[D2 EA] Please don't pet the coffee

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura arrived earlier...which was surprising, considering SHE JUST GOT UP. Her communicator had a few messages, one from Tsuyo-sama about moving their meeting to Hakumyo. She quickly got dressed, shoveled in some lunch, and then ran to get here. Hopefully she wasn't late or anything...

Letting out a held breath, she decided to find an empty table for the both of them.

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Tsuyo had to admit, having Sakura around had been a blessing during the long hours of the past month getting the installation done. No matter how well you planned, it always seemed that something would crop up to make the final stages run everyone into 12 hour workdays for a bit. Having someone in the embassy with a bit more autonomy than the servants had meant not having to think much about what takeout place was still open when she dropped back into the embassy after a three day rotation out at the moon. And then there was the 3 a.m. library search when she'd messaged about finding a reference sketch of what the constellations of Benten's Biwa had looked like back at the founding of the Empire.

Since she'd messaged just after waking up, and just before hitting the shower (then made a note in her calendar about scheduling a proper bath), she arrived about 10 minutes after the girl who'd frantically scrambled to get there. The long, dove grey vest was a common sight. The rest of her outfit is a well-tailored, but subdued ensemble of dark brown slacks and soft gold tunic, everything appearing to be silk by the flow and drape of it.

She spots the red-tipped hair easily enough and heads for the table Sakura's found, pausing to stroke a lazing Garbo on one of the cat hammocks along the walls. Considering the lack of anyone important nearby just now she remains informal. "Mornin' Sakura-san...well, afternoon, I guess. You order yet?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

Tsuyo had to admit, having Sakura around had been a blessing during the long hours of the past month getting the installation done. No matter how well you planned, it always seemed that something would crop up to make the final stages run everyone into 12 hour workdays for a bit. Having someone in the embassy with a bit more autonomy than the servants had meant not having to think much about what takeout place was still open when she dropped back into the embassy after a three day rotation out at the moon. And then there was the 3 a.m. library search when she'd messaged about finding a reference sketch of what the constellations of Benten's Biwa had looked like back at the founding of the Empire.

Since she'd messaged just after waking up, and just before hitting the shower (then made a note in her calendar about scheduling a proper bath), she arrived about 10 minutes after the girl who'd frantically scrambled to get there. The long, dove grey vest was a common sight. The rest of her outfit is a well-tailored, but subdued ensemble of dark brown slacks and soft gold tunic, everything appearing to be silk by the flow and drape of it.

She spots the red-tipped hair easily enough and heads for the table Sakura's found, pausing to stroke a lazing Garbo on one of the cat hammocks along the walls. Considering the lack of anyone important nearby just now she remains informal. "Mornin' Sakura-san...well, afternoon, I guess. You order yet?"

Sakura was busy having a conversation with Debris to have noticed Tsuyo coming in.

"Who's the adorable little cat? Yes you are!" "Meow". "Yes! you!" "Meow."

Sakura almost jumped when greeted. "Ah, greetings Tsuyo-sama. Ie, I haven't. I was waiting for you. Good morning to you too. Or, you know."

She smiled and bowed to who she considered her superior. "How is Tsuyo-sama doing? Is the installation coming along good?"

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Tsuyo flaps a hand in a way that repeats at least 50 iterations of the 'just -san, I'm not a captain or anything,' conversation that she's given up actually saying out loud.

"Done! Finished all the footage and checked that the drone runpath was going to work out on the last trip. It's all theirs now, and the last installment of the contract payments should be hitting the embassy account any time now." She paused at the order screen and tapped in her usual tea and sweet mochi soup, Sakura's usual, and then... "I haven't eaten yet, so I'm orderin' cake for breakfast-lunch. Want anything beside your usual?"

She looks down at the kitten rubbing hard against her fake leg and adds a cup of treats for the cats to the order since it's early enough that their displayed allotments don't seem to have been filled yet.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Tsuyo flaps a hand in a way that repeats at least 50 iterations of the 'just -san, I'm not a captain or anything,' conversation that she's given up actually saying out loud.

"Done! Finished all the footage and checked that the drone runpath was going to work out on the last trip. It's all theirs now, and the last installment of the contract payments should be hitting the embassy account any time now." She paused at the order screen and tapped in her usual tea and sweet mochi soup, Sakura's usual, and then... "I haven't eaten yet, so I'm orderin' cake for breakfast-lunch. Want anything beside your usual?"

She looks down at the kitten rubbing hard against her fake leg and adds a cup of treats for the cats to the order since it's early enough that their displayed allotments don't seem to have been filled yet.

"Argh....Tsuyo-san, gomanesai." Always apologizing, that girl was. "Oh woo, that's great! You've been working so hard. I'm sure it'll look great! Take some pictures for me when it's unveiled?"

