[Closed] Mount-Up! (Day 3, MA)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Well.." she said as she looked up coyly before grinning. "I only imagine that you had such thoughts first. Not thinking too highly of myself or anything."

Okay, maybe lying on the mat and treating the mountain like her own personal living room (as much as she had a right to) might have been a little much. After a moment of lounging, she would get a little serious and sit up in a cross-legged fashion, patting away of grass and dirt she picked up.

There was the urge to playfully smack Ochiba over the serving gesture, but she wasn't going to horse around when there were snacks on the line. She would take a good handful, like it was some fried peanuts that she could pick up from the corner store. It wouldn't take long for her to learn her lesson when she blinked twice and let up an abrupt coughing fit as the dusting of spices was enough to overwhelm her. Bailing out, she would roll over to fetch a bottle of water.

"I certainly don't mind leading others to the correct line of thinking, although truth be told when we first spoke I just remember my heart beating really fast. Reckon it was the heat, you know?"

Ochiba can only maintain her spice-on for a few seconds after Ayame's breaks before she is also forced to dilute the potent mix of heats with some gulped down water.
"Hits the spot though, right? I can feel my head clearing. Oh you got a little-" her hand was most of the way to the Yasuki before the Mantis dimly recalls that brushing some mud off Ayame was like Crab 3rd base and she somewhat awkwardly turns the gesture into a self hair pat. "-uhh, mud on your cheek there."

Taking another big swig of water.
"Anyways, I promise. With me around, there will always be a little spice."

[Yasuki Ayame]

"I certainly don't mind leading others to the correct line of thinking, although truth be told when we first spoke I just remember my heart beating really fast. Reckon it was the heat, you know?"

Ochiba can only maintain her spice-on for a few seconds after Ayame's breaks before she is also forced to dilute the potent mix of heats with some gulped down water.
"Hits the spot though, right? I can feel my head clearing. Oh you got a little-" her hand was most of the way to the Yasuki before the Mantis dimly recalls that brushing some mud off Ayame was like Crab 3rd base and she somewhat awkwardly turns the gesture into a self hair pat. "-uhh, mud on your cheek there."

Taking another big swig of water.
"Anyways, I promise. With me around, there will always be a little spice."

Ayame would merely cast a small smile at the excuse of the heat. Uh huh, sure, girl.

When she managed to get the water, she would crack the bottle open and take a few gulps from it, all while turning her back to Ochiba. It was still a bit spicy, and she wondered if it would be better if Ochiba packed some soy milk instead to soothe the heat. At least, she wasn't near choking anymore. that mattered.

"Eh?" Ayame murmured at first, not knowing how close Ochiba's hand could have gotten and how close the Mantis was to utter annihilation (maybe). She smirked at her and gave her sides a quick brush off. "Thanks! Really classy move to be rolling around on the ground."

She made her way back to the seating spots and plopped down again. "Hopefully, not the same sort of spice that could potentially choke me, eh? Out of all things I'm into, not quite something I've acquired a taste for."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ayame would merely cast a small smile at the excuse of the heat. Uh huh, sure, girl.

When she managed to get the water, she would crack the bottle open and take a few gulps from it, all while turning her back to Ochiba. It was still a bit spicy, and she wondered if it would be better if Ochiba packed some soy milk instead to soothe the heat. At least, she wasn't near choking anymore. that mattered.

"Eh?" Ayame murmured at first, not knowing how close Ochiba's hand could have gotten and how close the Mantis was to utter annihilation (maybe). She smirked at her and gave her sides a quick brush off. "Thanks! Really classy move to be rolling around on the ground."

She made her way back to the seating spots and plopped down again. "Hopefully, not the same sort of spice that could potentially choke me, eh? Out of all things I'm into, not quite something I've acquired a taste for."

Ochiba violently coughs up her water mid sip.

Gasping. "Umm" Gasp "I mean" Gasp "...Noted." After a few more moments she is able to wheeze her way back to some normalcy.
"Such a shame though, stop two was just all choking all the time, I'll have to improvise. Fortunately I am something of a master of quick thinking."

Still a little red she takes a normal sip to recover.

