[Day 11 - Early Evening] Bon Festival: Game Stalls! [RP THREAD]

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I'm certain you'll take great care of them." He says with a smile.

He looks intently as she explains, his eyes trace her features. The curve of her face, the color of her eyes, the way her hair reflects the light. Kami she was blessed, to his eyes she may very well join the constellations in the night sky. As her hand reaches for the same Omamori his heart skips a beat, the flush deepens, and he lets out a chuckle in a vain attempt to keep his cool.

Before she has her coin purse he already has his own out, a plush taiyaki opens to reveal a handful of coins he didn't use for claw machines. He pays for both Omamori, and as he turns back towards her he had a hand on his hip, the charm held by his side.

"I guess you'd know, blessed as you are. Thank you for sharing such blessings, it does mean the world to me." He steps into her personal space again, his hands moved to her obi, hooking under it and tying the charm to it. Once it's secure he gives it a gentle tug before stepping back.

Sumiko was surprised when the charm was taken for her before she could pay. She went to speak but stopped when he moved close to her, looking up at him as his hand moved to her Obi and had the charm tied to it. It took her a few moments after he stepped back before she looked down to check on it, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I didn't see that coming" she said quietly, mostly to herself before looking back up at him again with a smile. "You didn't need to pay! Blessings are best shared though, Hinata-san. I'm glad you feel the same. Hopefully it's the first of many blessings, right? Shall we get you the lucky bamboo too?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

Sumiko was surprised when the charm was taken for her before she could pay. She went to speak but stopped when he moved close to her, looking up at him as his hand moved to her Obi and had the charm tied to it. It took her a few moments after he stepped back before she looked down to check on it, a slight blush on her cheeks.

"I didn't see that coming" she said quietly, mostly to herself before looking back up at him again with a smile. "You didn't need to pay! Blessings are best shared though, Hinata-san. I'm glad you feel the same. Hopefully it's the first of many blessings, right? Shall we get you the lucky bamboo too?"

He leans forward, eye level with her, a playful smile as he speaks. "Oh? Was that too forward? Forgive my impropriety Susumu-san." He leans back, and extends a hand. "Grab my hand? I don't want to lose you in the crowd." His voice is even, calm and welcoming. "Please?" He pleads, there is a weakness to his tone, something she can't quite put her finger on on that last word.

They make their way, different game, different opportunities to share their time.

Hinata draws his fortune with Sumi right behind him, he smiles at her when he reveals an auspicious result!

He embarasses himself just a little bit as he participates in the sack race, stumbling past the finish line onto the floor. Laughing all the way to the prizes section to claim a newtsuke of Benten, and one of Fukurojin.

"Phew, almost lost my footing near the finish!" Hew says wiping some dirt off his face. He extends the netsuke he had earned. "Which one you like best?"

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Doctor Badass," she would tell the Shinjo, highlighting her very professional credentials sternly. "That's right, one and the same. But, have you considered who secures the security specialist? There must be someone who does that, like maybe some sort of watch-people? Or the government?!? Nah, I don't think I see anyone like that here. In lieu of that, it usually defaults to very capable, very official, and very concerned health professionals, like shugenja such as myself. Non-lame, non-celebrity shugenja, too, by the way."

"Yeah. The last time I saw him, he was over at a crime scene with injuries, like a gnarly wound on his lovely abs. Shot directly at spot of the meridian where you might be doing some irrational thinking. Like ignoring health professionals. Forgetting about former relationships. Maybe too much of the keikaku on the brain. There were magistrates involved. Yeah, magistrate business and I'm just following up on that, so..." she said before clearing her throat. Now, she wasn't saying that she was with the magistrate, but maybe vaguely (and badly) suggesting that they were connected, to sound more official!

"Crime scene?" Suh-Hyun glanced at the Yasuki, "The same one my clanmate died at?"

"He seemed a decent sort of individual, if a bit...overconfident in some regards...if he's injured and not seeking medical attention then I can understand the concern." And she did believe that, which allowed her to focus her more morbid thoughts into immediate and more importantly actionable concerns, "I um would say that the person who secures that particular security specialist is his superiors. Have you made inquiries with the Scorpion embassy or any of them present? I've seen a few. Do you need assistance?"

The Shinjo seemed sincere in the offer...perhaps gullible enough to believe the strange Kuni's words.