Her eyes went wide. "Cakes for breakfast? Wow, I am living the dream. Sure, that works great Tsuyo-san." She smiled at the cat she was petting, before it got bored and went over to another group.

"Awww."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

You'll be at the party Soshi-sama's debuting it at, I'm sure. Thanks to you, some Firefly on a ship out there is sighing in relief that they don't need to be planetbound this season and run the social gauntlet...but that Firefly is not me this year." Her lopsided gait is no doubt familiar by now as she tap-clomps over to the table, followed by the kitten...well young cat...catling? Their order will show up soon enough.

She grins at living the dream. "Well it's not like cake for breakfast is a good idea every day, but it's not gonna hurt now and then. And it's not like they've got a sensible porridge on the menu." The Firefly weren't a large clan, but they did ok for themselves with their Imperial connections. Tsuyo could empathize with a past that was a lot more meager than one's present, but didn't really know what it was like to go hungry as Sakura no doubt had. "Tea's fancier than the Embassy's too. Seems strange to name all their cats these ugly names and then set them her with fancy tea and cakes, yeah?"

She watches one cat wander off, and her tagalong catling chase after. They'd be back when the order arrived. All the cats knew the sound of the little cup of treats that would accompany their food.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Oh, I....I will?" Sakura seemed genuinely surprised at the thought. Whee! Party time!

"Certainly true. Sometimes cake for breakfast is just what a samurai needs to serve." She guessed. It was true. Probably.

She shrugged. "It's.." she didn't want to call it superstition. "Religion, or respect, in a way. Cats hunt rats, who are chosen by Yurojin-no-kami, whom the Scorpion especially favor. So..." She shrugged. "Trying to make cat life good without it seeming to be good, I guess?"

"How do you like World of Dreams so far?"

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

"Oh, I know why the names are like that, just surprised they'd then give them the luxury treatment. But I guess they're usin' the cats to make money so the Fortune's ok with it?" She pushes a ball from under the table with her foot, watching Debris scamper after it.

"World of Dreams isn't bad. Not sure I'd want to live here for good, but it's not like the time I spent working in Tadaka. Spent as much time up in the ship workin' as possible because their houses there felt like you were exposed on a mountaintop and expected to just enjoy that." Glancing around the room, she adds, "all the comforts here, for sure. At least if you can afford them."

"You hopin' to transfer out eventually? It's great having someone on staff who knows the place from the ground up and all, but eventually that head for trade you've got could be useful during other court seasons someplace else, I'd think."

She shifts a bit as the server comes out with their tray, several feline ears perking up at the slight rattle as the cup of cat treats is shifted from tray to table.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Oh, I know why the names are like that, just surprised they'd then give them the luxury treatment. But I guess they're usin' the cats to make money so the Fortune's ok with it?" She pushes a ball from under the table with her foot, watching Debris scamper after it.

"World of Dreams isn't bad. Not sure I'd want to live here for good, but it's not like the time I spent working in Tadaka. Spent as much time up in the ship workin' as possible because their houses there felt like you were exposed on a mountaintop and expected to just enjoy that." Glancing around the room, she adds, "all the comforts here, for sure. At least if you can afford them."

"You hopin' to transfer out eventually? It's great having someone on staff who knows the place from the ground up and all, but eventually that head for trade you've got could be useful during other court seasons someplace else, I'd think."

She shifts a bit as the server comes out with their tray, several feline ears perking up at the slight rattle as the cup of cat treats is shifted from tray to table.

Sakura shrugged, then giggled at Debris. "Probably. I never put much thought to it, to be honest. Haven't visited too often."

She tilted her head, listening in tently. "Ah, I see. That does sound...annoying, I guess. Winds are not too bad here usually. All the buildings, you know."

She started blushing at the mention of transfer. "Hrm..I wouldn't know. I've never been off-world, and haven't dared ask Hotaru-sama about it. Nor am I sure that I want to. My...family is from here. My previous one, I guess. Is it weird, if I talk about it? Should I not? What's the etiquette here? Apologies Tsuyo-sama!"

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Tsuyo laughs as she picks up the very pastel cup of tea. "We're not a clan that stands hard on etiquette, Sakura-san. Talk about it if you like. Your...um...former family might not be happy about it if they're not ronin as well, I imagine." She sips at the tea, fruitier and sweeter than her preference, but it fits the cafe just fine. "I was taught that it's rude to push for too much about a ronin's past. I trust Hotaru-sama did all the uncomfortable background checkin', so you're Firefly now...not sure if that makes it less rude to ask though."

