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

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Not the way birds do." he shook his head. "She does chirp and squeak. It sounds a bit like laughter when she's happy."

She smiled. "That sounds adorable! While drake drones... dravi-drones? ,,,, wouldn't likely be used in musical compositions, that sounds very sweet for a pet drone, perhaps to raise awareness or gather supporters to preserve the environment. A lovely gift."

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"It is something to consider." he nodded. "The aviary the drakes live in does have a few unique bird species, though. Perhaps I could get you some data regarding them."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Ah, tempting indeed.

"Goodness, they live in an aviary. And with birds!" New birds!

"I do think my patron would see the value in adding some dragon-planet native birds, and even the drakes, to the catalog. If the avi-drone pairs continue to be the fashion for cross-clan and cross-planet weddings, well, dragons marry too!"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Perhaps the Unicorn rubbed off too strongly on me then and I let the wind guide me wherever it wished...but I cannot complain too much. It guided me to this place and this lovely conversation. If I am lucky, it might also guide me to victory with one of your FBCs." He smile would grow mischievous for a moment before settling back. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind. I'll know which places to use for catering for those who are less earnest...and which ones to avoid should I seek to have a nice dinner with a keen mind."

Taraka smiled at the compliment. Sure it was a simple thing, but complimenting her mind was always going to earn more points than complimenting her looks (though that still was worth points to)

"Ah, speaking of keen minds, that was a pretty sharp gift presentation, Asako-san. Surprisingly personal. Do you have some sort of previous connection with the governor?" she asked.

[Yasuki Umiko]

Yakura smiled fondly. "Sounds lovely. I love Shiawese Island, even the weather, but sometimes I dream of returning to the Dice. Perhaps one day I'll do so." She glanced over to Umiko. "Perhaps one day I can show to Yasuki-sama?"

She turned back towards the Phoenix. "Oh, we have lovely card games you can play! Just please don't count the cards. You look smart. Smart people count the cards." She said with a small pout. "

Umiko joined in Yakura's smile with a good-natured laugh. "The local weather is constantly warm, sunny, and idyllic. Of course, there's a bit of an underlying temper that pops up from time to time, as evident with the downpour this morning," she said apologetically.

There was a Public Works proposal to have an umbrella available everywhere but the test run of that plan had several umbrellas missing, even when the island had less visitors about.

"Of course, Yoritomo-san. I would very much appreciate the guidance and company if I ever get the opportunity. Perhaps when there is another customs and tax agreement that needs to be finalized?" Well, if the Mantis were the winners of the bid, there would be even more reason but she wasn't going to put that out there.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"On the World of Dreams, the Scorpion have established the Tsukune no Saisei no Kibou Wildlife Sanctuary, to protect the endangered species of the planet. They have a wide assortment of animals." he explained. "I assisted one of the spiny drake trainers with a few things while we were there So, she may be willing to assist with a project that would support and promote their efforts."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Oh! A Scorpion planet." Still intriguing. Scorpion birds!

"I have met several Scorpion here. Folks I would be glad to speak to again. I think ... yes, I think at least one had spent time on World of Dreams. It's good to know the name of the sanctuary."

"So your adopted friend is there? On World of Dreams?"

"I would be glad for the contact information for the trainer that you worked with."

[Yasuki Kaito]

"That sounds lovely; let's do tomorrow, early evening?" Kisha offers. "And I'll be grateful for your insights into the island!"

She bows.

"But I know you're a busy man who must have many seeking him," she continues as she rises from the bow. "I won't keep you if you don't want to be kept."

And she smiles again. "I somehow doubt you're the kind of man who does want it."

"Good stuff, good stuff, that works for me," he smiled triumphantly as they honed in on an appointment together. There was a momentary gesture with an open hand when he was reminded of Bayushi Hinata at the club yesterday. However, either of them were Unicorn, or wanted to pretend to be Unicorn.

So, he converted that hand into a snap of his fingers and a finger gun.

"I'll even give you a header. You can word the article, 'Shiawase Neighbour Tells All'," he snickered. "Okay, maybe not all, but we'll talk."

"Nothing wrong with being kept, especially by the present company, Miya-san," he offered a smirk. "But you are right that I should get going. There's bound to be a traffic pile-up over by Ayame-chan if I don't get out of here soon enough, heh. See you around, Miya-san."

He would bow and make his way out.

His ordered umeshu would arrive for him, but he would continue on his way like it never belonged to him.

