(D1, ME) Everyone wants to be a Sailor (Play)

[Usogawa Narumi]

[...]

"Aso, but Shiba-san, I'll have you know putting others at ease is exactly what I do..." she lets that sit in the air for a moment, before elaborating, "-my aunt is an esteemed nakodo, and I am under her tutor to become one as well. So, in a way, this miai is my graduation? Or at the very least, a formidable evaluation. Hmm.
And yourself? What is it you do to better the empire?"

[Shiba Raizo]

"Aso, but Shiba-san, I'll have you know putting others at ease is exactly what I do..." she lets that sit in the air for a moment, before elaborating, "-my aunt is an esteemed nakodo, and I am under her tutor to become one as well. So, in a way, this miai is my graduation? Or at the very least, a formidable evaluation. Hmm.
And yourself? What is it you do to better the empire?"

"Ah, I have the delightful and glorious duty of walking around with a bunch of other smelly guys in armor, living in tents, trying to make sense of orders I don't have a full picture of, and periodically enduring the terror and confusion of fights with armed individuals who're just as scared of me as I am of them. So kind of the opposite of putting others at ease..."

[Usogawa Narumi]

[...]

She gave careful consideration to what he said, and nodded once. "They say that the more opposite the lives of two samurai, the more common ground they might find..." If they truly said as much, she did not know, but it sounded nice, didn't it?
"So you travel?"

[Shiba Raizo]

"So you travel?"

That... seemed to strike him. He actually lit up a bit in a genuine sense.

"The only unadulterated perk of the job. I've been all over the Phoenix provinces, and even into the Dragon and Lion lands a couple of times. All on foot, but if it's a slow trip, it gives me plenty of time to take everything in!"

A pause.

"Your clanmate... Usogawa Emiko-san? Says the Otter do a lot of river travel. That has to be interesting- and faster!"

[Usogawa Narumi]

[...]

His demeanor shifts perceptively and Narumi can't help but smile wider at the change.
"That sounds positively interesting, you'll have to pull me aside again another time, and regale me with your exploits, I would very much like to hear all about where you've been. You must have seen incredible things.
O hai, my cousin, she has the right of it. It can be faster, and exciting as well, if I can say as much- though different from the excitement I'm sure you're accustomed to, Shiba-san? I do love it though, seeing so much of Rokugan, going to sleep and waking up somewhere new almost everyday, meeting all manner of samurai and sharing their customs. I would not change my upbringing on the river for all the world." Though the smile dampened some, as a thought took her for a moment.

[Kaito Oubaihime]

The appearance of the Obituarian was almost theater-like in itself, emerging from the shadows as if he had arrived from sakkaku itself. His deep topaz yakuta was what gave this effect, almost melding him into the shadows himself. Even once he had emerged, it almost looked as if the lanterns overhead were ignoring him for some reason.

There was certainly quite a crowd gathered - some he recognized, some he didn't. Some he was glad weren't present. If this play went anything like the last recital he went to...

(PM or quote if approached)

Seeing the lonely Lion Oubaihime approached the man. "Good Evening Sama... may I accompany you?"

[Matsu Ishioka]

"Oh! I am so sorry." A bit embarrassed she adds, "my autumn and winter were at the Wall and beyond. It kind of shifts my impression of what 'well' looks like, it seems. Sorry to miss those signs." More carefully she asks, "How?" She's not sure a Lion would be as upset if she'd fallen in battle, but... that's a rather broadassumption.

Ishioka sighs a little - not loudly, but the Kuni is close enough to see his shoulders move and faintly hear the exhale.

"Maybe I show no signs now. It is easier not to talk about it, and not to think about it when that's possible. But she was my parents' favorite, so every time they now check up on me..." He closes his eyes and his mouth forms a flat grimace. He's quiet for a time.

"Oh, you asked how it happened." He opens his eyes and there's a flicker of an angry fire in them. "Duel with a dishonorable Dragon," he says simply, then sighs again.

[Bayushi Minae]

He nods, "I'll do my best to make it a good reminder." Looking at the other seats, he asks, "Any expectation for the play?"

Minae tapped her fan thoughtfully.

"Well there have been a lot of whispers about the Mantis being involved. But the Tortoise also have a proud tradition of sailing, and perhaps we may even be surprised and see that it's a play about the Otter, they are certainly new when one considers the history of the Empire." she remarked. "But I believe Seppun-sama's prediction was the Mantis, and so I shall set my expectations around his word."

[Seppun Yuzu]

-snip-

He leans closer, but never too close and says, covering his hand over his lips. "I confess I didn't know much of the Otter, but I am rather impressed. Navigate in all rivers of the Empire. That's quite a feat. I also got informed that they saved an Imperial heir years ago. One of my own line. A rather good sort of sailor when compared with rumors about other two Bayushi-san mentioned."

[Bayushi Minae]

He leans closer, but never too close and says, covering his hand over his lips. "I confess I didn't know much of the Otter, but I am rather impressed. Navigate in all rivers of the Empire. That's quite a feat. I also got informed that they saved an Imperial heir years ago. One of my own line. A rather good sort of sailor when compared with rumors about other two Bayushi-san mentioned."

Minae considered the Seppun.

"You surprise me, Seppun-sama. I would have thought that you would have favored the Tortoise more. After all, they are the Guardians of the Bay of the Golden Sun, the clan that is charged with the maintenance of the Imperial Capital itself, and whose family daimyo is the Emperor themselves, " she lists off.

"The Otter truly made such an impression on you? Remarkable."