Nakahama

The tiny Lion walked the streets with her holorecorder taking stills. Some people might look at her oddly. She didn't care. She was starting to plan the DLC. "New streets... new types of buildings...and signs..." She spoke to herself.

Ikoma Nonoko wrote: Tue Nov 04, 2025 12:37 pm The tiny Lion walked the streets with her holorecorder taking stills. Some people might look at her oddly. She didn't care. She was starting to plan the DLC. "New streets... new types of buildings...and signs..." She spoke to herself.

It wasn't the size of the Lion that was drawing the weird looks. Tourists came in all sizes and shades. There were even Spider running about loose, terrorizing innocent shoppers. It was probably the fact that she was taking pictures in the pouring rain, heedless of the downpour.

A young Yasuki woman, dressed for inclement weather and holding an umbrella emblazoned with winged carps approached out of curiosity.

"Ah, Ikoma-san, can I offer you some protection from the storm?" she asked.

Another trio are making their way down the street slowly - Bayushi Kazushi, with Kurumi and Katsumi huddled with him under his umbrella. Seeing a sheltered spot where two other samurai have gathered, Kazushi joins them. The twins sigh in relief, glad to finally be out of the rain.

"Ladies, I hope the morning finds you well," Kazushi says with a respectful bow.

Yasuki Taraka wrote: Tue Nov 04, 2025 1:07 pm It wasn't the size of the Lion that was drawing the weird looks. Tourists came in all sizes and shades. There were even Spider running about loose, terrorizing innocent shoppers. It was probably the fact that she was taking pictures in the pouring rain, heedless of the downpour.

A young Yasuki woman, dressed for inclement weather and holding an umbrella emblazoned with winged carps approached out of curiosity.

"Ah, Ikoma-san, can I offer you some protection from the storm?" she asked.

"Huh... thank you... I had a though decision to make. I prefer the pictures rather than the umbrella." The Ikoma smiled. "This one is Ikoma Nonoko... Yasuki san... Bayushi san." The young lady gave bow.

"Bayushi Kazushi," the Scorpion replies, favoring the tiny Lion with a tiny smile.

He looks out at the continuing storm, which wasn't showing any signs that it might let up any time soon. "Storms in paradise," he says, echoing an earlier conversation he'd had. "A superstitious man would call this a bad omen."

Taraka bowed to the....well, pair in a sense, though technically the Bayushi counted as three people, angling to keep her and the Lion shielded.

"Yasuki Taraka, manager at Flying Battle Carps." she offers as an introduction. "I'm glad to help you out, Ikoma-san."

She turned considering the Bayushi's musings.

"I think, perhaps, that says more about a person's disposition and position than some realize, Bayushi-san. It's nourishment for crops, relief from the heat, and a brush that sweeps away the dust and dirt of the streets. An excuse to spend time reading or with a loved one. Or to write sad poetry and murder mysteries. It really depends on the person." she offered.

Kazushi shrugs in response.

"I never claimed to be a superstitious person," he says with a wry smile. "Storms can make for good backdrops for some shoots, depending on the style and so long as it doesn't get too rough."

The Ikoma shook her head. "It would be a cliche if it was a bad omen. Besides a little water won't harm any one." Nonoko chuckled. "That is why I am taking some pictures with me. They can be inspiration for the next project. A good backdrop of rain... on buildings...It would be difficult to program but might be worth the code." She smiled.

"Hm. Graphic design?" Kazushi asks, having a little knowledge of coding and image rendering himself.

Taraka smiled a bit.

"Ah, never fear Bayushi-san, I did not take you for the sort of person to refer to themselves indirectly." she offered.

After all, people who travelled with entourages so rarely had any humility left. But she couldn't resist telling him to never fear regardless.

She nodded at the Ikoma.

"Ikoma-san offers yet another take on rain: a demonstration of technical prowess and verisimilitude."

"More or less... it starts as a graphic design then into animation... finally to is imprinted into the game... still difficult to be able to render a good rain animation or a back drop that doesn't feel unnatural if done incorrectly. " The Ikoma smiled. "What are your thoughts?... for me a good story is a draw for the people... then again I might be biased."

"Game design," Kazushi says, "is not one of my fortes, unfortunately. I know how to render still images, but catching not just the look, but feel of a storm... I don't like saying anything is beyond me, but that...is beyond me. Depending on the story, though, it can add a very real feeling, usually of danger or sadness."

Taraka adjusted the umbrella against the wind as she considered the wide-eyed Lion and the gloomy Scorpion.

"It's an interesting conundrum, Ikoma-san. A talented poet can make you think of rain in but seventeen syllables while you write lines of lines of code trying to get our eyes to accept what you present as rain. Then again, not everyone is drawn to a story for the same reasons. Some want to feel as if they are truly inside the game, and some just want to watch numbers go up." she reasoned.

She smiled a bit.

"Still, your willingness to stand out in the rain to try and improve your story speaks well of your dedication to your craft, if nothing else."

"Well, part of the immersion I suppose. The mix of graphics and the idea just to let the player down because of a flaw here will not allow the idea or the game be successful." Nonoko nodded. "The feel of the water... might even help show the emotions one one to portray... some may feel sad... others elated... depending on the situation and the story line."

"That would require a lot of detail...even more than I'm used to working with," Kazushi says, clearly impressed. "Not only must your replication of the rain be flawless, but its presentation must be woven into the feeling you want to evoke."

Taraka tilted her head a bit at the Scorpion's comment.

"Hm, so what sort of evocative-but-not-so-evocative-as-rain-detailed-but-not-as-detailed-as-coding-rain creations have you been bringing into existence, Bayushi-san?" she asked breathlessly.

The Scorpion wasn't bad at playing at humility...but Taraka didn't buy it. Maybe he thought it'd appeal to the Ikoma and get him one step closer to her futon, but Taraka liked to keep conversations interesting.

"Oh, there's a lot that I can't say," Kazushi replies, knowingly taking the bait. "The Department is always prepared to deliver the next big trends in luxury goods and fashions, and it's my privilege to be part of it. I will be announcing two new lines at the governor's gathering tonight..."

"That does sound interesting Bayushi san... maybe we can one day have a collaboration. There could be a boon in the gaming industry not in gambling but in streaming games that people might be interested. " The Ikoma nodded.

Kazushi raises an eyebrow.

"I don't know much about game design...," he admits. "Perhaps I might provide the style for a character, but that would be the limit of my abilities."

Taraka had found the suggestion of collaboration a bit odd too, though her mind had went the other direction. Gamewear for more comfortable gaming? Gamewear inspired by character design?

"Hmm , that could be a good selling point though, no? Designs by Bayushi Kazuhi would surely boost sales on whatever the name was affixed to." she reasoned.