[D1 LM] Carpe Per Diem

[Otomo Koroshi]

Having changed out of his workout clothes, bathed, and otherwise began the day, the Otomo had changed into his golden coin outfit. Black suit with many hundred of tiny golden pieces of reflective plastic sewn into the fabric, and tiny mirrors at the top of the shoulders and down the back. It looked like someone had thrown particularly large pieces of golden confetti all over him. This was not helped by a large shiny mouse-ear headband, also in gold.

Koroshi stalked the shrine with the air of confidence found in the truly ignorant. He was planning on lighting a hundred candles for each blessing the day provided to him.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Having changed out of his workout clothes, bathed, and otherwise began the day, the Otomo had changed into his golden coin outfit. Black suit with many hundred of tiny golden pieces of reflective plastic sewn into the fabric, and tiny mirrors at the top of the shoulders and down the back. It looked like someone had thrown particularly large pieces of golden confetti all over him. This was not helped by a large shiny mouse-ear headband, also in gold.

Koroshi stalked the shrine with the air of confidence found in the truly ignorant. He was planning on lighting a hundred candles for each blessing the day provided to him.

Perhaps for the first time in a while Ochiba was not the most overdressed person in a room. In fact unusually, it wasn’t even close.

The Mantis was dressed if not somberly than appropriately, traditional hakama, a traditionalist shirt. No improper jewellery.

In fact the Mantis had been making rounds at the temple for some time, tossing coins into slots and silently seeking the Fortune’s wisdom with barely even a curse or threat of violence.

All of that ended of course when she turned around and saw the Otomo.

“Holy shit.” Flushing, she looks guilty back at the statue behind her.
“I mean… oh, what are you… why are you wearing mouse ears?”
Her eyes narrow, imperial or not…
“You’re not disrespecting the fortune, are yah?”

[Otomo Koroshi]

Perhaps for the first time in a while Ochiba was not the most overdressed person in a room. In fact unusually, it wasn’t even close.

The Mantis was dressed if not somberly than appropriately, traditional hakama, a traditionalist shirt. No improper jewellery.

In fact the Mantis had been making rounds at the temple for some time, tossing coins into slots and silently seeking the Fortune’s wisdom with barely even a curse or threat of violence.

All of that ended of course when she turned around and saw the Otomo.

“Holy shit.” Flushing, she looks guilty back at the statue behind her.
“I mean… oh, what are you… why are you wearing mouse ears?”
Her eyes narrow, imperial or not…
“You’re not disrespecting the fortune, are yah?”

He turned around so quickly looking for whoever might even slightly be disrespecting the Fortune. Suspicious eyes passed over the space before he realized she had been talking to him.

"Never in ten-thousand years! This humble servant has never even entertained the thought of being anything less than respectul, humble, reverent, pious, and fearful of the awesome powers and responsibilities of the Seven Fortunes!" In contrast to the ears, it was clear he had put on eyeliner when one drew close enough, bringing out his eyes even when they narrowed at the Mantis.

"The ears are so I can hear better. And who are you to be throwing around insinuations?!" He patted one of them lovingly.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He turned around so quickly looking for whoever might even slightly be disrespecting the Fortune. Suspicious eyes passed over the space before he realized she had been talking to him.

"Never in ten-thousand years! This humble servant has never even entertained the thought of being anything less than respectul, humble, reverent, pious, and fearful of the awesome powers and responsibilities of the Seven Fortunes!" In contrast to the ears, it was clear he had put on eyeliner when one drew close enough, bringing out his eyes even when they narrowed at the Mantis.

"The ears are so I can hear better. And who are you to be throwing around insinuations?!" He patted one of them lovingly.

“For hearing better???” She continues glaring across, clearly trying to work out if she was being mocked.

“How… that wouldn’t work.”
Although looking a little less sure of herself after the imperial had come back swinging.

“I’m Ochiba of the Yoritomo and I take paying my respects very seriously. Don’t want people making fun of such stuff.”

Begrudgingly
“Although obviously, no problem if people are just being faithful in their own way.”

[Otomo Koroshi]

“For hearing better???” She continues glaring across, clearly trying to work out if she was being mocked.

“How… that wouldn’t work.”
Although looking a little less sure of herself after the imperial had come back swinging.

