[Expecting] Second Voyage, Same As The First (Day 5, MA)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Yeah, I was schooled as a Investigator. It's.. kind of weird. You learn so skills that wouldn't be out of place with ninjas, Yoritomos or Scorpions, but end up using them for the opposite ends."

She replied, moving over to the heimin to grab the case once it was at disposal.

"That is how I end up as my Lord's dirt worker. Instead of being a detective I dig blackmail, twist arms out of deals, spy for information, hire thugs to break legs, shed blood... "

"But.. I'm afraid I won't be able to adapt to civilian life and fall back into that."

“What about all those stories of ronin investigators? You know, tracking down corruption, following leads, saving kidnap victims?”

The case was quite heavy and would slosh as it was moved.

“You could be one of them but in a clan, maybe find work at an embassy somewhere? You got diplomats, they need people who know things. Seems a natural pairing. Or I dunno, become a ninja? There’s that Soshi wandering around, could always ask her?”

The dinghy now bobs in the water as Ochiba jumps in and fires up the little outboard engine before offering a helping hand to the dragon

“All aboard!”

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

“What about all those stories of ronin investigators? You know, tracking down corruption, following leads, saving kidnap victims?”

The case was quite heavy and would slosh as it was moved.

“You could be one of them but in a clan, maybe find work at an embassy somewhere? You got diplomats, they need people who know things. Seems a natural pairing. Or I dunno, become a ninja? There’s that Soshi wandering around, could always ask her?”

The dinghy now bobs in the water as Ochiba jumps in and fires up the little outboard engine before offering a helping hand to the dragon

“All aboard!”

Noodly arms, that one, as she grunted and puffed as she lifted the heavy box and carefully drifted into the dinghy.

"Hard Boiled Ronin Detective Ichitaiyo... now that has a ring." She replied with a chuckle between huffs and puffs. "Sad part is that we'd have to start playing cat and mouse."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Noodly arms, that one, as she grunted and puffed as she lifted the heavy box and carefully drifted into the dinghy.

"Hard Boiled Ronin Detective Ichitaiyo... now that has a ring." She replied with a chuckle between huffs and puffs. "Sad part is that we'd have to start playing cat and mouse."

"You'd have a little office that smelt of smoke and a nameplate on the door. I'm telling yah, it's very cool."
Once Ichitaiyo is aboard she opens the throttle and the small craft makes a somewhat bumpy trip to the islet itself across the waves and battling the wind.

"Sad part is that we'd have to start playing cat and mouse."

Teasing "With myself as the mighty cat, no doubt?"

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"You'd have a little office that smelt of smoke and a nameplate on the door. I'm telling yah, it's very cool."
Once Ichitaiyo is aboard she opens the throttle and the small craft makes a somewhat bumpy trip to the islet itself across the waves and battling the wind.

"Sad part is that we'd have to start playing cat and mouse."

Teasing "With myself as the mighty cat, no doubt?"

"If you could find a good reason to be chasing me around, Yoritomo-sama." Ichitaiyo replied with a tease, settling into one of the wooden seats.

"I would love to smoke, but, failing lungs and all impede it."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"If you could find a good reason to be chasing me around, Yoritomo-sama." Ichitaiyo replied with a tease, settling into one of the wooden seats.

"I would love to smoke, but, failing lungs and all impede it."

“I could think of a few, but a captain must keep a distance from their crew to maintain separation.”

The bumpy ride continues before there’s the quiet scrape of the hull grounding on sand as they ground on the beach

“Ah ha! So it’s a lung thing! I was wondering what was up. If it’s any condolences i was hoping it could be a cool fashion affectation. Was it something you were born with?”

With a grunt she hops out and starts pulling the dinghy up onto the sand as the waves continue to roll in.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

“I could think of a few, but a captain must keep a distance from their crew to maintain separation.”

The bumpy ride continues before there’s the quiet scrape of the hull grounding on sand as they ground on the beach

“Ah ha! So it’s a lung thing! I was wondering what was up. If it’s any condolences i was hoping it could be a cool fashion affectation. Was it something you were born with?”

With a grunt she hops out and starts pulling the dinghy up onto the sand as the waves continue to roll in.

Ichitaiyo naturally hops off as well, helping to pull up the rubber vessel. "Told you my parents passed, right? It was an assassination, with some kind of toxic gas. I luckily made it out, my dad covered my face before his', but lungs are sensitive now."

She reached into the boat to pick up the box again. "And did you just peg me into your crew, mm?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ichitaiyo naturally hops off as well, helping to pull up the rubber vessel. "Told you my parents passed, right? It was an assassination, with some kind of toxic gas. I luckily made it out, my dad covered my face before his', but lungs are sensitive now."

She reached into the boat to pick up the box again. "And did you just peg me into your crew, mm?"

“Fuuuuck.” Ochiba offers by way of condolences
“That’s messed up… uhh. Yeah, not easy for a kid to deal with that. Well, there goes complaining about mean teachers and not having lunch money, I’ve been outdone.”

