[D6 EE] Patience

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi has forgone his normal style for something less painful to look at. He is dressed in a brown tweed jacket and tweed slacks with freshly shined black boots and a white button-up shirt that had been crisply pressed. His brown hair is styled to the side while he sits near one of the windows facing the cityscape waiting for his Usagi companion to arrive. The drink in front of him looks like water but smells like industrial cleaner.

He muses softly to himself. "It doesn't get dark here."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei almost didn't recognize him. Shouldn't he be purple? Maybe shimmying? For his part, Rei was in his usual modern business grays, clean and pressed.

Shrugging, Rei made his way over to the table. "Good evening, Otomo-sama." He said, bowing with a smile. "You know, this is actually my favorite spot in the place. I like the view." He gestured out the window.

Frowning curiously, he looked at the other man's drink. "What are you having?" He asked.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Rei almost didn't recognize him. Shouldn't he be purple? Maybe shimmying? For his part, Rei was in his usual modern business grays, clean and pressed.

Shrugging, Rei made his way over to the table. "Good evening, Otomo-sama." He said, bowing with a smile. "You know, this is actually my favorite spot in the place. I like the view." He gestured out the window.

Frowning curiously, he looked at the other man's drink. "What are you having?" He asked.

Koroshi looked up with a smile and stood to bow in return to the Usagi. "I did not know this Usagi-san, but you are a man of taste so I should have suspected! Please sit, sit. It is a most glorious evening to have you and your presence join me for the most auspicious of meetings for a honorable and just purpose!"

He waved for Rei to join him in the other chair and looked at the drink for a moment before downing it in a single motion. It caused him to wince in pain. "Aaah."

"That is distilled potato spirit, the brand is Blue Crane. I had never tried it before and I am starting to understand why." He waved over a server who was already coming to take the Hare's order and got a cocktail this time.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei winced. "Yes. I've tried that one. It's not to my taste either. Only when the goal is, ah, maximum efficiency." That is, when you wanted to get drunk and didn't care.

"Barley shochu, two cubes." Rei said as an aside to the server as he slid into the opposite seat. "Thank you for the invitation, Otomo-sama. And I hope you've been well since our last meeting?" He smiled. "I'm sure Airi misses you."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"This one assumed that the Crane would engage in more nuanced spirits! But after ordering found out that the spirit is manufactured by the Mantis, and the Blue Crane motif has nothing to do with the clan. Most confusing, most confusing." Koroshi said while shooting glances out the window at the lights. "This city does not dim during the day or night, one can only tell when it is noon or midnight by the little slivers of the celestial bodies that hang directly above and between the towers and facades of the skyscrapers. Really quite terrible if one is as honest as they are honorable."

Koroshi looked the Hare directly in the eyes with his lids slanted as he grinned. "This one has been fine aside from the near death by gaki, the Scorpion being secretive about their material manufacturing processes, and the air quality. Kami above! One wishes they would replace some of these huge buildings with air purifiers. And how about Usagi-san?"

[Usagi Rei]

Chuckling, Rei shrugged. "You know, I'm not sure how they come up with the names." He chose to let the rest of it pass.

That got a raised eyebrow. "Uh. I've been fine. Quite well, actually. Very much looking forward to the concert." Rei leaned forward a little, surprise evident on his handsome features. "But death by gaki? What's this?"

The server brought back the drinks, setting them on the table. Rei didn't reach for his just yet.

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

"I was taking my evening constitutional in the habitation district and heard a great roar from the edge of the barrier to the Desolation. I was surprised to find a huge spirit beast, a gaki of rage, eating something that might have been a human and looking for its next meal. Myself and a few other honorable samurai, Yūrei-san and a Mirumoto Shigure were on hand to try and stop it. It eventually was burned to ash after taking some chunks out of Mirumoto-san and I. Which is why my clothes are less than fantastic today, I needed something to hide bandages." Koroshi sounded most annoyed about that last bit.