“I’m Ochiba of the Yoritomo and I take paying my respects very seriously. Don’t want people making fun of such stuff.”

Begrudgingly
“Although obviously, no problem if people are just being faithful in their own way.”

He snapped a smart bow that probably blinded someone before offering his own introduction.

"I am Otomo Koroshi, son of Otomo Hajime and Otomo Karen, priest trained by the Isawa, and devotee of the ancestors, Thousand Fortunes, and follower of the Tao."

He took only a moment to take off the ears and hold them out to her. "Daikoku-no-kami's rat is a well-known figure in his iconography, its ears listening all the time to the wise Fortune's words. Gold is the Fortune's metal! Thus the ears guide the Fortune's voice to be better heard! Go on and try, you will hear."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He snapped a smart bow that probably blinded someone before offering his own introduction.

"I am Otomo Koroshi, son of Otomo Hajime and Otomo Karen, priest trained by the Isawa, and devotee of the ancestors, Thousand Fortunes, and follower of the Tao."

He took only a moment to take off the ears and hold them out to her. "Daikoku-no-kami's rat is a well-known figure in his iconography, its ears listening all the time to the wise Fortune's words. Gold is the Fortune's metal! Thus the ears guide the Fortune's voice to be better heard! Go on and try, you will hear."

“Oh… Otomo-sama, and a priest.”
She bows back very deeply, even if her eyes widen at the offered ears

“Well, suppose I don’t know everything about how the fortune is worshipped… big empire.”
With a sigh, she accepts the ears and after a moment gingerly puts them on her head feeling more than a little ridiculous.

Grumbling
“Someone takes a photo of me in these they better be able to run real fast.”
Then she closes her eyes and makes a show of trying to ‘hear’ through the ears.

[Otomo Koroshi]

“Oh… Otomo-sama, and a priest.”
She bows back very deeply, even if her eyes widen at the offered ears

“Well, suppose I don’t know everything about how the fortune is worshipped… big empire.”
With a sigh, she accepts the ears and after a moment gingerly puts them on her head feeling more than a little ridiculous.

Grumbling
“Someone takes a photo of me in these they better be able to run real fast.”
Then she closes her eyes and makes a show of trying to ‘hear’ through the ears.

The Otomo leaned forward surreptitiously and whispered with surprising softness into her ear. "You are strong, you are smart, you will achieve what you set out to do. Success waits just around the corner."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

The Otomo leaned forward surreptitiously and whispered with surprising softness into her ear. "You are strong, you are smart, you will achieve what you set out to do. Success waits just around the corner."

There is a terrifying half moment where it looks like Ochiba is going to get arrested for instinctively breaking an Imperial’s nose. Certainly there’s a brief bioluminescent glow from the tattoos on her arms.

Thankfully the fact she wasn’t primed for violence and they’re in a temple stays the Mantis’ hands for long enough that she can appreciate the humour… she was pretty sure it was humour, from the Otomo.

“Ha! Okay, you got me. That’s a nice message to hear, although I say something similar every day I wake up. But you need to be careful Otomo-sama, some samurai can be a bit touchy about personal space. Nearly broke your nose there… although obviously out of reflex, wouldn’t lay a hand on a priest otherwise.”

Slightly mollified, she allows herself to relax
“Maybe I’m just not up with what the core worlds are doing these days. I’m assuming you’ve come for the big investment get together?”

[Otomo Koroshi]

There is a terrifying half moment where it looks like Ochiba is going to get arrested for instinctively breaking an Imperial’s nose. Certainly there’s a brief bioluminescent glow from the tattoos on her arms.

"Hai! I am here on business, though it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance." Koroshi dropped back to a further, more polite distance at her words.

"I will remember your words, and store them as I stored my Yoritomo-sensei's words. She also had much to say in the subject of courtesy. Truly the Mantis are paragons of proper manners!" He clapped and bowed to her again.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Hai! I am here on business, though it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance." Koroshi dropped back to a further, more polite distance at her words.

"I will remember your words, and store them as I stored my Yoritomo-sensei's words. She also had much to say in the subject of courtesy. Truly the Mantis are paragons of proper manners!" He clapped and bowed to her again.

"Uhh." Blink, another squint. "Yeah, I guess we're good at getting right to the heart of things, sometimes speaking blunt is a kind of courtesy, doesn't wast peoples' time."

