[D6, MA, Expecting] Plushies, claw machines, boba perhaps?

[Bayushi Hinata]

Hinata leans by the door to the Heavenly Claw Arcade, checking his watch as he waits for his... Had he called it a date when he was texting her? This was going to be fun! He hadn't visited an arcade in a while, he probably could do with another plushie to keep that Scorpion Ninja some company. He is dressed in his usual casual-fare from the Orchid Department's latest line, mask hanging from his hip this time rather than his katana. In fact he was unarmed besides his wakizashi.

There are two cups of boba in his hands. He's yet to take a sip out of them, he was hoping they wouldn't be too warm by the time the Spider arrived. An exciting little game was ahead of them. He wasn't showing it, but he was excited.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Thankfully for both the bubble teas and the Scorpion boba delivery man they wouldn't be kept long. Sumiko had returned to the embassy to change after the cooking challenge, changing into less formal clothes that would be better for the weather. Thankfully it wasn't raining anymore!

She approached the arcade, noticing Hinata leaning near the door, and smiled as she got close.

"Are you my boba delivery driver?" she asked with a bow.

[Bayushi Hinata]

The man perks up as she comes into view, bowing in turn as she jokes on the man's identity. As usual, his smile sporeads wide on his features, charming, warm, welcoming even!

"I have a strawberry-lemon boba for... Su... Susume Sumie-sama.... Is that you Honored-samurai?"

He gives her an oblivious look before handing over the boba. "Wanna get a lay of the land before diving in? Strategize? Or do you want to just go straight to losing your stipend?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"That would be Sumiko, not Sumie" Sumiko chuckled as she accepted the drink. Taking a big sip of it before speaking again.

"I wish there were more of these chains around, I never get enough boba on my travels. Ah hai, scouting the field to ensure the best order of attack is the best way to ensure the best coin to plushie ratio" there was another laugh before she reached to open the door "I hope you are well Hinata-san? "

[Bayushi Hinata]

"A mind for strategy, you must be a veteran of these battlefields." He chuckled, nodding with gratefulmness as she opened the door for him.

"I have! I think I've made myself useful in most events. I might not end up with a chain of my own, but my clan will certainly be glad to have brought me along." He led her to exchange their coins for... smaller coins. One zeni for each try on a machine, good thing most would need at least 20 tries to get something out of them.

"If I do maybe I should start up some boba franchise. I've yet to see one inside a space station, maybe there's a market no-ones cornered yet." He took a sip of his own bubble tea, letting it linger on his lips before extending it with a warm smile. "I stole a sip from yours last time. Wanna make us even?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I'm well versed in strategy after many years of library duties" Sumiko chuckled as she entered after Hinata "I have even read the famous book Leadership. Not that I'm very good at this, I just remember what I read."

She took out a few coins to change over, considering the idea.

"The difficulties might be with getting supplies. Space stations can be difficult to supply and are susceptible to disruption. It would be a brave but potentially profitable venture that I would support with any visit to the space stations!"

Then the drink was offered, and she looked up at him as she leant forward to sip on his drink, not looking away from him until she took a long sip and moved away.

[Bayushi Hinata]

"I'm well versed in strategy after many years of library duties" Sumiko chuckled as she entered after Hinata "I have even read the famous book Leadership. Not that I'm very good at this, I just remember what I read."

She took out a few coins to change over, considering the idea.

"The difficulties might be with getting supplies. Space stations can be difficult to supply and are susceptible to disruption. It would be a brave but potentially profitable venture that I would support with any visit to the space stations!"

Then the drink was offered, and she looked up at him as she leant forward to sip on his drink, not looking away from him until she took a long sip and moved away.

"I may not be a historian like yourself. But I like to think Iam well versed in most everything... Not that it'll apply here at all anyways." He gathers his own purse of coins to spend, it shaped like a taiyaki! The Taiyaki jingles happily with it's metallic filling as they turn around to survey the field.

"I can start off small. Maybe extend one of the Green Carp's franchises to the station and go from there. Giving the locations supplies in their planets will probably help... Or maybe I'll just buy a boba cart and take it with me." He taps his chin with his finger before looking back at the spider.

