[Day 5 - Early Morning] RP Thread: Sturgeon Wars

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Oh the Miyabi Blue Stars for sure. They might have lost in the Conference finals last year, but in the coming season they're bound to take the pennant again."

He unconsciously rubbed his left wrist . . . around which was a silver bracelet with a blue star hanging off it.

Taraka finished her water and put the bottle in the provided recycling receptacle.

"Spoken like a true fan, Kakita-san. If you want to check out the shrimp, or you want to browse my store, swing by Golden Shotengai and I'll see that you are taken care of." she offered.

[Boogiepop]

Igoro felt his stomach churn with nerves... maybe they shouldn't have left the main fish market, where the hosts had brought them? He cast a nervous look around, trying to get an idea of who these people were. Surely, he was just being his anxious self, right?

Kanna on the other hand thought she had gotten lucky. "Oh wow." Tango Tuna *was* popular! "Could I have a slice of grilled tango tuna, please, thank you?" The other part of the market hadn't let her taste!

"Of course, samurai-sama! Right away!" The heimen at the counter was quick to oblige the small Dragon's request.

The cook tossed a practically steak-size slab of Tango tuna and quickly got to grilling it with both charcoal grill and torch in hand for expediency.


Koi-kun

Would step forward and wave his fins in the air for the attention of the heimen, inviting a bit of amusement and bemusement at how best to respond. Well, it wouldn't be the first time that they took orders from a big fish.

Koi-kun would dart his fins at one of the pictured cuts of sushi on their menu. This one! This one!

"Uh, sure....Koi-kun...Koi-sama? The otoro? You got it," he man would say with an unsure chuckle.

Kanna wouldn't have to wait long for her order as the heimen worked quickly to ready the order for the important customer. She would soon be presented with a semi-charred slab of tuna and 5 pieces of sizeable very fatty tuna belly sushi, all on a (not) fancy foam plate.

Koi-kun would gesture toward the sushi, then pet his belly enthusiastically. Try! Try! This is sooo good!

[Kakita Hiroki]

Taraka finished her water and put the bottle in the provided recycling receptacle.

"Spoken like a true fan, Kakita-san. If you want to check out the shrimp, or you want to browse my store, swing by Golden Shotengai and I'll see that you are taken care of." she offered.

"There isn't much Inter-Clan baseball, so I have no idea if you even use the same rules. Do you have Designated Hitters?"

His liquid sugar still had some way to go. Small Crane drinks slowly. Less room for it you see.

"Ah you have the drone fighting thing yes? Haruhi spoke of it."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"There isn't much Inter-Clan baseball, so I have no idea if you even use the same rules. Do you have Designated Hitters?"

His liquid sugar still had some way to go. Small Crane drinks slowly. Less room for it you see.

"Ah you have the drone fighting thing yes? Haruhi spoke of it."

"Ah, now that is a classic question is it not? Should a baseball player be a master of pitching and hitting, or do you allow a champion to serve in your steed at the plate? It's technically allowable, but the Shrimps don't have one. I can't imagine the pitcher, Hida Ashita, allowing someone to take his spot at the plate." she explained. "What's the Crane stance?"

She nodded at the mention of the other Crane she'd met.

"Ah, Haruhi-san is quite the samurai, is she not? I did not expect her to install the capability for her drone to play folk music while it flew and maintain it's speed and maneuverability. She's impressed me every time we've met."


Impressed on her how glad she was to not be a perfectionist Kakita, but that was a form of impressment.

[Tamori Kanna]

"Of course, samurai-sama! Right away!" The heimen at the counter was quick to oblige the small Dragon's request.

The cook tossed a practically steak-size slab of Tango tuna and quickly got to grilling it with both charcoal grill and torch in hand for expediency.

Koi-kun
Would step forward and wave his fins in the air for the attention of the heimen, inviting a bit of amusement and bemusement at how best to respond. Well, it wouldn't be the first time that they took orders from a big fish.

Koi-kun would dart his fins at one of the pictured cuts of sushi on their menu. This one! This one!

"Uh, sure....Koi-kun...Koi-sama? The otoro? You got it," he man would say with an unsure chuckle.

Kanna wouldn't have to wait long for her order as the heimen worked quickly to ready the order for the important customer. She would soon be presented with a semi-charred slab of tuna and 5 pieces of sizeable very fatty tuna belly sushi, all on a (not) fancy foam plate.

Koi-kun would gesture toward the sushi, then pet his belly enthusiastically. Try! Try! This is sooo good!

