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

[Yasuki Ayame]

(This is the role-playing thread for the event. Even if a character uses a time slot to participate in the rolling Event, they may still participate in the associated RP thread. For this event, the character may choose to mingle between the koi pond and lawn area, but not both at the same time. They may choose to exit one area and move to another if they wish.)

Park Area
Several canopy tents are found here in the expanse of the garden's park area, with much of the coloured light flooding the area to draw much of the attention. Faux-wood floor boards have been installed on the lawn area to give it a bit of a formalized space, and if the guests wish for it, the open possibility of dancing as well. This is further incentivized with a hired DJ on duty, open to taking requests, but will otherwise play something on the side of House remixes if left to their own device.

Kinsenka Breweries is here in force with open bars available and ready to make anything with its inexhaustible catalogue of drinks. If asked, they will offer nut snacks and prepped takowasa, raw octopus in wasabi. Seats aren't quite in abundance here, but there are plenty of cocktail tables to gather around.

Yasuki Ayame, the governor of the Tango Provinces, is found here. She is dressed in her 'formal' best in a dark-blue blazer with a jinbaori-esque collar trim, matching vest and skirt. Of course, heels and stockings are also part of the outfit.

[Hiruma Akiro]

A handsome young man (with a sword!) stood near the bar, holding a cocktail in his hand without drinking it. He was dressed in formal Crab military uniform, clean and crisp and with every buckle polished. He stood, if not quite at attention, also not quite at ease. One might look at him and think he wasn't comfortable at parties; in truth, despite his handsome features, he just had a case of Resting Uncomfortable Face.

Finally, he took a sip of his drink. His expression didn't change.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Not far away, but not close either another samurai leans against one of the stands, cocktail in hand. Bayushi Senshuken, dressed in a business like suit with high heels, just looks around her. From time to time she lowers her mask and takes small sips from her drink.

If/when her eyes meet with the Hiruma, or other samurai, she will raise her glass in greeting and recognition.

[Hiruma Akiro]

Not far away, but not close either another samurai leans against one of the stands, cocktail in hand. Bayushi Senshuken, dressed in a business like suit with high heels, just looks around her. From time to time she lowers her mask and takes small sips from her drink.

If/when her eyes meet with the Hiruma, or other samurai, she will raise her glass in greeting and recognition.

The Hiruma wasn't looking at anything in particular. However, since he wasn't looking at anything in particular, this meant he was looking at everything at least a little bit. Eventually, this included the Bayushi.

His expression softened from stiff to neutral as she raised her glass to him; it wasn't proper to glower at invited guests, after all! He raised his glass in return, and then, after a few moments, strolled slowly over to her.

"Good evening, Bayushi-san." Akiro said politely, giving her a proper bow. "I hope you're finding our event enjoyable?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The Hiruma wasn't looking at anything in particular. However, since he wasn't looking at anything in particular, this meant he was looking at everything at least a little bit. Eventually, this included the Bayushi.

His expression softened from stiff to neutral as she raised her glass to him; it wasn't proper to glower at invited guests, after all! He raised his glass in return, and then, after a few moments, strolled slowly over to her.

"Good evening, Bayushi-san." Akiro said politely, giving her a proper bow. "I hope you're finding our event enjoyable?"

The Scorpion courtier bows as well and she raises with a smirk, visible through her lowered mask.

"Good evening to you, as well, Hiruma san. This is Bayushi Senshuken from the World of Dreams. The party is quite promising. A great first impression for a first visit in this planet." She looks at him and sips again. "Are you a local or just visiting?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

The Scorpion courtier bows as well and she raises with a smirk, visible through her lowered mask.

"Good evening to you, as well, Hiruma san. This is Bayushi Senshuken from the World of Dreams. The party is quite promising. A great first impression for a first visit in this planet." She looks at him and sips again. "Are you a local or just visiting?"

Akiro hesitated for just a moment. Even Crane training taught one only so much about how to deal with a smirking Scorpion.

But he continued smoothy enough. "Hiruma Akiro." He introduced himself. "And I'm a bit of both. I'm from here originally, but I've been stationed elsewhere for quite some time. I've only just recently returned." Frowning thoughtfully, he looked around. "It's changed a little, but not much."

He looked back to Senshuken, politely interested. "The World of Dreams is a long ways away. You're here for the Governor's proposal, I expect?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Akiro hesitated for just a moment. Even Crane training taught one only so much about how to deal with a smirking Scorpion.

But he continued smoothy enough. "Hiruma Akiro." He introduced himself. "And I'm a bit of both. I'm from here originally, but I've been stationed elsewhere for quite some time. I've only just recently returned." Frowning thoughtfully, he looked around. "It's changed a little, but not much."

He looked back to Senshuken, politely interested. "The World of Dreams is a long ways away. You're here for the Governor's proposal, I expect?"