As she holds eye contact the man smirks, the taste of taro and tapioca pearls coats her tatebuds as she sips on his drink. He doesn't break away from her gaze as she leans forwards and then back. Slowly he brings it back up to his own lips, taking a slow sip of his own looking back at her. "It's not as bold as strawberry and lemon, but I think the classics are sometimes best."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko moved away from the drink after a moment and licked her lips.

"I like a classic sometimes Hinata-san" there was a wink as she turned to head towards the machines.

"Which saying do you like more for this battlefield we walk into that is the arcade; Understanding chaos is the key to victory or Spend little time on the plan, for the only thing that is certain is that something will go wrong" the girl asked

[Bayushi Hinata]

Sumiko moved away from the drink after a moment and licked her lips.

"I like a classic sometimes Hinata-san" there was a wink as she turned to head towards the machines.

"Which saying do you like more for this battlefield we walk into that is the arcade; Understanding chaos is the key to victory or Spend little time on the plan, for the only thing that is certain is that something will go wrong" the girl asked

Did he just call himself a classic? Was that bold or just delusional? He lets out a chuckle as he follows after.

"I'd lean towards the second one. I don't think either of us is truly suited to the slow, methodical approach. How about we scout out a prize you want to grab and dive right in?" He walked beside her, looking over the different machines.

Plushies of animals, pop culture icons, caricatures of the different clans. There was that Hida Kisada plushie she had purchased the other day, guess Yasuki Sango had got it from here.

"Let me know if you see a fun pillow thing. My hotel did not provide me many cushions, my neck might suffer if I don't remedy it soon."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I suppose the Scorpion would prefer Lies over Leadership" Sumiko chuckled "the unplanned approach it is! I can see machines at the back which are far bigger. That'll have more pillow-like plushies, although I can't tell you how good they'll be as pillows until I hold one. As an expert on plushie to pillow scales there is important metrics on whether one will be better for a pillow or not."

She took a sip of her boba as she started off to the furthest part of the arcade. Then came to a stop, looking left and right before deciding on left.

"15...16...17...18. Ok, this one!" She had stopped in front of a machine. It had a lot of large plushies.

[Bayushi Hinata]

"I suppose the Scorpion would prefer Lies over Leadership" Sumiko chuckled "the unplanned approach it is! I can see machines at the back which are far bigger. That'll have more pillow-like plushies, although I can't tell you how good they'll be as pillows until I hold one. As an expert on plushie to pillow scales there is important metrics on whether one will be better for a pillow or not."

She took a sip of her boba as she started off to the furthest part of the arcade. Then came to a stop, looking left and right before deciding on left.

"15...16...17...18. Ok, this one!" She had stopped in front of a machine. It had a lot of large plushies.

"Predictable I know. Stereotypical even. At least I got the looks to match, it's not all so bad is it?" He chuckled as he approached the machine, eyeing the possible prizes, even as he gets up to the glass his body remains perhaps a little too close for propriety. An accident of course, he's just looking into the machine right?

"No spiders? I was hoping I'd grab one as a reminder... Maybe in another machine. I think that Tanuki looks comfy." He turns to look at the spider, at this distance it might even hint at intimacy. But neither of them had pretended to be innocent regarding this game. At this point they'd both tease ach other until one cracked... Or got their prize.

"What do you think? Any price you want to grab for yourself?" He says with a playful smirk.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I would guess they don't have spider plushies for security reasons" Sumiko replied with a small chuckle as she reviewed the plushies on offer.

"Hmm...the tanuki is very cute. I like the owl also. And there's very round looking dragons. Oh that purple one in the middle looks just like a..." she quickly stopped herself saying what she was going to say. Thinking a moment before finally saying "the big owl plushie looks the most comfy if you were looking for a pillow."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"I'll have to keep looking I guess." He shrugged. He turned once again to look into the machine, eyes following each of her appreciations regarding the plushies. He turns to raise an eyebrow as she stops herself before his hand drifts onto the joystick, brushing against her as he gently pushes into her space to position himself. His cologne smelled sweet, like strawberries.