[Kuni Sumie]

"Crime scene?" Suh-Hyun glanced at the Yasuki, "The same one my clanmate died at?"

"He seemed a decent sort of individual, if a bit...overconfident in some regards...if he's injured and not seeking medical attention then I can understand the concern." And she did believe that, which allowed her to focus her more morbid thoughts into immediate and more importantly actionable concerns, "I um would say that the person who secures that particular security specialist is his superiors. Have you made inquiries with the Scorpion embassy or any of them present? I've seen a few. Do you need assistance?"

The Shinjo seemed sincere in the offer...perhaps gullible enough to believe the strange Kuni's words.

"Yeah, that one," Sumie said, to go along with the story. It just happened to be true without being intentional, considering that she didn't look into what happened at the warehouse but rather was just stalking the Bayushi for the opportunity to drag him away. Unfortunately, there had to be a pesky clanmate around to stop her!

She let out a small cough, "Uhm, no need to involve and other Scorpions here. I have already made a few rounds of questioning, and they told me that he was somewhere around here. Obviously, his superiors aren't around to secure him, so I'm the next best thing."

There was a glance given to the Taraka, as if they were in on something together. "You know, for the sake of the Scorpion and Crab alliance. But hey, if you want to become a potential alliance member with the Crab, let me give you my contact. Don't be alarmed by the other name popping up, it's something of a burner communicator. An official business burner communicator...yeah..."

She would present a communicator belonging to 'Kaiu Kaida' to scan to exchange contacts. "If you happen to see him, just call me, immediately. Don't tell anyone else where he is, don't attempt to approach him, just leave him there to his own devices so that he's none the wiser. If you don't see him for a few days later, it's not mysterious and he's in a better place. That place is with me."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Raving

Taraka considered the situation. There was no doubt that this particular Kuni was about four pieces short of a five piece set. The real question was if what she was talking about had any bearing on reality. Everyone knew a story about a cracked Kuni warning a Crab about some seemingly innocuous thing to avoid, and their listener blew them off, and BAD things happened.

The Shinjo also made this problematic, both because the Crab were trying to look like ideal business partners to all the clans (even Spider for some reason), and the fact was that it was dragging the Shinjo out of her mourning mood.

Ah well, she hadn't met him in over a week. What were the odds she'd ever run into this Scorpion?

"...Sure, Kuni-san, we'll keep that in mind." she said.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Yeah, that one," Sumie said, to go along with the story. It just happened to be true without being intentional, considering that she didn't look into what happened at the warehouse but rather was just stalking the Bayushi for the opportunity to drag him away. Unfortunately, there had to be a pesky clanmate around to stop her!

She let out a small cough, "Uhm, no need to involve and other Scorpions here. I have already made a few rounds of questioning, and they told me that he was somewhere around here. Obviously, his superiors aren't around to secure him, so I'm the next best thing."

There was a glance given to the Taraka, as if they were in on something together. "You know, for the sake of the Scorpion and Crab alliance. But hey, if you want to become a potential alliance member with the Crab, let me give you my contact. Don't be alarmed by the other name popping up, it's something of a burner communicator. An official business burner communicator...yeah..."

She would present a communicator belonging to 'Kaiu Kaida' to scan to exchange contacts. "If you happen to see him, just call me, immediately. Don't tell anyone else where he is, don't attempt to approach him, just leave him there to his own devices so that he's none the wiser. If you don't see him for a few days later, it's not mysterious and he's in a better place. That place is with me."

Suh-Hyun nodded, the verbiage was confusing but the Kuni seemed to be sincere in her mission. She listened in silence as Sumie rambled on. Was thoroughly unsettled by the name not being a Kuni's. Finally she shook her head and asked,

"A better place in a hospital right?"

[Kuni Sumie]

-

-

"Great, I knew I could count on you already," she nodded enthusiastically before remembering something all of a sudden.

"Oh, uhm, if someone finds Pointless. It was stolen from me a few days ago," she said dubiously on the matter. "It's as if it never belonged to me! I barely got to use it! So, I don't want it back or anything...unless it actually gets possessed by yurei from being drowned in blessed wine. Which is a freak coincidence that could happen, I just made that up off the top of my head."

There was a momentary glance given around the temple as she made a personal note to herself to potentially break into the temple's 'lost and found' while everyone was getting drunk later. That's the less important object she would be trying to extract from here.

