(D4, EE, Tori Tea, Open) I'm not even supposed to be here today

[Yasuki Taraka]

Having done two ceremonies, Taraka was satisified. She ducked into the restroom to get dressed and do her makeup for the LARP event that would be starting soon.

There was a timid knock on the door.

"Occupied!" Taraka said.
"Um, Taraka-dono, we've had another call out, could you help us just for a tiny bit more?" came the plaintive voice of the manager.
"....and I suppose you'll owe me biggest?" she said a little irked.
"So happy you understand! I'll get the new implements set out for you!"

Taraka sighed. Seriously, this day.

And so a pale-faced and darkly dressed Taraka found herself hosting yet one more tea service.

Tea Ceremony for Taraka and 1 other lucky PC or NPC: 21

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Oh no, a sudden

leech-wraith

appears ready to chomp down!



On tea.

"Yasuki-san?" Asked the wraith in a surprise. "Oh wow, you look great! Pale skin and a demeanor suggesting casual homicide suits you!" She sat down. "Oh, you've already been served? Good for you!"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Oh no, a sudden

leech-wraith

appears ready to chomp down!



On tea.

"Yasuki-san?" Asked the wraith in a surprise. "Oh wow, you look great! Pale skin and a demeanor suggesting casual homicide suits you!" She sat down. "Oh, you've already been served? Good for you!"

Taraka chuckles.

"Actually as a favor the the neighbors, I'm demonstrating traditional tea-ceremony. The person they'd hired to do it bailed on them." she explains. "But I appreciate the compliment. Maybe I was a Kuni in a past life. You look darkly beautiful yourself."

She gestures towards the table.

"You are just in time to partake....or as Lady Rapace Avide D'Argent would say, 'I invite you to partake of this dark communion with me. Let us strengthen our bonds through this exchange of essence." she said spookily.

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka chuckles.

"Actually as a favor the the neighbors, I'm demonstrating traditional tea-ceremony. The person they'd hired to do it bailed on them." she explains. "But I appreciate the compliment. Maybe I was a Kuni in a past life. You look darkly beautiful yourself."

She gestures towards the table.

"You are just in time to partake....or as Lady Rapace Avide D'Argent would say, 'I invite you to partake of this dark communion with me. Let us strengthen our bonds through this exchange of essence." she said spookily.

"Oh? What a kind gesture. I hope in return...they will offer you their vital fluiiiids." She wagged her fingers in a threatening way.

No, it was rather silly.

"Yes please, essence, my favorite. The crimson kind of course." She smiled and took a sip. "That is part of the reason why I like you Yasuki-san. You're so helpful to everyone." She winked. "Why thank you. Here we are, just two lovely wraith ladies enjoying some dark essence, nothing nefarious going on."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Having performed the ceremony, Taraka nods along at the post discussion.

"It has certainly been enjoyable spending time with you this season." she agrees. "I think, all things considered, the party on the Azure Dragon went quite well. I hope you've seen some increase in custom from people enjoying themselves there?"

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Having performed the ceremony, Taraka nods along at the post discussion.

"It has certainly been enjoyable spending time with you this season." she agrees. "I think, all things considered, the party on the Azure Dragon went quite well. I hope you've seen some increase in custom from people enjoying themselves there?"

"Hai, hai. There has been a slow uptick, with so many visitors. Some even took to dueling outside the pier. I think there was one unfortunately fellow, who piloted his carp into the sea." She smirked. "Good way to get repeat customer though. Want my security to make it a regular occurance?" She asked with a smirk.

"How about your business? Has there been an uptick? I'd like your venture to stick around, even expand perhaps. It's certainly a novel one. Maybe...it will even take flight?" She smiled at her own terrible pun,

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka grinned.

"Is that the Yoritomo or the leech-wraith offering?" she teased. "I think business has been on the uptick. Bayushi-san has certainly been pushing it a lot. Gives her something to do while waiting for the Shiwase Ralley to roll around.

She took a snack.

"Flying Battle Carps: Keeping Scorpion off the streets and in the skies."

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka grinned.

"Is that the Yoritomo or the leech-wraith offering?" she teased. "I think business has been on the uptick. Bayushi-san has certainly been pushing it a lot. Gives her something to do while waiting for the Shiwase Ralley to roll around.

She took a snack.

"Flying Battle Carps: Keeping Scorpion off the streets and in the skies."

