(Expecting) Ride Out With Me [Day 6, LM]

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Suh-Hyun felt silly, this was some real teenager stuff. And she was not that long past some pretty nasty memories surfacing. But that inner child that kept pushing her to go faster, make that turn harder, and all the other crazy stunts she had pulled was absolutely loving this.

"Alright but on if you answer in turn." She looked back to the Mantis, then out to sea, then back to the Mantis. "It's this Hiruma marine. Akito. Scruffy fellow, thinks he's hot shit in that sort of endearing way. Good dancer too. Met him at your party actually."

"Nice." Ochiba holds up a hand for a hi-five.

"He's cute. Only saw him a couple times but there were some moves. Hope you two are having fun. Really, there's simply nothing my parties cannot do. But isn't there like some military code? Daring to lower yourself to a marine from the might aerospace wing."
Eyebrow waggle.


"Well I'm kinda sort mostly I guess seeing a very handsome Kaiu. We met randomly, went in for a checkup and there was this hunk of a guy. sounds like he's the opposite of Akito, he's kinda polished, more quiet, not shy but less forward? I was originally just looking for something pretty casual, but he's more committed."
She shrugs.

"So, we'll see where it goes. But I'm liking his vibes, you know when there's someone who's just like a rock? But like a good rock."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"A solid anchor to keep the great ship Ochiba from drifting out into oblivion?" Suh-Hyun pondered. She gave the high five, leaving someone hanging was a duel worthy insult.

She leaned forward, "Huh, I figured you more the type to have a trail of lovers. What's that old term, a rake? Oh but he's some kind of Doctor then? Were you feeling ill?"

Her eyes settled on the other jug, briefly pondering it's contents. "I'd be curious how a conversation turns from 'I'm not feeling so great' to 'you're kinda sexy'."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"A solid anchor to keep the great ship Ochiba from drifting out into oblivion?" Suh-Hyun pondered. She gave the high five, leaving someone hanging was a duel worthy insult.

She leaned forward, "Huh, I figured you more the type to have a trail of lovers. What's that old term, a rake? Oh but he's some kind of Doctor then? Were you feeling ill?"

Her eyes settled on the other jug, briefly pondering it's contents. "I'd be curious how a conversation turns from 'I'm not feeling so great' to 'you're kinda sexy'."

"Well even the mightiest of ships need a a safe harbour with big strong arms in a warm bed."
Ochiba looks innocent.

"Well, there was also one other conquest. A certain shall we say...high ranking and smoking hot local member of the ruling caste. But I can't imagine Shinjo-san would want any details about our torrid, romantic affair?" although she follows that up with an eyebrow waggle.

"I don't as a rule hit on my doctors because (a) you know, it's complicated and (b) they're often really boring. But we started talking about my little uhh, modifications" she nods at her tattoos. "And one thing led to another."

Following Suhj-Hyun's gaze.
"Wanna try and wash whatever the hell that was out of our mouths and take a punt on this one?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"Not all doctor's were boring, I've met a few military ones that were funny." Her smile waivered a bit into exasperation, "Well in a morbid kind of way. So not really dating material, complicated as you put it."

"Oh, what exactly are those things anyway?" Suh-Hyun studied the tattoos for a moment, "Some sort of military tech?"

Suh-Hyun puts her hand on forehead, "A certain Queen of the night whose outfit left very little to the imagination? ...yeah okay that makes sense. Haven't spoken with her, but she's definitely confident from what I've seen." She blinks and her cheeks redden, "I know how to use a densai if I need that sort of entertainment."

She pokes the jug of clear fluid, "Hmm disconcertingly the color of highly refined fuel. What could go wrong?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Believe me, you're going to have to learn some words that'd make your head explode for a densai to come close."
Ochiba sniggers and pours them both a glass of the carbonated clear drink, hoping against hope it could wash away the sugar.

