[D3 EE] Occasion: Festival of Fire

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi has changed from his green scaled leggings into a green and yellow kimono set. It was slightly red, like an unripened tomato with large yellow polka dots spread randomly in all directions. Glitter fell from his cloak and sleeves in waves of shiny fog as his every movement caused the craft herpes to spead like the plague around him. To complete the look was a pair of unusually high geta in silver and black that made clacking noises against the ground as if someone had installed tap dance shoes to the bottoms.

The Otomo was entirely enthralled by the fireworks and would be clapping and shouting at any particularly loud or bright bang in the sky.

(PM if approaching.)

[Usagi Rei]

"Suspense is a dramatic instrument, I couldn't quite just give everything away so quickly. Even, if we found each other in the same room again so soon." She let out a low chuckle. "But, I didn't expect you to see you there. It must really be court season after all if everyone's schedule is stacked with the same parties. Or sporting events."

"No luck you actually have a canteen in that jacket of yours, huh?" She said as her gaze went appraisingly on him against but most certainly focused on his jacket more than anything. There would be a quick beat in between before she spoke again, not even giving him the chance to answer. Maybe she didn't even want to know the answer. "Finding a drink is easy, the opportunity is another matter. Sometimes it has to be earned, mm?"

"In this case, we get the benefits of being entertained by dumb. It's all fun and games until someone gets a rocket in their eye." Her lips creased in a faintly amused smirk before she took another drag of her cigarette. She offered a subtle gaze around them before subtly dropping it on the ground and crushing it with the ankle boots she wore with her outfit. "So many tourists here this season, they really ought to be more considerate of the littering laws around here..."

Rei frowned. Actually, he did have a flask; he'd brought it just in case. But he realized that wasn't the point. "You're certainly right." He agreed, smiling, giving her a slow nod. Yeah, he understood what she meant; he'd take the hint.

"Suspense..." Rei echoed, smiling. "You know, that's sounds a bit like what I said when we first met. Always hold back a little bit for the end. Like the climax of a fireworks festival." Although he wondered if the participants had some different strategy not dictated by showmanship. "I find myself wonder if you're holding something back, Bayushi-san." Another smirk, indicating playfulness.

Eyebrows raised, Rei watched as Mariko committed her little act of civil disobedience, so to spoke. "Wow. I thought I was supposed to be the one with bad habits." Rei teased. Finishing off his cigarette with a long drag of his own, he mimed her move, crushing the butt. "If we see any tourists smoking, we'll be sure to remind them." He said blandly, nodding.

[Bayushi Mariko]

Rei frowned. Actually, he did have a flask; he'd brought it just in case. But he realized that wasn't the point. "You're certainly right." He agreed, smiling, giving her a slow nod. Yeah, he understood what she meant; he'd take the hint.

"Suspense..." Rei echoed, smiling. "You know, that's sounds a bit like what I said when we first met. Always hold back a little bit for the end. Like the climax of a fireworks festival." Although he wondered if the participants had some different strategy not dictated by showmanship. "I find myself wonder if you're holding something back, Bayushi-san." Another smirk, indicating playfulness.

Eyebrows raised, Rei watched as Mariko committed her little act of civil disobedience, so to spoke. "Wow. I thought I was supposed to be the one with bad habits." Rei teased. Finishing off his cigarette with a long drag of his own, he mimed her move, crushing the butt. "If we see any tourists smoking, we'll be sure to remind them." He said blandly, nodding.

Mariko raised a sly brow at Rei and put a hand on her hip to adopt something of a judgemental posture. "You'd like to think that, would you? I'd like to think it could be something else. There is a difference between holding something back and making someone earn it. You managed to catch me once at the mall, that was chance. You might need a little more than just luck. Do you have anything more in you, Usagi-san?"

"I think it's in our duty as locals around here. The World of Dreams isn't some Sparrow farming world after all." She smirked and glanced off for a moment. "I'm sure you want to do more than just stand here? I'm sure there's somewhere we can maybe sit and still watch the fireworks?"

[Usagi Rei]

Mariko raised a sly brow at Rei and put a hand on her hip to adopt something of a judgemental posture. "You'd like to think that, would you? I'd like to think it could be something else. There is a difference between holding something back and making someone earn it. You managed to catch me once at the mall, that was chance. You might need a little more than just luck. Do you have anything more in you, Usagi-san?"

