[D6 ME] The Concert

[Matsu Eriko]

Hide couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought. “Oh please, you might jinx it! What if you had to stage a daring rescue?”

If Eriko was able to gather people on Asakaze to go into the forbidden derelict ship, Hide was sure she could do that here. “Well, I’m not exactly worried about that. I might get shot at a lot, though. But that’s normal for me in general!”

Eriko waved a hand dismissively, making it seem it was simple child's play. "Aw, well, I'll just have to get on the horn and call out a few of your friends, now don't I? It might be a bit hard trying to pick a few from the millions you have! But it might be a bit hard considering you've made it so easy. Never mind that I was knocked out for most of it but I think Akodo-sama told me about most of it and it seemed like you really planned the thing from top to bottom to succeed."

"I would get..." Eriko looked about the place to try to find some familiar faces. "Hm, I guess I didn't have all that much time schmoozing with people this time around, huh?"

[Matsu Hide]

Eriko waved a hand dismissively, making it seem it was simple child's play. "Aw, well, I'll just have to get on the horn and call out a few of your friends, now don't I? It might be a bit hard trying to pick a few from the millions you have! But it might be a bit hard considering you've made it so easy. Never mind that I was knocked out for most of it but I think Akodo-sama told me about most of it and it seemed like you really planned the thing from top to bottom to succeed."

"I would get..." Eriko looked about the place to try to find some familiar faces. "Hm, I guess I didn't have all that much time schmoozing with people this time around, huh?"

“Akodo-sama told you that? Really, it was a group effort. I don’t think we would have been able to pull it off without Hida-sama, Suzume-san, or Koseki, y’know?” Truth be told, Hide was so pissed that she kind of forgot the nitty gritty details of that fight.

“Hey, it’s always good to schmooze a little. Friends can have friends, too. That’s how we got Suzume-san to join us for the rescue.”

[Usagi Rei]

"I thought you're already infringing on my world, Usagi-san." She raised her brows as she looked at Rei inquisitively before she looked out to the stage to indicate her point, rather than just watch the show. "You're the aspiring agent and talent handler, so you might have more of an insight into my mind than I do yours. Admittedly, with music artists than dramatic artists. Still very much show business. If nobody considers it too awkward, maybe I should show up as your secretary one day, sit in on your meetings and get a good idea of what happens behind closed doors in all your diplomatic meetings."

"Maybe." Rei said. He looked at her, smiling, but his eyes were ever so slightly narrowed in though. "But I think I'll wait until that quiet drink to judge that for sure." Despite the rapport and chemistry they had, he suspected there were layers he hadn't yet encountered.

His flirty smile returned as she went on. "Oh? And I thought I'd be serving you tea. But if that's something you'd like to try, I'd be more than glad to show you the ropes." He said, tone matching his smile.

The server returned with the drinks, handing one to each of them. Rei raised his glass to Mariko with a smile, offering to clink them together. "To new experiences?" He suggested.

[Matsu Eriko]

“Akodo-sama told you that? Really, it was a group effort. I don’t think we would have been able to pull it off without Hida-sama, Suzume-san, or Koseki, y’know?” Truth be told, Hide was so pissed that she kind of forgot the nitty gritty details of that fight.

“Hey, it’s always good to schmooze a little. Friends can have friends, too. That’s how we got Suzume-san to join us for the rescue.”

"With all of the trouble I cause with that ship diving fiasco, kind of surprised anyone was willing to risk their neck out for me. And I'm very thankful for everyone's help, especially on short notice! I really owe them each a drink or ten." She said before taking another sip from her drink. "Okay, miss popular, is there someone around here you'd suggest I talk to?"

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Maybe." Rei said. He looked at her, smiling, but his eyes were ever so slightly narrowed in though. "But I think I'll wait until that quiet drink to judge that for sure." Despite the rapport and chemistry they had, he suspected there were layers he hadn't yet encountered.

His flirty smile returned as she went on. "Oh? And I thought I'd be serving you tea. But if that's something you'd like to try, I'd be more than glad to show you the ropes." He said, tone matching his smile.

The server returned with the drinks, handing one to each of them. Rei raised his glass to Mariko with a smile, offering to clink them together. "To new experiences?" He suggested.

"Of course, I'd rather be served tea if I had a choice." She smirked as she continued with her flirtatious tone. "But I'm the one who's looking to integrate herself into your role. To spend a day in your shoes, maybe borrow a few clothes from you to better look the part. Maybe I'll do well in your shirt? Now, that would be a rather cute thought too, don't you think?"

She smiled as she raised her glass and gently tapped them together. "To new and exciting experiences, Usagi-san."

[Matsu Hide]

"With all of the trouble I cause with that ship diving fiasco, kind of surprised anyone was willing to risk their neck out for me. And I'm very thankful for everyone's help, especially on short notice! I really owe them each a drink or ten." She said before taking another sip from her drink. "Okay, miss popular, is there someone around here you'd suggest I talk to?”