"Hai, hai." She waves her free hand and looks down to her clothes. "I am not much of a businesswoman. There is a high possibility that I am currently dying inside and I blame this suit." She chuckles lightly and her eyes return to the Crab. "But duty called. I am a professional racer, you see. Motorbikes. And my engineers came across a new alloy for engine construction." She waves her hand again. "Long story short, the testing went really well so I am here to get the alloy from the lab to mass production."

She looks at him and smirks. "Did I bore you? Just now? I have to work on my presentation. Perhaps add a joke or a pun even."

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Hai, hai." She waves her free hand and looks down to her clothes. "I am not much of a businesswoman. There is a high possibility that I am currently dying inside and I blame this suit." She chuckles lightly and her eyes return to the Crab. "But duty called. I am a professional racer, you see. Motorbikes. And my engineers came across a new alloy for engine construction." She waves her hand again. "Long story short, the testing went really well so I am here to get the alloy from the lab to mass production."

She looks at him and smirks. "Did I bore you? Just now? I have to work on my presentation. Perhaps add a joke or a pun even."

The jokes actually got the somewhat dour Crab to smile. A bit.

"More used to racing gear, I take it?" Akiro gestured down at his own military garb. "This is what I'm used to wearing. I don't have any excuse."

Looking at Senshuken, he shook his head. "Not at all. It sounds interesting. A new alloy... it has applications for your motobikes, I take it? One wonders what else one might use it for.

Akiro's lips twisted. "As for a joke... I'm trying to think of one. Maybe the Crab and the Scorpion can form an alloyance?" He winced.

[Yasuki Kaito]

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.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The jokes actually got the somewhat dour Crab to smile. A bit.

"More used to racing gear, I take it?" Akiro gestured down at his own military garb. "This is what I'm used to wearing. I don't have any excuse."

Looking at Senshuken, he shook his head. "Not at all. It sounds interesting. A new alloy... it has applications for your motobikes, I take it? One wonders what else one might use it for.

Akiro's lips twisted. "As for a joke... I'm trying to think of one. Maybe the Crab and the Scorpion can form an alloyance?" He winced.

The unexpected pun makes Senshuken burst into laughter.

"Oh my, my. You are a keeper! Are we even alloyed to think that far?" She adds one of her own. "I will bet my alloyance that we are!"

[Hiruma Akiro]

The unexpected pun makes Senshuken burst into laughter.

"Oh my, my. You are a keeper! Are we even alloyed to think that far?" She adds one of her own. "I will bet my alloyance that we are!"

Akiro smiled, looking down at his drink. "Well. I suppose I have my moments." Then he frowned, but only briefly.

He looked back up at Senshuken. "Still, I think I'd best leave the puns to you. You're clearly more able with them than I. Although I'd like to think that I've got a bit of metal." He cleared his throat. "Mettle, metal. Ahem. Anyway."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Akiro smiled, looking down at his drink. "Well. I suppose I have my moments." Then he frowned, but only briefly.

He looked back up at Senshuken. "Still, I think I'd best leave the puns to you. You're clearly more able with them than I. Although I'd like to think that I've got a bit of metal." He cleared his throat. "Mettle, metal. Ahem. Anyway."

"You are on fire, sir!" Another chuckle. "So much on fire that it is almost literal!"

"Sooo! Any suggestions coming from a local? About the place? Or advice about the procedures perhaps?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

"You are on fire, sir!" Another chuckle. "So much on fire that it is almost literal!"

"Sooo! Any suggestions coming from a local? About the place? Or advice about the procedures perhaps?"

"Hmmm. Well. Thank you. Ah... you too." Akiro gave Senshuken a nod. He clearly didn't know how to respond to being on fire.

The question made him narrow his eyes. "Do you like crab? The food, I mean, not, well, us. Crabkaku is the place to go."

He turned his narrow-eyed gaze on Senshuken. "But I expect you might be looking for something different. There's a race coming up. Next week, I believe. It goes all around the island."

Giving a little tilt of his head, almost like a shrug, he went on. "Lower Nakahama's where all the fun city stuff is. And then there's the beach... if you rent a boat, watch out for greatsharks though. They really are as big as they sound."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Hmmm. Well. Thank you. Ah... you too." Akiro gave Senshuken a nod. He clearly didn't know how to respond to being on fire.

The question made him narrow his eyes. "Do you like crab? The food, I mean, not, well, us. Crabkaku is the place to go."

He turned his narrow-eyed gaze on Senshuken. "But I expect you might be looking for something different. There's a race coming up. Next week, I believe. It goes all around the island."

Giving a little tilt of his head, almost like a shrug, he went on. "Lower Nakahama's where all the fun city stuff is. And then there's the beach... if you rent a boat, watch out for greatsharks though. They really are as big as they sound."

She is ready to reply something witty about the admittedly very tasty crabs when a race is mentioned. Whatever the Hiruma continues with is simply not registered.

