(D2, LE) Graveyard Shift

[Yasuki Taraka]

Flying Battle Carps was not always open quite this late. But with the vandalized truck earlier and the high spirits of the children at First Market, it made sense to Taraka to keep things open: you couldn't keep watch on a store if it was closed and empty.

Not that Taraka was planning on working the entire evening. That's what staff was for. But as a small gesture of appreciation for the staff, she'd bought drinks. The fact that it kept them alert: both with caffeine and her checking in on them...that was just Yasuki efficiency.

[Utaku Itsuka]

Flying Battle Carps was not always open quite this late. But with the vandalized truck earlier and the high spirits of the children at First Market, it made sense to Taraka to keep things open: you couldn't keep watch on a store if it was closed and empty.

Not that Taraka was planning on working the entire evening. That's what staff was for. But as a small gesture of appreciation for the staff, she'd bought drinks. The fact that it kept them alert: both with caffeine and her checking in on them...that was just Yasuki efficiency.

Late clients probably weren't particularly expected, especially since the FBC wasn't always open this late, but this evening the bells on the door do ring to announce one stepping into the store.

"Evening, y'all", a familiar voice speaks in a humdrum tone. "Evening, tacchan.", she waves at the owner, her face unchanged. "Betting on late-night extra movement with the rush of tourists?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Well now that was a blast from the past.

She offered the Unicorn a bow and a grin.

"Maybe I just wanted to see a certain ambling Unicorn. If you close the port, the Whenever seems to instead dock roughly Never." she teased back.

"How've you been, Utaku-san?"

[Utaku Itsuka]

She bows as well now. "Not everyone's as fond of flying at night, so I think I'm safe... but maybe we could do a late-night test run to Mount Jinsei one of these days?"

Landing on a caldera lake with limited light? That ought to be fun.

"Business is good. The island's full and all. Things could have been better yesterday with Yasuki-dono, but... happens."

No word on how she is feeling, Taraka might note. Par for the course.

"Have the tourists convinced you that you should have a racing compettion already? Or will I still have to insist?"

She takes off a backpack, opens it to reveal a Flying Carp. "Remember the char? Been a while since he's done your thing."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka grinned.

"I remember the last time I saw 'The Char' in action. It was against that mouthy brat, what did he say again, 'A plough fit for an old broken down workhorse'? I quite vividly remember how The Char just sat bobbing there mid-air, casual as could be, with him dashing in for his 'Five Second Victory'. And then you bobbed down and cut him down before he knew what was happening.

She updated the registry.

"Hmmm, as far as racing, I did have a different Unicorn in the other day pestering me about that. She wanted something with balloons. Maybe two wild horses is what it takes to get me to do this." she said.

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Kids", she sighs. "I hope that didn't discourage him, though. Learning is hard, but it's better than just not."

That actually takes a decent grin out of her. "I'll wager I know who you're talking about. Baloons... she did get you to soften up to the idea, then? Tell me we'll try that with carps... before I convince you to try it with the Float."

It sounds like she's just joking. Until you look at her face and see that odd 'bright flame in an empty pool' look in her eyes.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka considered it.


"Hmmmmmmmm. Well, we've got the partnership party with the Azure Dragon tomorrow evening. But I suppose if I had a couple of Unicorn racing experts willing to help out, we could make it happen in a day or two after." she conceded.

"As for racing the Float....hm. If we had a really good turnout for the carp race, I wouldn't mind helping you make that happen." she offered.

[Utaku Itsuka]

The grin widened, the flames keep burning.

"Oh, I guess I heard something about a partnership at the Dragon. Are ya making people bet on the battles now?"

She stops, considers something. "Let's send word to Moto-san, then? I bet she won't think twice. And for later... you know, I first considered just buoys. Buoys with baloons... care to help me think of a track?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka gave a wave of the hand at the first question.

"Making them is a strong suggestion, Utaku-san. If people are willing to throw their koku down a pachinko hole, why not help them relieve themselves of their clearly excessive wealth with something that is actually entertaining? Not that I'm involved with that. If she's running book on the outcome, as a competitor and host, I certainly can't be directly involved." she explained.

"Sure I can....ah wait, Utaku-san. I was speaking of Shinjo Suh-hyun." she says getting out her communicator to send a text. "You're not thinking of that big Moto with the bigger hair are you? Saw her at the governor's reception. I appreciate you thinking I can sell to anyone, but she struck me very much as a thundershark in a tide pool."

Still, she'd send out the request to the Shinjo, though she'd set the delivery for tomorrow morning. It was pretty late right now.

"As for the course planning.....are you sure you weren't a Yasuki in a past life? Taking my conditional approval and running forward liked I'd pledged myself to you? We should at least reach out to the governor's and magistrate offices to make sure such a thing is possible and won't conflict with any commercial or other traffic." she said with a rueful shake of the head.

