Debra
Moshi Mai wasn't too busy for once, and got around to catching up on some pillow book reading as she lounged in the main hall of her embassy. It was rare to get a moment to just read and be lazy, and she was really taking advantage: A cold drink nearby, a snack to nibble on, and a rather racy tale of a burly Mantis pirate and his captive, a Crane maiden that wished to teach the Mantis how to love again. It was romantic, it was forbidden love, and it was also mostly debauchery. Perfecton. Though, Mai was starting to get annoyed at how closely she needed to bring the book to her eyes; damn things had been growing weaker with the decade. 

"Moshi-sama?" 

Mai looked up from her book to see Chiyoko. "Ah, back already from that map business, I see." She went back to her book, but noticed that Chiyoko didn't have the map. "What, did you lose it on your way? Oh! Did it get lost in your _blind spot?"_ 

"Clever as ever, Moshi-sama," Chiyoko sighed, "But no, I did not acquire the map. Allow me to explain..."

After a quick assessment of the situation, Mai nodded. "I see. Is this Shinjo Sumire here now?"

"Yes, I asked her to wait in the sitting room until I cleared an audience with you, Moshi-sama." 

"Well, send her in. I want to know more." 

=============

And so, after Sumire had waited at the Mantis Embassy sitting room for a moment, Chiyoko would return to fetch her. "Moshi-sama will see you now," She informed, "If you'll follow me." 

Sumire would be taken to the main hall, where Mai was now sitting upright on her 'throne' of cushions. She was dressed less courtly, wearing her more airy and revealing Moshi robes, her tattoos on full display. Behind her hung a massive mural of Mantis warships destroying gaijin boats, and a wild-haired Storm Rider barreling across the waves on his Orochi ally. Mai set her pillow book down, and locked her eyes on Sumire. 

"Shinjo Sumire-san, is it?" She'd wait for the woman to properly introduce herself before motioning for the woman to sit on one of the cushions near the front. "Welcome to the embassy. I am Moshi Mai, Priestess of Amaterasu, Captain of the _Shibamaru,_ and the Mantis Clan Ambassador." She called for one of her servants to fetch jasmine tea, and focused back on Sumire. 

"So, Chiyoko-san explained to me that you aided in her task, and you found issues with the map, yes? Fill me in, I love to have all the details." 

||
Jennifer
Sumire had explicitly asked for time to compile an appropriate report, and fortunately she'd found the time to do so in all of the commotion. It was a fairly quick report, but she was used to needing to do that sometimes. The report mostly listed her distinct observations of the map in a strictly logical review, generally the problems and concerns she'd noticed in the process. She had need to get all of it down as quickly as possible so that none of them were forgotten. Needing to be quick about it, the report didn't cover much about anything else, just the map itself. There were no observations of the store, the storekeeper, or even the case it had came in. That last point was disappointing, because she still wondered upon if the case was at least good for displaying something like a map. It looked like something to contain a sheet worthy of respect, which certainly could be handy. She would have to try and remember to bring that point up manually.. Or hope that the Ronin would do so for her.

The mantis embassy was an experience as well, much like her own first time in her own similar point of administration, but she was a lot more driven to remain composed about the whole issue.. Her report acting as her reminder and support walking into something pretty important. Duty helped keep her stable like that. She followed along as such until she was lead to the domain of the ambassador, keeping respectfully quiet so as to not be a distrubance until she arrived and was introduced. She bowed to her introduction, though she was inwardly a bit surprised at how the Mantis Ambassador kept themself. That too was however kept inward, reasonably easily with so much else to review in artistry around them. The book was missed in the process, her own sight wasn't good enough for it.

"I apologize for the intrusion. I've brought a report accounting for my own distinct observations in the process of inspecting the map, and can discuss the details further beyond that."
Debra
"No apologies needed," Mai replied, casually brushing away the comment, "You've done me a service, I'd hardly be in a place to be upset when you come to express it." She held a hand out for the report, which a servant would be quick to retrieve from Sumire and then bring to Mai. She would take it in hand...

...And realize that she couldn't read it _casually_ without looking like she struggled with literacy or had such bad eyes that she'd look a fool. Not good, especially in front of a new face. "This all seems rather to the point," Mai replied, unsure of what it really said, "But please, sit, and tell me about it all. I feel it rude to read the words of someone that could just speak it for themselves." She motioned for Sumire to sit, a nice cozy purple cushion ready to go for her to use. 

"So, tell me, Shinjo-san, how bad was this forgery? Trying to sell a Mantis a fake map is disrespectful, but for fun, _how_ disrespectful would you call it? Did they at least get the name right?" 

||
Jennifer
The signature of the map had certainly been one place to begin. "Yoritomo Jiro-san might be a name to mean something to someone somehow, but the Crane would certainly not take kindly to the blatant buchering of some of their own established locations in name. A joke in bad taste few would have found worthy of laughter. Not the best interpretations of the related kanji. I might not know the forms and shapes beyond the waters well enough, but a map that is blind to the shapes of home has little chances in moving from it. The maps I know of also have more to endure in being heat-blasted, but that map seemed hardly familiar with escaping the rain we've seen over the past couple decades.. Let alone anything more straining in humidity like an extended conflict against saltwater."

