Day 9 MM: Like stars in the sky

[Moto Shiwahime]

She was glad Miya-sama had been interested by her drone idea. Having an idea was neat but having someone that an idea to bring that idea into being was very fucking neat too.

Especially when they had diplomatic know how. That was better then Shiwahime driving up with a 'Yo, wazzup!' introduction to what she wanted to do.

The Unicorn had just arrived and texted the Miya

''I just arrived''

[Yasuki Umiko]

The way into the governor's estate would require a few checkpoints of clearance, but both Shiwahime and Kisha (and anyone else) would be allowed into the estate in short order. While Umiko would like to have as few guests inside the estate as possible, knowing full well how the governor kept her side of the estate, the hot weather didn't make it exactly a patio meeting feasible unless everyone had a temperator, which she didn't want to assume.

They would be directed to a small sitting room where there was couch seating on both sides and a marble coffee table in the middle. There was a wide-screen informator to one side of the wall and window, giving them a view of the pool.

Umiko would walk in dressed in a long pink skirt and a white sweater. "Welcome to the governor's estate, Miya-san and Moto-san."

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime bowed as she entered.

''Thanks for receiving us, Yasuki-sama. We got an idea for the festival but we would require your approval to properly put into motion. There is much to be done but I think it has some potential''

[Miya Kisha]

Kisha, arriving shortly thereafter, is escorted in and makes her bows.

"It's as Moto-san says, Yasuki-karo" Kisha replies. "But most of what is to be done can be delegated out once you or the governor approve. And we believe it will help with the coming Bon Festival, as well."

[Yasuki Umiko]

Local roasted green tea and sweets delivered from Kappa's Pond would be served to the attendees of the meeting. The servants would pour a cup of tea for everyone and lay out a plate of mochi, yokan, and yatsuhashi.

Umiko gave a nod at that and pulled out her densei from her bag so that she could properly record the meeting and arrange anything that might be needed. "Sure, Miya-san and Moto-san. To be honest, Ayame-chan might be a bit...preoccupied in her schedule, but as someone who manages the Public Works office, I will be more than capable of having a say in approval and potentially facilitating what needs to be done. First, let me hear this idea."

[Miya Kisha]

"Of course, Yasuki-karo!" pipes up the shisha.

"For the record, Miya Kisha," she says towards the densei.

"At the Tsuneo's Shiro event a couple of days ago," the Miya continues, "Yasuki Taraka, Moto Shiwahime, and I were talking about the local attraction, the flying battle carps. Moto-san raised the question of whether the drones involved could carry lanterns. Yasuki-san, being the expert in them, affirmed that they could do so. Moto-san then noted that using lantern-carrying drones for the Bon Festival would make an excellent display, and Yasuki-san noted the need to purchase drones to do that kind of thing, citing legal ramifications for such use.

"I put in that it might be the case that the governor's office could execute a short-term lease for the drones for the event. A limited indemnification waiver could be put into place, releasing Yasuki-san from liability for the use of the drones during the event so long as they are delivered to gubernatorial control in good working order and slaved to controls operated only by a certified pilot during the event. Moto-san agreed at that point that the idea was a good one.

"Yasuki-san agreed in principle, although she did express some caveats. She would expect fair compensation for the use of her equipment, and she would need to be assured that the programming put into place to make the event happen would be completely removed from the drones when the event is done, so as to ensure the competitions she runs remain equitable."

Kisha nods and turns to Shiwahime. "Does that sound about right, Moto-san?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime gave a nod of approval

''Well said Miya-sama'' she continued for extra details ''Kakita Haruhi agreed to be our programmer while Shinjo Suh-Hyun and Utaku Itsuka agreed to be our pilots should the project be approved''

[Yasuki Umiko]

Umiko gave a few nods as she listened to the piece given by both Kisha and Shiwahime. She smiled at first and gave a slight tilt of her head at the undertaking. "This sounds a bit impressive, without even seeing it for myself yet...if Yasuki-san, Kakita-san and all members of your delegation, Moto-san, have a certain programme in mind for the Bon Festival, I think I would be agreeable to have featured. The city would be willing to spare some budget to compensate for the use of the drone, the show, and the performers involved."

