[Expecting] Changing Your Tune Up (Day 0 - LA)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Peace, tranquility, the steady hum of commerce. All of them are abruptly shattered as a supercharged engine roars, tires squeal and a curb definitely gets jumped.



Some form of obnoxious rap seems to be blaring from the car's speakers as it skids into the Tetsuo parking, coming to a rest in a diagonal which seems the only angle it could possibly take up 3 car parks.

Behind the wheel Ochiba checks her map, checks the sign and nods to herself, this was the place. That uptight Hida had told her it would be a 20 minute drive when it was most six. Even if those laneways hadn't been two way, she was pretty sure they should have been.

With a push of a button the music is mercifully extinguished before the Mantis vaults out of the vehicle and checks her hair in a mirror before swaggering into the store itself.

[Suzume Hitomi]

In no actual danger of being hit, the well-dressed woman wheeling a well-cared for, but venerable delivery bike along the walking path, winces, slows, and then stops as a tire hops onto the curve 10 paces ahead. She frowns at the back of someone storming into Tetsuo's, looks down at the bike, huffs a sigh and continues on toward the same destination.

Bike still at her side, she pauses outside the door, peeking around the edge. The lowering sun casting a large, sunhat-topped shadow across the shop floor that catches up with the Mantis even as its caster hangs well back from that storm. Hitomi keeps her best, 'dealing with the entitled offworlders who are frequently idiots' posture and face as she calls in, "Afternoon, Kaiu-san!"

[Kaiu Nagisa]

The process of putting tools back into their proper places had been unceremoniously interrupted and with a sigh, the proprietor of the shop steps into the waiting area to see at least one friendly customer. “Ah, welcome. Is the old thing need something changed or you just needing a check up?”

She glances past the Sparrow at the more loud display outside. Well, the car is very nice at the least. Taking up three parking spots is decidedly less nice.

The Kaiu takes the rag hanging off her belt and wipes away the bit of lubricant that had dripped onto her hand as she spots the second customer. “Ah, welcome to Tetsuo Auto Repair. You need something checked out? If so, you’ve come to the right place.”

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

The Kaiu takes the rag hanging off her belt and wipes away the bit of lubricant that had dripped onto her hand as she spots the second customer. “Ah, welcome to Tetsuo Auto Repair. You need something checked out? If so, you’ve come to the right place.”

"Sup Kaiu-san."
Casual bow
"Yeah my rental isn't really giving me the power it should be. Feels like nothing happens when I put my foot down all the way."
Glancing around the store with casual interest
"Can you work your Kaiu magic and check it out? Big tip in it for you if you can coax some more power. I got places to be and buildings to do burnouts in front of, so this is important."

Noticing the sparrow behind her and half turning, look down at the bike and then back up at Hitomi
"Damn, I've got ancestors younger than that thing. No offence."

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi pats the bike with a wry smile for the Kaiu, "I think it's the battery for real this time." After a loose connection, a failed power exchanger, and a starter from which all spirits had fled--all of which the non-mechanically inclined Sparrow had diagnosed as a dead battery--this was a rather suspect diagnosis.

She tilts her head at the Mantis's comment, definitely not bristling...nope. "I'm sure that's true." pause. "Mantis-sama. Even I have a limited number of ancestors who made it to their 7th decade." She pats the handlebars "but the construction of these was made to last. Won't come apart at the seams like some of the rentals down at the harbor." Seams...welds...whatever.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

“I’m gonna need a referral from the rental company. Or at least written consent. I try to keep a positive relationship with the local rental places.” Not to mention the potential traffic accident just waiting. “But if you can get either of those, I can see what I can do.”

The Kaiu kneels down next to the humble bike and checks the connections again and lets out a hum of approval. “Well, nothing is loose again. So it actually might be time for that replacement battery.”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

Behind the roaring car came a much softer purring motor. Pulling up was a scooter and a tall woman riding it. Now in more comfortable ware, Suh-Hyun stepped off her little ride. There wasn't much that marked her as a Unicorn, well except the cartoon unicorn strapped to a rocket adorning the brimmed riding helmet.

Dropping the helmet onto the scooter's seat, the Unicorn stepped inside. "Excuse me, sorry to bother you but..." She pulled off her sunglasses and did a double take at the Mantis. "Oh hey you didn't get jumped by Lions." Her sincere smile and tone was more amusement than insult.

She looked at the other two present before her eyes settled on the clear mechanic. "Is this Tetsuo Auto Repair shop?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

“I’m gonna need a referral from the rental company. Or at least written consent.

"Oh yeah, they absolutely gave that to me as I was walking out the door, just in case."
Ochiba starts fishing around in her cavernous pockets, idly watching the Kaiu inspect the bike.

