[Day 1 - Early Evening] Making an Impression, Park Area (RP thread)

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Hrm! Both an interesting and difficult question. Well," she shrugs, "I'm not an easy person. I have too much energy to burn. That's my main trait, I think. Not an overachiever, definitely not, but capable. Not a genius, but not stupid either. I guess that I am just the average courtier. Perhaps just a bit prettier and certainly a whole more talkative."

Akiro nodded, chuckling a bit at that last. "I've noticed, actually." He didn't specify which.

Then he shrugged again. "Energy can be good. It's all in how you burn it, I suppose. Some people apply themselves to things. Others don't." He shook his head. "But most people are somewhere in the middle. Which I suppose is average, although that doesn't mean uninteresting."

Akiro glanced briefly around, eyes narrowed, before looking back to Senshuken. "So what do you do when you're not racing cars, Bayushi-san?" He blinked. "Or is it cars?" She'd made it sound like it might not be.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Akiro nodded, chuckling a bit at that last. "I've noticed, actually." He didn't specify which.

Then he shrugged again. "Energy can be good. It's all in how you burn it, I suppose. Some people apply themselves to things. Others don't." He shook his head. "But most people are somewhere in the middle. Which I suppose is average, although that doesn't mean uninteresting."

Akiro glanced briefly around, eyes narrowed, before looking back to Senshuken. "So what do you do when you're not racing cars, Bayushi-san?" He blinked. "Or is it cars?" She'd made it sound like it might not be.

"Bikes. It's bikes." She winks. "Well, I am a courtier by trade as I mentioned. A bit of a gamer and a musician. Apart from that..." She seems playfully thoughtful. "Well, I'm a drinker, I never miss a party and I'm apparently an almost baby killer if someone is inclined to believe the rumors."

[Yasuki Taraka]

While you might expect a fish to be in the koi pond, a flying battle carp went where it pleased. Yasuki Taraka was swimming in the social waters, drink in hand. She'd gone traditional for her attire, she was representing the business in front of the governor, after all. Her movements suggested she was not unused to dressed in such, and it looked good on her. Still, she'd probably change into something a bit more modern after the event.

She glanced over the area, looking for opportunities. A Hiruma and a Scorpion were locked in conversation, possible customers. But over there, that was the infamous Yasuki Kaito. Pretty to look at, but dreadful to talk to if word on the street was to be believed. But his star was on the rise again with Silver Fin Chill. Someone with a platform that could help the business...or wreck it if things went poorly.

She sipped her drink, considering the possibilities.

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Bikes. It's bikes." She winks. "Well, I am a courtier by trade as I mentioned. A bit of a gamer and a musician. Apart from that..." She seems playfully thoughtful. "Well, I'm a drinker, I never miss a party and I'm apparently an almost baby killer if someone is inclined to believe the rumors."

"Ah, bikes. Of course. The alloy. I should have remembered." Akiro inclined his head politely.

He nodded again as Senshuken went on. "A gamer, hmmm? There's an arcade- wait, baby killer?" Akiro paused, blinking, as his mind caught up to the last of what Senshuken had said.

Then his pale eyes lit with understanding. "Oh. I think I heard something..." Grimacing, he waved his non-cocktail holding hand. "Well. It isn't proper to overly concern oneself with rumors. And you did tell me you like to go fast."

He was silent for a few moments. "I play a bit of flute." He offered.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Ah, bikes. Of course. The alloy. I should have remembered." Akiro inclined his head politely.

He nodded again as Senshuken went on. "A gamer, hmmm? There's an arcade- wait, baby killer?" Akiro paused, blinking, as his mind caught up to the last of what Senshuken had said.

Then his pale eyes lit with understanding. "Oh. I think I heard something..." Grimacing, he waved his non-cocktail holding hand. "Well. It isn't proper to overly concern oneself with rumors. And you did tell me you like to go fast."

He was silent for a few moments. "I play a bit of flute." He offered.

"Oh nice! I play the samisen. Any particular genre you enjoy playing? Or listening to?"

