[D8, ME, Honoka] Scales of Pincer and Claw

[Yasuki Honoka]

Arranged with Tamori Kanna, and Kaiu Nagisa, was an address of the letter sent by the Dragon. As such, with these new and comfortable faces Honoka would declare a good use of her otherwise very underused penthouse. This penthouse stood stop the Nakahama branch of Yasuki Data Inc. which Honoka was in every way that mattered was effectively in charge of. Entering the corporate space may feel awkward for her guests as they would enter. However, once they announce themselves at the front desk they would be immediately taken care of.

Directed to the elevators and guided to Honoka's penthouse they would be treated to a impressively decorated hallway. Then, through the doors, into a space that looked like it was taken straight out of a movie of high level executives and their living spaces. Which was conveniently what Honoka effectively was.

Within their was the guidance by a servant hired for the evening to help with cooking, guiding, and other general affairs. A Heimen who was on loan for all the needs they might have which would otherwise distract from their meeting. As well it allowed Honoka to not be waiting presently for her guests. Which was a great boon to her work which, upon the first comers entry, they would hear her working on finishing up prior to joining everyone from another room.

[Tamori Kanna]

Tonight was one of the rare occasions that Kanna did not have Kaida nor Igoro with her. Kaida had been taking turns in being attached to his two favorite hoomans, and was finishing the day off with being glued to Igoro's lap and being his designated 'nurse'.

Dressed in the same simple outfit she had worn for the vigil of Yasuki Kaito earlier that day, the small Dragon woman arrived punctual and on time for the arranged meeting. It was... going to be a strange meeting, considering what had happened yesterday. One of the Crab's kin had died after all, so it felt a bit off to be meeting to talk potential business.

Arriving to the penthouse apartment itself, she did look around with some curiousity and amazement, taking in the personal style touches here. And who knew, maybe there were crabs living here too?

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Nagisa knew it was always best to look at least semi-presentable when visiting Honoka at her residence. So she had to pull out the dreaded… Shirt and tie combo. Her white business shirt with a navy blue tie, along with her navy blue slacks made her look like an entirely different Kaiu. And she hated it. Almost as much as she hated the conversation with her mom she was having on her communicator as she arrives to the penthouse.

“Mother, I’m sorry I didn’t call you… I didn’t want you to be worried.” A sigh, she hadn’t informed her mother about the attack on her the previous night. But she heard about it regardless. “Mother, please, I’m arriving at Honoka’s place can we- what? No, it’s nothing like that. Can we have this conversation— No, mother, we are not having that conversation tonight. I’m having dinner soon, I really need to go now. Yes, love you. Bye.”

Finally she was done. Time to slip on the tie clip she knew would please her friend to see.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Settingposting

Right behind her was Kitsuki Ichitaiyo, standing tall and black-clad, with a pristine white shirt beneath her sharp silhouette. She followed behind as the shugenya's monochrome shadow, her slate eyes veering side to side, raking into her mind every detail and gesture that she could perceive.

She only hoped that her presence comforted Kanna, as the very least after so much she owed her.

[Yasuki Honoka]

The guests were each, promptly in the order they arrived, gathered by the Heimin and brought to the dining room which was a closed in modernist space with lots of stone block shapes. Notably, for Kanna's be edit especially, they would walk past the living space area which at the entrance where they passed contained a large and ornate tank for a crab with exceedingly long legs milling about peaceably.

As the Dragon had arrived together they were offered and treated to tea in the interim if accepted. However, regardless of whether they had or not when Nagisa arrives and is escorted into the room they would not wait long before they heard Honoka being fetched. At such time she quickly ended whatever discussion she was having a little sternly. Appearing not many moments later at the same entrance they were all walked in through.

Honoka would look over the room, each of her guests before the backdrop of the city skyline through the window behind them between the spaces for decor in a room dividing wall.

"Thank you for coming tonight everyone," she would say with a bow. "At your request, food can be provided as I am certain we are well within the time of some dinners. However, it is a pleasure to see you again, Tamori-san, and Nagisa-san."

Honoka would then offer a slightly more polite and less comfortable bow to Kitsuki Ichitaiyo, "And I believe this is our first meeting. I am Yasuki Honoka, senior management here with Yasuki Data, proprietor of Crabkaku, and this is my home. You are welcome here."

[Tamori Kanna]

Having Ichitaiyo around was a comfort, as she didn't have her usual support system, and more than once she gave reassuring smiles to her Kitsuki shadow to indicate that she was alright. And Nagisa's smart outfit and cute little pin did earn her a big smile. "Oh, it's so cute!" she remarked, pointing discreetly to the crab-pin.

With the arrival of their host, Kanna did rise from her seat to bow. "Thank you for inviting us into your home, Yasuki-sama. It's a very lovely home, and I was very happy to see the very-long-legged crab you talked about before." At least yesterday's trials hadn't put a damper on her spirit and interests in animals.

Kanna would give Ichitaiyo the chance to introduce herself to Honoka.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Upon receiving a compliment on her pin, Nagisa returned a smile with one of her own. “Oh! Thank you. It’s a pin that Honoka-sama likes.” A pause as she looked over the Dragon guests, “You both look very nice tonight.”

