D4 EM (open): Giving Thanks, the Daikoku Way

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hair pinned up, and dressed in a simple and old fashioned kimono adorned with symbols of luck and good fortune, Hitomi made her way to the temple to leave offerings in gratitude for the boost in business she's seen lately, and in supplication for greater success to benefit both Green Carp and her clan through cooperation.

She also looks around to see if any of the diviners are set up. It might be good to get a read on whether that show idea was going to be successful. She could definitely capitalize on it with some goods that tied into the immortal warrior thing. Maybe she can cut a deal with Silver Fin to supply some props....?

[Hiruma Akiro]

Hitomi was not the only person there giving devotions, of course. It was a fairly busy temple, and Daikoku was a popular Fortune. People liked having wealth, after all.

One, a Hiruma officer not far from where Hitomi stood, dressed in his crisp and clean military uniform, had just finished. He rose, gave one last bow, and then turned away, towards Hitomi. His gaze met hers, either accidentally or instinctively, or a bit of both.

A grimace flashed across his face almost faster than could be seen; it was one of those instances where one didn't really mean to meet someone's gaze, but having done so, it was rude not to acknowledge them.

"Suzume-san." The Hiruma greeted her politely. "Fine morning, isn't it?" He bowed, sharp and precise. "Hiruma Akiro, local Crab security. At least at the moment."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

Hitomi cracks an inward smile at the obvious awkwardness of the moment, dipping her head lest a hint of it tries to sneak out into the world. The dip is easily hidden by a proper segue into a bow. "Hiruma-sama, pleasure to meet you."

Rising, her head tilts a bit in question, finger coming up to tap her chin. "Temporary security? Like, for the day, or during the investment initiative going on..." she pauses frowning as if pulling up some memory, "or is that like part of the game thing they're doing? Leech-wraith clan security persona or something?"

"But yes, it's a lovely day, and Daikoku has been generous. This one is Suzume Hitomi, of Feather Your Nest over in the Shotengai district."

[Hiruma Akiro]

Hitomi cracks an inward smile at the obvious awkwardness of the moment, dipping her head lest a hint of it tries to sneak out into the world. The dip is easily hidden by a proper segue into a bow. "Hiruma-sama, pleasure to meet you."

Rising, her head tilts a bit in question, finger coming up to tap her chin. "Temporary security? Like, for the day, or during the investment initiative going on..." she pauses frowning as if pulling up some memory, "or is that like part of the game thing they're doing? Leech-wraith clan security persona or something?"

"But yes, it's a lovely day, and Daikoku has been generous. This one is Suzume Hitomi, of Feather Your Nest over in the Shotengai district."

Akiro shook his head. "Security is permanent, or I should hope so. The fauna of this planet seems to be a permanent features. It is my presence here that is temporary. I'm only stationed here for the Governor's project, and expect I'll be sent offworld again once it's over."

The name of the shop got a pleasant eyebrow raise from the slightly dour Crab. "is that so? I've played some small part in that generosity. That is to say, I made a purchase of a fine kintsugi vase for my mother there just yesterday." He inclined his head to her. "I found your establishment very nice. Very... peaceful."

[Suzume Hitomi]

Akiro shook his head. "Security is permanent, or I should hope so. The fauna of this planet seems to be a permanent features. It is my presence here that is temporary. I'm only stationed here for the Governor's project, and expect I'll be sent offworld again once it's over."

The name of the shop got a pleasant eyebrow raise from the slightly dour Crab. "is that so? I've played some small part in that generosity. That is to say, I made a purchase of a fine kintsugi vase for my mother there just yesterday." He inclined his head to her. "I found your establishment very nice. Very... peaceful."

"Oh?" She perked up at mention of the purchase, reaching into her memory and the daily sales logs. "That was you? Or well, here you are so I can put a face to the name on my ledgers, Hiruma-sama. I hope she'll have many years to enjoy it, and she's welcome to bring it by if any of the repairs to it should so signs of failing. I do good work, but with centuries of pottery and all different sorts of clay compositions...sometimes I miss something in the mix." She doesn't sound like she's bragging or deprecating her work in all that. Just a matter-of-fact confidence.

"I'm pleased to here you felt the peaceful vibe. Always hard to tell if you're hitting the note you intend for follks coming in the door." Her smile appears genuine, reaching to her bright blue eyes.

