[Expecting] A Sea Change (Day 2, EM)

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"Waddya mean you have to cancel?"
Ochiba stomps jumps down onto the dock with a thud, alternating between holding her communicator to her ear and then bringing it forward to yell into it.
"I need at least one other trustworthy samurai to keep an eye on things and 'I'm hungover' ain't gonna cut it.....don't shout so loud? You're lucky you can't hear me without the communicator!"

The Mantis continues hurling invectives at the caller on the other side of the communicator before finishing with a: "Yeah we're still on for dinner."
She snaps the screen shut with a sigh and turns to the dock, this time of day it was busy enough with fisherman and ferries getting ready for their first runs. But nobody scurrying past was what she needed.

Behind Ochiba, a 50 footer bobs in the gentle swell, a classic 'Y' boat design, two sails and a hull gleaming white in the sun. The only change was a small decal on the side of an orochi snarling at the water that splattered it.

"I need a samurai who's reliable, tough, not afraid of a bit of damp. Shit, this is a Crab planet, how hard can that be?"
She angrily continues scanning the crowds.

[Daidoji Chitose]

"Waddya mean you have to cancel?"
Ochiba stomps jumps down onto the dock with a thud, alternating between holding her communicator to her ear and then bringing it forward to yell into it.
"I need at least one other trustworthy samurai to keep an eye on things and 'I'm hungover' ain't gonna cut it.....don't shout so loud? You're lucky you can't hear me without the communicator!"

The Mantis continues hurling invectives at the caller on the other side of the communicator before finishing with a: "Yeah we're still on for dinner."
She snaps the screen shut with a sigh and turns to the dock, this time of day it was busy enough with fisherman and ferries getting ready for their first runs. But nobody scurrying past was what she needed.

Behind Ochiba, a 50 footer bobs in the gentle swell, a classic 'Y' boat design, two sails and a hull gleaming white in the sun. The only change was a small decal on the side of an orochi snarling at the water that splattered it.

"I need a samurai who's reliable, tough, not afraid of a bit of damp. Shit, this is a Crab planet, how hard can that be?"
She angrily continues scanning the crowds.

The thing about being born in another era was never quite belonging anywhere. Chitose possessed an unshakable habit of meandering about in search of some intangible purpose. In the case of the waves, she wondered if she was supposed to follow in her long, long, long, long, long past forebear's footsteps. It would be rather dramatic.

She didn't think much on a Mantis' ranting. At least that hadn't changed in the years since she'd gone into the ice.

What garnered her interest was the decal on the side. She herself was a terrible artist. Even her handwriting was horrendous. Still, she couldn't help but admire it.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Daidoji-san...yooooo Daidoji-san?"
Ochiba's gaze had looked onto the crane assigning a variety of stereotypes directly to her.

"Helloooo? Are you busy right now?"

[Daidoji Chitose]

"Daidoji-san...yooooo Daidoji-san?"
Ochiba's gaze had looked onto the crane assigning a variety of stereotypes directly to her.

"Helloooo? Are you busy right now?"

It was quite like Chitose to be a little vacant while off-duty. Heck, she'd even been a poor sentry; of her numerous accolades on her service record, vigilance was not on there.

To her credit, she hid her surprise well when she finally noticed the Yoritomo hollering at her. "Not particularly," she said plainly. "I am simply on my morning stroll. Why do you ask?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

It was quite like Chitose to be a little vacant while off-duty. Heck, she'd even been a poor sentry; of her numerous accolades on her service record, vigilance was not on there.

To her credit, she hid her surprise well when she finally noticed the Yoritomo hollering at her. "Not particularly," she said plainly. "I am simply on my morning stroll. Why do you ask?"

"Perfect." Jerking a thumb at her ship. "Climb aboard, you're my new first mate for the morning. You can swim right? I'm taking her out for a run to an atoll and I need someone reliable who knows their way around in a fight, that's you."

[Daidoji Chitose]

Snip

It'd been a long while since Chitose had swam, even if she was stuck in the water for a long time. That was hardly the most pressing matter, however. She wasn't exactly sure if she was in a position to refuse. Perhaps this had become a trend in recent times!

"Are you expecting a fight?" she asked. "I have my full kit in my lodgings." She wasn't sure what dangers awaited them on this world, but battle was in her blood.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Nah, well probably not, depends if we hit anyone on the way out of port. But if you got your daisho and arms on you I don't see a need for armour. Besides, Crab might not take kindly to it."

Ochiba's expression and outfit, 'boat chic' are certainly more casual than combat orientated.
"But I don't believe in going for a journey without a number 2, could be giant sharks or something."

