[X] Misunderstood...
-[X] "Rulers should only act in a way that benefits more than themselves. They are the state, and the reverse is also true. If a country suffers, then wouldn't a ruler suffer as well? If something benefits a ruler directly but hurts the state, then it's not something that can be counted as a gain. But on the flip side, if a ruler benefits and it doesn't hurt the state, then there's reason why it should not be done. It's just a question of knowing all the risks and rewards."
"It's a misunderstanding," you retort, shaking your head, "Rulers and leaders should only act in a way that benefits more than just themselves. Placing personal preference or the like first is acceptable if it doesn't benefit them the most out of the action itself, the nation or group they control should at least benefit from it somehow. As a result, it's a simple yet complex matter of knowing all the risks, consequences, and finally, rewards."
"As you said, 'that's one way to look at it', and perhaps the one that's most ideal," replies Aria. Her tone strains for a moment, "But it's only under ideal circumstances. Reality is not so kind."
"Is it? That's a pretty harsh way of looking at it," you say as you slow to a halt and turn to face Aria.
"It may be, but that's a more realistic take on matters," her expression is a plain but simple frown as if reminiscing about something, "that's not even factoring in yet the fact that one may not necessarily have the full information available to know which course of action will result in the 'best outcome'."
"That's true, however, one can draw a general idea of the risks and rewards involved," you retort. "If one only waited for ideal conditions before making their choices and acting, then they'd never get anything done- never mind getting anywhere in the first place."
"Or if you're acting on false information," says Shina, she shakes her head gently, "and have little to no way to verify it first due to whatever reason or circumstances."
"Then would, in such cases," Aria's frown shifts to a grin as if she stumbled upon something amusing, "it excuse the ruler or leader's actions due intentions of personal benefit derived from the hypothetical rewards?"
"If the intention was for an action or decision that provides benefits for the nation or group they lead," you pause for a moment as you shift your tone to your best 'affirmation'-like tone you can manage, "then yes, it should be excusable, if but unfortunate."
Shina catches herself, grimacing for only a split second at your response, "Indeed, it's unfortunate, but that's why one should be certain of their decision as to not regret the fallout afterwards. Some consequences are just unacceptable should they come to pass, no matter how unlikely they were."
As she finishes speaking, both you and Aria just stare at her. Then Aria makes a quick half bow while speaking before a puzzled Shina does, "Is that so. My apologizes, it must have been rough."
"So it's like that...," you say, your tone nearly a mutter. There's no reason to be 'glad' or 'positive' about the situation a friend's Clan suffered through, "Thank you for your advice on the matter," you conclude, making a quick nod in affirmation- it'd be strange for
you to make any sort of bow at this point in time due formalities. However, even if that's so, you have to convey your intention- thus more subtle means is something you have practice with.
[X] Aria's boredom reaches its peak... and then some. (Aria will be automatically present.)
[X] Aria Alflami
[X] The Kitsune Fox sisters
[X] Ito Kenta
Guest Audience Room (Book'd by Terun)
There's merely four people within the room, though the feeling of emptiness is entirely absent. At the 'head' of the arrangement is yourself, with Kenta seated nearby at your side on your right side. The usual table and arrangements in the room have been cleared out for your use, instead, the two of you share a fairly well built and modestly stylish table, that angles outwards like a wide ^ , it's a fairly cheap table still by any means. On the table is but a pair of tea cups with tea prepared by Satsuki, though the (ninja) maid herself is off handling joint duty of overseeing Aria Alflami and your own safety.
In the middle of the room, the part where the guest would be, a cheap normal rectangular table is laid out before the two
Kitsune Fox sisters Sakura and Ume. Upon the table itself are about two dozen miniature images crafted by illusions. Of these the twelve formed by Sakura are rather more finely detailed and have a quality that is actually recognizable as 'people'. On the other hand, there's Ume's twelve humanoid-looking miniature images, with one that just has... its joints backwards, and only its joints backward.
"Ume, no not
that way," says a half-annoyed Sakura as she nudges herself over towards her Imouto, "that image has its body reversed."
"Eh? But doesn't this make him stand out more?" responds Ume, she just looks at Sakura as if her issue makes no sense, "Besides, weren't you saying I should make them more 'different' as opposed to all the same?"
"...," Sakura sighs and forces a smile, "Yes I did say that. However, this wasn't what I meant. I meant-"
"It wasn't?" Ume tilts her head in 'confusion'- or rather complete and deliberate obliviousness, "Then was I supposed to work on the details?"
Sakura nearly tips over for a moment before catching herself, "-yes. Yes that's what I was saying."
"In other words, neither of them have made much progress, again," muses Kenta as he drinks from his cup of tea.
"Well, Foxes will be Foxes," you say, sipping your tea in turn. Literally on cue, Sakura tips over headfirst into the table. And Ume straight onto Sakura, pinning her down on the floor. Simultaneously, the images dissolve as their focus slipped. Indeed, not much progress.
For one thing, you've seen at least one instance wherein a older Kitsune managed to maintain a few illusions for entertainment of guests while directing his attention towards business proceedings. Likewise, the amount of detail, precision, and control demonstrated by the Kitsune was close enough to realistic that you'd have to be paying attention to spot the inconsistencies. Deliberate inconsistencies. Oh well, it isn't exactly something that can be taught to them, but more something they'd have to learn and develop through use.
"Ume, please get off me," mutters Sakura as she attempts to push herself up and off the table, only to no avail.
Her sister replies without hesitation, "(I) Don't want to."
"You're heavy," admits Sakura as she struggles more.
"Eh? You just need to work out more," says Ume as she props herself up... right on top of Sakura. "I'll help!"
