Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0 
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Post by Umeko on Jan 9, 2018 22:44:49 GMT -5
Umeko stood in front of her office window once more, though this time she wasn't smiling. She nervously fidgeted with the empty fingers of her left gloves as she waited for her appointment. She knew of the spider, of course. She had researched everyone she believed might been able to help her cause.
But meeting the man had been a surprise. He was much more charming then expected and she /knew/ he was a lot more competent at her at negotiations and etiquette. She bit down on her lip. Maybe she was rushing. This was clearly a mistake, she should simply talk to him about potential uses of herbs in candy making and send him on his way. No need to bring... delicate subjects up yet. She needed allies, like the Otomo twins, to do the talking.
The ronin began to pace in her small office, her thoughts degenerating into a spiral of panic. She would alienate herself to him, or do something so insulting he'd refuse to speak with her anymore for the rest of the year! Oh, Kami, what had she been thinking! With shaking hands, she reached into a small fridge at the back, pulling out a bottle of strong sake. She served herself a glass, downing it, before taking a deep breath. Okay. She could do this. Maybe...
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Post by Shibatsu Eito on Jan 9, 2018 22:52:54 GMT -5
KNOCK KNOCK. The Spider is at the gate except this time he brings a box of chocolates. He had of course brought some variety to give as gifts, after all candy has worked so well for him in the past that there was no reason it couldn't help him again in the future. Besides the Ronin woman was bright, clever, pretty and had something up her sleeve that had piqued his curiosity. Barring a squad of Kuni Ninja hiding behind the door he was sure he could handle whatever she threw at him but the danger was exciting. When she opened the door there he stood, with a perfume with more then a hint of spice from the colonies, in his silk shirt and box of chocolates outstretched. "Umeko-san, This one thanks you for the opportunity to meet and discuss business with you."
Keeping the tone friendly and ambiguous. No mater how this went he needed to be prepared. That was the path of victory after all.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Jan 9, 2018 23:00:19 GMT -5
Her greeting died before it could escape her lips as the spider spoke first, offering her the box. "Eh?" She said, taken aback, before reflectively refusing the gift. One could not live in Rokugan for almost 40 years without learning to refuse a gift at least a few times, after all. "S-shibatsu-sama! There really is no need for such a generous gift, really!" She stammered, before blushing at her own stuttering. Oh, seriously, what was she, 15?!
Umeko managed to get some control over herself back and she smiled warmly, moving out of the way and motioning him to one of the chairs.
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Post by Shibatsu Eito on Jan 9, 2018 23:04:59 GMT -5
Eito steps in and gives another bow. "I must insist. To be graced with a conversation with one so insightful? Please allow me to offer you a meager gift for your troubles." he says, eyes sparkling as he takes a seat in one of the chairs. So she was choosing to play it formal then? An odd choice but one that didn't bother him in the slightest, still he should make her comfortable. Reaching out with a hand he places it on the armrest and leans in forward with just an air of the casual to him. He allows a small bit of delight at her blushing to hit his expression, a warm gesture rather then a mocking one. The smallest dropping of his on to let her know that he found her nervousness a compliment rather then an insult.
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Jan 9, 2018 23:17:48 GMT -5
She closed the door, before quickly walking toward the back of the small office and setting a kettle on the heat. "No, really Shibatsu-sama, going out of your way for someone like me isn't necessary at all. Might I offer you some tea? I have quite the selection, most of them grown here in the greenhouses." She gestured toward a glass paneled cabinet, where a few dozen rows of tins could be seen, all labeled with various blends. She was not exaggerating when she said she had quite the selection.
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Post by Shibatsu Eito on Jan 9, 2018 23:28:06 GMT -5
Eito thinks a moment then nods. "Your favorite please, I would like to try what your favorite tea taste like. Don't worry if it's odd, I am quite adventurous with my food." he says before he places his fingers to his lips a moment, thinking for the third line. "Umeko-san, I am a man who must appraise things for their worth on a daily basis. People, goods, lands. To be honest this box of candy is an insult to what a woman of your caliber should be offered but a woman of your modesty would never accept the treasures she was worth and I would rather insult you with too little then nothing at all. Please forgive me and accept my very humble gift for the joys of your company and hospitality."
