(D3, LA) On the Sidelines (Open) - Oshidama Tournament Observation

[Hotaru Sakura]

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"Ano, arigatou!" Skaura leaned in for a half-hug with her compatriot, slightly nervously.

"I used to play a lot with my father. IT was an easy game to pick up and spend some time with." Her eyes turned slightly misty. "HE's looking out for me, even from the kharmic wheel, it seems." She smiled widely.

"Susumu-sama and Asahina-sama played great though! Such excellent teamwork! Oh, and Yoritomo-sama, I think we really should celebrate sometime!"

[Hato]

And so it came to be, victory for the Beautiful mantis and the energetic Firefly. The stakes were low and everyone was able to walk away with smiles.

Hato wondered what it must be like, to live such a life of ease. Days filled with happiness and cheer, where no one was wondering where their next meal was coming from, or if they were going to get beaten by the magistrates for no other reason than it amused them again.

It must be nice.

But like many things for ronin on the world, it was a dream that she could see but couldn't reach.....even if she applauded the winners politely as the rest of the crowd offered their cheers and well-wshes as well.

[Asahina Hinata]

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Hinata was distracted. Too busy staring around for this other Crane samurai Seika had mentioned. He'd thought he was the only one here, but she'd definitely said 'Kakita-san' and if there was another Crane here it would be rude not to go say hello.

[Susumu Sumiko]

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"My father liked to believe he was important at least" Sumiko said with a chuckle "don't worry though, my home life didn't really effect how I am now. I suppose it lead me to learn more on my own, which may have been the reason for my parents being as they are."

I doubt it though.

"And I learnt plenty on my own. Spent a lot of time reading, researching. It proved to be worthwhile being that I was the top of every class at gempukku, so hard work pays off neh? I even managed to at least win one game of a sport that I learnt the rules of last night, so even more evidence of hard work paying off."

[Susumu Yakumo]

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"Mm, some fun get-together later could be fun. Maybe not today, but another day? The Firefly has been gaining a lot of traction lately..." she remarked with some interest. Maybe the Firefly would be brought in under the wing of the Spider-Crane-Mantis alliance?

"And besides, it's been so long Yoritomo-sama and I got to hang out. I'm sure the time since we last saw eachother on New Kalani has kept you busy, Yoritomo-sama." There was surprisingly little barb or acid to her words. Maybe someone had beaten it into the Spider songstress that she was supposed to be nice with Seika because they were technically allies.

Which could explain her friendliness with Hinata. "Asahina-san and I haven't had the chance to cooperate much before, but it was a lot of fun." It was too hilarious to correct Seika on calling Hinata a Kakita.

[Hitoko]

Koroshi looked at the ronin spread out on the sand and put his hands down with a great sigh. "Ancestors forgive this one his trespasses."

"Hitoko-san!" He yelled, hoping that she would react while he speedwalked over the sand to her side. The Otomo speaks quickly and with unnatural cheer. "Hitoko-san, if you are hurt then you will need to tell me where so that I can render proper aid. If everything hurts then you may merely groan in pain!"

He took a knee to look over her and make sure she was breathing and had all her limbs in the right place.

"Otomo-sama," she says quietly, with more groan in her voice than she'd intended. "Um. I think I'm fine. Winded. Surprised... Uh, a lot more than I bargained for with an Imperial Oshidama partner..." She raises her head and shoulders, propping herself up on her elbows. She blinks several times, her eyes flashing side to side while she grimaces, though she's distracted enough not to realize the face she's making.

"Maybe there was a bit more spinning there than I thought..." She grumbles.

[Soshi Kioku]

"My father liked to believe he was important at least" Sumiko said with a chuckle "don't worry though, my home life didn't really effect how I am now. I suppose it lead me to learn more on my own, which may have been the reason for my parents being as they are."

I doubt it though.

"And I learnt plenty on my own. Spent a lot of time reading, researching. It proved to be worthwhile being that I was the top of every class at gempukku, so hard work pays off neh? I even managed to at least win one game of a sport that I learnt the rules of last night, so even more evidence of hard work paying off."

She seems thoughtful for while, but soon her face eases to a calm smile.

