As I work on calling forth the strands of fate into threads that could form the Loom, a rather obvious disturbance pressure thrums those strands as another presence makes itself known. Funny. That wasn't in the skeins of fate as I'd been able to judge them. Perhaps I'd simply misread them, after all, they were quite different than what I was used to molding and shaping. That combined with the fact that there was no Loom for me to read against and the fact that I was forced to work with causality strands at best meant that my ability to tell where the future was supposed to be before the intervention of those outside Fate was highly limited. There was also the other possibility, of course, that this intruder...or rightful owner, given the fact that Kishar sort of just seemed to just set up here without any real concern for other people's possible claims to the land, was a being outside Fate, not subject to the purview of the causality system of this world. I hoped that wasn't the case. Beings outside Fate tended to be such troublesome existences that just caused havoc for everything else. Still, the best way was to go and check it out.

Walking outside, I don't trouble himself with activating any preparatory charms or forms. While they might be helpful should hostilities break out, I'd really rather spend the willpower on more important things than this...though I held the Elder Sutra of the Charcoal March of Spiders at the ready should it prove necessary. I wasn't looking for a fight, I had work to do, after all, a fight could eventually prove necessary. And while I definitely preferred the elegance of the Prismatic Arrangement for my primary fighting style, Charcoal March was more...immediately effective in a fight. And that's what this would likely be, a conversation that hopefully escalates no further, but that I would be willing to end should that prove necessary. I ponder talking to Kishar about it, but I decide against it. Likely she had her own means of detection, and, frankly, the longer her interference in a delicate matter like this could be delayed, the better. Still, she'd doubtlessly make an appearance at some point...that was just like her, and likely necessary to show just what was going on here.

As I walk away from the manse, he sees a tall, skinny man standing there, observing the situation. "Heya!" I call, waving my hand eagerly in the air. I run out to meet him, deliberately seeming to act human as I spend a bit of my essence on a simple trick of those who called themselves Fate's Guardian. My presence seemed to diminish and I seemed harmless and without any threat. Such things were important when dealing with people that didn't respond well to intimidation, which was more often than not and something that would make itself known. Panting a bit in mock exhaustion as I make it out to him, I grin. "Heya! I...we weren't expecting any visitors. Can I show you inside? I'll get some tea going! Ah, but things just aren't prepared to receive guests, it would be scandalous...hrm..." I sigh, in expertly portrayed distress. "Oh, but to walk all the way out here, I'm sure you have business! How silly of me! Could we take care of it here? I can show you inside if you like, or we could have a reception out here! Whichever works best for you." Giving him a bow, I smile. "My name's Shinzo. Shinzo Kata. I'm happy to be of service in any way I can!"

Internally, I wince. A bunch of things stacked on top of each other...that was unfortunate. Either he was extraordinarily good at seeing just who I was, or he had an indomitable will to be able to force the effects of my Lion Mouse Strategem aside. Still, outside of hmy internal reflection, I keep perfectly poised and maintain the mask I was wearing. "Lord? Oh, perish the thought. I'm just a humble bureaucrat..." I nod as he states his desire to go inside. "But of course. I'd be happy to lead the way."

As I lead the man towards the manse, I tilt my head over to the man. "If you're going to call me something like Lord, though, I wonder if you'd be willing to talk to me about just what reason you have for coming here? I confess, I'm rather curious. We weren't expecting guests, after all." Really, if this guy was going to be all silent and mysterious, that was fine, but still, it was rather rude. I could be patient though, that tended to be the best way to defuse awkward situations.

Nodding along with his statements, I frown. Was it really such a disturbance? I could've sworn by now Kishar would have it tied to the Shinma and the surrounding earth, while the knots in causality, while severe and tangled, were gradually loosening. The fact that there was someone so attuned to it that it's mere presence as a 'bump' as it were like this enclave of Creation in this continent of Eokia was a frightful thing. While the Exalted were strong, we were hardly alone at our level of power. Beings such as the Third Circle Demons of the Yozi and the more dangerous of the Raksha nobles could prove to be our match, and the Incarnae and Primordials were generally our betters, though through our focus and determination we could overcome them by targeting their weaknesses and upending strength with skill. For all her faults, that was Merela's greatest accomplishment, and not one that anyone else could claim to have done successfully one on one.

"You do? That's quite fantastic!" I said, grinning. While it was potentially problematic, I couldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. "I have so much to ask you! Me and my compatriot, well, we're new here, so there's a great deal we don't know and a great deal we'd love to learn. Please, you must stay a while and talk about the spheres of reality and the systems that govern them. It'll make our experimentation so much more effective, and likely tie into our plans for future projects!" Hopefully he would be amenable to that...it'd turn a potentially awkward situation into one that could be mutually beneficial.

