"Oh! Did you see that one? That golden color is beautiful. And, they're so fast!"

The Detective made a bored dismissive sound and slapped his paw on the bench.

"Don't be like that. You're still my favorite. You just want more gummies."

At the mention of the sweets the monkey chattered excitedly.

"Not now. Maybe later. Here, I have a mango for you."

There was some disappointment, but the fruit was quickly snatched from Kiyoshi's hand.

"I just want to know more about them."

The lead researcher in the Spine Drake Center soon came from one of the doors leading further inside to meet Kiyoshi.

"Good evening, Kitsune-san!", she said with a polite bow, her mood surprisingly cheerful even to the coworkers at the Centre, who eyed her somewhat curiously. "You wanted to get to know our dears a bit better?"

She then notices the Detective, which brings a smile to her lips. "Oh, you've brought your own friend along, I see!" She kneels down slightly, bowing to the monkey as well. "You must be quite experienced with animals, ne?"

"Yes. This is the Detective." They both bowed. "I've always felt very close to animals, even beyond my shugenja training. But, my understanding of them has always been largely instinctual. I'd like to learn more, especially regarding such unique creatures."

Meanwhile, far away from drakes and monkeys, far beneath in the red-lit depths, Hato was checking out the aquariums. The area felt cool, and the variety of colorful fish swimming about in the water. She waked past the mandatory conservation sign with it's display of all the things that the Scorpion had removed from distressed fish fed to them by reckless tourists, and watched a large tropical fish she wasn't quite sure the name of swimming lazily by.

Shigure sat lazily watching the fish and playing a crummy flute. He just looked somewhat pensive as his tune was probably off key because of how crummy it was.

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:37 am

Shigure sat lazily watching the fish and playing a crummy flute. He just looked somewhat pensive as his tune was probably off key because of how crummy it was.

Hato listened to the flute for awhile

Perhaps it was the acoustics, perhaps it was the instrument....or perhaps it was the musician. Still, Hato did not know of someone who could play the flute so badly they could still talk while they played.

She bowed to the Dragon.

"Good Evening, Lord Dragon." she offered politely. "Lord Dragon has chosen an interesting venue to perform in. This one is curious as to why Lord Dragon would play here of all places."

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 18, 2022 11:04 pm

"Yes. This is the Detective." They both bowed. "I've always felt very close to animals, even beyond my shugenja training. But, my understanding of them has always been largely instinctual. I'd like to learn more, especially regarding such unique creatures."

Kioku seems delighted at the Detective bowing along with the Kitsune. "Instinctual or not, it seems to have served you both fine, ne?". Then, gesturing to the glass enclosures with adult drakes on both sides. "Would you like to meet one of them in specific? And... I should probably ask, are you planning on becoming a tutor for one of our drakes? There are some things we must go over if that's the case... and as you may know, you can only keep them while you're on-planet. But that said, it is always a pleasure to find a friend and companion for one of our dear ones!"


OOC:

Hato wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:56 am

Hato listened to the flute for awhile

Hato wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 2:56 am

Hato listened to the flute for awhile

Perhaps it was the acoustics, perhaps it was the instrument....or perhaps it was the musician. Still, Hato did not know of someone who could play the flute so badly they could still talk while they played.

She bowed to the Dragon.

"Good Evening, Lord Dragon." she offered politely. "Lord Dragon has chosen an interesting venue to perform in. This one is curious as to why Lord Dragon would play here of all places."

The flutist shook his head and chuckled. "I am no lord... but alas... nature is no critic and the fish have no ears... this I won with the tickets of the arcade and wanted to hear how it performed in a quieter environment." the Dragon explained. "I am Mirumoto Shigure."

Soshi Kioku wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 3:34 am

Kioku seems delighted at the Detective bowing along with the Kitsune. "Instinctual or not, it seems to have served you both fine, ne?". Then, gesturing to the glass enclosures with adult drakes on both sides. "Would you like to meet one of them in specific? And... I should probably ask, are you planning on becoming a tutor for one of our drakes? There are some things we must go over if that's the case... and as you may know, you can only keep them while you're on-planet. But that said, it is always a pleasure to find a friend and companion for one of our dear ones!"

"I would very much like to meet any of them." He smiled brightly. "And, I'd like to help them in any way I am able."