In this, she had to ask, just to be sure. "About that, I did hear once that it was more popular to make maps with thread, so as to not suffer how inks fail to stick properly around water. I had hoped to see such a map, but all I saw at the store was one drawn in inks that might have been rushed to dry. I was familiar with the idea because I heard it also happens on the sands for the opposite reason. Because inks dry too fast, so it is easier to draw without. Fabrics can be brittle when dry, so there were.. Strange alternatives needed instead. An actual authentic cloth map could have been very interesting to get to see, I feel your situation at sea promotes them. Am I wrong?" She paused, in consideration, coming up with an even better question. ".. Or is that not the best question? I apologize. Yes, I think having poor representation of known realities might be one of the most disrespectful parts, especially were that to be found by one local to the area and that person were to take insult from it. Meanings of family ancestry could be upheld in such regions, it would have been a potential incident." Despite feeling she had answered the question first, she gave up asking her own.
Debra
Mai listened as Sumire spoke up, explaining the map and its apparently many forgery indicators. It was quite a bit, from a signature to the kanji to the lack of rain damage. It was all very embarrassing, the more she heard, and while she kept a smirk on her lips, she had made up her mind to punish this merchant especially harshly. Chiyoko would have to go and make another visit, for certain. 

"On that, I have a touch of knowledge," Mai replied. "Indeed, a threaded map is best out on the ocean. The air itself is full of salt and water at times, and when the sun is high the air gets even muggier, as we put it. But, sometimes it can't be helped; a threaded map takes more time, and sometimes you just need a quick and disposable chart. That's why a nice case is paramount. I have quite a nice collection myself, back home.

"As a matter of fact..." 

Moshi Mai called upon one of her servants, who was tasked with going to the Ambassador's chambers for something. Around that time, tea arrived, which was placed on a small table that was brought out in front of Sumire. And Moshi Mai stood, and went to sit down across from the Unicorn so they could enjoy tea in a more friendly matter. Sure, she still towered over the Unicorn, but it was in theory more polite. 

"Well then," Mai said after taking a sip of tea, "It would seem that merchant thought she could pull a very embarrassing fast one on me. Back where my husband hailed, such a person would be keelhauled. I won't get into the details, but it's nothing to look forward to. But, this city demands a harsh, but subtle hand. But, I would like to know more about how you felt about the exchange with her. If it were you directly that she tried to fool, what would you demand for satisfaction?" Mai sipped her cup, and looked at Sumire, clearly looking for the woman's honest answer.
Jennifer
She nodded when it was brought up that threaded maps were too much work, a problem she'd personally faced before. She had a bit of practice with threading.. For other reasons.. So it was an inevitable considerations at a point. She'd just found it really slow, originally expecting that might be mostly a challenge needing practice. She'd wondered if others had a place for its realization.. It might even still be true. However, threading a map was still slower, even if it might treat the weather better. It was an insightful perspective from another.

The case idea however reminded her of something. "Oh, right. I remember seeing the case.. Which at least looked impressive. I'm no expert in something of that design, but I also can respect a case that might serve in function and presentation. There is a chance the case is at least worth keeping, it looked nice. Should probably confirm that, in case its good at making maps rot or something.. But it did look nice. If the case was all of the map's quality offered, it would be a shame to lose it. Like you said, sometimes a good case is just important too. It might be an overdone cover for a terrible book, but even so..." She took a sample of the tea offered, cautious in case the flavour might surprise her. This.. Had happened before, and she didn't want to be rude in the surprise.

"Thank you for the tea, by the way, it is brewed nicely." A flat compliment, but it was not as if she was one with opinions. That could also be applied to a sense of punishment, making the new question difficult. A harsh yet subtle gesture, she was still new around here.. She also knew she didn't quite have a grasp in certain measures of culture as it might be applied.. She was even at work at a similar project which exposed how different some things might be. There was however a touch to the question that hit further, her personal satisfaction alone? Not one of duty or family, but a personal measure? She.. Then wouldn't care.
Debra
"A nice case, then?" Mai took that to note, sipping her tea as Sumire continued to speak. "Perhaps it's like you said; a nice cover to make the contents seem all the more better. Like makeup on a geisha." The ambassador set down her cup, and thought it over. She might just take the case, then. It'd be a nice bit of irony, no doubt, and besides, Mai loved adding insult to injury. "I might just have to snag that case, Shinjo-san," Mai chuckled, "Though the forgery will need to be scrapped. Or maybe I'll keep it as a joke." 

What wasn't a joke, however, was Mai's question on satisfaction. She waited for the answer, but received compliments on the tea instead. "I know the tea is good," Mai said flatly, "I picked it because it's good. What's more important is the question you seem to be evading." 

Mai shifted her weight, and ran a finger around the rim of her teacup. "Shinjo Sumire, you look to be much younger than I, at a glance -and if you're not, tell me your secrets to your nigh immortal beauty- but even so, allow an elder to give you some guidance. 

"Whether someone slights you directly as a person or as a clansmen, your _Clan_ is being called into question. As a Mantis, there are plenty of rude things to say about my Clan. We're brazen fools, arrogant, a bunch of pirates and zealots... Now granted, most people know my reputation, and the fact that speaking to me in such a way or _treating_ me in such a way would lead to nothing good. Otherwise, these fools would think me, and worse, _my clan_ are weak." 

Mai took a sip of tea, and nodded at her own words. "So, it's important to have an idea of what you'd do in my position. I know what I'll do, and it'll be satisfactory to my Clan and my station. So again, Shinjo Sumire, if some merchant came to you with a disrespectfully farcical map of the Unicorn Lands, what would you demand for satisfaction?"
Jennifer
Such a question was something she'd been keeping on her mind, trying to find an appropriate answer for. Of course, however, there was no reason to ponder a personal meaning to anything like this, meaning always existed in duty and other responsibilities. In fact, it reminded her of something she did recall that had also happened with the shopkeeper. "While it did not seem to mean as much for someone not trained in etiquette properly, I recall there was a lot of discussion about the importance of their reputation. It's sensible that they have an understanding of that importance, for that embodies so much about what they did wrong. Whatever they feel is important, those are the ones they've let down in their neglect. That reputation deserves to bear fangs for such insult, though I still understand little the ways reputation is measured in responsibility within the market. It would need to be meaningful the way their duties work, so that the reality of their work can bear verdict straight into them, to impact them directly with the most pure of meaning. If they don't understand honor, then in whatever holds the most meaning to them. They had said something about how a poor reputation could ruin them and the work they did.. And so that sounds like something they would understand. Ruin their reputation so that it tarnishes their work with the reality of their own failures, so that the repercussions of such failures is easy to understand. I've.. Heard this approach is important with some trained animals who try to be difficult or immature, making sure that the terms of punishment are still within the familiarity of their lifestyles. I'm just not much of an expert.. With merchant lifestyles too. Finding what part of their process matters and then.. Make it harder to achieve.. So that they feel the weight of their own failures. That might be the most efficient, but I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the details." She, of course, lacked understanding in profits.
Debra
Mai sat in silence, letting Sumire make her statement. She wasn't sure if the girl knew she was rambling, but she didn't plan to interrupt; surely she'd find what she was looking for eventually. And that would come to pass, just as Mai thought, with a coherent musing that got to the point. 

