A Plural of Arachnids [D3, LE, Expecting]

[Hisomu Susumu]

Susumu does his best not to show his surprise. "Yes"

I don't think I am particularly good with them, but I like them well enough.

"Is there any Clan for which undermining them is part of your objectives?"

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori took a deep breath being disgusted by such question. "No... Aren't we all friends here?" Even if we pretend everything is peachy and forgotten our feuds.

[Hisomu Susumu]

Susumu points at her. "That was more than a simple no"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Are we counting our movements?" She tilted her head still in game. She pointed the man with her fan.

[Hisomu Susumu]

"Less than 20 or ten for that matter. Which would make me the winner. But I'm happy to keep playing"

"Yes"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"No... you lost in the first question as your expression betrayed you." She smiled and explained. She smiled. "Let's just call it a draw."

[Hisomu Susumu]

Susumu sighs. "Fine then. But the offer still stands. This was fun"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Let's just continue a normal conversation."She nodded. "So who is the lucky lady if I may know?"

[Hisomu Susumu]

"Oh, you've met. It is, however, complicated. As all topics of romance are among a samurai. As for who...I need to keep a few things coy, don't I?"

"As for you, do they have plans for you to be wed? "

[Bayushi Sasori]

"My master hasn't seem to find me a mate." She shrugged. "A pity I was tell my friend this morning that I want to see if I could be a match maker but I don't know divination but I think it is better to have a keen eye than trust the stars."

[Hisomu Susumu]

"Well...then why were you so interested in knowing my status?"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"To help you out of course." She shook her head. "Why does people think..." Sasori covered her face with her fan to not show her frustration and anger towards the idea. "Perhaps my playfulness was mistaken for flirting. I apologize then."

[Hisomu Susumu]

"In all fairness, flirting would be a legitimate tactic" Susumu pulls up his cup to sip it. "It puts people off their game, and disguises your intentions. I thought you were doing do purposefully, either out of interest or because you thought it would be amusing to see my reaction"

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori lowered her fan. "Tactics of the court. To be honest Spider sama... it is all a game. Seems that I am now the mouse instead of the cat." Sasori laughed.

[Hisomu Susumu]

"We all like to think ourselves as the cat...right up until the moment we realize that we are chased"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"But you are not chasing this one." She tilted her head. "I was chasing you but for the wrong reasons. Now I see that you are protective of your beloved."Sasori lifted her fan to hide her smile.

[Hisomu Susumu]

"I fear "beloved" is a strong term. It's" Susumu pauses. "It's complicated"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Is it?" She fanned herself. "Do you love her? Do you want to be with her all the time? Do you want to protect her with your honor?"

[Hisomu Susumu]

Susumu offers a very non-courtier snort.

"Yes to the first two. An absolute hard no to the middle. There are many questions: one is that I am unsure whether my love is the type that leads to taking a spouse, or whether one is considered a member an extended family or close kinship. Another is the pragmatic implications of what marriage means to a samurai, where close affection or even romantic love is not the deciding factor of what an ideal match should be."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"She is from your clan but you will not sacrifice your honor to protect her? I am confused." She said a bit puzzled. "If I had a loved one in the clan I would sacrifice my honor to protect them, in a way that shows that not only I am protecting the honor of my beloved but the honor of the clan." Sasori sighed. "Then again what is honor?"