[Expecting] Looking Down on the Town (Day 2- Early Evening)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Bartender, what's this?"

2490d36580af76f1743b2ad4e11a55b4.jpg (10.16 KiB) Viewed 457 times

"It is the house cocktail you ordered, samurai-sama."
"No, I ordered a refreshing drink, not a rainforest. You could fall in love with a Same in there."

The bartender apologies profusely and goes to replace the drink (probably just taking out the decorations and returning it) as Ochiba turns, leaning back against the bar to admire the view.

"For that price I should have gotten my own rainforest, unbelievable."

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Bartender, what's this?"
2490d36580af76f1743b2ad4e11a55b4.jpg
"It is the house cocktail you ordered, samurai-sama."
"No, I ordered a refreshing drink, not a rainforest. You could fall in love with a Same in there."

The bartender apologies profusely and goes to replace the drink (probably just taking out the decorations and returning it) as Ochiba turns, leaning back against the bar to admire the view.

"For that price I should have gotten my own rainforest, unbelievable."

A head turns from a nearby place. As her gaze meets Ochiba, her eyes seem vacant, as if focusing on something beyond... and they still seem somewhat judgmental.

"The wild berries martini with mint and jungle root scent ain't bad, Yoritomo-san", a monotone voice says, not quite looking her in the face as she plays around with a stick still holding an olive in what looks like a rosemary-garnished martini of sorts.

"Here for the view?", she asks. The counter doesn't have the best angle, but depending on where you're siting it still gives a good view of the harbour.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"It's the 'jungle root scent' that does it, nobody wants jungle root in or anywhere near their drink."
Ochiba holds the glass up, various bits and bobs waving dangerously as she tries to work out where to actually take a sip from.

"I just looked for the most expensive bar in town and this was on the list, view isn't bad though."
Still peering at the drink.
"Is the restaurant usually that dead? It was meant to be a good one."

[Utaku Itsuka]

"It's the 'jungle root scent' that does it, nobody wants jungle root in or anywhere near their drink."
Ochiba holds the glass up, various bits and bobs waving dangerously as she tries to work out where to actually take a sip from.

"I just looked for the most expensive bar in town and this was on the list, view isn't bad though."
Still peering at the drink.
"Is the restaurant usually that dead? It was meant to be a good one."

Huh. Is this 'that' Yoritomo word on the street is crazy about?...

"I'll grant it's an acquired taste. One many locals have acquired though, so I'd advise some caution when badmouthing it on the street."

She takes a small sip, side-eyeing her, then looks at the horizon. "Well, what you said. There's some cause and consequence there, ne?" She looks around. "I'd expect more people in the bar, though, especially with all the influx due to the Governor's invitations. I wonder if she went for more 'startup' than 'bigwig'?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Huh. Is this 'that' Yoritomo word on the street is crazy about?...

"I'll grant it's an acquired taste. One many locals have acquired though, so I'd advise some caution when badmouthing it on the street."

She takes a small sip, side-eyeing her, then looks at the horizon. "Well, what you said. There's some cause and consequence there, ne?" She looks around. "I'd expect more people in the bar, though, especially with all the influx due to the Governor's invitations. I wonder if she went for more 'startup' than 'bigwig'?"

“Right, I’ll try and only bad mad folks’ jungle roots when I’m looking to start a fight. Gonna feel a little weird in the mouth, but so’s that flavour.”

She looks back at the unicorn curiously, having assumed she was an out of towner too.

“I think Governor-sama only picked the best of the best myself. Good looking, forward thinking and successful samurai. But a bunch of them are pretty boring, so they’re not up here enjoying themselves.”
Gesturing at the streets below.
“Probably down there negotiating ore exchanges or something else lame. But, that’s not you. You’re up here… but you sound like a local? This a regular watering hole for you and… like 2 other people?”

[Utaku Itsuka]

“Right, I’ll try and only bad mad folks’ jungle roots when I’m looking to start a fight. Gonna feel a little weird in the mouth, but so’s that flavour.”

She looks back at the unicorn curiously, having assumed she was an out of towner too.

“I think Governor-sama only picked the best of the best myself. Good looking, forward thinking and successful samurai. But a bunch of them are pretty boring, so they’re not up here enjoying themselves.”
Gesturing at the streets below.
“Probably down there negotiating ore exchanges or something else lame. But, that’s not you. You’re up here… but you sound like a local? This a regular watering hole for you and… like 2 other people?”

