[ We find Our Heroes sitting (awkwardly, as there are no chairs) across a small, wooden table from a small, frail-looking man who happens to be Kenji's father. He's smiling, despite all that has happened. ] [ "So," he says. "I'm sure you all have questions. Most of you will wonder what just happened to my son, and, once he awakens, Kenji will want to know what has happened while he was away." ] [ "I will happily answer any questions that I may, I assure you. So, ask away." ] [ Session Startu! ] * Togo is now known as Istvan Is she always that angry? * Istvan is smirking a little less openly now, if only for Tia's sake. [ The father quirks an eyebrow. "" ] * Istvan blinks at Patrick, and then shrugs. Hey, he didn't say it. * Alcinoe looks up from Kenji, who's probably lying next to her. "" She frowns. "" [ Hanataro smirks. "" ] Ah, yeah, that would be a problem. Adopting non-Rokugani into the clan is forbidden to that degree? * Takara looks at Hanataro. "" [ Hanataro chuckles. "" ] [ "" ] * Istvan nods. "If I may ask, why was the policy changed two decades ago?" [ "" ] * Alcinoe looks down a bit, at that. She seems to be thinking. Maybe to open a bit of understanding to outside culture. [ "" ] [ "" ] * Patrick nods. Stout folk... ah, the dwarves. *chuckles* I used to work the mines. It coulda been me. *pauses* Probably best it wasn't. No kidding. * HKenji strains a bit and pulls himself upright, head bobbling back and forth as he jerks to a stop in sitting position. [ "" ] 'morning Kenji. Have a nice nap? * Alcinoe blinks and looks at Kenji. * HKenji raises one finger, in silent command to wait a moment. * HKenji reaches up with his right hand and snaps his nose back into place with a loud "CRACK" * Takara winces. She looks a bit ill. * Istvan makes his will save and manages to keep a straight face. * WillS winces at Kenji's erm.. rough sort of wound treatment. * Musa grins at Kenji and gives him the Rokugani equivalent of a thumbs up. ["" ] * Istvan looks over at Takara. "Bayushi?" Probably has another reason. * Takara looks back at Istvan. "" [ "" ] Ah. Gotcha. * HKenji frowns. * HKenji eyes Patrick for a moment. * Patrick smiles back at Kenji. ^^ * HKenji smiles deviously. [ "" ] * Alcinoe might be spooked at that exchange of smiles, but she doesn't show it. <... that's impossible.> * Takara blinks at Hanataro. She, too, looks surprised. "" Did I miss something? [ Hosokawa-san nods. "" ] * HKenji snorts. * Alcinoe blinks. She looks at Kenji. "A what?" But... ain't it a good thing if he does? [ Hanataro looks to Takara. ] Maybe just to instill doubt as to his true intentions. [ "" ] 'Not in a million years', but maybe in a million and one. * Alcinoe nods at Patrick. "Demons can be kind." She sounds certain of this. * Takara clears her throat, then says, carefully, "" ["" ] [ Hanataro chuckles. "" ] * Alcinoe shrugs, unapologetic and unashamed. "" * Istvan turns to Takara. "So the deal with the Scorpions is that they fight using methods and tactics that the other clans really, really don't approve of, right?" * Takara chuckles at Istvan. "" * Istvan nods. "Because they're willing to do things the other clans would never do in a million years." Yup. * Alcinoe frowns. She obviously doesn't agree with that whole "vital" bit. * Takara nods at Kenji. [ Kenji's father chuckles, but nods in agreement. ] If not vital, it could at least be... useful at times? *pauses* If really, really dishonorable. * HKenji eyes Istvan. I think the word you're looking for is convenient. * Istvan eyes Kenji back. "I picked up on that during our travels." * Istvan nods over at Patrick. "That works, too." Ends *never* justify the means, Istvan. Just ain't the way it works. [ At that moment, the paper door slides open, and in walks Lady Chikako. ] * Istvan shrugs at Alci, but quiets down when the scarylady enters. * HKenji stands and bows deeply to his mother. * Takara listens and takes a deep breath. "" She trails off as Chikako enters. * Alcinoe looks over as Chikako walks into the room. [ "" asks Hanataro as he rises and bows. Chikako nods to Kenji, bows to Hanataro, and has a squat at the table. "" says Hanataro. ] * Takara smiles and bows over the table to Chikako, then continues, "" [ Chikako's eyes dart to Alcinoe, then to Kenji, and then close. Hanataro pours her some