[D6 LE| Expecting but open] A run in with a Scorpion... or is it with a Dragon? Who's running into who?

[Bayushi Hinata]

As dusk settles over the island the younger samurai take to the streets to de-stress after long days of hard work. Shugenja hunt for snacks after long days of prayer and tending to the spiritual well being of their clans, bushi stretch their legs after standing around all day looking menacing, and courtiers wet their tongues after talking so much their teeth might fall off.

It is in this twilight that fortunes ply their tricky trade, the threads of fate cross and mingle and intertwine, unravel and fray, in the chaos of uncertainty and licentious impulse figures walk the streets looking for entretainment. A young man standing tall and distractingly handsome waits in line to exchange some koku for zeni in order to paw at the claw machines and gashapon in vain attempts at acquiring a prize as his day winds down. A mask of crimson features and golden eyes peers as it hangs from the side oh his temple, an intimidating visage that would ward off evil spirits if it wasn't for the welcoming cool of his eyes. Why was a scoprion not wearing their mask properly?

[Tamori Kanna]

ding!

It wasn't often that Kanna was out and about at this hour, as she usually rose early to do her fitness regimen, but after an evening of cooking it was nice to step out and have some fun. It started out as just a snack-run to a konbini, then a walk to get some boba, and now she was at... this amazing place!

So many gacha machines, claw machines, crane games, and other fun machines! She was so easily swept up in it all.

After having tried some gachapons, Kanna met her biggest rival yet today... this machine was just a little... tall. She could operate it fine, but it was really hard to get a good look or vantage point to see where to steer the three-armed claw to grab anything of interest. "Come ooooon..." she grumbled softly and stood on the tips of her toes to the best of her abilities.

[Bayushi Hinata]

Ping!

The Scorpion walks around the different machines, looking around for possible prizes, he was bent on finding a spider plushie. There had to be at least One plushie in the shape of a spider, the crab couldn't be THAT set in their hate right?

Right?

He cards his fingers over the coins inside his taiyaki shaped coin purse. Until he passes the dragon struggling with her machine. She was... That was as one of the dragon delegation was she not? He did a double take, seeing her fight her height to get a good looks t what she was doing. He tilted his head and shrugged, what's the harm?

"Need a hand Dragon-sama?" When Kanna turns to look she is met with a man's chest, craning up her neck she'll get a better picture of the handsome man leaning against her machine, a plush taiyaki in his hand and a smirk on his face.

Bayushi Mon, Orchid Department logo, Scorpion colors... And the mask anywhere but his face....

"Did you want a specific prize? Or just whatever you could get?"

[Tamori Kanna]

"Need a hand Dragon-sama?" When Kanna turns to look she is met with a man's chest, craning up her neck she'll get a better picture of the handsome man leaning against her machine, a plush taiyaki in his hand and a smirk on his face.

Bayushi Mon, Orchid Department logo, Scorpion colors... And the mask anywhere but his face....

"Did you want a specific prize? Or just whatever you could get?"

"Oh... Scorpion-san," she looks up, and then bows, "good evening. I like your mask!" Greeting and compliment done! Very important.

"I think I saw a Bayushi Hana collectible in there, but I can't get a good angle to from my height! Pretty sure it's Season 8 of Starlight Miko Crusaders. Do you see it? You're much taller than me."

[Bayushi Hinata]

"Oh... Scorpion-san," she looks up, and then bows, "good evening. I like your mask!" Greeting and compliment done! Very important.

"I think I saw a Bayushi Hana collectible in there, but I can't get a good angle to from my height! Pretty sure it's Season 8 of Starlight Miko Crusaders. Do you see it? You're much taller than me."

The man smiles and gives a curt bow, smiling all the while. "Thank you! It was my mother's, my father made it for her back when they met!" He seems to light up at the topic before refocusing on the task at hand.

"Hmmmm... Let me... Oh yeah! She's right over there, you need to move the claw a little to the right..." He says as he peers over the barrier quite easily. Perks of being a ffoot taller than a tiny Dragon.