"Oh, I see Susumu-san is a prodigy of intellectual arts then, ne? And quite good at trying new things too, eh?"

She nods as if praising the girl. "Have you considered becoming a researcher, Sumiko-san? With those skills and your curiosity, I believe that might be a good fit, ne?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

She seems thoughtful for while, but soon her face eases to a calm smile.

"Oh, I see Susumu-san is a prodigy of intellectual arts then, ne? And quite good at trying new things too, eh?"

She nods as if praising the girl. "Have you considered becoming a researcher, Sumiko-san? With those skills and your curiosity, I believe that might be a good fit, ne?"

"I wouldn't say good at new things" Sumiko shook her head "rather I take the time to study ahead of time so that I can give it my best shot."

She then considered the question.

"Hm...I actually hadn't considered it, but that would very much suit my talents I think. It's also something that would interest me a lot! I may have to see what Spider researchers do, although I feel like that's usually reserved for our priests rather than someone like me who is a diplomat by training. Changing career paths in the Spider is not the norm, as our schooling is very focused. You're a researcher right Soshi-sama?"

[Soshi Kioku]

"I wouldn't say good at new things" Sumiko shook her head "rather I take the time to study ahead of time so that I can give it my best shot."

She then considered the question.

"Hm...I actually hadn't considered it, but that would very much suit my talents I think. It's also something that would interest me a lot! I may have to see what Spider researchers do, although I feel like that's usually reserved for our priests rather than someone like me who is a diplomat by training. Changing career paths in the Spider is not the norm, as our schooling is very focused. You're a researcher right Soshi-sama?"

"Oh", she says, tilting her head to the side slightly. "Sumiko-san studied Oshidama ahead of time, then?"

With the girl's answer, she nods and fully focuses on the other topic though.

"Yes - at the Sanctuary, as you saw. I'm one of those leading the Spine Drakes programme. Was a researcher before as well, just..." She falls silent for a while. "Well... it led me to what I do today, so that's... good."

The sadness creeping beneath her otherwise neutral face didn't quite suggest good.

"Oh... we don't hear that much about what the Spider are researching. Does it focus mainly on spiritual matters, then?", she then asks.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Oh", she says, tilting her head to the side slightly. "Sumiko-san studied Oshidama ahead of time, then?"

With the girl's answer, she nods and fully focuses on the other topic though.

"Yes - at the Sanctuary, as you saw. I'm one of those leading the Spine Drakes programme. Was a researcher before as well, just..." She falls silent for a while. "Well... it led me to what I do today, so that's... good."

The sadness creeping beneath her otherwise neutral face didn't quite suggest good.

"Oh... we don't hear that much about what the Spider are researching. Does it focus mainly on spiritual matters, then?", she then asks.

"Sometimes it takes a moment in our lives to help us find our calling" Sumiko said with a nod, not pressing more as it seemed to be a sore subject for the woman and it was too public to press.

"Spider research is...I suppose there is spiritual. There's also the work done in regards to claiming worlds which requires more sterner people than I. I know there is a lot of medical research as well, which likely doesn't suit one like I either. I think I'm more the reading and writing kind, even though I want to see more."

[Soshi Kioku]

"Sometimes it takes a moment in our lives to help us find our calling" Sumiko said with a nod, not pressing more as it seemed to be a sore subject for the woman and it was too public to press.

"Spider research is...I suppose there is spiritual. There's also the work done in regards to claiming worlds which requires more sterner people than I. I know there is a lot of medical research as well, which likely doesn't suit one like I either. I think I'm more the reading and writing kind, even though I want to see more."

Sumiko doesn't press, and Kioku doesn't continue. Her face at the Spine Drake Centre earlier suggests it's not her work there that pains her, not at all. But having mentioned her work before, and her having worked at a place destroyed by the accident... Sumiko could probably guess one thing or two.

But this was not the time or the place. So Kioku just focused on the other topic.