"And thank you, and the rest of the security folks, for keeping the local fauna at a distance. There are some amazing creatures here but I prefer a quieter time at that beach than running from giant birds or sea monsters. Where are you from originally then?

[Hiruma Akiro]

"Oh?" She perked up at mention of the purchase, reaching into her memory and the daily sales logs. "That was you? Or well, here you are so I can put a face to the name on my ledgers, Hiruma-sama. I hope she'll have many years to enjoy it, and she's welcome to bring it by if any of the repairs to it should so signs of failing. I do good work, but with centuries of pottery and all different sorts of clay compositions...sometimes I miss something in the mix." She doesn't sound like she's bragging or deprecating her work in all that. Just a matter-of-fact confidence.

"I'm pleased to here you felt the peaceful vibe. Always hard to tell if you're hitting the note you intend for folks coming in the door." Her smile appears genuine, reaching to her bright blue eyes.

"And thank you, and the rest of the security folks, for keeping the local fauna at a distance. There are some amazing creatures here but I prefer a quieter time at that beach than running from giant birds or sea monsters. Where are you from originally then?

Akiro's eyebrows went up in greater surprise. "You're the artisan as well? I hadn't quite realized that. I thought it was more in the nature of a gallery, with prized pieces slowly being let go to make room for new ones." He bowed with new respect, a genuine sort to match her smile.

Straightening, he frowned. "Well." He cleared his throat. "Actually, I'm from here originally. I've been on various duties for a few years now, mostly advanced training. No doubt it was my familiarity with the planet that earned me this assignment. An extra unit for the Governor's event and all."

Again, he inclined his head. "You're quite welcome. Although really, most of the wildlife keeps to itself. Hardly the ways of the Crab of old; a horde of jimen tori is much more pleasant than some of those ancient tales."

[Suzume Hitomi]

Akiro's eyebrows went up in greater surprise. "You're the artisan as well? I hadn't quite realized that. I thought it was more in the nature of a gallery, with prized pieces slowly being let go to make room for new ones." He bowed with new respect, a genuine sort to match her smile.

Straightening, he frowned. "Well." He cleared his throat. "Actually, I'm from here originally. I've been on various duties for a few years now, mostly advanced training. No doubt it was my familiarity with the planet that earned me this assignment. An extra unit for the Governor's event and all."

Again, he inclined his head. "You're quite welcome. Although really, most of the wildlife keeps to itself. Hardly the ways of the Crab of old; a horde of jimen tori is much more pleasant than some of those ancient tales."

She offers a small sort of 'it's me!' curtsey. "No, they're artifacts of one sort or another, that weren't valuable enough to reconstruct or display in pieces at a museum, and thus available to practice my craft on. They are prized, but definitely still need to keep moving if I want space for more!"

"Oh, that has to be nice, having an assignment bring you back home for a bit." Hitomi says with some feeling. "I imagine your family are glad to see you. Any place you're planning to visit while you're here? I'm curious what the locals would miss, vs. what the tourists come to see."

[Hiruma Akiro]

She offers a small sort of 'it's me!' curtsey. "No, they're artifacts of one sort or another, that weren't valuable enough to reconstruct or display in pieces at a museum, and thus available to practice my craft on. They are prized, but definitely still need to keep moving if I want space for more!"

"Oh, that has to be nice, having an assignment bring you back home for a bit." Hitomi says with some feeling. "I imagine your family are glad to see you. Any place you're planning to visit while you're here? I'm curious what the locals would miss, vs. what the tourists come to see."

"Very interesting." Akiro said, sounding just a tiny bit more than politely interested. "Some of my recent training is among the Crane. I hope you take it as a compliment when I say that it sounds like the sort of thing they would do."

Pausing a moment, he frowned, looking out towards the horizon. "Mmm. Yes. Although it's all a bit different." Akiro looked at Hitomi, smiling just a little. "Have you ever been away from home for some time, only to return and find things aren't as you left them? I've been experiencing that quite a bit."

He took a breath, folding his hands behind him. "Still, there are a few places one can't really find elsewhere. The mountain. The sea. The beaches. I've enjoyed all three while here, and hope to spend more time in them." His eyebrows went up in polite inquiry. "Have you found any favorite local spots, Suzume-san?"

