(Expecting) Dinner before, during and after the show. [Day 4, EE]

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Ochiba gets to the meeting spot early, a little hole in the wall restaurant near the main harbour with a view out of the crowds making their way to and from the water.

Apparently the spot served some mean biangbiang noddles and, importantly, had a decent non-alcoholic section on the menu.

Indeed the Mantis was now suspiciously eyeing a jug of teal cordial that she had been assured would go perfectly with the long spicy noodles. Well, beer would probably be even better, but that was not a great impression to make.

With a sigh she pours a glass for herself and then one across the table before kicking back to wait.

Her LARP costume was zipped down as far as it could go, a black catsuit spattered in what was probably (hopefully) fake blood. After some fun here she was off to hunt nerds.

[Kaiu Ryosei]

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She wouldn't be kept waiting for very long at all. Ryosei Showed up just as she had filled the second cup. He smiled down at the Mantis as he walked around the table and took the seat.

The crab was dressed in a well fitted, obviously tailored but still casual suit in Crab navy. The suits fitting showed of broad shoulders and hinted at his frame being more athletic than one might presume of one who tinkered in a workshop all day.

"Yoritomo-san it is good to see you again. Thank you for inviting me out, I had wanted to speak with you last night but I think the party took some unexpected turns even for you." he said with a small smirk.

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

“Kaiu-san! Looking very dapper today, are you sure you won’t be at risk so close with the most notorious samurai on the island?”
She grins and uses her foot to nudge a seat open for him.

“And she’s a dangerous undead… leech… creature. I dunno that lore did not make sense to me, why were they kissing each other all the time? Anywho, shall we see if your bravery will be rewarded with spicy noodles?”

Curiously
“I hadn’t expected you would come along last night. You got dinner and a show.”

[Kaiu Ryosei]

Snip

He did take a long look at the woman in her tight cat suit and he rose a eyebrow slightly "Well we went two different directions with the LARP certainly." But the smile on his lips and his tone said that he approved of her choice.

"I think I'll be safe enough though or at least it's a risk I'm willing to take. Plus I think the rewards are more than worth it." He left whether he was talking about the noodles or her company.

He thought for a couple seconds "Yes well, I had figured one party likely wouldn't kill me. Shame the magistrate had to make a deal of everything. Your costume was great though, never got to tell you that."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Brave man, maybe this will be one of those stories where bravery is rewarded?" Shrugging. "Yeah, Magistrate kill-joy was a whole thing, you know apparently it wasn't even personal? Rude as hell, if you're gonna crash my party, make it about me."

Ochiba hands over a laminated menu listing a variety of specials on the front, mostly noodle related although there were also some dumpling options.

"Your costume was sick too. Did you make it yourself?" sticking her tongue out "Trust a Kuni to come in his own power armour. It was pretty wild."

Flicking her eyes down to the menu before adding casually.
"Glad you like the costume too, did it make my butt look good?"

[Kaiu Ryosei]

"Brave man, maybe this will be one of those stories where bravery is rewarded?" Shrugging. "Yeah, Magistrate kill-joy was a whole thing, you know apparently it wasn't even personal? Rude as hell, if you're gonna crash my party, make it about me."

Ochiba hands over a laminated menu listing a variety of specials on the front, mostly noodle related although there were also some dumpling options.

"Your costume was sick too. Did you make it yourself?" sticking her tongue out "Trust a Kuni to come in his own power armour. It was pretty wild."

Flicking her eyes down to the menu before adding casually.
"Glad you like the costume too, did it make my butt look good?"

He was nodding along with her and making small sounds of agreement as she complained about the magistrate's behavior. It was in pretty poor taste though the Kuni have often been the sticks in the mid of the clan.

As she brings up his costume his smile widens just a touch "Oh well I did make it but it isn't really power armor it's a costume of one of my fav-" and her follow up question hit him and his sentence died out as his cheeks dusted with color. He took a moment and calculated that Ochiba seemed to be a woman to appreciate honesty rather than coy politeness

"Uh um I mean I feel like you know it did. You don't seem to be a woman who wouldn't check those sorts of things." He raised his cup "but yes, it did" he said into the cup before drinking.

