[D4, EA] Lunch to Go (Open/Expecting)

[Shiba Haru]

Oh shit she heard that

"I'm always open to new experiences." He played his next piece. "So do you do much soldiering in your training? Marching in formation and battle drills?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"We do drills, but marching?"

She laughed.

"Y'find me sailors who can march pretty, I'll find you sailors who've wasted their time. For us, maneuvering ships is more important than maneuvering bodies'a men. We don't get inta many of whatcha might call formal battles."

[Shiba Haru]

"Would you say the Mantis are a peaceful clan then?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

That got another laugh.

"Hell no! We just fight the way we wanna fight."

[Shiba Haru]

"Hmm. Do you think war is an inevitable part of life?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She cocked her head to the side.

"I got a question for ya. If th'Crane packed up all their weapons, put their bushi into monasteries... what d'you think the Lion would do?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Based on my recent experiences I believe the Lion would march right in and take over violently. Proclaiming the Crane as unfit cowards who disgrace the word Samurai and betray the will of Heaven." There was an intensity behind his words, an anger at the very notion of war.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Doesn't give th'Crane much incentive t'give up their military, does it? An' if th' Lion gave it up, d'you think th'Unicorn or Scorpion would sit idle?"

She sighed.

"Look, I'm a Mantis, and everything we got, we took. Generally forcefully. We seize our chances, we take what we're after."

She played another stone.

"So while peace is nice, an' makes just about everyone sane happier, that's been true all of our history. An' we fought plenty."

[Shiba Haru]

"That does not mean we cannot grow beyond it though. Yes we have always fought, in the past, but I would like to leave my children's children a safer world. What hopes do you hold? Do you not want to see your future children safe from harm?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She cocked her head to the side.

"I think we got different worries. I wanna see my eventual kids raised clever enough that keepin' 'em safe ain't really a concern. Y'can't be safe on th'sea, Shiba-san. Y'can be careful, y'can be skilled, y'can even be peaceful if y'manage to avoid pirates or other enemies, but you're never, ever safe."

[Shiba Haru]

"I am not saying we need to end all violence, that is impossible. There will always be pirates, murderers and madmen and thus there will always be a need for those who can fight against those things, defend the weak and helpless. Nor can we completely abandon the concept of armies, the Crab cannot, and I am sure there are things beyond the sands that could threaten us one day. But those are external threats, we don't need to fight one another.

Imagine how much different this empire would be if instead of the Lion getting mad at Matsu's defeat by Kakita they dedicated themselves to being the perfect duelists or courtiers. Imagine if they battled as equals with the Crane and Scorpion with words. Words are the key, there is nothing that we cannot work out. War is a crutch used by the weak to seem strong. I would kill any who threatened my family but I would first try to find out why they make the threat."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Funny."

She played another stone.

"Y'talk about not fighting among ourselves, an' then ya talk about duelists an' courtiers. Seems t'me those are just as nasty. An army might chop up a few folks, but a courtier in th'right place can starve thousands. An' a duelist can let a clan bully another just as much as an army under th'right circumstances."

[Shiba Haru]

"Yes, vile people do not need blades to kill but we have to start somewhere. The Sparrow live on the brink of starvation, something their Crane neighbors could end any time they wanted. Another clan might go to war over that but the Sparrow do not, should they suffer because they won't use violence to better their situation? I don't think so, i think they should be commended and offered the aid they need by those who can."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Far as I know the Sparrow're respected, but also protected by th'law."

She paused.

"I also think th'Crane are harder-up than you might know."

[Shiba Haru]

"The Crane's current situation is difficult for them but I have no doubt they will recover from it. The Sparrow are respected but often forgotten by the empire at large, all of the minor clans are and that is unfortunate. You clan seems the most driven to grow and improve your situation, what is it that drives the Mantis? Is it just a reflection of your heritage?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She shrugged. Made another play.

"Like I said. Everything we got, we took. Kaimetsu-Uo got set aside by his father, so he'n his followers took the Isles. Osano-Wo's murderer sought refuge with your clan. Kaimetsu-Uo went an' got him. We didn't get t'be a 'real' Minor Clan until we pressed th'point. Hell, even our... improved standin' here in Tsuma is 'cause Lord Yoritomo went an' got it. We got nothin' by birthright or or by waitin' for our due."

[Shiba Haru]

"But does that mean that it must always be that way? Must you always take what you want? There are those who would willing give what they have if asked."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Yeah? Name 'em. Name who'd give us what we ask for. You yourself admit th'Great Clans don't pay us any mind unless we force 'em. The Imperials? Got bigger concerns than us. The other Minor Clans? More hard-up than we are."

[Shiba Haru]

"But you HAVE made a name for yourselves now, every corner of the empire know who the Mantis are. Would now not be a good time to show everyone that you can play "the game" as well?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Y'mean like the Lion play with th'Crane? Or maybe the 'game' th'Scorpion play with... well. Everybody? Again. Asking nicely never got us anywhere, an' y'only need t'look around t'note that that's not th'exception, it's th'norm. An' in this Empire, I don't see that changing. Might be th'Phoenix are on such good terms with th'Crane or th'Dragon or th'Lion that they can just ask nicely for things, but I kinda doubt that's how it works. Who in the Empire'd give anyone anything just f'r th'askin'?""