D5MM, Out for a Ride (Expecting, but technically Open)

[Miya Kisha]

After the debacle at the docks, Kisha recalls that she does have some ceremonial readiness to maintain. And so it is that she goes to her pony, being stabled out this way per dictates of local government, and takes the time to do basic grooming on the beast.

There's a soothing comfort in the familiar practice.

[Moto Shiwahime]

The Miya was not the only one who had enough of fish this morning: On the nearby road came a very distinct figure on her rented bike.

And she was coming at high speed, at least initially. The closer she came to more she slowed down to legal speed...and then to a stop very near but not near enough to spook the pony.

Shiwahime removed her helmet, smiling brightly and waved at the Miya before coming closer

''Good morning Miya-sama! How's your morning?'' the Moto's eyes seemed to shine when thay came to rest on the animal. ''Is this yours?''

[Miya Kisha]

"Hey, Moto-san!" Kisha returns the wave with a chipper smile. "Fancy meeting you here!

"But, yes, this is my pony, Dento-no-gimu. And she is a very good girl, isn't she?"

The pony nickers and stamps a little.

"Nice bike," she adds. "Yours from home?"

The Miya being a Miya and knowing things, she extends a hand to the Moto.

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime gladly took the Miya's hand, quite glad at the gesture.

''Your mount is absolutely adorable, Miya-sama. I'm always happy to see a genuine horse...I don't get to see them often.''

She glanced back to the bike

''Nah...it's good but it's a rental. They usually don't allow to me to bring mine around outside of Unicorn space''

[Miya Kisha]

Kisha's handshake is nothing to write home about, really; it's clear she's not a strong woman.

"From a Unicorn," she says, "any praise for a horse is welcome. And Dento, here, is a thoroughly traveled animal, aren't you?"

She pets the pony.

"The branch of the Family I come from was pretty insistent that I take a whole lot of training in traditional skills. 'Have to carry on the ennobled legacy' and all that. So I ride a litte, I hunt a little, that kind of thing. Someday, the thinking is, it'll make me a good wife."

She shrugs. "That's what they tell me, anyway. Hasn't been much done that way yet, not that I mind."

[Moto Shiwahime]

''There are some traditions that are important to keep, to remind us of where we came from.'' she commented with a nod

''I rode some horses when I was a kid...the genuine unicorn thing...descendants from the herds of old Rokugan.''

She sighed

''We keep the herds healthy and safe but it's mostly a pastime for people of status as we...seldomly...ride them to war. Most of us grunts have motorized vehicles. I love my machine, don't doubt it, it's just...not the same. Y'know.'''

[Miya Kisha]

Kisha nods as she keeps brushing Dento.

"It's largely a ceremonial thing," she agrees. "Given what we have now, it doesn't take a shisha to deliver any but the most restricted or formal messages. The former, like you say, get mechanized. The latter, well, we can take a little more time for that kind of thing, can't we?"

She pats the horse's flank and looks up at the Moto woman.

"I'd be happy to let you take a ride," she says. "If you want. No worries if not."

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime seemed happy at the offer but it was to her own chagrin that she had to decline

"Your offer warms my heart but I am afraid that I'm a bit too big for her. I'd hate to be the cause of an injury."

She tilted her head

"But we could ride side by side and give her a Little exercice, yes?"

[Miya Kisha]

"I'd like that!" Kisha says, and she mounts, the motion a little stiff but clearly familiar.

"So, what kind of bike do you have at home?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

''It's custom made and I adore her but 'pretty' can't quite apply. She's quite the beast, actually...probably why they don't allow her anywhere. But she is what she is because that's what is called for in my line of work: tough, durable, able to make ground in any weather or terrain...and able to take a hit and give as much.''

She walked towards the rental as she explained and mounted, opting to change the engine's setting for a more quiet and smoother ride as to not spook the horse.

''So you hunt as well?''