She pats the handlebars "but the construction of these was made to last. Won't come apart at the seams like some of the rentals down at the harbor." Seams...welds...whatever.

Grinning "But, here we both are together. Makes you think, doesn't it?"

Finally Ochiba digs out a piece of paper and turns around to quickly start scribbling on it.

"Oh hey you didn't get jumped by Lions." Her sincere smile and tone was more amusement than insult.
She looked at the other two present before her eyes settled on the clear mechanic. "Is this Tetsuo Auto Repair shop?"

"Yo, great minds and all that. Nah, no Lions yet, gonna make things here a little more boring I guess."

[Suzume Hitomi]

The Kaiu kneels down next to the humble bike and checks the connections again and lets out a hum of approval. “Well, nothing is loose again. So it actually might be time for that replacement battery.”

She lights up a bit to possibly be right this time. Then pauses, remembering. "Which...means it's probably a lot more expensive this time. Ah well. It'll still do the job."

Glancing at all the other, offworlder, business, she wheels the little bike past and toward the 'corral' of waiting machines. "Well I won't keep her in the way of everyone else's work." The koku must flow and all that. She could catch up with Nagisa off hours just as easy.

Grinning "But, here we both are together. Makes you think, doesn't it?"

"It certainly does." It made her think that fancy car wasn't likely to be screaming up her in the same shape next year if hopping curves on the regular was any indication of how it was going to be treated. But she just notes, "if you haven't been to the temple district, they have a good collection of charms for vehicles, said to keep the kami aligned within. Helps with handling which averts accidents." There's a small one made of straw dangling from her own handlebars, and possibly something already tucked into the rental's storage spaces.

The quieter bike entry gets a lookover, though she's turned away before the crosstalk about Lion...who truly don't seem to frequent this bit of the Empire much. do not need to get in the middle of great clan political stuff. No profit there. But after stowing the bike, she offers the sort of nod that's acknowledgment without being the interruption of a full greeting.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Nagisa turns her attention to the newcomer, a Unicorn. Rising up from checking the Sparrow’s bike. “Ah, yes, this is Tetsuo Auto Repair. Does your scooter need a look-over?”

She then looks over the assortment of samurai that have come here to her humble shop and pauses. Oh right, she really should offer them some form of hospitality. “I have a place to sit inside if you all would rather.”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Yo, great minds and all that. Nah, no Lions yet, gonna make things here a little more boring I guess."

"They seemed the all roar and no fangs sort of Lion. I'm not sure protocol on starting fights in a Crab station's commons, but I know a few Unicorn station security folks have threatened a trip out the airlock in whatever you are wearing on their deck."

Nagisa turns her attention to the newcomer, a Unicorn. Rising up from checking the Sparrow’s bike. “Ah, yes, this is Tetsuo Auto Repair. Does your scooter need a look-over?”

She then looks over the assortment of samurai that have come here to her humble shop and pauses. Oh right, she really should offer them some form of hospitality. “I have a place to sit inside if you all would rather.”

Suh-Hyun smiles and waves it off, "Ah no it runs fine. The same company also rented me a bike, I don't want to cast any insults on local rentals but the bike they sent is...well not performing to standards I am accustom too. I mentioned as much and they suggested bringing it here, something about you had done work for them in the past. Oh ah, here is the paperwork and an authorization from the rental company to work on their property. Along with limitations on what modifications can be made, the usual sort of legal stuff." She offers her densai for the Kaiu's inspection, "I didn't want to just drag it in here without checking first. I suppose I could have called but what better way to learn the place then to drive it, eh?"

Her smiles cracks slightly, "I'm Shinjo Suh-Hyun by the way...I fear I got ahead of myself there. Shinjo Suh-Hyun of the Unicorn Navy, Starfighter Corps, 2nd Evaluation and Testing Squadron. A pleasure to make all your acquaintances."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"It certainly does." It made her think that fancy car wasn't likely to be screaming up her in the same shape next year if hopping curves on the regular was any indication of how it was going to be treated. But she just notes, "if you haven't been to the temple district, they have a good collection of charms for vehicles, said to keep the kami aligned within. Helps with handling which averts accidents." There's a small one made of straw dangling from her own handlebars, and possibly something already tucked into the rental's storage spaces.

"Huh, well I do have to stop by the temples on my way into town. Not a great idea for a sailor to skip her offerings after a voyage. Maybe a few charms wouldn't be amiss as well. The way I'm driving."
Double finger guns
"The fortunes are going to want to be watching."

She then looks over the assortment of samurai that have come here to her humble shop and pauses. Oh right, she really should offer them some form of hospitality. “I have a place to sit inside if you all would rather.”

"Sweet, do you have snacks? Long day."
Holding out a small folded piece of paper with some writing that was definitely not recent.
"And here's the written authorization for any necessary modifications. Figure since you're a known quantity folks' be happy with it. I'll of course take full responsibility as driver."

