[D3 EE] Occasion: Festival of Fire

[Usagi Rei]

Mariko's expression turned a bit more inquisitive on his last words, she dropped the flirtatious banter and tilted her head slightly to regard him. "If you're going to make it in this city, always need to be a little suspicious of things around you. Some people seem to assume the Scorpions are all about deception but caution will get your further than secret plans. Sometimes it takes a couple of stings to learn that lesson, that's the unfortunate reality. How bad was the first sting?"

Slowly, Rei nodded. "I think I've managed to figure that out. I mean, I'm a Hare. We're known for jumping in." He smirked. "But you know, even Drop Troops don't go in blind if they can help it. Over dangerous ground, move carefully or quickly, that's what we're taught."

Taking a deep breath, Rei chuckled. "It was bad. Really bad." He looked at her, smiling, some wryness evident. "If you wanna hear about it, I'll tell you." He shrugged. "Or we can keep bantering, and watch the fireworks. It's up to you."

[Asahina Hinata]

"What do you think the message behind the festival is supposed to be?"

Pondering for a moment, she says “I admit to being somewhat puzzled by it. Perhaps someone who has spent more time here would know?”

"Aren't they just trying to bonk each other's bells?"

He'd started on his takoyaki now and had a stick with two of the balls on ready to eat.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"They're very pretty... and somewhat relaxing. Despite the pops and crackles and booms, there's something almost melodic about the symphony of colors and sounds. Especially when they add in the effects and such. It's like watching the old media player visualizations to a particularly crunchy tune."

"Heh, I guess." He said, having watched them for a while, trying to see it through her eyes. "A bit trippy if you make your eyes lose focus."

[Ide Yamako]

"What do you think the message behind the festival is supposed to be?"

Pondering for a moment, she says “I admit to being somewhat puzzled by it. Perhaps someone who has spent more time here would know?”

"Aren't they just trying to bonk each other's bells?"

He'd started on his takoyaki now and had a stick with two of the balls on ready to eat.

Startled for a brief moment, Yamako turns her laughter into a cough. “Oh I fear the smoke from the fireworks may be getting to me. Perhaps I will have to talk with you another time Susumu-San.”

[Bayushi Tenma]

"Heh, I guess." He said, having watched them for a while, trying to see it through her eyes. "A bit trippy if you make your eyes lose focus."

"Exactly."

Tenma also stayed quiet for a bit, just leaning more into Ryuhei, letting his height and musculature and warmth be a kind of relaxing influence for her, only giving a small happy sigh after cuddling her head into him like a cat marking its territory.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"For me, there's just one firecracker I really enjoy seeing, hmmm, exploding." He uttered with veiled tease, having awarded her a sufficient moment of silence. He playfully blew a small gust into her red hair.

[Bayushi Tenma]

Tenma reached up with one arm to put a finger over Ryuhei's lower mask, "Shhhh... we're having a moment here hon."

She chuckled and looked up, "Though I won't fault the sentiment, of course."

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"Ah, the moment! Of course. Hmm."

He pulled off an act of clumsy realisation, then kept watching.

"A bit like watching shooting stars."

[Bayushi Tenma]

She turned back to the sky and the fireworks, cuddling back in, "Exactly. Making up for lost time. I never really got to do things like this as a teenager. Just look at the stars or fireworks with someone, have a picnic, that sort of thing. Don't you think those sorts of things are romantic?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

snip

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Sumiko also gave the man a confused look, before chuckling and nodding to Yamako.

"Of course, I understand. Please take care of yourself Ide-sama and I will speak to you soon I'm sure" she smiled and bowed to the woman.

[Asahina Hinata]

snip

Sumiko also gave the man a confused look, before chuckling and nodding to Yamako.

"Of course, I understand. Please take care of yourself Ide-sama and I will speak to you soon I'm sure" she smiled and bowed to the woman.

"Oh, bye Ide-samaaa!! I hope the cats are letting you pet them now."

He waved with the remaining half a takoyaki on a stick after bowing.

"Do they count all the bell bonks or just the ones that make them ring?" He asked in general.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

She turned back to the sky and the fireworks, cuddling back in, "Exactly. Making up for lost time. I never really got to do things like this as a teenager. Just look at the stars or fireworks with someone, have a picnic, that sort of thing. Don't you think those sorts of things are romantic?"

"I do think such things have taste and meaning for me only if you are a part of them. Without you, all this would just be a passing, trivial impression."

[Bayushi Mariko]

Slowly, Rei nodded. "I think I've managed to figure that out. I mean, I'm a Hare. We're known for jumping in." He smirked. "But you know, even Drop Troops don't go in blind if they can help it. Over dangerous ground, move carefully or quickly, that's what we're taught."

Taking a deep breath, Rei chuckled. "It was bad. Really bad." He looked at her, smiling, some wryness evident. "If you wanna hear about it, I'll tell you." He shrugged. "Or we can keep bantering, and watch the fireworks. It's up to you."

"I think I'm seeing there the need for thrill comes in..." she murmured on a slightly amusing note on the matter.

Mariko went quiet for a moment when she felt the conversation treading deeper into the topic of real talk. Her gaze swept up and down his body in more a contemplative gesture than a suggestive one she had done earlier with him. There was both intent to find out more but a bit of obvious hesitation at the same time. Was she ready to do this sort of unmasking here? It was likely it would demand the same from her...