"I think it's in our duty as locals around here. The World of Dreams isn't some Sparrow farming world after all." She smirked and glanced off for a moment. "I'm sure you want to do more than just stand here? I'm sure there's somewhere we can maybe sit and still watch the fireworks?"

Rei looked at her, eyebrows going up. "Just wait and see. The key is to hold something back for the end, after all. And by my reckoning, this is a race that's far from over." Well, he mostly had more of what he'd been using. Plus the shochu bottle. Plus honesty; that was always an option.

He nodded agreeably. "Yeah. Let's look for something. A bench, a low roof, a wall at the right angle." Pale eyes narrowing, Rei glanced around, looking for something suitable. Again, preferably out of the way. If there wasn't anything immediately visible, well, they could always stroll a bit.

[Bayushi Mariko]

Rei looked at her, eyebrows going up. "Just wait and see. The key is to hold something back for the end, after all. And by my reckoning, this is a race that's far from over." Well, he mostly had more of what he'd been using. Plus the shochu bottle. Plus honesty; that was always an option.

He nodded agreeably. "Yeah. Let's look for something. A bench, a low roof, a wall at the right angle." Pale eyes narrowing, Rei glanced around, looking for something suitable. Again, preferably out of the way. If there wasn't anything immediately visible, well, they could always stroll a bit.

Mariko couldn't but give a slight chortle at that and shook her head at that, it didn't seem for certain if she was laughing at his words or at him. "My sensei did say once that you have them give them enough of a hook to follow. If you hold too much back, they might just lose their interest. Well, in that case, we'd better move this race along then. I don't think we can very far by just standing around here all night."

She moved off from their spot and began to walk down the street surrounding the temple district, only offering a momentary sidelong glance at Rei. Maybe the move wasn't so much to see if he would follow but more to catch his expression before she casually sauntered the streets at a leisurely pace. "Enjoying yourself, Usagi-san?"

After a beat, she would elaborate on her question. "Winter Court, I mean."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko was suddenly regretting leaving her vantage point as she got swarmed by taller people.

Snip

"They have been, thank you. A lot of it was spent travelling, but seeing more of the universe makes it worth it right?" She chuckled "are you the only from the New Kalani delegation here, or have the other travelled also?"

Snip

Snip

Sumiko bowed to the Scorpion and then the Crane.

"Bayushi-sama, Asahina-sama, good evening. I hope you are both well?" She smiled at Senshuken and then turned to Hinata "congratulations on your performance in the Oshidama, two rivals of the stage standing together on the beach, it was a joy to see. I am Susumu Sumiko, it is a pleasure to meet you."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

snip

"ooo, nice effect there. Extra points for style," she says as the multi-strike's reverberations die away.

"There's somethin' to workin' as part of a team. Nobody signs off on ore deliveries...like 'this batch of rare crystalline iron brought to you by...' But we're all proud to be servin' the clan with that kind of thing too." A small, thoughtful smile accompanies a huff of amusement. "Never thought too much of the folks makin' those interfaces though. Long way from skills and all. But yeah. Lotta value to program that doesn't have you cursin' at the screen constantly. Not sure I've ever used anythin' you've worked on, but I guess I'll just than the programmers by proxy by thankin' you for thinkin' about the folks at the other end of all the code."

"Lot of chance to catch work as the court season brings all these folks in, I imagine?"

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

"Please do not kill my big brothers. They were idiots and goobers, but they're still family. Not that I think you would, but I would like to make things up with them one day."

"I don't get what's there not to cherish about a person like you. Guess it's not the best time for a discussion of this kind, and I'm the last one to throw shade on a dysfunctional family, but... it kinda pisses me off." He frowned and grumbled, having some rumbling storm deep within him.

[Bayushi Tenma]

"I don't get what's there not to cherish about a person like you. Guess it's not the best time for a discussion of this kind, and I'm the last one to throw shade on a dysfunctional family, but... it kinda pisses me off." He frowned and grumbled, having some rumbling storm deep within him.

Tenma risked a little PDA by leaning her head against her husband, patting his shoulder gently, "And I get that. I suppose sooner or later I should probably talk to you more about that, but you're right. Now's not the time. Or place."

[Usagi Rei]

Mariko couldn't but give a slight chortle at that and shook her head at that, it didn't seem for certain if she was laughing at his words or at him. "My sensei did say once that you have them give them enough of a hook to follow. If you hold too much back, they might just lose their interest. Well, in that case, we'd better move this race along then. I don't think we can very far by just standing around here all night."

