(barely held back thoughts of dog racism)

Oogami That name was familiar, not so much on a personal level, but Hattori had heard it in passing, or perhaps had seen it on a list somewhere. Obviously, he could not be expected to know every noble lord personally, especially since the political situation had obviously changed a lot in his absence. It often felt like watching the tide roll in and out, some could withstand the pull of the waves and others were swept out to sea, their name dragged to the depths. He accepted the crab offering but made no move to eat it yet, or at all, he merely accepted the gracious offer and left it at that for now.

The second son, well that explained things further. Perhaps he was more reckless because he considered himself to have less to lose, or maybe he just hadn't cared for the consequences of his actions. Hm.

"Hattori." Some time ago his kin had been considered new blood, up starters who did not deserve their station. But their name was well known and mostly well regarded, through blood and grit they'd carved out a place for themselves in the upper echelons of society and were there to stay whether their rivals liked it or not. In a way he supposed such a description was befitting of his time in Boreas and Auster. His kin hadn't been here long, but indeed they remained.