"Correct," Mai said, "Reputation is what a merchant needs more than mere coin. As you may be aware, when it comes to the Celestial Order, bandits and merchants fall in the same ranking. Fore they both have an attachment to money that's most unhealthy. Now, we in more mercantile Clans -even if you don't know much about it, Shinjo-san- know that while there is no honor in money, great works can be compelled into life with it. So, with the right merchant patrons and the right deals and workings, great things can be done with honor and reputation intact. 

"In that same way, foolish moves, such as giving a fake map to a Mantis Ambassador, for example? Well, that will ruin a reputation. It'll cripple that business, no doubt, and it will no longer function on its own... Hm. Ripe for the picking, to be redeemed with a strong, beautiful hand..." 

"Mam- eh, Moshi-sama." The servant had returned, and in his hands a scroll case. The style was simple, unadorned with nothing but a Mantis mon and a note of the year: 1111. The servant bowed and presented it to Mai, who took it with thanks. 

"This is one of my own maps," Mai said, "From my days of thwarting gaijin on the high seas. I'll admit, it's outdated; it doesn't have the new lines of the Mantis territories. But, I always used it for the seas themselves, which were more important to me at the time." She opened the map, showing the threaded design, still bone dry after two decades. Closing it back up, she held it out to Sumire. 

"Consider it a gift, for your service, Shinjo-san. You'll find that this map is definitely genuine. I know this for a fact."
Jennifer
She really didn't grasp the coin details very well, but it seemed she was in the right consideration with reputations. She was pleasantly surprised that her answer resounded with a sense of resolution too. But surprise became an understatement when she was offered a gift as a result. A threaded map in a functionally effective scroll case, clearly designed to keep such a precious map in good condition. Especially notable being a threaded map, meaning something to be effectively preserved easily through the ages. It also demonstrated strong viability in use in understanding waterways.. Which coincided strongly with areas of work she'd been trying to improve in for a very recent project. Such a project had been challenging due to her lack of water-focused maps, to demonstrate waterflow and coastal considerations. The map could also be seen as an authentic piece to learn threading maps from, something which could in whole be very useful for her work.

"I-I'm sorry, the map.. I really can't. It is an impressive piece, certainly, but I really couldn't." What stood out extra hard was the utter terror she held of the map's origin, a sense of dread falling over her once she was told who had originally produced such a work of art. She was almost shaking in fear with the realization of that implication. Gained '.. From.. Gaijin on the high seals.' Her pale complexion even threatened to lose even further color, and she would wince in nostalgic fear once the ambassador's servant next word was spoken out of sight.. Even if it was little more than a breath. There was just a strong nostalgia of unspoken judgement, despite it never coming.
Debra
Moshi Mai was ready to say that she insisted, as was the way these things went. Offer, refuse, insist, refuse, _really_ insist, and the gift is accepted. A waste of time, but understandable etiquette some Crane developed ages ago. 

But the way Sumire looked and didn't accept was very... Curious. "Did you not just say you were curious about such a technique?" Mai shifted her weight, and pulled open the map again. "You know, I have to insist you take it off my hands. My husband made so many maps, I hardly need all of them. Besides, I'm stuck here in this embassy, so I won't need a sea chart for some time." 

She presented the map again, showing the grand detail of a Mantis-made map, and the signature chop in the corner of Yoritomo Tomoru. "You know, this map navigated us home after a very perilous trek," Mai stated, "After encountering two Maraenaen vessels at once. Nothing the Fury of Osano-Wo couldn't handle, of course. I might share blood with those gaijin, but thank Lady Sun she blessed me with her light and the gift to speak to her. Ah, but sorry, I'm rambling." 

She motioned for Sumire to accept the map. "It's a grand honor for a Yoritomo to give someone a map from their own family's creation, you know. Please accept it." 

||
Jennifer
Oh, so not quite made by foreign hands.. Just.. Made necessary because of foreign travel. This made her a lot more relaxed, knowing this. It changed so much for her. She still had some uneasiness in the special treatment and kind gesture but.. Well, wasn't this how she was supposed to behave in these situations anyway? In fact, the considerations of its true origins came in tandem nostalgia to her own training in etiquette, like one lined up to the other. "Your husband? That is very impressive, playing a role in such a respectful process. I just can't say that I will have any opportunity in making the best of such careful tracking myself, I've not travelled by boat at all. It does sound like there is a lot of historical relevance in this map too, the stories you could tell that I know nothing about. I wouldn't be deserving of such a gift."

She was a lot less resistant of the idea, generally expecting she wouldn't be refusing the map again, but there were some key things that did leave her inspired in this exchange.. And not just the honesty in claiming she was unsure of her worth to such a gift. It did sound like she was being given something that had something of its own story, and she could not do its possession justice without actually paying respect to the story that brought such a map so far. This is why her tone put special emphasis on the matters of stories to tell that she knew nothing about. If she was going to claim such a gift, she would have to give the Mantis room to shine in the light of accomplishments that brought such a map into being. It would only be fair and proper.
Debra
"Young lady." 

