(D3, EE, Open) An indulgent sort of day

[Yasuki Taraka]

With a very full day of socializing, Taraka didn't really NEED a big crab dinner. With the amount of food people had been throwing around today, she would have been quite content with just grazing.

But she'd been meaning to come and check out the restaurant, and it's not like you'd want a big plate of Crab first thing in the morning. Still dressed in her outfit from the Azure Dragon party (she'd pick up her costume on the way to the costume party), she looked to see if they had an 'on the lighter side' menu, though some high protein would probably help with the evening's festivities.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

It was finally time to see what the fuss was about. I mean Crab was delicious (jokes aside) so why not have a meal. Tetsu approaches the host stand. "Kaiu Tetsu of Fundai. I don't have a reservation are you able to seat me?" He looks around the restaurant, impressed.

[Yasuki Taraka]

It was finally time to see what the fuss was about. I mean Crab was delicious (jokes aside) so why not have a meal. Tetsu approaches the host stand. "Kaiu Tetsu of Fundai. I don't have a reservation are you able to seat me?" He looks around the restaurant, impressed.

The hostess looked at the searing chart.

"Hmmmm, I've got a two top available if you and Yasuki-san over there are willing to share." they offered.

Taraka nodded.

"I wouldn't mind some company, if you don't mind, Kaiu-san. Yasuki Taraka, Flying Battle Carps." she introduced herself.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

The hostess looked at the searing chart.

"Hmmmm, I've got a two top available if you and Yasuki-san over there are willing to share." they offered.

Taraka nodded.

"I wouldn't mind some company, if you don't mind, Kaiu-san. Yasuki Taraka, Flying Battle Carps." she introduced herself.

He bows for his own introduction. "Kaiu Tetsu of Fundai, of San Mai Industries.

"I have no objections to sharing a table, though I do not know if you have concerns with sharing a table with a married man. I am pragmatic enough to have such compunctions when it means filling a growling stomach but I know there might be considerations

A ghost of a smile tugs at his lips. "Is it too on brand to say that we could talk business and write this off as a work expense?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

That got a grin from the Yasuki.

"Hmm, isn't it a risk for both of us, Kaiu-san? My reputation in public for having been seduced by a man as well to do as he is handsome, versus your risk of returning home to a wife angry that you were seduced by a devastatingly beautiful woman?" she offered.

She shrugged a bit.

"Sometimes, you have to take risks, Kaiu-san, both in business and for dinner. I think the business write-off is honestly the least risky part, assuming you're not the type to shy away from talking about San Mai."

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"That's a risk I'm willing to take, though I'm not certain where you'll find a well to do and handsome man at this hour, so you might be stuck with me." The grin widens. "Though speaking of "stuck with me" that's how my coworkers describe me when I go on about San Mai"

The Yasuki wasn't wrong that there was some risk, but the riskless path would still have him crewing a gunnery station right now.

"Please lead on. I'm technically a resident but that might be, ah, creative use of Naval regulation so I could use a local guide. It already smells amazing"

[Yasuki Taraka]

The hostess led the pair through the full restaurant to the one open table, and provided them with a pair of menus.

"We'll give you folks a chance to look things over, your waiter will be around soon."

Taraka looked over the menu, looking for something high protein but not too heavy.


"Well don't feel the need to hold yourself back, on my account, Kaiu-san in ordering or speaking on San Mai. With all the parties tonight I don't have a lot of appetite for food, but I've always got room for business talk." she offers.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"I mean I guess it will have to be the Crab Cakes. I don't mind something more substantial" Tetsu looks over some of the more extravagant and politely skips them.

"But Flying Battle Carps? That rings a bell. Are those the drones I've been seeing everywhere?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka couldn't help but smile at that.

"Nice to hear you're seeing them everywhere, Kaiu-san. It means the tourists are definitely having a good impact on sales." she said, pleased. "And the more people who have them, the more opportunities to more to get drawn in to the hobby."

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"It's a great hobby for more advanced hobbyists too" Tetsu is beaming now. "Last year on Asakaze there was a competition with a drone race where in theory you could mod them as you wish but the selection was limited...so I built a couple. So not only do you have an easy floor for beginners to get into you can probably scale up premium prices for the serious hobbyists"

He waits as the server returns. "I'll have some sake and the house special. The lady..." he gives Taraka the chance to chime in.

