Despite what he'd said to Yakumo, Rei did often wake up before noon. Well... sometimes anyway. Today was one such day.

For a few reasons, Rei found himself walking along the boardwalk on the artificial island. Dressed in casual daywear, his whites this time rather than his greys (although they all fit his form very nicely), he looked out over the water, watching the sun reflect off of it. All artificially constructed, of course. Was that the same as an illusion, artificial and artifice? He wasn't sure.

Why was he so pensive, anyway?

Still, Rei wouldn't be Rei if in addition to watching the beach, he also watched the passersby. The pretty girls, of course, wearing their swimwear, but really just everyone, enjoying themself as he walked pensively along.

Yamako was really feeling the need for some wind and breezes. Staying cooped up in the embassy all day yesterday had done a number on her. While it was critical to have all the information possible, clearly some time for the body was also required.

As she moved along the boardwalk, dressed more casually than was her usual norm, she saw Usagi-san looking out at the water. As she drew nearer, she dipped her head at him, not wishing to interrupt but always up for conversation.

As seemed to be habit for him, Rei recognized the approaching Unicorn quickly, turning as she inclined her head. He smiled, charming without being overly cheerful, giving her a little bow in return.

"Ide-san. It's a pleasure to see you again." He greeted her. He cast a quick look around, expecting to see Yesugen yet again, but the other Unicorn was not to be seen. For once.

Still smiling, he waved a hand out towards the water. "Pretty, isn't it? It's a lot of time and effort, but the result is very nice, anyway."

She smiles, nodding at his comment. "It is gorgeous. And the wind coming off the ocean helps to clear the mind I feel. How has your time been since we last spoke?"

Rei considered that a moment. "Eventful. Quite eventful." Well, that was certainly true. Rei chuckled, shaking his head. "I mean, there's always something going on here. But ever since the festival..."

He flashed a grin at Yamako. "And you, Ide-san? Did you enjoy the rest of the festival? There's going to be fireworks tonight. I can only imagine that you'd have no trouble finding a date if you wanted one..." His smile was definitely playful, a gentle tease.

Her mental ears perked up at eventful. "You cannot trail off like that Usagi-san! I haven't had a good gossip since I got here."

She laughed, clearly amused. "Ahh Usagi-san, but you do this one's ego too much good and I will have to puncture it for my own sake."

"Hmmm." Rei said, tilting his head to smile at her. "I shall have to take care to flatter you just the right amount, then."

A moment longer, and his expression turned thoughtful. He knew Yakumo preferred to be incognito... but she was well known to be on planet now.
And Hinata obviously wouldn't care. "Hmmm... well, as it happens, at the festival after I met you and the others, I met not one, but two off-world stars. Susumu Yakumo and Asahina Hinata. Quite nearly at the same time." He chuckled, shaking his head. "It was an experience."

Her face stills slightly, but that is her only tell. "Ahh yes, I have met both of them as well. They are both intriguing characters, I would say."

"Intriguing, yes. To be sure." He said. But the change in expression was enough. Rei was far too observant to miss that.

"Is something wrong, Yamako-san?" He asked gently.

She shakes her head. "No, not at all! I had just been expecting a slightly juicier gossip! You seem to have the ears and eyes of your clan, that's all."

D3, Using sincerity to try to hide a lie from Usagi Rei.

3 awareness, 3 sincerity | 6k3 ⇒ 29 (TN: 20)

"What made it such an experience?"

Rei's pale brown eyes narrowed as he looked at Yamako. For a long moment, he was silent.

But then he let it pass. "Well. Running into her was enough of a coincidence. But then an Akodo and I recognized her. I realized she wanted to be incognito, so I was suggesting we go somewhere quieter."

Grinning, he shook his head. "And then out of nowhere, the Asahina runs over, yelling her name. I was worried we were gonna get mobbed by both of their fans. Probably not overlapping." He chuckled, shaking his head again. "I managed to not laugh until I got home, but then it was the loudest I'd laughed in a while."


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Lies?!?! Inv/Per vs Yamako, +1k1 Witchfinder Path to detect lies | 7k4 ⇒ 51 (TN: 29)

Usagi Rei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 10, 2022 12:47 am

Rei's pale brown eyes narrowed as he looked at Yamako. For a long moment, he was silent.

But then he let it pass. "Well. Running into her was enough of a coincidence. But then an Akodo and I recognized her. I realized she wanted to be incognito, so I was suggesting we go somewhere quieter."

Grinning, he shook his head. "And then out of nowhere, the Asahina runs over, yelling her name. I was worried we were gonna get mobbed by both of their fans. Probably not overlapping." He chuckled, shaking his head again. "I managed to not laugh until I got home, but then it was the loudest I'd laughed in a while."