[Suzume Hitomi]

"Very interesting." Akiro said, sounding just a tiny bit more than politely interested. "Some of my recent training is among the Crane. I hope you take it as a compliment when I say that it sounds like the sort of thing they would do."

Pausing a moment, he frowned, looking out towards the horizon. "Mmm. Yes. Although it's all a bit different." Akiro looked at Hitomi, smiling just a little. "Have you ever been away from home for some time, only to return and find things aren't as you left them? I've been experiencing that quite a bit."

He took a breath, folding his hands behind him. "Still, there are a few places one can't really find elsewhere. The mountain. The sea. The beaches. I've enjoyed all three while here, and hope to spend more time in them." His eyebrows went up in polite inquiry. "Have you found any favorite local spots, Suzume-san?"

"Well spotted!" She grins. "My training was with the Crane, the Doji, to be specific. I haven't the artistic drive the Kakita look for. Where were you training?"

With a small tip of her head deeper into the complex, she indicates that they might continue talking while making the rounds for offerings, if that were agreeable. "I expect to experience that in the future, some day. I've been here four years now. No idea when I'll go back. I imagine there will be a wedding to attend at some point in the next few years." Or a funeral, but that would be asking for bad luck to mention. "I imagine things shift. There are shops that were here when I arrived, and aren't now. I really liked the quality from the little inkstick cart that would come around every week or so. Haven't seen them since the past New Year, and sort of wonder what happened to them."

"Have you found favorite foods that just aren't the same now? I remember writing home complaining about the rice here." She pauses to look up apologetically. "No offense, but the rice grown on Rokugan's been bred for the conditions there for a few thousand years and it's hard to compete." She continues, watching where they're walking to avoid disturbing anyone. "I realized the other day that the rice here is now normal and I worry that I'll find the rice back there to be strange when I taste it again."

"I've enjoyed the beach here, but feel like I keep putting off trips to the mountain or out on the water. I keep saying I have plenty of time to get there." She pauses to drop a few zeni into the incense vending machine, taking the little bundle of incense folded inside a bit of stiff paper with two matches. It was considered good luck to get the incense lit with only 1, leaving the second for those who needed an extra, or just wanted to carry it as a lucky charm.

[Hiruma Akiro]

snip

"Was it?" Eyebrows went up again, this time in pleased surprise. "Well. It wasn't more than a subconscious recognition, but nevertheless." He smiled briefly. "I did my training at Pale Blossom. One might think it would have been in Daidoji space, but it was specifically the court experience we were after. I do think a Daidoji took my place in the Crab, as is traditional."

At Hitomi's gesture, Akiro nodded, then turned, moving with crisp military precision; it seemed Hitomi would have an escort as well as a conversation partner. He matched his pace to hers.

"That's about how long I was away." Akiro frowned. "I think this place is changing faster than others. The Governor is pushing for change, after all. But perhaps I'm just speaking from my own limited viewpoint." His frown deepened. "On the other hand, if you've just been here a few years and you're seeing it change, that's another point of data."

He shook his head. "None taken. I... hmmm. I never took much notice of food before. Or now, to be honest. But if I think about it... yes, some things do taste different. Ordinary things. Steamed buns." Akiro grimaced. "I think that change is me, though."

Akiro came to a stop, waiting while Hitomi received her incense, looking a her thoughtfully. "Time will pass if you let it." He said. "Not that I think either the mountains or the sea are going anywhere. Still." He spread the fingers of one hand, palm up, almost like a tiny shrug. "Be careful when you go. Both are fairly safe, but one must still be cautious. They're not called greatsharks because of their superior quality."

[Suzume Hitomi]

"Was it?" Eyebrows went up again, this time in pleased surprise. "Well. It wasn't more than a subconscious recognition, but nevertheless." He smiled briefly. "I did my training at Pale Blossom. One might think it would have been in Daidoji space, but it was specifically the court experience we were after. I do think a Daidoji took my place in the Crab, as is traditional."

At Hitomi's gesture, Akiro nodded, then turned, moving with crisp military precision; it seemed Hitomi would have an escort as well as a conversation partner. He matched his pace to hers.

"That's about how long I was away." Akiro frowned. "I think this place is changing faster than others. The Governor is pushing for change, after all. But perhaps I'm just speaking from my own limited viewpoint." His frown deepened. "On the other hand, if you've just been here a few years and you're seeing it change, that's another point of data."

