Sakura arrived at her intended location just as the violent thunderstorm calmed into a drizzle. She had her cheap plastic umbrella, which was scant protection against the weather. Sputtering, she waited at the docks to be allowed in, her smart business attire soaked. How was she to know the fun perky Mantis she randomly won with was an important Mantis heiress?! Hopefully she wasn't offended by Sakura's sudden request the other day, though she didn't seem to be as she recalled...

At least the beers were in good hands, in the fortified island resort.

She stepped off the motorboat onto the Island itself, and waited for someone to let her in. Hopefully soon, judging by the chattering of her teeth.

Mantis embassy staff quickly whisk Sakura up to the penthouse lounge, where Seika is lounging about in a crisp yukata, working on an embassy console. She bounds up from her cushion when Sakura is announced. "Hotaru-san, come on in!" She seems only too ready to log off and stride (as much as a four-foot-eleven shugenja can be said to stride) across the lounge to greet her guest. "Oh, crap, you're soaking! Do you need a change of clothes or anything?"

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 14, 2022 4:27 am

Mantis embassy staff quickly whisk Sakura up to the penthouse lounge, where Seika is lounging about in a crisp yukata, working on an embassy console. She bounds up from her cushion when Sakura is announced. "Hotaru-san, come on in!" She seems only too ready to log off and stride (as much as a four-foot-eleven shugenja can be said to stride) across the lounge to greet her guest. "Oh, crap, you're soaking! Do you need a change of clothes or anything?"

"I-ie." Sakura chattered unconvincgly, as she bowed deeply to Seika. Deeper than the other day, for sure. Wasn't she taller on the sand? "I-I wil be fine." She tried to hold back a shiver unconvincingly. "I thought the weather would be quite as ba-bad."

"Well, if you're sure..." Seika waves to the embassy staffer and points meaningfully at a shelf by the door; the heimin picks up her intention and hustles to fetch a fresh pool towel from the shelf and offer it to Sakura.

"Can't have people spreading rumors the Mantis are, like, keelhauling our guests and leaving them to drip dry or something." Seika grins.

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 14, 2022 8:01 pm

"Well, if you're sure..." Seika waves to the embassy staffer and points meaningfully at a shelf by the door; the heimin picks up her intention and hustles to fetch a fresh pool towel from the shelf and offer it to Sakura.

"Can't have people spreading rumors the Mantis are, like, keelhauling our guests and leaving them to drip dry or something." Seika grins.

Sakura smiled, and moved to speak...and a violent shiver ran through her. "Gomen Yoritomo-sama, but I may accept that offer after all. Pride shoukdn't come befode health, I guess."

Her smile turned more sincere. "And I wouldn't want you to be badmouthed on my behalf. This place is amazing!"

"It is a pretty good spot, right?" Seika says brightly. "Sure, no problem. Kubo-san, can you grab a fresh yukata for our guest?"

Her request to the staffer, though phrased as a question, is infused with the casual assurance of someone who is used to having all such requests treated as important orders.

"I'd offer to lend you something of mine, but, um..." Seika looks... up... at Sakura, painted lips quirking wryly, "I don't think I have much that you could wear. Hats, maybe. Or if you're really into styles that are, uh, short."

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:35 am

"It is a pretty good spot, right?" Seika says brightly. "Sure, no problem. Kubo-san, can you grab a fresh yukata for our guest?"

Her request to the staffer, though phrased as a question, is infused with the casual assurance of someone who is used to having all such requests treated as important orders.

"I'd offer to lend you something of mine, but, um..." Seika looks... up... at Sakura, painted lips quirking wryly, "I don't think I have much that you could wear. Hats, maybe. Or if you're really into styles that are, uh, short."

Sakura smiled widely. "While I am sure it would look lovely on me, it might be the wrong impression I feel."

Her eyes focused on Seika's lips for a second. "I really loke your style, it suits you very well Yoritomia-sama."

She felt bervous, but figured to be honest. "Gomenasai for just asking Yoritomo-sama to be my partner the other day. I hope I caused no offense, and I just thought Yoritomo-sama a talented player."

"Oh... well, thanks." Seika absorbs the compliment for a moment, then nods. "It's not everybody's cup of tea. Glad you appreciate what I'm going for, Hotaru-san."