[Yasuki Ayame]

Ochiba violently coughs up her water mid sip.

Gasping. "Umm" Gasp "I mean" Gasp "...Noted." After a few more moments she is able to wheeze her way back to some normalcy.
"Such a shame though, stop two was just all choking all the time, I'll have to improvise. Fortunately I am something of a master of quick thinking."

Still a little red she takes a normal sip to recover.

Ayame stifled a giggle at first, but she couldn't quite hold it in as well as she wanted to then broke out in a full-fledged belly laugh. However, there was soon an inkling of guilt that trickled into the governor's thoughts, and she knew she was partially responsible for this, so she should feel bad. She would place a bold hand on Ochiba's shoulder and give her a small bit to ease her from the near-choking experience.

"Oh my, my limits are being tested here," she said with a hand to her lips in a mocking gesture. "That said, it is probably best that some boundaries be respected. A good travelling partner is someone who can think on their feet. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have good hands, too, for the journey. I appreciate someone who can be handy."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ayame stifled a giggle at first, but she couldn't quite hold it in as well as she wanted to then broke out in a full-fledged belly laugh. However, there was soon an inkling of guilt that trickled into the governor's thoughts, and she knew she was partially responsible for this, so she should feel bad. She would place a bold hand on Ochiba's shoulder and give her a small bit to ease her from the near-choking experience.

"Oh my, my limits are being tested here," she said with a hand to her lips in a mocking gesture. "That said, it is probably best that some boundaries be respected. A good travelling partner is someone who can think on their feet. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have good hands, too, for the journey. I appreciate someone who can be handy."

"Being a salvager is all about knowing which boundaries are important and which are uhh, more like guidelines."
Ochiba glances down at the hand and continues to stay red, definitely not complaining.
"Of course, you got good hands too." The Mantis looks happy to just hold that pose...maybe forever but eventually she realizes they need to keep moving.

"Just wait till you see what these hands can do at step 2!" She holding up her own with a slight finger wiggle. "They are going to result in a very sweet reward indeed."

[Yasuki Ayame]

"Being a salvager is all about knowing which boundaries are important and which are uhh, more like guidelines."
Ochiba glances down at the hand and continues to stay red, definitely not complaining.
"Of course, you got good hands too." The Mantis looks happy to just hold that pose...maybe forever but eventually she realizes they need to keep moving.

"Just wait till you see what these hands can do at step 2!" She holding up her own with a slight finger wiggle. "They are going to result in a very sweet reward indeed."

Ayame chuckled and gave her a final pat on her shoulders before she no longer touched her. She would rise from her feet and reclaim her back as it seemed that the Mantis had more in store.

She gave a playful wiggle of her shoulders before letting out a giggle. "Oooh, now you have me in suspense. Excited even, hah. I have to say, despite this being more or less my mountain, you're doing an excellent job as hostess. The amount of prep work here is pretty impressive. Makes me feel quite pampered, actually. Do you ever go this far with your shipmates? Are you particularly close to any of them?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ayame chuckled and gave her a final pat on her shoulders before she no longer touched her. She would rise from her feet and reclaim her back as it seemed that the Mantis had more in store.

She gave a playful wiggle of her shoulders before letting out a giggle. "Oooh, now you have me in suspense. Excited even, hah. I have to say, despite this being more or less my mountain, you're doing an excellent job as hostess. The amount of prep work here is pretty impressive. Makes me feel quite pampered, actually. Do you ever go this far with your shipmates? Are you particularly close to any of them?"

The two begin their climb back up the mountain, the air cooling slightly as they gain height and the wind picks up.

“A traveller has to learn to get comfortable where they can. Although this is my first time hosting anything on a mountain”
Thank the fortunes for porters

“We‘re close but like… family close. So we’ll rent houses together or go out drinking or fishing together. But I’m not dating any of ‘em. Sometimes stuff happens but you just gotta be adult.”

Pursing her lips
“Captain is the one I respect the most. But he’s gotta keep a distance, you know? Have some space to be in command. But he’s the one who makes the calls, and they’ve all been right so far. And he picked me as his number two, so I have to honour that.”

