[D4 EM] Cranes relaxing in style (open to all Crane characters)

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi was pleased to arrange day passes to the elegant spa, where she and Kakita-san (and any other crane present) could relax in style and, in their private room, confer about Clan business.

There were heated chairs to lounge on and a light brunch of the tastiest eggs and seafood treats.

She got settled in, ordered an herbal green tea, and enjoyed her rest, thinking about all the tasks of the day.

[Kakita Hiroki]

Ki-kun normally devoted a decent portion of the early hours of the day to hair care, as his braids demanded much looking after to maintain their perfect appearance. This morning he'd only re-done the two smaller braids at his temples with the rest of his long coral coloured hair allowed to hang loose for now. He wandered in, stifling a yawn and stretching.

"Morning, Haruhi-san. That was quite some party last night, neh?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

Ki-kun normally devoted a decent portion of the early hours of the day to hair care, as his braids demanded much looking after to maintain their perfect appearance. This morning he'd only re-done the two smaller braids at his temples with the rest of his long coral coloured hair allowed to hang loose for now. He wandered in, stifling a yawn and stretching.

"Morning, Haruhi-san. That was quite some party last night, neh?"

"It was! I was surprised the magistrate came. You are a star wherever you go!"

"Come on and sit down. Have some tea and breakfast."

She offered to pour a cup of tea for him.

"There's been so much happening! We haven't had a chance to talk just the two of us. I wanted to ask ... Are you aware of anything important to the Crane here? I've got my commission to do. Is there anything else I should be trying to help influence?"

Her ability to tip the skills of influence was not on par with his, but she could try to do what she could.

[Kakita Hiroki]

"It was! I was surprised the magistrate came. You are a star wherever you go!"

"Come on and sit down. Have some tea and breakfast."

She offered to pour a cup of tea for him.

"There's been so much happening! We haven't had a chance to talk just the two of us. I wanted to ask ... Are you aware of anything important to the Crane here? I've got my commission to do. Is there anything else I should be trying to help influence?"

Her ability to tip the skills of influence was not on par with his, but she could try to do what she could.

"I'm still somewhat at a loss as to why the Magistrate was even there . . . I mean the Mantis have a reputation but they've hardly been any dastardly pirate raids in the last three days . . . have there?"

He moved from elegant Crane to lounging yet still elegant Crane in a heartbeat, flicking his hair over the chair with practised ease before reaching for the tea.

"Just promote the Crane when and where you can and if we aren't a good fit then support our allies in the Mantis and Spider. Hence my costume last night. Nothing says alliance more than a Crane dressed as a Spider at a Mantis party."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I'm still somewhat at a loss as to why the Magistrate was even there . . . I mean the Mantis have a reputation but they've hardly been any dastardly pirate raids in the last three days . . . have there?"

He moved from elegant Crane to lounging yet still elegant Crane in a heartbeat, flicking his hair over the chair with practised ease before reaching for the tea.

"Just promote the Crane when and where you can and if we aren't a good fit then support our allies in the Mantis and Spider. Hence my costume last night. Nothing says alliance more than a Crane dressed as a Spider at a Mantis party."

"I think there may be politics here I'm not really tracking. The Governor was there and probably the target. There is her twin. Maybe other forces?"

"I've made friends in the Mantis and Spider. Not for political reasons. Just ... I like them."

"I'm focused on finding birds, but is had made me interested in the fate of the birds like the jimen tori generally. There is a secret place they are looking for! A hidden lake full of fish."

[Kakita Hiroki]

"I think there may be politics here I'm not really tracking. The Governor was there and probably the target. There is her twin. Maybe other forces?"

"I've made friends in the Mantis and Spider. Not for political reasons. Just ... I like them."

"I'm focused on finding birds, but is had made me interested in the fate of the birds like the jimen tori generally. There is a secret place they are looking for! A hidden lake full of fish."

"All yours, Haruki-san. The only fish I'm interested in are on the dining tables. Birds though, any like a crane?"

For a small male, he could certainly spread out and take an entire lounger. Although on closer observation most of the space was taken by his hair.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"All yours, Haruki-san. The only fish I'm interested in are on the dining tables. Birds though, any like a crane?"

For a small male, he could certainly spread out and take an entire lounger. Although on closer observation most of the space was taken by his hair.

"Not too crane-like. So far, I've found six native birds to look for. I've got great footage of the Jimen Tori - they are big flightless birds. I saw a Nakahama hachietto presented as a gift at the governor's opening reception. I need to find one in the wild that I can study. I'm also looking for the Nakahama starling, shama, bulbul, and lyrebird. Those first four are songbirds. The last one is a mimic bird. I did some computer research to find references to native birds!"