(http://orokos.com/roll/583557 21 to flatter)
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Jan 10, 2018 16:10:39 GMT -5
[ Resisting Eito's charm: 2d10k2 9 ] Umeko was glad she had her back turned to the man so he couldn't see her blush. Although her short hair might not quite be enough to hide the red tinged of her ears at his words. She hadn't been so openly flirted with in.... many many years. She never considered herself to be particularly pretty either. She was overly muscular, and covered in scars. And flat as a board. Suddenly rather self conscious, she took her time to chose the tea, finally settling on one of her favorites; A rather fragrant blend of green tea to which she had added Sencha, chamomile, cinnamon, hibiscus and rose flowers. It smelled of spring and berries, and would go well with chocolate. Glad that she had the excuse of preparing the tea to regain her composure, the gardener finally turned back to face the Spider once her blush had gotten a bit more under control, offering the man a warm smile. "Well, I believe that as small as you might think this gift to be, it is more then good enough for one such as me. After all, I do love chocolate. I see myself forced to bow to your arguments and accept, Shibatsu-sama." She said, bowing to him with a playful smirk, before walking over to the desk and sitting opposite to him. She placed a cup in front of each of them, before greedily reaching for the box, sliding it over to her and opening it. Her trepidation was obvious and she was almost drooling as she looked down at the sweets, trying to decide which to eat first. |
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Post by Shibatsu Eito on Jan 10, 2018 16:58:27 GMT -5
Eito was pleased at what effect he could see in her body language. Like he told the Gajin, it is criminal that sometimes the treasures of the world go unrecodnized and seeing them find someone who knew their value? There are a rare few actions that boost both the conscience and the ego and this was one of them. The takes a deep breath of the tea, enjoying the scent of it and of course drawing attention to his own breath. He did not want to make this a full seduction yet but until he knew what she wanted he wanted control of this meeting. Making the Ronin's day was an added side effect.
"This one is grateful Umeko-san. Though you can all me Eito if you please. It is just the two of us and I am just a Spider." he looks at the treats inside, his Collection of the Second City Chocolates, each one with a different blend of herbs and fruit grown from a different area of the colonies. Hazelnut. Sweet Curry. Cinnamon. Even a flower flavored chocolate. While Eito was no artisan he was skilled at marketing and he made sure he brought her one of his more expensive collections, fit for a Doji Daiymo. "The gold foil on the top is edible and sweetened as well." he whispers.
"I must ask with some curiosity, however. You didn't bring me here to talk about candy. How may this one serve you?"
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Umeko
Ronin/Other
Posts: 295 Likes: 0
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Post by Umeko on Jan 10, 2018 17:20:48 GMT -5
Hey eyes were bright with delight at the selection, and she took her time to pick. Curiosity over the flower-flavored one finally won out, and she gently picked it up as he spoke, nodding along. His last sentence however, almost made her drop the treat. She floundered slightly, catching it just before it rolled off the table and turning bright red once more. Oh, bother. Of course he'd have picked up on her tone... She swallowed and forced herself to calm down as she plopped the chocolate in her mouth.
Umeko had to stop herself from moaning aloud. Kami, that was GLORIOUS! She closed her eyes for a moment, her right hand covering her mouth. It HAD to be illegal to make something that good. Finally she blinked her eyes open and glanced up at the man before her, expression serious. With a soft sigh, she sat back in her chair, holding up her tea to her lips for a sip.
"There are many reasons one might end in my situation." She waved to where her clan mon would usually be. "Some are born as such, most are thrown away for one mistake or transgression. Others... Others are forced to sit back as their name is ripped from them, and destroyed." She clenched her jaw for a moment, before relaxing again. The happy sensei had somehow vanished, and she stared at him with hard eyes that told of a life of hardship. "You are old enough, Eito-san, to have known better days as well, I assume. Days where your clan was not only a minor one, regarded with disgust and mistrust by most. Tell me." Her eyes squinted slightly. "Do you miss those days?"
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Post by Shibatsu Eito on Jan 10, 2018 17:25:49 GMT -5
The look on his face as she ate that chocolate, goodness that was more glorious then he had imagined. He even manages a blush at the response to his product, of course anything the Spider made would be considered sinful, why not earn the name.
Then she begins talking and that smile fades, replaced with a serious expression. "It cost us everything we had to save our clan. I offered up my life to repay the treachery those disloyal idiots inflicted on us, thankful I was seen as more valuable alive. I have spent my life trying to recapture what the Spider were, to prove to them that we can be trusted again. A hard task when our own former Lord betrayed us for petty personal ambition and weakness." he says bitterly. "I miss those days, and I would do anything to restore what was lost. All of it."
He taps his fingers on his lips a second. "I don't think you were one of ours. I tried to keep track of all of them. Make sure they settled in, did what I could to find us new lives. Which name must I mourn with you Umeko-san."
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