When their host had finally arrived, she offers Honoka a polite bow. When she does rise, it was obvious she was happy to see her friend today. “Thank you for inviting us over.”

Of course, she made double sure that her communicator was off. No more embarrassing calls from her mother tonight.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Ichitaiyo expected to be introduced by her clansmate of higher status.. but it seems that said piece of ettiquete passed by. She was the lowest rung of the samurai, a guest in foreign lands. She rises along Nagisa and bends deeply, keeping the sub-ninety degrees until acknowledged further.

"I am Kitsuki Ichitaiyo, adjutant on representation of Swiftslates Corporation, it is my honor to meet you, Yasuki-sama."

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka's eyes glance quickly to the pin as Nagisa spoke of it, but tempered herself for a moment. After all, she has to be a good host first and then she can take to her little viewing treat. Facing Ichitaiyo, giving the little signal for her to be able to raise as she says, "And you are most welcome here, Kitsuki-san. Please do make yourself comfortable. As it is only the four of us here," she pauses, "well, five including my honorable bodyguard Yasuki Hiroto whom you will see about."

"Now," Honoka would approach over to Nagisa, not too close but comfortably close revealing that friendship they shared. Leaning just a little but not too much as to invade her space, she looks at the pin a little closely. With smile worn. "It's such a darling pin. I'm so glad you chose to wear it again today Nagisa-san," she says warmly, and retreats. "Thank you!"

With a glance, only a glance, she would give instruction to the Heimen servant in the room to bring them some snack foods and set them about in the table.

"At any point you need the other spaces of my home are open to you. I should offer that as well. Should any of us need to discuss something at length that divorces the need for the attention of any one of us do feel free to take in the views, or simply relax in the lounge. Not that I expect we will have such needs but.. I don't want anyone to accidentally feel trapped in their seat by accident of propriety," she says politely.

Adding, briefly at the end, an aside with Kanna: "He looks particularly happy today, I think. I think he knew guests were coming!"

[Tamori Kanna]

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Yasuki-sama. I don't think anyone could feel trapped here, but your mindfulness is very kind and considerate." It was very sweet to her that their host was mindful that two of them had been kidnapped a day ago and shut up in an icky room with traps, at least that was the logic in the short Dragon's head.

Kanna smiled excitedly at Honoka's natural awareness with the crabs in her care. "Really? That's amazing. I can see you take such good care of him too, and he is so magnificent! The color and the legs are very impressive."

Maybe she'd have to get a pet crab at some point.

"Despite what has happened in the last day, I hope you have been well, Yasuki-sama."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, Yasuki-sama. I don't think anyone could feel trapped here, but your mindfulness is very kind and considerate." It was very sweet to her that their host was mindful that two of them had been kidnapped a day ago and shut up in an icky room with traps, at least that was the logic in the short Dragon's head.

Kanna smiled excitedly at Honoka's natural awareness with the crabs in her care. "Really? That's amazing. I can see you take such good care of him too, and he is so magnificent! The color and the legs are very impressive."

Maybe she'd have to get a pet crab at some point.

"Despite what has happened in the last day, I hope you have been well, Yasuki-sama."

Ichitaiyo nodded along Kanna's words, not finding in herself the need to intervene just yet.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

“I also hope you have been well, Honoka-sama. My mother sends her regards, as well.” Of course Nagisa’s mother would do so the moment she had brought up dinner at Honoka’s.

Though, bringing up what happened yesterday made Nagisa fall silent as she wondered if Honoka had even heard yet. Surely if Nagisa’s mother found out, Honoka had as well?

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Things have been taxing, that I will admit. Though I hadn't heard until earlier today, and admittedly not that much as my focus was on other things. However," her brow furrows slightly but to her credit she masks it in the turn of her head.

"I admit I was not aware you and Yasuki Kaito knew one another. I suppose it is not surprising, all to be considered. Such a dark thing to have happened, right at home. Things like that.." she shakes her head, a smile to chase away any demon. "Well not something to dwell on now I suppose. For now, I suppose I shall ask how you knew him? So we might honor that connection for a moment."

[Tamori Kanna]

The training of the Tonbo managed to kick in, as Kanna manages to connect some dots and make a realization. Ooooh dear. Her hands fold together for a few moments, concentrating on the natural energies around them to help smooth things over.

"Ah... I can't really say I knew him that much. At least not well." Did it count if you knew him moments before his death? "We met in passing really, not long before..." her words trail off to not speak of such a dark ending for the Crab man, politely deflecting from that fact that her and Nagisa had been in a death-trap with him. "It is really sad, truly. Really-really. For it to happen during such festive times with the Bon Festival happening soon."

She sighs softly. "Were you two close, by any chance? I didn't get a chance to know what he was really like, so I would like to hear from those who knew him better."

