D0MM A short stroll

[Agasha Inoshishi]

Far easier to be fashionably late than to be one of the many that nearly hammered the gate open, thought the slim Dragon woman as she approached the gate somewhat later than the noisy group that sought entry earlier.

Experimentally, she cracked the stipe from one of the mushrooms she'd picked, enjoying the clear 'snap' sensation before popping it in her mouth, her eyes rolling with enjoyment as she tastes the sweet, sweet flavor of her favorite mushroom.

Instead of going in immediately, she decides that it would be a good time to look around for others, see if perhaps someone has a story to tell. If nothing else, she'll pester the guard when he demands to see her papers.

[Matsu Ishioka]

Approaching up the road behind the slim Dragon is a relatively imposing-looking Lion bushi. He looks drawn straight from an image of "stereotypical Lion bushi," save for the hammer resting on one shoulder.

The Lion stops as he notices her obvious enjoyment of the mushroom, raising an eyebrow a fraction of an inch, but he makes no sound nor offers any other visual reaction.

[Agasha Inoshishi]

The Lion stops as he notices her obvious enjoyment of the mushroom, raising an eyebrow a fraction of an inch, but he makes no sound nor offers any other visual reaction.

She notices the lion bushi watching her as she finishes swallowing the delectable candy cap and turns towards him, stepping slightly back and to one side, clearly giving way or at least inviting the other samurai to join her at the gate.

"Hello! I have just the most extraordinary luck! Three lions in 2 days, who would have imagined? Well, the first wasn't so lucky, he was a real lion. Not that you aren't, but this was one that went about on four feet. Paws? Certainly not hooves. The point is, this one, he had fangs that were very very pointy, but luckily he didn't show them to me except as a yawn. The other one was in the forest! But he's real. Well, you're real too, and the first one as well. I mean that he was like you, except you are very...you, and he wasn't. Not that he isn't, or wasn't, the very model of a lion, but you, you sir, you are the very spitting image of Akodo himself or my eyes lie!"

The dirt on her face doesn't do as much as the courtly makeup would to dull the faint blush creeping up her face.

[Matsu Ishioka]

She notices the lion bushi watching her as she finishes swallowing the delectable candy cap and turns towards him, stepping slightly back and to one side, clearly giving way or at least inviting the other samurai to join her at the gate.

"Hello! I have just the most extraordinary luck! Three lions in 2 days, who would have imagined? Well, the first wasn't so lucky, he was a real lion. Not that you aren't, but this was one that went about on four feet. Paws? Certainly not hooves. The point is, this one, he had fangs that were very very pointy, but luckily he didn't show them to me except as a yawn. The other one was in the forest! But he's real. Well, you're real too, and the first one as well. I mean that he was like you, except you are very...you, and he wasn't. Not that he isn't, or wasn't, the very model of a lion, but you, you sir, you are the very spitting image of Akodo himself or my eyes lie!"

The dirt on her face doesn't do as much as the courtly makeup would to dull the faint blush creeping up her face.

Ishioka, finding this Dragon most curious, steps to the side of the road and gently sets down his genno, pack, and then removes his helm and places it atop the pack. He takes another step toward the Dragon woman, looking at her appraisingly while she can now clearly see his features.

"You are extraordinarily lucky to have met a four-legged lion in the woods. And to not have been attacked, for lions do not favor that environment." The Lion speaks very matter of factly and, though his face is mostly impassive, his eyes continue to focus on the Dragon as though there's something wrong with her and he's simply trying to find the name for it.

"I am Matsu Ishioka, nikutai of security at the Lion embassy in Kyuden Hida. If you mean to compliment by comparing me to Lord Akodo himself, you are kind but mistaken. I do not look like he did. But, thank you," the Matsu bows respectfully, and his face is as steady after the bow as it was before.

[Agasha Inoshishi]

Inoshishi bows back, a proper Dragon courtly bow, despite her overly enthusiastic demeanor. However, the stately, demure bow can't contain her spirit for long and she's back to chattering almost as soon as she straightens.

"You are extraordinarily lucky to have met a four-legged lion in the woods. And to not have been attacked, for lions do not favor that environment." The Lion speaks very matter of factly and, though his face is mostly impassive, his eyes continue to focus on the Dragon as though there's something wrong with her and he's simply trying to find the name for it.

"I am Matsu Ishioka, nikutai of security at the Lion embassy in Kyuden Hida. If you mean to compliment by comparing me to Lord Akodo himself, you are kind but mistaken. I do not look like he did. But, thank you," the Matsu bows respectfully, and his face is as steady after the bow as it was before.

"Oh, I didn't see it in the forest. I mean, I saw the other one, the one with two legs, in the forest, but I didn't see the four legged one there. I saw it on the way here after looking at Loyalty Castle. Have you been there? I bet you have. It's so pretty! So many exciting things happened there! Oh, I'm sorry, I know he was handsome and you're..."

She pauses, the blush spreading for a moment before she clears her throat.

