"Can I have a horny toad, please?"

Bayushi Senshuken could not possibly go to bed this early and nothing is better than a cocktail with energy drink when someone wants to stay up.

She takes the cocktail from the bartender and sips slowly. Perhaps she should text Tamiyo to join her. Nah... She would talk about herself again. The Bayushi does have an itch to text Sumiko, but she has to resist for another day. Who else, who else? She takes a look around. There may be interesting people already around.

A rather good-looking man sat not too far away from Senshuken, traditional fox-mask covering his face. Perhapas he could have been described charming if not for the Yogo mon he wore both on the neck and chest of his kimono - a warning sign for all the Scorpion.He was sipping something pink from a tall glass decked with cherries, blackberries and a half taiyaki pastry - the drink among the most outrageous one could order at Golden Frog. Pulling his his communicator, the man giggle for a moment before tucking it back into the pocket woven into the sleeve of his kimono. Looking around, Sadae spied Senshuken, bobbing his head. He could not recall having seen her before. "Evening, Bayushi-san." he noted, licking his lips before making a vague hand sign as if to ask if he could join her company.

Oh my kami! The nakodo! Did she fall into a trap? Who could have orchestrated this? Her mother? Her sister? They had promised to wait for another year the least!

Senshuken nods politely despite the internal turmoil. "Good evening to you, as well, Yogo san. Please join me. It would be a great pleasure!"

"Bayushi Senshuken, daughter of Bayushi Eriko of the Seizu Province." She introduces herself formally. "I do hope that you are not on duty right now. I am not ready to face reality just yet." She adds and beams behind her mask.

Realizing his mistake, Sadae offered Senshuken a proper bow. "Bayushi-sama." He had thought he knew who was who - as he usually did. The world was just too large to properly keep track of all the eligible bachelors. "Thank you. Yogo Sadae." the man introduces himself as he took a seat, gingerly placing his tall glass down as if not to spill its contents. "Don't worry Bayushi-sama, not here for work. Because of work, yes. But not for work." Grimacing for a moment, he let her figure out what he might have meant. "And well, as far as I know, your esteemed mother is not our client." There was a short pause. "At least not yet."

"I hope Bayushi-sama finds the evening agreeable?" he asked, his tone soft and mellow - just like one would have expected from a nakado. It never helped being pushy in that particular profession. "I believe Bayushi-sama is new to the city, yes?"

"The evening is indeed an excellent one and Bayushi sama would very much like to be called Senshuken while drinking." She replies more casually now that she's kinda relieved. "I am new and not so new at the same time. I have been coming and going since my gempuku last year, but it is the first time that I get to involve with the local court."

She takes a sip from her drink and grins. It's a bit awkward, truth to be told. "You are not here to work, but because of work, nah?" She looks around her, searching the place almost playfully. "My sincerest wishes to the happy couple. Are they both the sneaky types? Hiding somewhere?" It might be a Shosuro mating ritual, but she doesn't say that out loud.

Nearby...

Kiyoshi looked over the list of signature drinks. "I'll have a Swooping Dragon. The Detective will have a cup of Grey Cormorant."

"You were good at the gathering earlier, so you can have a little sake." he turned his attention to the monkey. "But, I'm not going to give you any more."

Bayushi Senshuken wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 06, 2022 6:29 pm

"The evening is indeed an excellent one and Bayushi sama would very much like to be called Senshuken while drinking." She replies more casually now that she's kinda relieved. "I am new and not so new at the same time. I have been coming and going since my gempuku last year, but it is the first time that I get to involve with the local court."

She takes a sip from her drink and grins. It's a bit awkward, truth to be told. "You are not here to work, but because of work, nah?" She looks around her, searching the place almost playfully. "My sincerest wishes to the happy couple. Are they both the sneaky types? Hiding somewhere?" It might be a Shosuro mating ritual, but she doesn't say that out loud.

