[D3 MM, expecting] Kappa and Pincers

[Agasha Sorato]

The proprietress of Crabkaku and Yasuki Data heiress has a reputation for appreciating traditional things, so Sorato thought the teahouse he'd visited with Hikari on his first day in town might be appropriate. It even has private rooms, not shiny-new, but traditional and comfortable. With the rain bucketing down outside, the atmosphere is quite cozy. Sorato had decided to take a taxi rather than cycling and to arrive a bit early, both of which allow him to be dry and neat when his guest arrives. His traveling capsule wardrobe furnishes him with a pair of wrinkle-proof hakama styled trousers in a dark burnt orange-red shade and a soft white shirt; his hair is pulled back in its usual plait.

[Yasuki Honoka]

Almost as if to act as a counterpoint to Sorato, when Honoka arrives it is in the back of a luxurious looking vehicle. Out of the side opposite the sidewalk exited Yasuki Hiroto. Hiroto moves around to the side near the walk and opens the door for Honoka herself. As she exits she can be seen putting the finishing touches on some kind of professional call. While the words couldn't be, the sound and flow of such speech was easy to distinguish.

Arriving at this mornings meeting Honoka was dressed in a more traditional kimono, this one dark blue as was her typical but also with ocean waves cresting subtly in the design.

As she exits under the protection from the weather offered by Hiroto into the establishment itself she notices Sorato, and offers a casual wave from distance. Once her yojimbo goes to her side and speaks briefly to her they begin approaching Agasha Sorato himself.

With a bow, "It is a pleasure, Agasha Sorato-san. I had to learn of you more recently, so I apologize for what information I may lack entering into this but I am certain our conversation will be fruitful all the same."

[Agasha Sorato]

Sorato stands up to bow in return, more deferentially. "Yasuki Honoka-sama, thank you for making time for me."

His brows arch in some surprise as he realizes the import of her comment about 'learning of him more recently.'

"There isn't much to know, beyond the obvious. Your interest is gratifying, though." Maybe also a little worrisome, on some level, but he reflects placidly that he can't imagine any research file about himself is very interesting, let alone incriminating.

"'Fruitful' would be a good word, or at least I hope it will. Would you care to sit?" He gestures, on his best manners. "I ordered a service of the local spring tea. I think they have other drinks if you prefer something more modern."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"That is an excellent choice, Agasha-san. Thank you," she says, taking to the offered seat. Taking her time first to settle into the seat before continuing. "I, must admit, Agasha-san that in my everyday life I spend my time speaking with and managing the affairs of those whom are already well known to me. This opportunity before myself to be meeting with those whom not only do I barely know, but also otherwise have little connection to, is a wholly new affair."

There is an energy about her, Sorato might notice, that she feels she is failing in this moment. That she has not prepared nearly as much as she should have been. Yet, she continues on managing that creeping anxiety of her unpreparedness.

"I hope you have, at least, been finding our island welcoming during your visit thus far?"

[Agasha Sorato]

"Very welcoming," he says with a grave nod, after returning to his own seat on the other side of the table. "It's a beautiful island. For a shugenja, places in harmony with nature like this one are generally a pleasure to visit."

He transfers some of his attention to the tea service, which is already set up--tea leaves waiting in a little porcelain pot, water kettle kept warm by the Fire-kami imbued heating element in its tray--but not brewing yet. He pours water in the pot, and in the cups to warm them. Not exactly Crane-polished, but a Phoenix should know his way around basic tea preparation.

"I'm glad you agreed to speak with me even without advanced knowledge," he adds, perhaps a little self-conscious about what he's gotten himself into with this obviously very serious businesswoman. Hopefully she won't decide he's wasting her time. "Anything you need to know that I can answer, please ask." He tips the pre-warming water out of the teacups into the wastewater catch bowl, then pours from the pot and slides a cup across to Honoka with a half-bow. "I'm finding my way in this investment conference--I'm a novice, though. I hoped to ask your opinions about the farming and fishing economy in Tango province, as a local restauranteur."

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka offers a similar half-bow in receipt of the teacup. Looking down into the prepared tea she allows herself a moment, considering the prompted thought. Raising the cup she would acknowledge Sorato with a glance, and sip.

