[D9, EE, Expecting] Getting lost in the smoke

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

Sitting alone at a small table had been an odd choice for the grumpy-looking Fox samurai, but in Soratoshi's mind it was perfectly logical: underscoring his frustrated brooding feelings with the ability to stare at an empty seat. Really it could only be more appropriate if he'd brought a mirror, for he had no one but himself to blame for his frustrations on the island.

The Kitsune poured another half glass of shochu from the bottle he'd terrified a server into leaving at the table. The lanky, bookish-looking Fox in business attire wasn't much for intimidation, even with his tie and suit coat replaced with a somewhat rugged looking faux-leather jacket. But his eyes had flashed almost red, the server would have sworn, and that had been the end of her argument about the shochu bottle.

Soratoshi tipped his glass back for another small sip, still far removed from getting truly intoxicated.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Sitting alone at a small table had been an odd choice for the grumpy-looking Fox samurai, but in Soratoshi's mind it was perfectly logical: underscoring his frustrated brooding feelings with the ability to stare at an empty seat. Really it could only be more appropriate if he'd brought a mirror, for he had no one but himself to blame for his frustrations on the island.

The Kitsune poured another half glass of shochu from the bottle he'd terrified a server into leaving at the table. The lanky, bookish-looking Fox in business attire wasn't much for intimidation, even with his tie and suit coat replaced with a somewhat rugged looking faux-leather jacket. But his eyes had flashed almost red, the server would have sworn, and that had been the end of her argument about the shochu bottle.

Soratoshi tipped his glass back for another small sip, still far removed from getting truly intoxicated.

Ichitaiyo took a position next to him, clad in suit covered by a leather trenchcoat, as if had spent the day outside chasing ghosts. Her steps were heavy and plopped into the stool easily enough.

"Kisenko, please." She ordered to the bartender, before pulling away her ceramic rebreather. She took a long tired sigh and dug her eyes onto the heels of her hands.

"Good evening." The investigator greeted her stool partner.

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

"Good evening." The investigator greeted her stool partner.

Drawing slowly from his own thoughts, Soratoshi started to answer half-heartedly. "Good evening, uh -- Oh, uh, Kitsuki-sama, isn't it?" He'd heard the Dragon's name and seen her around the various events for guests on the island, but the Kitsune had never expected to have the distinctive-looking woman appear beside him. "Uh, this one is Kitsune Soratoshi, Kitsuki-sama, honored to be representing Kitsune Bio-pharmaticals at this time," he added, clearly flustered.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Drawing slowly from his own thoughts, Soratoshi started to answer half-heartedly. "Good evening, uh -- Oh, uh, Kitsuki-sama, isn't it?" He'd heard the Dragon's name and seen her around the various events for guests on the island, but the Kitsune had never expected to have the distinctive-looking woman appear beside him. "Uh, this one is Kitsune Soratoshi, Kitsuki-sama, honored to be representing Kitsune Bio-pharmaticals at this time," he added, clearly flustered.

Ichitaiyo raised her brows, a bit ataken back by the recognition. Sure she was easy to spot in a crowd, and she must have gotten a bit of a name after showing so often among the bid point earners but to be treated as -sama alome was odd.

She lifted a casual hand at ease. "Please, just -san. I hold no title but the one of samurai. It is a pleasure to make your acquitance."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

The Fox grinned a little and nodded. Like the good old days with my Crab friends, he thought. Nothing fancy.

"Likewise, Kitsuki-san," Soratoshi said in pleasant but alcohol-relaxed voice. He took another small sip and then flinched a little, obviously remembering something. "Er, Kitsuki-san, ah... You know I was trying very hard to hack the Mantis network earlier, right? I mean, I almost had it. it was just that last triple-encrypted lag code that..." The Fox's eyes closed and he sighed. Without opening his eyes he said sullenly, "I'm really sorry about that."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The Fox grinned a little and nodded. Like the good old days with my Crab friends, he thought. Nothing fancy.

"Likewise, Kitsuki-san," Soratoshi said in pleasant but alcohol-relaxed voice. He took another small sip and then flinched a little, obviously remembering something. "Er, Kitsuki-san, ah... You know I was trying very hard to hack the Mantis network earlier, right? I mean, I almost had it. it was just that last triple-encrypted lag code that..." The Fox's eyes closed and he sighed. Without opening his eyes he said sullenly, "I'm really sorry about that."

Ichitaiyo blinked in surprise for some moments before her drink arrived. Ichitaiyo took a long swig from the glass and sighed in turn, hanging her head a little. "Reactive code is hard to deal with as is. Many underestimate it because it lacks the elegance of Temptress."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

Ichitaiyo blinked in surprise for some moments before her drink arrived. Ichitaiyo took a long swig from the glass and sighed in turn, hanging her head a little. "Reactive code is hard to deal with as is. Many underestimate it because it lacks the elegance of Temptress."