"Senshuken it is." he bobbed his head, keeping his eyes averted for a moment, not ever bothering to argue the etiquette. If so-and-so-sama said something, it was far easier to go along them. "You may call me Sadae then, as well. Not something I am used to, but I'll manage." Most of his clients called him 'Yogo-sama' to his face and 'that fucking nakado' behind his back. "Mhmhm. An honor, no doubt. To be assigned here. A nest of vipers clad in flowers. Then again, all courts are, one way or another. At least ours are more open about that." he added, tapping his mask. "Oh, I wish there was a happy couple." Sadae sighed. "The issue is that there isn't. Uh... some things are hard to sell, as they say. Ever heard of Bayushi Mariko? An actress of some reputation?" Cult reputation was a reputation after all.

Of some reputation?! Senshuken almost chuckles. She herself is a 17 year old biker and is probably more reputable. "Yes, I do remember her from a show back in the day. I used to bribe my nanny with sweetened apples to let me watch it. Or was that her father?" She scratches her head and acts as if pondering on the most important mystery of the universe. "I could never be sure who was who. The resemblance is extraordinary." Senshuken isn't usually mean like that but her sensei always insisted that sometimes comments like that one make a courtier's life easier, especially among kin.

The Bayushi notices the shortie/hotie that just entered and nods politely. Wow! She really has a thing for smurf-like people.

Her attention returns to the Yogo across her. She meant Senshuken sama and Sadae san, but what the heck. Total informality it will be! "Is she a client of yours? A difficult one?"

"Mhmhm. Well, needless to say, finding a match that would find her acceptable and one that she would deem acceptable is tricky." Sadae reached for the taiyaki dangling from his drink, took a bite of it, chewing happily for a moment. "You know, someone prestigious enough for her to consider wouldn't really fine her appealing. And then someone, uh, disposed to marry her, she'll reject." Sadae shook his head. "So here I am, drowning my sorrow in pink koi." he pointed at the tall glass. "So yeah, you could say she's tricky case." He took glances at the green haired man, not particularly phased. He had seen far more unique hairdos in the infamous Shadowed Mirror - a district that did not strictly exist. "You wouldn't know anyone who'd want to marry a reputable movie star?"

"Well," she lets a few moments pass in silence before continuing, "she could always get trade.. married! I definitely meant married, as a part of a political deal. One can say 'no' to a nakodo, but no one says 'no' to duty or clan, or you know."

Another sip. "That's always an option, but before getting there I would suggest a slightly different approach. One that I am certain that you have already thought yourself because we wouldn't be here drinking otherwise. It's simple as that. You find a young courtier, in a slightly difficult position due to various unfortunate events and thus eager to prove themselves, and you make a deal they simply cannot resist. They take the burden of your hands and they will be the ones to listen to all the nagging. For a few days, at least. Best case scenario, it actually works. A good suffling of the cards may change the game entirily. In this case, you offer your appreciation to said courtier along with bits and bites of what they think they need at the moment. Worst case senario you get to spend a couple of weeks away from the diva and her problems."

She looks at the man across her and chuckles. "Please, do tell me that I'm right and it's not that I'm getting married without knowing it."

"Well," she lets a few moments pass in silence before continuing, "she could always get trade.. married! I definitely meant married, as a part of a political deal. One can say 'no' to a nakodo, but no one says 'no' to duty or clan, or you know."

"I mean, she could, if her lord would, when he really should, but as he won't, she won't and here I am." Sadae shook his head. "Something about valuable asset." She could seem him rolling his eyes once more. "Maybe she is, maybe she isn't. It's pretty hard when her lord and family appraise her as they do. We are the third agency to try to get her hitched. So much for luck." Three was considered a lucky number among the Scorpion after all.

Another sip. "That's always an option, but before getting there I would suggest a slightly different approach. One that I am certain that you have already thought yourself because we wouldn't be here drinking otherwise. It's simple as that. You find a young courtier, in a slightly difficult position due to various unfortunate events and thus eager to prove themselves, and you make a deal they simply cannot resist. They take the burden of your hands and they will be the ones to listen to all the nagging. For a few days, at least. Best case scenario, it actually works. A good suffling of the cards may change the game entirily. In this case, you offer your appreciation to said courtier along with bits and bites of what they think they need at the moment. Worst case senario you get to spend a couple of weeks away from the diva and her problems."

"I mean, where do I find a young courtier she's happy with." he sighed. "There's the problem. I mean, if I find someone willing to go for her just because of her name, well. I'm sure that'll turn out well." Sadae added dryly, looking markedly at Senshuken. "She does have some fans, but I think they are looking for something other than her hand in marriage. Creeps, most of them."