"Oh yeah, guess I didn't really explain it in the onsen, blood, giant lizards, you know how it was. One sec."
Holding up her other hand she concentrates for a moment and the tattoo glows a bioluminescent blue and then sparks of electricity start to crackle between her fingers.
"Nifty, right? Also borderline blasphemous so I hope you aren't about to ride off and ditch me." Holding up her glass "At least without trying the jet fuel."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"I'm not much up on fleshcraft." Her eyes focus on the tattoos and hand the energy, "Seems dangerous, not just to your enemy I mean."

Suh-Hyun shrugged, "Well maybe I'll consult a priest, but I think its fine for me." Her tone was teasing.

Picking up the glass of carbonated fuel, she turned it, "Yeah. Definitely the high purity stuff. The kind they jettison first if a fire breaks out. Well I gave the last toast, so..." She raised a glass expectantly.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"I'm not much up on fleshcraft." Her eyes focus on the tattoos and hand the energy, "Seems dangerous, not just to your enemy I mean."

Suh-Hyun shrugged, "Well maybe I'll consult a priest, but I think its fine for me." Her tone was teasing.

Picking up the glass of carbonated fuel, she turned it, "Yeah. Definitely the high purity stuff. The kind they jettison first if a fire breaks out. Well I gave the last toast, so..." She raised a glass expectantly.

"Well I was worried my heart was going to explode, but turns out to have been nothing. 'Course if I start smoking and catch fire that'll be on me."

Thankful she wasn't going to be riding back alone Ochiba ponders the toast.
"To the Horizon, what we journey towards, and what we return to?"
She tips back her drink, just like jet fuel it was potent, but in a fiery way with just a hint of fizz.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"And may there ever be new Horizons! Kanpei!" Suh-Hyun tips back her own drink, no hesitation and only a little concern.

She sets the glass back down, "Well this one doesn't taste like drinking raw sugar at least. Not half bad really."

"So if I may ask where is home for you?" The Unicorn turns her glass, "I mean where you consider home, not necessarily your birth place."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"And may there ever be new Horizons! Kanpei!" Suh-Hyun tips back her own drink, no hesitation and only a little concern.

She sets the glass back down, "Well this one doesn't taste like drinking raw sugar at least. Not half bad really."

"So if I may ask where is home for you?" The Unicorn turns her glass, "I mean where you consider home, not necessarily your birth place."

Automatically.
"My ship, I don't really live anywhere else for any length of time. But The Great Orochi is where I lay my head. I've been maybe considering buying somewhere in Nakahama, like a holiday home or something."

Looking back at the city.
"It's not bad here, doubly so if you have money."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Automatically.
"My ship, I don't really live anywhere else for any length of time. But The Great Orochi is where I lay my head. I've been maybe considering buying somewhere in Nakahama, like a holiday home or something."

Looking back at the city.
"It's not bad here, doubly so if you have money."

"That is certainly a feeling I am familiar with," Suh-Hyun smiles and refills their glasses with the jet fuel, pushing the sweet tasting lubricant away from both of them. "Though more from the sailors, us pilots tend to rotate ships more often. So I never grew as attached. Still my old carrier felt like home while I was on it."

"I suppose that's much the same anywhere." She winked at the Mantis, "Especially for you party types."

Her gaze shift back to the city, "Local magistrate is a bit of a stickler though."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"That is certainly a feeling I am familiar with," Suh-Hyun smiles and refills their glasses with the jet fuel, pushing the sweet tasting lubricant away from both of them. "Though more from the sailors, us pilots tend to rotate ships more often. So I never grew as attached. Still my old carrier felt like home while I was on it."

"I suppose that's much the same anywhere." She winked at the Mantis, "Especially for you party types."

Her gaze shift back to the city, "Local magistrate is a bit of a stickler though."

"Surprising me again Shinjo-san, you seemed the time to settle down with one nice carrier."
Ochiba raises her glasses in thanks after the Shinjo refills.

"Life's too short to not be out there partying."
Glancing at the city.