"I didn't underestimate it though," the Fox growled, teeth almost clenched. "I was so close! And... And... And who knows. Maybe I don't know what I'm doing." Soratoshi drained the rest of his glass, set it down with a heavy sigh, and filled it about two thirds of the way to the top again.

"You've been doing pretty well around here, from what I've heard, Kitsuki-san," the Kitsune says amicably. "You Dragon samurai-ko, you're uh... You been getting things done." The man nods a couple of times, emphasizing his positive impression of the Dragon delegation.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"I didn't underestimate it though," the Fox growled, teeth almost clenched. "I was so close! And... And... And who knows. Maybe I don't know what I'm doing." Soratoshi drained the rest of his glass, set it down with a heavy sigh, and filled it about two thirds of the way to the top again.

"You've been doing pretty well around here, from what I've heard, Kitsuki-san," the Kitsune says amicably. "You Dragon samurai-ko, you're uh... You been getting things done." The man nods a couple of times, emphasizing his positive impression of the Dragon delegation.

Ichitaiyo chuckled, a hint of bitterness in, as she downed other sip. And a second one for good measure. "Not doing enough, it seems.".

There was so much going on underneath. Suddenly this whole.. bidding thing seemed to lose importance. "we might as well lose at to the Mantis."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

There was so much going on underneath. Suddenly this whole.. bidding thing seemed to lose importance. "we might as well lose at to the Mantis."

"Gaagh," Soratoshi roared, probably louder than he intended. Some heads whipped around, assuming it was the sound of someone throwing up, and perhaps were disappointed to see that while that kind of talk churned Soratoshi's stomach, he had not in fact made a mess of the bar.

"My ancestors had talk like that," the Kitsune said gruffly, looking at Ichitaiyo with slightly inebriated but serious eyes. "Generations of, 'Oh, the Yoritomo know what they're doing. Look how successful! Oh me, oh my!' And what did it get them? Just more of the same. More of the same," the lean man said seriously. "But I had great ancestors, you know. Not great just because they're old, but great in their courage and their compassion! They said we'll have no more of this, and by the kami they got out." Soratoshi lifted his glass in salute and took a solid drink this time. "That's what you do! Say we'll have no more of this Mantis mess, and then do it!"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Gaagh," Soratoshi roared, probably louder than he intended. Some heads whipped around, assuming it was the sound of someone throwing up, and perhaps were disappointed to see that while that kind of talk churned Soratoshi's stomach, he had not in fact made a mess of the bar.

"My ancestors had talk like that," the Kitsune said gruffly, looking at Ichitaiyo with slightly inebriated but serious eyes. "Generations of, 'Oh, the Yoritomo know what they're doing. Look how successful! Oh me, oh my!' And what did it get them? Just more of the same. More of the same," the lean man said seriously. "But I had great ancestors, you know. Not great just because they're old, but great in their courage and their compassion! They said we'll have no more of this, and by the kami they got out." Soratoshi lifted his glass in salute and took a solid drink this time. "That's what you do! Say we'll have no more of this Mantis mess, and then do it!"

Ichitaiyo blinked, but was not mayorly phased by the outburst.. she let the man have it meanwhile, she took other sip.

"I am not letting anything happen, Kitsune-san, trust me." She replied evenly, despite having some of the haze set in. "We're doing what we can with the resources and allies at our disposal. And we're going to achieve whatever greatness we need."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

Ichitaiyo blinked, but was not mayorly phased by the outburst.. she let the man have it meanwhile, she took other sip.

"I am not letting anything happen, Kitsune-san, trust me." She replied evenly, despite having some of the haze set in. "We're doing what we can with the resources and allies at our disposal. And we're going to achieve whatever greatness we need."

"Ah, yes. That's what we need," Soratoshi said, nodding emphatically. "Keep pushing for greatness." He took another sip of his drink, more thoughtfully this time. "I'll start talking up the potential for business arrangements with the Dragon..."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Ah, yes. That's what we need," Soratoshi said, nodding emphatically. "Keep pushing for greatness." He took another sip of his drink, more thoughtfully this time. "I'll start talking up the potential for business arrangements with the Dragon..."

She couldn't tell the sarcasm from the real feelings on the man.. and she couldn't keep from asking and dwelving in deeper.

"So.. this is about the Kitsune's history with the Mantis, or there is something more at play, Kitsune-san?"

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

She couldn't tell the sarcasm from the real feelings on the man.. and she couldn't keep from asking and dwelving in deeper.

"So.. this is about the Kitsune's history with the Mantis, or there is something more at play, Kitsune-san?"

The Fox samurai looked at his drinking companion in confusion.

"History or more... Kitsuki-san, we are living that history every day. Neither my clan nor the Mantis have forgiven or forgotten. Every competition, every..." Soratoshi shook his head. "I am here to do everything I can for the future of the Kitsune, Kitsuki-san. I'm an engineer: I want to do it by building. But if the best I can do is to tear down our greatest threat, then that's what I will do." The young man's intensity seemed to have at least temporarily burned away his intoxication.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The Fox samurai looked at his drinking companion in confusion.