She stands still for a few more moments trying to work out how on earth to carry on a conversation with the Otomo before she remembers the rat ears and hurriedly snatches them off.

"So, you trained with a Yoritomo? One of our navigators, maybe? Best in the empire, and they can throw some meaning lightning when pressed."
Holding up an arm.
"Me too, just not quite so well."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"No, my training was with a university run by the Elemental Council, mostly Phoenix with a couple of Yogo and Kuni, and a singular Asahina." Koroshi explained with an easy smile. He did not seem to stick to a single mood for very long.

"Yoritomo-sensei is Yoritomo ne Watanabe Seika, she is a researcher into kami-forges and power generation. Though now she runs a laboratory, and has people doing most of the research for her. We have been communicating about a long-term project, and she gave me a lesson in manners once. Hence -sensei." Why use few wood when many word do trick?

He reached for the ears while continuing, "Not that I have anything but the highest respect for the Yoritomo navigators! I have only practiced moving in the void under the guidance of instructors, in well worn paths so to speak. Doing so into the great unknown is a hundred times more challenging I am told. But, tell me about yourself Yoritomo-san! Why this planet? Why this shrine?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Oh, you're doing research and stuff. Makes sense, at least it's for something useful."

She hands the ears back gratefully, before looking a little surprised at Koroshi's question.
"This planet? Uhhh I was posted here. Well, more accurate to say I was changing my duties and a slot was open here so I took it. It sounds pleasant, work was supposed to be easy, weather was supposed to be good."
Ochiba glares at the rain outside.

"And the shrine? The Fortune has always favoured me, and no sailor worth their rice is gonna neglect the fortunes before or after a voyage. It's why I was so hot under the collar about any potential disrespect. But you're a priest yourself, I'm sure you understand that sort of thing?"

Regaining a little of her usual confidence
"It must be rare for someone of your family to be all the way out here? No duties back on the homeworld?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"My parents have been working tirelessly to arrange my advancement, and thus my role here. My previous assignment was to the World of Dreams, and my performance was well received by my superior. Thus, another off-world assignment was deemed proper." The Otomo explained how it had been explained to him. His parent's efforts had been obvious on account of how often they had left the house to speak to very important people about his next assignment.

"And there is generally an Otomo anywhere that the clans gather. One of my cousins was spontaneously generated when four ships collided at the edge of a star system." He paused before continuing.

"What was your previous duty? Mine was assisting the tax services on World of Dreams."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"My parents have been working tirelessly to arrange my advancement, and thus my role here. My previous assignment was to the World of Dreams, and my performance was well received by my superior. Thus, another off-world assignment was deemed proper." The Otomo explained how it had been explained to him. His parent's efforts had been obvious on account of how often they had left the house to speak to very important people about his next assignment.

"And there is generally an Otomo anywhere that the clans gather. One of my cousins was spontaneously generated when four ships collided at the edge of a star system." He paused before continuing.

"What was your previous duty? Mine was assisting the tax services on World of Dreams."

Ochiba sniggers at that, having never guessed an Otomo would or could have a sense of humour.
"Hehehe, worse ways to come into the world I guess. World of Dreams? That is a rough town." This is emphasised with a slashing motion from one hand.

"Must have done something right for that to work out well. My own duties are a bit less glamour."
In a fairly neutral tone.
"I work space salvage, XO on a ship that plies the void between the stars picking up what we can when the timing is right. Rarely glamorous, but often profitable. And there's no-one better in the business than my family."

She indicates the path around the shine towards one of the smaller rooms devoted to related but less celebrated fortunes if the Otomo would like to walk and talk, clearly the Mantis was getting antsy in the same spot for too long.
"Ever seen Mantis crews close up?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"World of Dreams is an excellent place to learn all that the Empire has to offer. Though I do not recommend all the streetfood, highly unsanitary at times." Koroshi shrugged with a shiny movement of his shoulders. Walking and talking was accepted with the energy he brought to everything.

"I have not had the pleasure! Please describe everything, every single detail!"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"World of Dreams is an excellent place to learn all that the Empire has to offer. Though I do not recommend all the streetfood, highly unsanitary at times." Koroshi shrugged with a shiny movement of his shoulders. Walking and talking was accepted with the energy he brought to everything.

"I have not had the pleasure! Please describe everything, every single detail!"