"Oh, thank you so much!" Kanna looped Kaida's leash over her wrist and accepted the offered plate with a small bow. Using the cheap chopsticks offered here, she'd take a bite of the fatty tuna that Koi-kun had wanted her to try.

"Mmmmm..." Fatty tuna was good! Very good indeed! "This is amazing!"

Igoro was already getting out his coin purse, knowing that Kanna would forget all about asking how much for the tuna, so he was ready to make sure the heimin had the costs covered. It would be rude to not pay for the food, in his mind.

[Agasha Sorato]

Umiko couldn't help but giggle at the analogy, certainly finding some appreciation in the analogical compliment. "You're right, Agasha-sama, thank you. I suppose I'm doing my best to attend to everyone and ensure the governor's plans are realized."

"Oh, absolutely, well with some local lobbying too," she chuckled in good humour. "While the fish trade isn't something that many Yasuki do in Nakahama City, it is undeniably the main artery of our province's income. It might be taken for granted, considering that it's something that a few other island provinces also partake in nowadays. It isn't seen as glamorous by modern Yasuki, it's still a very important export and a sought-after product on the Green Carp. It's an industry in the province that predates even our tourism. I, alongside the representatives of Uomoto Co, and the fishers of Tenjin Town, thought it was essential to include this activity as one of the perimeters of our search for a business partner."

"Oh, you're obviously right about that." Sorato nods encouragingly. "Tourism fashions come and go, but human beings always need to eat." Well, except for some Togashi monks one read about in legends, anyway.

"And they'll always want to eat well," he adds after a moment. "Green Carp is such a lush world that I guess food supply and even luxury foods aren't a great concern here--your catch would be envied on other planets, though." And purchased, too, if available.

[Boogiepop]

-

Koi-kun

If this was some con to get the Dragon to pay for some food, the price of the fish turned out to be quite reasonable. Actually, surprisingly cheap compared to the cuts found in Nakahama City. It seems like they were paying wholesale pricing. That is, if the Dragon even cared about the cost!

Koi-kun would bob his head excitedly and throw a few happy fins in the air when Kanna found the food to her liking. It was in the gesture of I'm glad you liked it!

After a moment, Koi-kun would raise a fin up! As if remembering something! He strayed quite far from his post and should get back to where the samurai were bidding. He gave a few points of his fin back in the direction they came from before giving a wave, then a low bob of his head in a bow. His body language easily said: I must go now! Goodbye for now!

With that, Koi-kun shuffled away, letting Kanna enjoy the tuna in peace! And without incident!

/exit

[Yasuki Umiko]

"Oh, you're obviously right about that." Sorato nods encouragingly. "Tourism fashions come and go, but human beings always need to eat." Well, except for some Togashi monks one read about in legends, anyway.

"And they'll always want to eat well," he adds after a moment. "Green Carp is such a lush world that I guess food supply and even luxury foods aren't a great concern here--your catch would be envied on other planets, though." And purchased, too, if available.

"Good quality seafood is a surprising rarity in many parts of the Empire, especially as a foodstuff item that is ingrained in our culture since the founding of the Empire. Even on worlds where all fishing industry is disregarded, that doesn't mean there isn't room to tap into the luxury market, as well as the prepared food market. Of course, we also have to thank Yasuki marketing, lobbying, and a general good reputation from word of mouth in Winter Courts when it comes to our prized export here."

"The fishing industry does much to keep this province afloat, at the end of the day, but it will be the tourism and luxury stay business that will make the province flourish," she nodded at that fact. "I hope Agasha-san has had a chance to try the fish around here and see much of Tenjin Town?"

[Agasha Sorato]

"Oh, you're obviously right about that." Sorato nods encouragingly. "Tourism fashions come and go, but human beings always need to eat." Well, except for some Togashi monks one read about in legends, anyway.

"And they'll always want to eat well," he adds after a moment. "Green Carp is such a lush world that I guess food supply and even luxury foods aren't a great concern here--your catch would be envied on other planets, though." And purchased, too, if available.

"Good quality seafood is a surprising rarity in many parts of the Empire, especially as a foodstuff item that is ingrained in our culture since the founding of the Empire. Even on worlds where all fishing industry is disregarded, that doesn't mean there isn't room to tap into the luxury market, as well as the prepared food market. Of course, we also have to thank Yasuki marketing, lobbying, and a general good reputation from word of mouth in Winter Courts when it comes to our prized export here."

"The fishing industry does much to keep this province afloat, at the end of the day, but it will be the tourism and luxury stay business that will make the province flourish," she nodded at that fact. "I hope Agasha-san has had a chance to try the fish around here and see much of Tenjin Town?"