tea; there is a tea-stalk in it, floating end-up. ] [ "" says Hanataro, "" ] * Alcinoe starts, oddly surprised that a question's being directed at her. "" Ah- um, Ah... * Alcinoe looks a little flustered as she tries to come up with the right words. "" She looks to Kenji. "Ah never really thought about it," she says hurriedly, just in case she said it *completely* wrong. * HKenji laughs. * Istvan nods at that. * Alcinoe rubs at her face, tucking strands of curly red hair behind one pointed ear. [ Chikako raises an eyebrow but says nothing. Hanataro nods, smiling a bit. "" ] * Alcinoe nods to her new father. "" [ Hanataro chuckles at Kenji's comment, looks thoughtful for a moment, and says, "" ] [ Behind the rest of you, Tia becomes more attentive at the mention of food. ] * HKenji laughs. * Patrick smirks. "It won't get me a beating like you just got, will it?" If she's willing to try, I don't mind letting her have some. ^^ [ Chikako opens her eyes. "" ] * Alcinoe grins at this. She can't help it. * Patrick grins. [ Chikako considers the look on Alcinoe and Patrick's faces. "" ] * Takara stops herself from saying, "Beef." I prefer stronger tastes, is all. ^^ * Takara does say, however: "" * WillS nods in agreement. * Takara looks thoughtful at that. "" * Patrick laughs. It's possible. * Istvan becomes more attentive at the mention of killing horses. [ Chikako grins. Her teeth are partially blackened so as to appear as fangs. ] * Musa sighs. * Alcinoe blinks a few times at seeing Chikako's teeth. She's really not used to this blackened stuff yet. [ Chikako gazes over the lot of you, and suddenly stops on Kenji. "<...Kenji. Why are you not carrying the swords of our blesed anscestor, Matsu Yukari?>" ] * HKenji winces. * Alcinoe gives Kenji a sympathetic look. [ Chikako nods and sips her tea. "" She sets her teacup down, having just finished it. "" ] This won't end well. * Alcinoe nods, actually glaring at Chikako. "" [ "", asks Chikako. ] * Musa does the Rokugani equivalent of whistling in impressedness. * Takara listens. She does not whistle. Please. * Takara looks very interested, though. It sounds like a remarkable story. [ Chikako nods. "" ] * Takara can't resist, and after an appropriate silence says, "" She looks at the other gaijin at the table. * Istvan frowns, then chimes in. "I should add that the artifact was created to carve out new canyons and new paths between canyons, and also has the power to create earthquakes. So getting it back was extremely important." * Patrick lets Kenji answer. * Takara blinks, then clears her throat and translates, all business again: "" * Takara relaxes once she says that and goes back to listening to the story. * Musa listens to story. Whee story! * WillS finds himself nodding along as Kenji tells the story. It all seems so much grander than what he remembers. (Given Will was dead for a good portion, yes.) ( Will got Teradactowned. ) * Istvan tries to get Takara's attention. "I have the pick, if the Lord and Lady wish to see or examine it." * Takara 's attention is gotten, and she nods to Istvan before looking to the man and woman of the household. "" * Patrick grins. * Istvan tilts his head at Kenji. "That, and as a show of respect for the loss of such prized swords. The swords were lost retrieveing the pick; as the one who holds it, it's only just that I offer the Lord and Lady an opportunity to see what such treasured weapons were sacrificed for." [ "" says Hanataro. ] * Istvan unclasps the pick from his holster, and, holding it horizontally in his hands, walks up to the Lord and Lady, kneels, and offers it out. [ Hanataro hms. "" Chikako shrugs. "" ] * Istvan looks back at Takara. "It's a military version of a miner's pick, adapted to be used two-handed by the weaponsmiths of the dwa- er, stout people." * Takara translates: "" [ The two lions 'ah' at that. "" ] * Alcinoe says, simply, " Ebony." She doesn't know the Rokugani term. Maybe there isn't one. * Istvan looks back at Takara again. "They are one metal, known as ebony. The rarest metal that can be used for smithing. It can be used to make incredibly powerful weapons without the need for magic enchantment. Alcinoe has a sword made from the same material." * Takara listens to this, then nods. "" [ "" says Hanatarou. "" ] [ And then the session ended! ]