Sakura just tilts her head up, her face rather a slight shade of white as if Ume's words are but foreboding times of great pain and suffering to come... for her. Blinking, she seeming remembers her surroundings, and stares at you with pleading eyes. Well, maybe it's pleading eyes. Hm... nah.
You turn to Kenta, "So, how's the adjustments gone?"
"Well, a number of other issues corped up, but the Akogawa sisters helped put in a word and things went from there." Kenta scratches his head, his expression slight red from... embarrassment?
"Oh?" You raise your eyebrows for a moment at the news while sipping your tea, again. "Is that so?"
"Yes, it was during a field inspection," replies Kenta. He chuckles and shakes his head as if in relief, "They happened to have been passing by at the time and your subordinate inquired over the matter of my presence there. So I just answered bluntly. You know how she is."
You sigh and shake your head slightly. "Yeah, first word of my involvement and she immediately promised her assistance on the matter right? I take it Hinako just went with it?"
"Yeah." Kenta nods and sighs, "It was a bit overbearing though what with Hanako being... Hanako. If it weren't for Hinako I'd probably have petitioned you to get her off the matter."
"Sorry about that," you say, rubbing your forehead as you do so, it's best to nurse a headache before it becomes a actual issue, "Did she cause any problems this time?"
"Well, aside from my personal bias...," Kenta pauses as he thinks over it for a few moments, "No. She didn't dispute the matter of cost distribution amongst other matters, so it was rather handily avoided."
"Ah, that's good to hear," you grin. "Is your sister doing well?"
"Well yes, they're doing fine," replies Kenta. He winces however, "Just please make sure Hanako's supervised when she meets with them."
"What-" you cut yourself short as you spot a signal from Satsuki, immediately you turn towards the 'entrance' to the room, "Hello there Alflami-dono."
Aria just looks at you half quizzingly for a moment before shrugging it off, "There's no problem with my presence is there?"
"No, please," you motion for her enter if she wishes, "The left side if you want. Just ignore the Foxes."
Almost immediately, Ume just drops- or collapses- upon Sakura whom is still below her. You're pretty sure Sakura's seeing stars now from her far away look off into the room, there wasn't much she could do being pinned down by her heavier Imouto. "Eh- eh- Sister?!" She grabs the dazed/unconscious Sakura and just repeatedly shakes her... while still pinning her down. That's got to hurt.
Aria nods, making a quick curtsy out of routine before proceeding into the room, striding right past the two
Kitsune Foxes, though not before smiling faintly at their direction. She then proceeds to take up your offer on the seat to your left. "It's nice to be young and free isn't it?"
"Speak for yourself," retorts Kenta as he grimaces, "Is it that much better? Or would being older be better?"
"I suppose that depends on circumstances," replies Aria. "It isn't always as good as one believes, right now it might be a good thing. But days later? It could be the worst thing possible. Then years later you would reflect upon it and think contrary to your original thoughts upon the matter."
"...," Kenta sighs and bites his lip, "Yeah, that's true."
You wait a few moments before speaking up, just to avoid interrupting anything, "So, might I inquire what do we owe this visit from?"
"You try being cooped up and not allowed to practice anything for a whole year, and in addition to that, anything else!" snaps Aria, though her tone maintains its polite edge still. Compared to normal, it's just rather edgy.
"How about being swamped with duty, work, and obligations outside of practice and training?" replies Kenta.
"At least you still get to practice and train, whereas I just get to wait around to rot," grumbles Aria. She inhales rather a bit more than necessary, and for a moment seems to pout, but doesn't. Apparently, it's not enough to exceed her well honed self restraint.
"You understand as well as I do why," you respond, though you frown over the matter. You understand where she's coming from on her end, though all the same, it's a security risk and also part of due 'hostage' deal bit, "but maybe we could work something out... possibly. No guarantees."
"Understand and tolerate are two different matters. How do girls from a Clan tolerate this anyways?" replies Aria.
"They're usually a 'known' factor, thus it's... not as strict," you reply with care to your choice of words. "Besides, with the sort of arrangements made for your privacy and all that, it's also much more still than the usual. That's alongside other arrangements as well, thus it's a rather balanced trade off...-"
Aria just glares at you, but says nothing.
"-from what was conveyed anyways," you finish. "I wasn't responsible for handling that detail, or rather, that's how it ended up from the response on your side's end."
"I see... no wonder it was like
that." Aria's face darkens as she averts her gaze from you, biting her lip as she seems to ponder something. She closes her eyes and stays silent for a few moments, a frown dawning upon her face in the meantime. "
That is my problem, so keep your noses out of it. As for the other matters... I'll speak to your parents over it. Thank you for your time, I'll be leaving first then." With that, she gets up from her seated position and turns to leave, making only a short pause as to help Ume off Sakura.
"Eh?" mutters a confused- or oblivious Ume. Though by this point, Sakura seems to have recovered slightly. "What was that about?"
"It's nothing that concerns you Foxes," says Aria. / "It doesn't concern you two," you say.
"We are Kitsune, not Foxes!" retorts Ume. Surprisingly, she doesn't react to being called a Fox by her. Then again...
"Then prove it, Fox," you say with a grin on your face.
Ume's head tilts downwards as if smacked over the head with a figurative hammer, before proceeding to collide head-first into the table, splitting it clearly in half. Clearly she's too heavy, and needs to diet. More seriously, you're just going to deduct the costs for replacing that table from your budget towards her pet funds.
Afterwards you...
[ ] Put in a good word for Aria with your parents.
[ ] Do nothing about it, Aria probably won't appreciate your meddling in it, right?
[ ] Ask your parents to let you handle this matter personally.
---[ ] How do you intend on handling it?