"Ore exchange is important", she answers without really thinking about it right before another sip. "Way more boring than mining, though, I'd have to guess." She looks up, shakes the thoughts off her head. "Ah. Sorry."

She points towards the east end of the Harbourfront, or rather slightly further east. "Been in Shiawase Island some 10 years now. Not a bad place, if you ask me. It's welcomed us well. Quieter lately, maybe too quiet... but not for long, it seems."

Another sip. "Regular is maybe too much. I know my accounting well enough for that. But I do like to come by for a good look of the city now and then." She gets up, glass in hand, takes a few steps closer to the window. "So, I may assume Yoritomo-san is more bigwig than startup material, then?" She points outsife with the glass. "How'd ya like it, Yoritomo-san?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Ore exchange is important", she answers without really thinking about it right before another sip. "Way more boring than mining, though, I'd have to guess." She looks up, shakes the thoughts off her head. "Ah. Sorry."

She points towards the east end of the Harbourfront, or rather slightly further east. "Been in Shiawase Island some 10 years now. Not a bad place, if you ask me. It's welcomed us well. Quieter lately, maybe too quiet... but not for long, it seems."

Another sip. "Regular is maybe too much. I know my accounting well enough for that. But I do like to come by for a good look of the city now and then." She gets up, glass in hand, takes a few steps closer to the window. "So, I may assume Yoritomo-san is more bigwig than startup material, then?" She points outsife with the glass. "How'd ya like it, Yoritomo-san?"

“Huh, never heard anyone care about ore exchange before…your family ore… exchangers?”
Ochiba peers through the foliage at the unicorn, her tone genuinely curious.

“What did you do to end up here for ten years? Seem a little young for retirement. Lifestyle choice? Thought you guys were all about travel.”

Preening slightly at the last question
“I’m an up and comer myself. Storm Weekly 30 raiders under 30 and all that. Not long until I’ll be a classic bigwig though. Place seems nice so far, weather could be better though. People are.. fine, kinda weirdly hot by Crab standards. But that’s hardly a bad thing.”

[Utaku Itsuka]

“Huh, never heard anyone care about ore exchange before…your family ore… exchangers?”
Ochiba peers through the foliage at the unicorn, her tone genuinely curious.

“What did you do to end up here for ten years? Seem a little young for retirement. Lifestyle choice? Thought you guys were all about travel.”

Preening slightly at the last question
“I’m an up and comer myself. Storm Weekly 30 raiders under 30 and all that. Not long until I’ll be a classic bigwig though. Place seems nice so far, weather could be better though. People are.. fine, kinda weirdly hot by Crab standards. But that’s hardly a bad thing.”

"My... family? Oh, n..." She stops halfway through the answer, you see her shaking her head slightly. When she starts speaking again, her voice actually seems a bit more lively, for the first time, although there seems to be some pain behind it. "Actually, you know, yeah, my family did deal in ore. Mining, not trading. Not anymore, though... I think." the last words seem more painful, she takes another sip before turning around to speak again.

"I guess you could call it a lifestyle choice. Not that there's a want of places to travel to here. A change of scale, I guess you could call it. More repeated trips, of course. But that also means the land feels closer. Like a good friend."

Her gaze now falls on the Yoritomo again - maybe for the first time properly, as if the vacant eyes were studying her. "30 comes soon enough, y'know", she says after a longer pause. "Too soon, even. Hopefully not too soon for Yoritomo-san's bigwig dreams, though, eh?"

She looks outside again. "I guess I haven't been to Mantis Space that often. Thought your people would be more used to the weather in wet tropical worlds?"

"Well. It does get better, I swear. Although that does mean hotter. Sometimes weirder" Another sip. "Weather and people both."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Did?" Pause. Drink Sip. "This feels like a story I'm gonna say 'yikes' at the end of. Would you like me to 'yikes' now? Or 'yikes' later? Either way, can't just leave me hanging there."

Looking back obviously a little curious.
"This better not be some mid-life crisis thing though...and I got plenty of time until I'm 30, tonnes by the time I'm 30 I'll have it all. And, I'll add, Mantis tropical worlds have the good grace to be warm when I want to go to the beach, certainly the resort ones anyway."

Another eyebrow raise at the 'weirder'.

