The Doctor is IN (Day 1, LM, Open)

[Soshi Taira]

"Hai, and I imagine the finer arts of the Kakita, the statues and paintings... poetry..."

A soft sigh.

"I know it may take time, but I'm certain those arts will be a welcome addition to their homes."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nods.

"Actually, it will be interesting to see if they can bring their experiences outside the Empire to our own artwork. They've seen things that no one else has or will. Whether or not those experiences will become acceptable to see in artwork remains to be seen." she muses.

[Soshi Taira]

"Hai. I am certain we will all have some time spent... adapting."

With a small shrug, he added, "I hope I am not keeping you from your business, I do tend to prattle on..."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa shrugs and gestures about the village with her fan.

"There is little enough to do to occupy one's time in this village, but converse." she offers. "However, if you have other matters to attend to, I completely understand."

[Soshi Taira]

"None pressing, though I will need to return and unpack at some stage."

He smiled faintly. "As a doctor, I packed a bit more then necessary, just to be on the safe side. It's a bad habit I have."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa looks thoughtfully at her fan.

"I mostly hope I did not underpack. I did not see so much as a boutique for many miles on the way here. I suppose it evokes in a way the hardship of the Unicorn as they wandered outside the Empire. While I can appreciate the message, not being able to have a servant run out and pick up the perfect blend of tea for an unexpected meeting is quite vexing." she returns.

[Soshi Taira]

Taira considered that.

"That is true... hopefully your guests will be ready to embrace the same philosophical view of the situation."

[Doji Fukawa]

This elicits a small shrug from the Crane.

"Perhaps. There have been hardships a plenty about the Empire in recent years. One hesitates to guess the attitude of such a diverse group of samurai gathered for a miai." she replies.

[Soshi Taira]

"Fair."

He chuckled. "I guess my line of work has led me to tend toward estimation."

[Doji Fukawa]

This causes the Crane to raise one elegant eyebrow.

"Oh? And what is your initial assessment of the Unicorn, if I may ask, Soshi-san." she inquires, curious.

[Soshi Taira]

Taira looked at their surroundings.

After a moment, he lowered his chin, letting his tall collar obscure his lips, up to just below his nose.

"Honorable, but ignorant of what they have wandered into. One hopes this meeting will open their eyes, as much as they hope to open ours."

His voice was quiet, and the Crane might miss it, if she didn't listen with a courtier's ears.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fortunately, Fukawa did have such ears, because she was a courtier of the Crane, and not some opportunistic bog hag.


"Hmmm, on that we agree." she offers. "Hopefully, the same sort of savvy that saw them through the sands and foreigners of all stripes will help minimize the amount of....shall we say colored information they take in, and that they shall not upset the balance of the Empire?"

[Soshi Taira]

Taira chuckled.

"It's too late for that. The question now is what new balance is struck, and who benefits. In that, at least, our interests align."

Raising an eyebrow, he added, "After all, our clans prefer peace, and promoting a balance that ensures it."

With a small shrug, he glanced at the administration building.

[Doji Fukawa]

Uh-huh, a piece for the Scorpion and a piece for the Lion. Fukawa thought.

Fortunately, she had much experience in playing a good little Crane.

"That is a noble sentiment coming from you Soshi-san." she offered encouragingly. "There's been more than a little talk about how the Unicorn have upset the Lion. Hopefully, as the Lion's closest allies, your clan will convince them of the wisdom in following the path of Jizo."

[Soshi Taira]

Taira nodded.

"It is only right to be compassionate as they try to integrate back into the empire... and resume stewardship of their old lands."

A small shrug. "Though it may not seem it, I favor another clan coming to give the Lion a... ... rival... you might say. Perhaps similar strengths will deter conflict." That was likely idealistic at best, but it was his ideal.