[D1MA] Snack Deal

[Usagi Rei]

Rei snorted. "Right, that narrows it down."

But he let his eyebrows go up. "Oh yeah, I've actually heard a number of their shows. They are good. Quite good, in fact."

He smiled at her, spreading his hands. "Now, good enough to have me to more than tap my foot, well, I don't know about that. Where'd you meet them, one of their shows?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"You have excellent taste. I confess, I've spent too many late nights at their shows."
Chewing slowly on a snack, thought eating?

"I went up to the booth to say high a while back, didn't think it would amount to much. But they are actually... kind of decent? Didn't look at me like dirt, was happy to chat. We've hung out a bit ever since. Oh, and they pay for my drinks sometimes which is a big plus."

Raising an eyebrow, the couch creaking again as she settles herself
"You've heard a number of their shows? Does that make you a party animal?"

[Usagi Rei]

"Hmmm, good on them, then." Rei hesitated a moment, then reached out, selecting an item of his own; a rice puff. Mentally, he added it it to his calorie tally for the day.

He unwrapped it, taking a bite, shifting on his couch as he did so. "Party animal? Hardly. Although it's hard to avoid parties here; sooner or later, you're gonna be in a few."

He shrugged. "But I like being around people. I like listening to music. I like to share a drink from time to time..." He flashed the ronin another smile. "What about you?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Oh I live for the parties. It's nice to be somewhere else for a couple hours or a night, pretend the problems of the world are far away."
She takes his single snack selection as permission for her to lean forward and claim two more.

"Loud music and the energy of a crowd make me feel alive."
Smiling back

"Not that I dislike music or a drink. But they're more company dependent I think."
Casually feeling Rei out
"It can be hard if you don't have someone to go with."

[Usagi Rei]

"Hmmm..." Rei leaned back, his pale brown eyes going distant. "I know what you mean about parties. I think. But I often just watch them. It's why when I go to the Golden Frog, I mostly look out the window."

He sat forward again. "Unless I'm there with someone." He looked at Yūrei, eyebrows going up. "Don't tell me you have trouble finding someone to go dancing with, Yūrei-san!" He shook his head. "A pretty and talented young woman like you... that seems unjust."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Just looking out the window and quietly drinking? That's quite the look, are you thinking about anything when you do? Or is thinking about nothing the point?"

Placing a hand over her heart.
"Oh it's hard. I think people find themselves intimidated by my good looks and many talents. Doubtless my sharp wit and excellent sense of humour drives them away as well. Such is my life, one of suffering for success."
Moving the hand to her brow as if she might feint.

"It might also be that few samurai would lower themselves to accompany a ronin, except for other ronin. And we can be a...diverse group."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei's lips quirked. "Yes." He said. After a moment, he relented. "Sometimes I'm not thinking about anything. It's almost meditative. But sometimes I wonder about who's out there, or..." He was silent a moment, frowning, "just, lots of different things."

The little dramatic display got a good laugh out of him. "Of course. Tragic flaws, all of those." He gave her a decidedly amused look.

Rei took a slow breath. "A diverse group, yes. There's ronin that I'd never turn my back on." He smiled, just a little. "Much less leave alone in the Embassy. But I'm not going to judge someone for doing what they need to survive." He shrugged. "Status is important, but so are deeds. And honor." He flashed a smile. "Looks and wit mean something too, but that might just be my opinion."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"In the slums you can turn your back on anyone. But only once."
Dropping her arms back in her lap

"I do specialise in deeds, honour costs extra but can be made available on request. Looks and wit...well, I think I enjoy them as much as the next girl. It's a lucky samurai who has both, but there are a rare few out there. You don't see them often, but every once in a while one will be sitting quietly by a window and thinking deep thoughts."

Her own expression is decidedly amused.
"My apartment window is very small, and there's nobody to watch me back. But I do like peering out from time to time."

[Usagi Rei]

Another laugh at that. Rei shook his head, still smiling, as he lifted his mug for a long drink of tea.

When he lowered it, his smile was gentle rather than playful as he looked at Yūrei. "Where do you live, if you don't mind me asking? World of Dreams has luxury, and poverty, and a lot in-between." He could guess which end of that she was at.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I've got a little room in the slums. It's just large enough I can lie down without my feet poking out the door."
She indicates her own lack of height.
"And sometimes the roof leaks and the walls are thin and this one time someone shot the place up. But it's mine and that's more than I had when I started."