"Yeah, fuck that guy. The stick up his ass has a stick up its ass. You know he busted the party and it wasn't even about me? The nerve."
Angry drinking.
"Some kind of power play stuff with the Governor, can't respect that."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"Carriers are a prestigious posting for pilots, a lot of our ships carry some fighters," She took a sip of her drink, "And...well, a lot of my wing mates didn't make it back when we returned home. The carrier herself was mostly undamaged, so rotate the fighter wing back to station duty to rebuild and rest. There are several wings available to replace us and keeping a carrier in action is important." Suh-Hyun shrugs, but her eyes linger on the drink longer then normal. As if she could will it into being alcohol.

"Well I'm not a real party girl myself but I do appreciate a well put together party." Her smile returned, emotions under control, "Or you know the occasional wild one I can escape from once the magistrates decide to show up." She chuckled. "I do also run really fast!"

She frowns, "Psh, local politics. Having to deal with that in the Navy is bad enough. And so crassly done at that."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Carriers are a prestigious posting for pilots, a lot of our ships carry some fighters," She took a sip of her drink, "And...well, a lot of my wing mates didn't make it back when we returned home. The carrier herself was mostly undamaged, so rotate the fighter wing back to station duty to rebuild and rest. There are several wings available to replace us and keeping a carrier in action is important." Suh-Hyun shrugs, but her eyes linger on the drink longer then normal. As if she could will it into being alcohol.

"Well I'm not a real party girl myself but I do appreciate a well put together party." Her smile returned, emotions under control, "Or you know the occasional wild one I can escape from once the magistrates decide to show up." She chuckled. "I do also run really fast!"

She frowns, "Psh, local politics. Having to deal with that in the Navy is bad enough. And so crassly done at that."

"You seem like the kinda Shinjo who goes to parties just to run from the magistrates, I respect that. I run better than I drive, if you can believe it. Gotta stay fit."

Another sip of jet fuel.

"Ugggh, tell me about it. You know I was navy at one point? But there was so much bullshit and politics. People would just say the dumbest stuff and you were just supposed to nod and thank them and ask for more."
The Mantis grimaces.
"Yeah, not for me. I can't follow someone I don't respect."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"Well to be fair I usually am at parties with other soldiers there." She waggles a finger, "Marines, being ill tempered and easily enraged creatures, instinctively try to fight the local magistrates when they show up. Let's the rest of us slip out the back during the melee."

Suh-Hyun shrugs, "I don't like everything the Navy does and I have served under some real assholes, would not drink with them but...they knew their business and did their job well so I listened to them. And just went to different bars."

"So how did you wind up on your current ship? Old friend rope you in? Dumb luck?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Well to be fair I usually am at parties with other soldiers there." She waggles a finger, "Marines, being ill tempered and easily enraged creatures, instinctively try to fight the local magistrates when they show up. Let's the rest of us slip out the back during the melee."

Suh-Hyun shrugs, "I don't like everything the Navy does and I have served under some real assholes, would not drink with them but...they knew their business and did their job well so I listened to them. And just went to different bars."

"So how did you wind up on your current ship? Old friend rope you in? Dumb luck?"

“The marine is a simple beast. But they can be soothed with colouring implements and copious alcohol. That’s just standard policy.”

Leaning back in her chair
“Yeah I dunno. I was at the bottom of the pecking order and broke. So the bar selection was limited. And people were always giving me shit. And you can’t punch an officer.”
She pauses in thought
“You can’t punch an officer more than once at least. Soon as I got discharged I just picked the first ship in port that was taking on hands. It wasn’t glamorous work, and it was dangerous. But there weren’t a lot of good options.”

Shrugging
“I got lucky. Captain is a good man, crew are bad people in a good way. It’s still dirty and dangerous but so, so profitable. What about you? I’m detecting dangerous levels of military family. Either that or it’s the drink.”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

Suh-Hyun let's out a nervous chuckle, "That obvious huh? Though not always soldiering. Its complicated."