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Oh. That was Shinjo-san?" Tonight seemed like a good night, as that took another honest grin from her lips. "After that time a Carp bought by a Same a couple days earlier was found crashed at Azuma Beach with quite the assortment of herbs, you'll apologise if I didn't think you'd set that many limitations to your business opportunities, Tacchan. But I'm glad to know Shinjo-san suggested that. Maybe we can get three wild horses in on that after all."

She then nodded twice, maybe pursing her lips slightly. "And I'm not assuming a pledge... just your interest. Of course we'll run this past the authorities." The choice of pronoun stands out, of course. "We do need a track in mind to do that though, don't we? I don't assume they'll be willing to issue a permit without knowing where they're issuing us to race."

She gets a portable informator from her bag, starts sketching something. "Speaking of the influx of tourists. Many new competitors? Anyone promising?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka pulled out her own personal computer, poking up information about the island.

"Hmmm, away from Skycarp, probably shouldn't buzz the temple. How long were you thinking of making the race, Utaku-san? Around Mount Nakahama and Mount Jinsei are both pretty scenic, and make for a good centerpoint, though not without risk....eruptions from Nakahama and fog around Jinsei. And there's always the classic 'Race around the coast' assuming we can find a long enough stretch out of the way for our purposes." she mused.

She looked over at the leaderboard.

"Bayushi Senshuken has been tearing up the board with Pinky Swear. She's a biker at heart, but she's got a least a bit of pilot training and some really fast reaction times. She might be new to battle carps, but she sure doesn't fight like it." she explained.

[Utaku Itsuka]

"Steer clear of Shiro Ei as well, or at least keep some distance. Mount Jinsei is a delight.... both of the mountains are. But maybe around, not too close, to avoid disturbances." She raises her head to look at Taraka. "I'm guessing... one hour or so if a direct competition, maybe. But shorter time trials or one-on-one races with a bracket-based tournament could make for an interesting option. One track around the coast, maybe including manoeuvres, one from the coast to one of the mountains and back?"

She looks at the leaderboard, her head tilting. "Oh? She does sound like good sport. Given ya a run for your money yet?" The tone is again flat, but by now Taraka can probably tell the 'completely lifeless' flat from 'hollow with a sprinkle of taunting'.

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nods.

"Yeah, she took me down in pretty short order. I was really surprised it was her first time, she flew really well." she admitted.

She looked over the map.

"Hmm, either have their charms....but we should probably talk about the bigger issues of pilots and craft. We're going to only want experienced pilots in this right? And unless you're planning on letting strangers borrow the float and race her, we're going to need to acquire at least some rentals. Plus racing insurance." she lays out.

[Utaku Itsuka]

"She did, huh? I guess I'll have to meet this Bayushi, then?"

She kept looking at the screen for a while, then raised her head to face Taraka again. "Pilots. If we manage to organise something soon-ish, we may be in luck. I'm reasonably sure Shinjo-san would be willing to jump in as well, so we might at least get a face-off going. Might take some work sniffing out other talented pilots willing to join... but I'll bet if we get the scene off the ground, we'll find some. Now for craft..."

Her hollow eyes seem to wander through the store, not quite focusing on anything. "You know I'd gladly race the Float, but we'll need at least two. Say four if possible. Sea planes or flying boats all - the logistics with a single landing strip here would be awful otherwise. And insurance, definitely insurance."

Her gaze falls on Taraka again. "Not easy... but a good word might make it happen, couldn't it?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka smiles reassuringly.

"If not one, two. If not two, four. If you're willing to help Flying Battle Carps out, the least I can do is pull some strings and see what I can do to get you racing." she offers genuinely.

[Utaku Itsuka]

Taraka smiles reassuringly.

"If not one, two. If not two, four. If you're willing to help Flying Battle Carps out, the least I can do is pull some strings and see what I can do to get you racing." she offers genuinely.

The Utaku answers with a smile. It's a faint one, but from their time together over these last years, she'll know it's a sincere one, as heartfelt as a hollow heart can give.

"We'll make sure those carps won't stay on the ground long this season, Tacchan."

(OOC: Sorry for the LONG delay! Talked to the GMs a bit about other race shenanigans and we may be able to pull something off. Let's try to talk about that in PMs and maybe organise another thread in a future IC day?)

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka smiles reassuringly.

"If not one, two. If not two, four. If you're willing to help Flying Battle Carps out, the least I can do is pull some strings and see what I can do to get you racing." she offers genuinely.

The Utaku answers with a smile. It's a faint one, but from their time together over these last years, she'll know it's a sincere one, as heartfelt as a hollow heart can give.

"We'll make sure those carps won't stay on the ground long this season, Tacchan."

(OOC: Sorry for the LONG delay! Talked to the GMs a bit about other race shenanigans and we may be able to pull something off. Let's try to talk about that in PMs and maybe organise another thread in a future IC day?)

(OOC: Hey, you warned me you'd be slow posting and I said I'd be fine with it and I still am. Sure let's move on to pm and another day)

The two would talk pleasantly for awhile planning things out before....

/scene!