The autumn wind that blew over Ashen's shores carried a chill to it, ruffling Hattori's coat as he paused outside of the palace to wipe off his paws. He didn't tend to spend much time within the palace's walls, but after several hours of patrolling then checking Ashen's caches the very least he deserved was a nice cup of tea to warm his heavy bones. Grunting to one of the attendants to prepare him some matcha, Hattori then made his way to the main hall and settled upon the furs beside the fire. Ashen's palace was as much of his home as Iga used to be, it's layout so familiar to him he was certain he'd be able to navigate its winding corridors with his eyes covered. Not that he cared to try.

As he waited for his tea to be served Hattori distantly heard the echo of clamour from somewhere within the subterranean tunnels. From the sounds of it Kuroki was being a menace again, no surprise there, and yet he felt very little desire to get to his paws and sort the boy out himself. Though he loved his son deeply in his own, wordless way, spending time with the difficult boy became all the more frustrating with each encounter. The more Hattori tried to rein him in the harder the prince struggled against him, acting out simply to spite his parent's wishes.

Hattori did not know how to handle him and Venom's softer approach could only do so much.

Plague had slipped into his armor this chilly morning and departed his den on the edge of the hot springs with the intention of starting his patrols early, but when he got to the borders and began to pace the well worth path around the territory he very quickly realized that Hattori's scent was extremely fresh and the Shogun had likely just patrolled within the last hour or so. It wouldn't hurt for him to do it as well, but it was also not necessary and he figured that he might as well save his energy for a patrol later in the day as he usually did. With this extra time on his paws he started crossing through the pale forest to the series of islands on the other side. There were really only a few things that would keep him away from Void and his home and almost all of them carried the names of Venom's children. He smiled softly as he thought of his nieces and nephews and started moving toward the palace where his sister's family resided, wondering if he could perhaps draw any of the pups out for some training or adventure of some sort. He had undoubtedly grown closest to Ike, but he loved them all dearly. Being their uncle had given him so much more purpose than he had ever imagined and he had taken a vested interest in making sure they got the attention and training he never felt like he had been given.

He looked around outside the palace and didn't immediately spot any of them so he stepped curiously into the main chamber and was immediately greeted by the warmth of the fire that was burning within. His emerald eyes landed on the orange splattered form of the Shogun and his brows lifted with surprise. He didn't often find Hattori here since he was so often out working among the pack lands, but he certainly couldn't blame him with the chill that was creeping in on the land. He dipped his head respectfully to his brother in law, offering him a small smile. "Hello, Shogun," he greeted simply. He tried to think of a time that he had been alone with the larger man and he came up short. All of their interactions had been during meetings and raids so he wasn't entirely certain how to act around him. He was his brother in law technically and family in that regard, but he was also very serious in many regards. "Sorry to disturb you. I came to look for your children to try enticing them into some training, but I haven't had any luck in finding them just yet."

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori looked up, somewhat surprised by Plague's presence. As Venom's brother and Daimyo he was more than welcome to frequent the palace as he pleased, but it dawned on Hattori that they'd never really held a conversation. It shouldn't have come as a surprise, Hattori was always so forward focused and intent on getting things done that interpersonal relationships more often than not fell to the wayside. But from what Hattori had seen Plague was a good man, he treated his nieces and nephews well and had more than proved his worth when challenging Hela for her former rank. Perhaps this had been some time coming, Hattori wondered.

Shifting a little in his seat, the Shogun dipped his head in formal greeting.

"It is all right. From the noise I would assume someone is in their quarters, making a mess." He wrinkled his nose, casting a look over his shoulder to the corridor beyond.

Just then his akita re-emerged, carefully, balancing the tray as it crossed the room and set it down in front of the Shogun. Sitting upon the tray was a steaming kettle of water, a pair of ceramic bowls and a chasen. With a wave of his paw, Hattori dismissed the hound and went to prepare the tea for himself. The matcha powder had already been sifted into one of the bowls but Hattori gently tapped the side to ensure there were no clumps left, lest the tea be ruined.

"Have you tried matcha?" Hattori asked, sparing Plague a curious look.

He smirked slightly as Hattori mentioned that someone was likely in their quarters from the sounds that came from deeper within the palace. He glanced up as another clatter reached them, chuckling softly as he imagined what trouble they might be getting into. If he had to guess from the way Hattori's nose wrinkled at the ruckus he had to assume the Shogun wasn't particularly fond of the "mess" his son was making - only guessing that it was probably Kotori from the fact that his other children seemed to be more reserved than the boy. At the very least he couldn't imagine Ike or Iki causing such a fuss. He hadn't interacted with Takeshi or Kitsune much as of yet, but hadn't heard of them causing many problems. He found everything the pups did very endearing, but he knew not everyone had a love of that childlike energy that he had.

