[D1 LA] Short Lesson Before Dinner

[Asako Yuki]

"Lion's pride?" came the quick, only natural question.

"They're a Lion force," Yuki explained. "Very elite, the best of the best. The unit is made up entirely of women."

[Matsu Kogo]

He gives a thoughtful look for a moment. "For me I'd have to say Honesty. If you cannot be honest with others how can you be honest with yourself? And if you lie to yourself can you truly be trusted to follow any of the other tenets? At least that is my thinking. And serious conversations are always welcome. Even if I may have a somewhat carefree attitude much of the time and a mindset that leads me to live moment to moment, that would not excuse me from not living each of those moments with the highest respect for the opportunities that they are." He nods, happy with his answer.

Kogo nods in approval. "It is distinctly a very important part of the code. Some of my....concerns with court life include how much of it seems to include a certain amount of polite or impolite lying. It seems wrong to me that a samurai should lie for something like material gain. But then there are some who see it as just another way of plying the sword or using the tactics of the battlefield. There are even those who say that Akodo advocated for use of any tactic on a battlefield and so this should apply to the court." She pauses. "But I think part of what is truly part of being a samurai is living those codes, even when they are inconvenient. Because that is when you know the true strength of a samurai's honor. When it is hard, not when it is easy."

She smiles a bit to herself. "I guess from that speech, I would have to say that two of my favorite tenets are Sincerity and Honor, with Honesty a close third, followed by Courtesy. But I have had to learn the way of Courtesy prior to coming to this court and its value. It is a difficult juggling act." She smiles a tad ruefully.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I know what you mean Kogo-san," he says with a nod, using her given name as though he were far more familiar with her. Almost as if to illustrate the point of his next words, but really he just doesn't know better and feels that comfortable around most people.

"I don't really have any training in etiquette or propriety. But I naturally think of all people as deserving respect and consideration. I long ago learned that being Honest doesn't mean you always have to speak your mind though. If I have to say something it will be the truth, but if I don't have to say something and what I would say would likely be offensive... just don't say it."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I know what you mean Kogo-san," he says with a nod, using her given name as though he were far more familiar with her. Almost as if to illustrate the point of his next words, but really he just doesn't know better and feels that comfortable around most people.

"I don't really have any training in etiquette or propriety. But I naturally think of all people as deserving respect and consideration. I long ago learned that being Honest doesn't mean you always have to speak your mind though. If I have to say something it will be the truth, but if I don't have to say something and what I would say would likely be offensive... just don't say it."

Kogo draws back for a moment, noting the change in name. What does this mean? Does he mean to do such a thing? His next words illustrate his point, but also his sincerity and Kogo cannot help but be a bit charmed by that. " You are right Shinjo-san. Honesty is not the act of spilling everything from your mouth, like water from a jug. It will be a good thought for me to ponder." She pauses. "Shinjo-san, may I offer a word of advice? As someone who has recently spent much time learning the intricacies of court herself."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Please do," he says with a smile. "I'm definitely an eager student looking to better understand how to be proper in Rokugani society. Was getting lessons from Kakita Nanami earlier on religious subjects too. I have a great deal to learn and am ready and willing."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Please do," he says with a smile. "I'm definitely an eager student looking to better understand how to be proper in Rokugani society. Was getting lessons from Kakita Nanami earlier on religious subjects too. I have a great deal to learn and am ready and willing."

She smiles. "It is sometimes considered inappropriate to refer to someone you are getting to know by their first name. It implies an intimacy. For example, my friend Bayushi Suteichi, I have known him for several months. But I still call him Bayushi-san. Some might look askance if you referred to me as Kogo-san." Now the real question is what I think of it....

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Really?!" he asks, a bit surprised. "I must apologize then if I offended. I did not mean to." He bows in apology. "I suppose that is a habit I'll need to break. I'm so used to doing so as I've spend so much time around only Unicorn for so long and using a family name is bound to get more attention than just the person you're speaking with. It's simply something I just grew accustomed to and have been comfortable with. And have been comfortable speaking with you as well, especially since among the great clans it feels like you would have a better understanding of our mindsets, having a companion of your own like most of us do."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"They're a Lion force," Yuki explained. "Very elite, the best of the best. The unit is made up entirely of women."

