You study the Matsu warrior for a moment, eyes flicking back and forth across his heraldry and stance even as your mind works through several plausible courses of action. In the end, though, you opt for discretion, as best serves the needs of your Clan.
"I am what I am, what fate and my own will have made me." You say simply, enjoying the momentary look of surprise on your opponent's face as you sidestep the obvious insult. "Currently, I seek to improve myself, as all samurai should."
The Lion hesitates for a moment, clearly wrong-footed. You suspect that he was expecting you to react like a fellow Lion, and instantly challenge him to a duel for slandering you in such a fashion. Indeed, you can almost see the series of thoughts going through his mind, and the conclusion he reaches is predictable - if you will not avenge an insult, it must be because you are too weak and scared to do so.
"I suppose I cannot blame you. No man could look upon the Lion without feeling shame over his own inadequacies." He taunts you, and despite your best intentions your hand tightens on the hilt of your katana, causing the blade to shift noticeably. An insult to one's self can be born with grace, and insult to one's clan and family must be answered. But you are Scorpion, and you will address these problems in the correct way or not at all.
"I will be participating in the upcoming Kenjutsu tournament." You say flatly, once more throwing your opponent off balance, for surely a coward would do no such thing. "Ask your sensei to enter your name as my opponent for the first round, and I will welcome your interest."
Behind your accuser, the rest of the squad look at each other in consideration, their unified support for their kin momentarily broken. To not only retaliate for the insult but escalate it to a stage where all the court will be able to watch, that was clearly not what they were expecting. By doing so you have both met their challenge and taken control of the situation from them, for there is no way to make a training ground showdown seem like the more honourable choice compared to a duel in front of their own superiors. You give them a moment to follow that line of thought, and then continue.
"If that is not what you wish... perhaps you could be clearer about your intentions?"
Uncertain and out maneuvered, the young Matsu defaults to what might almost be an instinctive response. His katana hisses faintly as he begins to draw it, and his face contorts into a mask of furious rage.
"I will..."
"You will do nothing." The voice is quiet, almost soft, yet it cuts through the air like a whip. Startled, you and the squad of Lions turn to look over at the source. Standing a short distance away from the confrontation and studying it with a fiercely dissapproving look in his eyes is a young boy, perhaps eight to ten years of age at the most and dressed in the humble clothes of a student at one of the castle's dojos. He should not appear even slightly threatening, and yet some instinct causes you to return your sword to its sheathe rather than risk offering any kind of visible threat.
It is not an instinct shared by your opponent, who merely snorts and waves his hand in a dismissive fashion. "Run back to your mother, boy. This does not concern you."
Surprisingly, the student merely smiles, a razor-edged expression without any kind of genuine amusement to it. "My name is Matsu Nimuro." He says sharply. "My mother is Matsu Ketsui. Are you sure you wish me to... 'run back to her'?"
It is truly amazing, you think to yourself, just how quickly the colour can leave a man's face. The moment the boy's name registers with the hostile samurai they throw themselves to the ground so hard you suspect they might have injured themselves, pressing their foreheads against the stone floor in absolute deference.
"My sincerest apologies, Matsu-dono." Their leader croaks out, evidently horrified at the sheer magnitude of his error. Considering that the boy could quite easily demand his death in exchange for the insult, or at the very least utterly ruin his entire career with only a few words, you cannot help but feel that the reaction is entirely appropriate.
"I am not the one you should be apologizing to, samurai-san." The young lord says coldly, indicating you with a quick gesture. "The Scorpion is a guest here, and entitled to our hospitality."
There is no direct command there, and likely there cannot be, since Nimuro is too young to hold formal authority. Even so the suggestion is crystal clear, and without looking up the formerly brash young Lion shifts slightly towards you, not lifting his gaze from the ground.
"My most humble apologies, Scorpion-sama." He says, every word sounding like it causes him physical pain. "My pride overcame my sense of courtesy. It will not happen again."
He does not sound particularly sincere, and it seems abundantly obvious that he is only saying these things because he feels compelled to. Even so, it is an apology of sorts, and now you must decide how to react to it.
Respond:
[ ] Accept the apology
[ ] Reject the apology
[ ] Write in