Nodding, then cocking her head
“Who’s your number two anyway? Your sister?”

[Yasuki Ayame]

The two begin their climb back up the mountain, the air cooling slightly as they gain height and the wind picks up.

“A traveller has to learn to get comfortable where they can. Although this is my first time hosting anything on a mountain”
Thank the fortunes for porters

“We‘re close but like… family close. So we’ll rent houses together or go out drinking or fishing together. But I’m not dating any of ‘em. Sometimes stuff happens but you just gotta be adult.”

Pursing her lips
“Captain is the one I respect the most. But he’s gotta keep a distance, you know? Have some space to be in command. But he’s the one who makes the calls, and they’ve all been right so far. And he picked me as his number two, so I have to honour that.”

Nodding, then cocking her head
“Who’s your number two anyway? Your sister?”

"I've seen mainlanders around the Green Carp stumble much harder than you, Ochiba-san. Not that you're stumbling in the slightest, I'm sure you have good legs on you from being on a ship for so long," she smirked.

She nodded soundly at the story. "I suppose at the present, it would be my sister. We've been a part for a few years, to be honest. We only got back together recently with my appointment as governor. She was doing her own thing as an idol and actress while I was gunning down monsters on a mining colony. More than a galaxy apart..."

Her gaze turned to look at Ochiba with a smirk. "Before that, it was my nikutai, Hiruma Kenji. And maybe Hida Ran. Hiruma Botan, too. I can have a 3 and a 4 too, right? They were all good. Well, in more ways than one, I might have dated them all at once," she said before walking a little ahead.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"I've seen mainlanders around the Green Carp stumble much harder than you, Ochiba-san. Not that you're stumbling in the slightest, I'm sure you have good legs on you from being on a ship for so long," she smirked.

She nodded soundly at the story. "I suppose at the present, it would be my sister. We've been a part for a few years, to be honest. We only got back together recently with my appointment as governor. She was doing her own thing as an idol and actress while I was gunning down monsters on a mining colony. More than a galaxy apart..."

Her gaze turned to look at Ochiba with a smirk. "Before that, it was my nikutai, Hiruma Kenji. And maybe Hida Ran. Hiruma Botan, too. I can have a 3 and a 4 too, right? They were all good. Well, in more ways than one, I might have dated them all at once," she said before walking a little ahead.
[/quote]

“You’re always welcome to conduct an inspection to ensure they are up to Green Carp standards.”
Ochiba waggles a little as if to demonstrate.

The soil underneath has turned a little more slippery as they loop back up and around with the city view now ahead of them as the approach the second lookout.

“Wait? Your sister was an idol?”
Playfully
“Huh, maybe I should have invited her on this date…we live and we learn I suppose. But having someone you can trust makes all the difference, especially when folks are holding guns I-“

We then cut to a shot of Ayame walking ahead with Ochiba’s jaw dropped behind her looking up the mountain as the Crab casually drops that statement about dating

“I… haha… Yasuki-sama is joking… right?…right? Yasuki-sama?”
She hurries after the Crab.

[Yasuki Ayame]

“You’re always welcome to conduct an inspection to ensure they are up to Green Carp standards.”
Ochiba waggles a little as if to demonstrate.

The soil underneath has turned a little more slippery as they loop back up and around with the city view now ahead of them as the approach the second lookout.

“Wait? Your sister was an idol?”
Playfully
“Huh, maybe I should have invited her on this date…we live and we learn I suppose. But having someone you can trust makes all the difference, especially when folks are holding guns I-“

We then cut to a shot of Ayame walking ahead with Ochiba’s jaw dropped behind her looking up the mountain as the Crab casually drops that statement about dating

“I… haha… Yasuki-sama is joking… right?…right? Yasuki-sama?”
She hurries after the Crab.

"Ooof," Ayame would as they hit mud, reminding herself that she should have come in boots, not vaguely sporty hiking shoes. It was going to cost her a little to try to style after the rain. She wasn't scared a little mud after all that rolling she did, at least.

"Maybe, if she's your type, I'm not going to take it personally," she chuckled in good humour at that thought. "That said, I really can't see you being her type. Not quite swordy enough or handsome enough."