"I have, several times" Sorato says with rather warm enthusiasm. "The fish market and farms are very interesting. So much development potential, and your subjects seem very hard-working. I hope these essential productive trades won't be forgotten on your path to the Imperial tourism market," he adds, sobering a little bit. He rubs his chin, mouth tightening somewhat, and adds, "I also visited a very interesting temple near the town. This might not be the right time to talk about that, though."

[Yasuki Umiko]

"I have, several times" Sorato says with rather warm enthusiasm. "The fish market and farms are very interesting. So much development potential, and your subjects seem very hard-working. I hope these essential productive trades won't be forgotten on your path to the Imperial tourism market," he adds, sobering a little bit. He rubs his chin, mouth tightening somewhat, and adds, "I also visited a very interesting temple near the town. This might not be the right time to talk about that, though."

"I'm sure it is our hope that any prosperity earned by Nakahama City and the province will trickle down to settlements like Tenjin Town. Of course, I am aware that's not something that will always easily happen. I understand that koku isn't always so fluid. Tenjin Town is a place where it functions through necessities, rather than style. I personally consider the town a hidden gem, and I suppose it could use a bit of a facelift to give that gem a little more polish," she chuckled a little on that note.

"Oh," Umiko said softly on the matter when she was met with that topic here. For now, she merely gave the upfront answer of, "Yes, I am aware of that temple."

[Agasha Sorato]

"I have, several times" Sorato says with rather warm enthusiasm. "The fish market and farms are very interesting. So much development potential, and your subjects seem very hard-working. I hope these essential productive trades won't be forgotten on your path to the Imperial tourism market," he adds, sobering a little bit. He rubs his chin, mouth tightening somewhat, and adds, "I also visited a very interesting temple near the town. This might not be the right time to talk about that, though."

"I'm sure it is our hope that any prosperity earned by Nakahama City and the province will trickle down to settlements like Tenjin Town. Of course, I am aware that's not something that will always easily happen. I understand that koku isn't always so fluid. Tenjin Town is a place where it functions through necessities, rather than style. I personally consider the town a hidden gem, and I suppose it could use a bit of a facelift to give that gem a little more polish," she chuckled a little on that note.

"Oh," Umiko said softly on the matter when she was met with that topic here. For now, she merely gave the upfront answer of, "Yes, I am aware of that temple."

"Okay. Well, if you know it well, I won't bother you." Sorato shifts on his feet, visibly feeling awkward. "I was surprised, since Crab provinces aren't usually known for so much religious, ah, diversity. No offense."

Well, that sounded great. Good job, Sorato.

"I really like the town," he grasps for a recovery. "I would hate to see it so polished there wasn't room left for all these people," a long-fingered hand gestures vaguely at the warehouse full of fisherfolk and butchers and brokers. "I hope they have a place in the shiny new Shiawase your honored sister plans."

[Yasuki Umiko]

"Okay. Well, if you know it well, I won't bother you." Sorato shifts on his feet, visibly feeling awkward. "I was surprised, since Crab provinces aren't usually known for so much religious, ah, diversity. No offense."

Well, that sounded great. Good job, Sorato.

"I really like the town," he grasps for a recovery. "I would hate to see it so polished there wasn't room left for all these people," a long-fingered hand gestures vaguely at the warehouse full of fisherfolk and butchers and brokers. "I hope they have a place in the shiny new Shiawase your honored sister plans."

Umiko gave a slow nod on the matter with a sheepish smile. "Yes...you are right in that regard. Religion has never been a strong suit of the Crab Clan. The followers of the Temple of Light have been benign to the community and have yet to provoke any incidents. We have let them be, for now," she said gently on the matter.

"They do," she nodded with confidence. "Even if the island finds its popularity and sees a new renaissance, it would be extremely foolish of us to overlook the people here, the industries they work for and everything they make possible with their labour. In fact, I'm doing my best to ensure that the people here are cared for. The monorail here is a precursor to more development in the future. It is my hope that we go about it in a gradual way where it is the locals who are cared for and they are properly appreciated for their service to us, not potentially ousted from their place or even forgotten about in the situation that popularity finds its way here. They are the foundation of the island and province."

[Agasha Sorato]

"Okay. Well, if you know it well, I won't bother you." Sorato shifts on his feet, visibly feeling awkward. "I was surprised, since Crab provinces aren't usually known for so much religious, ah, diversity. No offense."

Well, that sounded great. Good job, Sorato.