"History or more... Kitsuki-san, we are living that history every day. Neither my clan nor the Mantis have forgiven or forgotten. Every competition, every..." Soratoshi shook his head. "I am here to do everything I can for the future of the Kitsune, Kitsuki-san. I'm an engineer: I want to do it by building. But if the best I can do is to tear down our greatest threat, then that's what I will do." The young man's intensity seemed to have at least temporarily burned away his intoxication.

"Sometimes, living at ease is the worst punishment you can give your opponents, to let them know that their efforts were for nothing. Nothing scorches their pride like that." Ichitaiyo offered in wisdom. "That.. or they do not care for you after all."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

"Sometimes, living at ease is the worst punishment you can give your opponents, to let them know that their efforts were for nothing. Nothing scorches their pride like that." Ichitaiyo offered in wisdom. "That.. or they do not care for you after all."

"Huh," the Kitsune said. "Wisdom."

He started to raise his glass again, then stopped and put it back on the table.

"My brothers will live lives of peace, Kitsuki-san. Ease, plenty, and all the glory of Chikushudo come to Tengoku. They are the blessed sons of a prestigious line and they will live lives that our ancestors could only dream of." He paused briefly, nodding his head, his jaw tight, and when he continued his voice was lower, both huskier and quieter.

"I'm the other son of a prestigious line, Kitsuki-san. I may see peace and plenty when I go home to Inari's Cradle, but I won't be showing any Mantis ease. I will show them defeat and loss because I'm better than them. That's what my clan needs from me."

Soratoshi raised his glass toward Ichitaiyo. "And you, Kitsuki-san? What does your noble clan need from you?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Huh," the Kitsune said. "Wisdom."

He started to raise his glass again, then stopped and put it back on the table.

"My brothers will live lives of peace, Kitsuki-san. Ease, plenty, and all the glory of Chikushudo come to Tengoku. They are the blessed sons of a prestigious line and they will live lives that our ancestors could only dream of." He paused briefly, nodding his head, his jaw tight, and when he continued his voice was lower, both huskier and quieter.

"I'm the other son of a prestigious line, Kitsuki-san. I may see peace and plenty when I go home to Inari's Cradle, but I won't be showing any Mantis ease. I will show them defeat and loss because I'm better than them. That's what my clan needs from me."

Soratoshi raised his glass toward Ichitaiyo. "And you, Kitsuki-san? What does your noble clan need from you?"

Ichitaiyo shook her head and felt her need to down the rest of the glass, grunting as the burn poured down her throat.

"My line needs me to assure I run out of usefulness before I die." And she waved over other glass in. "I'm not loved by them, but I'm not useless. So, as long the latter is still true, I exist."

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

"My line needs me to assure I run out of usefulness before I die." And she waved over other glass in. "I'm not loved by them, but I'm not useless. So, as long the latter is still true, I exist."

The Kitsune guffawed, then belatedly realized his error. He shook his head as he apologized gently.

"I am sorry, Kitsuki-san. I... It sounds as though your family already thinks you useless. And while I support you proving them wrong, it doesn't seem that they will, uh, appreciate that?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The Kitsune guffawed, then belatedly realized his error. He shook his head as he apologized gently.

"I am sorry, Kitsuki-san. I... It sounds as though your family already thinks you useless. And while I support you proving them wrong, it doesn't seem that they will, uh, appreciate that?"

"Nah.. It's okay. I'm trying to get.. other Lord to take me. Someone who doesn't use me as a rag. They have never appreciated that, and have made a point of never doing so. Heck, if I marry away, they might ask of for a dowry instead of giving one just to screw me."

And other sip in.

[Kitsune Soratoshi]

"Nah.. It's okay. I'm trying to get.. other Lord to take me. Someone who doesn't use me as a rag. They have never appreciated that, and have made a point of never doing so. Heck, if I marry away, they might ask of for a dowry instead of giving one just to screw me."

And other sip in.

The Kitsune snorts derisively, in the style of Hida he'd gone to school with, and this time makes no apology.

"That's shit," Soratoshi says, unintentionally channeling his inner Crab. "All you been doing here? I'd ask my company to buy you out of that shit deal." He chuckles darkly and shakes his head. "Kami-damned Great Clans, wasting talent just because they can afford to piss it away..."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The Kitsune snorts derisively, in the style of Hida he'd gone to school with, and this time makes no apology.

"That's shit," Soratoshi says, unintentionally channeling his inner Crab. "All you been doing here? I'd ask my company to buy you out of that shit deal." He chuckles darkly and shakes his head. "Kami-damned Great Clans, wasting talent just because they can afford to piss it away..."

Ichitaiyo smirked conspiratorially. "Well, already have a plan to out but.. if that goes awry, is that a real offer, Kitsune-san?"