D6, ME - drone racing on the beach! (open)

[Kakita Haruhi]

At last the skies cleared!

A fine time for drone racing. She'd gotten some tips from Senshu and was eager to try her luck.

She sent a note over the battle board group chat.

"Anyone want to drone race on the beach? Meet up after Jade Chef?"

[Bayushi Kazushi]

Fresh from the kitchen, Kazushi appears - he's keeping up appearances, still looking like a model who wandered away from his fashion show, but it's clear the day's left him a bit tired. Diving, explorations, and cooking will take a lot out of anyone, after all.

"Kakita-san, good evening," he says as he approaches. "We've been in the same places all week so far, but I don't think we've really seen each other since our arrival. My apologies for this oversight."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She smiled brightly to see him. An elegant bow.

"I am very glad to see you again, Bayushi-sama! I hope you've been well, and your kind guard Bayuhsi Hinata-san. What have you been enjoying most in your time in the city?"

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Mostly I've been working," admits the executive, "but I've been doing some sightseeing, as well. I've taken a couple of trips to Namigashira Bay - the beach there is remarkable, better than anything back home. How about you?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

She grinned.

"I've been finding it quite the change to have a charge to 'be social' and not just 'lock yourself in a room until the next schematic and composition are done'. It's been a bit of a stretch for me. But I have managed to participate in several parties, a LARP, a card game tournament, acquiring fish at a market, and this drone racing. And a Jade Chef tournament."

"I've been particularly glad to get footage of two of the Nakahama birds on my 'to make' schematics list. The Jimen Tori and the Nakahama Shama."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"I've probably run across those two species during my travels here," Kazushi says, "but I probably wouldn't be able to recognize them. They offer some interesting and unique characteristics for your designs, I take it?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Oh yes! The jimen tori is a large flightless bird. So to do one to scale would require multiple drones within a frame, and their song is more of a tenor with an, at times, almost trumpet like quality."

"The Nakahama Shama is a lovely songbird. More like my current drones in shape and size. But it's song is particularly melodious and flute-like. A calling between loves. They feature prominently in romantic folk tales. I believe a pair of shama will be a perfect wedding gift!"

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"I'll have to keep that in mind for the next time I get an invitation," Kazushi notes. "Usually I'm just my wife's 'plus one' at such things, though."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"In truth, I was hoping to hear rumors that someone here was engaged or getting married soon, but I haven't heard anything of the kind. I'm not even sure if the Governor is married. I probably should actually try to research it!"

A new idea for a bit of computer time. There were probably engagement announcements to be discovered.

"Your Scorpion delegation is doing splendidly in all the activities. Perhaps one of yours will attract a suitor." They had done quite well.

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Hinata-san is actively looking, although I think he has his eyes set a bit too highly at the moment," Kazushi replies, "especially given his reputation. I don't know about what Senshuken-san or Kotori-san are looking for, or if they're really looking. The former is more interested in her racing, as far as I can tell, and the latter is...very quiet. Although she was speaking with that Dragon - Ichitayo-san, I believe? - rather intently after the First Market..."

He shakes his head - he's not used to playing matchmaker, or even thinking in such terms.

"Perhaps yourself, though? I've done my research - you would be quite the match for any of the eligible bachelors who the governor's brought in...although I have to admit, I haven't really gotten to know any of them. None that I would trust to treat you well, in any case."

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi smiled at his gracious words.

"I am open to opportunities that will please my family, and serve my clan and patron. But I expect my interest in hiking through jungles looking for new species of birds to study for avi-drone schematics, and then all the crafting and composing and rehearsing, are not the skillsets needed by those looking for a political or economic partner."

"But I enjoy what I do!"

"Still, your picture of your darling little one had me thinking a little more about ... will my life include children ... then I had given it thought before."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

Kazushi shakes his head.

"I'm not much of a matchmaker, unless you're talking about pairing garments," he admits, "although my wife fancies herself one. As an ambassador at Kyuden Doji and a former member of the Otomo family, she could very well have some connections that may suit you. She'd love to give you a reason to show off your work on that stage, as well - your filigree drones are high art, deserving of the Imperial capital. I'd be interested in seeing you take on some of the birds of the home world, as well, including the cranes that inspired your clan's founder millennia ago."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She smiled.

"I'd certainly be glad to meet your wife or correspond by letter."

"I started on Golden Mirror, after Academy, so I that I could research and study the birds there, and build schematics for the birds most commonly referenced in our historical heraldry, poetry, and art. I do have a crane avi-drone. Sparrow, peacock, oriole, duck, ibis, sand plover, hawk, kite, and quail. But many are schematics only. Or I have only made a few as gifts, and they remain with the recipient."

"I travel with my songbirds, since I perform with them."

"And there are new birds being discovered all the time. A galaxy of planets, each with its native birds."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"As soon as Kijuro is old enough, I intend to try to break Namiko away from her duties so we can do some proper traveling," says Kazushi. "I'll make sure Golden Mirror is on the itinerary. It sounds like quite an interesting world. I'm assuming you're planning on returning there after all this..."

He gestures back toward the city, indicating that he means the governor's gathering.

"...is done?"

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I quite recommend Golden Mirror. It is so lovely. Holy, I think. So much preserved. The crafts. The way of life. The animals."

"But I am not scheduled to return. I am currently 'on loan' to my patron here, Yasuki Reina-sama. I have plenty of local birds to find to build a Nakahama avi-drone catalog. And then the work of building them for her buyers, and custom songs that use their birdsong."

"I'm not sure how long she'll need me. For her, it is surely always a calculus of opportunities and favors."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Ah, of course," says Kazushi with a nod. "Well, I'll probably be making a return here as well, in any case. Yasuki Taraka-san has been trying to convince me to set up a vacation home here, and if we can arrive at a positive arrangement with the governor, then we'll likely be spending quite a bit of time here."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She smiled brightly.

"Oh! I am selfishly hopeful that you do arrange a vacation home here, since I should still be around or at least a year or two."

"It is a remarkably beautiful place, and there seems to be no end to the entertainments! Beaches, lakes, conventions, contests... Even drone racing, speaking of Yasuki Taraka-san."

"You must introduce me to your drone! I named mine Sky Blue. I should warn you that I gave her a theme song."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

Katsumi removes the drone from its case and sends it over toward her employer. It's painted in dark oranges, which fade into red and violet toward its rear.

"Ethereal Sunset," he calls it, "although I'm unfortunately not skilled enough a pilot to make the most of its capabilities."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"Oh! What a beautiful name!"

She revealed hers. It had an attached banner that was painted to look exactly like a carp.

"Shall we race them? I'm just learning, too. I am rather expert in programming drone choreography, but live adjustment and piloting during a race is very different."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"I imagine it is," says Kazushi as he sends the Sunset up into position. "High speed maneuvers would take a very different approach, I would imagine, than more precise and delicate operation."