"I really like the town," he grasps for a recovery. "I would hate to see it so polished there wasn't room left for all these people," a long-fingered hand gestures vaguely at the warehouse full of fisherfolk and butchers and brokers. "I hope they have a place in the shiny new Shiawase your honored sister plans."

Umiko gave a slow nod on the matter with a sheepish smile. "Yes...you are right in that regard. Religion has never been a strong suit of the Crab Clan. The followers of the Temple of Light have been benign to the community and have yet to provoke any incidents. We have let them be, for now," she said gently on the matter.

"They do," she nodded with confidence. "Even if the island finds its popularity and sees a new renaissance, it would be extremely foolish of us to overlook the people here, the industries they work for and everything they make possible with their labour. In fact, I'm doing my best to ensure that the people here are cared for. The monorail here is a precursor to more development in the future. It is my hope that we go about it in a gradual way where it is the locals who are cared for and they are properly appreciated for their service to us, not potentially ousted from their place or even forgotten about in the situation that popularity finds its way here. They are the foundation of the island and province."

"That's really, er, tolerant of you. I suppose if the temple's beliefs are just talk, and they don't act on not believing in the whole celestial order... they do seem, ah, community-spirited, at least." He shrugs. It seems to him this wouldn't quite fly (hah) on a Phoenix planet, but who knows? Nobody has died and made him an Inquisitor, thank the Void.

"I'm glad you have a plan for this place, too. It would be a shame if it lost its hardworking spirit. Even the canals are really charming, as well as practical." Then, remembering the scene the other morning, he winces slightly. "I looks like the buildings get hit rather badly in your rain squalls, though. Weather like that can't make it easy to plan here."

[Kakita Hiroki]

"Ah, now that is a classic question is it not? Should a baseball player be a master of pitching and hitting, or do you allow a champion to serve in your steed at the plate? It's technically allowable, but the Shrimps don't have one. I can't imagine the pitcher, Hida Ashita, allowing someone to take his spot at the plate." she explained. "What's the Crane stance?"

She nodded at the mention of the other Crane she'd met.

"Ah, Haruhi-san is quite the samurai, is she not? I did not expect her to install the capability for her drone to play folk music while it flew and maintain it's speed and maneuverability. She's impressed me every time we've met."


Impressed on her how glad she was to not be a perfectionist Kakita, but that was a form of impressment.

"Oh we use the Designated Hitter rule in almost every competitive game. One perfect strike goes for swords and baseball I guess, but also one perfect hit . . . so players perfect their art and don't get distracted trying to be chimeras of the game."

He listened to Taraka describe his clanmate.

"Folk music? How quaint."

Perfect courtier smile engaged.

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Oh we use the Designated Hitter rule in almost every competitive game. One perfect strike goes for swords and baseball I guess, but also one perfect hit . . . so players perfect their art and don't get distracted trying to be chimeras of the game."

He listened to Taraka describe his clanmate.

"Folk music? How quaint."

Perfect courtier smile engaged.

Taraka smiled right back.

"Ah well, there's more to music than quality, Kakita-san. Like licensing rights. I'm sure blasting some of Usagi Drop!'s more energetic numbers from a drone engaged in aerial combat would be a HUGE draw, but doing it without securing the rights would also be a HUGE draw....for Usagi Drop!'s lawyers."

She chuckled.

"As a fellow Kakita, I'm sure she did not want to face one perfect lawsuit."

[Yasuki Umiko]

"That's really, er, tolerant of you. I suppose if the temple's beliefs are just talk, and they don't act on not believing in the whole celestial order... they do seem, ah, community-spirited, at least." He shrugs. It seems to him this wouldn't quite fly (hah) on a Phoenix planet, but who knows? Nobody has died and made him an Inquisitor, thank the Void.

"I'm glad you have a plan for this place, too. It would be a shame if it lost its hardworking spirit. Even the canals are really charming, as well as practical." Then, remembering the scene the other morning, he winces slightly. "I looks like the buildings get hit rather badly in your rain squalls, though. Weather like that can't make it easy to plan here."

"Yes, we do tend to show a bit more tolerance in the oceanic provinces than the mainland, and through the mainland, the rest of the Crab Clan," she said softly on the matter, offering a glance to the side as she said so and offering a hand to gesture to the market at large. "I think that's a little evident when we have guests from the Spider Clan, who are currently enjoying the same hospitality as our other guests with only the occasional check-ups from our magistrates."