He cleared his throat "but yes what was I talking about?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He was nodding along with her and making small sounds of agreement as she complained about the magistrate's behavior. It was in pretty poor taste though the Kuni have often been the sticks in the mid of the clan.

As she brings up his costume his smile widens just a touch "Oh well I did make it but it isn't really power armor it's a costume of one of my fav-" and her follow up question hit him and his sentence died out as his cheeks dusted with color. He took a moment and calculated that Ochiba seemed to be a woman to appreciate honesty rather than coy politeness

"Uh um I mean I feel like you know it did. You don't seem to be a woman who wouldn't check those sorts of things." He raised his cup "but yes, it did" he said into the cup before drinking.

He cleared his throat "but yes what was I talking about?"

Ochiba's eyes dance as she looks back over her menu.
"Before my behind? Decently handled by the way. You were were talking about you costume? Sounded like a passion project one of your favourite...?"

Her face lights up, that nerd stuff at fancon...it had value!?!
"...Characters? Oh yeah he's like a superhero? Saw some of his merch before hand."
Leaning forward over the table.
"Does that make you a fan?"

[Kaiu Ryosei]

Ochiba's eyes dance as she looks back over her menu.
"Before my behind? Decently handled by the way. You were were talking about you costume? Sounded like a passion project one of your favourite...?"

Her face lights up, that nerd stuff at fancon...it had value!?!
"...Characters? Oh yeah he's like a superhero? Saw some of his merch before hand."
Leaning forward over the table.
"Does that make you a fan?"

He was surprised by the sudden change in her disposition "oh uh yeah I'd say I'm a fan. It's the Iron Jade a Kaiu engineer that builds a suit of armor that lets him do incredible things. He fights aliens and demons from jigoku since his suit is inlaid with jade to protect his spirit as well as his body." He grew a bit more excited the longer he talked his enthusiasm obviously growing.

Ryosei rubbed the back of his neck "I guess you could say he's kind of aspirational for me. He uses his skills and knowledge to help and save people" he voice grew a touch quieter and reflective as he looked down into the cup he held before looking back up to her "and that's what I want to do as well. What I've been doing. Well not saving people but helping them, helping them get back something they have lost."

He chuckled a little bit "Sorry that's gotta seem really dorky to you or whatever. I swear I'm not one of those fans where they obsess over shows and characters. Just one that speaks to me a bit."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Oh yeah, it's super dorky. And like, a week ago I'd have thought it was super lame too. But you know, after going to the con and seeing what folks were up to-"
She shrugs.
"-It was actually kind of cool sometimes, people were just having fun and enjoying cool characters, and everyone was just playing games and giving up merch, plus I was easily top 10 hottest there which was pretty good. So....you know, I reckon it's cute that you have an Iron Jade to look up to."

A slight beetling of her brow.
"You might be the first I've heard of to actually like...do that hero stuff in practice though. Anyway, I'm having biangbiang with chilli in meat sauce and...you wanna go halves on some rougamo? I'm gonna need all my strength to win LARPing tonight and defend the Governor...who's costume is just insane, by the way. If she starts running she's gonna give herself a damn concussion."

[Kaiu Ryosei]

[Snips

He smiled softly at her explaining how the experienced broadened her horizons a bit. It was nice to hear someone learning more about a world he enjoyed and seeing the value of it. His smile grew a bit "Don't sell yourself short Yoritomo-san, you were the hottest one there by far." He said with a bit more confidence than he had before, it seemed as long as she wasn't teasing him he was getting rather comfortable with her.

He mostly managed to hold the blushing back when she basically called him a hero and he shook his head a bit. "I'm no hero, just.....making up for my past, making use of my talents to do some good, that's it."

