(Day 2, Mid-Evening) Time to Eat

[Bayushi Kazushi]

As always, it's Kurumi who enters first, scouting the restaurant for any potential threats. Katsumi gives her sister an odd look as she heads to the front to secure a table, and soon enough the two are seated and waiting for...

...Kazushi, who is stuck at the entrance near the gift shop, simultaneously entranced and repulsed by a particularly tacky souvenir shirt. "I'd never be caught dead in this," he says quietly to himself, "but this kind of...anti-art requires a certain level of true talent..." He remains fixated on the shirt for some time, until Katsumi finally gets up and drags him to the table.

As he shakes his head, clearing his mind of the hypnotizing horror, Kazushi begins glancing around, looking for the proprietor, while leaving Katsumi to choose something for him from the menu.

[Yasuki Honoka]

He would see her at the end of a conversation she was having over her communicator. Notable by the smile she put on in the exchange of farewell and then quick drop of her expression settling into something far more neutral. Honoka had made it a habit of overseeing Crabkaku in the evenings of this her opening week, but even while she was here she was mired in the work of her corporate position. The table before her littered with paperwork and her personal computer.

With a deep breath she took the opportunity to find herself a break from the numbers dancing across her screen and step away. Being stopped however from her break as she is approached by one of her employee's, sharing a brief word. As they spoke Honoka would glance in Kazushi's direction. Nodding in assent to the last words shared between her and her employee Honoka would move to Kazushi's tables side.

"Good evening Bayushi Kazushi-san," she says with a pleasantly polite tone. "I was just informed you'd joined us this evening and was quite glad to hear of it!"

[Bayushi Kazushi]

(OOC: Gah, I thought I'd subscribed to this topic, but I hadn't! Sorry about the delay.)

"I've heard good things," Kazushi says as Honoka approaches. "I suppose there's no better location than a seaside town for fresh seafood. It's getting harder and harder to get on Rokugan..."

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka almost asks about that- but considers briefly if that would be appropriate yet. Erring on the side of caution she elects to allow him the opportunity for privacy. Bowing with a pleasant smile she offers, "Well, it is excellent to have you Bayushi-san. I understand you are here in accordance with our governors wishes, and at a time that is beneficial for you I would be most eager to hear what your thoughts on that matter are. That is, after all, why I asked to be notified of your arrival if you had happened to grant us your patronage. However, I would not wish to idly disrupt your seeking of a meal."

Without his direct consent, of course.

(OOC: Not a worry!!)

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Your presence is quite welcome," Kazushi says, shaking off the concern. "I am here for a meal, yes, but I'm also here to get to know the locals."

[Yasuki Honoka]

Joining them at the nearly at capacity dining table, Honoka would settle herself comfortably opposite Kazushi.

"Having lived here all my life, I am certain that there is much insight you wish to gain that you might receive from me. I, of course, am curious in turn what it is that the Scorpion hope to offer? Placing the question more simply, candidly, I would ask what benefits there are to accepting Scorpion ties that are greater than what other options might avail the governor. So far so as you yourself could attest to of course, I do not expect you to represent the whole of your clan but I do wish for your insight."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"I can only speak for my clan to a limited extent," says Kazushi, "but there are clear benefits to connections with the Orchid Department, which I am empowered to represent. As a company dealing in high fashion and other luxury goods, we can offer trade that, while not necessarily improving the quality of life on this quite beautiful world, may yet be welcome additions. Our presence would also include bringing numerous well-paying jobs to the system, contributing to the health of the economy."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Luxury goods, for a luxury island, that is a match few could find themselves disagreeing with I think," she says with a pleasant smile. Nodding in assent to that assertion. "Quality of life, I would say, is quite well in hand as it is so while you show care by acknowledging it; you aren't amiss in disregarding it in your approach here."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Even where things can't be better, they can still be different," muses Kazushi. "The governor seems to have a different approach to 'luxury' than I do, though, so perhaps Green Carp might be better suited for some of our more adventuresome products. A focus on comfort and convenience over high fashion, more suited to those who prefer an active lifestyle."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Commerce is the art of matching luxury to taste, is it not? And that is the governors goal, Yasuki Ayame wishes for us to become a hub of commerce for our local islands. Bayushi-san, a man inclined as yourself surely knows one cannot aim to appease only those whom thinks like himself, can he not? No, we must consider the opinions and comforts of others when we are providing something that would be considered a luxury. Where as with something more mundane.. like common food, we are able to satisfy with whatever is palatable. When it is the domain of luxury you get no where if you do not bend to the whims of preference."

"This is not an admonishment of you," she says after a pause, a creeping of anxiety welling within. "What I mean to say is that Yasuki Ayame, while our governor, is only one woman. And to have a hub of commerce we must have the ability to cater to a wide variety of tastes. Tastes also like your own, Bayushi-san."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Perhaps, perhaps," says Kazushi with a nod. "Broad market coverage is often more effective than focused and deep coverage. Although I do have to wonder, if not the governor, then who might be the one setting the pace for the province's style? There's usually one or two trend-setters..."

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka grimaces, subtly, shifting it into a smile, "You would know much more about such things than even I might Bayushi-san. I may have lived here all my life but I am hardly the woman one would look to in order to discover what is new and in fashion," she says in a slightly self deprecating manner.

[Bayushi Kazushi]

Kazushi shrugs.

"I've only been here two days, so I haven't had a chance to get much of a read just yet," he says. "It's especially difficult with the number of visitors present, each bringing their own style and each hoping to have an impact on the locals."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Well, much media is shared between provinces and even worlds is it not Bayushi-san? I suspect, like anything, the local needs might shift slightly but surely your experience in this topic on other worlds isn't wholly without use here."

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Widely broadcast media does make things a little more uniform," he agrees, "but each planet, region, province, and even city has its local flavor. Many in my field would simply put everything on offer everywhere, and let the locals decide what they do or don't want, but I prefer a more personal approach, meeting the market where the people are. With more exclusive products, such as many of the Department's, this is often a necessity."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Hmm. So," she shifts a bit in her seat. Reorganizing herself to give enough time for a slight pause. "Then how does one look to learn what the trends are in an area? What has your experience taught you to do, Bayushi-san?"

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"The best way to get a read is to throw one's self head-first into the local culture," replies the socialite. "Seek out the night spots, attend festivals, visit local restaurants..."

He gestures around, indicating that he's involved in getting a read on the local trends right now.

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka can't help to contain a nervous chuckle, "Surely you should be dining somewhere more..." she thought of what to say for such a long time she drift into silence. More what? Well, Honoka knew what she knew her father would say of this place. Yet it brought her joy. This is the nature of the competing thoughts in Honoka's mind as she drifts away, momentarily, from the conversation before her.

[Bayushi Kazushi]

"Not at all," Kazushi says reassuringly. "One can't limit one's self to the so-called 'high class' establishments, or anything like that. Trends are set where the people are, and from what I've gathered, the people are here."

[Yasuki Honoka]

"I suppose it is likely that people are interested ever in something new," she muses aloud. Much as she loves what is the inspiration of her passion project here she can't help but understand her passion for crabs is not shared by many. Thus she almost feels ashamed to glance around the establishment with the mind of understanding how popular it actually might be.

"Maybe people might indeed like to be able to learn alongside their meals. Though, I can scarcely imagine that transfers well to proper clothing or the like Bayushi-san."