"To be honest I have already dropped by the arcade. The weather this morning! My options were limited."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

A bunch of samurai making polite short talk. The constraints of etiquette preventing them from yet approaching the governor, despite the fact she was a baddie!
(It was perhaps a good thing Ochiba's internal monologue, despite its best efforts, could not make it to the surface all the time).

Striding up in her courtly best, which was an outrageous mix of colours and fashions the Mantis went straight for Ayame.

"Governor-samurai" A deep bow held politely. "I am Ochiba of the Yoritomo, thank you for your invitation to your esteemed domain and this gathering. I understand if your duties are far too many to spare any time for one as lowly as myself, however I felt compelled to say-"
Far more bluntly.
"-I really like your outfit. Like, damn. Not sure I could pull it off."

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Oh nice! I play the samisen. Any particular genre you enjoy playing? Or listening to?"

"To be honest I have already dropped by the arcade. The weather this morning! My options were limited."

"Hmph." Akiro grimaced. "I spend some time in Crane space as part of an officer exchange program. It's given me a taste for traditional music. And, somewhat unfortunately, Crane music. The traditional sort. Not Usagi Drop! and such." He waved a dismissive hand.

"I haven't actually been to the arcade in quite some time, myself. Not since before my gempukku. I remember it as being fun. But, well, duty, travel." Another grimace. "Still, I preferred the morning, when it's less crowded. The evening can be its own sort of rowdy fun. That's not really for me."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Hmph." Akiro grimaced. "I spend some time in Crane space as part of an officer exchange program. It's given me a taste for traditional music. And, somewhat unfortunately, Crane music. The traditional sort. Not Usagi Drop! and such." He waved a dismissive hand.

"I haven't actually been to the arcade in quite some time, myself. Not since before my gempukku. I remember it as being fun. But, well, duty, travel." Another grimace. "Still, I preferred the morning, when it's less crowded. The evening can be its own sort of rowdy fun. That's not really for me."

"R pop isn't my cup of tea either, but I can admire unlimited cuteness when I see it. I would never say no to an Usagi Drop poster or video, but I'm not so sure about the music. I had actually met one of their members briefly in a previous assignment. The Asahina boy. Such a cutie."

"How was it like? Serving with the Crane?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Yasuki Kaito was in attendance and found himself in this area of the gardens. He was dressed in a more casual outfit. He expected that visitors would be tripping themselves up in wearing something that was formal to either show off or impress the governor. However, Kaito didn't need to seek out attention and thought it was best to represent the more relaxed side of the islanders in the Tango province.

He took out a cigarette from his case and lit it as he watched the proceedings with a Kinsenka whiskey sour. Despite inhalers and various vaporizers being the modern means of smoking, it seemed that Yasuki still preferred traditional cigarettes. Studies dictated they had a higher percentage of smokers among the Crab, too.

Taraka had made up her mind to speak with Kaito. She was sure she could handle him. Praise his looks, praise his skills, work him around to her side to get some footage of flying battle carps. The plan was all set and she was clearly approaching him....

When a Mantis ran up and hit on the governor.

Taraka's eyes went a thataway.

"Oh, this is going to be......interesting." she said, ready for the drama. All she lacked was popcorn.

[Bayushi Kazushi]

Bayushi Kazushi retires to the park area after his impression, and his frustration with himself is almost palpable.

[Hiruma Akiro]

"R pop isn't my cup of tea either, but I can admire unlimited cuteness when I see it. I would never say no to an Usagi Drop poster or video, but I'm not so sure about the music. I had actually met one of their members briefly in a previous assignment. The Asahina boy. Such a cutie."

"How was it like? Serving with the Crane?"

"Hmph." Akiro made a noncommittal noise on the subject of cuteness. It wasn't an objection to Usagi Drop! cuteness, but more all of cuteness as a concept. "Did you? Asahina Hinata?" Akiro half-smiled, half-grimaced. "I know all their names, of course. It may not be my sort of music, but I was stationed in Crane space. I could hardly avoid learning all about them."

"It was fine." Akiro shrugged. "I fit in better than one might expect, although I stayed conscious of the fact that I was a Crab among Crane. In truth, I admire how they comport themselves. Very orderly, if a bit overdesigned."