She offers a commiserative but somewhat supporting shoulder punch to the Kitsuki.

“And yeah, while you’re on my vessels you’re in my crew. Means you have to listen to the captain, but also means I’m getting you home in one piece, that’s always been the deal, speaking of.”

She points across the whipped up sand to the sheltered lagoon in the middle of the island which even from a distance appeared to be teeming with crabs and other creatures sheltering fork the storm.

“Our goal is in sight! Let’s go honour the fortunes and, see if they can give us a little luck, hmmm?”

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

“Fuuuuck.” Ochiba offers by way of condolences
“That’s messed up… uhh. Yeah, not easy for a kid to deal with that. Well, there goes complaining about mean teachers and not having lunch money, I’ve been outdone.”

She offers a commiserative but somewhat supporting shoulder punch to the Kitsuki.

“And yeah, while you’re on my vessels you’re in my crew. Means you have to listen to the captain, but also means I’m getting you home in one piece, that’s always been the deal, speaking of.”

She points across the whipped up sand to the sheltered lagoon in the middle of the island which even from a distance appeared to be teeming with crabs and other creatures sheltering fork the storm.

“Our goal is in sight! Let’s go honour the fortunes and, see if they can give us a little luck, hmmm?”

"You kinda learn to.. move on when the Today is the shitty part thanks to your Lord. For what it's worth, I loved my parents, they loved me, and that's plenty better than many get." Ichitaiyo offered in consolation before they set towards the depths of the island.

As they came upon their target and she stumbled, now her shoulders aching gently from all that carrying, she asked. "How did you know this place existed? This lagoon?"

==

OOC: I wonder if is calmer here because they are on the eye of the whole thing.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"You kinda learn to.. move on when the Today is the shitty part thanks to your Lord. For what it's worth, I loved my parents, they loved me, and that's plenty better than many get." Ichitaiyo offered in consolation before they set towards the depths of the island.

As they came upon their target and she stumbled, now her shoulders aching gently from all that carrying, she asked. "How did you know this place existed? This lagoon?"

==

OOC: I wonder if is calmer here because they are on the eye of the whole thing.

“Maybe I should call my folks sometime, hmmm.”
Ochiba shakes her head at the thought before reaching down to help Ichitaiyo when she stumbled
“Oh the second I got here I started asking out for cool destinations. Saw the name knew it was fate. And then the storm… clear sign. Can’t ignore that sort of thing you know.”

Indeed, as the two approach the lagoon the wind died down, the eye of Osano-Wo and the eye of the storm!

“Right! Let’s start the ceremony. I’m not priest but I figure the basics aren’t too hard.”

She helps set the heavy crate down with a nodded ‘you did good’ before levering off a side as an eclectic selection of bottle fall out. All colours sizes and shapes, the speciality liquors of all the clans and a few strangers ones besides.

“Now I know we all worship in our own way, but just remember you might get smote with lighting if you really piss him off.”
Shrugging
“More likely he’ll just ignore us. But that’s the luxury of being the storm.”

A few curious crabs have scuttled to the shallows and are looking up at the two.

((Great idea! Makes sense to me!))

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

“Maybe I should call my folks sometime, hmmm.”
Ochiba shakes her head at the thought before reaching down to help Ichitaiyo when she stumbled
“Oh the second I got here I started asking out for cool destinations. Saw the name knew it was fate. And then the storm… clear sign. Can’t ignore that sort of thing you know.”

Indeed, as the two approach the lagoon the wind died down, the eye of Osano-Wo and the eye of the storm!

“Right! Let’s start the ceremony. I’m not priest but I figure the basics aren’t too hard.”

She helps set the heavy crate down with a nodded ‘you did good’ before levering off a side as an eclectic selection of bottle fall out. All colours sizes and shapes, the speciality liquors of all the clans and a few strangers ones besides.

“Now I know we all worship in our own way, but just remember you might get smote with lighting if you really piss him off.”
Shrugging
“More likely he’ll just ignore us. But that’s the luxury of being the storm.”

A few curious crabs have scuttled to the shallows and are looking up at the two.

((Great idea! Makes sense to me!))

"Being here without a complaint should earn me a little favor at least." Ichitaiyo thought optimistically as she rolled her shoulders and stretched the muscles to ensure she wouldn't regret it tomorrow.

"I'll follow your lead. I doubt Osano-wo would appreciate prayer through silent reading." and she stared around, wondering what to do next.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Being here without a complaint should earn me a little favor at least." Ichitaiyo thought optimistically as she rolled her shoulders and stretched the muscles to ensure she wouldn't regret it tomorrow.

"I'll follow your lead. I doubt Osano-wo would appreciate prayer through silent reading." and she stared around, wondering what to do next.

“Oh no, none of that nerd shit. Just watch-“ cracking her neck “-and learn.”

Ochiba grabs two of the largest bottles and strides into the water until she’s knee deep, holding them aloft before bellowing out:

Osano-Wo! Thunder! Lightning! The Storm! A mantis calls out to you from your holy place! She has braved your waves and winds to meet you, and she brings gifts!

