(D7, EM, Open) The way to a rat's heart is through their stomach

[Inga]

Inga chuckled at the joke. In a sense, she knew that eating when they could was important. So she took a serving of food, after all who knows when will they get something better than trail rations. As for the question about her knowing how to cook. "I cook what I need to survive."

[Jiyo Sora]

"I didn't know we had people from the Chinsei tribe with us. Oh, maybe you're talking about Chisei, the ex-imperial who got married away?"

"Nah, Shinsei. Smart guy. Hangs out with the Kami a fair bit. Has a pet crow?"

"How does today find you all?"

"Awestruck, Saruko, absolutely awestruck."

He gestured to encompass the city.

[Togashi Saruko]

"It's... quite the sight, yes," she agreed, taking a moment to take in the sight once more.

"Imagine what it must've been like before."

[Jiyo Sora]

"It makes me want to help them, truth be told. To have lost so much, through nothing they had done..."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Nah, Shinsei. Smart guy. Hangs out with the Kami a fair bit. Has a pet crow?"

Ayumu checked the frying fish as not turned into a burning fish before answering:

"Ah yes, him. Never really get who he is, what is his relationship with the Kami, and what is his role within this expedition. His crow sure loves to steal our food however."

[Jiyo Sora]

Ayumu checked the frying fish as not turned into a burning fish before answering:

"Ah yes, him. Never really get who he is, what is his relationship with the Kami, and what is his role within this expedition. His crow sure loves to steal our food however."

"He's a wanderer who has seen a lot. You might find a conversation enlightening. I found him easy to get along with, and I don't say that about many people."

[Inga]

Inga slowly nibbled at her food as the people talked. She wondered about this Shinsei guy and his crow. Maybe she should talk to this guy but then again why would he listen to such a humble unlucky soul.

[Togashi Saruko]

"I wonder how we can help them." And if they wanted help at all.

As the conversation turned to Shinsei, Saruko was eager to chime in. "Teacher Shinsei is a very humble but wise man. I've always enjoyed listening to what he has to say."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Ayumu tasted the sauce and added a bit of this, and a spoon of that.

Inga slowly nibbled at her food as the people talked. She wondered about this Shinsei guy and his crow. Maybe she should talk to this guy but then again why would he listen to such a humble unlucky soul.

"Inga, do you know of Togashi Saruko, here with us? She's... way better at telling stories, including her own, than me, so I won't spoil it for you."

"I wonder how we can help them." And if they wanted help at all.

"Isn't rescuing Fu-Leng from the Pit supposed to help them in some way?"

[Jiyo Sora]

"Ideally. But I mean... more. Making peace between them and the Seidou- real peace, not just exhaustion and altered priorities. Lendign them aid if this... problem persists.""

[Inga]

"It is a pleasure to meet you." Inga nodded. "I look forward to listen to your stories." She looked at Ayumu. "I have something to tell you about what happened the other day."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Ideally. But I mean... more. Making peace between them and the Seidou- real peace, not just exhaustion and altered priorities. Lendign them aid if this... problem persists.""

"In short, making them part of the Empire.

Pretty sure they'll be very angry if you said that to their face right now though. Most of the tribes still distrust the Kami, and they didn't have their home destroyed by one of them."

"I have something to tell you about what happened the other day."

"Uh? Sure. Let me just tame down the flames a bit... Sempai, Saruko, could you watch the pot time for me to see what this is about? Just scream if it starts making strange noises or bubbles.

Here, I'm yours. Should we walk away a little further for privacy?"

[Jiyo Sora]

"In short, making them part of the Empire.

Pretty sure they'll be very angry if you said that to their face right now though. Most of the tribes still distrust the Kami, and they didn't have their home destroyed by one of them."

He shook his head.

"Not what I meant. Tribes before the Empire traded and still stayed tribes. I'm thinking more along the lines of making them allies. Their ways aren't our ways, and we need to respect that."

[Inga]

She didn't want to be inopportune but this could be a bit weird for others to hear. "Yes some privacy would be good." She looked at the gathered. "If you excuse me we will be right back." She walked over to the side.

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"In short, making them part of the Empire.

Pretty sure they'll be very angry if you said that to their face right now though. Most of the tribes still distrust the Kami, and they didn't have their home destroyed by one of them."

He shook his head.

"Not what I meant. Tribes before the Empire traded and still stayed tribes. I'm thinking more along the lines of making them allies. Their ways aren't our ways, and we need to respect that."

"Interesting. I think some human tribes would be interested in such an allied yet not incorporated status.

But I think, they, and the Nezumi will, would be worried about this being a trick to slowly absorb them. They'll need some hard guarantees to be convinced.

Then, if you excuse me."

She didn't want to be inopportune but this could be a bit weird for others to hear. "Yes some privacy would be good." She looked at the gathered. "If you excuse me we will be right back." She walked over to the side.

Ayumu followed Inga and asked her in a low voice:

"So?"

[Togashi Saruko]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Inga. I usually tell stories by the campfires each evening, so you are more than welcome to join in then."

It was a bit early in the morning for her to tell a tale now, especially before breakfast. She didn't want it to get cold.

"I... don't think the Nezumi would want to join under the banner of a human Empire."

[Jiyo Sora]

"Maybe we could send some kind of guarantee..."

He thought back to his conversation with their chief Nezumi guide.

"Seidou used to kidnap their children. We'd need to offer one hell of a promise not to treat them as subjects or inferiors."

[Togashi Saruko]

She frowned slightly, recalling that she had butted heads with Anjing a few times over slavery.

"Well, that is certainly something we're gonna put an end to."

[Jiyo Sora]

"To put it mildly. You know my views on those who would harm children."

[Togashi Saruko]

"Yes. And I won't stand for slavery, even if it's captured non-humans." At least that's what she assumed the Seidou had done with the captured Rat-Children.