[D7, LE] Fireside (Outside Mei's Yurt, Expecting)

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"That was several years ago and for a relatively short time." he shook his head. "Cities were rare during our travels home."

[Miya Mei]

"Well, it can be difficult at first. Instead of a sea of yurts, you have a sea of buildings, closed off streets where the sky only peeks through the rooftops. Then the streets, they are packed shoulder to shoulder with people, each pushing through the crowd to get to where they want to go, oblivious to the world around them. I sometimes think if you stopped moving on some streets, the crowd would carry you like a current of the ocean. "

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I doubt that. I think Sarangerel would be too heavy." he shook his head.

[Miya Mei]

Mei giggles again.

"You can ride in the outer portions of the city, in what we call the hub villages, but the inner portions, especially around the palaces, we must be on foot. "

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"It is a city surrounded by villages?" He gave a low whistle. "That is something."

[Miya Mei]

Mei sits up.

"I am not the best artist, but allow me to show you a crude example."

She picks up a small stick and scrapes an area flat in the dirt.

"The Imperial Palace is in the center, with the Inner City built around it, and then surrounded by the Enchanted Wall."

She draws a circle and then places a line around it.

"Then you have the Outer City, which is then surrounded by the City Walls."

She draws another line around the first.

"Also, each of the Inner and Outer Cities are sectioned off into Districts, each with their own governor, like Ide Dabo-sama."

She draws a large plus sign, running through both the lines and ending at the center circle.

"Then, outside of the City Walls, you have the Hub Villages, which consist of farms and the like. And then to the east, the Bay of the Golden Sun connects to the vast ocean."

She places little boxes on outside the two lines all around the drawing and then makes a bunch of tiny squiggly lines to show the water on the east side of the city.

Mei places a finger on her lip in thought.

"Oh, one last thing! The River of the Sun runs through the whole city, ending in the Bay."

Mei draws a few more squiggly lines going across the whole picture.

It was not a very good drawing.

----Rolls----
[D7 LE] Calligraphy (Cartography): 2d10 9

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He studied for a few moments, tilting his head back and forth. Finally, he nodded.

"I see. Security, separation and support. I look even more forward to seeing it."

[Miya Mei]

"Being an Imperial means you will have the ability to see portions of the city none usually are able to as well. Any who are part of the Miya, Seppun, or Otomo have special privileges."

She places a finger over her lips and makes the Shhh sound.

"But, we don't talk too much about it to others"

She smiles and sits back down again, taking his hand once more.

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"I am more interested in being your husband than in being a Miya." he smiled. "That is simply an additional benefit."

[Miya Mei]

"Again your words are perfect, Kemuri-kun. Though I wonder, do you think it strange that just by marrying you are going to be granted privileges samurai who have spent generations in the Empire are not?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Considering I come from a vassal family? Very much." he nodded.

[Miya Mei]

"Not that I find you unworthy of such privilege mind you, but I agree. I think merit means more than blood. Why does who one is related to mean anything about their ability to lead?"

Mei sighs.

"Again though, this is probably not a conversation we should have where others might overhear."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He shrugged. "It doesn't. It seems like a misconception man made at some point."

[Miya Mei]

"There are ways to change that, given the right circumstances and the right individuals. It takes a lot though, especially if the will of the people is not the same as the will of the Emperor."

She pauses

"It is a very difficult thing to navigate and not be seen as blasphemous."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"The way to change that is not to reward your child unless they deserve it." he shrugged. "But, most want the best for their children, so that's not likely to change."