She turns the two bottles upside down and starts emptying the spirits into the waters.

”Hear my name! I am Ochiba or the Yoritomo! Though my blood is of no consequence my spirit is that of your descendants! Know that I make this offering not for fame, not for fortune, but in your name, and because none but the Yoritomo dare brave the challenges you set before us. And that I shall sail your storms until until the depths of the ocean or fortune take me!”

Turning, she beckons to Ichitaiyo
”There is another with me! She is not a Mantis, and her own heritage is troubled as well. But I see in her a spirit fit to ride your waves! She has sailed with me and soaked in the same spray. Now, hear her words!”

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

“Oh no, none of that nerd shit. Just watch-“ cracking her neck “-and learn.”

Ochiba grabs two of the largest bottles and strides into the water until she’s knee deep, holding them aloft before bellowing out:

Osano-Wo! Thunder! Lightning! The Storm! A mantis calls out to you from your holy place! She has braved your waves and winds to meet you, and she brings gifts!

She turns the two bottles upside down and starts emptying the spirits into the waters.

”Hear my name! I am Ochiba or the Yoritomo! Though my blood is of no consequence my spirit is that of your descendants! Know that I make this offering not for fame, not for fortune, but in your name, and because none but the Yoritomo dare brave the challenges you set before us. And that I shall sail your storms until until the depths of the ocean or fortune take me!”

Turning, she beckons to Ichitaiyo
”There is another with me! She is not a Mantis, and her own heritage is troubled as well. But I see in her a spirit fit to ride your waves! She has sailed with me and soaked in the same spray. Now, hear her words!”

And Ichitaiyo stood ramrod straight and wide-eyed as she was passed the godly hot potato, she looked side to side in a panicked reaction and gulped down the surprise. She took one of the bottles of spirits and uncorked it, getting ready to emulate and try to bear honesty with the Kami.

”Osano-Wo! Kami of might and lust for life! I am Kitsuki Ichitaiyo, daughter of good people who dared defy their Lords to follow their passions and truth. I accompany my friend here to find the strength to fight for myself as they did, taking upon the example you two set!”

And she began to pour the drink into the pond.

”Give me the courage and desire for challenge, so like you, I can carve my own path in fire and thunder!”

==

OOC: Should we ring a GM for godly intervention?

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

The distant storm continues on unabated, and there is a rumble of thunder. A sign of the fortune or just...a storm being a storm? Who can say.

Ochiba certainly seems untroubled, continuing to empty the remaining bottles into the lagoon, although she does claps Ichitaiyo on the back.

"Nicely done, feels good to make yourself hear, doesn't it? Picked the right words too."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Nice encouragement

"Can't tell which were the right words, so.. thanks?" Ichitaiyo offered with a sheepish smile, taking other bottle to pour. "I'm, not a heavy drinker, but it is.. a genuine sacrifice to watch so much of these good spirits be laid to the god."

"I should connect more to the Kami."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Can't tell which were the right words, so.. thanks?" Ichitaiyo offered with a sheepish smile, taking other bottle to pour. "I'm, not a heavy drinker, but it is.. a genuine sacrifice to watch so much of these good spirits be laid to the god."

"I should connect more to the Kami."

"It physically hurts me to do it, but that's what makes it a proper offering, how they know they're getting the good stuff."
More of the crabs in the lagoon had clustered around the two and were watching the samurai cautiously, one large blue shelled one appeared to be getting slightly drunk.

"Important to be right with the fortunes and the spirits before you head out to risk life and limb. Otherwise, you're putting everything at risk."

Finally, the two finish emptying the crate Ochiba sighing quietly in contentment.
"Feels good. Whew, not bad for an afternoon's work. Bet you'll sleep well tonight!" Nodding to herself. "Reckon this puts us on good enough terms to use our chosen names? Not that there are many other Kitsuki around, but still."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Alcoholic suffering

Ichitaiyo smirked. "I think it's quite fair, after I soaked myself like sponge just to be around."

And she extended a hand over to the Mantis. "I hope this is a great friendship."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ichitaiyo smirked. "I think it's quite fair, after I soaked myself like sponge just to be around."

And she extended a hand over to the Mantis. "I hope this is a great friendship."

Ochiba accepts the hand, grabbing the Dragon wrist to wrist and giving a firm squeeze.
"You can be my first mate anytime. Now let's get you somewhere warm and dry before we need to pray to Fukurokujin for yah."

(( /happy to fade to return journey? thanks for the scene!))

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Ochiba accepts the hand, grabbing the Dragon wrist to wrist and giving a firm squeeze.
"You can be my first mate anytime. Now let's get you somewhere warm and dry before we need to pray to Fukurokujin for yah."

(( /happy to fade to return journey? thanks for the scene!))

"Worse, I'll make you read books for him."

==

((/and a good fade for me! Unless you want Ochiba to snipe back, which is completely fair lol.))

((Thanks to you too for this scene! And Ochiba's role on Ichitaiyo ))