But he nodded as she shifted the topic to the food "hell yeah biangbiang sounds like a great choice, I'm probably going for some spicy yakisoba with chicken. And definitely good to split some rougamo, I can't get enough of it."

"The governor certainly knows how to turn heads. I don't know how much running she could do in that outfit without it becoming not much of one. She'll need all the help she can get though, I've heard those old school larpers can be pretty brutal! I'm excited though, I've lived here over a year but I never took the time to do the Edge of Night stuff. Leech wraiths aren't my usual thing but I'll pop some fake fangs in and this outfit will probably work alright."

He paused "by the way feel free to order yourself a real drink if you want one. Just because I, usually, abstain doesn't mean I expect you to."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He smiled softly at her explaining how the experienced broadened her horizons a bit. It was nice to hear someone learning more about a world he enjoyed and seeing the value of it. His smile grew a bit "Don't sell yourself short Yoritomo-san, you were the hottest one there by far." He said with a bit more confidence than he had before, it seemed as long as she wasn't teasing him he was getting rather comfortable with her.

He mostly managed to hold the blushing back when she basically called him a hero and he shook his head a bit. "I'm no hero, just.....making up for my past, making use of my talents to do some good, that's it."

But he nodded as she shifted the topic to the food "hell yeah biangbiang sounds like a great choice, I'm probably going for some spicy yakisoba with chicken. And definitely good to split some rougamo, I can't get enough of it."

"The governor certainly knows how to turn heads. I don't know how much running she could do in that outfit without it becoming not much of one. She'll need all the help she can get though, I've heard those old school larpers can be pretty brutal! I'm excited though, I've lived here over a year but I never took the time to do the Edge of Night stuff. Leech wraiths aren't my usual thing but I'll pop some fake fangs in and this outfit will probably work alright."

"Ha! Yeah, that's the right response...but there were maaaybe one or two other hot people there too."
Ochiba smirks as his protests before calling over the order, unless prompted she will immediately order for the two of them and toss the waiter a coin for 'enthusiastic service' before turning back.

"Huh, only a year? I thought you were a lifer." Even Ochiba had picked up on the references to a past, but she clearly wasn't going to push that yet.

"Yeah no, she is hot. And those leech-wraiths better watch out, I'm expecting you'll be a loyalist."
Sipping her drink and then putting it down as she remembered something.
"Oh yeah, full disclosure, shit. I'm sort of...I don't know with the governor? Like, hanging out with her sometimes and flirting? Just as like a heads up. I don't think it's gonna go anywhere permanent but...just so that's out there. Don't want you getting surprised and thinking I'm two-timing, or like one-timing. Honest Ochiba, that's what they call me, when pressed, after payday."

He paused "by the way feel free to order yourself a real drink if you want one. Just because I, usually, abstain doesn't mean I expect you to."

"Look, I could kill for a beer, like actually murder, I'd do it. It's hot, the food is gonna be hot. But, you know I avoid killing people most of my day, no reason this should be any different. You were straight with me, least I can do is respect that."

[Kaiu Ryosei]

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Ryosei watched as the whole thing went down everything around Ochiba seemed to happen quickly, she herself never seemed to slow down much from what he could tell. It was something he found interesting and endearing even if she was rough around the edges.

Then she talked about her and the governor and he would be lying if he said there was some small part that was disappointed. Not angry or upset but disappointed at the news which well I guess that said something for how he was feeling.

He took a breath as he adjusted to the information. Ryosei was never very good at hiding his feelings, he would have been a terrible courtier, so his discomfort would have been fairly easy to read but only for a second before he gave her a smile "Well hey I can't fault you that, like we said the governor is very hot and well a governor."

"Just uh let me know if it becomes something a bit more serious. I won't dance around it, I like you, I don't know you very well but I know I like hanging out with you and given the chance I want to get to know you better. But if you have other more serious prospects I'll keep that interest more friendly."

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

Snip

"Hmmm? Oh, hey no, it's not serious. Like, she's the governor and I'm just some Mantis...a hot Mantis sure, but like, you know. She'll marry someone rich and boring and important, that's how it is. Gotta do what you gotta do for your people."