Moshi Mai set the map down, and decided to bestow a little wisdom. "Gifts are not earned. _Rewards_ are. We Samurai give gifts as part of our etiquette game that we must play, but even peasants and hinin give each other gifts. I could give you nothing, and I would be well within my right; my prestige and the glory of my endorsement is enough. But, I wished to do something extra. The Unicorn Clan has been very kind to the Mantis, even when we stood opposed. That too is a gift. A gift with ulterior motives, perhaps, but truly only fools look gift horses in the mouth, as it's said." 

The ambassador slid the map and case closer to Sumire. "You may never sail the seas, but you might learn a thing or two from this chart. You'll see how we Mantis viewed the rest of Rokugan. How we put more care into rivers and lakes than lands and mountains. A different perspective, you see." 

Mai hoped that her little lesson rang true in the young woman, as the gift was genuinely one with no strings attached. "So, I _insist._ Take this map off my hands, Shinjo-san."
Jennifer
She knew she would have to accept now, already nodding, but she did catch some unresolved confusion. "If you insist so much, I shall accept. I know this is no reward, for I have done nothing worthy of one. Doing one's duty is only to be expected, it is nothing special. A gift however is an object of history, something with meaning and honor in its craft. Such a map certainly is an object deserving of substantial respect for its creation, but I remain ignorant to the details. I worry my ignorance would lead to neglect in its proper respect, knowing so little about the story that it has to share. It's.. Reputation. Were anyone to ask, I could speak nothing of the glory behind its design. How can one be worthy of a gift that one can't properly honor? So I ask you, might you share light of the tale behind such a gift, so that I might rectify this insufficiency by some possible margin?" To her, she was already at a loss in this simply because she won't be sailing the seas with it, but to her it was also negligent to not know the history that carried it over the sea already.

A map was a documented perspective, but without the proper study of the seas, it was a perspective she held insufficient understanding in. She wasn't worried about matters of strings attached here, but perspectives were something of some notable importance. It had came up as a repeat lesson for her in the city several times already.
Debra
Moshi Mai sense a great amount of apprehension in this girl. She seemed to be one to worry about a lot of things at once. A worry wort, she heard it called. But, it was just her opinion, and hardly one worth sharing as an insult. 

"The story of this map is the story of Yoritomo Tomoru, my late husband." She took her pipe from her sleeve, and prepared it to smoke as she recollected the tale. 

"We were wed as a means of alliance. It was already becoming a trend of sorts to marry Moshi and Yoritomo together, though I myself was definitely a more pitiful choice than others. See, as a half-gaijin, I was always kept under close scrutiny. It made me mean, and that made me undesirable. Until, that is, Yoritomo Tomoru came to find a wife. 

"He wanted a strong, menacing wife, one that could handle the rough seas. He was a captain, a pirate, and a Gaijin hunter of sorts, and he would stay out on the ocean to destroy our enemies or raid the Crane as long as he could manage. So, an undesirable hothead like me made for a perfect wife. 

"We hated each other, at first. We fought like ogres oftentimes. But, we learned to respect each other. Each battle we faced as a team made us stronger. And that bond turned to love. Truly a gift from Lady Sun. 

"So, the map. He made them out of necessity, strictly. One day I noted that I liked his maps. I said they showed how clever he was. Well, then he made more, and more and more." Mai chuckled, and took a drag from her pipe. "He would bring me a new map every week for me to gaze upon, just because I noted that I liked _one._ He was a simple man in some ways, and a hard one at that. But that soft moment was one I looked forward to, always."

Mai sighed, and tapped the case. "This is one of many. I have dozens at my estate and on my ship. I used to think I should hold them all in a horde, but as I've gotten older I've realized a map is especially useless if it's kept in a dark hold. I would like people to see what my husband was capable of. So many think he was just a pirate that was slain by the Crane on the high sea. But he was an artist as well. And a wonderful husband and father.

"I suppose it's a long winded way of saying that this map's history is of a practical thing given beauty, made to impress a loved one, while still be useful to those who didn't know better... It's like an inside joke; you may not understand the context, but that doesn't mean it's not amusing." 

||
Jennifer
She listened exceedingly attentively to the story, trying to grasp as many details from it as she could. There was a lot she had a poor grasp of, especially in matters of love itself, but she knew pirating almost as little. There was the claims of being a pitiful choice, empathy flowed far more rich in those times, especially when related to the flaws of anything deserving of potent scrutiny.. Like anything which might even invoke the term 'gaijin'. When the map came up, it was less about understanding and more about actual immersion, she was drawn in further at this time. A map was a perspective of communication, and sometimes a good one did take a lot of cleverness. Maps following maps like letters in a chain, it was much like a book she'd read before. Weekly maps.. Was a statement with plenty of subtext to it too, it demonstrated an immersed talent. She was absolutely correct, the map she was being offered held quite a lot to consider, she had done quite proper by insisting such a tale was known before accepting it.

The ending of such a tale however spoke of expecting a response in turn, something that speaks of its conclusion, of its present day rather than history. "It is true, a map that never sees light never gets a chance to mean anything. I shall make sure to bring honor to the creation such an artist has brought by attempting to discover a way it might get to speak of its artistry even to one who is not its trailblazer. After all, it's beauty lends fact that there is much more written here than just the paths for boats to follow. I thank you kindly for sharing this opportunity offered by such a wonderous piece." By the way the statements were closed, she put emphasis in calling its creator an artist, not a pirate. As she had said, it can take knowing something's tale to know how to properly respect it.