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Lies?!?! Inv/Per vs Yamako, +1k1 Witchfinder Path to detect lies | 7k4 ⇒ 51 (TN: 29)

She chuckles, grateful the moment has passed. "Oh I can only imagine. Asahina-san is...very forthright and seems pure of heart. They were quite kind to me at the cat cafe the other day." She pauses. "Susumu-san's music is quite popular. I recall she had a Kakita rival I believe prior. But now Susumu-san is part of the Imperial recording world, correct?"

Ide Yamako wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 10, 2022 12:52 am

She chuckles, grateful the moment has passed. "Oh I can only imagine. Asahina-san is...very forthright and seems pure of heart. They were quite kind to me at the cat cafe the other day." She pauses. "Susumu-san's music is quite popular. I recall she had a Kakita rival I believe prior. But now Susumu-san is part of the Imperial recording world, correct?"

Rei smiled at her, eyebrows going up. "Oh, you visited the cat cafe? If you go again, say hi to Garbo for me. Although I swear, that cat thinks my forearm is delicious." He chuckled softly. "And I'm not surprised that Asahina-san was there. He is... exactly as you say."

He nodded, his expression casual. "She is. Her music's going out to every world in the Empire." Rei smirked. "If you're interested, there's a lot of fan pages about her. After I ran into her at the festival, I did some homework, just in case." He shrugged.

She chuckles. "I was less than successful with most of them but Asahina-san and Akodo-san were quite useful in correcting my technique."

She shook her head. "I fear her style is not quite mine. I am also more of a vid person. Did I tell you that I was able to meet Shosuro Hashinako when I was on New Kalani? She is quite stunning and kind."

"Hmmm..." Rei said. "Well, if you ever should happen to meet my spine drake, I'll be sure to assist as well."

He frowned a moment, casting back through his memory. "... Life of a Togashi, right? I think I remember that one. She is stunning." He said. "Nice and pretty don't always come in the same package. Although they do often enough. Ide-san." A quick flash of a grin at that.

"New Kalani..." Rei grimaced, again straining his memory.. "Mantis, right? You do a lot of travelling, it seems. Diplomatic duties?"

Usagi Rei wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 10, 2022 1:28 am

"Hmmm..." Rei said. "Well, if you ever should happen to meet my spine drake, I'll be sure to assist as well."

He frowned a moment, casting back through his memory. "... Life of a Togashi, right? I think I remember that one. She is stunning." He said. "Nice and pretty don't always come in the same package. Although they do often enough. Ide-san." A quick flash of a grin at that.

"New Kalani..." Rei grimaced, again straining his memory.. "Mantis, right? You do a lot of travelling, it seems. Diplomatic duties?"

Her whole being seems to perk for a moment. "Oh, you have a pet? I have never seen a spine drake before!"

She calms herself. "Yes, I am quite a fan of the series. She was kind to me during my time there and very helpful." A tiny blush hits her cheeks, but it is relatively under control as she moves into the next topic.

"Yes, it is both duty and a learning opportunity. A diplomat can never see too much of other cultures and ways of being. It enhances our ability to meet others where they are and find what we can offer each other."

Ide Yamako wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 10, 2022 1:38 am

Her whole being seems to perk for a moment. "Oh, you have a pet? I have never seen a spine drake before!"

She calms herself. "Yes, I am quite a fan of the series. She was kind to me during my time there and very helpful." A tiny blush hits her cheeks, but it is relatively under control as she moves into the next topic.

"Yes, it is both duty and a learning opportunity. A diplomat can never see too much of other cultures and ways of being. It enhances our ability to meet others where they are and find what we can offer each other."

"I do." Rei said, smiling. "Airi is her name. I hope you'll get the chance to meet her sometime."

He watched the young (yes, young, Ide-san!) Unicorn woman blush, smiling, but didn't comment. "It sounds like she was a very good friend." He said. "Ah... what kind of show is it?"

Rei nodded. "I see." He considered for a few moments. "How much have you dealt with the Scorpion before, Ide-san?"

She smiles. "She sounds lovely. I would be happy to make her acquaintance. And she was. It was a historical drama of sorts. You might enjoy it."

"Here and there. Beyond Shoshuro-san, I had a friend in the clan but he has married out. I feel like I am still learning how they approach diplomacy and the world though. It is complex."

"Hmmm." Rei acknowledged noncommittally. In truth, he didn't watch a lot of vids.

And then another "Hmmm...", this one more thoughtful. "Yes. Complex. I've been living here two years, and I don't have them figured out." He paused a moment, looking out over the water. The breeze was pleasant, gently blowing at his hair, his clothes. "They say that anything they should us could be an illusion, and every word they speak could be a lie. Or it could all be real." Smiling, Rei shrugged. "Sorting those things out is a full time job."

She had a sense she was missing something, but she wasn't quite confident enough to try to press. "I would say so. The Scorpion require...a flexibility I have found. My type of sincerity can be difficult for them. But I hope to find a way to continue to understand and engage."