She moved off from their spot and began to walk down the street surrounding the temple district, only offering a momentary sidelong glance at Rei. Maybe the move wasn't so much to see if he would follow but more to catch his expression before she casually sauntered the streets at a leisurely pace. "Enjoying yourself, Usagi-san?"

After a beat, she would elaborate on her question. "Winter Court, I mean."

When Mariko glanced at him, she would catch him looking at her, head tilted, pale eyes ever so slightly narrowed. He enjoyed playing the game, especially with someone like her. But her words did suddenly make him worry that he wasn't playing, just being played. Fixing his smile back on his face, he followed, his long stride easily catching up to her casual saunter. Only one way to find out.

Her question, with the additional rider, made Rei chuckle. He gave her a sidelong glance with a smirk. "Oh, I'm enjoying myself." A beat, before he elaborated. "Although I expect that by the end of it, I'll be thinking more about a private island, like the one we talked about before. Engagement after engagement, trying to form connections with people who won't be on-planet in a few weeks. Fun, but tiring."

He looked at her as they walked along. "And you, Bayushi-san? Enjoying yourself?" He didn't add the modifier she did, but his smile implied the same.

[Asahina Hinata]

Sumiko was suddenly regretting leaving her vantage point as she got swarmed by taller people.

Sumiko bowed to the Scorpion and then the Crane.

"Bayushi-sama, Asahina-sama, good evening. I hope you are both well?" She smiled at Senshuken and then turned to Hinata "congratulations on your performance in the Oshidama, two rivals of the stage standing together on the beach, it was a joy to see. I am Susumu Sumiko, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Hi Susumu-samaaa! Oh thank you. It was so much fun playing with Yakumo-samaaa. I'd never played oshidama on the beach before. Looking forward to doing it . . . "

He was interrupted by a particularly good shot from the Kanna Shrine which came very close to hitting the Akino bell, instead falling just short with a big bang.

[Bayushi Ryuhei]

Tenma risked a little PDA by leaning her head against her husband, patting his shoulder gently, "And I get that. I suppose sooner or later I should probably talk to you more about that, but you're right. Now's not the time. Or place."

He supported her, enjoying the contact. After a moment of pause to let the heavy topic be blown away, he glanced at her, and the reflexes of fire in her fiery hair.

"...So how are you feeling about the fireworks now?"

[Bayushi Mariko]

When Mariko glanced at him, she would catch him looking at her, head tilted, pale eyes ever so slightly narrowed. He enjoyed playing the game, especially with someone like her. But her words did suddenly make him worry that he wasn't playing, just being played. Fixing his smile back on his face, he followed, his long stride easily catching up to her casual saunter. Only one way to find out.

Her question, with the additional rider, made Rei chuckle. He gave her a sidelong glance with a smirk. "Oh, I'm enjoying myself." A beat, before he elaborated. "Although I expect that by the end of it, I'll be thinking more about a private island, like the one we talked about before. Engagement after engagement, trying to form connections with people who won't be on-planet in a few weeks. Fun, but tiring."

He looked at her as they walked along. "And you, Bayushi-san? Enjoying yourself?" He didn't add the modifier she did, but his smile implied the same.

Mariko would fold her arms together when Rei approached once more. She might have shown a brief sign of a smirk when he followed her as she expected. "You mean booking yourself an island here after all of this is done? That sounds like a good getaway without getting off-world. The only downsides are that you'll still get reception in the city. Of course, you could always consider tossing your communicator in the water. Accidents happen in the city, after all. Maybe I should check up on you a few days later, it must only get more hectic from here. I'd hate it to catch you one day all shrivelled from the stress, that would be very unattractive."

"I am." Her gaze flitted over to his direction with her simple and cool response. "I wouldn't say that I'm so popular that I'm constantly surrounded by people but I am. Work also gets in the way. It's really good to get out and get time to myself. Do things for me rather than others. "

[Usagi Rei]

Mariko would fold her arms together when Rei approached once more. She might have shown a brief sign of a smirk when he followed her as she expected. "You mean booking yourself an island here after all of this is done? That sounds like a good getaway without getting off-world. The only downsides are that you'll still get reception in the city. Of course, you could always consider tossing your communicator in the water. Accidents happen in the city, after all. Maybe I should check up on you a few days later, it must only get more hectic from here. I'd hate it to catch you one day all shrivelled from the stress, that would be very unattractive."