/exit

[Kakita Hiroki]

"Oh yes!" The Otomo said while pulling out his recorder to take a picture of the autograph with the Kakita in the background. When that was finished he got back up to his feet and gave a quick bow of thanks.

"Do not worry Kakita-sama, I can speak to the water kami about removing it tomorrow morning." He laughed with uncontrollable happiness as he looked at the picture on his device. "Asahina-sama was very impressive as well, though I did not think to ask him to sign my forehead! He was really very kind and friendly, you have good taste in bandmates."

Yes . . . I can see how you got on with Ta-kun.

Now convinced no secret Seppun would leap from the ornamental borders to apprehend him for defacing Imperial Property . . ie an Otomo forehead, Ki-kun managed to return the pen without fumbling it.

"I'm sure Ta-kun would have been very happy to sign yo . . . sign for you. He's always loved the fan interactions."

[Asako Hikari]

Taraka smiled at the compliment. Sure it was a simple thing, but complimenting her mind was always going to earn more points than complimenting her looks (though that still was worth points to)

"Ah, speaking of keen minds, that was a pretty sharp gift presentation, Asako-san. Surprisingly personal. Do you have some sort of previous connection with the governor?" she asked.

"Not at all...at least I do not believe so. I'd think I would remember the governor if I had ran into her previously. But, as samurai, we all have some things in common, even if we do not wish to admit it. After all, the same human heart beats in the breast of a Spider and a Lion. One of those inconvenient truths that sometimes we all pretend isn't a fact."

He pauses a moment, letting his gaze sweep over to the Governor for a few moments before returning to his conversational companion. "I just felt like it would be something that might speak to her experiences, though. My own trials and tribulations have been issue enough for just myself and so I cannot bring myself to imagine what that might be for a member of the Crab in addition to now being thrust into the role of Governor. Perhaps she might find some small meaning in the words I had left within the pages. Commiserate in memory."

[Agasha Sorato]

"I would say my home is easily, Shiawase Island," she nodded firmly at her answer. Assuming that the Phoenix was asking where she felt most at home, especially after her previous career might have displaced her, according to her shared resume of travels. "I was born and raised here in Nakahama City, although my adult training brought me to Aoihama. It's been nearly a decade since my permanent return to the island, but even then, my homecoming has really felt natural. Especially now, that I've come to see how the city has grown but still felt familiar, as well as pick up a few friends along the way in my absence, that made themselves a part of the island's family. I'm honoured to be welcomed back."

It was a bit of a practiced answer, admittedly, but said with great sincerity.

Day 1 - Early Evening, Sincerity (Honesty)/Awareness: Benten's Blessing with Void 1/3 | 9k5 ⇒ 40

Yakura smiled fondly. "Sounds lovely. I love Shiawese Island, even the weather, but sometimes I dream of returning to the Dice. Perhaps one day I'll do so." She glanced over to Umiko. "Perhaps one day I can show to Yasuki-sama?"

She turned back towards the Phoenix. "Oh, we have lovely card games you can play! Just please don't count the cards. You look smart. Smart people count the cards." She said with a small pout. "

"If it's inappropriate, I wouldn't dream of it," Sorato says with a small bow. All right, mental note, you're not supposed to count cards. Why would you need to count them? There's always the same number in a deck... oh, right, that makes sense.

"It is a beautiful island," he agrees with the two women. "I was surprised to read that there were so many unmodified wild areas on a planet as developed as Green Carp." Not less so since the Crab aren't known for being among the Empire's most dedicated nature-lovers, he decides not to say. "Now I've seen it myself, I can see your past leaders must have appreciated the value of the natural world."

[Miya Kisha]

for reference

Kisha returns the bow and, as Kaito leaves, she will move to mingle a bit more, appreciative of the attention shown her.

(One Miya, lightly used; get her now while the getting's good!)

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

The petite Ikoma took the card with both hands executing the traditional etiquette when a card was presented. "Thank you Kitsune san. I am honored to have such card." The Lion smiled. "This one is Ikoma Nonoko from The Kitsu Storm gaming company. It is an honor to meet you. I hope you have had the blessings of Inari on this evening. " The girl smiled.

The Kitsune smiled a little more warmly as he looked down at the Ikoma. The formality was quaint, pleasant for someone used to dealing with gruffer, less polite samurai.

"Indeed, Ikoma-san, and you? Can I get you something to drink perhaps?" One of Soratoshi's lean arms swept toward a small bar where a formally dressed server was providing iced, bubbly drinks to guests.