"You'rre with the dragon delegation neh? You have a personal assistant, is he not around to help you?" He doesn't turn to look at her as he asks, monitoring her movements on the claw.

[Tamori Kanna]

"Hmmmm... Let me... Oh yeah! She's right over there, you need to move the claw a little to the right..." He says as he peers over the barrier quite easily. Perks of being a ffoot taller than a tiny Dragon.

"You'rre with the dragon delegation neh? You have a personal assistant, is he not around to help you?" He doesn't turn to look at her as he asks, monitoring her movements on the claw.

"Hmmmm," her lips quirk in concentration as she follows Hinata's directions.

"Yeah, I am!" Kanna replies, still focused. "He is dog-sitting. Kaida gets too excited with these places... so many noises and blinking lights, and all the little toys he wants to chew. He is mostly well-behaved though, but no need to stress him out!" The crane whirrs as it hovers over the right spot. "I'm Tamori Kanna, a pleasure to meet you, Bayushi-san!"

[Bayushi Hinata]

"Hmmmm," her lips quirk in concentration as she follows Hinata's directions.

"Yeah, I am!" Kanna replies, still focused. "He is dog-sitting. Kaida gets too excited with these places... so many noises and blinking lights, and all the little toys he wants to chew. He is mostly well-behaved though, but no need to stress him out!" The crane whirrs as it hovers over the right spot. "I'm Tamori Kanna, a pleasure to meet you, Bayushi-san!"

"I understand. It's good to see you take good care of your pets. It speaks very highly of you." He smiles warmly, a little too close for propriety perhaps. Kaida may get excited with all the blinking lights and noises, was Kanna similarly vulnerable to the roguish good looks and praises of a Scorpion?

"Iam Bayushi Hinata. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He looks over the claw one more time. His hand reaches out for the controlling stick, his fingers gently come over Kanna's as he looks at the crane, moving her hand to give it a couple adjustments. Just as abrupt as it comes it is gone again, the warmth of his hand lingering on her skin.

"There! You're right over the figure. Give it a try?" His smile has seemingly taken on a different meaning, even if his expression hasn't changed.

[Tamori Kanna]

"There! You're right over the figure. Give it a try?" His smile has seemingly taken on a different meaning, even if his expression hasn't changed.

"You have the same name as Ta-kun in Usagi Drop! But he's Asahina Hinata, and not Bayushi." Obviously.

Kanna blushes a little from the touch, but doesn't call attention to it. It would be rude, especially if he didn't mean to.

"Y-yes!"

The claw dives down, and Kanna stands on her tip toe again to make sure she's getting it. "Yes!" She nearly fistpumps the air as she catches the Bayushi Shana collectible figure, but manages to keep her hands on the stick, guiding the claw up and to the drop-off point.

THUNK!

Payload delivered.

"Yay! Thank you, Bayushi-san!" She holds up her hand for a high-five!

[Bayushi Hinata]

"You have the same name as Ta-kun in Usagi Drop! But he's Asahina Hinata, and not Bayushi." Obviously.

Kanna blushes a little from the touch, but doesn't call attention to it. It would be rude, especially if he didn't mean to.

"Y-yes!"

The claw dives down, and Kanna stands on her tip toe again to make sure she's getting it. "Yes!" She nearly fistpumps the air as she catches the Bayushi Shana collectible figure, but manages to keep her hands on the stick, guiding the claw up and to the drop-off point.

THUNK!

Payload delivered.

"Yay! Thank you, Bayushi-san!" She holds up her hand for a high-five!

"I know right?! It's a funny coincidence. It's nailed me a few conversations with other fans." He says with enthusiasm. Turning his head as he hears the figure fall into place.

"It's nothing! Everyone needs a hand every once in a while right?" He doesn't have to raise his hand much at all to match Kanna's high-five, though he does seem to invade her personal space a little bit more once he turns to meet her hand. Did it, linger a little bit too long on her palm? or was it Kanna's imagination? Were all Scorpions this imporper? Or forward....?