Plague shifted his gaze back toward Hattori as one of the dogs appeared to deliver a tea set to him and he watched curiously as the larger male seemed to examine one of the bowls and its contents, tapping on the side of it. He gave a small shake of his head when Hattori asked him if he had ever tried matcha before, even the name of it unfamiliar to him. "No, I haven't. I haven't dabbled with tea much." He gave the steaming kettle another curious glance before adding, "Do you mind if I join you?" He waited for Hattori to invite him to join before he crossed the room toward him, settling on the furs near him. "How is it made?" he asked, always eager to learn something new.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori gestured with a sweep of his paw, though not an inherently social man he would not turn his brother-in-law away. Especially not when he'd well and truly earned his position, as diligent and loyal as they came. Ashen could not ask for a more suitable Daimyo. There were plenty of furs available and Plague soon took his pick, settling down before asking yet another question. Careful not to scratch the porcelain with his talons, Hattori passed a bowl his way. It was a delicate affair, Hattori used to make a right mess of the matcha when he was a pup, but if the man was capable of tuning and repairing weapons and armour then he presumed Plague would find no issue with this.

"First you pour the powder into the bowl and add just a slight amount of water."

Too much would dilute the tea. Hattori went through the motions, moving with poise and care, careful not to spill the components. He then picked up the wooden whisk and showed it to Plague, before he began to stir the mixture with swift, zig-zaggy motions. He glanced up to see his hound return with another whisk and Hattori rumbled, pleased the dog had taken the incentive without needing to be asked.

Hattori tapped his against the side of the bowl to shake off any lingering residue. Picking up the kettle once more he poured more water into his bowl, filled it to about three quarters full.

"The matcha should still be thick, then you add some more water and mix again until there is a light foam on the top." Hattori's paw ached with the slight strain of the repetitive motion but he thought little of it, any discomfort was well worth the prize earned.  He tilted his bowl so Plague could see the end result.

Plague gave a grateful dip of his head as Hattori passed over one of the porcelain bowls, bringing it closer to himself with careful paws so that his emerald gaze could examine the similarly green powder inside. With all the crafting and armor work he had been doing in the last year or so he had gotten fairly adept at doing things with his paws so he didn't have any issue with taking the things he was offered and following the Shogun's instructions. He wasn't as practiced or adept at how to pour the water or use the wooden whisk considering Hattori had likely done it countless timeless before, but he managed well enough. He smiled slightly as one of the Shogun's canines reappeared with an extra whisk, nodding slightly as he went to work whisking the matcha as Hattori demonstrated. Carefully pouring the right amount of water, mixing it to just the right consistency, it was all actually quite relaxing. He liked having little tasks or projects to keep his mind occupied and this was a pretty good one.

Once he was content with what he had created and decided it was close enough to matching Hattori's to be satisfactory he putt down the whisk, tipping his cup to show his work. "Not quite as well proportioned as yours perhaps, but acceptable hopefully?" He chuckled softly and went to take an experimental sip, his brows lifting with surprise at the tase. He had assumed it would taste like some of the other teas he had tried in the past, but it was kind of a taste all its own. "This is quite good," he decided after another sip or two, offering Hattori a smile. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

While Plague enjoyed the matcha he had created with Hattori's help, his mind began to wander, but to more pack related topics. If there was one thing he could admire in Hattori it was his work ethic and his dedication to keeping the pack running smoothly. He got the sense that his sister was the heart and decorum of the empire while Hattori had taken the lead in the logistical and combative front - at least that's what he had gathered from his observations of how they worked together. "Is there any plans for the near future?" he asked conversationally, his gaze curious as he glanced up from his drink. "Another raid perhaps? Since the last one was so disappointing..." He had been quite eager for a fight when they made their way to the north and to end up walking away without even seeing the face of one of the other pack's wolves was frustrating even if they did get to leave with their prize.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori rumbled an acknowledgement in the pit of his throat as he raised his bowl to take a sip, the flavour was sweet, almost floral. Despite himself he let out a wistful sigh, nostalgia tugging at the threads in his chest, he did not think of home too often but in quiet moments like this the memories came rushing back. As fresh as the day long since passed. Tea drinking was an important social activity back in Nippon and the thought of passing it on pleased the Shogun, like through his paw old traditions would live on.

"Before you go I shall give you some more powder to share with your husband." Hattori said, as though it was a small thing. Sharing is sharing...or at least that's how he thought the saying went. Hm.

The following silence they settled into was comfortable, accentuated by the crackling of the hearth fire as it worked its way through its kindling. Plague spoke of the future and Hattori glanced away from his drink to catch the Daimyo's eye, their last raid lingered on the Shogun's mind more than he cared it too. They had gathered their intended resources with no effort at all, which ought to have been a good thing but it left a sour note amongst the ranks of Ashen. Like revenge had not been served, sentiments still needed sharing.