"Any case, I wouldn't ask yet. I'm sure you'll do great things here. Then you might see if you'd be a good fit to travel. Guessin' that you'd rather stick to the side of things that isn't pulling ore out of mines in space?" Picking out a few treats, she scatters them across the floor, watching the mad feline dash for them.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Tsuyo laughs as she picks up the very pastel cup of tea. "We're not a clan that stands hard on etiquette, Sakura-san. Talk about it if you like. Your...um...former family might not be happy about it if they're not ronin as well, I imagine." She sips at the tea, fruitier and sweeter than her preference, but it fits the cafe just fine. "I was taught that it's rude to push for too much about a ronin's past. I trust Hotaru-sama did all the uncomfortable background checkin', so you're Firefly now...not sure if that makes it less rude to ask though."

"Any case, I wouldn't ask yet. I'm sure you'll do great things here. Then you might see if you'd be a good fit to travel. Guessin' that you'd rather stick to the side of things that isn't pulling ore out of mines in space?" Picking out a few treats, she scatters them across the floor, watching the mad feline dash for them.

"Ah, good to know. Well, only thing I know is that we are descended from this planet. Everything else was lost." She shrugged. "Traveling somewhere else is exciting, but I'm not sure if it would ever feel like home. But for now, for this court at least, we are here."

She herself smiled sweetly "Feel free to ask Tsuyo-sama, I mean san, but trust me, it's pretty boring, unless you are interested in the details on how to get by by dumpster diving on occasion."

She giggled as she saw Debris rocket back for hte treats! Garbo...was busy biting someone else for now. "Well, probably. Although I have all my certifications, my knowledge on space mining is fairly basic still. Besides, unlike most of you, I never spent any time on a spaceship. I am sure there are many nuances that are not taught in class but growing up on one you are familiar with."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

"Nothin' wrong with stayin' on one world. Plenty of folks do. And if you've got family here..." she offers a one-handed, indistinct gesture that at least seems to imply that staying near family is understandable. "Pretty sure the clan'll be happy to have someone interested in stayin' put and keepin' a steady hand on the contracts that come through here."

She makes sure to toss a treat near Ugly, so the shy cat gets some. "But now I've finally got some time to hear the story of how you rescued our illustrious leader from the follies of this world. How did that even happen? I wouldn't've thought he had time for gettin' into that kind of mess."

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Nothin' wrong with stayin' on one world. Plenty of folks do. And if you've got family here..." she offers a one-handed, indistinct gesture that at least seems to imply that staying near family is understandable. "Pretty sure the clan'll be happy to have someone interested in stayin' put and keepin' a steady hand on the contracts that come through here."

She makes sure to toss a treat near Ugly, so the shy cat gets some. "But now I've finally got some time to hear the story of how you rescued our illustrious leader from the follies of this world. How did that even happen? I wouldn't've thought he had time for gettin' into that kind of mess."

"Oh really? You know...I just thought it's all..." she shrugged, then gestured towards the Heavens. "Out there. Most Firefly on a spaceship, or on an asteroid, or on an asteroid-mining spaceship..." She smiled sheepishly. "Of course, we now have the new planet to settle on. You visited it, I believe?" She cocked her head...before getting distracted by Ugly. "Pretty kitty!"

"Oh? That." she shrugged. "Not sure what Hotaru-sama was doing there exactly. I was fishing for glimmerstones, or something to sell for rent, when I noticed them with a ronin I knew. He's..good at his job, but his values are a bit different. He's a coward, I mean. When the gaki came, he bolted, and well...I can't let some spirits just eat some samurai now, can I?" She looked away, seemingly embarrassed. "So, anyway, I started blasting, and told them to come with me if they want to live, and we managed to find a shortcut out. Haven't been back since."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Tsuyo nods, reaching down to scritch Mold behind the ears. "Dechen said she's already missin' this place. Had cats growin' up, but they don't work so well on those little ships. Litter boxes, you know?"

"But sure, most of us are on ships all our lives. There's clusters...kind of extended families runnin' jobs together. And then meetin' up on one of the big carriers, or now Amanoseki." She has a bit of pride to her voice as she says the name. "So I guess some of us'll settle down there sometime. Lot of opportunity for some on a new world like that."

"But yeah, I've been there. Not for long, but it would have felt odd not doin' some work on the place. Did a little carved plaque for the first government building and all." She takes a bit of her cake, a slightly distant look in her eyes as she remembers the place. A focus that snaps back to Sakura's story.

"Good instincts on you there. Makes sense for Hotaru-sama to bring you on. Made good use of his library? Or just good at organizing it?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura shrugged. "You know..paper books are fascinating. Never encountered one before. Otherwise...I just do what I can. Hotaru-sama was kind in his offer, and I want to make sure I earn my place here. I did some reading for my remote classes for the Hotaru Dojo. Got my basic certificate" She seemed so proud to have the diploma that the average Hotaru got at 14-16 years of age.

"Is it a nice place? Beautiful perhaps? It would be good to visit some day."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Tsuyo shrugs a bit. "I guess it's nice? Like habitable and slowly getting built on. There's some good bones to the place. But...not where I'd want ta live with all the wide open space." Shaking her head she adds, "it's folks like you, or the next generation of Firefly that're going to want to settle there, I think. Most of us raised in the mining clusters aren't comfortable in that kind of place.

