Jamal
It had been a long time since he had arrived, but eventually someone found him and brought him to his lodging for the time, to which Naoki, tired of wandering all day simply closed his eyes and passed into deep slumber. 
The night passes and come daylight the servant who brought him there, and may the kami bless him for this, had also brought a vessel of hot water to freshen him up.
After his impromptu bath and another question of where one's laundry could be hung up later he was on his way to the Karo's Office in spare garments, not as overly formal as his tea set but not as rough as his mercantile garb.
It took a couple turns but he finds himself back again, the wandering giving him ample time to figure out what to say.

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Lucy
Amidst his modest quarters, Sanumo slowly whittled away at the myriad paperwork required to keep this embassy afloat. It wasn't exciting work, but it was dreadfully important (doubly so now that this was an Imperial holding) and he treated it as such.

When a knock came at his door, he briefly jolted, the flow of his work disturbed. Papers were quickly shuffled and sorted to their proper places so as to seem more presentable for a guest. « Please enter. » he called out.

When Naoki would admit himself within, he would be greeted with the full simplicity of the office before him. Shelves lay half-filled with books along the left and right walls, the lowest portions of each converted into locked cabinets. The back wall featured a modest window to supply light for reading.

The only other furniture were the desk and chairs. The desk was made of a sturdy, dark wood and featured three mons branded into the front in a descending column; those of the Phoenix, Asako, and Asako Loremasters. Atop was a metal scroll rack for incoming missives to be stored upon, as well as custom indentations and grooves in the desk's surface for convenient placement and storage of the various tools and goods necessitated by his profession. Other than that, the only decorative flourish was a bouquet of yellow carnations and lobelia flowers sat upright within a vase. The chairs were basic ; not quite comfortable or uncomfortable.

From one such chair, he rose and offered a suitable bow to the visitor. « Isawa Naoki-san. I trust this is important. » He gestured to one of the chairs for him to sit. « Should I have the servants arrange for tea? »

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Jamal
"I hope I would not trouble you for too long Karo-sama that we should trouble the servants for less."

Returning another suitable bow to his host he ponders the given question.
Would having to take tea too early in the morning be such a pain he would risk discourtesy just to deny it? 
A firm yes is Naoki's answer.

"I wish to clarify, expand and continue our discussions on my task here, such as to where shall this piece of mine, this bustling marketplace be placed?"
"To whom shall it be gifted to and what materials do you permit be used in the expense of its construction?"
"My apologies for troubling your work, but I would not wish to trouble you in the later in day when you have more pressing matters to get too."

Keeping his gaze low and scanning the room he gazes upon the only piece of decoration in the vicinity, that hue of purple and yellow might just do for that lady's dress, keeping in the colour of the bustling midday sun in that afternoon .

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Lucy
For an Isawa, Naoki seemed unusually apologetic and cognizant of the needs of others. It was certainly better than the alternatives, but was still unexpected enough as to be noted.

« Your concerns are appreciated, Isawa-san. Trust me when I say that this is only a mild imposition, especially given that it so directly links into your purpose here in Ryoko Owari Toshi. »

« I feel like it is fitting that your first full piece be gifted to our own Ambassador, Shiba Iemon-sama. The creation of a visual reminder of the harmony and cooperation that we strive to protect is an honorable task and something that he will very much appreciate and use to meditate upon. »

« Where he shall choose to put it is unknown to me, but I will facilitate it to the best of my abilities. Similarly, I am willing to sign off on any materials you may need, so long as they do not burden the embassy overmuch. »

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Jamal
Ah, alright then Noboru-dono requested it after all.
He will to see to it to question him later about himself and where he would like it hung. 

"Understood Karo-sama, then I request that I set my materials up a spare room somewhere with a window as in here, larger the window the better, the paint needs to dry and I cant risk it being exposed to the outside too much."
"For another request, since I have not yet been assigned a yojimbo for the moment and not quite familiar with how the market is priced here, aside from the stores of ink and paper here, I would like to be supplied with certain materials in the Unicorn or Mantis market."
"Just a few samples for testing, but if my previous attempts where any indication I believe the koku spent would not be wasted."

Water can easily ruin paintings just as easily it can be used to make them, and no matter how much he adjusted with it, the pigments that the passing Unicorn sold could never reach it full hue.
Just as a sauce dropped on one's fine garments it could always be wiped off and leave nothing but a echo of what brilliant shade it was, a stain and nothing more and placing another stain when it dried up could enrich the colour to certain unsatisfactory degree. 
But... What if the medium or surface was different this time?

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Lucy
As Naoki clarified his needs, Sanumo produced a fresh piece of paper and began cataloging them.

« We should be able to arrange something suitable for you in the short term, though I am no stranger to the fact that art requires space and many accoutrements. If, as you become established, we need to work towards getting you a separate facility in which to work, only say the word. »

He didn't bother to acknowledge the remark on koku. Such things were beneath a samurai's notice until necessity proved otherwise.

Putting his signature and seal to the paper, he folded it and leaned forward to extend the page over the desk. « Give this to the first servant you see upon leaving my office, Isawa-san. They will take note of the goods to fetch from the Mantis and Unicorn markets, as well as begin preparing that additional room for you. If I had to guess, it will be on the second floor with a window that faces Amaterasu when she rises. »

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Jamal
"To have Lady Amaterasu's gaze on my work as she rises is just enough for me, that room would just be enough for me, although I cant say that for others, fickle things we artists are."

The Karo must think so highly of Noboru-dono for him to shell out a good amount for a gift, in addition to being lordly enough to not mind the expenses it takes to make a quality work of art, truly the ideal patron any artist could have.

Not wishing to waste of his Karo's time he takes the paper and deeply bowing Naoki goes to make his leave.

"Thank for your time and attention Karo-sama, I will make sure to produce a work that the embassy can be proud to have, I assure this Karo-sama, one that can stand through the ages as a memory of the peace the city has and will be having."

Turning past the door he sees an aforementioned servant and makes his requested goods noted down to be purchased later, it was a shame he wasn't assigned a yojimbo just yet but given the circumstances it would be understandable.

The cloth making up the sails of the Mantis' kobune as white as the snow one can make it, naturally resistant to water.
The bright pigments the Unicorn have brought over to the empire as well the local varieties as well as a seed oil purified so clear it wont tarnish the pigment dust.
And most importantly the servant was given a drawing of a glass plane and what has been described as a pestle, certainly not one has ever saw before, all of these to make a one of a kind painting.
There is also a request for milk of any kind along with an amount of honey as much as one can comfortably carry together.

|| this a good scene to end?