"I am." Her gaze flitted over to his direction with her simple and cool response. "I wouldn't say that I'm so popular that I'm constantly surrounded by people but I am. Work also gets in the way. It's really good to get out and get time to myself. Do things for me rather than others. "

"Something like that." He chuckled. "And hey, I might not even need to toss my communicator in the ocean. After Winter Court is when we get to dump all our info onto the analysts, and then they don't ask us for anything for a few weeks. The Embassy might just forget I'm there."

Another chuckle. "And maybe you should check on me. Something a little quieter next time, perhaps?"

They continued to slowly circle the temple. Rei kept his eyes out for a place to sit, even as he kept his eyes on his date. "So I gather. The tasting last night, the chair thing tonight." He looked at her. "So if you had time to yourself, what would you do?"

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Something like that." He chuckled. "And hey, I might not even need to toss my communicator in the ocean. After Winter Court is when we get to dump all our info onto the analysts, and then they don't ask us for anything for a few weeks. The Embassy might just forget I'm there."

Another chuckle. "And maybe you should check on me. Something a little quieter next time, perhaps?"

They continued to slowly circle the temple. Rei kept his eyes out for a place to sit, even as he kept his eyes on his date. "So I gather. The tasting last night, the chair thing tonight." He looked at her. "So if you had time to yourself, what would you do?"

"Why stop at just the islands if that's the case. You could consider getting completely away, it might be the closest thing you'll get to a bonafide vacation in a while." She couldn't help but snicker at the thought before glancing back at him. "Not that there are many places you could go that couldn't be found in some form on the World of Dreams."

She giggled and raised a brow at him. "That would depend entirely on you, wouldn't it? You did have the idea of something quieter last time and I think you still owe me a drink. Unless you meant that in a different way? I'm not going to find you huddled in a corner when the stress of Winter Court finally gets to you, am I?"

Like many places around the World of Dreams, the temples did lend themselves to being a rather good tourist spot and there were a few benches that could be found on the streets. They would eventually happen on one that was miraculously cleared that also had a good view of the fireworks that were happening. There were a few crushed cans on the floor, which might have indicated that someone had more liberal ideas about littering laws around here. They could rest their conscience knowing that they weren't as bad as these people. "I'd like to do more fun things, for one. Maybe do some city exploring, coincidental thrill-seeking, even if it's venturing into the slums to feel all rebel-like. Or just tune everything out and contemplate the night away. Doing nothing at all is such a luxury these days."

[Hato]

snip

"ooo, nice effect there. Extra points for style," she says as the multi-strike's reverberations die away.

"There's somethin' to workin' as part of a team. Nobody signs off on ore deliveries...like 'this batch of rare crystalline iron brought to you by...' But we're all proud to be servin' the clan with that kind of thing too." A small, thoughtful smile accompanies a huff of amusement. "Never thought too much of the folks makin' those interfaces though. Long way from skills and all. But yeah. Lotta value to program that doesn't have you cursin' at the screen constantly. Not sure I've ever used anythin' you've worked on, but I guess I'll just than the programmers by proxy by thankin' you for thinkin' about the folks at the other end of all the code."

"Lot of chance to catch work as the court season brings all these folks in, I imagine?"

Another rocket struck a bell, this one then pinwheeling away releasing a shower of golden sparks.

Hato nodded.

"Hotaru-san has the truth of the matter. Though the focus now is last minute changes before release. If one wishes to showcase their product before an assemblage such as this, releasing that a feature does not work as intended is a weighty problem. Especially if one has only been testing only one's own equipment. The different clans' approaches to programming means that sometimes they do not communicate with each other properly. Though at least when the software fails to communicate, it only fails to function and produces error messages, rather than challenging each other to a duel as in days of old." she said with a slight smile.

[Usagi Rei]

"Why stop at just the islands if that's the case. You could consider getting completely away, it might be the closest thing you'll get to a bonafide vacation in a while." She couldn't help but snicker at the thought before glancing back at him. "Not that there are many places you could go that couldn't be found in some form on the World of Dreams."

She giggled and raised a brow at him. "That would depend entirely on you, wouldn't it? You did have the idea of something quieter last time and I think you still owe me a drink. Unless you meant that in a different way? I'm not going to find you huddled in a corner when the stress of Winter Court finally gets to you, am I?"