She had a lot to consider, so she was a bit slow to realize that a bow would have also been appropriate there, instead she was just sitting. Rushing to stand bumped the table, reminding her of the tea she had by having some of its contents lightly spill. That wasn't something she'd noticed until she accomplished her bow, leaving her slightly flustered. She was a guest, tea stains would not be appropriate, even in light amounts. She tried to make up for her mistake by rushing to sit.. Though she had no further plans. It was fortunate that there were mantis staff at hand, such a concern might not have even been a problem with skilled staff around. But there were still two concerns unresolved in that even if staff had everything under control. Foremost was that it was a failure of etiquette to her in some pretty basic ways, and that left her terrified simply as a trained impulse. That however wasn't the only problem.

In the rush of everything she'd tried to recover from, something in her possession had been smacked by the table as she stood, while rushing back to it had set it loose with a clatter. The small wooden case had loudly skipped a short distance away and landed at the feet of one of the staff. Even as it left her possession, she was torn by its importance.. But the flaws of her etiquette needed to be polished first else it could be seen as disrespect rather than just being slow or a clumsy accident. She focused on that the entire time, but her worry for the case would not have been a challenge to notice.

Moshi Mai was not the only one with a family case that was deeply important to them.
Debra
Mai tried to hold the table as Sumire stood to bow, and was able to at least keep her own cup from toppling. The tea spilled onto the map case, but true to its construction, it would be fine, water-tight. 

"Shinjo-san! There's no need for-"

A box clattered out and down to the floor, close to Mina's feet. She was already hurrying over with a means to wipe up the spilt tea, and accidentally kicked the wooden case across the floor. 

"Hold on, I... Got it!" Mai swiped the case up before it could end up anywhere else, and held it up triumphantly. "Hm! Still got the reflexes, even after all these years." She went to hand it back to Sumire.

But, she retracted her hand. "Say, this is a curious little case." She traced her nails around the side of it, feeling the seam where it opened. "What's in here?"
Jennifer
Her face was full of dread, despite this having happened before. She knew the case was insulated very well for.. Pretty much this sort of thing. It was another case true to its construction. Of course, worrying if the contents were okay was one thing, but that wasn't her only concern here. In addition to the embarrassment of what had happened overall, of course. She was also worried about the contents of the case.. Because attention had been drawn to it. Her concerns were a lot more invested than just that, but nothing about her demeanor yet gave away why. She'd gone fully pale as she carefully considered how to address this situation. Confirming the contents being okay was one goal, she treasured the contents too much to remain clear about the fact the contents were almost certainly unaffected. However, was this even the right time? Checking the contents would involve opening the case.. And she wasn't alone at present this time.

When the initial shock cleared, she went from shock to confusion. She was being directly asked here, so no matter how much she hesitated to answer, the question didn't just go away. Sure, she was feeling a bit of shame for what had happened, but opening pandora's box would mean diving into some pretty exceptional shame.. And trauma.

She became desperate for the topic to be shifted, but she still would not lie about it. "I'm terribly sorry for the interruption, that case is just a personal possession of mine. A childhood memory, that's all. Could I please have it back? That way we could return to more esteemed honored topics, like your map here, or your collection.. Or much anything else map related." It might be the best she could accomplish as a recovery. It was just unfortunate that she felt her recognition of the map to have been accomplished so well.. Until she tripped over the ending. Movements were always the roughest part for her, much harder than the proper words.
Debra
Moshi Mai had to say, she liked this Shinjo Sumire. Very polite, very skilled in her wording, and most of all she seemed to squirm like a worm when there was a problem. Okay, so maybe she _didn't_ like that last part, but it was always fun to throw her weight around. "Now, now, Shinjo-san, what's the bother? The more you wish to change subjects, the more curious I'm going to get, you know." 

Mina had already swiftly wiped off the table, and replaced the wet cup with a dry one, so there was no distraction there. Mai just had a little case in her hand, and she was much too curious to not pry. 

"But, this _is_ your property," Mai admitted, "And I shouldn't keep it from you. That would be rude, would it not? So, the only right thing to do is hand it back." She extended the case back out to Sumire, but she kept a tight grip on it. 

"But first, show me what's inside. I showed you the inside of _my_ case, so it's only just. Or do you want to defy an ambassador's wishes?" Mai's smile was pleasant, but her eyes definitely had a mischievous glint to them. "Besides, it can't be _that_ bad, surely. Unless you're hiding something maho-related or some such nonsense, I doubt there's anything in there that I would find disturbing."
Jennifer
She didn't really know much of what a pirate was like, so she was unaware of the potential comparisons here, but the small mysterious treasure box held distinctly different meaning in a change of perspective. Pandora's box would have been the best comparison, if she actually knew what that was. The case was important to her, but that memory was only one part of it, and she feared the rest. She was then initially relieved when told that the case was was hers.. But potency with socially-interpreted investigations lent that there was more going on than just that. She glanced at the case when it was offered, placing her hand upon the other side.. But never even tried to take it. She had experienced a lot of intimidation before, she was used to that sort of treatment.. The case itself was a firm reminder of the very thing.

.. What was more distinct was the more playful sincerity integrated within the raw bullying, not quite the same thing anymore. She had a feeling she was just being gaslit.. But it wasn't as if she was being approached maliciously. At least, not yet, the case hadn't been opened yet. She had to weigh which would be more terrible at this point, opening the case or furthering such Mantis curiousity. She was actually still convinced by her terror that the case would be worse, a reinforced lesson from her past she couldn't ignore, but such intimidation spoke that at this point.. The case was going to be opened one way or another.. And the problem of its contents would then just stack with or without her hesitations. This wasn't an either/or.

She still was too shamed to speak of it, so she simply unfastened the case on the side exposed to her and started opening it. The contents would speak her shame without her, that's what she thought. This would also allow her to at least check to see if the contents were okay too. When the ambassador would relinquish enough of a hold for the case to be opened, the shohōsen glasses within would be revealed.
Debra
It took some time, and it took a bit of bullish tactics, but finally Mai's curiosity was sated. Sumire opened up the case, and revealed...