"Ugh, hello?!" She said with a bit of exasperation at the gullible Unicorn. "Didn't tell you that I was a professional medical specialist, Doctor Badass?! So yeah, obviously it would be at a hospital, that's where professional medical specialists are found! Okay, there are some exceptions. Sometimes, at a hotel. Sometimes in an alleyway. Sometimes, at the back of a van. Sometimes, even at an unpaid love hotel. Did I already mention he was running a bill under his name?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

-

-

"Great, I knew I could count on you already," she nodded enthusiastically before remembering something all of a sudden.

"Oh, uhm, if someone finds Pointless. It was stolen from me a few days ago," she said dubiously on the matter. "It's as if it never belonged to me! I barely got to use it! So, I don't want it back or anything...unless it actually gets possessed by yurei from being drowned in blessed wine. Which is a freak coincidence that could happen, I just made that up off the top of my head."

There was a momentary glance given around the temple as she made a personal note to herself to potentially break into the temple's 'lost and found' while everyone was getting drunk later. That's the less important object she would be trying to extract from here.

"Ugh, hello?!" She said with a bit of exasperation at the gullible Unicorn. "Didn't tell you that I was a professional medical specialist, Doctor Badass?! So yeah, obviously it would be at a hospital, that's where professional medical specialists are found! Okay, there are some exceptions. Sometimes, at a hotel. Sometimes in an alleyway. Sometimes, at the back of a van. Sometimes, even at an unpaid love hotel. Did I already mention he was running a bill under his name?"

Taraka nodded.

"You did, Kuni-san. But, uh, as much as we appreciate you taking the time to explain the finer points of your practice...shouldn't you be out searching for Bayushi-san? I'm sure his condition grows worse the longer you spend dallying with us.," she suggeted.

[Susumu Sumiko]

He leans forward, eye level with her, a playful smile as he speaks. "Oh? Was that too forward? Forgive my impropriety Susumu-san." He leans back, and extends a hand. "Grab my hand? I don't want to lose you in the crowd." His voice is even, calm and welcoming. "Please?" He pleads, there is a weakness to his tone, something she can't quite put her finger on on that last word.

They make their way, different game, different opportunities to share their time.

Hinata draws his fortune with Sumi right behind him, he smiles at her when he reveals an auspicious result!

He embarasses himself just a little bit as he participates in the sack race, stumbling past the finish line onto the floor. Laughing all the way to the prizes section to claim a newtsuke of Benten, and one of Fukurojin.

"Phew, almost lost my footing near the finish!" Hew says wiping some dirt off his face. He extends the netsuke he had earned. "Which one you like best?"

"I know I'm small Hinata-san but I'm not a child" Sumiko said with a small chuckle at the offered hand, however she did accept the hand to follow him. Peeking at some of the stalls as she did so. She noticed the bamboo stall as they reached it, watching Hinata drawing the lucky bamboo! She gave him a small clap when he got the lucky one, saying "now you're blessed for the whole festival!"

Which proved to be true when he luckily fell the right side of the line. Which earned another smile and a small clap. "Good job Hinata-san!" Sumiko said as he moved over "well won! Oh those are cute, I don't think I'd know which to choose! You won them too Hinata-san, you should keep them."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"I know I'm small Hinata-san but I'm not a child" Sumiko said with a small chuckle at the offered hand, however she did accept the hand to follow him. Peeking at some of the stalls as she did so. She noticed the bamboo stall as they reached it, watching Hinata drawing the lucky bamboo! She gave him a small clap when he got the lucky one, saying "now you're blessed for the whole festival!"

Which proved to be true when he luckily fell the right side of the line. Which earned another smile and a small clap. "Good job Hinata-san!" Sumiko said as he moved over "well won! Oh those are cute, I don't think I'd know which to choose! You won them too Hinata-san, you should keep them."

He smiled as she took his hand, he rubs his thumb over the back of her hand before pulling gently from it without another word. He smiles brightly at her when she congratulates him on his good fortune. He resisted the urge to admit he had felt blessed the moment he had seen her in her yukata. "Let's put all this good fortune to good use!"

He looked at both items. One would think she'd learned her lesson before. He took a step closer and hooked the netsuke of Fukurojin on her Obi as he got improperly close. "Gifts are for sharing, as are snacks." He took a step back and offered his hand again. "Takoyaki? Konpeito? Maybe we'll find boba." He says with a warm smile.