Her brows arch quizzically when Sakura apologizes, and she waves a hand in negation. "Hey, there's no need for that. I didn't know anybody there to ask, and you saved me from getting some Scorpion in the random draw. Besides, you played great. I think we made a damn good team," she concludes with a smug grin.

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 3:52 am

"Oh... well, thanks." Seika absorbs the compliment for a moment, then nods. "It's not everybody's cup of tea. Glad you appreciate what I'm going for, Hotaru-san."

Her brows arch quizzically when Sakura apologizes, and she waves a hand in negation. "Hey, there's no need for that. I didn't know anybody there to ask, and you saved me from getting some Scorpion in the random draw. Besides, you played great. I think we made a damn good team," she concludes with a smug grin.

"I think it suits Yoritomo-sama very well.' She smiled at the smaller samirai-ko, as a servant brought a generic Mantis themed yukata.

"Arigatou" stepping away for a moment, Sakuea soon reemtered in the green garment. "You did as well! I haven't played in a few years, but used to play a lot in my youth. Yoritomo-sama is an avid player?"

"Looking good." Seika grins and throws a hand gesture of approval on seeing Sakura's transformation into a temporary fake-Mantis. "It's still wet out on the deck, but we can sit by the windows and watch the sea going crazy." She gestures to one of the wooden tables surrounded by sea-monster-embellished cushions.

"I'm kind of the same as you, it sounds like." Seika wobbles a hand in a yes-and-no gesture in response to the question. "We used to play at the temple school on Dawn any time the weather was good. Moshi like any games that involve pitching balls upward, it's like... a devotional thing plus exercise. And everyone was taller than me from like Year Two on, so I had to pick up a few skills to compensate." She smiles wryly. "It really all came back yesterday. I was surprised, to be honest with you."

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 5:33 am

"Looking good." Seika grins and throws a hand gesture of approval on seeing Sakura's transformation into a temporary fake-Mantis. "It's still wet out on the deck, but we can sit by the windows and watch the sea going crazy." She gestures to one of the wooden tables surrounded by sea-monster-embellished cushions.

"I'm kind of the same as you, it sounds like." Seika wobbles a hand in a yes-and-no gesture in response to the question. "We used to play at the temple school on Dawn any time the weather was good. Moshi like any games that involve pitching balls upward, it's like... a devotional thing plus exercise. And everyone was taller than me from like Year Two on, so I had to pick up a few skills to compensate." She smiles wryly. "It really all came back yesterday. I was surprised, to be honest with you."

"That sounds lovely Yoritomo-sama." She smiled, and followed her, sheer amazement in the Mantis furniture running through her mind.

"Wow, this place looks great! Yoritomo-sama studied with the Moshi?" She asked with a smile.

"I used to play a lot with my father, before he passed. It was a cheap game, and the yoriki couldn't run us away from the beaches legally."

"Oh. Um, my condolences." Seika sobers a bit. "About your father, I mean." Her own Da is still living, and while they don't always have a lot in common, she can't imagine home without him. "Must have been nice to have that time together on the beach, though."

She flops down on a squid-emblazoned cushion. "Yeah, I trained with the Moshi priests instead of our Yoritomo ones. Part aptitude, part family politics stuff." A thought occurs, and she gives Sakura a curious glance. "Wait, so you grew up right here? Or was it someplace else with a beach? I know... that is, a friend's been keeping me updated on the new planet the Firefly got granted this past year, and I know your clan didn't have a lot of planetary holdings before that..."

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 16, 2022 8:22 pm

"Oh. Um, my condolences." Seika sobers a bit. "About your father, I mean." Her own Da is still living, and while they don't always have a lot in common, she can't imagine home without him. "Must have been nice to have that time together on the beach, though."

She flops down on a squid-emblazoned cushion. "Yeah, I trained with the Moshi priests instead of our Yoritomo ones. Part aptitude, part family politics stuff." A thought occurs, and she gives Sakura a curious glance. "Wait, so you grew up right here? Or was it someplace else with a beach? I know... that is, a friend's been keeping me updated on the new planet the Firefly got granted this past year, and I know your clan didn't have a lot of planetary holdings before that..."

Sakura smiled. "Thank you, but it's been a few years. I have processed it, as much as one can."