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Did?" Pause. Drink Sip. "This feels like a story I'm gonna say 'yikes' at the end of. Would you like me to 'yikes' now? Or 'yikes' later? Either way, can't just leave me hanging there."

Looking back obviously a little curious.
"This better not be some mid-life crisis thing though...and I got plenty of time until I'm 30, tonnes by the time I'm 30 I'll have it all. And, I'll add, Mantis tropical worlds have the good grace to be warm when I want to go to the beach, certainly the resort ones anyway."

Another eyebrow raise at the 'weirder'.

"I suppose the definition of warm may change a bit around systems". Deadpan again. "I'd still count on needing sunscreen before the end of the week either way. But maybe you'll enjoy the island more from a different perspective? She gestures vaguely to the shape of a mountain in the horizon. From here, it might not be so clear which one, although with a good grasp of the surroundings you'd know it's Mt Jinsei.

She takes a long sip, looks out to the horizon again. Maybe keeping her eyes away from the Mantis?

"My wife was in mining. Asteroid mining." She shakes her head slightly. "Is in mining", she corrects herself before another long sip. "What was it Yoritomo-san will be a bigwig in some years again?", she asks, her tone apparently making an effort at playfulnes despite what sounds like some strain.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"I suppose the definition of warm may change a bit around systems". Deadpan again. "I'd still count on needing sunscreen before the end of the week either way. But maybe you'll enjoy the island more from a different perspective? She gestures vaguely to the shape of a mountain in the horizon. From here, it might not be so clear which one, although with a good grasp of the surroundings you'd know it's Mt Jinsei.

She takes a long sip, looks out to the horizon again. Maybe keeping her eyes away from the Mantis?

"My wife was in mining. Asteroid mining." She shakes her head slightly. "Is in mining", she corrects herself before another long sip. "What was it Yoritomo-san will be a bigwig in some years again?", she asks, her tone apparently making an effort at playfulnes despite what sounds like some strain.

"As promised, I'll deliver my 'yikes' now. Hope things... you know."
The Unicorn nods to Mt Jinsei has got Ochiba thinking...different viewpoint, reasonably private...hmmm.

Then she snaps back at the mention of self promotion.
"I want my own ship to captain, once I've learnt all I can I'm off. We'll salvage everything that moves, make a name for ourselves and then I'll retire to a manor house in a good neighborhood with a swimming pull full of koku. Then I'll take lovers and pickup stupid hobbies and enjoy the rest of my life."

airtight plan.
"Same as your lifeplan, or different?"

[Utaku Itsuka]

"As promised, I'll deliver my 'yikes' now. Hope things... you know."
The Unicorn nods to Mt Jinsei has got Ochiba thinking...different viewpoint, reasonably private...hmmm.

Then she snaps back at the mention of self promotion.
"I want my own ship to captain, once I've learnt all I can I'm off. We'll salvage everything that moves, make a name for ourselves and then I'll retire to a manor house in a good neighborhood with a swimming pull full of koku. Then I'll take lovers and pickup stupid hobbies and enjoy the rest of my life."

airtight plan.
"Same as your lifeplan, or different?"

The Yoritomo's airtight plan manages to squeeze a grin out of her otherwise hollow expression, even if only for a moment.

"Looking at you, one would be tempted to think you'd got at least the swimming pool already. Or... maybe it's a larger one you're aiming for?"

She looks to the west, towards Azuma Beach.

"A good neighbourhood, a good house, stupid hobbies... when you put it that way, I guess my plan was not that different. Just I'm some years ahead, I guess? Except..."

A long sip. A quiet sigh.

"Which do you think is worse, Yoritomo-san, having a dream and never reaching it, or reaching it, to then lose it?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"I want one of those roof pools where you can oogle the people swimming above you."
Smirking.
"I'm a woman of simple tastes."

Itsuka's question takes Ochiba back a bit.
"Well....shit, um. Losing it I guess? Always a risk you try and fail on the way to the top. But then falling all the way back down, that hurts. Is this a 'brush yourself off and get back on the horse' situation or a 'I'm totally fucked' situation?"

[Utaku Itsuka]

Snip
"I want one of those roof pools where you can oogle the people swimming above you."
Smirking.
"I'm a woman of simple tastes."

Itsuka's question takes Ochiba back a bit.
"Well....shit, um. Losing it I guess? Always a risk you try and fail on the way to the top. But then falling all the way back down, that hurts. Is this a 'brush yourself off and get back on the horse' situation or a 'I'm totally fucked' situation?"