[Kuni Sumie]

Taraka nodded.

"You did, Kuni-san. But, uh, as much as we appreciate you taking the time to explain the finer points of your practice...shouldn't you be out searching for Bayushi-san? I'm sure his condition grows worse the longer you spend dallying with us.," she suggeted.

"You're damn right!" Sumie agreed on the matter and would merely leave the conversation space like she had been talking to two NPCs without any further elaboration, clearly having exhausted all of her conversation options to get anything further from them. Or maybe, they were meant to be the distraction all along! Ugh! Curse them!

Maybe not, because cursing them would bestow them with potential cool powers, and she wanted those more.

She would continue on her quest, using her ancestral Kuni energy to scour and delve into the darkness to find her man!

/exit

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

Kiyoshi had gotten some fruit gummies for the Detective, as they walked about.

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Taraka nodded.

"You did, Kuni-san. But, uh, as much as we appreciate you taking the time to explain the finer points of your practice...shouldn't you be out searching for Bayushi-san? I'm sure his condition grows worse the longer you spend dallying with us.," she suggeted.

"I am...confused." Suh-Hyun said, her darker mood temporarily defeated by random insanity. "What exactly happened Yasuki-san?"

She watched the Kuni disappear. Suddenly hoping said Kuni didn't find the Bayushi, an outcome that seemed...unsafe.

[Yasuki Taraka]

"I am...confused." Suh-Hyun said, her darker mood temporarily defeated by random insanity. "What exactly happened Yasuki-san?"

She watched the Kuni disappear. Suddenly hoping said Kuni didn't find the Bayushi, an outcome that seemed...unsafe.

Taraka gave an apologetic bow.

"Not everyone grieves the same way, Shinjo-san. Some hide their tears behind a manic grin. Some people can move on from the loss of many in the blink of an eye, some carry a single torch until it burns their hands. It's better to just assume on a day like today that many are not the best company, but not all think to give a warning." she offered.

Which, in all likelihood, had zero to do with Kuni Sumie, she only desperately wanted to be a tragic antihero. But take a bit of Dragon wisdom, blend with Crane etiquette of moving past things, and liberally apply Yasuki marketing, and maybe, just maybe the Shinjo would move past the bizzare Kuni antics. You couldn't prove Sumie WASN'T grieving after all.....

[Susumu Sumiko]

He smiled as she took his hand, he rubs his thumb over the back of her hand before pulling gently from it without another word. He smiles brightly at her when she congratulates him on his good fortune. He resisted the urge to admit he had felt blessed the moment he had seen her in her yukata. "Let's put all this good fortune to good use!"

He looked at both items. One would think she'd learned her lesson before. He took a step closer and hooked the netsuke of Fukurojin on her Obi as he got improperly close. "Gifts are for sharing, as are snacks." He took a step back and offered his hand again. "Takoyaki? Konpeito? Maybe we'll find boba." He says with a warm smile.

There was a small look of surprise again as the netsuke was added to her obi, but she shook her head and chuckled after a moment.

"You're lucky I'm nice" Sumiko said with a grin as she took his hand "I would love a drink, my throat is parched. I didn't see any boba stalls though, perhaps not fitting the tradition? I can't see too well over crowds though, so lead on! I haven't had really good takoyaki in a while truthfully."

[Bayushi Hinata]

There was a small look of surprise again as the netsuke was added to her obi, but she shook her head and chuckled after a moment.

"You're lucky I'm nice" Sumiko said with a grin as she took his hand "I would love a drink, my throat is parched. I didn't see any boba stalls though, perhaps not fitting the tradition? I can't see too well over crowds though, so lead on! I haven't had really good takoyaki in a while truthfully."

"Iam lucky yes. Iam thankful for such a fortune." He smiled widely at her before taking her hand once again.

"Some tea then, of fruit juice! I'll avoid alcohol for festival, I have a feeling I'm not going to dodge the bid event later tonight. As you well know, I'm quite the lightweight." He looked back over his shoulder with laughter in his lips, he seemed so happy, so giddy to share every second with her as time marched towards their inevitable departure.