She nods at the certificate mention. "Given the way we live, a fair bit of instruction is remote, so you're not much different there." She taps the metal leg. "Probably not testing much higher there myself now. But that's not really my focus anyway. Good that you got enough education here to help pick all that up fast. Ronin stuck on some of the more backwater places don't always get enough to read well."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Tsuyo shrugs a bit. "I guess it's nice? Like habitable and slowly getting built on. There's some good bones to the place. But...not where I'd want ta live with all the wide open space." Shaking her head she adds, "it's folks like you, or the next generation of Firefly that're going to want to settle there, I think. Most of us raised in the mining clusters aren't comfortable in that kind of place.

She nods at the certificate mention. "Given the way we live, a fair bit of instruction is remote, so you're not much different there." She taps the metal leg. "Probably not testing much higher there myself now. But that's not really my focus anyway. Good that you got enough education here to help pick all that up fast. Ronin stuck on some of the more backwater places don't always get enough to read well."

"I'm sure it'll be very nice some day." She smiled at the though. "How do you think most of our clanmates feel about it? Your own..our own planet, I guess, now. Well, with the Imperials, but still." She seemed pensieve as she thought, but was brought back at the tapping noise.

"Well, I'm not much good in mining on asteroids, so hopefully my scores are not a problem. Still, I look forward to seeing space some day. And at least your art. It must be so different than what I see on the holos."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Pulling out her densai, she tries to queue up a holo of Amanoseki and the work taking place there...only to have a cat itself in the way...swiping at the floaty icons and bringing up Dechen's latest recorded message. Tsuyo, hits the power button to shut that down before the cafe gets to listen.

"Well everyone's really proud of it, and most everyone I know takes it seriously. Been outgrowing the ships we've got, marrying folks out more just to ease that pressure before things got tight. There's some tricky balance to the cost of new ships taking away from the budget for maintaining existing ones..and we could really use another carrier to serve more contracts, and... " She stops with a bit of a laugh. "Well, kind of spiral. I expect you'll get an earful of all that here in the next few years."

"I hear we actually in an Isawa with strong terraformin' experience at a pretty recent miai; which was refreshing after seein' so many skilled Hotaru havin' to marry out because there weren't ships for 'em."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Pulling out her densai, she tries to queue up a holo of Amanoseki and the work taking place there...only to have a cat itself in the way...swiping at the floaty icons and bringing up Dechen's latest recorded message. Tsuyo, hits the power button to shut that down before the cafe gets to listen.

"Well everyone's really proud of it, and most everyone I know takes it seriously. Been outgrowing the ships we've got, marrying folks out more just to ease that pressure before things got tight. There's some tricky balance to the cost of new ships taking away from the budget for maintaining existing ones..and we could really use another carrier to serve more contracts, and... " She stops with a bit of a laugh. "Well, kind of spiral. I expect you'll get an earful of all that here in the next few years."

"I hear we actually in an Isawa with strong terraformin' experience at a pretty recent miai; which was refreshing after seein' so many skilled Hotaru havin' to marry out because there weren't ships for 'em."

Sakura smiled bashfully.

"Well, I feel proud. Even if I am new, it is a great achievement. It's going to take time, but hopefully the resources we acquire there, alongside the space and habitation, is going to allow us to expand our fleet as well. It's all a cycle, and I've seen the lists of what we need." She shook her head ruefully. "Put together, the list is longer than I am tall. Hopefully, during this court we'll be able to acquire some of it, or some kind of means." She tucked a stray hair behind her hair, and as she was doing so, one of the cats jumped up into her lap, and Sakura jumped slightly.

"Eeek, you surprised me!"

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

One hand on Mold, and one on her densai, she pushes the latter forward on the table and pulls up the planet to the spin on her screen while restraining the curious cat with extra ruff scritches. "Right now, we're workin' together with Otomo and Seppun administrators and everythin's under shared administration." Pushing the image a bit, she points out a chunk of the largest continent. "That's slated to be ours to develop as things get goin'. Can see the mountains all along the western edge there. Surveys show some good minin' sites and there's enough coast for some sort of industry there. Downside...very little of the native stuff is edible without extensive processin' The terraformers are still diggin' into the data to see how much non-native stuff we might be able to grow there." She gives up as Mold wriggles from her hold and hops up to paw at the densai screen.

"Like you said, list of things to do goes on and on. Even if you don't get there yourself, might have kids settle there." That has her look thoughtfully at Sakura. "Which does bring up matchmakin'. Unless you've already got ideas, don't let Hotaru-sama push that this season. There's enough goin' on that you can wait a year, at least. Get yourself settled solidly before figurin' that out."