"...A little mystery for later," she would say finally to break her silence. "Something best over drinks with a little more privacy."

Her gaze went to the skies to see the fireworks slowly dissipating as it seems that both sides were potentially nearing the end of their ammunition. "We might be nearing the end of the show here. I should get back home before they think that I've gone missing. I can't very well be out and about if I've come down with a very sudden case of food poisoning, right?"

[Bayushi Tenma]

"I do think such things have taste and meaning for me only if you are a part of them. Without you, all this would just be a passing, trivial impression."

That got another glance, "Yeah, obviously I meant as a couple, silly. Stars and fireworks are beautiful and all, but they're not romantic in and of themselves. I just think some things are more special than others, when done as a couple. Like..."

She looked back to the sky, "I'm sure some people think feeding each other dumplings would be romantic, but I'm not so sure on that one myself. Or wearing the same thing. Guess I'm just gauging the sorts of things you find to be that way or not."

[Usagi Rei]

"I think I'm seeing there the need for thrill comes in..." she murmured on a slightly amusing note on the matter.

Mariko went quiet for a moment when she felt the conversation treading deeper into the topic of real talk. Her gaze swept up and down his body in more a contemplative gesture than a suggestive one she had done earlier with him. There was both intent to find out more but a bit of obvious hesitation at the same time. Was she ready to do this sort of unmasking here? It was likely it would demand the same from her...

"...A little mystery for later," she would say finally to break her silence. "Something best over drinks with a little more privacy."

Her gaze went to the skies to see the fireworks slowly dissipating as it seems that both sides were potentially nearing the end of their ammunition. "We might be nearing the end of the show here. I should get back home before they think that I've gone missing. I can't very well be out and about if I've come down with a very sudden case of food poisoning, right?"

Rei smirked, but it faded as she surveyed him. What was it that she was seeing?

"Alright." He said, smiling. "Next time, then."

Somewhat as he expected, instead of a big finish, the fireworks seemed to be gradually slowly, a whimper rather than a bang. "Food poisoning!" He echoed, laughing shortly. "Well then. We'd better get you home." Chuckling, he shook his head. "I'll walk you to the temple entrance? Your driver can get you there, I expect."

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

That got another glance, "Yeah, obviously I meant as a couple, silly. Stars and fireworks are beautiful and all, but they're not romantic in and of themselves. I just think some things are more special than others, when done as a couple. Like..."

She looked back to the sky, "I'm sure some people think feeding each other dumplings would be romantic, but I'm not so sure on that one myself. Or wearing the same thing. Guess I'm just gauging the sorts of things you find to be that way or not."

"What's your issue with sharing dumplings?" He feigned a frown. "I'd like to ride or fly with you across open spaces. For just us two to have the world beneath us would be romantic, I think!"

[Bayushi Tenma]

"What's your issue with sharing dumplings?" He feigned a frown. "I'd like to ride or fly with you across open spaces. For just us two to have the world beneath us would be romantic, I think!"

"The dumpling thing? I don't mean sharing dumplings, I just think feeding each other is kind of silly. Sometimes you'll see those couples on shows where the woman is feeding her boyfriend. Or like that thing with cleaning out your husband's ears. I don't dislike that kind of thing, I just find it a bit silly is all. I mean..."

A clearing of her throat.

"I'd feed you or clean your ears if you wanted me to, so it's not like I think I'm above such things."

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"Oh, I'd totally feed you stuff, dumplings or else. I haven't thought about ear grooming, though, but I guess? I certainly need some help with the beard sometimes." He pondered. "Guess even that can be bonding the lovey way if that's the intent."

Hygiene together was fun, he recalled in his mind.

[Dai]

Sakura let out a laugh. "True, true. OH, I think I still owe you with a viewing at Once Upon a Time, from that time you gave me some tips, but I had to make rent. Must have been a year ago."

He joins the laugh, "Well I'm not one to turn it down but are you sure you'd want to risk being seen formally in public with some filthy ronin scum."

[Bayushi Mariko]

Rei smirked, but it faded as she surveyed him. What was it that she was seeing?

"Alright." He said, smiling. "Next time, then."

Somewhat as he expected, instead of a big finish, the fireworks seemed to be gradually slowly, a whimper rather than a bang. "Food poisoning!" He echoed, laughing shortly. "Well then. We'd better get you home." Chuckling, he shook his head. "I'll walk you to the temple entrance? Your driver can get you there, I expect."

"Yes, next time," she stated plainly on the matter. There was less effort in trying to make this less of a certainty but perhaps more of an eventuality. However, when might be a matter up for interpretation.

Mariko would stand from her seat with a sly smile at her excuse. "Yes, food poisoning. Very nasty stuff, enough to make you rather indisposed for most of the evening. Nothing that anyone should ever joke about, it's just very awful. But I suppose enough that people will still want to check up on you, at least ensure that you'll still come in the morning."

She reached inside her purse and fiddled through the screen without looking at it, perhaps having done so enough out of habit to activate the call for a ride to find her. "But, of course, I could use the escort. At this hour, you can run into some rather incorrigible people I hear."

With that, she led the way back to the temple proper and their evening would play out with a bit more banter.

/fade to walk for Bayushi Mariko and Usagi Rei