"Every uh, detail? Even the cramped bathrooms and the bawdy songs and the very unsamurai-like conduct?"
The two, one of them a moving disco ball pass out of the main area and into an adjacent room depicting....Daikoku's rat. Which Ochiba automatically glares at before catching herself and bowing her head and tossing a golden coin into the offering slot below the shrine.

"Can't imagine a noble samurai such as yourself would want to hear about that?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Every uh, detail? Even the cramped bathrooms and the bawdy songs and the very unsamurai-like conduct?"
The two, one of them a moving disco ball pass out of the main area and into an adjacent room depicting....Daikoku's rat. Which Ochiba automatically glares at before catching herself and bowing her head and tossing a golden coin into the offering slot below the shrine.

"Can't imagine a noble samurai such as yourself would want to hear about that?"

Koroshi goes through a strange dance-like ritual before offering his own coins to the rodent shrine. Then more ritual dancing as he backs away before speaking to her again.

"Everything! One cannot pretend everyone acts in accordance with bushido every moment of the day. Just this morning I acted impulsively and almost ended up causing the dishonorable conduct of another before the mistaken identity was cleared up. Hence, to better understand and then change, one must know!" He pumped the air with vigor at this.

"But I have asked something too broad again? I am trying to stop doing so! How about you tell me of the last fight you had with an opponent worth fighting!?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Otomo-sama dances...with vigour? Do you attend parties? Social events? And do you also wear costumes for them?"
Ochiba has her head half cocked and eyes slightly narrowed in thought. Getting an Otomo to her party would be a big statement.

"Worthy opponent? Big Daigotsu, boarding axe, missing a couple teeth. Came at me from the side as we burst into the airlock, nearly took my head off."
Her mouth twists slightly at the memory.
"Ducked the first blow, stepped in close, he hit me in the side of the head with the shaft, had a bruise for a week. But then I shot him 4...maybe 5 times center mass and he went down. Shot him a couple more times to be sure, moved on."
Bluntly
"Scaring fucking bushi...ah shit..." contrite she tosses yet another coin to the rat and performs the ritual again.

"Hard to remember to stay proper all the time, right. Let's keep going, can't give it all to the rat aspect."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Otomo-sama dances...with vigour? Do you attend parties? Social events? And do you also wear costumes for them?"
Ochiba has her head half cocked and eyes slightly narrowed in thought. Getting an Otomo to her party would be a big statement.

"Worthy opponent? Big Daigotsu, boarding axe, missing a couple teeth. Came at me from the side as we burst into the airlock, nearly took my head off."
Her mouth twists slightly at the memory.
"Ducked the first blow, stepped in close, he hit me in the side of the head with the shaft, had a bruise for a week. But then I shot him 4...maybe 5 times center mass and he went down. Shot him a couple more times to be sure, moved on."
Bluntly
"Scaring fucking bushi...ah shit..." contrite she tosses yet another coin to the rat and performs the ritual again.

"Hard to remember to stay proper all the time, right. Let's keep going, can't give it all to the rat aspect."

"One cannot help but dance! But no, I don't wear costumes. Though, I think I wore one to a masked party on World of Dreams. It was required to put on a mask." Koroshi replied with a thoughtful nod, walking from the chamber and letting his feet follow their own whims. The sparks of light that struck in every direction as he caught the lamps shimmered like rolling stars.

"Daigotsu are the Spider family, I believe. I met a collection of Spider, surprisingly all of them were Susumu though. Perhaps you have been too effective at killing them?" He laughed at that idea.

"Does salvage work often involve fighting? Or is salvage a euphemism? I have been learning about euphemisms."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"It was really only the one Daigotsu, think I'd have folks coming after me if I went after a whole family like that."
Ochiba was still in mild awe of someone who appeared even more gaudy than her. The two take a few twists and turns until they reach a slightly smaller but no less elaborate shrine with an open wall facing the ocean and the distant beach.
A depiction of Isora, fortune of the searshore was present and it looked like devotees had donated seashells and driftwood as well as koku.

"Interesting question, Otomo-sama, about the salvage. You see, some things are euphemisms, and the exact same thing is or isn't a euphemism depending on the company. Like, this is a temple and you are an Otomo. So when I say salvage it's definitely salvage, but maybe to some other folks it could mean something else, like taking salvage that someone already had, see?"