"Takoyaki it is. I had some really good one a little earlier. Let's get it!" He pumped a fist into the hair as he declared their next move. At times he pull d her closer, pushing through the crowds, his fingers dig into her skin with possessive strength, afraid of losing her even for a moment. "Here! The line doesn't seem too long. Let's wait."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Iam lucky yes. Iam thankful for such a fortune." He smiled widely at her before taking her hand once again.

"Some tea then, of fruit juice! I'll avoid alcohol for festival, I have a feeling I'm not going to dodge the bid event later tonight. As you well know, I'm quite the lightweight." He looked back over his shoulder with laughter in his lips, he seemed so happy, so giddy to share every second with her as time marched towards their inevitable departure.

"Takoyaki it is. I had some really good one a little earlier. Let's get it!" He pumped a fist into the hair as he declared their next move. At times he pull d her closer, pushing through the crowds, his fingers dig into her skin with possessive strength, afraid of losing her even for a moment. "Here! The line doesn't seem too long. Let's wait."

"Fruit juice would be good! Very refreshing" Sumiko agreed as she was being pulled along by the energetic Hinata. It made her smile a little more, he was so adorable. Then he changed direction to go for food instead?

"Oh you found good ones? You have got my hopes up then, hopefully you're not wrong then" she added with a laugh, trying to see over the people to no avail "I don't think I had gone to this part of the festival yet. I spent most of my time around the games. If you had them earlier though do you really want more?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

"Fruit juice would be good! Very refreshing" Sumiko agreed as she was being pulled along by the energetic Hinata. It made her smile a little more, he was so adorable. Then he changed direction to go for food instead?

"Oh you found good ones? You have got my hopes up then, hopefully you're not wrong then" she added with a laugh, trying to see over the people to no avail "I don't think I had gone to this part of the festival yet. I spent most of my time around the games. If you had them earlier though do you really want more?"

"I'll be honest though, I've never had bad takoyaki." He smiles at her, one that reaches his eyes. "Might be because it's my favourite food, but that's a different matter I guess."

He notices she struggles to look over people once more, himself not really having an issue with it. He looks at the stand, then at her. Then a smirk plays on his features.

Wordlessly he goes down to one knee, an arm hooking under her legs while the other moves to catch her as he sweeps her legs. In a moment she's in his arms, there's a low grunt of exertion as he accomodates her weight, and with only his neck for support, she'll come up awfully close to his face, a fact he'll relish as he looks into her eyes. "You wanted to see over the croWd Sumi-chan?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I'll be honest though, I've never had bad takoyaki." He smiles at her, one that reaches his eyes. "Might be because it's my favourite food, but that's a different matter I guess."

He notices she struggles to look over people once more, himself not really having an issue with it. He looks at the stand, then at her. Then a smirk plays on his features.

Wordlessly he goes down to one knee, an arm hooking under her legs while the other moves to catch her as he sweeps her legs. In a moment she's in his arms, there's a low grunt of exertion as he accomodates her weight, and with only his neck for support, she'll come up awfully close to his face, a fact he'll relish as he looks into her eyes. "You wanted to see over the croWd Sumi-chan?"

"I think people have been avoiding having me go to the good sta-hey wait!" Sumiko panicked as her legs were swept out from under her, grabbing onto the Scorpion.

"I don't need to see over people! That's what you're for here being taller" she laughed, letting go with one hand to bop him on the head playfully "I'm not a child Hinata-san. I know I'm very small and can't see over people but I can adapt. You'll also get peoples attention. Thank you though, I appreciate the idea. There's only one more person in line though, you can put me down."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"I think people have been avoiding having me go to the good sta-hey wait!" Sumiko panicked as her legs were swept out from under her, grabbing onto the Scorpion.

"I don't need to see over people! That's what you're for here being taller" she laughed, letting go with one hand to bop him on the head playfully "I'm not a child Hinata-san. I know I'm very small and can't see over people but I can adapt. You'll also get peoples attention. Thank you though, I appreciate the idea. There's only one more person in line though, you can put me down."

"Oh that what I'm here for indeed. You're very light, I could get used to having you in my arms." He chuckles as she bops him on his nose. Not letting go.

"I think you're rather 'Fun-sized' than small, and let them watch, I don't much care at this point. It's a festival, we can pretend to be a couple right?"

He lets the moment linger, then he looks at her again, slight tinge of concern on his face. 'You don't dislike this do you?"