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

[Shiba Haru]

"Try me." He said with unshakable confidence.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I just did! I asked y'twice and y'haven't answered directly!"

[Shiba Haru]

"Yes, and I am saying I would. I would give you the kimono off my back if you needed it, just ask."

The offer wasn't flirtatious, just honest.

"Just because something hasn't worked doesn't mean it wont work."

He placed another piece.

"What we have done doesn't have to be what we will do."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"One guy, huh? And when you've given everything away, what then? You gonna come up with rice t'feed a whole clan? You gonna help clans come up wi'their Imperial taxes all by your lonesome?"

[Shiba Haru]

"Change begins with one person, one interaction. If I am not enough then I will do what I can to rally others. There is more than enough to go around. I have always had less than most of our station but I would give what I have to help another in need. What would you do if your ship came across someone lost and adrift?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Depends. Depends on our orders, our enmities, an' politics. Y'talk like an idealist. I want you t'get this, Shiba-san- I'm not. An idealistic Mantis is rarer'n hen's teeth."

[Shiba Haru]

"I have been called an idealist before, many times in truth, but I do not see myself that way. I am not blind to the realities of life, I simply have Hope. Right now I hope that I change your mind, and your view of me. I may be doing a poor job and I may fail but I hope that if I can change one mind, your mind, that maybe we can change more in the future. I don't seek to make everyone into a Phoenix, we are stronger together with our various distinctions, but we can stand to be a bit more understanding more supportive of each other and more peaceful."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

She sighed.

Made another play.

"It's not about gettin' people t'think they'd rather not chop each other inta chum. It's about removin' th'reasons they already have t'do it."

[Shiba Haru]

"Well if I could remove all the hate, greed, jealousy and fear from the world I would but I am just one person. One day perhaps but something like that is going to require a lot of help. Among my many overly ambitious goals while here is to find as many people as I can who are willing to give peace a chance in the future.

We are the future leaders of Rokugan, if we stay connected via letters and visits there is a chance that at some point in the future we may be able to help each other or avoid a war when others cannot. Normally alliances are between two or maybe three clans, I want to build something bigger.

Does that sound like something you could see yourself a part of?"

Haru had been looking her in the eyes the entire time, ignoring the Go board in favor of this more pressing game between them. When he did look down he smiled and placed his piece but said nothing.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Sure, but I can't promise I'll rise above deck officer."

She made another play. Scowled.

"An'deck officers do as they're told."

[Shiba Haru]

"I don't think you will be a deck officer for long, a Captain certainly but higher I think. What do you call someone who commands a fleet of ships? I mean, besides Daimyo." he said with a smile as he placed one of his few remaining pieces down.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Admiral? I wouldn' hold m'breath for that, my mother's a captain an'seems to have peaked, an' she's about a hundred times more driven'n I am."

[Shiba Haru]

"Strictly speaking, and this may not be something you want to think about, but you may not remain a Mantis. I am almost certain i won't remain a Phoenix. Do you have any insight regarding your future after this, are you betrothed to anyone yet?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Nope. S'far as I know, no nakodo even knows I'm alive."

She shrugged.

"An' given that I'm not much good off th'deck of a ship, not sure where else I'd go."

[Shiba Haru]

"You seem pretty capable on a horse. Any opinion on where you would like to end up if not a Mantis? The Crane and Crab have sizable fleets."

He refilled their cups with tea and gestured that another be brought to them.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Beats th'hell outta me. Crane doesn't seem likely, given, well..."

She gestured to herself.

"An' I've heard nothin' from any Crab one way or t'other."

[Shiba Haru]

"You don't seem very concerned about it. You don't seemed overly concerned about much really, not even this game of Go."

That must be what he see's in her, he was always more carefree.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Can't be arsed t'worry about who some courtier I've never met's gonna pair me with- it's out of my hands. I figure they'll either come and bother me or I'll go an'bother them if anybody starts t'worry. As for th'game..."

She frowned.

"Tsuma's been gettin' to me, like a pebble in a sandal. Think it's got me off my stride."

[Shiba Haru]

Haru sighed.

"If it weren't for the good people I have met here this week I would say I hate it here. Even the weather seems to dislike being here."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Yeah? What's got you fussed about th'place, I thought Phoenix'n'Crane were basically allied."