"They seemed the all roar and no fangs sort of Lion. I'm not sure protocol on starting fights in a Crab station's commons, but I know a few Unicorn station security folks have threatened a trip out the airlock in whatever you are wearing on their deck."

"Crab stations are flexible right up until they're not and the biggest Hida you've ever seen puts you in a brig to cool off after giving you a concussion."
Holding up her hands.
"Don't ask how I know."

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Nagisa takes a moment to go over each of the referrals given to her. Nodding as she notes each of the limitations listed. “Thanks for the documents. As for what snacks I have, I do have some small bags of nori maki arare, also some shrimp flavored senbei. I also have some drinks. Bottled green tea and some melon juice.”

“Ah, depending on what exactly needs done, it might take me until mid morning tomorrow to finish.”

[Suzume Hitomi]

She'd never thought about how much business Nagisa must get from wealthy folks discovering that rentals were not maintained to the standards of their own vehicles. She should consider trying to rent furnishings and decor to some of those finding their rented accommodations lacking.

"Sitting sounds good after the walk up, Kaiu-san. Melon juice too." Her personal temperator kept the walk cool at least, but she wasn't going to pass up a sweet drink.

At the Shinjo's introduction, she offers an actual bow. "Suzume Hitomi, diplomat and proprietor of Feather Your Nest over in the Golden Shotengai." She chose to definitely not ask how the Yoritomo knew about Crab brigs. Unless it was one of the historical relics...that could be interesting.

“Ah, depending on what exactly needs done, it might take me until mid morning tomorrow to finish.”

"I figured it might take a bit if you needed to order in a battery. I'll walk to the shop tomorrow, no problem." The other pair though. Well there were ride services.

"If you head to the temples tomorrow," she adds for Ochiba, "the main temple carries good work. And of the carts, I'd stick with Tsubasa and her rat hut."

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Ah, then I'll bring the bike by in the morning." She smiled in satisfaction, "And thanks for the offer, I will happily take you up on the snacks, Kaiu-san."

Her business concluded for the moment, Suh-Hyun shifted attention again.

"Crab stations are flexible right up until they're not and the biggest Hida you've ever seen puts you in a brig to cool off after giving you a concussion."
Holding up her hands.
"Don't ask how I know."

"Ah! A friend of the local magistrates office then?" There were was a surprising lack of sarcasm in the Shinjo's voice, "I'll trust your assessment then. It does sound like a Crab thing to do after all, solve a problem quickly."

At the Shinjo's introduction, she offers an actual bow. "Suzume Hitomi, diplomat and proprietor of Feather Your Nest over in the Golden Shotengai." She chose to definitely not ask how the Yoritomo knew about Crab brigs. Unless it was one of the historical relics...that could be interesting.

"Ah no need for that level of formality, I'm the visitor here and sounds like you are at least semi-local. That's a main commercial district no? At least for walkable shopping."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Nagisa takes a moment to go over each of the referrals given to her. Nodding as she notes each of the limitations listed. “Thanks for the documents. As for what snacks I have, I do have some small bags of nori maki arare, also some shrimp flavored senbei. I also have some drinks. Bottled green tea and some melon juice.”

“Ah, depending on what exactly needs done, it might take me until mid morning tomorrow to finish.”

Finger guns "Too easy. I'll come back then, but in the mean time, yeah like she said. Melon juice would hit the spot with some of that flavoured senbei, lead on."

At the Shinjo's introduction, she offers an actual bow. "Suzume Hitomi, diplomat and proprietor of Feather Your Nest over in the Golden Shotengai." She chose to definitely not ask how the Yoritomo knew about Crab brigs. Unless it was one of the historical relics...that could be interesting.

"If you head to the temples tomorrow," she adds for Ochiba, "the main temple carries good work. And of the carts, I'd stick with Tsubasa and her rat hut."

"A Sparrow?" Bluntly looking Hitomi up and down. "No shit, and a merchant patron? Made you out to be a ...you know."
Pausing for a moment.
"Well uh, yeah Tsubasa and the rat hut, I'll remember that. Thanks."

"Ah! A friend of the local magistrates office then?" There were was a surprising lack of sarcasm in the Shinjo's voice, "I'll trust your assessment then. It does sound like a Crab thing to do after all, solve a problem quickly."

"Not this one, not yet at least. I've only been on planet for a couple hours and I tipped like an Otomo, they're probably building a statute of me back at customs. But I don't mind Crab magistrates, at least you know where you stand, or lie I guess, if they're pissed off."

[Suzume Hitomi]

"Ah no need for that level of formality, I'm the visitor here and sounds like you are at least semi-local. That's a main commercial district no? At least for walkable shopping."