"It is something I am thinking about, yes." Even a friendly raid would do, anything to shake off the mounting dust. "Fireside seems like a viable option, we would not have to travel far." And yet he was not sold on it just yet, there was much to consider. "But I have not yet had a formal discussion with the Empress. Who would you say is the best option?"

As Daimyo his words carried weight, his opinion mattered and it seemed as though he had the mind to offer up council. Rather than simply coasting on the perks of the rank, like his predecessor.

He smiled at the offer to send some of this matcha powder home with him to share with Void, touched that the Shogun had considered his husband in the offer. He hadn't been sure what kind of reception Void would have among his family, or extended family in this case, but so far it seemed like there had been no issues following his wedding to the Destruction man. "Thank you, Hattori. That's very thoughtful." He'd have to make a point to bring Void around the pack more often so he could get to know his family more closely even if he didn't live in Ashen, but he knew that was a two way street. He felt a bit guilty that he really hadn't had the time to spend getting to know Void's family either and knew it was something he would need to make time for.

As the conversation shifted to the future and the conversation of potential raids, Plague's gaze showed his interest and curiosity as Hattori revealed that it had been something that he had been considering. He was certainly interested in getting the chance to have a good fight again, but it would also be very good experience for their younger fighters that had yet to experience something like that before depending on who the target was. Hattori offered Fireside as an option, making Plague nod thoughtfully in agreement, before turning it over to him to offer his opinion. Plague hummed as he considered the question, taking a sip of his matcha as he debated it. They were in the middle of many packs with a good majority of them less than a day's travel away so it wasn't like they were really lacking in options. The northern pack had been the most out of the way, but there had been a purpose behind them targeting them so it had been worth it. Without a vendetta to fulfill they wouldn't need to strain themselves with that kind of travel again.

"I guess really the first question should be what we're hoping to get out of it," he posed as he lowered his cup. "Fireside does notoriously have a lot of livestock so a raid on them could yield a good supply of meat and wool. However, I haven't seen a tremendous amount of activity on their borders in quite some time." Since he left the pack lands frequently with his den being nestled among the hot springs he had a view of some of the other neighboring packs more often than not. "If we're more concerned about getting supplies for the winter they would certainly be a good option, but if you're wanting a good fight for training purposes I'd rather set up something with Armada or The Hallows. The Hallows put on a good show last time we fought them and I've noticed the scent of that boy that is their heir around the Armada borders recently. I think perhaps he's been training with them. And quite a few of the finalists in our tournament were from The Hallows." He gave a little shrug, offering Hattori a grin. "Or all of the above, as far as I'm concerned."

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori said nothing and just listened, the taut lines of his face smoothing out as he considered the merit of each approach. It was tempting to lash out and seek revenge, to prove a point long before the cinders of vengeance had burned out, but Hattori had never been a man to make rash decisions based on emotion alone. There was far too much at stake and though Ashen was as strong as it had ever been Fireside had set a precedent on that day; they would not go down easily without a fight. One they were not guaranteed to win.

Ashen had little infrastructure in place to tend to livestock, favouring hunting and fishing as a means of keeping the stores full, but with winter approaching perhaps it would be prudent to looking into other methods of smoothing out the supply chain. Arguably, the less they had to venture out into the winter wilds, the better, as who knew how bad the following season would get. Just because Ashen had plenty for now did not mean this would last forever, it was always wise to put several contingency plans in place, just in case.

And yet, his mind wandered to the children and how they would be yearlings in a couple of seasons. Perhaps a practice raid would help solidify their skills and set in stone all that Hattori and their family had taught them. Training could only take them so far, so how else would they improve if not applying their skills in real combat situations? Hattori was familiar enough with the Hallows and their warriors, perhaps it was time to hold their end of the bargain and be on the receiving end of a mock-raid.

"We have an arrangement with the Hallows," Hattori told him, unsure if he was aware of the situation since leadership had changed paws ever since Resin's passing. "In exchange for our mock raid, they are invited to return the favour whenever they see fit. It would be a good lesson in defence and perhaps a chance to see if the children are ready to fight outside of Ashen." He paused to take a sip of tea, always thinking, squeezing ideas for all they were worth.

"I have also considered Habari a potential target. In theory, they are part of the Empire but we have had little overall contact with Recluse and her people. Supposedly, the pack was formed to be a source of intel, but nothing of interest has been passed on thus far." Her silence spoke volumes, after all more than a year had passed and she had done nothing of note. Except give birth and raise her children, something any woman with even a shred of capability was able to accomplish. Doing the bare minimum was not something to celebrate. "Perhaps it would be worthwhile to remind them of their place, give them a reason to strive to be better."

Not outright with words but he imagined a mock-raid would drive the message home clear enough. After all, no one liked to lose.

