[D3EM] The weather looks bad (Expecting)

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Like, it could rain, or worst, at any moment. The battle between winter and spring was far from over it seems.

So, instead of setting up in an exotic location to do her paperwork, Kaoru had just gone to the refectory. Sat at a table, a bowl of hot porridge at a safe distance, she was reading some document, meticulously taking notes as she slowly progressed through it.

[Suzume Rin]

Like, it could rain, or worst, at any moment. The battle between winter and spring was far from over it seems.

So, instead of setting up in an exotic location to do her paperwork, Kaoru had just gone to the refectory. Sat at a table, a bowl of hot porridge at a safe distance, she was reading some document, meticulously taking notes as she slowly progressed through it.

"Oh, Shosuro-sama"

A quiet voice from across the table where a skinny looking Sparrow was standing, holding two steaming bowls filled nearly to the brim.

"Um, I hope I'm not interrupting your diligent work."
She does her best to bow without spilling anything.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Suzume-san."

Kaoru saluted with her head without standing up, to risk knocking down anything.

"No issue. I was actually double checking my notes about yesterday's court session. Do you remember if the administrator ever commented on your request? I can't manage to find a single word on the subject."

[Suzume Rin]

"Suzume-san."

Kaoru saluted with her head without standing up, to risk knocking down anything.

"No issue. I was actually double checking my notes about yesterday's court session. Do you remember if the administrator ever commented on your request? I can't manage to find a single word on the subject."

"Hmmm."
Rin sits down, looking a little embarrassed
"I think he did bow in acknowledgement once? But it was real busy in there so I guess Kakita-sama had to attend to more pressing matters. Crane courts really are a step up from home, but I'm sure next time I'll do a better job."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"I don't know if Kakita-sama will be the one holding court every time, but he didn't strike me as a man that will do anything out of kindness of heart. Out of curiosity, which arguments had you plan to fire at his disregard had you got more time?"

[Suzume Rin]

"I don't know if Kakita-sama will be the one holding court every time, but he didn't strike me as a man that will do anything out of kindness of heart. Out of curiosity, which arguments had you plan to fire at his disregard had you got more time?"

"Oh, well I suppose I think I'd have tried to explain to Kakita-sama that it really wouldn't be that much food. We're not that big a family and none of us eat much."
Rin punctuates this by beginning to attack her breakfast in a savage fury, the food seeming to evaporate in moments.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"The issue with making a point that doing something won't change anything is that you are also making a point that doing that thing won't change anything.

Or to say it differently: If it's no significance in the Crane's eyes, why would they bother? Even if that's something they can afford without even blinking, that sounds like a lot of paperwork for little impact."

[Suzume Rin]

"The issue with making a point that doing something won't change anything is that you are also making a point that doing that thing won't change anything.

Or to say it differently: If it's no significance in the Crane's eyes, why would they bother? Even if that's something they can afford without even blinking, that sounds like a lot of paperwork for little impact."

"...Oh! I'd never even thought about it like that."
Bowing her head...back into a bowl
"Guess I musta looked a bit silly pointing out how easy it would be for 'em. But now I'd appreciate your advice Shosuro-sama, what do you reckon would be the best way to persuade Kakita-sama?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Oh, that's one easy. Just win the tournament and he'll eat out of your hand."

[Suzume Rin]

"Oh, that's one easy. Just win the tournament and he'll eat out of your hand."

She blinks
"R-right. I mean, that's simple enough I suppose."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Okay, maybe straightforward would be a more adapted term to describe this strategy.

Otherwise... Maybe a simpler first step could be to find allies that could back up your demand. The kind important enough that Kakita-sama cannot simply ignore them without creating a political incident even if it displeases him."

[Suzume Rin]

"Okay, maybe straightforward would be a more adapted term to describe this strategy.

Otherwise... Maybe a simpler first step could be to find allies that could back up your demand. The kind important enough that Kakita-sama cannot simply ignore them without creating a political incident even if it displeases him."

Rin nods, finishing her second bowl with a wistful sigh before scanning around to see if any passing waiters were carrying food.