"A race? When, where, how? What are te rules? Where do I sign in?" All those questions come in one breath.

[Hiruma Akiro]

She is ready to reply something witty about the admittedly very tasty crabs when a race is mentioned. Whatever the Hiruma continues with is simply not registered.

"A race? When, where, how? What are te rules? Where do I sign in?" All those questions come in one breath.

Akiro blinked a few times, not quite able to keep up with the sudden rush of words from the speedy Scorpion.

"Um. I'm not sure. I know that the race is long enough that teams are a driver and a crew. The course is pretty rough; hard on the cars." He shrugged. "My family usually watches. My brother was always pretty into it."

"As far as where to sign up..." He looked at Senshuken, smiling just a little. "Well, this year, since it's happening at the same time as the Governor's invitation, off-worlders are allowed to take part. Or so I understand. I'm sure there's a way to sign up."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Akiro blinked a few times, not quite able to keep up with the sudden rush of words from the speedy Scorpion.

"Um. I'm not sure. I know that the race is long enough that teams are a driver and a crew. The course is pretty rough; hard on the cars." He shrugged. "My family usually watches. My brother was always pretty into it."

"As far as where to sign up..." He looked at Senshuken, smiling just a little. "Well, this year, since it's happening at the same time as the Governor's invitation, off-worlders are allowed to take part. Or so I understand. I'm sure there's a way to sign up."

"Hmmm. So... Cars. And I need a crew. A co driver or mechanics, as well? Is it like those all day and night races? Is it about speed? Or perhaps driving ability in a rough terrain?" The questions keep coming like heavy rain falling from the sky.

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Hmmm. So... Cars. And I need a crew. A co driver or mechanics, as well? Is it like those all day and night races? Is it about speed? Or perhaps driving ability in a rough terrain?" The questions keep coming like heavy rain falling from the sky.

The Crab are The Wall, or so it was said, a phrase lasting even thousands of years after The Wall no longer served its purpose. And yet, even a great wall might be worn down by an endless barrage of questions.

"Uh..." Hiruma Akiro blinked, looking a bit stunned. "Some have a co-driver, some don't. It's pretty long, but it's not all day all night. It's fast. Goes all over..." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm not the best person to ask about this. I'm no racer. Even if I will admit that it's fun to watch."

Smiling again, he took a sip of his drink. "But don't worry. I expect there'll be an announcement sometime. It's very organized. I like that." Akiro nodded agreement with his own statement.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The Crab are The Wall, or so it was said, a phrase lasting even thousands of years after The Wall no longer served its purpose. And yet, even a great wall might be worn down by an endless barrage of questions.

"Uh..." Hiruma Akiro blinked, looking a bit stunned. "Some have a co-driver, some don't. It's pretty long, but it's not all day all night. It's fast. Goes all over..." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, I'm not the best person to ask about this. I'm no racer. Even if I will admit that it's fun to watch."

Smiling again, he took a sip of his drink. "But don't worry. I expect there'll be an announcement sometime. It's very organized. I like that." Akiro nodded agreement with his own statement.

She smiles and manages to slow down. "Not a racer. I got it." She pretends to be standing in attention, but in a more playful than military way. "So what are you?" She asks. "Beyond the obvious. How would Hiruma san describe himself if he had to go deep?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

She smiles and manages to slow down. "Not a racer. I got it." She pretends to be standing in attention, but in a more playful than military way. "So what are you?" She asks. "Beyond the obvious. How would Hiruma san describe himself if he had to go deep?"

Akiro looked at Senshuken, frowning thoughtfully. "A very interesting question, Bayushi-san. Hmmm." He crossed his arms over his chest as he considered it.

"A Crab officer. But I suppose that's very obvious." Again, he gestured down at his uniform. "Although being a Crab officer isn't what it used to be. In the days of Old Rokugan, there was The Wall and The Warriors. Now there's radiant weaponry, and spaceships. If they could see us today, I wonder what they'd think..." Still frowning thoughtfully, Akiro took a sip of his drink.

Then he went on. "But that's who I am. I serve the Crab, whether that's with a sword or..." He raised his glass, smiling again. "-with a fruity drink. And yourself, Bayushi-san? How would you describe... you?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Akiro looked at Senshuken, frowning thoughtfully. "A very interesting question, Bayushi-san. Hmmm." He crossed his arms over his chest as he considered it.

"A Crab officer. But I suppose that's very obvious." Again, he gestured down at his uniform. "Although being a Crab officer isn't what it used to be. In the days of Old Rokugan, there was The Wall and The Warriors. Now there's radiant weaponry, and spaceships. If they could see us today, I wonder what they'd think..." Still frowning thoughtfully, Akiro took a sip of his drink.

Then he went on. "But that's who I am. I serve the Crab, whether that's with a sword or..." He raised his glass, smiling again. "-with a fruity drink. And yourself, Bayushi-san? How would you describe... you?"

"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."