"Dating would mean that I was considering them all for marriage, and that isn't true. So not, I wasn't dating or courting them," she said in verbal thought before looking to Ochiba behind her as she slowed down to the pace they had before dropping that bomb. "That said, I do keep things a little open...I thought you should know that."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Ooof," Ayame would as they hit mud, reminding herself that she should have come in boots, not vaguely sporty hiking shoes. It was going to cost her a little to try to style after the rain. She wasn't scared a little mud after all that rolling she did, at least.

"Maybe, if she's your type, I'm not going to take it personally," she chuckled in good humour at that thought. "That said, I really can't see you being her type. Not quite swordy enough or handsome enough."

"Bad with a sword and not handsome, maybe the universe is trying to tell me something."
By contrast Ociba's boots were made for stomping, contact with the enemy and mud. The mountain didn't know what hit it.

"Dating would mean that I was considering them all for marriage, and that isn't true. So not, I wasn't dating or courting them," she said in verbal thought before looking to Ochiba behind her as she slowed down to the pace they had before dropping that bomb. "That said, I do keep things a little open...I thought you should know that."

"Ah, that is what works for Yasuki-sama." Ochiba claps a hand over her mouth in faux shock. "But I had thought she was a traditionalist who had never even contemplated physical affection outside of marriage. When I picture her it is only ever wearing a 7 layered kimono and perhaps a Komusō so that she can remain chaste."

Sniggering.
"But seriously, hey, I hear yah. And appreciate you telling me. I'm not jealous and I'm not possessive, when you're as awesome as I am you don't have to be. Besides, you're the governor and I am but a lowly peon, your business is only ever my business if you want it to be."

[Yasuki Ayame]

"Ah, that is what works for Yasuki-sama." Ochiba claps a hand over her mouth in faux shock. "But I had thought she was a traditionalist who had never even contemplated physical affection outside of marriage. When I picture her it is only ever wearing a 7 layered kimono and perhaps a Komusō so that she can remain chaste."

Sniggering.
"But seriously, hey, I hear yah. And appreciate you telling me. I'm not jealous and I'm not possessive, when you're as awesome as I am you don't have to be. Besides, you're the governor and I am but a lowly peon, your business is only ever my business if you want it to be."

"I mean, you just can't be too sure. Maybe I'm just putting up a hedonistic and sexy front where I just want people to always look, but touching is never allowed. You know, I read in legends of old that apparently Bayushi Kachiko was a very proper and chaste woman, she was just drawn that way in artistic depictions," she said with a smirk on her lips, not quite fully believing the Scorpion propaganda, but they'll never know for sure a few thousand years in the future.

"Good, good, you wanted you to have an understanding," she said as she walked closer to her again so that they could bump shoulders, giving Ochiba a playful wink. "Didn't you want to spring surprises on you, especially when we seem to vibe together to a degree. I can't read minds, but I'd like to think that I have some idea of people's character. You and I, we could go a little further, then."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"I mean, you just can't be too sure. Maybe I'm just putting up a hedonistic and sexy front where I just want people to always look, but touching is never allowed. You know, I read in legends of old that apparently Bayushi Kachiko was a very proper and chaste woman, she was just drawn that way in artistic depictions," she said with a smirk on her lips, not quite fully believing the Scorpion propaganda, but they'll never know for sure a few thousand years in the future.

"Good, good, you wanted you to have an understanding," she said as she walked closer to her again so that they could bump shoulders, giving Ochiba a playful wink. "Didn't you want to spring surprises on you, especially when we seem to vibe together to a degree. I can't read minds, but I'd like to think that I have some idea of people's character. You and I, we could go a little further, then."

"Wait, she was?" Frowning slightly. "That is...not how Masked Shinobi Gone Ronin 4 depicted her...like at all."
Did that mean Kachiko hadn't gotten stuck in a dryer either? How many other lies had she been told?

"I totally get it." Ochiba veeeeeery carefully shoulder bumps back, a demure shoulder bump, if one even can. "I didn't have like...a plan? Like this hike I had a plan, a great plan. But otherwise I was kind of winging it. You got your stuff, and your way of doing things, I got mine. Seems there's overlap...which is good?"