“Honestly? I think Kuni Koyuki-san talks around a lot with people. She gave me a list of people last night that would be good to speak to. She suggested Usagi Rei, a ronin I had already met named Yurei, and that Asahina Hinata.” Hide vaguely motioned towards the stage before she took another sip from her drink.

[Usagi Rei]

"Of course, I'd rather be served tea if I had a choice." She smirked as she continued with her flirtatious tone. "But I'm the one who's looking to integrate herself into your role. To spend a day in your shoes, maybe borrow a few clothes from you to better look the part. Maybe I'll do well in your shirt? Now, that would be a rather cute thought too, don't you think?"

She smiled as she raised her glass and gently tapped them together. "To new and exciting experiences, Usagi-san."

Rei smiled, the sound of clinking glass just audible over the music. "New and exciting. I like that, Bayushi-san." The flirting, combined with memories of last night, were certainly having an effect. Rei took a rather generous sip of his drink, hoping it would cool his blood a bit. It didn't.

Giving Mariko a sidelong glance, Rei's gaze traced down, then back up. "That would be a cute thought indeed." He said, giving her a look. He took a deep breath. "You know, since we mentioned it before, I really can feel my health beginning to turn. I think in a day or two, I will absolutely need to tend to it." Another look at her as he took a drink, covering his smile.

[Matsu Eriko]

“Honestly? I think Kuni Koyuki-san talks around a lot with people. She gave me a list of people last night that would be good to speak to. She suggested Usagi Rei, a ronin I had already met named Yurei, and that Asahina Hinata.” Hide vaguely motioned towards the stage before she took another sip from her drink.

"No way. Koyuki-san gets around, huh? And they say that Kuni aren't the sociable type." She gave a wink at that. "Well, I guess I could look into meeting more people. Here I've been trying to cozy up to cats for the last few days. Adorable creatures but I don't think they'll necessarily help you in a pinch. All that effort and I think the cat at the embassy is still upset at me!"

[Bayushi Mariko]

Rei smiled, the sound of clinking glass just audible over the music. "New and exciting. I like that, Bayushi-san." The flirting, combined with memories of last night, were certainly having an effect. Rei took a rather generous sip of his drink, hoping it would cool his blood a bit. It didn't.

Giving Mariko a sidelong glance, Rei's gaze traced down, then back up. "That would be a cute thought indeed." He said, giving her a look. He took a deep breath. "You know, since we mentioned it before, I really can feel my health beginning to turn. I think in a day or two, I will absolutely need to tend to it." Another look at her as he took a drink, covering his smile.

"I get the feeling we'll find plenty of that," she said with a smile before she brought the glass to her lips to take a sip to honour the toast.

"Oh, no..." She said with a feigned bit of surprise. Her gaze turned a bit concerned and she gave him a pout, hamming up her performance even more. "That's probably signs that your work is truly starting to take a toll on you. You poor thing, they truly got you hopping up and down at the embassy, I bet. You might not even last a week if you keep exerting yourself like that. And again, I did play a medic once, after all."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

"Interesting individual," she adds, having tended her drink a fair amount over the course of time. Apparently so well that there was at one point another waved over to their seating and laid down. Wasn't a boring drink either, had color and flavor to it just by the look of the thing. Hand laid around it she sips twice before continuing.

"I have met the person behind the musician twice. Both times they were quick to warm, and-" she shakes her head. She wasn't exactly jealous, she likes the way she is. Yet, it is addictive to think about how much better some of her failures might have gone if she could have been a little bit more like them. Damnit Toma, you really would have liked Kazumi. "They are a good person, I think. Their music is.." she shrugs, "I do not hate it. Though I find it hard to love it. More noise than anything else, pleasant noise, but noise."

"It's the sort of music I find great to work to. The way the pieces fit together is helpful when I'm doing all this spatial stuff in my head." Her own drink remains half full, bright colors swirled and muddied by now. "Haven't had a chance to really meet 'em, but they seem decent enough," the unspoken, 'for a Scorpion' hangs in the air. "How'd you run across 'em then?"

[Matsu Hide]

"No way. Koyuki-san gets around, huh? And they say that Kuni aren't the sociable type." She gave a wink at that. "Well, I guess I could look into meeting more people. Here I've been trying to cozy up to cats for the last few days. Adorable creatures but I don't think they'll necessarily help you in a pinch. All that effort and I think the cat at the embassy is still upset at me!"

"The one at the embassy has a type. Uniform and in charge." Hide couldn't help but smile at the thought of Eriko trying to befriend cats. "Though, I don't think she's fond of me, either. So, at least she isn't singling you out or anything."

[Soshi Kioku]

Nishida was there. He was not particularly enthusiastic, but he did not want to miss this unique event. To his displeasure came that besides the Boom Boom music also a huge crowd of people was here and he got despite his status no separate area.

At least the sake was passable.

He wove his way through the crowd until, inevitably, he brushed against another samurai and his glasses went off, "Damn, I shouldn't have left Akechi at home!" he grumbled, "Excuse me" he shouted over the loud music, "Could someone help me with my glasses?"