----

D8 ME Sincerity/Awareness vs Honoka to gloss things over a bit and not talk about the details. +3k0 Tonbo Tech. | 8k3 ⇒ 46

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka shook her head, "Regrettably, Yasuki Kaito and I had a disagreement the last I saw him. So, I would not be a good source to speak more of him. Yet, while I know two who would have known him better I do not think it would be a time to place you on such a direction. As Yasuki Umiko, and Yasuki Ayame, are both quite busy these days. That and.." she looks to both of the Dragon, trying to decide on something, and shakes her head to some internal question. "Well, I would only ask you not bring up such a topic lightly surely. They were family."

"May he find happiness in his next life," she would stare, and then pause to give room for the table to be properly served a few plates of snacking food.

"But, in honor of those lost perhaps we should focus our attention on the present and what we might do for the future?"

[Tamori Kanna]

On the inside, Kanna feels a small ripple of relief. She wasn't someone who liked to lie, but she assures herself that it hadn't been lying but rather avoiding the topic politely. Besides, she didn't want to tell such terrible details to someone nice like Honoka.

"Yes," she nods, smiling gratefully for the change in conversation. "The future of our two clans!" Excitement was back. "We're very happy to see that the Scorpion have secured their position here so well, and we for a while thought our efforts seemed enough to stay in the top with them." It was the best result for the alliance, after all.

"But it seems that just Ichitaiyo-san and I isn't enough, even if she is amazing," at that, Kanna smiles to her fellow Dragon to praise her skills. It was only a moment, and she turns her attention back to Honoka, and Nagisa too. "As written in our letter, we would appreciate help in our bids, and in return we can offer something of interest to the Crab. Though even if it doesn't work out, I think it's a good idea for our clans to find something to agree on to continue to nurture our alliance with the Crab."

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Oh thank the heavens, they can move on from this very awkward subject matter! Nagisa can only nod in agreement with Honoka’s words after all that was said. She notes to thank Kanna later.

“Ahh, yes. I remember the letter.” A relieved smile crosses Nagisa’s features. “I have actually been putting my personal bids towards your Clan. As humble an amount that is, but every bid counts.”

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Ichitaiyo, again, remains silent and perceptive, letting silence be the way she observed- for the one that spoke didn't listen. And her job was to listen to discrepancies.

[Yasuki Honoka]

"There is only one wrinkle in the plan that I would like to see addressed, but I admit the offers you make are already such a benefit for the Crab," she says, and it is perhaps clear to everyone but especially Nagisa whom knows her well how practiced her words are now.

"My primary concern, and something I would like to see from any deal, is how you suspect something might benefit the Tango province in particular. As this is my home," she looks to Nagisa, not wishing to speak for her but not wanting to exclude her either, "and that is what everyone wants a deal with. I need to know how you see your plans for your investment of this province will benefit this province."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"There is only one wrinkle in the plan that I would like to see addressed, but I admit the offers you make are already such a benefit for the Crab," she says, and it is perhaps clear to everyone but especially Nagisa whom knows her well how practiced her words are now.

"My primary concern, and something I would like to see from any deal, is how you suspect something might benefit the Tango province in particular. As this is my home," she looks to Nagisa, not wishing to speak for her but not wanting to exclude her either, "and that is what everyone wants a deal with. I need to know how you see your plans for your investment of this province will benefit this province."

Ichitaiyo sent a nod to Nagisa and Kanna, before turning towards Honoka to address her concerns. "Of course, Yasuki-sama." And she drew three folders, one far thicker than the others. From where? Who knew, she was full of surprises.

"The two small files contain the investment plans for the companies me and Tamori Kanna-sama represent, Swiftslates Corporation and Usagi-no-Yomogi Spa. In case of Swiftslates, we are preparing a logistical hub for our products, as a stepstone to Crab Space, with projections to create labor sources for the heimin population, an increment on spaceport traffic and trade as wealth passes down onto the population.

She slid forwards the Spa files. "And in the case of Usagi-no-Yogomi, it becomes the first step in turning Nakahama not just in a tourist location for the Crab, but a galactic level touristic stop, on the likes of the World of Dreams, as inter-clan investment pours. And that's needless to say to the expertise that academic-minded Crab samurai will find in cooperation with the alchemical-biological research plants that are planned to be installed as well to study Nakahama's flora and fauna, whose advancements will be wholly shared between our clans, sets the foundation to become more than a touristic hub, but a center of research and wonders."

And then, she slid forwards the third file. "Ever since I've arrived, I've managed to garner favor with the Office, and that has meant access to some files. In this case, I took to myself to gather copies of urbanistic plans, traffic data, and.. civilian concerns. And around those I have built a infrastructure plans that will become the roads upon Nakahama's wealth will flourish. This means expansions to the Spaceport, the Harbor, building inter-island bridges to connect the closest islands and reduce dependency on sea trafiic, and encourage local trade, an expansion of the coastal walkways to accommodate a larger touristic foot traffic, and to tie it all, a underground tram to connect Upper Nakahama and Lower Nakahama, so the Upper Nakahama hostelry business can intake the market of high status samurai tourists that do desire easy access to the beach, needless to say about the benefits that lowering the times spent traveling will provide to the gears of the economy provided by the heimin workers."

And then she set a hand over the other.

"Does this suffice, Yasuki-sama?"