... Something. Mai hadn't seen such a thing, but it looked like a bits of glass held on a frame. "Hm?" She leaned forward, and took a look at the odd thing. "What are these?" She took hold of them, taking them out of the case, and fiddled with them gently. "Is it decoration, perhaps? Some sort of jewel-"

In a moment, the lenses went over her eyesight, and she took notice at the magnification. She squinted for a moment, and held them close by to her face without putting them on, and noticed that she could see slightly better.

"...Huh." She snapped her fingers for Mina's attention, and ordered for the map to be opened. And when she looked down at the wording on the map, she noticed how much clearer it was!

"Wow... These are magnificent! Shinjo-san, what are these?"
Jennifer
She didn't know how to take in all of this.. Excitement? Certainly it was obscured mockery, right? Having such a thing was only something she'd been viciously reminded repeatedly for years was a shame that she was left to carry around now. Well, the ambassador was no Unicorn, maybe the truth of its nature wasn't yet fully understood. It would also be cruel to not be truthful about it, she knew personally how misunderstanding of its truth could bring one to a path of pure disappointment that really only got worse with time.

"They are apparently called glasses, named after the clear.. Crystal? Sorry, there is a lot about it I don't understand. My family had provisioned me with this piece, but given its nature there is.. A lot to misunderstand about it. It's actually, unfortunately, completely gaijin in design and origin. I know, that means its a terrible thing, I've been constantly reminded about it being a sever tarnish on anything Rokugani and that I should always remember that it is a symbol of absolute shame, but my own mother had provisioned me with it to.. Help overcome my own weakness in sight. Kept apart, this arrangement is the only connection I still have with her. The truth makes it an ugly and horrifying monstrosity, but.. It does work.. And it is my only connection to my mother at this time. A Unicorn problem, as you probably have surmised."

She was shaking in fear as she spoke, her confidence drained, her fears only getting worse in each reminder as she brought up the extent of shame this tool spoke of. Her fears reminded her of the harsh repercussions she's faced over the years of having this.. The stern lessons reinforcing exactly how terrible it was. There was a side of her still expecting punishment for it coming up at all. In fact, wouldn't it be worse, showing it to a Mantis? A Mantis Ambassador, at that. This is exactly the trauma that juxtaposed the intimidation from earlier, and was still far more extreme after years of it.
Debra
Glasses. 

Mai looked at the glasses some more, holding them to her eyes until the words she read were magnified and in focus, making a chuckle like a young girl with a new toy. It was truly fantastic, and something she hadn't witnessed before. But, as she listened to what Sumire said, and realized the importance of the glasses, she carefully set them down. 

"I see. These mean a great deal to you, then." Mai sighed, and pondered on it for a moment before suddenly standing. "Follow me, Shinjo-san. Don't dawdle." She took the glasses with her, carefully carrying them as she took the Unicorn outside...

...And to the small shrine to Amaterasu on the Mantis grounds. She walked briskly to the shrine, stopping to give proper respect, and proceeded to set the glasses down at the foot of the shrine. She clapped three times to wake up any spirits and announce her presence, and started to pray. "Amaterasu, great Lady Sun, will you hear me? Your humble servant, Moshi Mai, seeks your blessing and cleansing on this trinket from parts unknown." 

She spoke softly, and waited for a time before she felt Her presence, and that the deed was done. To those that were not of the gift, it didn't look like much happened, But Mai knew what she was doiing. She retrieved the glasses, and retreated from the shrine with a deep bow before handing the glasses back to Sumire. 

"There. Lady Sun has deemed these cleansed and devoid of any wicked gaijin spirit or malady. Wear these with pride, Shinjo Sumire, for if Amaterasu deems them right, then they are truly right." To make her point, she didn't wait for the girl to waffle on it; Mai put the glasses directly on Sumire's head, boldly making her position clear. "There. I assume you need them to see clearly, do you not? The one-legged man that eschews his crutch never truly stands tall, now does he?"
Jennifer
She wasn't knowledgeable regarding pirates, but she was getting exposure to a base concept that seemed to exist here. If something useful existed, and that thing was not their own, a pirate simply seemed to find a way to make it their own. As someone who had maps where foreign influence had been a passing concept, it too made sense, maybe the Mantis were just like this. However, unfortunately, she had her own lessons reinforced over half her life from a point of significant influence to her.. Undoing that in a day wasn't even feasible. For example, she knew the kami could be playful, that even divine influence did not serve as evidence in any matters of politics. The kami could just be playful like that, sometimes.

However, what stood out anyway was the Mantis attempts at simply being supportive. They.. Tried.. And that sincerity was not missed. She didn't understand why such an effort was being made, but.. That again related to the pirate idea. Either the Mantis was trying to show support in a struggle of Unicorn design in a subject both clans were exposed to, Gaijin stuff, or it was the whims of a pirate who thought that such an item needed to be conquered and made Rokugani. She still had little idea how such a tool was made though, as far as she knew it couldn't be anything but Gaijin, anything else was just hopeless wishes...

.. But that did not stop the gesture from having any meaning.

She made an attempt at a bow, pausing when the glasses shifted as a result. She wasn't used to wearing such a tool. "T-thank you for your kindness. You do me more kindness and honor than just sharing a memorable gift of your family, truly the Mantis appears to have the best intentions when it comes to interactions with the Unicorn. I hope it might not be considered imposing were I.. To find opportunity to visit more often?" Her glasses were still a dishonorable flaw, but they were useful.. And maybe she could visit here to make more use of such an important tool.
Debra
"Oh, there's no need to thank me, Sumire-san." Mai rested her hands on her hips, and looked back at the shrine. "I'm sure you're aware, but I'm Gaijin by blood. My father was Maraenean. A kind man, and an honorable one, I've heard, but a gaijin all the same. Nothing can be done about that. My mother birthed me, and by the Lady's Grace she spoke to me. If not for that, my life might've been short or insignificant. But, either way, it was important for my mother that I never know much about my father, or his culture. He left me letters, trinkets, lot of little things to say that he loved me, and wished to know me. 