"Does that finish your collection perhaps? Or were you looking to pick up other figures to match the whole set? I see... Well the Unicorn, Spider and Crane in there... Sorry, I only know the Scorpion's name, for obvious reason. If not... would you like a hand with another machine perhaps? I saw one with snacks ca couple rows back." He pointed a thumb behind him, smiling down at her. His cologne smelled of vanilla and strawberries... Kami he was far too close if she could smell him!

[Tamori Kanna]

"I know right?! It's a funny coincidence. It's nailed me a few conversations with other fans." He says with enthusiasm. Turning his head as he hears the figure fall into place.

"It's nothing! Everyone needs a hand every once in a while right?" He doesn't have to raise his hand much at all to match Kanna's high-five, though he does seem to invade her personal space a little bit more once he turns to meet her hand. Did it, linger a little bit too long on her palm? or was it Kanna's imagination? Were all Scorpions this imporper? Or forward....?

"Does that finish your collection perhaps? Or were you looking to pick up other figures to match the whole set? I see... Well the Unicorn, Spider and Crane in there... Sorry, I only know the Scorpion's name, for obvious reason. If not... would you like a hand with another machine perhaps? I saw one with snacks ca couple rows back." He pointed a thumb behind him, smiling down at her. His cologne smelled of vanilla and strawberries... Kami he was far too close if she could smell him!

The Dragon is quick to pick up her prize after their hands part. Even if someone else was improper or too forward, she wouldn't be!

"I don't think anyone can say they have a complete Starlight Miko Crusader collection! But snacks sounds great, yeah," Kanna grins, clutching the box of the figurine to her chest as she already begins to move in the direction Hinata had pointed out.

"That's a fancy cologne you're wearing, very nice!" Unabashedly she compliments him, "is that from the Orchid Department you and Bayushi-sama represent?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

The Dragon is quick to pick up her prize after their hands part. Even if someone else was improper or too forward, she wouldn't be!

"I don't think anyone can say they have a complete Starlight Miko Crusader collection! But snacks sounds great, yeah," Kanna grins, clutching the box of the figurine to her chest as she already begins to move in the direction Hinata had pointed out.

"That's a fancy cologne you're wearing, very nice!" Unabashedly she compliments him, "is that from the Orchid Department you and Bayushi-sama represent?"

He smiles as she walks past him, letting out a soft chuckle as he turned to follow. "How so? Just too many lines to feasibly own? I guess a better question is 'Did you need any of those for your set?' perhaps" He quickly catches up though. Without leaning he stood a whole foot over the tiny dragon. The mask hanging from his head stares down at her with a scowl before his face takes center stage once more, the icy blue eyes of a crane, cool like spring breeze meet hers as they make their way.

"You like it? It is indeed. An older line though, but I like it a lot. Makes me smell like dessert." He gave her a playful wink before directing his attention forward.

"I think they had a machine with Pocky... ah! Here." before she had a chance to process his last gesture he pointed to a claw machibne filled with different flavours of Pocky. Chocolate, matcha, vanilla.... strawberry....

[Tamori Kanna]

He smiles as she walks past him, letting out a soft chuckle as he turned to follow. "How so? Just too many lines to feasibly own? I guess a better question is 'Did you need any of those for your set?' perhaps" He quickly catches up though. Without leaning he stood a whole foot over the tiny dragon. The mask hanging from his head stares down at her with a scowl before his face takes center stage once more, the icy blue eyes of a crane, cool like spring breeze meet hers as they make their way.

"You like it? It is indeed. An older line though, but I like it a lot. Makes me smell like dessert." He gave her a playful wink before directing his attention forward.

"I think they had a machine with Pocky... ah! Here." before she had a chance to process his last gesture he pointed to a claw machibne filled with different flavours of Pocky. Chocolate, matcha, vanilla.... strawberry....