[Yasuki Taraka]

"Sake and the 'Skinny Crab Dip' " she ordered for herself before returning to the topic at hand.

"Oh definitely. Modification is a party of the hobby. The race to see who can squeeze just a tiny bit more speed out of the carps is just as thrilling to some as the actual battles." she agreed. "And even then, some competitors surprise us. Kakita Haruhi has managed to make her's broadcast music. Doesn't help it's performance in battle at all, but the fact that she could do that without hurting it's performance is an impressive testament to her skills."

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"I should get in on those races. I didn't get even close to placing but that was the fun. What I managed was a driving race of all things if you can believe it" Tetsu offers an easy smile. "Do you fabricate on planet?

[Yasuki Taraka]

"I should get in on those races. I didn't get even close to placing but that was the fun. What I managed was a driving race of all things if you can believe it" Tetsu offers an easy smile. "Do you fabricate on planet?

Taraka nodded.

"Yup, it's still a completely local kind of business, but I'd like to see it expand. If enough people take interest in it, who knows how far it can go?" she admits.

The drinks arrived, and not long thereafter, the food.

"But what about you, Kaiu-san? Despite your warning, you haven't breathed a word about San Mai to me yet." she said.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"It's only polite to let the lady go first." The sake arrives and he pours her a cup, expecting the gesture to be reciprocated.

"First off, I'll begin with a bias: I'm Fundai Prime, born and bred and I think we make the best damn ships in the galaxy." Assuming he's been served he goes to sip his drinks. "Right now, San Mai Industries is a consulting service to civilian craft construction. The thing about ship building is that it's a lot like a hotel: occupancy. Every berth that is empty is money being flushed away but running that level of war machine on every war machine on every planet is inordinately expensive. And what about our allies? Are they committed to that level of build? "

"But say if, for example, someone was willing to use an unoccupied berth at cost? What if it's a civilian design that's modular enough for the customer but can stand up to pirates."

"Of course...that would require corresponding investment"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka was, of course, polite enough to pour his sake properly, with the label facing him.

Then she listened to the pitch for San Mai. Ship construction wasn't her forte, but the hotel explanation did stick with her.

"Hmmm, that does seem like a fairly innovative idea, Kaiu-san. What you're suggesting is not a redivision of space, like making smaller rooms with paper screens, but essentially little boxes that can hook up to ship power and passageways when needed, and when not easily stored somewhere else, leaving the ship to use less resources?" she asks to make sure she has it clear.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"Not so much as function on the ship, but construction starting with sections designed to be built to be interchangable. If the Crane want sections with extra amenities, or if Unicorn want to have a few fighters for defense, or if the Scorpion want extra sensors, that it would be easily modifiable"

Tetsu finishes his drink and keeps pouring for Taraka as needed

It's nice to talk shop without feeling like I'm boring them

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka didn't pound drinks, especially not today, but she appreciated the attentiveness to her cup.

"Hmmm, that must be difficult to work with so many systems. Getting Crane programming to talk to Crab programming is like getting a Crane courtier of old to talk to a Hida Berzerker of old; the Crane melts down into a pile of useless, but very artistically pleasing tears." she comented.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"That's one of the bigger challenges." Tetsu admits "But everyone manufactured their warships along designs. To extend the metaphor: what were we talking about with drones? Are there hyper specific models for military and security application? Sure, but those are out of reach of most people. How much more accessible is it for consumers to get a model close to what they want and purchase mod kits to finish the job. I'm thinking of a similar principle, built up in scale"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nods.

"Modification seems to be a passion of many." she agrees. "I suppose we're always looking for a way to surpass our limits, whether it's drones or ships."

The food arrives with bold smells and flavors.

"Have you had any success in pitching the idea to any of the big companies?" she asks.

[Kaiu Tetsu]

"Not so much." He admits "They're pretty risk averse. That's a pretty big part of why I was looking trying to leverage the contacts here to help be the frontman for some of the outside Clan investment"