[Kakita Hiroki]

"Not too crane-like. So far, I've found six native birds to look for. I've got great footage of the Jimen Tori - they are big flightless birds. I saw a Nakahama hachietto presented as a gift at the governor's opening reception. I need to find one in the wild that I can study. I'm also looking for the Nakahama starling, shama, bulbul, and lyrebird. Those first four are songbirds. The last one is a mimic bird. I did some computer research to find references to native birds!"

That was far more bird related information that Ki-kun expected. Well not from a Crane, maybe a Phoenix or a KItsune could be expected to know that.

"Wow . . . you sure know a lot about birds. Most I know about songbirds is some fans call the boys and I that."

[Kakita Haruhi]

That was far more bird related information that Ki-kun expected. Well not from a Crane, maybe a Phoenix or a KItsune could be expected to know that.

"Wow . . . you sure know a lot about birds. Most I know about songbirds is some fans call the boys and I that."

She giggled. "You all are very dreamy. Songbirds, for sure."

"How did the group originally form? What brought you together?"

[Kakita Hiroki]

She giggled. "You all are very dreamy. Songbirds, for sure."

"How did the group originally form? What brought you together?"

The answer to that was so very Crane.

"Politics. The Hare were making noises about not renewing their contracts to support our armies and instead move to the Crab. Our high ups weren't standing for that and started on a campaign to promote Crane/Hare relations. One part of that was our boy band themed around rabbits and drop troopers . . . hence Usagi Drop!."

He paused to take a sip of tea and a quick bite to eat.

"So four of us auditioned and got the parts. Yes, four of us! Yu-kun was there as a yojimbo to one of the failed candidates and the assessors caught him dancing along to the music in the background and made him try out as well. And he was by far the best dancer there."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She nodded.

"Interesting! I love a bit of Yu-kun lore. I can't imagine Usagi Drop! without him."

"It's such a good example of how art can support a political goal. Maybe we should ask the Spider and Mantis what's important to them here. And maybe we could help them out with a party to promote their cause, or a slogan song, or ... something like that."

[Kakita Hiroki]

Ah yes, one of the Yu-kun Brigade. He'll be so embarrassed when I tell him.

After all Ki-kun knew exactly what Yu-kun liked . . . . and we'll leave that right there.

"Only if we can't put the Crane first I would say. Then again there is a lot of talk about the Scorpions going around. I don't think we want our Old Enemy getting so prominent."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Oh but the Scorpions I have met so far are just so darn likable."

A hint of a blush.

"You are right, though. Crane first. We can look for business opportunities maybe. Connections. Just making a good impression in general."

[Kakita Hiroki]

Ki-kun gave her the lazy side eye.

"That's how they get you. Eminently likeable, dashingly handsome or sickeningly cute and just when you think you know them, BAM, sting time!"

He returned to paying attention to his breakfast.

"We had best be careful on commercial ventures, what with it being a Yasuki run place. I know all our history lessons tell su they used to be Crane . . . but I have a hard time seeing them in powder blue these days.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"My patron is Yasuki, so I will certainly aid her ends."

"But I agree that we do not want to spend our time as artists dueling with merchants on economic fields of battle. The Blue Skylark would have sent other Crane if that was needful. Whatever needs doing here can be achieved through art and music."

[Kakita Hiroki]

"As it always does."

He said it like it was fact . . . which to the Kakita family it probably was, what with their daimyo driving them all to perfection or burn out.

"Have you found any Crab in particular need of help?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Not yet. There are opportunities for participation and collaboration. For example, I am participating in Yasuki-san's drone tournament, which promotes her business."

"But nothing that feels ... large scale."

"I think there is opportunity around consolidating or diminishing the governor's position. I see no benefit to change. Stability is good for art and commerce. But I do not see the Governor asking for help. To do so might invite the perception of weakness, which she cannot afford."

[Kakita Hiroki]

He nodded.

"Instead she allows the Clans to pit their wits against each other so she can step in and graciously accept the best deal at the end. So very . . . . . . . . Yasuki."

There was a long pause.

"If only Yu-kun wasn't so busy working on the next concert routines. He probably would have done well here. I'm sure on of his cousins is in the Trading Council."

How that might translate to Doji Yuta being any good at commerce anyone might know . . .

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Perhaps you could invite him to visit? I'm sure he's terribly busy, but it would be amazing to meet him. And we could throw a big party to welcome him and invite all the locals and ... he could maybe tell us what would be good business to pursue here, whose projects to support."

In her mind, Yu-kun could do all things.

"He could teach us the steps to dance our way through!"

[Kakita Hiroki]

"Ah I soon learnt that when he's on one of his internal journeys of inspiration . . . his term, not mine . . . it's best just to leave him to it. He'll spend hours in the studio running through the same six steps until he has it right and then, and only then will he let us even see them."

He stared at a what he presumed was some kind of crabcake . . . wondering on the ethics of the Crab serving this for a fraction of a moment.

"Much the same with Naz-kun when he's working on lyrics, but at least with Yu-kun you just get politely ignored and not screamed at."