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:10 am

The flutist shook his head and chuckled. "I am no lord... but alas... nature is no critic and the fish have no ears... this I won with the tickets of the arcade and wanted to hear how it performed in a quieter environment." the Dragon explained. "I am Mirumoto Shigure."

"Ah this one sees. This one is known as Hato, Lord....Mirumoto-sama." she said correcting herself. "This one would assume that the games of the arcade did not favor Mirutomo-sama if this is the sole prize awarded to him."

Hato wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:19 am

"Ah this one sees. This one is known as Hato, Lord....Mirumoto-sama." she said correcting herself. "This one would assume that the games of the arcade did not favor Mirutomo-sama if this is the sole prize awarded to him."

"I also got a play bow with some arrows. Not many things called my attention." He shook his head. "I had luck and tickets to spare. but I enjoy the simple things not much can be said about that." The Mirumoto looked at the fishes swimming and smiled. "simple things."

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:17 am

"I would very much like to meet any of them." He smiled brightly. "And, I'd like to help them in any way I am able."

"Let's take a look at some of them, then, and you can choose one, or a few, to meet more closely", she said, guiding Kiyoshi closer to one of the glass windows. "These are Slowpoke and Flutterwing", she says, pointing to a rosy-hued drake seeming to relax perching on an artificial branch, then to a green and blue-coloured drake flying around. "That red one's hotshot", she says, pointing to a suspiciously quiet one in a corner. "And... well, you see, there are many of them, each with their own personality. So see if any particular ones call to you"

Then, pointing to another of the enclosures. "There are many others, of course, so take your time!"

Then, a bit more seriously. "As for helping... well, we are always accepting donations. And if you decide to become a tutor, we will want to make sure you are prepared for it. You may either show me how you deal with the drake you want to care for, or we may do an in-depth interview. And we do ask for a donation if you are to become a tutor"

OOC:
If you want to adopt one, you can convince Kioku with an Animal Handling, Lore: Biology or even Courtier check. If you have other ideas on how you could convince her, you can try that too!
And you will need some koku. How much depends on how convincing you are (i.e. Raises called). If you are *really* convincing she might offer one of the Centre's smartest drakes, if you're interested - but the donation asked will be larger.

Soshi Kioku wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:56 am

Then, a bit more seriously. "As for helping... well, we are always accepting donations. And if you decide to become a tutor, we will want to make sure you are prepared for it. You may either show me how you deal with the drake you want to care for, or we may do an in-depth interview. And we do ask for a donation if you are to become a tutor"

"I saw a golden one... There!" He waved at the drake who, surpringly, came right to him. "Hello there! Aren't you beautiful."

As the Fox had said, he had a natural way with animals. The drake played with him happily.

"I am curious, Soshi-sama. Have any of my clan ever summoned a drake from Chikushudo?"

- - -
(D6, EE) THE DRAKE DETECTVE, Animal Handling/Awareness, 2 CR, Touch of Chikushudo | 8k5 ⇒ 35 (TN: ?)

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:19 am

"I saw a golden one... There!" He waved at the drake who, surpringly, came right to him. "Hello there! Aren't you beautiful."

As the Fox had said, he had a natural way with animals. The drake played with him happily.

"I am curious, Soshi-sama. Have any of my clan ever summoned a drake from Chikushudo?"

- - -
(D6, EE) THE DRAKE DETECTVE, Animal Handling/Awareness, 2 CR, Touch of Chikushudo | 8k5 ⇒ 35 (TN: ?)

The drake came around the glass window, all the way to Kiyoku, and happily so. As the golden drake played with him, another one poked his head out of her pocket, then threw himself out and flew close to the other one. A little black head observed the scene from another pocket.

The woman, meanwhile, looked at the Kitsune approvingly. "We do hear the Kitsune are good with animals. She definitely seems to like you, ne?", she she says with a wide smile. "As for summoning drakes... I'm not sure. It... might be possible? I do think they have deep ties to Chikushudo - although I don't see many from your clan here. Maybe someone in the House of Many Colours might have a story on that?", she says with a grin.