Ochiba turns away and vigorously fist pumps with little muffled 'yes, yes yeses!' before turning back as if nothing of the sort had occurred.

"A little further is more than good, whatever you're comfortable. I'm...kinda very comfortable with stuff, but everyone needs the same comfort...stuff. So you know, you tell me and I'll just follow my princesses needs. And speaking of a little further."
Gas grows back underfoot as they reach the second switchback, the city sprawling ahead of them, small boats visible coming and going on the water.

Another hanging cooler and another pair of mats Ochiba sets to with gusto.
"Now, I can imagine we may be a little hot and bothered by this point, and the spice wouldn't have helped! So, as a cooler and as a flavour cleanser...crushed ice!"
After a few moments of preparation Ochiba proffers a chilled bowl full of ice and drizzled with various sugary syrups.

"I've comboed a usual palate cleanser with a traditional Mantis desert..or I just paid someone pretty good at it to do so, either or. Sooooo, you got your citrus, your melon, a few funkier flavours on that side. Should be sweet and cooling. Get us in the right moodset for the main event."

[Yasuki Ayame]

"Oooooho, such a naughty girl there," Ayame chortled on the mention of 'Gone Ronin'. Whether she was talking about Kachiko, Ochiba, or 'This really Not-Kachiko', was more or less in the air.

Ayame would look a little bit insulted by the demure shoulder bump and would move to retaliate with another shoulder bump of her own. "You know, I'm not made up of porcelain or anything. It's not like I have snipers positioned all over the mountain to take a shot, either. You know, I could totally respect winging it. I think I would feel extra awkward if you had some sort of plot cooked up, only to become disappointed that you couldn't propose to me immediately. In my former line of work, it's not like the enemy holds schedules or has set lines of engagement either."

She gave a tap of her elbow on Ochiba's side, perhaps to test how ticklish or fidgety she was. "I'll princess you, all right...""

Finally learning her lesson, Ayame would stop herself from trying to look adventurous and sit down on the mat as intended, crossing her legs after patting herself from dirt and mud as best as possible. She smiled broadly and looked around, as if trying to see what else the Yoritomo might have behind her proverbial curtain. The bowl would be taken gladly into her waiting hands, and the crushed ice would be eaten while it was still best chilled.

"Mmm", she would murmur in appreciation at first as she crushed both ice and sweet fruits together, speaking even as she was in mid-bite. "Mrm, snacks then dessert..mrmph, you know, such a combination would typically spoil someone from having anything else. You must be really able to top this one, heh."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Hey, I'm just showing the local governor all the due respect, with these mighty arms of mine I wouldn't want to risk shouldering you off the mountain."
The Governor's elbow would discover, through its forward recon, that Ochiba was indeed very fidgety. Ayame would also get a long low snigger at the mention of princess again.

Meanwhile the Mantis was clearly pretty chuffed with herself that the ice was well received, her own bowl was being consumed with gusto...although pretty much everything Ochiba did was with gusto.

"Snacks, dessert and booze are three of my favourite things, so why not share them, hmmm? Besides, we're hiking up a mountain, the calories burn themselves."

"Mmm", she would murmur in appreciation at first as she crushed both ice and sweet fruits together, speaking even as she was in mid-bite. "Mrm, snacks then dessert..mrmph, you know, such a combination would typically spoil someone from having anything else. You must be really able to top this one, heh."

Ochiba closes her mouth, opens it then closes it again, lips twisting in thought before finally, casually leaning over. If the Governor was willing to risque, the risque battle was on.
"I can top a lot of things." And then leaning back, innocently.

[Yasuki Ayame]

"Oh right, the next sort of dessert, the liquid kind!" she murmured in between crunches of ice paired with sweet fruit.

"Well, hiking here is just one of the many ways to burn calories," she said with a smirk as she waggled her brows at the suggestion. "I don't think it's particularly late enough that we'll find ourselves in a situation where we might potentially attract stalkers or the sort of creeping figures with knives."