Without them, Nishida was blind as a fish. "Anyone, hello?"

The Soshi was somewhat surprised, but someone bumping into you in a crowded concert was not exactly unexpected. So she turned around, taking a while to find out who exactly had bumped into her, then finally spotting the man looking for his glasses.

"Ah", she exclaimed as she tried to make sense of the situation and started looking around, bowing to him as she could... until she noticed a Chrysanthemum mon in his clothing. "Esteemed servant of the Chrysanthemum-sama!", she greeted him - as well as she could over the loudspeakers... Then, trying to take a look at the floor. "Let me see...", she says as she awkwardly kneels down, then finally touches something. "I think this is it..."

It wasn't. It was just a discarded can of some type of cooler. "Shoju's patience and Tsukune's compassion, where is it..."

[Miya Nishida]

The Soshi was somewhat surprised, but someone bumping into you in a crowded concert was not exactly unexpected. So she turned around, taking a while to find out who exactly had bumped into her, then finally spotting the man looking for his glasses.

"Ah", she exclaimed as she tried to make sense of the situation and started looking around, bowing to him as she could... until she noticed a Chrysanthemum mon in his clothing. "Esteemed servant of the Chrysanthemum-sama!", she greeted him - as well as she could over the loudspeakers... Then, trying to take a look at the floor. "Let me see...", she says as she awkwardly kneels down, then finally touches something. "I think this is it..."

It wasn't. It was just a discarded can of some type of cooler. "Shoju's patience and Tsukune's compassion, where is it..."

"Ahh finally an honorable soul,..." he squinted trying to make out his opposite, he recognized the red garment, so it was most likely a scorpion, "Scorpion-san."

He himself got down on his knees and tried to scan the ground, Himei, his yojimbo trying to make some space for the two of them. "I hope I'm not burdening you too much," he apologized to the unknown samurai.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"Maybe?" he laughed. "I'll work that into whatever comes of the idea. Something about a small town boy living on a lonely world and a city girl from the World of Dreams."

Sakura blushed. "Ano...there are lots of lovely girls in the city." She turned away.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

Sakura blushed. "Ano...there are lots of lovely girls in the city." She turned away.

"There are." he nodded. "And, you are definitely one of them."

[Usagi Rei]

"I get the feeling we'll find plenty of that," she said with a smile before she brought the glass to her lips to take a sip to honour the toast.

"Oh, no..." She said with a feigned bit of surprise. Her gaze turned a bit concerned and she gave him a pout, hamming up her performance even more. "That's probably signs that your work is truly starting to take a toll on you. You poor thing, they truly got you hopping up and down at the embassy, I bet. You might not even last a week if you keep exerting yourself like that. And again, I did play a medic once, after all."

Fortunes, that pout. Rei traced her lip with his eyes before meeting her gaze once more. "A week? I don't think I'll last more than a couple of days without at least a bit of treatment." He murmured, his tone mournful, his eyes hot.

Rei wasn't much of a dancer, but he couldn't help but sway to the music a little, matching his rhythm to Mariko's. "I remember." He murmured. "It was an excellent role." He took a casual sip. "So... when you leave a show, do you keep the outfits? I know I've heard of actors doing that." His gaze flickered casually down and back up again.

[Hotaru Sakura]

"There are." he nodded. "And, you are definitely one of them."

Sakura giggled. "Now you sound like my friend Yurei." She replied, her face almost as red as the tips of her hair. "Has Kitsune-sama met anyone else interesting, or intriguing?"

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

Sakura giggled. "Now you sound like my friend Yurei." She replied, her face almost as red as the tips of her hair. "Has Kitsune-sama met anyone else interesting, or intriguing?"

"A singing ronin, a Lion journalist, and a Scorpion racer, to name a few." he answered. "Of course, my interest in the people I've met here has varied. I can't say there's anyone who intrigues me the way you do."

[Hotaru Sakura]

"A singing ronin, a Lion journalist, and a Scorpion racer, to name a few." he answered. "Of course, my interest in the people I've met here has varied. I can't say there's anyone who intrigues me the way you do."

"Kitsune-sama is being too kind. I'm just a boring local girl with bad taste." Her fingers danced idly around the cocktail glass. "Kitsune-sama should meet more people."

[Matsu Eriko]

"The one at the embassy has a type. Uniform and in charge." Hide couldn't help but smile at the thought of Eriko trying to befriend cats. "Though, I don't think she's fond of me, either. So, at least she isn't singling you out or anything."

"I don't think the Lion have outfitted me with a uniform, not yet anyway. But I also have to be in charge too? That's a bit more tough! Aren't the Matsu supposed to be more cat-like than the other Lion families?" She mused out loud as her gaze slowly looked over to where Akodo Reki was found with her robotic cat ears, likely moving to the mood of the music.

"...Nevermind, really looks like Akodo-sama there has the whole package." She shook her head at herself. "Really a bummer when you can't get along with one of your embassy-mates."