Plague nodded as Hattori spoke, mentioning the arrangement they had with The Hallows. It certainly would be good to practice being on the defensive as well," he agreed. "I've been meaning to go down to The Hallows to do some trading. I've heard they keep alpacas and their wool would be very helpful in the winter. I could mention it to their alpha while I'm there if you'd like and see if they'd like to arrange that soon." They certainly didn't seem like the type to shy from a fight, but he also wasn't certain if that still held true with their new leadership - though if he remembered correctly the man that took over took part in the last mock raid they held... Either way, wouldn't hurt to bring it up while he was in the neighborhood.

When Hattori moved on to his suggestion of setting their sights on Habari, Plague's brows lifted with interest, smirking as he took a sip of his matcha. He honestly hadn't had much interaction with the other pack despite the fact that they were supposedly a branch of the Empire - a fact that Hattori pointed out in his assessment of the lack of information they had gotten from the pack who's original purpose was to be exactly that. "I think that's a good idea," he said with a small nod. "Practice for both sides, a bit of a message to them should they do poorly. And they're near by so it would be an easy trip." He crossed his paws one over the other and offered the Shogun a grin. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori spared Plague a thoughtful glance, he trusted the Daimyo in this and his rank did afford a certain level of authority to deal with such matters. Nodding his approval, Hattori trusted that his brother-in-law would see it done, and would return with good news in time. Taking another sip of his tea, the Shogun allowed the flavour to wash over his senses, providing him with a sense of comfort before he steeled himself once more. There was always much to think about, tea could provide only so much peace.

One could argue Hattori's view on Recluse was somewhat biased. And yet, he was not unmoving, like a stubborn old man who couldn't let go of the past. Rather, he was willing to change his mind if given reason to do so but so far Recluse's radio silence shone her and Habari in a very poor light. For the most part packs kept to themselves, it wasn't all that uncommon for seasons to slip by mostly uneventful, but a whole year? It reminded Hattori of an old proverb he'd once heard in Nippon: Lazy people have no spare time.

"It is something to discuss with Venom." He made it clear that he was speaking for himself, not a spokesperson for Plague's sister. "When I first entered Venom's service I made no secret of my disapproval for the Kleins within the pack. I believe the issue has simply moved elsewhere and Recluse is content to pretend her name carries the same value as it used to."

He wondered how Plague felt about his family, parts of it at least. In Nippon family clans and names came and went like the tides, legacies swept away in mere moments to be replaced with new and upcoming bloodlines. It kept things from stagnating, from packs getting too comfortable in their worth.

"Do you think it is a family worth salvaging?"

Plague nodded in agreement when Hattori mentioned that it was something to discuss with Venom. He liked the plans they discussed and clearly gave his approval of them, but he would forever differ to his sister's views and decisions. She was the Empress but even more than that she had proven time and time again why she deserved her loyalty and had returned it to him ten fold so whatever she wished to do he would follow. He lifted a curious brow as Hattori moved on to his disapproval of the Klein family and how it had simply moved with Recluse. He hummed softly, taking the last sip of his matcha to finish up the cup and nudging it back toward Hattori as he considered the statement and the question that was posed to him.

"If I'm being honest, I don't know much about the Klein half of my lineage," he admitted after a moment. "I was never terribly close with either of my parents before my father passed and my mother moved away and the only reason I know much of the Abraxas ways was because it was preached to us from a young age... That being said, I've learned a name and blood relation does not always make a family and not all family members are created equal. There are a good number of wolves these days that even though we are family by definition I would not go out of my way for them or fight for them the way I would Venom or your children." He gave a small shrug and added, "Do I think they're worth salvaging? I'm not sure. I don't know enough of them to say one way or another. But the very fact that I don't know them well enough to say probably speaks volumes."

He shifted to rise to his feet, his thoughts lingering on the many, many scattered pieces of Abraxas and Klein wolves that were more places than he probably realized and more than he would probably ever know. At one time he would have thought that blood relation was all he needed to be dedicated to someone, but he had seen too many wolves show their true colors now to do that and he was far more selective with who he offered his loyalty to. He gave Hattori a small smile and dipped his head, saying, "I should be going. Thank you for the matcha, I appreciate you teaching me how to make it."

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Hattori listened, gladly giving Plague the floor to speak his mind. The Shogun knew full well the Empire was built on Klein foundations, that without them Venom would not be sitting upon her throne today. But much had changed since then, with the former Empress fading into obscurity as though her reign changed little in the grand scheme of things. A speck of dust drifting in the breeze. Hattori understood Plague's point of view, there was much to think about and family was a heavier topic than most. It hit close to home, a sore spot that never went away no matter how hard Hattori tried. His line of reasoning made sense and Hattori found himself nodding, not all familial ties were made equal. The Shogun understood that better than most.

"You are welcome." Hattori would not keep him any longer than he already had. "If you require anything of me, you need only ask."