Ayame would cast a sidelong gaze over to Ochiba at her whispered message. "...And I'm sure you can. I could imagine that you would be someone who just wants to get a handle on things. Maybe even tackle things head-on, that would be so very Mantis, would it? That said, I'm pretty sure that you should consider the possibility of tapping out. Wouldn't want to unintentionally embarrass yourself in case you bit off more than you can chew, of course."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Oh right, the next sort of dessert, the liquid kind!" she murmured in between crunches of ice paired with sweet fruit.

"Well, hiking here is just one of the many ways to burn calories," she said with a smirk as she waggled her brows at the suggestion. "I don't think it's particularly late enough that we'll find ourselves in a situation where we might potentially attract stalkers or the sort of creeping figures with knives."

Ayame would cast a sidelong gaze over to Ochiba at her whispered message. "...And I'm sure you can. I could imagine that you would be someone who just wants to get a handle on things. Maybe even tackle things head-on, that would be so very Mantis, would it? That said, I'm pretty sure that you should consider the possibility of tapping out. Wouldn't want to unintentionally embarrass yourself in case you bit off more than you can chew, of course."

"Well I'd just shoot those guys" Pause. "If Yasuki-sama permitted it...obviously not gonna just...shoot people otherwise."
She busies herself with the shaved ice, munching it down happily and enjoying the chill.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even to try and fail, felled by a superior foe, well that is a bit of excitement in and of itself."
Innocent eyebrow raise.
"I'm sure you would agree that if a samurai wishes for success they should aim for the very best?"

[Yasuki Ayame]

"Well I'd just shoot those guys" Pause. "If Yasuki-sama permitted it...obviously not gonna just...shoot people otherwise."
She busies herself with the shaved ice, munching it down happily and enjoying the chill.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even to try and fail, felled by a superior foe, well that is a bit of excitement in and of itself."
Innocent eyebrow raise.
"I'm sure you would agree that if a samurai wishes for success they should aim for the very best?"

Ayame let out a small chortle at the answer with a mouthful of ice before the crushes them with a few chews. "Not that I should have expected something else coming from you, Ochiba-san. You've been showing your best so far, maybe I'm looking for a little more. And if you want to do a little night expedition on this island, that's something that I'd be up for. Maybe throw on a little camo for the occasion, oh and be sure to bring a lot of bug spray too. There are a few spots on the island that get a little more private at night."

She gave a slow roll of her eyes. "Not that I would know or anything...Of course."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ayame let out a small chortle at the answer with a mouthful of ice before the crushes them with a few chews. "Not that I should have expected something else coming from you, Ochiba-san. You've been showing your best so far, maybe I'm looking for a little more. And if you want to do a little night expedition on this island, that's something that I'd be up for. Maybe throw on a little camo for the occasion, oh and be sure to bring a lot of bug spray too. There are a few spots on the island that get a little more private at night."

She gave a slow roll of her eyes. "Not that I would know or anything...Of course."

"I can uhh, do some research. You know I'll feel a lot safer on any night expedition with some kind of...ex special forces badass there."
Ochiba holds out her hand to start cleaning up the bowls and getting ready for the finale.

"Gonna feel like a teenager again, sneaking off for uhh...night..expeditions. Climbing out of windows for...recon missions, hiding in closets for..camouflage."

[Yasuki Ayame]

"I can uhh, do some research. You know I'll feel a lot safer on any night expedition with some kind of...ex special forces badass there."
Ochiba holds out her hand to start cleaning up the bowls and getting ready for the finale.

"Gonna feel like a teenager again, sneaking off for uhh...night..expeditions. Climbing out of windows for...recon missions, hiding in closets for..camouflage."

Ayame giggled and leaned close to give her another playful check of her elbow. "I'm sure you won't be so bad yourself there, but if you feel like you need an escort still, I wouldn't mind protecting you, Ochiba-san. You can count on me to get you to the LZ in one piece," she gave her a wink before handing her the bowl and dusting herself off.

"Yeah?" She looked rather amused by Ochiba's choice of words. "Do you have the whole guardians watching you over to complete this experience at your place, too? Because, if you do, I could always try to sneak in your place instead."