Hitomi dips her head while tucking away Suh-Hyun's formality settings without committing to them yet. Usually good to observe a bit and see who actually meant such things, and who privately preferred to bask in the '-samas'. "It is! Excellent shopping space, some great places to eat. Crabkaku offers some education on our local crab species alongside the food." She sounds obviously in favor of such education.

"A Sparrow?" Bluntly looking Hitomi up and down. "No shit, and a merchant patron? Made you out to be a ...you know."
Pausing for a moment.
"Well uh, yeah Tsubasa and the rat hut, I'll remember that. Thanks."

She joins the general movement toward sitting, and snacks, smoothing the simple burgundy traveling skirt as they go. "A storyteller?!" she chirps amiably. That's possibly the wrong interpretation, but the easiest to run with. "I can manage a decent tale, but my branch of Doji Suzume's descendants have moved more toward the stewardship of our historical heritage and education." The description has the cadence of something said often enough to roll smoothly off the tongue.

"Are you both here for Yasuki-sama's anniversary celebration then? Or just happened to take a vacation at the right time to catch it?"

[Kaiu Nagisa]

“Ah, yeah. A friend of mine owns Crabkaku. I highly recommend visiting it.” Nagisa suddenly speaks, now carrying various snack bags and bottles of juice, though she kept a bottle of tea for herself. She handed each out, glancing over to her densai. “Oh, I should note a few things before I lose track of my thoughts. Continue on with your chat.”

[Shinjo Suh-Hyun]

"Not this one, not yet at least. I've only been on planet for a couple hours and I tipped like an Otomo, they're probably building a statute of me back at customs. But I don't mind Crab magistrates, at least you know where you stand, or lie I guess, if they're pissed off."

Suh-Hyun chuckled at that, "I see, my first time outside of Unicorn space really. No, not entirely true, its my first time outside of my own clan's space in a friendly capacity. Usually my interactions with those outside my clan was from the position of being in the hosting party. As for your statue, I suppose it is better then an unflattering picture with an equally unflattering caption. I take it you are well travelled then?"

She joins the general movement toward sitting, and snacks, smoothing the simple burgundy traveling skirt as they go. "A storyteller?!" she chirps amiably. That's possibly the wrong interpretation, but the easiest to run with. "I can manage a decent tale, but my branch of Doji Suzume's descendants have moved more toward the stewardship of our historical heritage and education." The description has the cadence of something said often enough to roll smoothly off the tongue.

"Are you both here for Yasuki-sama's anniversary celebration then? Or just happened to take a vacation at the right time to catch it?"

Suh-Hyun tapped her chin, "Well storyteller or not I wager the 'Tale of the Sparrow who became a Merchant on a Yasuki World' must be at least one interesting story in your collection. What exactly do you deal in, if I may ask."

"Oh...ah, yes I am here for the celebration. More business then pleasure." Her smile gained a more weary appearance, silently she wonder when an Ide or Iuchi representative would arrive on world. Business was not her expertise.

“Ah, yeah. A friend of mine owns Crabkaku. I highly recommend visiting it.” Nagisa suddenly speaks, now carrying various snack bags and bottles of juice, though she kept a bottle of tea for herself. She handed each out, glancing over to her densai. “Oh, I should note a few things before I lose track of my thoughts. Continue on with your chat.”

Suh-Hyun accepts the snacks with a dip of her head, "Thank you, Kaiu-san. For the food, drink, and recommendation." The Unicorn thought about the mechanics and engineers she dealt with back home. Usually they were quick to get her statements on a flight then usher her off to full debriefing. No snacks for the Unicorn pilot!

[Suzume Hitomi]

Hitomi takes the offered melon juice gratefully, leaving the snacks aside for now. "Thank you, Kaiu-san. And definitely don't let me distract from business."

Suh-Hyun tapped her chin, "Well storyteller or not I wager the 'Tale of the Sparrow who became a Merchant on a Yasuki World' must be at least one interesting story in your collection. What exactly do you deal in, if I may ask."

"Oh...ah, yes I am here for the celebration. More business then pleasure." Her smile gained a more weary appearance, silently she wonder when an Ide or Iuchi representative would arrive on world. Business was not her expertise.

"Ahhh, it's not so interesting!" she shakes her head with an embarrassed smile that's quickly hidden behind the bottle of juice as she drinks. Composure gathered along with hydration, she continues after a moment, "It's just that the Empire's so big now, not everyone gets to visit our original home. I want to bring what we know out where more people can appreciate it. And...well, that takes funding." Her shoulders lift in a shrug of gentle green linen, "a shop seemed like a viable experiment to raise funds, and provide exposure and education, you know?"

"What sort of business are you representing then, Shinjo-sama?" she asks, professional interest laced with genuine curiosity."