"I see!...Hmmm, first I need to meet someone important. I don't....oh! There's that Seppun wandering around. He looks real important, you reckon he'd do the trick?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"An imperial? Definitely. Well, assuming he isn't even harder to persuade than Kakita-sama. Imperials can be haughty sometimes.

But I haven't met that man myself, so I dunno if it's a trait he's got. Did you get to talk to him yourself?"

[Suzume Rin]

"An imperial? Definitely. Well, assuming he isn't even harder to persuade than Kakita-sama. Imperials can be haughty sometimes.

But I haven't met that man myself, so I dunno if it's a trait he's got. Did you get to talk to him yourself?"

"Oh no, I'd normally never dare. I mean, he's a Seppun, and from a big important Seppun family too. Usually that's the last person someone like me can talk to. But maybe...it's for a good cause, and I'm sure he's a most honourable samurai."
Brightening
"So if I just speak plainly and make sure to be respectful I know he'll help out."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"As long as you do it with the proper preference, trying shouldn't do you more harm than a bit of lost time, and maybe more good than you expect.

But, out of curiosity, is it common that you have to request the Crane for additional food? Bad harvests are thankfully not every year, but they tend to recur nonetheless."

[Suzume Rin]

"As long as you do it with the proper preference, trying shouldn't do you more harm than a bit of lost time, and maybe more good than you expect.

But, out of curiosity, is it common that you have to request the Crane for additional food? Bad harvests are thankfully not every year, but they tend to recur nonetheless."

"We try to be self-sustainable and not bother anyone. I think a lot of the clan leadership would never ask for help even if we didn't harvest a single grain of rice all year."
Rin chews her bottom lip.
"But if things get real bad they're usually the first clan we talk to, they're where most of our ancestors are from and usually if anyone has food to spare it's the Crane."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Usually the key word here. The Crane might be putting up a strong front, but it has yet to recover from all the damages, direct and indirect, inflicted by the tsunami a few years prior. Just look at the state of the shrines of this otherwise prosperous-looking city for example.

Exactly how much of its previous production it has managed to climb back to is a mystery, half because it's not that easy to determine, half because keeping that information confidential is politically-savvy. When you're strong, appear weak. When you're weak, appear strong.

Though, at a local level, it's only a mystery for as long as someone does not walk to the fields of Tsuma to look at which state they're in."

[Suzume Rin]

"Usually the key word here. The Crane might be putting up a strong front, but it has yet to recover from all the damages, direct and indirect, inflicted by the tsunami a few years prior. Just look at the state of the shrines of this otherwise prosperous-looking city for example.

Exactly how much of its previous production it has managed to climb back to is a mystery, half because it's not that easy to determine, half because keeping that information confidential is politically-savvy. When you're strong, appear weak. When you're weak, appear strong.

Though, at a local level, it's only a mystery for as long as someone does not walk to the fields of Tsuma to look at which state they're in."

Rin blinks
"Wait, why would someone not want to walk the fields? I was just out there yesterday, local farmers are a friendly bunch. Nearly gave my back a real pinch helping them put up a new fence."
A waiter is flagged down and a third bowl is procured, although this one is eaten more slowly.

"You think that maybe the Governor is just playing at having lots to go round when maybe times are tougher behind the curtain?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"That's an hypothesis to consider. I don't have the necessary data to either confirm or deny it.

If you've already made friends with the local farmers however, you should have no issue solving that mystery. I'm curious about the answer myself but haven't had time to dig on the subject yet."

[Suzume Rin]

"That's an hypothesis to consider. I don't have the necessary data to either confirm or deny it.

If you've already made friends with the local farmers however, you should have no issue solving that mystery. I'm curious about the answer myself but haven't had time to dig on the subject yet."

"Hmmm, well they seemed to be doing alright? Their soil is amazing! But there was still a lot that needed fixing. I guess they could be in the same spot, just not wanting visitors to see how bad things might be."
Rin had clearly not even considered that.

"Must be tough to be hurting but still have to pretend things are alright to keep face."