Both of Ochiba's answers lead to weak grins - the second one rather grim. After a couple sips, she still seems at a loss for an answer.

"... how does one know which of these is the case? Maybe you do if it's a business going bankrupt, but... what if it's something you can't control? Or you don't know to begin with?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Both of Ochiba's answers lead to weak grins - the second one rather grim. After a couple sips, she still seems at a loss for an answer.

"... how does one know which of these is the case? Maybe you do if it's a business going bankrupt, but... what if it's something you can't control? Or you don't know to begin with?"

"Hmmm, well I know one technique? It's powerful though, and risky. But, if you want to really unpack how you feel about something..."
Turning to the bar.
"Yo! Barkeep! We need shots of the good stuff!"

And back to Itsuka.
"We can figure this out, and I need to wash the taste of all this jungle root out anyway. Now-" The first of the glasses are set down.

"-Gimme the deets."

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Hmmm, well I know one technique? It's powerful though, and risky. But, if you want to really unpack how you feel about something..."
Turning to the bar.
"Yo! Barkeep! We need shots of the good stuff!"

And back to Itsuka.
"We can figure this out, and I need to wash the taste of all this jungle root out anyway. Now-" The first of the glasses are set down.

"-Gimme the deets."

She looks at the glasses, then outside, then at the glasses again, then finally at Ochiba.

After a long time, she extends her hand to take the glass.

"....Say there's something that can't be replaced. Say you think you lost it to the void."

She looks at the glass.

"What then?"

(OOC: Oof, sorry for the mess of the last days. If we can wrap this up soon, maybe we can take up some more of this talk later...)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

She looks at the glasses, then outside, then at the glasses again, then finally at Ochiba.

After a long time, she extends her hand to take the glass.

"....Say there's something that can't be replaced. Say you think you lost it to the void."

She looks at the glass.

"What then?"

(OOC: Oof, sorry for the mess of the last days. If we can wrap this up soon, maybe we can take up some more of this talk later...)

"Go get something new I guess? Like, stuff breaks down or gets lost all the time."
Grinning.
"That's what money is for, after all. And if it's something money can't buy...well it's a lot more comfortable to cry in a Doji Ultima. Then you can move forward"

She clinks her glass against Itsuka's
"So, bottoms up. Then I gotta split. But hey, come find me if you need someone to spill on."

(( all good! ))

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Go get something new I guess? Like, stuff breaks down or gets lost all the time."
Grinning.
"That's what money is for, after all. And if it's something money can't buy...well it's a lot more comfortable to cry in a Doji Ultima. Then you can move forward"

She clinks her glass against Itsuka's
"So, bottoms up. Then I gotta split. But hey, come find me if you need someone to spill on."

(( all good! ))

She immediately remembered something the Shinjo had said the previous day. There were things she hadn't lost - some she hadn't even considered the possibility of losing.

She couldn't quite think a Doji Ultima would make her feel better... but she saw some sense in what the Yoritomo said.

The glass was downed.

"I suppose I'll reflect on your words, Yoritomo-san. And I just might take you up on your offer" She extends a card, with her name, the Wherever's address and comm lines, and a few offers on the back.

"If you want a different perspective of the island", she adds, with a faint smile.

(/scene? Thanks for the thread!)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

She immediately remembered something the Shinjo had said the previous day. There were things she hadn't lost - some she hadn't even considered the possibility of losing.

She couldn't quite think a Doji Ultima would make her feel better... but she saw some sense in what the Yoritomo said.

The glass was downed.

"I suppose I'll reflect on your words, Yoritomo-san. And I just might take you up on your offer" She extends a card, with her name, the Wherever's address and comm lines, and a few offers on the back.

"If you want a different perspective of the island", she adds, with a faint smile.

(/scene? Thanks for the thread!)

"Ummm, hell yeah? Just you wait, we're gonna be doing some sick aerial stunts in no time. Impossible to be sad when you're pulling a barrel roll."

Ochiba accepts the card and passes back her own which just says:

Ochiba - You Were Lucky To Get This

"Still trying to work out what goes on the rest, probably something about being the ultimate part host."
She fires a single finger gun at Itsuka
"Right, peace. Don't be a stranger!"

Exit Ochiba

((/Thread works for me, thanks for the RP!))