"The weather on the Green Carp does swing between extremes in short intervals at times. While it's more manageable on the mainland, keeping a staff of shugenja is a prerequisite of every oceanic island province," she chuckled. "That goes doubly with Mount Nakahama on the island as well, as I'm sure you've seen some occasional but harmless smoke from the dormant volcanic activity."

[Agasha Sorato]

"Yes, we do tend to show a bit more tolerance in the oceanic provinces than the mainland, and through the mainland, the rest of the Crab Clan," she said softly on the matter, offering a glance to the side as she said so and offering a hand to gesture to the market at large. "I think that's a little evident when we have guests from the Spider Clan, who are currently enjoying the same hospitality as our other guests with only the occasional check-ups from our magistrates."

"The weather on the Green Carp does swing between extremes in short intervals at times. While it's more manageable on the mainland, keeping a staff of shugenja is a prerequisite of every oceanic island province," she chuckled. "That goes doubly with Mount Nakahama on the island as well, as I'm sure you've seen some occasional but harmless smoke from the dormant volcanic activity."

"Oh, yes, I've enjoyed watching Mount Nakahama," Sorato says with a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes. Well, he is an Agasha, after all. His people have been volcano enthusiasts for nigh on three millennia at this point. "And such a diverse natural environment on the slopes. I might go up there again tomorrow, if the weather allows." He tilts his head and asks, as an afterthought, "Do you tap it for your power here on the island? Phoenix colony planners always love a good volcano, it really saves on spirit reactor fuel."

[Yasuki Umiko]

"Oh, yes, I've enjoyed watching Mount Nakahama," Sorato says with a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes. Well, he is an Agasha, after all. His people have been volcano enthusiasts for nigh on three millennia at this point. "And such a diverse natural environment on the slopes. I might go up there again tomorrow, if the weather allows." He tilts his head and asks, as an afterthought, "Do you tap it for your power here on the island? Phoenix colony planners always love a good volcano, it really saves on spirit reactor fuel."

"Oh! There's a bit of small history about the volcano in that regard. Originally, Shiro Ei wanted the volcano reserved to provide power to the garrison with the potential to expand the Shiro toward the mountain. Of course, they perhaps soon realize that they didn't exactly need all that much power for such a remote military base." She said on the matter. Admittedly, most of the defences here were mostly because of Crab tradition rather than necessity. Any true attack on the Green Carp was bound to come from the void, rather than from land. Shiawase Island's threatening predator count was a smidge less than other settlements, too. "There were potential ideas for an airbase and a larger spaceport in the mountains that didn't quite materialize."

She nodded, continuing on that thought. "I think in recent history, Hotel Nakahama was supposed to tap into the volcano for power. It might have ultimately been wishful thinking on their part if the work on the resort hotel never saw completion."

[Kakita Hiroki]

Taraka smiled right back.

"Ah well, there's more to music than quality, Kakita-san. Like licensing rights. I'm sure blasting some of Usagi Drop!'s more energetic numbers from a drone engaged in aerial combat would be a HUGE draw, but doing it without securing the rights would also be a HUGE draw....for Usagi Drop!'s lawyers."

She chuckled.

"As a fellow Kakita, I'm sure she did not want to face one perfect lawsuit."

"Well if she asked, I'd give permission . . . but yes I suppose Legal can be quite aggressive at times."

He actually had no idea what Legal did . . . but it sounded like the right thing to say. He left legal opinions to his father.

"I expect Crab music would be more appreciated by the audience here anyway."

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Well if she asked, I'd give permission . . . but yes I suppose Legal can be quite aggressive at times."

He actually had no idea what Legal did . . . but it sounded like the right thing to say. He left legal opinions to his father.

"I expect Crab music would be more appreciated by the audience here anyway."

Taraka leaned back against the wall of the building, amused.

"And slowly, inextricably we find ourselves drawn back to the topic of music. I'm going to have to take that as a sign that you do not mind talking about it, Kakita-san. Then again, I guess if I'm boring you, I'm sure the Crane have trained you in hundreds of ways to escape a boring conversation at varying degrees of politeness."

She crossed her arms and considered music.

"Avoiding Crane music is like trying to avoid rice at a meal...difficult and fairly pointless. Your clan has practically defined music since the dawn of the Empire. It's a staple."

"Now Crab music, that holds a special place in our hearts. From taiko drumming to the local idol group singing at Koi's latest sale, it will never hit the lyrical precision your songs hit. But they put everything they have into their performance, no matter the difficulties, no matter the imperfections. The emotions of Crane music come from the heart, the Crab's come from the gut. Both powerful, but both unique in how they are." she offered.