She finishes her glass and fills up. Since the jug was in her hand, Suh-Hyun topped off the Mantis's cup.

"We've always been spacers really. Mom was from outside the family, an Akodo who was part of a marriage arrangement," She smiles, "I uh hope you don't hold me technically being half Lion against me." It was probably a joke, but there was some concern in her voice.

"Regardless, you know what Akodo are like. And Dad was a Navy man but served with explorer and surveyor ships. That's the path my siblings followed. But I fell in love with small craft and am something of a prodigy in their operation." There was a hint of embarrassment there. "Almost got plucked by the Utaku Sky Raiders but my big 'F' Family were already upset at them having plucked so many other promising young Shinjo. From there the trajectory of my career was basically set. Only really altered after my deployment on the Swift Winds."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Suh-Hyun let's out a nervous chuckle, "That obvious huh? Though not always soldiering. Its complicated."

She finishes her glass and fills up. Since the jug was in her hand, Suh-Hyun topped off the Mantis's cup.

"We've always been spacers really. Mom was from outside the family, an Akodo who was part of a marriage arrangement," She smiles, "I uh hope you don't hold me technically being half Lion against me." It was probably a joke, but there was some concern in her voice.

"Regardless, you know what Akodo are like. And Dad was a Navy man but served with explorer and surveyor ships. That's the path my siblings followed. But I fell in love with small craft and am something of a prodigy in their operation." There was a hint of embarrassment there. "Almost got plucked by the Utaku Sky Raiders but my big 'F' Family were already upset at them having plucked so many other promising young Shinjo. From there the trajectory of my career was basically set. Only really altered after my deployment on the Swift Winds."

Ochiba just looks across the table for a few long moments before starting to snigger.
“Wait so that shirt… ehehe and you… ehehehe!”
She keeps snickering

“Nah, I’ve got nothing personal against the Lion. I mean, total sticks up their asses and you’ve got a bit of that, but you know in a good way.”

Still grinning
“Totally see it now. Ah well, and that meant stuff was complicated and you had to go about your duties the right way. But it seems like you’re doing well?”
Cocking her head
“Wait, shouldn’t you be married then? What’s up there?”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

Suh-Hyun blinks, "Umm probably I guess." She laughs nervously, "But you know...maybe it's because I have always sort of been going. Not always in the physical sense but, well this might be the calmest my life has been in awhile."

"My parents never pushed the issue. I think Dad is too laid back and Mom." She rubs her chin, "...well now that I think on it her inner lioness tends to come out when discussions about her baby girl come up."

"I'm not worried, I have siblings with families and my family isn't prestigious enough to be used for any serious political marriages. So its just never been on my mind much."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Suh-Hyun blinks, "Umm probably I guess." She laughs nervously, "But you know...maybe it's because I have always sort of been going. Not always in the physical sense but, well this might be the calmest my life has been in awhile."

"My parents never pushed the issue. I think Dad is too laid back and Mom." She rubs her chin, "...well now that I think on it her inner lioness tends to come out when discussions about her baby girl come up."

"I'm not worried, I have siblings with families and my family isn't prestigious enough to be used for any serious political marriages. So its just never been on my mind much."

“Good to stay flexible, it’s funny that all that travel and flying keeps you grounded.”
She winks

“Well not having that family pressure is pretty great. You guys sometimes even do the love thing, right? That’s kinda cool. But sounds like you’re career first. Absolute same.”

Curious
“So, that’s an inter-clan marriage that worked. Was it complicated? Tough on your mom?”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Snip

"A little I think, but she adapted. The Akodo are not Matsu and the Shinjo are not Utaku." Suh-Hyun looks back out into the sea, admiring the sun's reflection. "Dad and her got along quite well, which helps a lot."

"I'm not sure if I would call it career first," She smiles meekly, "I guess I'm like the horses that roam the plains of Shinjo's Grace. Running wild and free on the great open fields."

Suh-Hyun mumbles to herself, "I do like that Hiruma though, he's an interesting fellow."