"SMC has been on air for generations! How can anyone feasibly collect everything, from all the seasons, spin-offs, games, comic books, musicals, and... probably more I can't think of right now."

Her green eyes stare back, innocent and cheerful. "Oh, did you get something in your eye?" she asks in response to his wink.

Pocky! Her concern about Hinata's eye problems were gone. "Oooh, Matcha is my favorite. Let's see if we can get that, yeah?"

[Bayushi Hinata]

"SMC has been on air for generations! How can anyone feasibly collect everything, from all the seasons, spin-offs, games, comic books, musicals, and... probably more I can't think of right now."

Her green eyes stare back, innocent and cheerful. "Oh, did you get something in your eye?" she asks in response to his wink.

Pocky! Her concern about Hinata's eye problems were gone. "Oooh, Matcha is my favorite. Let's see if we can get that, yeah?"

"Figured as much. But I like to think collections are finished when the collector deems it so. Can't spend your whole life looking for a final piece to make you whole right? You gotta be okay with an incoplete set every once in a while." Such... he does not look nearly of enough age to be spouting such nonesense.

"I might have... wanna look clo-" Ash she moves on, entranced by the prospect of matcha flavoured pocky he lets out a soft chuckle. He follows behind and peers into the machine.

"We might have to pick up one of those white chocolate boxes to make catching a matcha one easier... I've never tried the matcha ones now that I think about it. The others just sound less... what's a word for it? Less out there?" He scratched his chin a she thought of the correct term.

"Here." He procures a taiyaki shaped coinpurse, extending it to the dragon. "Snacks are on me"

[Tamori Kanna]

"Figured as much. But I like to think collections are finished when the collector deems it so. Can't spend your whole life looking for a final piece to make you whole right? You gotta be okay with an incoplete set every once in a while." Such... he does not look nearly of enough age to be spouting such nonesense.

"I might have... wanna look clo-" Ash she moves on, entranced by the prospect of matcha flavoured pocky he lets out a soft chuckle. He follows behind and peers into the machine.

"We might have to pick up one of those white chocolate boxes to make catching a matcha one easier... I've never tried the matcha ones now that I think about it. The others just sound less... what's a word for it? Less out there?" He scratched his chin a she thought of the correct term.

"Here." He procures a taiyaki shaped coinpurse, extending it to the dragon. "Snacks are on me"

Hmm was that a gift? Should she refuse politely, as expected?

"Alright. Thank you! I will treat you to something to drink then, if you're thirsty. That is only fair!" Problem solved! Now she didn't have to make things awkward because of gift-giving or whatever. "It sounds like a pretty good idea, to get two then. White chocolate probably goes well with matcha, and... what? You haven't had matcha flavored pocky before!?"

She gasps, looking up at him in absolute shock. "But matcha is the greatest flavor! Every product has a matcha flavor!"

[Bayushi Hinata]

Hmm was that a gift? Should she refuse politely, as expected?

"Alright. Thank you! I will treat you to something to drink then, if you're thirsty. That is only fair!" Problem solved! Now she didn't have to make things awkward because of gift-giving or whatever. "It sounds like a pretty good idea, to get two then. White chocolate probably goes well with matcha, and... what? You haven't had matcha flavored pocky before!?"

She gasps, looking up at him in absolute shock. "But matcha is the greatest flavor! Every product has a matcha flavor!"

"You've got yourself a deal Tamori-sama!" He deposits the coin purse on her comparatively tiny hands with a clink. It is soft and fluffy!

"You think so? I'm not much of a-" He is caught off guard by the outburst from the Dragon. He seems to shrink under her scrutiny, lips pursing and eyes widening as she questions his life decisions.

"N- no I'm... I don't like artificial matcha flavour-"

[Tamori Kanna]

"You've got yourself a deal Tamori-sama!" He deposits the coin purse on her comparatively tiny hands with a clink. It is soft and fluffy!

"You think so? I'm not much of a-" He is caught off guard by the outburst from the Dragon. He seems to shrink under her scrutiny, lips pursing and eyes widening as she questions his life decisions.