Leaning forward and affecting an air of intrigue
"If you want to know exactly where you'll have to get to know me better. It's not the sort of thing I tell people I don't trust fully."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei nodded. "I know the sort of place. When I was first stationed here, I had one that was probably about as big, although better maintained, I'd wager. When I was promoted, well..." He shrugged.

He tilted his head, regarding her. "Are you happy with it? Or do you want something a bit better? A lot better?" He smiled. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm trying to ask what Yurei-san the ronin dreams of, in life."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I'll share if you tell me what Usagi-sama, the attaché, dreams of in life."
Cocking her head.

"I want an apartment with a kitchen, a real one that can cook anything. Oh, and room for a bigger futon...and windows, at least two of them, and a closet! I dream of a closet so big I can walk into it. I guess I dream of bigger things."

Grinning
"Right planet for the dreams, but it's not the 'Planet of Wish Fulfillment', well, most of the time."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei looked at her, eyebrows going up. "What, not a luxury suite? Personal chef? Two jacuzzis?" He pursed his lips a moment. "What about a private island? Drinks with umbrellas in them?" Chuckling, he shook his head. "Surely there's more. You can get just about anything on this planet, for the right price." Sometimes the coin was honor, or dignity, but well.

Even as he looked at her, Rei's pale eyes narrowed. Lips parted, then pressed together again. Eyes flickering briefly away. A hiss... but wait, that was Airi. "As for myself..." There was a long pause.

Finally, Rei shook his head. "I don't know. Honestly. That's the truth. Oh, I can imagine this thing or that thing, but..." He shrugged again. "I don't think any of them really answer the question." Well, there was one thing... but no.

He flashed her a smile. "Sorry. If I come up with an answer, a better one, I'll let you know."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"There's no rush Usagi-sama. But if you ever find that suite with the jacuzzies... let me know, right? Sure beats the communal shower with cold water."
She glances down at Airi who proudly hisses again and starts trying to wiggle in between some couch cushions

Intrigued by Rei, Yūrei holds her gaze on him for a few moments.
"But that can wait until we've had drinks and stared out the window together someplace. I'm sure you have a tab at the Frog. But anywhere will do, I can ring ahead and make sure there's no dancing."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei tilted his head, regarding her with a grin. "Oh? Are we going to have a drink together? That was smooth, Yūrei-san. Very smooth."

Chuckling, he shook his head. "Alright. You're on. Golden Frog it is. There's a great view, and some of the music..." He drained the rest of his tea, before casting her a smirk. "I just hope I'm not making a mistake, giving you access to my tab."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"I suppose we are, Usagi-sama. I could say I'll treat your tab like my own, but you probably don't want to drink tap water all evening."
Conspiratorially
"And if you do then you'll have to be exceptionally charming. Although you can probably manage that."

She shoots him a sideways glance and stretches slowly and comfortably.

[Usagi Rei]

"Save us all from that fate." Rei said, chuckling softly. "Let's use my tab instead. No matter how charming I can manage."

Well... Rei couldn't help but admire the Ronin's form as she stretched, his pale eyes tracing up and down. "And just when did this vision of us looking out the same window occur? It wasn't tonight, obviously, because I'm otherwise occupied tonight." He looked at her, eyebrows up.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Oh it could have been any time. Tomorrow perhaps? Or if you're out not-dancing then, perhaps the day after? I can wait."
Smirk
"But not too long, I'm a busy woman."

[Usagi Rei]

"Oh it could have been any time. Tomorrow perhaps? Or if you're out not-dancing then, perhaps the day after? I can wait."
Smirk
"But not too long, I'm a busy woman."

Rei pursed his lips a moment, considered. "I think I can make tomorrow work. Alright. Tomorrow night, then." He flashed her a smile.

He waved a hand. "Regardless, we can certainly be in touch to discuss jobs we might be able to find for you." He looked at her, his expression turning a bit more serious. "And if you happen to come across anything you think we might be interested in, let me know." One couldn't be too direct. Sure, they swept for bugs periodically, but the Scorpion were REALLY good at planting them.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Until tomorrow night then. I will of course be thinking of you and what you might be interested in."
Yūrei stands with a wink

"Who knows what I might find out there?"