[Miya Kisha]

"A little," Kisha replies. "My parents are of the opinion that ladies of a certain station should be capable of certain exertions, at least enough to accompany their more accomplished spouses while they enjoy them." She shrugs. "So I can hunt a little and shoot a little, and I do decently enough at keeping my saddle. But I wouldn't necessarily say I'm good with a gun or at knowing where I need to point it.

"I take it Moto-san would call herself good at such pursuits?"

The horse begins to amble along.

[Moto Shiwahime]

''HA!'' the unicorn laughed ''Your parents are that kind of traditional...damn. I don't know what I'd do in your shoes Miya-sama.''

The slow hum of the now docile engine filled the air for a second

''I'm good at driving and I do love the rush of high speed races but I can't spend as much time as I'd want sharpening that. On the subject of hunting or being a shot...I'd like to boast but in honesty I'm just a novice in both. Useful skills to have but none that I sharpen much''

She quirked an eyebrow, remembering something

''What's a Shisha?''

[Miya Kisha]

"'Shisha' is just the old word for the Miya Heralds," Kisha says. "Just like the Seppun bushi were called Miharu and the Otomo courtiers were the Seiyaku. Traditionally, there are particular legal protections afforded, since we're supposed to be neutral parties.

"For the Shisha, there was a kind of wicker cloak, a horo, that was the badge of office. It also served as universal traveling papers, but wearing it when not acting in an official capacity could result in public beatings or worse. Some would have to find that out the hard way, alas, but not everybody's a good student.

"As far as my shoes, though," and here, Kisha smiles, "I think they'd pinch you terribly. You might not have noticed, but there's not a lot of me to cover."

She winks.

[Moto Shiwahime]

She chuckles

''Hai...but is it not the saying that in the smallest flasks are the most potent medicine? Hell, I can't even fit in some of my shoes. Last night at the Edge of Darkness larp I wore boots with heels and midway in my feet were just torturing me.''

She gave a nod

''Thanks for the history bit. It was interesting''

[Miya Kisha]

"Oh, Kami, were you wrapped up in all that, too?" Kisha asks, her tone playfully facetious. "I mean, I had to put in, but I really did not expect it to be quite that involved!"

She looks over at the Moto. "I bet you cut quite the imposing figure, though, even in heels. Or maybe especially, letting you loom more..."

There is a faint blush as Kisha claps her mouth shut. "I'm sorry. I run off at the mouth sometimes."

[Moto Shiwahime]

''Oh! You were there too?'' The Moto took some glances to see if she could remember if she had seen the Miya in costume ''I had mad fun. I'm a poor actress, no talent whatsoever, but that didn't seem to matter too much. The heels gave me a hip sway that could almost pass as seductive in poor lighting with bad eyesight''

That was an experience

''Heh, don't worry about that Miya-sama. I know what I look like'' she replied in good humor

[Miya Kisha]

Kisha sighs.

"Yeah, I was there," she says, her tone somewhat abashed. "Somehow, I got made head of Blue Fog.

"How? I have no idea. I really just stumbled into it, lack of any hip-sway or anything."

She sits up in the saddle. "Oh, Kami, do I have responsibilities for something with this, now?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

''Oh no...I don't think so. None that you actually need to take...I think.'' She wasn't so sure ''The whole affair was fun but I dunno if it's representative of larping in general.''

She shrugged

''No need to be embarrassed or anything, it's just like a play...after all''

[Miya Kisha]

"I'll hope you're right," Kisha says. "I don't know if I'm ready to reign over a bunch of pasty, life-sapping dramatists.

"Then again, I have done corporate work, so..."

The Miya smiles.

"But you're right; it's not an embarrassment. Although I do wonder if some of the people who take their hobbies more seriously might make trouble as a result of it all. It's happened before, you know."

[Moto Shiwahime]

''I ain't no wise gal but I think the problem is when is when someone takes themselves too seriously. No matter what they do they'll be bound to be a drain on anyone alse around.''

She frowned trying to remember something

''Some wise dude said something about that...I think? Consider yourself lightly, consider the world deeply?'' She quirks an eyebrow as if waiting for confirmation.

''There were larping drama before? Like the trash in the coast of Tensin town?''