He looked around again. "There's more people here than I expected. The Governor's idea seems to be a popular one."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Hmph." Akiro made a noncommittal noise on the subject of cuteness. It wasn't an objection to Usagi Drop! cuteness, but more all of cuteness as a concept. "Did you? Asahina Hinata?" Akiro half-smiled, half-grimaced. "I know all their names, of course. It may not be my sort of music, but I was stationed in Crane space. I could hardly avoid learning all about them."

"It was fine." Akiro shrugged. "I fit in better than one might expect, although I stayed conscious of the fact that I was a Crab among Crane. In truth, I admire how they comport themselves. Very orderly, if a bit overdesigned."

He looked around again. "There's more people here than I expected. The Governor's idea seems to be a popular one."

She looks around her. "Do you want to mingle?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime made her way back from her presentation and made it straight for the bar

''Original Sin please, on the rocks.'' she laid back observing the company until it became clear that the staff did not know how to make the cocktail. ''Original Lager then, thanks.''

She grimaced but softened back once she had her beer in hand

---
ping for interactions thx!

[Yasuki Ayame]

A bunch of samurai making polite short talk. The constraints of etiquette preventing them from yet approaching the governor, despite the fact she was a baddie!
(It was perhaps a good thing Ochiba's internal monologue, despite its best efforts, could not make it to the surface all the time).

Striding up in her courtly best, which was an outrageous mix of colours and fashions the Mantis went straight for Ayame.

"Governor-samurai" A deep bow held politely. "I am Ochiba of the Yoritomo, thank you for your invitation to your esteemed domain and this gathering. I understand if your duties are far too many to spare any time for one as lowly as myself, however I felt compelled to say-"
Far more bluntly.
"-I really like your outfit. Like, damn. Not sure I could pull it off."

After the whole round of introductions and the flurry of gifts, Ayame was very much in the mood for drinks and was hiding out at one of the open bar. Perhaps that could explain why perhaps she hadn't been approached yet, or perhaps they did indeed find her intimidating. She was just about to get herself a glass of beer when the Mantis approached her with a bow. There was a glint of amusement on her face at first before she recipricated with a smaller bow of her own.

"Why, hello, Yoritomo-san," she said with a smooth smile on her lips, recalling the gift that was presented to hear earlier. "At ease, there. You already gave thanks to me with your gift already but it's good to hear from you personally. I'm not so sure that I could have much of a conversation with your gold board. I'm actually just about to have a drink actually, have one with me. How about a Kinsenka Gold lager for the both of us."

She gave a pat on the bar space beside her to solidify her invitation as something more than just polite pleasantries.

With one hand placed under her chin as if to frame herself resting on the back of her hand while the other opened her blazer to show off more of her outfit. "You like my outfit? Thank you. Not something I typically wear at the office but far better than a thousand layer of silk and a headdress," she gave Ochiba a playful wink at the thought she could look like a stuffy traditional governor.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Having given her gift, Suh-Hyun slipped back into the crowd. In as much as a six foot tall lady covered in shiny embroidery, a few ribbons, and small little metal discs could slip into a crowd. She took an offered drink and eyed the crowd, preparing herself for the bloody battlefield of 'reception party - upper class'.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

Probably only an offer of 'free money right here' would get Ochiba hopping up anywhere, so the Governor's invitation is warmly welcomed as she plops herself down next to Ayame.

"I'm told that gifts have all sorts of things to say and you can read deep and deeper into them and the lines of the coin in the fish's side and- yeah it's a bit easier to just have a talk. I'd be more than happy to try the Kinsenka, I hear good things."

Admiring said outfit.
"Well, I'm no expert like yourself on what a governor should or shouldn't wear. But uhh, you know it-" searching for the right words. "-you have to dress to suit what you got, so the last governor I met, this fat old guy...you know the stockings look would have had a different vibe."

And then Ayame actually winked at her, sweet fortunes. After a few moments the Mantis realises she's been sitting happily silent dreamily looking at the governor.
"Uhh, speaking of different vibes. I'm told you served? If it's not too dark a drain on the mood I'd be interested in that? Sniper, right? That's serious stuff."

