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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 24, 2014 9:02:11 GMT
The Phoenix raised his cup in reply.
"And to yours."
I hope to all that's holy that this isn't some sort of elaborate political game.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 24, 2014 9:37:00 GMT
Rokuro took a sip and put his cup back down. "So, how was it to travel with Kasumi-san," he asked, "I know she likes to take small mountain passes, which can be treacherous terrain."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 24, 2014 11:20:31 GMT
"Nothing out of the ordinary. She's certainly vastly more competent than some I've traveled with."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 24, 2014 12:09:27 GMT
"She's come a long way since I last met her," Rokuro said, "as it has been a couple of years. What route did you take to get here?"
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 24, 2014 20:18:29 GMT
"Over the mountains, through a fairly narrow pass. I'm not sure the route we took even has a proper name."
And I wouldn't much care if it did.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 25, 2014 7:11:36 GMT
"I think I know which one," Rokuro said, "it's one of her favourites. We once took it to escape some bandits which were following us. It has some very nice spots for an archer to set-up where non-archers can't easily get to him, or her. I myself am an indifferent swordsman at best and I what I know about archery is that you put the arrow on the bow with the pointy end towards the enemy and then let it go, but to each their strengths. One should listen to ones yojimbo when it's about ones safety, right. But I digress. Taking that pass meant you passed by her estate, right? I have forgotten to ask her, but do you know how her chldren are now?"
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 25, 2014 8:53:55 GMT
"They seemed healthy enough when I saw them. I have no basis for comparison, of course, but she didn't seem concerned."
But at least they weren't as screwed up as the rest of us seem to be.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 25, 2014 12:41:51 GMT
"She's a lucky woman," Rokuro said, before ordering another round of sake, "and from what I've heard, she will be lucky again. Although I always thought she married a bit beneath her status, but it's always been a tactic of our Tsuruchi cousins to keep their people in the family, being such a small group."
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 25, 2014 20:34:26 GMT
Kaigen shrugged.
He really had nothing to say about that.
Status hell, almost none of us choose who or even if we marry.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 26, 2014 6:23:35 GMT
It was clear to Rokuro that he was holding up both sides of the conversation, a very unusual situation for him. Mostly he dealt with courtiers, who almost all were in love with the sound of their own voices. He had found that failing in himself as well, although he tried to keep it in check. "So, what brought you to Yasuki Yachiki?"
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 26, 2014 7:25:08 GMT
"Father sent a letter calling me home. Didn't say why. I'd been stationed with the First Legion down near the Kaiu Wall, so Yasuki Yashiki was on the way."
He shrugged.
"And then things happened."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 26, 2014 12:16:51 GMT
"They always seem to do," Rokuro said, "so, First Legion, that's a prestigious posting. What do you do in the legion?"
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 26, 2014 20:30:02 GMT
I try desperately to keep my men alive in the face of frequently stupid and even more frequently utterly insane orders from above. I turn a blind eye to petty theft of food when our supplies don't reach us in time. I write letters for illiterate heimin soldiers to be read to their equally-illiterate wives by some monk who happens to live in their village. I help make up ribald songs about the wives of homesick men. I lie through my teeth and tell untested, soft-handed, pale-skinned officers that I respect and value their opinion, and will of course carry out their orders with pleasure. I count the dead, and since shugenja can seldom be bothered with the timely funerals of mere ashigaru, I burn them and try to remember the right prayers for the circumstance. I keep order when they endanger the rest of us. I try to make trouble, severe trouble, for anyone who picks on them. I ask men to follow me into ridiculous situations inflicted upon us by uncaring superiors, and I get them to do it gladly. I occasionally take leave of my senses and lead assaults, and get the credit for the actions of my unit. I look at the situation on the ground and try, after everything our own side has done to hinder us, to keep the enemies of the Empire from killing us all.
"I am a gunso."
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 26, 2014 20:54:35 GMT
"A man of your statue should be a Chui at the least, maybe even a Taisa," Rokuro said.
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Post by Shiba Kaigen on Sept 26, 2014 21:23:30 GMT
"You flatter me. I am reasonably good at what I do, but the paperwork of higher ranks often seems an end unto itself."
And besides, there are second sons of respectable Cranes who need a job.
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