"No, if I had contract on your name, I would know it. I think." he moved to reach for his communicator, going through some files. "No, no. Not us. I mean, your name might be on some other list. But not ours. I do the genealogical checks, so I think I'd remember."

"Forgive me. I was not clear enough." She points to her cocktail. "I blame the horny toad. Too much energy even for me. I didn't mean that you should find a young courtier to marry her with, but a young courtier to search for the suitable match instead of you. It might work, it might not. Either way it will be two dreamy weeks for you, no?"

'My esteemed mother promised me that I have at least a year in my disposal before visiting an agency. Thank you for confirming it. It is cetainly you who will be our pick when time comes." She inclines her respectfully. "We don't play with genetics in my family. The checks you conduct are of high importance to us."

"Forgive me. I was not clear enough." She points to her cocktail. "I blame the horny toad. Too much energy even for me. I didn't mean that you should find a young courtier to marry her with, but a young courtier to search for the suitable match instead of you. It might work, it might not. Either way it will be two dreamy weeks for you, no?"

"I mean, ideally why not. Hard to imagine there being that many volunteers for the job." he chuckled, fishing out a cherry with his straw, popping it into his mouth. Cocktail cherries were much like World of Dreams, you knew what to expect and yet, you found yourself often disappointed. Cocktail cherries had little to do with actual cherries - same way as World of Dreams had little to do with reality. "Also, my esteemed superior might not be entirely happy if I delegated my duties to someone else." Sadae added, grimacing softly as he did so.

'My esteemed mother promised me that I have at least a year in my disposal before visiting an agency. Thank you for confirming it. It is cetainly you who will be our pick when time comes." She inclines her respectfully. "We don't play with genetics in my family. The checks you conduct are of high importance to us."

"Well, there's little reason for me to lie here." A soft chuckle escaped his lips, Sadea's head tilting to the side as he regarded the young scion. "And we are honored, should your house come to that decision. Would you want a business card?" Old fashioned as Sadae's boss was, she insisted that her agents carried cards that many considered a relic. Then again, the company logo did look snazzy printed on quality paper. "We all serve the way we can. Some things are too valuable to be left a chance." he padded the small pouch where he kept the slates for his spells. "You never know what you find when you look deep, deep down."

The Bayushi takes the card and looks at it. It is certainly nice. For a museum exhibition of ancient relics. "Thank you. I'll make sure that it gets to my mother's hands."

She takes the last sip of her cocktail and gestures towards the bartender for another while looking all pensive and serious. "What is it that this fine actress is looking in a potential match, I wonder. Connections, wealth, social standing, beauty?"

"No, I am the grateful party here." Sadae murmurs as he lets go of the card, tucking the rest back to his sleeve. "I mean, it is not as if the same information can't be found online, but Soshi-sama is rather insistent." his tone betrayed that the cards were not the only little thing Soshi-sama was insistent on.

"Anyone desperate enough to marry her?" he chuckled. "No, I believe she doesn't quite want to marry yet herself. As far as I can tell, she is fully enjoying her life as bachelorette and a family would get in the way of..." there was a short, rather pregnant pause. "...things. Her family most certainly wants her to pass her genes along - and to see if they could secure an ally of sorts. Producing talent is only lucrative business if and if you can produce talent everyone wants." Which was to say that Mariko's family wasn't particularly affluent. "Though I am supposed she has her own ideas how her spouse should look like."

Senshuken looks at another actor who happens to be nearby and then back at the Yogo. "Well, Sadae san, I am quite certain that you have already thought of what I am about to suggest, but as a young and eager to prove myself courtier, I have to, at least, try. Bayushi san's career is in a steady... downfall, I believe. Could she, perhaps, be persuaded that an artistic partnership followed by a marriage to the same person is what the audience craves for? What will elevate her career again?" She looks again towards the Kitsune across the bar. "Would you like us to test the theory? And maybe check that fine young man with the monkey? For all we know he might be the one for her, for you, for me, for another customer of yours..."