"Having the opportunity to make the acquaintance of one who speaks with the kami is ever a blessing, Agasha-san. Your connection with the natural elements of the world is something I find fascinating, and am glad to know the natural world has those like you to hear her," she says, the touch of a smile resting on her lip. "As far as our local ability to work with her, I have been assured that our nearby farms, and our patrolled waters, provide plenty for our province to sustain itself. I've only opened my business recently and so have not the breadth of information you might find most useful but I am confident in the appraisals I've received as they are all trusted sources. Of course, having lived here all my life I can attest in this manner I never remember a shortage."

"We do have a local crab of note, one that serves well as food stock and appears in no shortage of supply in regards to fears of overfishing. The Emerald Queen of Green Carp is promised to be an abundant and meaty source of crab in our waters," she adds with a nearly excited sounding note. Dipping into her own personal interest a bit as she was there.

[Agasha Sorato]

"I see," he says with a smile. Either he's a highly skilled Scorpion actor with excellent control over his facial expression or he's actually quite interested in the Emerald Queen Crab. He sips his own tea and explains, "Since you've done the research, Yasuki-sama, you may know that I come from the Atsumaru line of the Agasha. My family were herbalists on Old Rokugan. You could say we still are, in a modern sense. For us, our connection to the elements helps us search for new means to feed and heal people in harmony with nature."

His smile becomes a bit self-conscious. "I'm usually more on the searching side than the negotiating one. I believe I'm here to discover in what ways we might help Tango province make the most of its abundant resources, perhaps not just to feed itself but even to grow its exports. So I really would like to hear your insights on promising species like the... Emerald Queen? Do you mind if I take notes?"

[Yasuki Honoka]

"I would not mind at all, but," she laughs nervously, but restrains it so as to regain control of herself. With a inhale through the nostrils she breathes out slow. "Well, I would not say I am an expert on the topic at all and just have a keen interest. One who studies marine biology would surely know more, but I am still glad to share what I know."

"After all my research I have come to much the same idea on the importance of our harmony with nature same as you!" she says, her energy increasing slightly.

"Now, as for the Emerald Queen, we have a historical crab that is actually quite similar. However, back on Rokugan it was a King Crab species which favored colder climates. This Emerald Queen we have actually favors warmer climates like the oceans nearby and our harbor here. Of course, there are also very many more larger predators present- and I suspect there is a deeper connection between the two there but I can't be certain. Thus our stores of the Emerald Queen never find themselves at risk of depleting, at least not so long as we have those who are willing to brave the waters to collect them."

[Agasha Sorato]

"So it's descended from an old world polar-subpolar crab? But warm-sea adapted?" Sorato's genuine interest would probably be gratifying. "That adaptation is intriguing. Transplanting complex species to different temperature zones is a major problem in terraforming and agriculture both." He scrawls a few lines in his densai. "Crustaceans are such sensitive species, too. Resilient, but if something's not right in their environment, they show it."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Not exactly! Though it was thought to possibly have at first," she smiles as she begins to rev up. "There was some speculation this might have been the case at first, after all the two species are rather similar with the exception of a few minor differences. However, even more surprisingly they evolved extremely similarly with the exception of their climate!"

With a light laugh she adds, "Can you imagine the odds of that Agasha-san? How many planets and systems away and yet the development of a particular kind of creature is so favored as to allow it to develop such similar specimens on distant planets!?"

[Agasha Sorato]

"Convergence?" Sorato nods understanding. "So are they totally indigenous, or an old world terraforming import that went wild some other way? I recognized some old world fish in the port town--mackerel, flounder, things like that. But your greatsharks and giant tuna don't look like anything endemic to Old Rokugan. "

He checks himself and chuckles, a little sheepishly. "My family's investment stewards would probably also want me to ask, do you think these crabs would be a profitable export to other systems? Could the current fishery meet that market?"

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Outside of being assured that supplies will be stable for my restaurant I admit my interest in crabs is entirely a passion interest," she says, smiling awkwardly. "I don't know the requirements of something like that! Though, if it could be done I feel fairly certain they would be an excellent choice. For select cases of course, where it's needed."

[Agasha Sorato]

"I understand," Sorato says. Phoenix are no strangers to highly focused passion-project interests, that's for certain. "My clan is obviously interested in responding to the provincial Governor's investment call, otherwise I wouldn't be here. So Asako Hikari-san and I are trying to get the best sense of how Phoenix interests could profit Tango Province.

"Asako-san has the sense that investing in the tourism sector might suit the Governor's preferences best," he admits. "This place has such incredible biological resources, too, though. Searching for botanicals and biologicals with untapped potential is part of my usual duties, you see. I can't help looking around for it anywhere I go."