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[ukan]

This is Lark Tennant, leave a message.

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[lone_horse]

“In truth,” he admits with a dip of his head, “this is not unlike the plan enacted by my surrogate son, Daigo.” A distant look; there’s a lot of feelings around Daigo he’s still working through, even after his letter. “He is a better diplomat than I could ever be and an excellent leader, despite his age. He used this method to unite a large number of the families across Japan to work towards common concerns. Seeing each pairing as a small ‘family’, different groupings as clans and alliances that need to be approached and worked with diplomatically is a framework that helps me conceptualize this place.”

He glances to Lark.

“I don’t think it’s entirely incorrect either. Strength, cunning, and personal allegiances have a lot to do with how effective one can be in this place, just as they are there.”

Now they just need some sort of social contract, or general code of ethics. Whether it’s followed or not, and Kiryu’s more realistic about that than most people think, it still exists among the yakuza. And the rules exist for the harmony and benefit of all. Isn’t that what they’re doing here?

[ukan]

Lark is relaxed now, tea cup in both hands, warming them. His smile is like it has been in the past: pleased, a little admiring. Companionable.

"What do you think the next step is? The one we do in the next month."

[lone_horse]

“Work out the logistics required to ensure the safety of those most vulnerable in this process,” he says plainly, “and establish, with the group, the level of dedication expected. And the willingness to tolerate failure.”

He’s an idealist at heart, but he’s had enough mistakes, failures, and difficulties to know that expectations need to be understood. And managed.

“Taking care of, and providing benefit to, those who’ve sworn to your cause is the most important part of maintaining an alliance like this. And, I should think, the ultimate purpose of this, yes?”

[ukan]

"It is. But we should also anticipate that anyone who doesn't want to join us will attempt to sabotage it." People who come to the Barge are not known for sitting idly by. "What would you do with them?"

[lone_horse]

“As I said: protect the most vulnerable.” But to be more specific. “Coordinate with your strongest members and utilize what skills are at your disposal to keep an ear to the ground. Provide tailored incentives to neutral parties and offer conditional benefits for their assistance to endear them to your side.” Conditional because full benefits should only be for those willing to stand beside them. And to coax them towards joining. “Take a defensive stance and make any attempts at sabotage common knowledge; standing strong through an onslaught and keeping to the high road will only make it more clear to those opposed that their options are to accept this or to join it. It will also prove that your methods are not weak, nor are those who choose to employ them. But most importantly, it will show that what you have built will stand.”

He dips his head towards Lark as he finishes the tea in his cup.

“You don’t have to remove opposition. You only need make their point of view irrelevant.”

[ukan]

All of this has been at turns very much like what Lark is doing, and at others intriguing for the new angles.

But that last comment, Kiryu. That last comment is what brings a certain amber glint to Lark's eyes, what makes his teeth seem just a little bit sharper than they should be.

"Oh, you have me now," he promises smoothly. With a statement like that, make their point of view irrelevant, one that speaks to every preferred tactic Lark has, how could he not?

[lone_horse]

“The important thing is to build something that will support itself: new people will see the value of your ideas in practice... or they won’t. But the consequences will be obvious after a point.” He puts his tea cup down. “And those who benefit from it will maintain and safeguard the institution.”

And he doesn’t need to say it, but once something is an institution...

[ukan]

"Oh, I know...that's the most difficult part about all of this. I don't know that Alec will let me stay here as long as I really want to be," he sighs faintly. "So I want to make it as stable as I can while I can."

[lone_horse]

He looks over at Lark.

“Which is why you’re seeking my input.”

Not just because he appreciates his thoughts. But also because Lark knows he intends to be here as long as he possibly can. And has no one and nothing to pull him away from it.

There’s no anger or even annoyance in his tone as he says it. But he isn’t going to pretend that his buy in doesn’t have other advantages with it.

[ukan]

He regards Kiryu evenly. "If I planned to be here a hundred years, I'd still want your input. I'm sure you've noticed how easy it is for people to launch into screaming fits around here about how right they are. You are someone who has just told me where I'm mistaken, and I respect you more for it."

He leans back, arms crossed loosely over his chest. "A dozen other people have shoved their interpretations of me in my face, and if I tried to clarify, they insisted I was lying. We need someone like you here, Kiryu. You said you look to me as a mentor; I'm here to be that. But I'm also here to be reminded that there's a middle ground, and that I've seen you find it."

[lone_horse]

He looks back at him with a faint curl at the corner of his lip.

“If I thought it was the only reason, I wouldn’t have taken the time.”

He’s yakuza, even if he no longer has a family. He can appreciate practicality and strategy, even ruthlessness, and he doesn’t find any of it to be a bad thing or anything objectionable on its own. Some things can be given no quarter.

But he nods in appreciation for the compliment. Lark’s respect is something he values.

“Thank you for being willing to explain to me. Especially after others have been unwilling to listen.” He does appreciate that as something that can be difficult in and of itself. And it speaks, honestly, to Lark believing in him and his judgement, something he’s glad to see after their discussion earlier.

[ukan]

"We'll keep looking. We'll find people who are willing to hear you out." And at this point it is 'you', not 'we'--their ideas are extremely similar, but Lark has positioned himself as an adversary to many of the other wardens. It's strategic but that doesn't mean there aren't downsides.

[lone_horse]

The only indication that he’s picked up on that choice is a raise of an eyebrow. But the twist in his lip says that he appreciates it. That’s something he can understand: dividing up and conquering, different parts of a team playing different roles.

His urge to ask him for a fight hasn’t flagged one bit.

“Should I make more tea?”

Because they can keep talking. Off or on screen!