[D4, EN] Sisterly Meeting (closed)

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

"I know better than most about duty when it comes to marriage, sister," she replied. "What I'm saying is that one can do one's Duty while acknowledging Courtesy and Compassion toward the people involved. It makes ensuring their future duties are less onerous and makes the alliance it cements a warmer one."

[Doji Dojihime]

"It does make it easier to take someone into your bed you can stand to look at," she mused.

"And can have a conversation with that isn't... awkward. We'll have to collect this newfound wisdom on marriage, for when you are named the Fortune of Good Marriages," she teased.

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

"Not exactly the Duty I was thinking of, but it's certainly important... At least that's not something I have to complain about." She tried not to burst into laughter from that, covering her mouth. "Ah yes. 'We pray now to the Fortune of Good Marriages, who learned from experience.'"

[Doji Dojihime]

"Good experience is a precious commodity," she said with a smile as she brushed.

"I have a question, and I am seeking, I am not sure if it is advice but your insight on the matter really... anyway, if a retainer acts in good faith to solve an important issue but does so in a way that could compromise or weaken the Clan and our family, especially against known rivals, what does one do? Do we overlook such carelessness for the good it could do, or do we make an example... or find some other solution?"

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

"... I would say it depends on what they're trying to solve. Some problems out there really are bigger than just us - if that is the case with this and we take the lead in the resolution, the temporary compromise of our reputation in the short run is made up for and then some in the long term."

"If it isn't something that major, trying to understand the reason for their motivation driving them so hard can help with morale regardless of the final decision. Plus, there might be a potential alternative solution hidden in it."

[Doji Dojihime]

She spoke plainly, "It's Hikaru-san and how he has conducted his search for a cure for mother. I applaud his efforts but he has not been discrete."

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

She nodded. "I figured that was what you were talking about."

[Doji Dojihime]

She nodded. "I figured that was what you were talking about."

"He's loyal beyond measure, but his judgment.... it makes it hard for me to trust, perhaps I am being overly critical. I know that I might simply be putting too much focus on appearances. I want him to succeed but then I am left to pick up the pieces," she said honestly.

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

"Do you know if our mother said anything about his actions on her behalf? Is he here without leave?" She asked.

[Doji Dojihime]

"Do you know if our mother said anything about his actions on her behalf? Is he here without leave?" She asked.

"I don't know, she has been... a mess," she replied sadly.

"I barely recognize the woman."

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

She frowned at that. "It seems a cold way to refer to our mother... But I agree that she is nearly unrecognizable as herself some days. On some days, she is nearly like her usual self except for how often she sleeps, but others..."

[Doji Dojihime]

She frowned at that. "It seems a cold way to refer to our mother... But I agree that she is nearly unrecognizable as herself some days. On some days, she is nearly like her usual self except for how often she sleeps, but others..."

“Cold?” she said, stopping her brushing of her sister’s hair.

“I love mother as any filial child should but she was demanding of me, nothing but perfection in action and deed. My earliest memories are of father, not mother; my earliest memories are of being corrected of all the things I had done poorly, wrong, incorrectly.”

“She was gentle but biting, her eyes revealed her disappointment every time I failed to achieve perfection, and when I achieved the task to her satisfaction it was simply on to the next lesson. The next task. The next next step. Success was not met with praise, not when success was expected… nay, demanded.”

She took a moment to collect herself and said, “The bad days are starting to outnumber the good.”

[Nanzi Ananzihime]

"Ah. I understand..." She simply nodded, neither encouraging nor casting judgment on what Dojihime said, just moving a hand to rest on her sister's briefly. She doubted she wanted her to acknowledge the outburst too much.

[Doji Dojihime]

"Thank you," was her reply. She sat in silence and kept combing.