[Hiruma Akiro]

She looks around her. "Do you want to mingle?"

"No." Akiro said, very honestly, giving the Scorpion a quick smile. "But I wonder if I ought to. All that Crane schooling, after all. I fancy myself reasonably adept at it."

There was a brief pause.

"But I don't especially care for it." He grimaced. "A good negotiation I enjoy, working out a map or drawing a treaty. This sort of thing always felt a bit too much like play for me." He glanced at Senshuken. "I hope that doesn't sound to provincial to you."

[Yasuki Ayame]

Probably only an offer of 'free money right here' would get Ochiba hopping up anywhere, so the Governor's invitation is warmly welcomed as she plops herself down next to Ayame.

"I'm told that gifts have all sorts of things to say and you can read deep and deeper into them and the lines of the coin in the fish's side and- yeah it's a bit easier to just have a talk. I'd be more than happy to try the Kinsenka, I hear good things."

Admiring said outfit.
"Well, I'm no expert like yourself on what a governor should or shouldn't wear. But uhh, you know it-" searching for the right words. "-you have to dress to suit what you got, so the last governor I met, this fat old guy...you know the stockings look would have had a different vibe."

And then Ayame actually winked at her, sweet fortunes. After a few moments the Mantis realises she's been sitting happily silent dreamily looking at the governor.
"Uhh, speaking of different vibes. I'm told you served? If it's not too dark a drain on the mood I'd be interested in that? Sniper, right? That's serious stuff."

Ayame likely assumed that Ochiba was going to accept and was already holding up two fingers to indicate two beers for the ladies. In the situation, Ochiba didn't want a beer, it wasn't like two lagers were a tall order to finish anyway. She crossed her legs and placed an elbow on the counter so that she leaned slightly forward to give Ochiba an appraising gaze. That sort of look might have been expected from a Yasuki courtier, if she were one, and only if they were inspecting a purchase.

"...But how did you know that he didn't vibe with wearing stockings, Yoritomo-san?" She smirked at the amusing thought before giving a defensive shrug. "Hey, I'm not going to judge. I'd like to think that fashion has something more with how you own it."

"Uh-huh," Ayame gave a few small nods at the question, sitting back straight again, her face looking rather serious. "I was elected top marksman of my dojo when I graduated. I did two tours on Wolf's Eye and about five tours on Naraku. I don't know if we've ever declared war on Naraku, but it is a constant warzone. As serious as death."

Eventually, both tall glasses of beer were placed before them to give some levity to the conversation, easily bringing back Ayame's smile from before. She grinned and readily grabbed her glass. "Now, you tell me, what do Mantis typically toast to?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Oh...yeah no, he'd used some strong language beforehand that kind of led us to worry about his vibe. But fair point Yasuki-sama, maybe he'd have worn them better under better circumstances."

Ochiba listens with complete attention to Ayame's reports of her time on the frontlines.
"Top marksman huh? No wonder you hit my heart dead center first time That's impressive given the dojo, since Hiruma spend all the time everyone else does smiling on learning to shoot better."

She happily accepts her glass and raises it as the Governor raises hers.
"Sometimes we'd toast to the strength to ride out the storm, or to prosperity ahead. But on this world Yasuki-sama, I can't think of better than toasting Osano-Wo-no-fortune. May his thunder never cease and may it continue to clear the way forward for both our clans, as it has always done."
With a grin.
"Kanpai!"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"No." Akiro said, very honestly, giving the Scorpion a quick smile. "But I wonder if I ought to. All that Crane schooling, after all. I fancy myself reasonably adept at it."

There was a brief pause.

"But I don't especially care for it." He grimaced. "A good negotiation I enjoy, working out a map or drawing a treaty. This sort of thing always felt a bit too much like play for me." He glanced at Senshuken. "I hope that doesn't sound to provincial to you."

"Well then why don't we mix things up? Let's mingle together, as a team. We can meet new people and continue the conversation. What do you think? Anyone particular we should approach?"