He shook his head. "None taken. I... hmmm. I never took much notice of food before. Or now, to be honest. But if I think about it... yes, some things do taste different. Ordinary things. Steamed buns." Akiro grimaced. "I think that change is me, though."

Akiro came to a stop, waiting while Hitomi received her incense, looking a her thoughtfully. "Time will pass if you let it." He said. "Not that I think either the mountains or the sea are going anywhere. Still." He spread the fingers of one hand, palm up, almost like a tiny shrug. "Be careful when you go. Both are fairly safe, but one must still be cautious. They're not called greatsharks because of their superior quality."

Would an escort boost her apparent status? Look like she rated a yojimbo? Perhaps. And that wasn't a bad thing as everyone passed through the Temple and gossip flowed out.

"I hear Pale Blossom is beautiful. One of my instructors loved to tell stories of their years assigned to the court there. Did the fine cooking there spoil your taste for mundane buns?" she teased.

There's a small conversational pause as someone from the Shotengai catches her eye and nods in that 'greeting but continuing on' sort of way that will no doubt come back later in a conversation. "I'm not sure the changes over the past few years are part of the governor's push, she's only been in power a year. Things have...well business has gotten softer." She didn't really want to say it had declined, that sounded a bit critical. "The tourist thing, well, it can be hard to compete with Crane worlds. Hard to advertise 'just as nice, but you can actually afford it!' without being offensive." In addition, the gardens were not just as nice; Crane gardens were rightfully admired for their perfection. But natural beauty was a different thing, and Green Carp had plenty of that.

"Time does pass. 4 years feels so small...and yet long enough that 'home' feels like another lifetime. Funny how that works." She strikes a match, or tries to. With a soft smile, she drops the dud into a little bowl full of dead and burnt matches, then strikes the next and sets the stick of incense before Ebisu's altar. "Not a lucky day then. A reminder that we make much of our own luck instead."

Attention returning to the conversation, she grins. "Would a superior quality greatshark be a great greatshark? What would indicate its quality?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

snip

If Akiro noticed Hitomi's look and nod, he didn't react to it. "It was beautiful, yes." Akiro said. "But I was there to learn. Of course, the beautiful and ever so careful cultivation of a Crane planet requires a study of its own, and so I applied myself with that in mind. That did include the food." It was close to the question she'd asked, anyway.

"Softer?" Akiro's brows drew down, and he gave Hitomi a look. "Is that worse? Business should be harder, or firmer?" He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "But yes, you're right on the tourist thing. Perhaps we need... a hook, I think it's called. Something that draws people here. 'Come see our weird flightless birds' will certainly work on some people, but not everyone, I think."

He waited a respectful distance while Hitomi lit her match... or rather, tried, and lit the second instead. "Ah, well." Akiro shrugged. "A little bit of ill-luck shouldn't harm us overmuch. Still, with this talk of greatsharks, perhaps it's best to say off the water today."

And with that, Akiro's expression turned thoughtful, albeit with a touch of amusement. "Hmmm. Well, the only quality greatsharks are really judged by are their size. I expect a great greatshark would be an exceptionally large one. They exist, or so legends say." He scoffed. "Surely we'd have more credible reports, at least from time to time."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

She nods, Crane cooking has spoiled many a samurai for other cuisine. "Hmm...describing business as soft doesn't quite have an opposite like that. Soft is like, still seeing plenty of people around/in the shops, but doesn't seem like they're buying as much. Tends to mean the folks around already have all they want/need of what's on offer...as you'd expect with mostly locals." After a moment's thought, she adds, "the opposite might be 'solid', we'd like business to be solid, and stable."

"The spa is likely a better hook than the birds," she says completely seriously, "hmm, even pushing Crabkaku as a unique place with a focus on designing the most unusual food with one ingredient could be a draw for some. I wonder if there's a crowd who'd be enticed by the thrill of hunting greatsharks?"

"If there's a great greatshark out there, more people hunting might get you those credible reports, neh?" She finishes her short prayer to Ebisu and adds, "not something I'd enjoy, even on a lucky day. Might need some bigger boats if that becomes a fad though...which would be a boon for the shipbuilders." Her tone is thoughtful, working through the ecosystem of commerce on the islands.