Not much of a talker at all. Too bad. Still, it wasn't off the table it seemed, so that was something. Unfortunately, that didn't leave me much to go with from here as they entered the structure. It was unfortunate, because as it was, he just outright wasn't telling me anything at all about what he needed, leaving me with nothing more than what I could glean from his stony demeanor. Well, in a situation like this, guess it was on me to try and fix. "Well, Mr...well, I don't think I got your name, did I?" I laugh, though I'm pretty sure it was intentional on his part, to keep that air of mystique I was left with chipping apart to try and get at something reasonable.

I tilt my head. "Anyway, I'm curious, still. Exactly what kinds of things are you looking for? It's kind of untoward to announce an inspection without saying what you're inspecting for, isn't it? There tend to be rules about these sorts of things, isn't there?" Grinning as he mentions being good at setting up their own systems, I just rub the back of my head. "Well, we're more used to doing things that way. But my partner is a lot better at it than I am." I shrug. "I'd help, but it's hard to without knowing, much of anything that's going on."

The man's words got nods and affirmations, but gradually, I could tell that I was losing patience. I wasn't being told anything...it was like the man was waiting for Kishar to catch wind of the situation and render any potential for amicable negotiation impossible. It made me want to tear my hair out, if I was going to deal with it, I wanted to make some understanding at least be underway before I needed to have a mixed position with a Solar who would, undoubtedly, not be keen on the idea of budging. "Ah, but I'm not sure that's necessary. You see, she is quite busy at work at the moment, and I think we both really would prefer if this got handled without having her need to be interrupted, you see...between you and me, she isn't the most reasonable sort in this sort of thing...she gets cranky, you understand." Hopefully that would maybe be enough to get him to take the damned hint, though unfortunately I couldn't be confident in that.

As he inquires about the changes made and my part in them, I just smile and shrug. "You'd be correct...superficially, at least. It's really more a matter of what it is that we specialize in." My smile widens into a grin. "My associate focuses in the manipulation of the World-That-Is. Where I am from, she is known as a Lawgiver, possessing the Creation-Ruling Mandate. That is why she excels at the manipulation of the physical, able to shape it into what you see." I shrug. "I, meanwhile, am one of the Glorious Viziers. I shape the world that will be, and the world that should be. Possibility is a part of that, a large part...but I believe the more accurate term would be Causality. How changes affect other things. How the world of the future is shaped from the occurrences of today. And the glitches and failures that threaten that future. That is my craft, and my role. To advise the Lawgivers as to bring about that future." I tilt my head. "And now that I've said this, I think it might be time for you to come clean as well, my friend. What is your role? What is your hand? I feel I've been very up-front with you, but I don't feel like I've received the same courtesy. I would of course prefer to keep things peaceable, but I also don't feel like letting myself be run over, you understand."

Now we were getting somewhere. "Well, that sounds a lot like my job when you get down to it, so I see where you're coming from." I shrug. "To you, it'd probably seem like we're beings Outside Fate that are just messing around with whatever they want, no better than some filthy Raksha." It made sense. I didn't like it, but it made sense. "It's nice that things are so self-corrective, though...that almost makes it sound like you shouldn't have a job, though. After all, if it's fine with the world and things are rippling off of it, it's no trouble, right?"

Toying around with his comparison as much as I wanted, though, that wouldn't get me where I needed to go. "So, what exactly is the situation. This patch of the world is different, and, well, we kind of need it to be different. Is there anything we can do to help smooth things over? That'd be ideal, I think."

I just shrug. "Well, that explains why you're here, at least. Though, I'm still curious about what exactly it is you'd want." I raise my hands in a conciliatory gesture. "I'm sure that's important, but you really should try and help me out here on this. Believe me, I'm a lot easier to compromise with on stuff like this than Kishar would be, you know?" It was a simple statement, but one that I had to impress on this guy the importance of. After all, she definitely wouldn't take too kindly to someone interfering with her experiments in the slightest, while really, I didn't care, so long as we could keep working without a problem, I could find a mutually beneficial arrangement.

At his question, though, I just shrug. "I mean, it works easier. This world's particles are too densely clustered. Where we're from, the Essence of all things is much freer, much less ordered and structured. After all, reality is magic, at it's base, the smallest common denominator is the Essence that fuels our very existences. Just freeing that essence and repatterning it into the way that works best for us makes us a lot more comfortable, you see. It doesn't do any harm, after all, humans are humans, and we have humans back where we're from too. If anything, it'd make them stronger too, and more likely to be able to access magic."