"I had to destroy them all in holy fire, to assure to the Moshi Family that I was no friend to gaijin." Mai's tone was no longer very jovial, more morose. "It was right and just, do not get me wrong. And I will never side with gaijin over Rokugan. But... Some gaijin things could make great change for Rokugan, if we were to just harvest it, take it and make it ours. Look at your Clan, for instance. There were diseases in these lands that were fatal, now turned into a mere inconvenience by gaijin cures. 

"So, to make a ramble much shorter, Shinjo Sumire-san, I blessed those glasses of yours so you don't feel you must hide and be ashamed of something your ancestor left for you. Honor your honorable ancestors, always." Mai's speech was done, her sermon concluded. She felt the sun's heat on her back, and it was warm and pleasant. She hadn't said anything to anger Amaterasu, it seemed. Good. 

"As for another visit, young lady," Mai said, "I'd like that. You are a bit too timid for my liking, Sumire-san, but I like you, all the same. Maybe some more time with us Mantis will fix that for you! Hm, I'll have you talking with the courage of a pirate in no time!" She was jesting. Probably.
Jennifer
Her own past was also complicated, with a lot of finer details she wasn't quite aware of. She just knew her mother had a few lessons, in addition to the glasses, which stepped outside of proper tradition. The foregoings she endured after she was twelve was similar in that way to such assurance of holy fire, but since most of it was in lessons, there wasn't as much physical burning going on. Much more.. Psychological burning. The glasses.. Were apparently a distinct situation, she never did learn the details, all she knew was that she was allowed to keep them.. But they were then still a shame she was chained to.

Still, this implied a few extra things. It hinted at why the Ambassador would be willing to entreat the glasses a bit.. But also that taking too much advantage of that good will could be seen as advocating negative reinforcement. The notation about piracy was at least correct, the whole turning useful unowned things into something then owned seemed to be true. But the signs of empathy seemed to be accurate as well. Both of them had gone through loss of a similar style.

"I.. Know about gaijin cures, my mother.. May have done more for me than provided a way to see more. My knowledge of sowing maps.. May have originated from the tailoring I learned.. After having a lot of young training in.. Inappropriate medical approaches. Not making medicine, something less.. Of proper etiquette. At least the young knowledge transfers well into something like sowing cloth and maps. Making something so inappropriate.. More acceptable. So.. It is something I sort of understand. It is just important to put the effort into proper conversions, even if that means sacrifices removing that which was least appropriate." This was, after all, a lesson of her youth, a fact of life she'd endured for over a decade now. It was effectively drilled into her, so that the tarnishes of her experiences were burned away in psychological holy flames that left intense inner scars.
Debra
"There are many things in Rokugan that did not come from here," Mai replied, "That we accept wholeheartedly. Keep in mind, Meishodo, from your clan. The Phoenix were in a fury over it; between you and me, if the Phoenix were the authority on piss-drinking, they'd throw a fit if they saw someone mixing it with tea, they'd go ballistic and demand it be destroyed. Apologies for the sailor talk, but the point is sound: There will always be fear of gaijin things, until there's not. Meishodo is fine to most, now. They don't mind the spices and more my clan brings in from ships of unknown origins. Those big horses of yours are prized possessions, and they surely didn't come from these parts. 

"You said it quite well, young lady: Take a bad thing, and make it appropriate. There are some things that are impossible, such as Gaijin Pepper, Kami damn it and its makers, but those glasses of yours? I can hardly imagine anyone making a case against seeing better." Mai laughed, resting her hands on her hips. "As a matter of fact, if you know of how it's created, or can find a way to get me some, I would wear them brazenly, and if anyone had issue, I'd direct them to logic and reasoning." She held up her fists. Logic, and Reasoning.

"Excuse me, Moshi-sama." Mina-san came out to the gardens, carrying Sumire's map case gift. "The merchant patrons have arrived for your meeting," She explained. 

"Oh, damn. I forgot about them." She motioned for Mina to give the case to Sumire, who she gave a polite bow to. "I must go back to work, Shinjo Sumire-san, I'm afraid. But, you will come and speak to me again. As I said, you're a touch too shy, girl, but I like you. There is but one condition: You wear your glasses when you come to see me. Mantis demand courage, and I will demand the same of anyone that wishes to keep my respect, and possibly friendship. Understood?" 

Again, she was bullying, but in an earnest, encouraging way? Moshi Mai was certainly imposing, but with compassion (when she wanted to. Sometimes she was just scary).
Jennifer
The whole conversation reminded her of her own considerations in perspective, and as such, the difference in perspective was simply why it was difficult to lend clarity into the present topic. She wasn't especially wrong either, as perspective was something that could go either way.. Or both. There wasn't any reason for her to recite the teachings of her etiquette teacher, or anything of the sort, mostly because the entire cause of circumstances was a presentation of shame she couldn't avoid and, as such, it seemed more like the Mantis was trying to derive support for her anyway. Either that, or it suited well some sort of Mantis plan currently ongoing.. Also possibly both. The attempt at kindness at least seemed to be genuine, even if the attempt seemed to be reaching a bit too far.

There certainly was at least one hint at how this could do something for some kind of Mantis plan. "You want a set of glasses yourself? I'm sorry, I don't know the matter of making its.. Glass? I heard there are a lot of complexities involved too, making sure it handles a change of vision properly somehow. It was a lot to secure my own set, having another furnished with proper measurements would be a new challenge. I.. Could.. Make a request of my ambassador.. To have something like that provisioned special.. But I don't expect that will go very well. I'm sorry." She didn't even wear her glasses in the residence's public areas, at best wearing them while studying alone.. And not even always that. Her glasses had once almost became a consideration there, but it had been avoided. Her ambassador probably knew anyway, there were letters of correspondence for the maintenance of her glasses, but she had no position to ask for more.. Especially of this nature.