"Um, so you're here, so you're looking to marry someone too? I've been told I should and that sounds alright with me. As long as I get to see more of the world it will be a great marriage, one of destiny! I'm Agasha Inoshishi, maybe you've heard of me? I know a lot of people in the Ikoma family. They have the best beer, they even wrote a song about me and their beer and how they all fell asleep but I stayed awake."

Her lips part slightly, clearly proud of her accomplishments, and she pops a mushroom cap into her mouth before offering a small pouch filled with fresh picked mushrooms to the Lion.

[Matsu Ishioka]

"Oh, I didn't see it in the forest. I mean, I saw the other one, the one with two legs, in the forest, but I didn't see the four legged one there. I saw it on the way here after looking at Loyalty Castle. Have you been there? I bet you have. It's so pretty! So many exciting things happened there! Oh, I'm sorry, I know he was handsome and you're..."

She pauses, the blush spreading for a moment before she clears her throat.

Ishioka raises an eyebrow at the pause and the blush.

"Um, so you're here, so you're looking to marry someone too? I've been told I should and that sounds alright with me. As long as I get to see more of the world it will be a great marriage, one of destiny! I'm Agasha Inoshishi, maybe you've heard of me? I know a lot of people in the Ikoma family. They have the best beer, they even wrote a song about me and their beer and how they all fell asleep but I stayed awake."

Her lips part slightly, clearly proud of her accomplishments, and she pops a mushroom cap into her mouth before offering a small pouch filled with fresh picked mushrooms to the Lion.

The Matsu looks at the pouch. "Not right now, thank you," he says slowly but politely. "You seem to have a lot to say, Agasha-san. I have limited experience with other Dragons, but you seem... particularly talkative. Yet you paused earlier without completing your thought. I believe you were about to say that I am not handsome, but I do not wish to put words in your mouth."

[Agasha Inoshishi]

Yet you paused earlier without completing your thought. I believe you were about to say that I am not handsome, but I do not wish to put words in your mouth."

Inoshishi's mouth drops for a moment before she quickly shuts it with an almost audible click.

"Um, I suppose that's one possible ending for my thought? I don't know if it's an accurate ending, and I don't think it's the one I intended."

Her face goes redder still.

"Perhaps tomorrow you can take me to dinner in the town, we can discuss further what should and should not be put in my mouth?"

She practically scampers away as she tries to rush through the gates, previous intention of looking for new samurai completely forgotten.

[Matsu Ishioka]

Ishioka raises an eyebrow as he watches the swift-moving Dragon leave him in the dust.

"Most curious," he says, a tone of genuine curiosity running through his short comments. "Unfortunate that I must have misunderstood her." As he begins to pick up his things and ready for the line awaiting entry, he looks up in the direction that Inoshishi had gone. "Things to put in her mouth? What an odd... Ohhh, but a dinner conversation. About good food. That sounds enjoyable."

[Kaikoga Koi]

Koi had dropped her bag into the Inn and has taken some time to unpack, rest and have some breakfast as she had run out of rations the night prior. Now, with some mild curiousity she wanted to feel for Kyuden Shika from a reasonable vantage point.

A city where marriages, and love is formed and crushed. Dreams are made here and I wonder if they manifest in any way, any place they might linger. The Moth took her time to blend in, her clothes already not fine like the Great Clanes and her mon a family easily not known apparently so she decided to try to blend in.

The Moth kept out of obvious sight where she can but she wasn't trying to be sneaky, not really she just wanted to be undisturbed as she explored. Her vigilant jade eyes scanning from the Walls potential places to begin seeking out those all places of folklore.

Perhaps a school? Or a temple? She mused, walking around lost in her own thought still trying to feel for the city.

Allul, where would you be? She thought, stroking her fan with her thumb.

[Saibankan]

Koi had dropped her bag into the Inn and has taken some time to unpack, rest and have some breakfast as she had run out of rations the night prior. Now, with some mild curiousity she wanted to feel for Kyuden Shika from a reasonable vantage point.

A city where marriages, and love is formed and crushed. Dreams are made here and I wonder if they manifest in any way, any place they might linger. The Moth took her time to blend in, her clothes already not fine like the Great Clanes and her mon a family easily not known apparently so she decided to try to blend in.

The Moth kept out of obvious sight where she can but she wasn't trying to be sneaky, not really she just wanted to be undisturbed as she explored. Her vigilant jade eyes scanning from the Walls potential places to begin seeking out those all places of folklore.

Perhaps a school? Or a temple? She mused, walking around lost in her own thought still trying to feel for the city.

Allul, where would you be? She thought, stroking her fan with her thumb.

Kyuden Shika truly was a magical place....or perhaps it was even a Magical place, it really depended on one's point of view. For example, some would see the mid-morning sun striking the rocks on the wall, and be taken by the rough beauty and the delicate interplay of light and shadow upon it's stony surface.

Others might note that in one spot, the shadows made it look like a certain owl spirit pointing to someone or something.

It truly did matter on one's point of view.