"I am interested to hear more about Kitsu Storm. As you know, Kitsune Bio-pharmaticals is a large and profitable company, and always interested to know what ventures are growing throughout the empire."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Snip!

-10 points to Asako Hikari for Spider sympathies.


Taraka shook her head.

"Ah, it's not that Asako-san. It was quite the touching gift. So touching it made me wonder if you had a deeper connection to the governor. After all, you must meet with so many clients in your job. It's not like you have a warehouse of childhood journals to give gifts from unless you were a PARTICULARLY prolific child." she offered lightly. "Or are you perhaps a bit more invested in investing here that you would feel the need to give such a personal gift?"

She grabbed a chicken skewer from one of the nearby servers.

[Asako Hikari]

-10 points to Asako Hikari for Spider sympathies.

Taraka shook her head.

"Ah, it's not that Asako-san. It was quite the touching gift. So touching it made me wonder if you had a deeper connection to the governor. After all, you must meet with so many clients in your job. It's not like you have a warehouse of childhood journals to give gifts from unless you were a PARTICULARLY prolific child." she offered lightly. "Or are you perhaps a bit more invested in investing here that you would feel the need to give such a personal gift?"

She grabbed a chicken skewer from one of the nearby servers.

"If I was so prolific, I might have been trained by the Kakita instead of the Ide...whiling away my days writing prose about some forbidden romance between star crossed lovers or forlorn stares between duelists who had once been friends, now forced to cross swords." You know...pillowbook nonsense.

"While I do see many clients, most of them are less concerned with social pleasantries and thoughtful exchanges and more worried about the brass tacks, as it were. Very impersonal about the whole thing. But here..." He looks around in a more grand sense, taking in the view of the island from their location. "This place looks and feels like it is more than just about the appearances, eh? It would cheapen my efforts here and the efforts of the Crab to give some blase, safe trinket that while pretty has no real value to it."

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Umiko joined in Yakura's smile with a good-natured laugh. "The local weather is constantly warm, sunny, and idyllic. Of course, there's a bit of an underlying temper that pops up from time to time, as evident with the downpour this morning," she said apologetically.

There was a Public Works proposal to have an umbrella available everywhere but the test run of that plan had several umbrellas missing, even when the island had less visitors about.

"Of course, Yoritomo-san. I would very much appreciate the guidance and company if I ever get the opportunity. Perhaps when there is another customs and tax agreement that needs to be finalized?" Well, if the Mantis were the winners of the bid, there would be even more reason but she wasn't going to put that out there.

"Oh, Yasuki-san, do talk business with me." She replied with a soft purr. "I would love to show you my home..." And make sure you don't lose too much.

"That said perhaps I should convince some of my family to visit here, if the travel arrangements can be handled. I know father is a bit homesick at least. Perhaps my youngest brother could even join the Academy here..." She pondered. Her youngest sibling was still fairly young, only a few years old. Truthfully, she hasn't seen much of him ever since moving out here.

Yakura didn't have a lot to add on the natural world part..."I haven't really visited those areas, maybe once. They must have their own beauty." From her tone, it was obvious that she wasn't fond of that kind fo beauty...

"Though I do recall there is that old hotel out there, neh? The one that the Mantis worked on? Sort of..."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Snip

Taraka nibbled on her skewer while she listened to the Phoenix champion the island. Whether she bought the pitch or not, was hard to say.

"I think we can both agree it is a special place, Asako-san. Might I ask where you from hail from? I've not been there, but perhaps I can puzzle out just what vistas you've contained in that journal." she asked.

[Susumu Ami]

for reference

Kisha returns the bow and, as Kaito leaves, she will move to mingle a bit more, appreciative of the attention shown her.

(One Miya, lightly used; get her now while the getting's good!)

"My, my, my. Graced by Imperial presence. Truly, this may be a most blessed vacation." Her hands were clasped behind her back. Ami approached the Miya, enjoying the walk to the koi pond after introductions. The heady scent of her perfume seemed to accentuate her features, as if her every article of clothing, every accessory was carefully chosen.

Which it was.

The pinned jeweled Spider upon her lapel caught the dim lighting.

"Pardon the intrusion. I am Susumu Ami."

[Miya Kisha]

snip

"Miya Kisha" replies the medialite. "A pleasure, Susumu-san."

She draws a breath. "Is that bergamot I smell? I don't remember seeing any around here."

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"Her name is Soshi Kioku. She is the one who oversees the drakes." He responded. "Including Goldwing."