She then learned that the ambassador was out of time. "I'm sorry if I was in the way of your other duties. Thank you for sharing your stories and.. Other kindnesses." She bowed, looking at the map she was being given while mentioning notions of kindness. It just might not have been the only form of kindness, but it was going to become a physical reminder of this meeting. "I understand that you want me to.. Wear this tool while a guest of the mantis ambassador, here in your rooms." She avoided her usual notions of tarnishes, but had to pause in order to do so. It would not be an appropriate phrasing given it being such a request, but she wasn't used to calling it anything else.

She did have a few concerns about just being dropped the map and sent upon her way, she had no idea how heavy it actually was.. And she wasn't at all physically capable. Struggling with such a gift as she left would certainly be yet another notable embarrassment to endure. She could only hope that it was light enough that she might be fine.
Debra
"Why, of course I do." Mai rested her hands on her hips, mildly annoyed. "You're lucky enough to be young, Sumire-san. You don't have watch your perfect eyesight slowly dwindle. So, yes, I'd want some lenses that could make me read a lot easier. All of Rokugan would, gaijin in design or not." 

But, she seemed adamant that it couldn't be done. Or rather, that it wouldn't be easy. Mai listened to that, and understood that yes, presently, it would be impossible. But, A Mantis knew an opportunity when she heard it. "Be as it may, perhaps we'll just have to see about making some, here in the city. Glass-making, some blacksmithing, thinks of that nature, yes? Surely with our Clan's respectful means of acquiring things, we could make it happen. Not to mention, no one would balk at Rokugani-made items, even if the concept came from elsewhere. Just... Think about it, won't you?" 

"Oh, please. If you were in the way, I'd tell you and make you leave. I'm certainly not afraid to speak my mind." Mai assured Sumire of that with a smile, hoping the girl would take that in good faith. "And I insist that you do, Sumire-san," She added, "As you suffer from the worst case of self-doubt I have ever witnessed. If you are as bright as you talk and as clever as you were about this map business, then surely you can go far. But not if you are too afraid to adorn a gift from your ancestor in the presence of an ally."
Jennifer
She expected she was just being seen as young again, younger than she was, but that was something she was used to. She could recall her sight dwindling even as a child, so she really didn't feel it was an appropriate comparison. However, it could always be a matter of perspective, a lesson that just likes to keep come up. Even the mention of revised attempts at producing glasses was yet another shift of perspective, to bring the concept from a Gaijin perspective to a Rokugani perspective as a means to address the Gaijin problem. Without a sufficient sense of perspective, she had no sufficient conclusion to the difference. Of course, that did not mean she could get away with saying nothing.

"Glass and metal seem to be important, but there is something special about the glass that seems important to its function, something which would become its own obstacle. I worry the solution might not be the most appreciative to Rokugani values, maybe requiring special sands in its preparation? However, by not knowing, I can't say there isn't a solution either. It might do my mother proud if her earnest gift led to true Rokugani furnishings, a tool that let blossom Samurai wisdom even when challenged by time.. If there was such an option." It wasn't as if she knew how lens worked to distort sight, but she knew there was an importance in process for its functionality. She wouldn't get her hopes up while such an unknown persisted to haunt her, especially after years of negative reinforcement. Perspectives still mattered, things might change if hope seemed more possible.

She might be a bit more reserved in her hopes, but she knew her present company was nothing of the sort. The Mantis were certainly more expressive than she was. Even now, she was left with figuring out how to properly transport the map with her. Much like hope, she wasn't expressive of her inabilities of that nature, but her diminished size did not hide it very well, especially after fumbling a case.
Debra
"Well then," Mai said, "It would seem there's a lot to research, then." Moshi Mai nodded, crossing her arms. "Now, I cannot order you to do anything, but I think you should research this. It might be a business ripe for the picking, you know! At the very least, let your Ambassador know; she's a woman that appreciates initiative and headstrong people, you know. Timidness is for Crane and Phoenix, after all. 

"But, I believe that is that for now. Do keep in touch, if you will. Oh, and here." She shouted for Mina, who quickly ran over. "Carry that map scroll back to the Ide residence for our new friend, won't you?" Mina, ever eager to help, took the map case and hugged it to her body snugly. "There. Now, off you go, Shinjo Sumire-san. May Lady Sun shine some clarity onto your heart." 

And with that, Sumire was dismissed, with a gift in tow. It would be a good thing to note and report to her Ambassador, that she left a good impression on another Ambassador. If that wouldn't give her a boost to her confidence, Moshi Mai wasn't sure what could.
Jennifer
It was a lot to be uncertain about, but that just implied it was a lot to consider, something she did a lot back home after a busy day anyway. She would probably at least want to ensure records of the map's story were ready, the details were still meaningful in such a gift, considerations of the map would have to come before anything else. After that, well.. There would still be additional time for other considerations.

She bowed, ready to depart. "Thank you for your kindness and wisdom. My duties will have to come first, but keeping in touch can still be potentially part of my duties. Might the days to come be filled with proper opportunity, and fewer fabricated maps." She knew the ambassador would have such an incident with the original map problem resolved, but it was still a shame that such an opportunity was falsified, so she felt it was a good target for well wishes. It was only later that she would wonder how her phrasing might apply to the previously presented concept of piracy when regards to having days filled with opportunity. She didn't know, she wasn't the best with understanding commerce.

She at least led the way for her map carrier, silently thankful that she wouldn't have to struggle with her own physical inability here. She might still need to explain such a notable package, but that was at least something she was far more capable of.