Pause.
"Ohhh, oh! Get to know me better...yeah, no I can totally translate Crab."
Another pause, her brow furrowed as she deploys advanced Mantis translators.
"...Kuni-san, are you a romantic?"

Ochiba's subsequent smile is very broad and a little teasing but certainly not mocking.
"You know, a lot of guys would have been like-" changing to a very 'brotomo' voice "-heh, nice, hot babes."
And back to Ochiba vibe.
"But you actually had like, an actual emotional response. Now I'm not even sure your 'getting to know you' was a euphemism. That's super sweet. Unexpected, but not in a bad way. Yah know maybe dating Mantis guys has just left me a little cynical?"

Taking a long sip from her straw.
"Well, I'm interested in 'getting to know you better' as well, and that's only like half a euphemism."

[Kaiu Ryosei]

Nip

He chuckles "More than one Ikoma tale can tell of a person in power shirking their responsibilities for "love" or more realistically a nice butt." He bantered back playfully.

He smiled when she said she wanted to get to know him and he maybe blushed a tiny bit at her implication of half joking status. He thought about her question and he brushed a hand through his hair "Uh I don't know if I'd go that far. I think," he let out a breath "I think I've just had my fill of meaningless flings and one night stands." He wasn't going to pretend to be pure and he'd decided on honesty with Ochiba "not saying I only want to talk to you if we can get married or anything but.....just, looking for something a little bit deeper than a booty call you know?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He chuckles "More than one Ikoma tale can tell of a person in power shirking their responsibilities for "love" or more realistically a nice butt." He bantered back playfully.

He smiled when she said she wanted to get to know him and he maybe blushed a tiny bit at her implication of half joking status. He thought about her question and he brushed a hand through his hair "Uh I don't know if I'd go that far. I think," he let out a breath "I think I've just had my fill of meaningless flings and one night stands." He wasn't going to pretend to be pure and he'd decided on honesty with Ochiba "not saying I only want to talk to you if we can get married or anything but.....just, looking for something a little bit deeper than a booty call you know?"

The first round of appetizers arrives, steaming gently and smelling dangerously good.
"I definitely didn't read those Ikoma tales, sounds like I was missing out, no butts about it."

Ochiba will push a plate of food towards Ryosei but then starts absolutely nuking her rougamo, crunching through the flaky pastry with a look of pure bliss.

"Well-" through a mouth slightly less than half full of food. -"I've been on a ship for half a year with none of the usual comforts so I am trying to catchup at speed. But I respect you're looking for an actual emotional connection, like a functional adult. And sometimes waiting waking up in an empty bed with your partner having left in the night is a bit of a bummer..sometimes."
Chew chew chew, grin.

"So, Kuni deeper-connection-san, you should probably start asking me some questions about myself to establish this connection. Or I'm just gonna keep talking about butts to see you turn red."

[Kaiu Ryosei]

Clip

He shook his head with a small smile, something he found himself doing often when talking to her. "Well the blushing has diminishing returns, I'm already getting more comfortable talking about your butt."

"But your point is valid, So you know what I do but what is it that you do. You've talked about being on a ship, and killing people, but you're here now at this political/economic event. So what is your duty?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

He shook his head with a small smile, something he found himself doing often when talking to her. "Well the blushing has diminishing returns, I'm already getting more comfortable talking about your butt."

"But your point is valid, So you know what I do but what is it that you do. You've talked about being on a ship, and killing people, but you're here now at this political/economic event. So what is your duty?"

"See? We're building confidence together." Wink, then munch munch munch.

"Oh I'm a officially a...cultural liaison, I think? Dunno, I just pulled some strings to get this posting. Figured it would be a good place to have some fun and lay low after my last tour."