"I see. Reading and writing... do you do bioinformatics, maybe? From my own experience, people without the gift to talk to the kami sometimes find a calling in such areas of research if they have a knack for computers." A small smile. "Not quite the same as the spiritual work we do as shugenja researchers, but... if you ask me? It still looks supernatural at times", she adds with a slight grin.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko doesn't press, and Kioku doesn't continue. Her face at the Spine Drake Centre earlier suggests it's not her work there that pains her, not at all. But having mentioned her work before, and her having worked at a place destroyed by the accident... Sumiko could probably guess one thing or two.

But this was not the time or the place. So Kioku just focused on the other topic.

"I see. Reading and writing... do you do bioinformatics, maybe? From my own experience, people without the gift to talk to the kami sometimes find a calling in such areas of research if they have a knack for computers." A small smile. "Not quite the same as the spiritual work we do as shugenja researchers, but... if you ask me? It still looks supernatural at times", she adds with a slight grin.

Sumiko was a little thoughtful.

"I do a little bioinformatics, but generally from a cataloguing point of view. I've not had the chance to actually do anything more, but maybe in the future. Although it's more of a Kuchiki duty than a Susumu one. It wouldn't be as interesting as working with animals though, right?" She smiled at Kioku "well I suppose it may have working with animals involved, just less living ones."

She looked over the islands again, before looking back at Kioku.

"I don't think there will be any more playing now, unless Soshi-sama intends to find some players and play?"

[Soshi Kioku]

Sumiko was a little thoughtful.

"I do a little bioinformatics, but generally from a cataloguing point of view. I've not had the chance to actually do anything more, but maybe in the future. Although it's more of a Kuchiki duty than a Susumu one. It wouldn't be as interesting as working with animals though, right?" She smiled at Kioku "well I suppose it may have working with animals involved, just less living ones."

She looked over the islands again, before looking back at Kioku.

"I don't think there will be any more playing now, unless Soshi-sama intends to find some players and play?"

The Soshi nodded to the Spider, first acknowledging her answer, then as an answer. "Well, with the tournament over? I expect those who were playing will turn to festivities now - or... well, for those like me, turn back to their work." A small smile. "If Sumiko-san would be interested, we could gather some others for a game another time, though."

A polite, although friendly bow. "Thank you for your company, Sumiko-san. If you decide to come back to the Sanctuary another day, I will be happy to see you again there."

(/exit I guess?)

[Susumu Sumiko]

The Soshi nodded to the Spider, first acknowledging her answer, then as an answer. "Well, with the tournament over? I expect those who were playing will turn to festivities now - or... well, for those like me, turn back to their work." A small smile. "If Sumiko-san would be interested, we could gather some others for a game another time, though."

A polite, although friendly bow. "Thank you for your company, Sumiko-san. If you decide to come back to the Sanctuary another day, I will be happy to see you again there."

(/exit I guess?)

"I'd like that" Sumiko smiled "as long as Kioku-sama goes easy on little me. Bayushi-sama seems to really enjoy sports, so I could ask her to join us, would just need to find another right?"

Sumiko stood, picking up her bags.

"I'll need to go back to the embassy to clean up and change before the festival in a few hours, so I can walk with you a little bit of the way if Kioku-sama likes?"

[Soshi Kioku]

"I'd like that" Sumiko smiled "as long as Kioku-sama goes easy on little me. Bayushi-sama seems to really enjoy sports, so I could ask her to join us, would just need to find another right?"

Sumiko stood, picking up her bags.

"I'll need to go back to the embassy to clean up and change before the festival in a few hours, so I can walk with you a little bit of the way if Kioku-sama likes?"

"Sounds like a plan, Sumiko-san.", she says with another small smile. "Both things, really! Let's try to arrange that game then. And... I'll have to be back to the Sanctuary later, but I can spare some time for a walk. Need some help with the bags?"

(thanks for the scene )

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Sounds like a plan, Sumiko-san.", she says with another small smile. "Both things, really! Let's try to arrange that game then. And... I'll have to be back to the Sanctuary later, but I can spare some time for a walk. Need some help with the bags?"

(thanks for the scene )

"I can carry the bags, it's ok" Sumiko smiled "thank you though. Ready to go?"

Once confirmed she nodded, slipping her t-shirt on over the bathing suit so she wasn't just walking through the city in a bathing suit and walked most of the way back.

/exit

(Thank you for a lovely thead! )