"We call her Goldwing here. Although, of course, you're free to name her yourself if you become her tutor." She takes her hand to her pocket and takes out the other, black Drake to look at the golden pair. "As I said, we'll need a donation. But feel free to spend time with her here, get to know her better, before you make a decision"

OOC:
If you ask, Kioku will inform you that you can become Goldwing's tutor for 3 koku. If you want to get to know one of the Centre's prized smartest drakes, she's willing to introduce you to one of them - but the donation for one of those is higher.
If you want to spend more time with Goldwing, you can do so - and maybe try to talk Kioku into a discount later

"I'll look into that. It's just something I wonder about with such unique creatures." he nodded. "It's more difficult with some animals, especially in areas where Chikushudo has less influence."

"As for Goldwing, I'll happily visit her more." he smiled at the drake. "Even if I don't tutor a drake, I'll consider what I can donate. You are clearly taking good care of them."

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:49 am

"I'll look into that. It's just something I wonder about with such unique creatures." he nodded. "It's more difficult with some animals, especially in areas where Chikushudo has less influence."

"As for Goldwing, I'll happily visit her more." he smiled at the drake. "Even if I don't tutor a drake, I'll consider what I can donate. You are clearly taking good care of them."

She seems quite interested in the Kitsune's idea. "Oh... so there are limitations on which animals you can summon, then?"

Then, smiling at him again. "She'll certainly be happy to see you again! And..." she looks around. "We're trying our best. I often wish we could do more, but we're trying our best. We will be happy for whatever you can provide - but she does like you, so please consider that possibility."

Kitsune Kiyoshi wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:49 am

"I'll look into that. It's just something I wonder about with such unique creatures." he nodded. "It's more difficult with some animals, especially in areas where Chikushudo has less influence."

"As for Goldwing, I'll happily visit her more." he smiled at the drake. "Even if I don't tutor a drake, I'll consider what I can donate. You are clearly taking good care of them."

After seeing the Kitsune and the drake playing together for some more time, the Soshi tilts her head, then speaks in a friendly tone. "Speaking of which... if you would be willing to help us on other things we may need, we may find another arrangement that may work for the Centre, Kitsune-san."

OOC:
PM incoming!

Mirumoto Shigure wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 4:44 am

"I also got a play bow with some arrows. Not many things called my attention." He shook his head. "I had luck and tickets to spare. but I enjoy the simple things not much can be said about that." The Mirumoto looked at the fishes swimming and smiled. "simple things."

Hato nodded.

"That is perhaps true, Mirumoto-sama. This one wonders if Mirutmoto-sama distrusts those who can speak at length upon little. This one thinks that Mirumoto-sama might distinguish between knowing a thing and Knowing a thing. Perhaps." she offered.

Soshi Kioku wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 6:06 am

She seems quite interested in the Kitsune's idea. "Oh... so there are limitations on which animals you can summon, then?"

Then, smiling at him again. "She'll certainly be happy to see you again! And..." she looks around. "We're trying our best. I often wish we could do more, but we're trying our best. We will be happy for whatever you can provide - but she does like you, so please consider that possibility."

After seeing the Kitsune and the drake playing together for some more time, the Soshi tilts her head, then speaks in a friendly tone. "Speaking of which... if you would be willing to help us on other things we may need, we may find another arrangement that may work for the Centre, Kitsune-san."

"It has a lot to do with how well the area and the animal is connected to Chikushudo." he explained. "From what I understand, every animals should dwell within the realm, unless it isn't really an animal. Spirits from other realms or intelligent creatures like ourselves, for instance. However, the book I bought today said something about the realms being laid out similar to Ningen-do, so it might be more difficult to summon animals not normally found in an area. There's also a matter a familiarity. I'm not sure how I would summon an animal I knew nothing about."

While some of what he said might make sense, it was clear that most of it was purely speculation on Kiyoshi's part. He honestly didn't know how the summoning worked. He was just delighted when it did. All the while he talked, he continued to play with Goldwing, introducing her to the Detective at one point.

Hato wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 19, 2022 7:19 am

Hato nodded.

"That is perhaps true, Mirumoto-sama. This one wonders if Mirutmoto-sama distrusts those who can speak at length upon little. This one thinks that Mirumoto-sama might distinguish between knowing a thing and Knowing a thing. Perhaps." she offered.

"One can know many things but know nothing. Many speak many words that are empty others speak few words that are full of wisdom. I am not fond on those who assume to know someone just because of appearance or just words poorly chosen." The Dragon pondered.