Well, paying Clan samurai wasn't correct, as they didn't need money by honour and she wasn't their lord, but she supposed that some 'gifts' could be in order for their efforts.

"The liability part is a bit fuzzy to me, as we would require the liability to fall partially on one party. We will assign people to do proper due diligence to ensure everything is in working order and the content is appropriate. The flight of these drones would be in a public space and should be on the assigned pilot's ability to keep them under control, and according to the agreed script, would it not?"

[Miya Kisha]

"I believe Yasuki Taraka was concerned that she would be held to account for the use of drones by others," Kisha says. "But if they are tested and assigned to others' control for the duration of the event, with the event oversight accepting responsibility for them during the event, and if that were written to her against any un-hoped-for exigencies, I think that would satisfy her."

[Yasuki Umiko]

"I believe Yasuki Taraka was concerned that she would be held to account for the use of drones by others," Kisha says. "But if they are tested and assigned to others' control for the duration of the event, with the event oversight accepting responsibility for them during the event, and if that were written to her against any un-hoped-for exigencies, I think that would satisfy her."

Umiko looked for a moment in thought before giving an unsure tilt of her head. "I am still unsure about that. I'm just following standard liability practices for the city and the province. We are happy to provide the venue and the permissions for the performance. However, as volunteers and samurai not in direct service of the Public Works bureau, the liability of both the drones and the performers would fall upon them. This would be a different story if we had the idea for this performance and wished to purchase the drones and have our own performers. Then, of course the liability would fall on the city."

She took a moment to take a sip of tea to avoid it sitting around unattended for too long. "I understand Yasuki-san's concern, but if she and everyone involved stand behind their work, at the very least one party involved should be accepting of this liability in the very unlikely situation that something should happen. I imagine this performance is safe and low risk?"

[Miya Kisha]

"I expect it would be, Yasuki-karo," Kisha replies. "And I will convey your reply to Yasuki Taraka, as well."

She smiles.

"I may not have my horo on, but I am simply serving as the messenger, as is the Miya way."

[Moto Shiwahime]

''The drones should be reasonnably high so that the noise don't bother people but close enough that people see the aerial dance.'' Shiwahime specified ''

She paused, musing for a second

''Could a person take liability or must it be a group?''

[Yasuki Umiko]

Umiko smiled faintly at the small reference made by the Miya at the very least and nodded.

"It needn't be the entire group, I just assumed that it would be the performing pilots in this show, given that Yasuki Taraka-san would likely stand by her handiwork by providing the tools. It would be easy to verify everything is in working order for the performance, maybe even twice? It's just that the pilots are the bigger variable here. However, if you're saying that there is someone managing the pilots, I suppose they can agree on the liability."

She smiled faintly. "Given all of the moving parts...Well, I don't suppose we weren't just thinking of the same thing, and it hasn't been entirely clear?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

''I trust the pilots and the programmer so I will take responsibility should anything happen'' Shiwahime replied

[Miya Kisha]

"It would seem all that is addressed, then," Kisha says. "The province will execute a short-term lease for Yasuki Taraka's drones, with them to be assessed for quality and programmed for appropriate progress as a floating parade, Moto Shiwahime to stand guarantor for the conduct of the pilots directing said drones through the parade, and all relevant programming to be scrubbed from the drones before return to Yasuki Taraka as swiftly following the end of the event as is practicable. Sound correct?"

There's a different quality to the shisha's voice as she summarizes things, almost as if deeply trained habits emerge in the circumstances.

[Yasuki Umiko]

Umiko gave a few nods at those terms, again wondering if it was potentially made more complicated than she thought. "Thank you for clarifying and settling. I am just following standard liability procedures with the city. I understand that we've placed restrictions on Yasuki Taraka-san's drones previously, but for the sake of the festival, she just wants to be covered, as does the governor, of course. Those terms seem acceptable to me, Miya-san, Moto-san."