"It would seem that they are of a similar make then, Asako-san," she answered as best as she knew. "There are no better riders than the Otaku Battle Maidens."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Really?!" he asks, a bit surprised. "I must apologize then if I offended. I did not mean to." He bows in apology. "I suppose that is a habit I'll need to break. I'm so used to doing so as I've spend so much time around only Unicorn for so long and using a family name is bound to get more attention than just the person you're speaking with. It's simply something I just grew accustomed to and have been comfortable with. And have been comfortable speaking with you as well, especially since among the great clans it feels like you would have a better understanding of our mindsets, having a companion of your own like most of us do."

Kogo smiles. "It is well with me Shinjo-san. I know that the Unicorn are still adapting and learning to be in Rokugan. I myself made similar mistakes due to staying mostly in my own family for many years prior to heading to court. It is part of that experience that makes me wish to offer this advice, so that misteps among less understanding others will not be made."

She looks over at Noburu. "It is true, I had not expected to find anyone who cared for their companions in the way the Matsu Beastmasters do. I know among the Lion, we are occasionally seen as...eccentric for our views on our companions. It is...invigorating to among those who could perhaps even teach new and different ways of doing so or of looking at other animals. I suspect this entire time will be illuminating."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

He nods in understanding. "Thank you."

"I truly hope that you can gain more from the experience than just a spouse. I'm already getting so much from my conversations. It's all so strange and familiar at the same time. It feels a bit like meeting a new group of people and trying my best not to offend, but rather than simply not offending my goal is to also adapt and learn. I never really did that with any of the people outside of the Empire because I always knew that this was where I was heading and that it was to be my home."

[Matsu Kogo]

He nods in understanding. "Thank you."

"I truly hope that you can gain more from the experience than just a spouse. I'm already getting so much from my conversations. It's all so strange and familiar at the same time. It feels a bit like meeting a new group of people and trying my best not to offend, but rather than simply not offending my goal is to also adapt and learn. I never really did that with any of the people outside of the Empire because I always knew that this was where I was heading and that it was to be my home."

She nods along with him. "I also find this to be a more exhilarating experience than I expected. Perhaps a small part of me understands why the Unicorn wandered so far. To see so many new people, new things! To move beyond just the confines of one's own home. Do not mistake me, I love my family and I love my clan. But there is something about the idea of seeing something new every day that speaks to me. Especially if I could also be serving my Emperor and Clan by doing so."

She looks at him directly. "It is good to have the Ki-Rin home. Many things have changed, but it feels somehow right in my mind that all of the Clans are together again. A family reunited, finding strength in their differences. It is good that the Ki-Rin have come home."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'm glad to hear that. It feels nice to be home after such a long journey. It's something I've been waiting for my entire life and has finally come to fruition," he replies, smiling warmly at her. "And the prospect of seeing the empire, something so many generations before me didn't get the opportunity to do, is inspiring and exciting. Maybe you'll be able to show me around and we can see the sights together. The Lion are our neighbors after all so that might not be a bad place to start if I get the opportunity."

[Soshi Yuuru]

She groaned and rolled her eyes, though grinned soon enough afterwards. "You're impossible. Especially for someone who is never honest."

"You better not try to peek at the ladies in the baths here... they'll do more than shriek and throw buckets after you." Tomoe tiled her head back as a thought struck her. "Huh... do they even have baths here?"

He chuckled, "I'm not sure, I haven't seen them around.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Her nose wrinkled upon hearing this.

"Ugh... going to be bucket-baths for the coming days then? I hate that," she frowned slightly.

"At least you got it easier for that. You don't have all this hair!" Tomoe gestured to her own long mane of hair that seemed like it had almost never been cut.

[Soshi Yuuru]

He smiled, "If you need some help, I'd be more than willing to come over to your yurt for bath-time."