Ah, a cat cafe. It has been a bit of time since Hashi had been here. Which is a shame, given that despite traditional scorpion superstitions, she loves cats. After going through the standard fare, agreeing not to touch the cats unless they approach and that she wouldn't feed them and all that, she finds a nice chair to sit and enjoy her tea. Two cats approach for a moment, give a sniff... and then walk away to go be interested in other patrons.

Coming from her meeting at the embassy, Yakumo was still dressed somewhat formally in her designer-attire of black and gold with motifs of tree branches. Adding a touch of Scorpion-ness to her appearance, was a sheer veil over the lower half of her face. She was still unmistakeably Susumu Yakumo. Tall and impressive.

"Hashinako-san," she said with a smile that was visible but obscured underneath the sheer veil, approaching the Scorpion actress' table with excitement in her step. "It's been so long. How have you been?"

Hashinako looks up as she is distracted from one of the cats that had started swatting at another patron's obi. With a light smile of her own, she gives a bow and motions to the seat across from her. "Yakumo-sama. I had heard that you were on planet but never imagined that our paths would actually cross! I have been well in the last few months, and I hope that the same could be same for you. Would you join me?"

It had been a long day at work - at least by her reckoning - and Baiko was ready to unwind.

She was in a smiling mood. Things had gone well today and surely the day's findings would be received positively by the folks back home and maybe, just maybe, this unplanned sabbatical could be...

Baiko suppressed those thoughts. Best not to hope too much; one step at a time, she reminded herself. For now, it was a time to celebrate, and that meant cats.

Ordering an earthy, dark tea blend and a plate of dango, Baiko was quick to pick up a nearby cat toy to begin amusing herself with any such nearby felines.

Shosuro Hashinako wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 02, 2022 10:30 pm

Hashinako looks up as she is distracted from one of the cats that had started swatting at another patron's obi. With a light smile of her own, she gives a bow and motions to the seat across from her. "Yakumo-sama. I had heard that you were on planet but never imagined that our paths would actually cross! I have been well in the last few months, and I hope that the same could be same for you. Would you join me?"

Taking her hands out of her pockets, gloved as always, Yakumo bowed in return to Hashinako. "Of course. I'd be delighted."

Smoothing the silk of her clothes as she sat down, she gave a wave to a server to bring over some tea to her as well. "It's been a busy last couple of months for me. Touring the Empire, working on music, concerts... being here for the winter court season is the closest I'm getting to a vacation to be honest," she chuckled a bit at that, sighing softly to punctuate the relief and weariness alike.

Susumu Yakumo wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 02, 2022 11:02 pm

Taking her hands out of her pockets, gloved as always, Yakumo bowed in return to Hashinako. "Of course. I'd be delighted."

Smoothing the silk of her clothes as she sat down, she gave a wave to a server to bring over some tea to her as well. "It's been a busy last couple of months for me. Touring the Empire, working on music, concerts... being here for the winter court season is the closest I'm getting to a vacation to be honest," she chuckled a bit at that, sighing softly to punctuate the relief and weariness alike.

"Such a famous idol being so busy surprises me not at all," she replies with a soft giggle. "Then I suppose there will not be a concert for me to look forward to, hm? A pity, I have not been able to hear you sing in so long."

Giggling as well, Yakumo leaned in slightly from her seat, voice lowered to keep the conversation more private. "Oh, I wouldn't completely rule that out. You know me, I love to perform - and I feel I should round off the year with something similar to what I did on New Kalani."

"But what of you? I've been worried about you since New Kalani... hardly hearing anything about what you've been up to, except for all the conspiracy theories floating about."

"Then I will pray to be blessed with the chance to hear your beautiful voice sing again soon," she grins brightly.

"I have been well. I have been acting on the stage instead of the Serials. Which is more satisfying work, but significantly less likely to get me into headlines, save for those who might wonder why a famous starlet might avoid the spotlight for a while."

"I just assumed that almost all the gossip circulating you were rubbish anyway." Spending time in the spotlight, you got used to all sorts of nonsensical articles written about you, or crazy theories circulating.

"But stage acting? Goodness, I... don't think I've seen that since my days at the Kakita Academy, and even then... I didn't know such drew an audience still!"

"Mostly with specialty sorts," she says with a laugh. "It certainly does not sell out amphitheatres. But it is a more intimate experience, I think. There is something about... *seeing* your audience that makes the theater feel more real."

"Mm," she nodded, understanding what her fellow artist was saying.

Tea was brought over and served to the Spider, and the server faded away to keep an eye on the felines. "I understand what you mean. Will you be putting on a performance any time soon here then?"



As they were talking, one of the residents found a perch near them on one of the cat-trees, and proceeded to do its ballet-exercises for grooming.

Susumu Yakumo wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 03, 2022 12:17 am

"Mm," she nodded, understanding what her fellow artist was saying.

Tea was brought over and served to the Spider, and the server faded away to keep an eye on the felines. "I understand what you mean. Will you be putting on a performance any time soon here then?"



As they were talking, one of the residents found a perch near them on one of the cat-trees, and proceeded to do its ballet-exercises for grooming.

"I do not have one planned, though just as you I am not against the idea of performing if a proper chance presents itself."

She can't help but look at the cat, offering a brief smile to the cat.

"A stage like this, with so many interesting people from all the clans present... what better time than now to put on a brilliant performance?" Yakumo spoke with enthusiasm, unable to contain a grin.

"Oh, that is very true!" She grins. "If only we could combine our two arts to make a truly memorable performance..." she taps her chin, thinking about how that might be possible.

Yakumo sipped her tea, as her own internal dialogue was raging. One part of course thought that sounded neat and it could be an interesting joint-endeavour, especially since her agents wanted her to practice acting.

But then there was the majority of Yakumo's personality that was a Jealous diva who craved the spotlight for herself, and didn't like to share. At New Kalani it had been fine, because there was no doubt who was the biggest star out of her and the two Mantis musicians. But with Hashinako... it was a different matter.

"Maybe. I'm not sure how such could be done though..." how could it be done? A music video maybe?

"Oh! Perhaps a music video. You would of course be the star of the show, I would suggest me being mostly a cameo to enhance your own performance," she smiles brightly.

"Perhaps. Hmmm..." she sipped her tea, pleased that it was a rather simple green tea. "... It would have to be a song telling a story of sorts, and the acting bringing it more to life, so to speak."

"Perhaps a retelling of a true event," she suggests. "An ancient legend or even a more recent historical event."

Yakumo raised an eyebrow, mostly because she found the suggestion to be steering in a specific way. Or maybe she was imagining things, having spent a lot of time around managers and agents wanting to tell her how to make her songs hit more buzzwords and the like.

"What did you have in mind?" she asked, deciding to relax and drop such suspicions here.

"Oh, I had no particular plans. Just brainstorming," she smiles a bit. "It need not be anything historical, of course. We could even plan an original story."