"Let's aim for the owl then, I'll let you squeeze it plenty to test it out as a pillow, deal?" He smirks before he begins to move the claw above the prizes. He was about to make a complete fool of himself, and he knew it. This was about to be heaps of fun!

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko moved closer to the machine, on the side the owl was. She didn't need to crouch down too much, being quite small already, and she stayed like that for a few moments before stepping back.

"It talon is caught under the llama thing behind it so you'll need to lift it by the belly to get it out I think" Sumiko nodded a few times, looking serious as she studied it before smiling.

"If you can lift it at an angle it should come out but I don't know if the claw is big enough to get around it. I believe in Hinata-san!"

[Bayushi Hinata]

The young man pokes his tongue out the corner of his mouth as he focuses ont he task at hand. Lining up the claw as best he can, gentle taps for fine tuning his attempt. He lets go and leans against the glass before pressing the button, watching attentively...

https://sakkaku.org/r/20194
17 against mystery TN? Of course it's harder than 17!

The attempt is solid for the most part. The owl is caught in the claw, and lifted... and promptly dropped as the grip is lost. Free from the snag it was held in prior, yet still not in their possession.

"Aww... I would've looked so cool if I snagged it on the first try..." Soft laughter escapes his mouth as he inserts the next coin. "Wanna take turns? I'll pay for this one."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko had peeked back at Hinata and a grin appeared at the tongue poking out. He was adorable when he focused! She turned back to the glass, studying it as the claw went down. It was big enough to grip it, but the owls shape was awkward...as the grip being lost showed.

"The owl is a tough catch" she commented thoughtfully, looking back at Hinata "I think you had it if not for the foot! I can give it a try though if you want."

[Bayushi Hinata]

Sumiko had peeked back at Hinata and a grin appeared at the tongue poking out. He was adorable when he focused! She turned back to the glass, studying it as the claw went down. It was big enough to grip it, but the owls shape was awkward...as the grip being lost showed.

"The owl is a tough catch" she commented thoughtfully, looking back at Hinata "I think you had it if not for the foot! I can give it a try though if you want."

"Let's take turns! We'll split the catch once we're done with our coins." He took a step to the side. A very short one, definetely not enough for her to comfortably handle the machine without scooching closer to him...

"I'm not int he way am I? Should I step off to the side some more Sumi-chan?" He gives her a wide grin. Wondering if she'll play ball like the previous attempts at flustering her.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko moved to take the spot, then realised the space wasn't quite enough. There was a small test of the controls, her arm brushing against him as she tested moving it before putting some coins in.

"I can fit into small spaces don't worry" she looked up at him with a smirk before turning back to focus. Remaining as close as she could as she maneuvered the arm. A look of focus on her face as she judged the positioning of the claw as best she could...and thankfully because of the moving Hinata had done she was able to hook it.

"Good teamwork" she said as the arm started pulling the large owl up.

[Bayushi Hinata]

He makes sure to brush up plenty against her, almost as if he's tryng ti imprint his scent on her clothes. How blunt.

"Ah! Don't mind me then~" He happily remains there invading her personal space.

The claw picks up the owl with a much better grip this time, it travels all the way back to the dropoff point, and let's go of it without a hitch.

"Ha! Great work Sumi-chan! You've got experience in this sort of thing huh?" He reached down to grab the plushie. Bending down scandalously low, giving Sumiko a good eyeful before coming back up with the plushie, rubbing his face against it. "Oh it's so nice! Soft, fluffy, I'm quite liking it! Here have a feel."

He bent down, meeting Sumi at eye level, plushie still stuck to his face opposite to the machine. A playful smirk plays on his features, the plushie blocked the rest of the arcade from the young man's face. there was certainly space for one more in the tiny hiding spot right?

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I only got it because you set it up first" Sumiko offered with a smile as he picked up the owl, watching him squeeze it with amusement. She knew this game well.

"Seems like you found your pillow then Hinata-kun, I'll have to reluctantly claim the next plushie instead of the one that's nearly my size."

When he bent down, her eyes met his and she reached out...to playfully poke Hinata on the nose, then laughed before wrapping both of her arms round the big plushie to squeeze it.

"Ooh that is really soft! I want one like this!"