"Have you ever seen one? The regular greatsharks, that is?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

She nods, Crane cooking has spoiled many a samurai for other cuisine. "Hmm...describing business as soft doesn't quite have an opposite like that. Soft is like, still seeing plenty of people around/in the shops, but doesn't seem like they're buying as much. Tends to mean the folks around already have all they want/need of what's on offer...as you'd expect with mostly locals." After a moment's thought, she adds, "the opposite might be 'solid', we'd like business to be solid, and stable."

"The spa is likely a better hook than the birds," she says completely seriously, "hmm, even pushing Crabkaku as a unique place with a focus on designing the most unusual food with one ingredient could be a draw for some. I wonder if there's a crowd who'd be enticed by the thrill of hunting greatsharks?"

"If there's a great greatshark out there, more people hunting might get you those credible reports, neh?" She finishes her short prayer to Ebisu and adds, "not something I'd enjoy, even on a lucky day. Might need some bigger boats if that becomes a fad though...which would be a boon for the shipbuilders." Her tone is thoughtful, working through the ecosystem of commerce on the islands.

"Have you ever seen one? The regular greatsharks, that is?"

"I see. That makes sense." Akiro said politely. He didn't have much to offer in the way of business topics. "But then... what brought you here, anyway?" He asked, still politely.

At the mention of Crabkaku, Akiro smiled a bit. "Ah yes, Crabkaku. That was one I had some difficulty explaining to the Crane. Well, I suppose they can't relate; they don't eat crane, after all."

His brow knit thoughtfully, and he looked off into the distance. "I expect there is a crowd who would want to hunt greatsharks. Not a large one, but I expect greatshark hunting expeditions to be justifiably costly. One doesn't want to skimp in armament, or hull structure or... whatever else it takes to hunt one of the things. Hmmm! Well, one of the visiting clans will put something together like that, although I'm not sure why it hasn't been done already. Perhaps it's less financially viable than it sounds."

Smiling ever so slightly, Akiro nodded. "I have. Well, barely. On a training exercise out on the water, we saw one pass beside the boat, beneath the surface. Not more than a shadow, but a very large shadow. Still, enough to put me off of aquatic sports."

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

It was true, there probably was not a large number of people looking to prove themselves by besting giant sharks. Maybe in a century with less war, there would be those whose need to conquer things would switch to hunting as an outlet. But that didn't help much now. "oof. Did the boat do anything with such a close call? Are there, um...protocols, I guess? When one encounters the creatures."

"Me? Well, I had this idea to bring some of the history we tend to out into the Empire. Not everyone manages a pilgrimage to Rokugan, though I obviously think everyone should. But...it's very costly to send such things across the stars, and there's an obviously limited supply of them, which makes them costly items. Thus any shop needed to be where those who could afford them might be. Resorts and places with plenty of tourism seemed to fit the bill, and so..." She spreads her hands out, palms up.

Not mentioned was the fact that better known vacation spots had rents that were out of reach. Green Carp, the budget option for her antiquity shop dreams.

"Hmm, on that note, what brings you here? Not, to the world, but to the Temple? Daikoku isn't usually the first Fortune I assume warriors venerate."

[Hiruma Akiro]

snip

Akiro cleared his throat. "'Sit down and shut up' was the exact order our commanding officer gave. I'm not sure that qualifies as protocols. I suppose it must have worked, though."

His answer was briefly paused as the scent of incense reached his nose. "I see." Akiro considered that a few moments. "I fine idea, Suzume-san. Even if our Empire has modernized quite a bit, one should still remember the past, at least. The Crab may not be The Wall anymore, not exactly, but we do still remember it."

Looking out back towards the direction of the rest of the city, Akiro frowned again. "I also expect that it makes you very aware of just how many tourists are visiting. Perhaps your shop shall be a good meter for the success of the Governor's program. It seems to be off to a good start. Mostly." His brow creased again.

The question made him blink. "Oh. Well. It is on behalf of my family. Not out of any particular worries, more a sense of, hmmm, filial prudence, perhaps?"

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

Her eyes widen at the imitation of his officer, one hand lifting to stifle a laugh as she nods. "Perhaps the boat didn't much look like food that day."

