[D1 LA Nishi Beach] Day Off

[Kuni Iwane]

"You might have to wait." Iwane juggled his sleeve, carefully laying down the beer he had been drinking. "Two more beers before that happens." He sounded almost apologetic. Almost.

"I mean, you don't hear me asking if you packed a black pajama with you and if you enjoy watching the nightlife from the rooftop." A soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"But no harm done." He couldn't help but wonder if Senshuken was an inept spy or if she was just awkward. There was even the chance that she was a skilled spy pretending to be clumsy. "Did you ever see the World of Dreams proper? Like one of the big hubs?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

She waves her hand dismissively. "I pinkie swear that I don't enjoy wearing tight clothes and that I highly prefer watching the night life from within." She nods in confirmation of her own words. "And yes, I have visited lots of such places. Both as a professional racer and as my mother's daughter. She's the governess of my homeprovince. Have you? I can answer any questions you might have. Unless the answers are part of my nda." Her tone is light,, friendly and often enough humorous.

[Kuni Iwane]

"Fair enough, Bayushi-san," Iwane mused, sounding a little amused. He was trying to imagine her on a rooftop, not quite sure if the mental image was ridiculous or not.

"Oh? And what do you race then?" he asked her, curious. "I can't say I've traveled much. I didn't leave Kaiu Prime until coming here."

"Is the World of Dreams as miraculous as they say?I mean, I've seen the place on informator, but a carely curated feed rarely captures everything."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Bikes. Bike racing. That's what I do." She rushes to reply, but then pauses for a moment. "Well, I believe that the most accurate description of the World of Dreams is that it can offer unique experiences no matter what your interests and likes are. There's something for everyone if you have the resources to spend. A world where any dream can come to life."

"What did the informator show you?"

[Kuni Iwane]

That explained the comment about jumping, Iwane figured. One had to be a daredevil to become a racer. "I take you aren't here to race, though." He wasn't aware of any local races, but then again, Iwane had never been into motor sports. He much preferred watching sumo, preferably while drinking something.

"All the flashing lights, all the gambling venues, all the bath houses, all the oiran houses. The city that never sleeps." Iwane wanted to add 'City that does all the drugs and never stops whoring', but managed to remain diplomatic. "Things I assume your people would want us to see."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Wasn't it a Crab informator?" She shrugs. "I am pretty sure that no clan would fall for any kind of propaganda even if we tried. So we simply don't."

[Kuni Iwane]

"It was." He nodded. "But I am pretty sure the camera crew operated under Scorpion auspices." It wasn't as if the clans allowed visiting journalists to see everything. "It looked fabulous, if a little crowded."

"Did you like it there?" Iwane asked, taping a puff from his inhalator.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"It's nice, I cannot deny it. Mostly because I'm upper class, I cannot deny that either." She looks at him carefully. "I would bet that all clans have agents that would add up any necessary and related intelligence to the informator. Reliable agents working beyond my clan's... auspices."

[Kuni Iwane]

"A lot of places are far more comfy if you have the means, yes." Iwane nodded in agreement. "I live a stone's throw from here." He turned to point at one of the high-rise buildings dotting the skyline. "As befits my station."

"There is a heated pool on top of the building. The view at nighttime is splendid." She could hear the pride in his voice. "Now, unfortunately, my duties tend to keep me away from my condo." He chuckled softly.

"As for the agents, I have to take your word, Bayushi-san. I have never met any such... agents." Unless I am talking to one right now.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Yes, forgive me." She smiles behind her mask and the expression of her eyes makes it evident. "I am an avid reader of pillowbooks, you see. Heroes, villains, agents and secret assets are presented quite often. And then," she shrugs. "Silly me I forget that not all samurai enjoy pillowbooks."

[Kuni Iwane]

"Well." Iwane blinked. He knew young women enjoyed pillow books. He had overheard some girls at the office discussing something particularly steamy. "I see. I have to admit I am not familiar with the medium," he replied, clearing his throat. "I've understood that such books often pay great detail on assets ." A soft smile flickered on his lips.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Are we still discussing assets or assets?" Her eyes reveal a smirk behind her mask. "The conversation will be entirely different in each case."

[Kuni Iwane]

"Assets." Iwane's gaze drifted to Senshuken's assets on display for a moment. "Though I suppose that sometimes the two might be the same, no?" He asked her, taking another sip of beer.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"I am very appreciative of good assets, or, you know what," she waves her hand dismissively, "there are no bad assets, but an asset's assets?" She smirks again. "That's where I draw the line. Good but probably dangerous."

"Are you a brave man, Kuni san?"

[Kuni Iwane]

"The Scorpion are known for their aesthetics, that's for sure," Iwane replied with a wry smile on his lips."Assets come in all shapes and forms. It follows that we can rank-order them, at least objectively." He suggested, turning to look at the sea. "We do that all the time. Rank-order things."

"Depends?" She could hear curiosity in his voice, Iwane tilting his head to the side as he regarded Senshuken. "What sort of bravery are we discussing?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Well," she shrugs kind of indifferently. "I would be too timid to go for an asset's... you know, assets. And if I have to be honest, I'm too hot to order them. I'm trying to see your boundaries. For the sake of the conversation."

[Kuni Iwane]

"And yet you are brave enough to ride a bike at breakneck speed?" Iwane mused, laying the can he had been holding down on the rock. With the clouds gone, the day was getting warmer, and more and more people were flocking to the beach.

"Too hot to order what?" he asked her, his gaze slowly drifting back to her assets. "And what sort of boundaries are we discussing, the the sake of conversation?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Huh!" She chuckles. "We are at the beach drinking beer and discussing about girls, right? If not, I'm rather confused."

"As a typical show off I was just saying that I'm too hot to have trouble finding dates and too much of a coward to go for a girl or a boy who might have other reasons other than my looks or personality to go out with me. So I was just asking if you would go for it. Or who you wouldn't go for in general."

[Kuni Iwane]

"Men and women," Iwane corrected her, sounding a little amused. "Perhaps Bayushi-san is not as much a coward as she thinks. Perhaps she just prefers to be chased," he offered an alternative explanation. "Or perhaps Bayushi-san is merely careful." Much like his ancestors, Iwane had a healthy streak of paranoia. When a spirit could wear the skin of a man, one had to be careful whom to trust.

"If I'd go for someone with assets? Or if I'd go for you?" he asked her, his expression nonchalant.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Neither!" She objects while wondering if she's not being clear or the Kuni simply tries to manipulate the conversation.

"I am asking whether you would endanger a situation with an asset. Whether you are brave enough to believe that you can win over this. Or romantic enough to believe that it could be genuine." She waves her hand. "It's a common situation... In pillowbooks, of course."