"Offer to fly them at Spider for no expense, and you have a winnder." She sniggered, then turned slightly serious. "How IS the shop going by the way, Yasuki-san? I know with your...father, it's not easy. You1re doing a great job, but I hope the shop is as well."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka offered a respectful dip of the head.

"I will be sure to pass your well wishes on to my father." she assured the Mantis. "Overall, the shop is well. The governor's imitative has, at the very least, given us a spike in tourist traffic. With hard work, we're hoping we can raise interest in our product far beyond the bounds of the island. Who knows where in the Empire you might find carp flying off to?"

She looked over to the Mantis.

"But what about Azure Dragon? You've had a couple years to make it your own now. Hopefully you're feeling closer to high tide than low ebb." she asked.

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka offered a respectful dip of the head.

"I will be sure to pass your well wishes on to my father." she assured the Mantis. "Overall, the shop is well. The governor's imitative has, at the very least, given us a spike in tourist traffic. With hard work, we're hoping we can raise interest in our product far beyond the bounds of the island. Who knows where in the Empire you might find carp flying off to?"

She looked over to the Mantis.

"But what about Azure Dragon? You've had a couple years to make it your own now. Hopefully you're feeling closer to high tide than low ebb." she asked.

"It's going well, especially with so many new comers. Business is booming." She sipped her tea. "I've been thinking of expanding really, and the governor's offer is a fairly good opportunity." She glanced to her tea before back up. "Of course, for that I would need any local support I can. Are you open for a deal, Yasuki-san?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"It's going well, especially with so many new comers. Business is booming." She sipped her tea. "I've been thinking of expanding really, and the governor's offer is a fairly good opportunity." She glanced to her tea before back up. "Of course, for that I would need any local support I can. Are you open for a deal, Yasuki-san?"

Taraka perked up a bit.

"I'm always open to deals, Yoritomo-san. You never know where the next big thing will come from if you aren't. What did you have in mind?" she asked.

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka perked up a bit.

"I'm always open to deals, Yoritomo-san. You never know where the next big thing will come from if you aren't. What did you have in mind?" she asked.

"And that is the next thing I like about you Yasuki-san." Smirked the Mantis. "I want support for the Mantis, and in return..." she suddenly shrugged. "It depends on what you would like. In the short term, I can buy up some of your stock, at least of the basic models. Perhaps buy for some school children, or orphans, I dunno. I can also put in a good word in MAntis territories, if you wish to expand." She thought of the two worlds she was familiar with, New Kalani and Daikoku1s Dice. "Though Ican't promise that they are ideal environments, that I know of."

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka took out her abacus and slid a few of the beads around.

"A good starting offer, Yoritomo-san. Getting into markets off-world would be ideal, and an initial purchase to show good faith would be appreciated." she offered. "I can certainly look into what kind of support I could lend at least. You are, after all, a part of our community after two years here."

[Yoritomo Yakura]

'Sugoi, that is so cute!" Marveled Yakura at the abacus. "I love it! Yeah, so I'll take...probably a dozen or so Rookie carps. Will throw them at the local elementary school or something. Or give it to my staff for...morale building?" She shrugged. "But I am happy for any support." She lowered her voice. "Bayushi-sama's ilk is making a fairly good play, and there are few groups hot on our trails.

[Yasuki Taraka]

'Sugoi, that is so cute!" Marveled Yakura at the abacus. "I love it! Yeah, so I'll take...probably a dozen or so Rookie carps. Will throw them at the local elementary school or something. Or give it to my staff for...morale building?" She shrugged. "But I am happy for any support." She lowered her voice. "Bayushi-sama's ilk is making a fairly good play, and there are few groups hot on our trails.

There is a slight pause in number running.

"Ah, thank you, Yoritomo-san. It was my mother's,, it was passed down to her by her mother and so on and now to me." she explains.

She considered the planned use for the preorder.

"Hmmm, Azure Dragon's branding might not be quite the right fit for making donations to schools." she admitted. "Unless you were thinking of diversifying your portfolio, that is. You could use them for employee morale. I think the best opportunity, however, would be to take advantage of your businesses unique mobility. You could have a private staff of Flying Battle Carp entertainers to put on shows. And if you sail out of the local jurisdiction, you could have more exciting modifications than you can have locally. Imagine a night sky with Flying, flame-breathing battle carp and how guests might savor such a sight." she suggested.

She listened to the clan politics.