"Well, if Senshuken-sama doesn't mind, I for sure won't mind. Now, of course I cannot hand you anything confidential, but I could arrange a meeting with Bayushi-san yes? If Senshuken-sama thinks it would help, yes?" he offered. Now, of course there was a chance that Mariko thought he was trying get her married with Senshuken, but he was sure he could explain that the young woman was there merely to help - that she might know someone. "I am sure she would want to uh... get her career on rails again. Some sort of rails, at least. How easy that is." Sadae grimaced. "This world eats artists like Hida magistrate eats doughnuts."

Glancing at the Dragon, Sadea squinted his eyes. "I mean, can't hurt to try?"

Kiyoshi was sitting back, sipping on his drink. He seemed to be watching the room and general and the stage specifically. The Detective set his empty cup in front of the Fox and tapped the table.

The Kitsune only glanced at the monkey briefly. "I said no more. I'll get you water or some juice if you want."

Yogo Sadae wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:14 pm

"Well, if Senshuken-sama doesn't mind, I for sure won't mind. Now, of course I cannot hand you anything confidential, but I could arrange a meeting with Bayushi-san yes? If Senshuken-sama thinks it would help, yes?" he offered. Now, of course there was a chance that Mariko thought he was trying get her married with Senshuken, but he was sure he could explain that the young woman was there merely to help - that she might know someone. "I am sure she would want to uh... get her career on rails again. Some sort of rails, at least. How easy that is." Sadae grimaced. "This world eats artists like Hida magistrate eats doughnuts."

Glancing at the Dragon, Sadea squinted his eyes. "I mean, can't hurt to try?"

"Yes, please, make the arrangements, Sadae san. I believe that I have a pretty clear idea on how to approach this particular situation." There is always Tamiyo after all. And that Asahina cutie pie. "Let us focus on Kitsune san for now, no?" Another shortie/cutie. What a court! "I shall be absolutely focused on the task of checking whether he, or anyone who follows next, is the person we are looking for. I promise you that, Yogo Sadae san! Just give me a moment!"

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 07, 2022 2:07 pm

Kiyoshi was sitting back, sipping on his drink. He seemed to be watching the room and general and the stage specifically. The Detective set his empty cup in front of the Fox and tapped the table.

The Kitsune only glanced at the monkey briefly. "I said no more. I'll get you water or some juice if you want."

Since Kiyoshi is watching the place, he will definitely notice Senshuken approaching with a cocktail in her hands. The young courtier offers a bow along with a broad smile that can be seen even behind her mask. "Good evening, Kitsune san! Detective." She says that last word with playfully faux seriousness and formality. "This one is Bayushi Senshuken. Yogo Sadae san," she points to the man, "and I are wondering whether you would like to join us for a drink. We are currently discussing a project of assessing future success in the showbiz and the insight of an artist of your caliber would be extremely helpful."

Senshuken wrote:"Yes, please, make the arrangements, Sadae san. I believe that I have a pretty clear idea on how to approach this particular situation." There is always Tamiyo after all. And that Asahina cutie pie. "Let us focus on Kitsune san for now, no?" Another shortie/cutie. What a court! "I shall be absolutely focused on the task of checking whether he, or anyone who follows next, is the person we are looking for. I promise you that, Yogo Sadae san! Just give me a moment!"

"Very well, Senshuken-sama, I'll make the necessary arrangements. If you would give me your contact information?" Sadae asked, pulling out his communicator. "Perhaps you can talk heart-to-heart with her. She does seem a little lonely." Yogo nakado added, sounding a little resigned. "There's no really hurry, she's been on our lists for a while."

Since Kiyoshi is watching the place, he will definitely notice Senshuken approaching with a cocktail in her hands. The young courtier offers a bow along with a broad smile that can be seen even behind her mask. "Good evening, Kitsune san! Detective." She says that last word with playfully faux seriousness and formality. "This one is Bayushi Senshuken. Yogo Sadae san," she points to the man, "and I are wondering whether you would like to join us for a drink. We are currently discussing a project of assessing future success in the showbiz and the insight of an artist of your caliber would be extremely helpful."

"Uh...good evening." Sadae managed, following in tow, even if he wasn't quite sure what she had in mind. Then again, she was his superior and he wasn't strictly busy, so it wasn't as if he couldn't just wait and see.