The Day of Thunder

Sora grinned at the Spider. "You know how it is, Reo-san. I can't seem to get a minute of my own these days. How's the family?" "Ponderous" In spite of his usual demeanor, Reo can't help but grin back at the thought of the kids. "My eldest married. Her husband is out here with us. Susumu is off tal...

Reo thinks on it.

"I don't know yet. I will be staying for the festival, so I will be here awhile. If it is amenable to you, I would like to visit and learn from you while it is going on. I can provide my own hands for work or coin if you think it to be a fair trade."

-Snip- *Thump. Shoop. Thump. Shoop. Thump. Shoop* It would be almost a time capsule from twenty years ago. His gait remained unchanged, even if his face no longer bore the signs of gauntness from too many lean months. Hisomu Reo, once known as Kakita no Reo, ambles into the gathering. His eyes flit...

Reo freezes for a minute. "I hadn't heard that he had passed. My condolances." He holds out a hand. "His sacrifice reminds me just how old those of us who went to the pit are getting." He looks over to Matsu. "You were a child then, and here you now are, the greatest warrior of the Clan." He shakes ...

"For your extraction methods? To see how you handle the herb. Perhaps it's useless to me if I don't follow the steps you use. On the other, perhaps I have way to make it more potent." Reo shrugs. "But ultimately yes. If there is an herb of useful effect, I would start with buying a live sample from ...

"Matsu!" Reo motions to the fire and the pot of food. "Help yourself."

"I don't think I ever properly thanked you for helping with Susu. He's off on his own path now, but he certainly wasn't to get what he needed from me."

"Variety of local herbs for one. You would know what grows in what used to be Isawa lands, and what would be new. Extraction methods would be another."

"Shinsei? He does have his choices for people. I don't necessarily understand his choices, but they appear to always work on." Reo inclines his head. "Though I am surprised that you were this far from the shore, I am glad to have a diverse skillset"

Ohta listens calmly, though almost can't hold back a small cough or two when she swallows some hot porridge and it almost goes down the wrong way. She shakes her head at the end, "And that's what I mean in the end. We need more. Stories are good and all, they put things down memory can forget. But ...

Reo pauses. What could he say? That he was sorry? That did no good. That what happened was terrible? This man knew that clearly. What could he say that would actually make things better and not worse? Reo decides that the answer is nothing, and continues on. "Well, I wouldn't say that the Blue Lotus...

"You're not wrong Ohta. I don't believe I indicated as much...but it's good to see that your ability to make the argument is still strong." Reo allows a small twinkle in his eye. "That is why I am out here and not at the Archive. But there is something you need to understand." The humor abruptly was...

"How did they die?" Reo asks and pauses. "Sorry, that was harsh. But I prefer to know. There is no...aww, shit." Reo puts down his tea and runs a hand through his hair. "If it was me and mine, I can't do anything to make up for that. But I wouldn't bother you any further." He pauses. "It's probably ...

"No specific reason." Reo responds mildly. "But some of your peers are looking through the reports to come in to try to make sense of what is coming through. Others are insinuating themselves in other courts. Some even have petitioned the Nezumi to go back to the Shadowlands. Others go to the Bat, t...

"The madness of the younger generation is that they do not see the limits that we take for granted. There is joy when they surpass them." Reo's smile holds before it retreats. "And fear. And envy. And that is a trade I will always take. When I was eight I was left by my family in a back room of a sh...

"Reo." Reo seems to ponder for a moment. "Ah. Isawa? You made quite a journey then. I'm curious, what led you to leave? Besides...well, I guess the obvious. Most I know of either went to join the Imperial seat or remained in their old homes to join the Spider." Reo leans back, taking the cup of tea ...

"Hmmph. Fortunes take it! I knew I was forgetting something." Reo nudges his head to the side. "My apologies. Manners. I don't have them. That was shit thing to do. If I keep being an ass, I certainly won't object to you telling me so." Reo takes the seat. "I remember the days without samurai. Many ...

"Huuumph." The sound is similar to the one before, but an octave higher and Reo's sides shake. "I went dead set in between your mothers then? Never a wrong way to learn, so long as you do. I hope that came through." Reo motions the stick he's been using to stir on Ohta's direction. "It's not that an...

"I'd have a hard time getting you over the threshold." Reo thumps his walking stick. "And my wife would be asking a few pointed questions. Relax, I'm not flirting with you. I'm told that is considered poor taste, and if Ninube finds out I'll be checking my food for weeks. Can I sit down, my leg is f...

"I hope that you can. Your reputation speaks for itself really." Reo leans on his walking stick, studying the man's face. "It isn't every day that I hear wonders about a master herbalist who isn't one of mine. If I can't poach you, I'd happily trade knowhow." He studies the man a bit more. "Do I kno...

"Hummph. It's going to make people confused as blazes when they expect to see someone like Reiko-sama and get me instead" In spite of the words, the upward curl around Reo's mouth quirks a touch higher. "I'm hardly one to chastise about stubbornness. I can't rightfully chide a student over a lesson ...