Clearly pretty proud about it.
"Let's just say we salvaged a preeeetty valuable ship and so now we're going to take some time to let the heat die down. Not rock the boat too much, you know?"
Shrug.
"So I'm just around for a bit to help the clan with the investments and what not. I'm good with money so that helps but like...you know, I'm gonna try to have a bit of fun myself."

Energetically.
"Okay, my turn! What did you do before you came here? Something mysterious? You said you did the usual Crab tour but that's just like, a year or two, right?"

[Kaiu Ryosei]

Snip

His eyebrows rose as she talked and he locked his head to the side digesting what she had said and trying to parce through what might just be speech patterns and cultural differences and what she was saying happened.

In the mean time he answered her question "Well yes I did serve for a time in the military. Most Crab serve a mandatory two year unless they can get an exemption. Before that I was a student and an engineer still but for my parents company. They run one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Clan. Prior to my military service I was preparing for the day I would take it over." He sighed drinking some more water and eating for a second "then I did my tour, then some other stuff happened and now I'm here running my own shop." There were....many implications to that story.

He ate a little more "so you are military then? What kind of ship did you salvage? And waiting for heat to die down, was this salvage uhhh...legal?"

[Yoritomo Ochiba]

His eyebrows rose as she talked and he locked his head to the side digesting what she had said and trying to parce through what might just be speech patterns and cultural differences and what she was saying happened.

In the mean time he answered her question "Well yes I did serve for a time in the military. Most Crab serve a mandatory two year unless they can get an exemption. Before that I was a student and an engineer still but for my parents company. They run one of the largest manufacturing companies in the Clan. Prior to my military service I was preparing for the day I would take it over." He sighed drinking some more water and eating for a second "then I did my tour, then some other stuff happened and now I'm here running my own shop." There were....many implications to that story.

He ate a little more "so you are military then? What kind of ship did you salvage? And waiting for heat to die down, was this salvage uhhh...legal?"

"Ohhhh, family stuff." She raises her glass "Condolences" -and then tips it back.

"So you're sort of like Crab kuge, but it's complicated? I'm like the opposite, but it's also complicated. Just two complicated samurai I guess." Grin.

"Look, you have trustworthy vibes, so between you and me you could use the 'privateer' word. And whether privateers are technically military is something that depends a lot on whose asking. People who might use another p word would just say we're criminals. Some others might say we're serving our Clan in the most useful way we can."

For all her words, Ochiba's tone is actually pretty mild, as if the distinction isn't something that keeps her up at night.
"So, legal? Depends who's asking." She starts finishing her pastry with gusto before pausing and mumbling through the food "Oh, umm wasn't Crab though, so don't go worrying about that. Wasn't anyone anyone would miss, if you catch my drift."

[Kaiu Ryosei]

"Ohhhh, family stuff." She raises her glass "Condolences" -and then tips it back.

"So you're sort of like Crab kuge, but it's complicated? I'm like the opposite, but it's also complicated. Just two complicated samurai I guess." Grin.

"Look, you have trustworthy vibes, so between you and me you could use the 'privateer' word. And whether privateers are technically military is something that depends a lot on whose asking. People who might use another p word would just say we're criminals. Some others might say we're serving our Clan in the most useful way we can."

For all her words, Ochiba's tone is actually pretty mild, as if the distinction isn't something that keeps her up at night.
"So, legal? Depends who's asking." She starts finishing her pastry with gusto before pausing and mumbling through the food "Oh, umm wasn't Crab though, so don't go worrying about that. Wasn't anyone anyone would miss, if you catch my drift."

"Complicated is a word for it." He makes that wobbly hand motion "My parents weren't born into the kuge but they built the company and they likely wield a similar amount of influence now."

At the rest of her explanation he shrugged "Hey if it's good enough for your Lord and clan it's good enough for me. I got no place to judge you. Privateer, pirate, whatever it is you do as long as you aren't doing it to Crab I see no problem with it."

He finished off his food and considered her for a moment "So when you aren't sailing the astral oceans what do you like to do, outside of partying, drinking, that sort of thing. How do you fill the quiet hours?"