"N- no I'm... I don't like artificial matcha flavour-"

"Aww such a cute coin purse!" she comments, even squeeing a little at how cute and soft it was! A taiyaki coin purse was quite brilliant. She only had a frog coin purse herself, but most of the time she just transferred with her densai - digital was the future!

But she still had to interrogate him on the finer aspects of matcha flavor. "... Oh ok! That's fair!" She accepted that explanation at face-value. "I don't like artificial flavorings all that much myself. Like artificial cherry? Terrible!"

[Bayushi Hinata]

"You've got yourself a deal Tamori-sama!" He deposits the coin purse on her comparatively tiny hands with a clink. It is soft and fluffy!

"You think so? I'm not much of a-" He is caught off guard by the outburst from the Dragon. He seems to shrink under her scrutiny, lips pursing and eyes widening as she questions his life decisions.

"N- no I'm... I don't like artificial matcha flavour-"

"Aww such a cute coin purse!" she comments, even squeeing a little at how cute and soft it was! A taiyaki coin purse was quite brilliant. She only had a frog coin purse herself, but most of the time she just transferred with her densai - digital was the future!

But she still had to interrogate him on the finer aspects of matcha flavor. "... Oh ok! That's fair!" She accepted that explanation at face-value. "I don't like artificial flavorings all that much myself. Like artificial cherry? Terrible!"

"I've had it for quite some time, it's pretty cute isn't it?"

Hinata's expression light up like widlfire.

"Oh my kami I hate it too! It reminds me of the cough syrup my parents gave me as a child." For a moment the young man seems free of all pretense, dispensed from the alluring attitude and roguish confidence. "It's so bad!" He laughs, and for a moment Kanna can see it, a peek behind the mask, she can almost see the boy grimacing at the taste of artificial cherry cough syrup, and that enjoyed the idea of a coin purse shaped like a pastry. As his laughter winds down the man was back, composed, alluring and fashionably personable.

"I may not be the biggest fan of matcha, but the artificial flavour is simply bad. I'll happily take white chocolate."

[Tamori Kanna]

"I've had it for quite some time, it's pretty cute isn't it?"

Hinata's expression light up like widlfire.

"Oh my kami I hate it too! It reminds me of the cough syrup my parents gave me as a child." For a moment the young man seems free of all pretense, dispensed from the alluring attitude and roguish confidence. "It's so bad!" He laughs, and for a moment Kanna can see it, a peek behind the mask, she can almost see the boy grimacing at the taste of artificial cherry cough syrup, and that enjoyed the idea of a coin purse shaped like a pastry. As his laughter winds down the man was back, composed, alluring and fashionably personable.

"I may not be the biggest fan of matcha, but the artificial flavour is simply bad. I'll happily take white chocolate."

"It really is," she agreed, giving the pouch another look over.

Then, much to her surprise, it seemed to her like she saw the real Bayushi Hinata! She couldn't help but to laugh along, though she was laughing at more than just the shared dislike of artificial cherry.

"White chocolate for you then. But, you should be yourself more, Bayushi-san!" Kanna giggles. "You have a nice laugh when it's your real laugh."

[Bayushi Hinata]

The man tilts his head at her, blinking s couple times.

"Whatever do you mean by that. I don't laugh unless I find something funny." He turned his attention back to the machine.

"Iam always myself. That's the Scorpion Clan's lesson. Iam the mask, and what's underneath." He gave her a sideways glance before returning to their task.

"You'll need to give it a few nudges to the right... A little more" he continues to guide Kana's moves within the machine with a wide smile on his face .

[Tamori Kanna]

"Hmmmm..."

It was unclear if her moment of focus was on Hinata's explanation, or following his direction on the machine. The mechanical arm whirred softly as it moved to the right with her careful motions of the controls... thud! The noise declared that it had found something and shoved it off.

"You seemed for a moment there different though. Like you weren't trying to be flirty, but sharing something."