Kyuden Shika

[Expecting but public]

Raizo ducked into the tea house, reflecting, as he did, that he'd spent more time in it than in either the sake bar or the geisha house (which he had, in fact, literally never set foot in).

But no matter!

He ordered his usual Akina... and kept a weather eye out for the Moshi Menace... or anyone else he might know.

Soyokaze dragged himself into the tea house looking exhausted and deeply thirsty. He glanced around the place seeking a seat and noticed the Shiba. "Hello Raizo-san, how does this day find you?"

"Well. I think I have comprehensively demonstrated my lack of knowledge of another skill in front of a large audience, nursed a hangover, had a conversation with the Topaz Champion that I'm sure she wishes she could have skipped, and it sounds like poor decisions with booze are to be repeated later this evening..."

He shrugged.


"So about my usual for a day in Kyuden Shika. And you?"

"I have nursed my first hangover and millionth regret, done exactly as well as I expected with a bow, polished a foreign artifact, showered someone is gifts and I still have to tell a Scorpion I can't do something I had promised." He slammed back his tea like it was sake. "It has been an interesting day so far."

...

"What took you face to face with Kakita Reina-sama?"

"Circumstance. And advice from Shika Pei Pei-sama."

Sip.

"We were both of a mind to hit the dojo after that whole... archery business. Shika-sama had advised me to try to broaden my conversational pool by speaking to either Phoenix or Crane, on the logic that they would be more forgiving of my.... conversational shortcomings."

He chuckled.

"Didn't make me any better at small talk, of course."

"I can't imagine trying to court her, she was a presence even at The Academy, just talking to her and sparring is impressive. Were you...impressive?"

He chuckled.

"Am I ever?"

"You must be a some point unless you used dark magics to enchant your friend." He smiled wryly. "I am sorry for making such a scene last night, I came closer to striking that obnoxious loudmouth than I am comfortable admitting. But I do not regret what I said no matter how many voices opposed me." It was clear from his inflection that he included Raizo in that list of opposition.

"Sake can have that effect, especially when you're not used to it."

He cocked his head to the side.

"But you do know he had a point, right?"

"Did I not?"