Like many places around the World of Dreams, the temples did lend themselves to being a rather good tourist spot and there were a few benches that could be found on the streets. They would eventually happen on one that was miraculously cleared that also had a good view of the fireworks that were happening. There were a few crushed cans on the floor, which might have indicated that someone had more liberal ideas about littering laws around here. They could rest their conscience knowing that they weren't as bad as these people. "I'd like to do more fun things, for one. Maybe do some city exploring, coincidental thrill-seeking, even if it's venturing into the slums to feel all rebel-like. Or just tune everything out and contemplate the night away. Doing nothing at all is such a luxury these days."

"Hmmm..." Rei shrugged, smiling. "If I wanted to visit Crane or Crab territory, that could probably happen. The right transport would be like a vacation itself." He shrugged again. "But like you said, World of Dreams has pretty much everything. I haven't left the planet in just under two years." That was for his wedding, of course.

A brief frown, but Mariko's giggle brought him out of it. He cast her a look, smiling. "You're right, I do still owe you a drink. I do actually have my flask on me." He confided, patting his jacket. "But that's not the same. A proper drink is what I offered, and I mean to keep my word."

He lead the way to the bench, sitting after she was. Close, but not too close. Idly, he shoved a discarded can with his foot; no doubt the monks, or perhaps heimin would be picking it up tomorrow. Garbage was not work for a samurai, after all.

Turning, he looked at her. "I could probably arrange some of those things." He said, smiling. "Even doing nothing is better with gorgeous company."

[Bayushi Tenma]

He supported her, enjoying the contact. After a moment of pause to let the heavy topic be blown away, he glanced at her, and the reflexes of fire in her fiery hair.

"...So how are you feeling about the fireworks now?"

"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."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

snip

"Hmm, yeah, ran into that recently on Amanoseki getting some of our... let's call it vernerable... software to interface with Imperial code in the administration center. Nobody will claim that Imperial computin' is cutting edge, but it was definitely built on newer traditions than ours." She watches a high-flying rocket burst well above the temple before several smaller rockets spun out from the blast. It looked like one of those meant to strike together that had miscalculated. The distant cries as some of those spun well out of the expected zone seemed to confirm the guess that it wasn't a purposeful display on high.

"The problems were definitely less confrontational, than spirits dueling within the machines. So did you have anythin' to do with the displays on the festival floats? Some of those seemed to have pretty complex routines going."

[Hato]

"Hmm, yeah, ran into that recently on Amanoseki getting some of our... let's call it vernerable... software to interface with Imperial code in the administration center. Nobody will claim that Imperial computin' is cutting edge, but it was definitely built on newer traditions than ours." She watches a high-flying rocket burst well above the temple before several smaller rockets spun out from the blast. It looked like one of those meant to strike together that had miscalculated. The distant cries as some of those spun well out of the expected zone seemed to confirm the guess that it wasn't a purposeful display on high.

"The problems were definitely less confrontational, than spirits dueling within the machines. So did you have anythin' to do with the displays on the festival floats? Some of those seemed to have pretty complex routines going."

"Ah, as expected, the artist eyes of....Hotaru-san are quite perceptive." she said. "Unfortunately, this one can not claim any glory for working on such displays. The floats are as heavily regulated as a shrine to the ancestors. The heroes appearing and their actions are very tightly scripted. You cannot have Bayushi Paneki point out your bar, nor add your cousin Shosuro Ichiro who got the bat out of your attic to the procession. And given that it is a yearly parade, they only need minor updates to the carefully regulated sponsorships to updates logos and the like."

Hato felt....disappointed and ashamed. It was sheer hubris to try and impress an artist whose medium was literally the cosmos itself....but she really wanted to, even if it was stupid and prideful.

"A better example would be the overhaul of the system at Kuduwara Pharmacy. They were expanding and updating their system, and in their rush to complete the process, they did not anticipate how their traditional logo would display properly on the new system. So not only did a more display friendly version of the logo need to be rendered, we had to go through all the code and make sure that the new logo was everywhere and the old logo was expunged as rapidly as possible without overly disrupting the flow of business as the new system went live before the error was spotted." she explained.

Dumb dumb dumb. The Firefly was not going to care about the displays at the Kuduwara Pharmacy.