A bird in the bush is worth two letters in hand (Closed)

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Games played in court seem strange to those outside the courts, but they are how the courtiers do their jobs without giving too much away. And I am told that no few romances are conducted in such ways, as well."

She doesn't look straight at him as she says the second sentence, but looks at the letter.

"It's an odd one. 'Entropy' and 'end of all we know' sound...final."

She considers, plumbing what she recalls of earlier teachings...

(OOC: Would Lore: Spirits or Lore: Theology apply here?)

[Asako Saburo]

"I assure you that I was not attempting to get Hida Goroharu's attention romantically," he assured her with the straightest of faces imaginable. "I and Kuni-san sent a poem each to congratulate him on the garden's discussion where it was decided to have it be a hardy one with the succulent plants. So... it is about gardens in some fashion perhaps?"

...

"People conduct romances with letters passed around courts so everyone can see? That hardly sounds circumspect. Mother always told me that romanc was not something to be done where others could watch, if it was done at all."

[Vutall]

(Neither would apply, this is more of a wordplay, so I'd say Lore: Rokugani Language)

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko chuckles a bit.

"I would not think him your type, no, Asako-san. But it's not only romances that are conducted thusly, I'm told. Nor is it always so obvious who sends what to whom."

She racks her brain for information, but likely comes up short (11 on the suggested roll).

"It's part of the puzzle, you see."

[Asako Saburo]

"I don't know if I even have a type? I've never actually thought about such things, believe it or not. Haven't really had the opportunity..."

*snip*

He nodded and tried to add his own thoughts into the process. Ok, so this was a puzzle. He could do puzzles, even if wordplay wasn't something he'd ever done in his past. "That, I suppose, makes a certain amount of sense. The Hida, assuming it is the Hida who wrote this, which I can't assume as I've never seen his calligraphy before. He may be testing through this to give another lesson?" Because everything here was a lesson, right?

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko nods.

"That's something to consider. We're not sure the identity of the writer. And we could go further and posit that a scribe had been hired to confuse things further."

She sighs.

"Layers and layers and layers. But Asako-san surely knows more of the pen than I; what does the writing suggest to you, even before the words?"

[Vutall]

You both can get the sense that it is written in a way that could be interpreted as overall positive.

[Asako Saburo]

"I... think this is meant to be a complement on some level," he said, nodding as he finally tapped the letter with his finger and looked up at the Toritaka. "It's a little bit hard to fully understand the meaning, since it's rather subtle. This game is still very new to me. But... I guess this is the sort of thing that courtiers do in their spare time, so of course it would be much more subtle wouldn't it?"

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"Most likely. As with all things, more practice is of benefit, and knowing what can be done helps in doing it."

She nods.

"I could see it being a bit of 'I'll remember you after the end of things.' It's backhandedly nice, I think."

[Asako Saburo]

"A backhanded complement... actually sounds like the sort of thing that a crab would say, doesn't it?" he said reaching up to tap his lips for a moment. "Courtly matters aren't their specialty even a sumai who performs before the courts at times I'm sure. So... it might be their way." He considered that and smirked to himself.

"I just got a crab's complement. Amusing."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"It's nothing to sneer at, truly. They don't tend to be welcoming of outsiders--'You don't know what we do,'" she mugs, affecting a deeper, huskier voice.

Then she laughs.

[Asako Saburo]

He laughed right back. "The Isawa are no better, Toritaka. I would love to pretend it was not so, but we affect the mastery of the mystical arts as a cloak. Earned, perhaps, just as the Crab's scars against the south are earned, but we are so firm in saying we are the masters of all magic." A shake of his head. "I have seen several of you at work. Raw power is not always the solution, though it has its place." And that was what he was beginning to understand the Isawa had. Raw, unbridled magical power, but sometimes with the finesse of a bull.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"True in all things. A simple step to the side does wonders against the largest opponents.

"I think I am more nimble on my feet for having been here, though."

[Asako Saburo]

"My own breathing has improved considerably since coming to this series of sessions. I believe that the desired effect has been achieved. I will have to send word to my mother that the experience has been good for me." He might, or might not, omit the topic of goblin hordes. his dear mother would faint for fright.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"I am sure she will be pleased. But I had not thought the northern airs were uncongenial."

[Asako Saburo]

"My constitution was ... more delicate when I was younger, to be honest. It has taken considerable time to get it to strengthen up, so I usually find that certain seasons can be a little more harsh than they are for others." A shrug and a sigh followed. "But perhaps this winter will not be so harsh." He could certainly hope, at the very least.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"I shall hope for it, then, and for your continued strengthening."

[Asako Saburo]

"I believe you will prove to be quite the formidable magistrate in time. It is a pity that the Topaz Championship will not be for some time, but it will come soon enough, and with it finally our adulthood. I find that I am finally coming to wish for the end of my childhood days." Not that he wanted lots of responsibiities, but he was ready to be taken more seriously.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko nods.

"There are some things I would do as a woman that I cannot as a girl."

[Asako Saburo]

He blinked. His head turned more towards her and he cocked his gaze while seeming genuinely a little confused or concerned. "Uh... well, there are certainly things that I would do differently as a man, than as a boy, but you say that as if it is a thing you can do specifically as a woman. What would you do right now if you were a woman?"

He really needed to stop doing that.