As they wander, she pauses here and there with small coins for the other great fortunes and small, elaborately folded notes for Benten and Fukurokujin. "I'm not sure Feather Your Nest is a good barometer of tourist numbers. I think a lot of the younger samurai are unlikely to stop in when there's so many other places that are more exciting to them. Possibly a barometer of older samurai with estates to decorate and children to see supplied for marriage."

"The Crab do remember that history strongly. There are not a lot of artifacts from their history that make it to my shop though. The constant struggle of the wall meant a lot of things simply didn't survive, and those that did are thus valuable to retain in museums and academic collections. When I get bits of armor or the sake brewery charms that we *do* have a lot of because there were so many of them, they're very popular here." After a thoughtful pause she adds, "but I do think things are off to a good start here. Lots of ideas that weren't here a week ago, at least. There have to be some good ones in the mix!"

At his answer, she nods, "of course, of course. It's always prudent to be pious when able." One's family fortunes were a powerful determinant of one's personal fortunes after all. Are your family warriors in general then?" She didn't want to ask after the family business, if there wasn't one. Some still considered merchant patron to be a bit of an insulting role for a samurai.

[Hiruma Akiro]

snip

"I believe they don't often attack boats, but I certainly don't see an upside in chancing it." Akiro said blandly.

While Akiro had a bit of Resting Uncomfortable face, he was at least a good active listener, nodding as Hitomi spoke about her shop. "Hmmm. Well, my mother is in the former category." He gave a quick tilt of his head, something akin to a shrug. "To be honest... I have a strange relationship with history, or so I feel. I have nothing but respect for my honored ancestors, of course. And for the work artisans such as yourself do." He gave a little bow at that. "But at the same time, well, I studied interplanetary logistics. Sometimes I feel rather disconnected from the Crab of old." Akiro frowned.

But he shook it off, a touch literally, giving his head a tiny shake. "My mother was." Akiro went on. "Honorably retired from that, now, serving in other ways. And so is my younger brother. A grunt, but he's actually seen combat, unlike me." From the compression of his lips and the very faint hint of frustration, this was a bit of a sore point for him. "My father's a manager. And your family, Suzume-sama? Were they pleased when you were assigned to train with the Crane?"

[Suzume Hitomi]

snip

Hitomi laughs easily. "I'm the fourth of five kids. They were happy to help push the opportunity. It's a prestigious school, and our ties to the Crane remain close enough to be friendly. They were less enthused when I pushed to try this shop idea. It's not a small investment for the family, after all." She chuckles, "but all that training with the Doji does make me pretty persuasive. If it fails, I'm sure they'll find something for me to do in the historical districts. Dad runs one in the first capitol, so he'd be pleased."

She looks sideways at him, tilting her head a bit to look up enough to catch his eyes "Sounds like you're following a solid enough family tradition, so I'm curious why you say you have a strange relationship with history?"

[Hiruma Akiro]

Hitomi laughs easily. "I'm the fourth of five kids. They were happy to help push the opportunity. It's a prestigious school, and our ties to the Crane remain close enough to be friendly. They were less enthused when I pushed to try this shop idea. It's not a small investment for the family, after all." She chuckles, "but all that training with the Doji does make me pretty persuasive. If it fails, I'm sure they'll find something for me to do in the historical districts. Dad runs one in the first capitol, so he'd be pleased."

She looks sideways at him, tilting her head a bit to look up enough to catch his eyes "Sounds like you're following a solid enough family tradition, so I'm curious why you say you have a strange relationship with history?"

"Hmmm." Akiro smiled faintly. "I suppose if one is the fourth of five kids, it certainly helps to be persuasive." He was silent for a few moments. "I do not know your family, of course. But if they helped push for you to attend the Doji school, that must be tacit support, at least." Not that he lacked for more obvious support from his family...

But his eyebrows went up respectfully. "Otosan Uchi itself... I think I should like to go someday. What's it like... pardon." He frowned. "I've read about it. I mean to say, what does it feel like. I hope that's an appropriate question to ask."

The question made Akiro's frown deepen. "Recent history. Although I believe I am the first for training with the Crane." His chin tilted slightly higher. "As I see it, Rokugan has roots in the past even though it stretches towards the future. I may still be connected to those roots, but I feel very much at the... the uh..." The frown turned into a grimace. "The stretchy end."