She joined her hostess on the cushions, letting out a soft sigh as she placed her rear onto an orochi.

"Born and raised here. I wasn't always a Firefly. My father was a ronin, and I his only child. He tsught me evrything he knew, until he passed."

She took a breath, recalling how his father's client informed her. "His teachings bore out though, when I helped Hotaru-sama escape the Desolation. In return I was offered fealty."

She smiped shyly. "And that is how I ended up getting an invitation from the Lord Magistrate alongside a lovely Mantis shugenja and corporate heiress, because I am good at Osihmada."

"Oh. Yeah, okay, that makes sense."

Seika chews on that information for a moment. "So... it's kind of like your father's still watching out for you, when you put it that way." And speaking of chewing...

She fishes something out of the pocket of her yukata sleeve--a small foil blister packet emblazoned with ~Blue Tiger Blast~ Sour Strawberry. Chewing gum, one of the most common Bayushi-owned brands. She presses one bright pink tablet out of the package for herself and offers it across the table to Sakura. "Want one?"

Either way, she'll pop her own piece of gum into her mouth before adding, "I'm getting the impression there's more ronin here on the World of Dreams than anywhere I've been in Mantis space. I mean, there definitely are ronin on our more built-up worlds, but here it seems like a whole way of life. Why is that, if you don't mind me asking? Do the Scorpion kick a lot of people out or something?"

"Ah, thank you." Sakura accepted the gum and popped it into her mouth.

"Not that many...the Grove is there for a reason. But...there are many who are born ronin. Getting in, to the clans, is not an easy.task, and besides the local ronin, many who...you know, become ronin in other places, they often come here to seek employment. The Scorpion enjoy cultivating a ronin ecosystem,here, I feel. Lots of opportunity of sacrifical pawna and deniable assets." She waved her hand around in a 'kinda like right now' way.

She looked away shyly after her explanation. She was never sure how people wpuld take her past, but so far it seemed to be going well?

"Oh." Seika considers this and nods. "They're not getting made here, they're ending up here. Yeah, I can see that." She frowns slightly, brows knitting. "I don't really like it, but I see it. I mean, sure, I've known some ronin who had me like, Yeah, I see why you're a ronin. But some decent samurai too. If you're good enough to do something important for a clan, that ought to get recognized."

She shrugs, a slightly sheepish smile tugging the corners of her lips. "I went a while without clan colors, when I invoked the musha shugyo last year. So I've thought about it all some."

Yoritomo Seika wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 17, 2022 5:32 pm

"Oh." Seika considers this and nods. "They're not getting made here, they're ending up here. Yeah, I can see that." She frowns slightly, brows knitting. "I don't really like it, but I see it. I mean, sure, I've known some ronin who had me like, Yeah, I see why you're a ronin. But some decent samurai too. If you're good enough to do something important for a clan, that ought to get recognized."

She shrugs, a slightly sheepish smile tugging the corners of her lips. "I went a while without clan colors, when I invoked the musha shugyo last year. So I've thought about it all some."

"Oh? I see." She felt conflicting feelings for now, but took on a polite, friendly approach. "That must have been an experience." She smiled. ",Our...their lot is varied. Some decent, some scum." She shrugged. "Fortune favors the bold, neh?"

"It was, yeah. Made a lot of real friends... got to see some people's true colors that I probably wouldn't have otherwise... Not at all like being born to it, obviously." She opens a hand palm-up, deferring to Sakura's experience. "It was a really good way to blow up some illusions about ronin and clan samurai both, anyway."

She laughs dryly. "Now I kind of think everyone should have to try it before they can get promoted past a certain level. That would never fly, of course."

Sakura wimced. "A lot of pekple would end up dead, veey fast, I feel."

She smiled. "Sounds certainly like an experience. You haven't visitdd Workd of Dreams during your shugo?"

"Maybe someplace like here they'd end up that way, yeah," Seika agrees with a wry hmph.

"No, I was only on Mantis worlds. It's not too easy for ronin to get passage on a starship, specially across clan borders... well, I guess I don't have to tell you that, right?" She opens a hand to Sakura, her smile a bit self-conscious. "But also, that's the deal I struck with my family. They'd let me go, and I wouldn't leave Mantis space so they could always find me." She frowns a bit at that, wrinkling her nose.