Kyuden Shika

The Lion listens thoughtfully, his friend probably a better judge of this than anyone else he knows. When she finishes, he smiles - a little - but she can see he's still skeptical.

"That sounds... right... to me," he says, with some effort, voice warm and supportive. "If you really feel that strongly... Um, Yasu-san, I'm sorry. I don't... think I'm the best Matsu to speak to about feeling passionate..." He looks at her, just kind of deflated. He seems to want to say more, but doesn't have the same easy certainty she's used to seeing in him.

"Just because you don't roar at every insult?" Yasu smiles, and reaches across to pat his hand with her callused one. "You've passion enough, Ishioka-san."

"And it's good to confide in a friend, neh?" She finishes her cup, hefts the empty bottle and sets it down again. They'd likely had enough for this hour of the day.

"Always a good time for a friend," Ishioka echoes, and it does seem to pull him back from whatever morose place she saw him starting into.

He takes a deep breath. "We, um... We should be sure to meet. Every couple of days? Just to make... sure things are ok." He seems a little nervous with the suggestion, though it could be equal parts worry about his friend and worry about himself.

"Every couple of days? Yeah, I could do that. Who knows when we get to see one another again, hmm?" She grins. "Next time tea. Can tell the folks back at the Kyuden how fancy it was."

"And try not to worry _too_ much. The Deer know what they're doing, right?" She slips from the booth, ready to head out and face the rest of the rainy, rainy day.

/exit