[Daidoji Chitose]

Snip

"You are correct that the local security forces might not appreciate full armaments," Chitose mused. Even not including her long hiatus, it'd been quite a while since she'd seen deployment. At times, she got a little antsy for a fight.

"If local fauna were to threaten you, then I would be remiss if you were alone. I accept," she said without any bravado. She looked for a way to board without assistance, but if offered a hand, she wasn't particularly against the idea of accepting a modicum of assistance on board.

Sea travel was so old-fashioned, even for her, but she figured it might be a little amusing.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

"You are correct that the local security forces might not appreciate full armaments," Chitose mused. Even not including her long hiatus, it'd been quite a while since she'd seen deployment. At times, she got a little antsy for a fight.

"If local fauna were to threaten you, then I would be remiss if you were alone. I accept," she said without any bravado. She looked for a way to board without assistance, but if offered a hand, she wasn't particularly against the idea of accepting a modicum of assistance on board.

Sea travel was so old-fashioned, even for her, but she figured it might be a little amusing.

Ochiba is definitely the sort to gallantly offer a hand, all the better to show off her boat. A few heimin were finishing preparing the ropes while some other brought supplies aboard, there was a smell of food wafting from below decks.

"Welcome aboard the Little Orochi! Feel free to have a look around but."
Holding up her hand, two fingers raised.
"A couple rules. One, keep your head down on deck, you hear 'jibe!' you duck. Two, keep a hand on the ship while you're walking around topside, don't want to lose time trying to find you overboard, if we even can."

She raises a hand and puts to the horizon.
"Today we're going to Osano Wo's Eye, it's a little atoll that's a bit of a tourist attraction, shouldn't take us too long. We'll grab breakfast there then head back. Any questions first officer..." Ochiba realises she had pressganged the Crane without even asking her name. "Daidoji....-san?"

[Daidoji Chitose]

Snip

After taking the hand up, Chitose realized that she might have made an error. Perhaps she had oversold her abilities as a First Mate or whatever it was that people did on boats. It couldn't be that hard, however. Following rules was easy!

"Are there other methods of travel to our destination?" It was more than idle curiousity. There were all manner of threats, some more likely than others based on the route and fellow travelers.

"Daidoji Chitose." A standard bow would seemingly suffice, unless Mantis changed so drastically... She wouldn't put it past them.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Float plane maybe? Or a VTOL? Not exactly luxurious." She waves at the ship. "Now, this is luxury. You feel the wind and the waves, total control, good food, how leisure travel should be."

She nods her head back reasonably politely.
"Well met Daidoji-san, I am Ochiba of the Yoritomo, Been a long time since I sailed with anyone of your family, but if any Crane can handle a Mantis ship, it's an iron crane! Now, we're almost ready to make sail."

She calls out to the heimin who start throwing off the ropes binding the ship to the pier as Ochiba hits a few buttons in the console by the ship's wheel and a small engine fires up beneath them.
"What do you make of the winds we have today?"

[Daidoji Chitose]

Snip

Chitose scratched the back of her head, idly wondering just how long this excursion would take. It wasn't as if she was terribly busy, but she did wish to do other things with her day. Her muscles wouldn't exercise themselves.

Maybe gripping onto the ship would help with that. "The winds are... tepid." Some could consider the heat to be unbearable, but Chitose had never been one for complaints. Besides, she didn't know a thing about what one would expect while at sea.

"Who do you usually sail with then?" An innocuous enough question, but it could be useful to pry out information.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Chitose scratched the back of her head, idly wondering just how long this excursion would take. It wasn't as if she was terribly busy, but she did wish to do other things with her day. Her muscles wouldn't exercise themselves.

Maybe gripping onto the ship would help with that. "The winds are... tepid." Some could consider the heat to be unbearable, but Chitose had never been one for complaints. Besides, she didn't know a thing about what one would expect while at sea.

"Who do you usually sail with then?" An innocuous enough question, but it could be useful to pry out information.

“Some of the rest of the crew if we all have shore leave on a planet with water. Usually rent an old tub and go out drinking and relaxing. Good way to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air. Speaking of.”

Raising her voice
“Cast off! All hands make ready!”
The crew scrambles as the last of the ropes come free and the yacht starts slowly motoring out of the port, rocking slightly in the small waves.

“It’ll pick up a little after we’re out of the island’s wind shadow. Look at these clean lines, oh yeah, we’re going to build up some speed.”
Dismissively
“Not like those power boaters. No skill in that. What about you? What’s your downtime like? Poetry and meditation? Or like, fun stuff?”