Rough draft.
Someone said something about playing in our league. Well, now's a good time?
This was going to be much less fleshed-out. Then I remembered that there is a restaurant named Byakuren's Cookbook, that Shin said "We'll lose like Kurohige" and that he probably enjoys being an overly dramatic little shit.
(Why yes, I enjoy making the lives of the Kurosawa clan more...
interesting, why do you ask?)
WC: 393
[X] Action Plan: Byakuren and Kurohige
- Double check details with Keiko/Noburi, and then with Jiraiya that the following is still alright.
- Be careful: he's probably still pissed.
- Arrange lunch with Shin tomorrow at Byakuren's Cookbook
- Send a messenger inviting him and make the reservations.
- Spend tonight and tomorrow morning in the market
- While getting your clothes shopping done, approach merchants, travelling performers/bards, craftsmen, etc.
- Prioritize those merchants you've already spoken with
- The glassblower, salt/spice merchant, brewer, any others.
- Musicians/bards/performing troupes: ask in a tavern/ look there.
- Offer them writs of patronage, guarantees of premium prices, and other minor promises.
- Tactics for any new or wary targets:
- Allow Noburi to smooth talk them while you appear reserved and skeptical.
- Noburi will prod them into making a sales pitch to ease your reservations. Eventually acquiesce.
- Should Keiko be up to it she can interject from the rooftops: "You should be grateful we are even considering you." etc.
- Lunch with Shin
- Prep:
- Treat this similarly to Ami caution-wise. Be more confident: Shin is not a Jonin, and you punch better than him.
- Shin is a silver-tongued chakra viper, so keep your cool. Any barbed insults or backhanded compliments are solely to provoke you. Exhibit dry amusement instead.
- Start the interaction amicably.
- Minor flexing: casually name drop Ami for the regulars' menu. Mention we're getting promoted, ask if he is as well.
- Offer him the junior diplomat position.
- Gauge the reaction, then elaborate:
- In the spirit of where we left off last conversation: order a bottle of Kurohige's Revenge and two glasses (shallow pours, save the bottle for later).
- Implication: We're Byakuren and he's Kurohige.
- Cooperation was our motto during the exams. We're here to build bridges.
- Here's the jumpstart to your career on a silver platter. Perhaps by some miracle you can convince us that the clan is halfway decent somewhere down the line too.
- Two great opportunities there, and many more on the horizon. Take it or leave it.
- Before you leave Mist, go meet Hana again.
- Don't get into a fight. You just want to spend some nice time with your mom.
- Did she watch your matches?
- Keep strict OPSEC on the Kotsuzui fight: The cover story is the truth. No fights, please mom.
- Confide about the Ami debacle. Avoid details that might breach OPSEC.
- Ask how you're supposed to deal with people like that.