"Hmm, I've met a couple of them, but they didn't strike me as particularly serious. A happy mask and a sad mask. But who knows? Perhaps there is some sort of mastermind behind them? Such is often the way of the Blue Fog Clan." she remarked.

Rather than whisper, Taraka would take advantage of framing such talk as game tqlk for the upcoming larp. It was so much more inconspicuous than whispering.

[Yoritomo Yakura]

There is a slight pause in number running.

"Ah, thank you, Yoritomo-san. It was my mother's,, it was passed down to her by her mother and so on and now to me." she explains.

She considered the planned use for the preorder.

"Hmmm, Azure Dragon's branding might not be quite the right fit for making donations to schools." she admitted. "Unless you were thinking of diversifying your portfolio, that is. You could use them for employee morale. I think the best opportunity, however, would be to take advantage of your businesses unique mobility. You could have a private staff of Flying Battle Carp entertainers to put on shows. And if you sail out of the local jurisdiction, you could have more exciting modifications than you can have locally. Imagine a night sky with Flying, flame-breathing battle carp and how guests might savor such a sight." she suggested.

She listened to the clan politics.

"Hmm, I've met a couple of them, but they didn't strike me as particularly serious. A happy mask and a sad mask. But who knows? Perhaps there is some sort of mastermind behind them? Such is often the way of the Blue Fog Clan." she remarked.

Rather than whisper, Taraka would take advantage of framing such talk as game tqlk for the upcoming larp. It was so much more inconspicuous than whispering.

"What, don't tell me gambling away your hard earned money isn't a good fit for education?" The Mantis lady smirked. "That is a good idea. See, that is the other reason I like you Yasuki-san. You have a good eye for marketing. See the whole Battle Carp tournament. Samurai love to compete. Perfect idea." She sipped some more of her tea.

Ooooh, nice.

"Not sure if there is a mastermind, or just sending a lot of numbers. And the current pincer relations on a geopolitical level seem to be favorable." She smiled. "We're a bit less popular nowadays, it seems. Ah well. Met anyone interesting Yasuki-san?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

Taraka nodded.

"Quite a few people. Took Asako Hikari to Rainbow of Pain and he got his picture on the wall. Got to see what a Kakita drone arftisan looks like spending time with Kakita Haruhi. Had a passionate carp duel with Bayushi Senshuken on the beach. Kakita-san was as the party, but if you haven't gotten a chance to network with the other two, I'd be happy to put you in touch with them." she offered, potentially side-stepping the Yoritomo's inquire into romantic interests.

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka nodded.

"Quite a few people. Took Asako Hikari to Rainbow of Pain and he got his picture on the wall. Got to see what a Kakita drone arftisan looks like spending time with Kakita Haruhi. Had a passionate carp duel with Bayushi Senshuken on the beach. Kakita-san was as the party, but if you haven't gotten a chance to network with the other two, I'd be happy to put you in touch with them." she offered, potentially side-stepping the Yoritomo's inquire into romantic interests.

"You've been busy Yasuki-san." She nodded. "Might be worthwhile." She glanced at her tea. There wasn't a lot left, but it was still pretty good. "You know, I actually don't know how the Battle Carp business got started? Were yourf amilies building drones for something else, or?"

[Yasuki Taraka]

"You've been busy Yasuki-san." She nodded. "Might be worthwhile." She glanced at her tea. There wasn't a lot left, but it was still pretty good. "You know, I actually don't know how the Battle Carp business got started? Were yourf amilies building drones for something else, or?"

Taraka nodded.

"My father was a drone design engineer for Kaiu Heavy Industries. He built protoypes for testing new military materials. My mother, second daughter to a family that specialized in breeding fighting fish, met him at a miai. Being a savvy businesswoman, she managed to secure the rights for a civilian use for his designs. So he provided the designs, and she provided the business savvy in getting things running."

[Yoritomo Yakura]

Taraka nodded.

"My father was a drone design engineer for Kaiu Heavy Industries. He built protoypes for testing new military materials. My mother, second daughter to a family that specialized in breeding fighting fish, met him at a miai. Being a savvy businesswoman, she managed to secure the rights for a civilian use for his designs. So he provided the designs, and she provided the business savvy in getting things running."

"Ah, a match made in...well, a miai. So you get your business sense from your mother." She smiled sadly. "My condolences." She offered quietly. "How is your father taking it? He's seems more..passive for a while now."