their aid?"

"Ha! I do not engage criminals normally. Public policy is the aim, military policy just below that. A criminal acts as he does because he sees it as the way to get what he wants. Teach him, guide him, and if necessary prune him. But do not mistake criminality as a private problem between the citizen and magistrate. Blessings flow from heaven, and honor flows from leadership." Koroshi shrugged and finished off his drink with a harsh motion.

"But I speak of heavy things, surely the fine maiden would rather speak of idols and dancing and sundry! Please, tell me what you think of the newest Scorpion dramas." He leaned forward smelling like the alcohol.

[Yūrei]

"Ha! I do not engage criminals normally. Public policy is the aim, military policy just below that. A criminal acts as he does because he sees it as the way to get what he wants. Teach him, guide him, and if necessary prune him. But do not mistake criminality as a private problem between the citizen and magistrate. Blessings flow from heaven, and honor flows from leadership." Koroshi shrugged and finished off his drink with a harsh motion.

"But I speak of heavy things, surely the fine maiden would rather speak of idols and dancing and sundry! Please, tell me what you think of the newest Scorpion dramas." He leaned forward smelling like the alcohol.

The fine maiden forces down a spike of annoyance but nods.

"Hai. Have you seen the latest season of 'The Mystery Shinobi'? Where they make celebrities wear masks and compete in an obstacle course? The last episode was pretty wild, that bit where the blue oni nearly fell off the rotating cylinders-"

And Yūrei does her best to entertain the imperial with lighter and happier things, still not sure what to make of him.

((Fade to small talk? thanks for the scene!))

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Ha! I do not engage criminals normally. Public policy is the aim, military policy just below that. A criminal acts as he does because he sees it as the way to get what he wants. Teach him, guide him, and if necessary prune him. But do not mistake criminality as a private problem between the citizen and magistrate. Blessings flow from heaven, and honor flows from leadership." Koroshi shrugged and finished off his drink with a harsh motion.

"But I speak of heavy things, surely the fine maiden would rather speak of idols and dancing and sundry! Please, tell me what you think of the newest Scorpion dramas." He leaned forward smelling like the alcohol.

The fine maiden forces down a spike of annoyance but nods.

"Hai. Have you seen the latest season of 'The Mystery Shinobi'? Where they make celebrities wear masks and compete in an obstacle course? The last episode was pretty wild, that bit where the blue oni nearly fell off the rotating cylinders-"

And Yūrei does her best to entertain the imperial with lighter and happier things, still not sure what to make of him.

((Fade to small talk? thanks for the scene!))

(/Fade)