[Usagi Rei]

"I was taking my evening constitutional in the habitation district and heard a great roar from the edge of the barrier to the Desolation. I was surprised to find a huge spirit beast, a gaki of rage, eating something that might have been a human and looking for its next meal. Myself and a few other honorable samurai, Yūrei-san and a Mirumoto Shigure were on hand to try and stop it. It eventually was burned to ash after taking some chunks out of Mirumoto-san and I. Which is why my clothes are less than fantastic today, I needed something to hide bandages." Koroshi sounded most annoyed about that last bit.

Rei's expression became very serious.

"Wow. I didn't realize that they got that close." He frowned. "Was anyone able to identify it?"

He smiled apologetically. "Sorry. Old habit. I've had training in that sort of thing."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"It fed on blood or flesh, and was a giant four legged beast with a skull head and flaming eyes. I didn't think to ask it what it would call itself, it seemed more inclined to kill us than allow any serious investigations of its origins." Koroshi shrugged. "If you could identify it from that? It was many times larger than a man, even larger than a bear if you have seen one of those. And it had an aura of shame, of fear. Like if one kills a loved one and runs away to avoid punishment."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei grimaced. "Unfortunately not. My training was mostly in identifying, ah, human adversaries." That is, bloodspeakers.

Still grimacing, he shook his head. "Hopefully an anomaly. Although it's definitely very concerning." A sigh. "I'm glad you're okay, Otomo-sama. The Desolation is extremely dangerous."

[Otomo Koroshi]

Koroshi started in on his cocktail. How very refreshing. "Disappointing but what can you do? I thank the Scorpion for setting up that perimeter around the Desolation if there are more like that inside. I enjoy honorable combat as much as the next most courageous samurai but it is unnecessary to fight such beasts if one can avoid it."

"Has Usagi-san heard anything about recent issues with the Scorpion's containment?"

[Usagi Rei]

"Every planet has its dark underside." Rei murmured. "This one is just more obvious than most." And, well, it still had its regular dark underside.

Rei pursed his lips, considering. "I don't think so." He said. "But there's still some ongoing investigations." Now he picked up his drink, taking a sip thoughtfully. "This may be a new angle. Hmmm."

He shook his head. "But I'm just not sure. Sorry."

[Otomo Koroshi]

The Otomo paused in drinking his cocktail to look at the Hare with such intensity it looked like he might strike him. "There are investigations, Usagi-san? There is a possibility of dangerous breaches?"

The Otomo leaned forward. "The Emperor, long may he reign, has visited World of Dreams six times in the last decade. If there is even the slightest possibility that he might be inconvenienced or Tengoku forbid harmed by spirit beasts, this one would rather burn the entire city to ash than allow that."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei raised a hand. "My apologies, Otomo-sama. I don't wish to overstate anything." Rei said, smiling but firm. "At this point, I am researching an oddity, nothing more. I should be more careful. Idle speculation can lead to nasty rumor, and that is truly unpleasant. Just look at everything that Susumu Yakumo has to deal with?"

He inclined his head. "If my idle speculation turns out to be anything but, I can let you know."

[Otomo Koroshi]

The Otomo leaned back relaxing everything from his face to his fists. "This one apologizes, this one is still on edge from the difficulties last night and is unhappy with the idea of having further inflicted upon his family by his inaction. This one often feels the need to act even when the correct action is not immediately clear."

Koroshi began coughing loudly and pulled out a square of silk to cough into it before the attack was over. It went back into his pocket once the Otomo felt it was safe enough to try his cocktail again. "But yes, yes. What is it that Usagi-san is looking into? Something related to his training?"

[Usagi Rei]

"Nothing so sinister as all that." Rei said. Thankfully true. He inclined his head. "At this point, it's more of a personal matter. Hmmm... I don't think it will become something in your line, but if it does, may I call upon you?"

He took a long sip of his drink. "In any case. I believe you had a matter you wanted to discuss?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Ah, this one had an idea for the Hare and Imperials to work together in the interests of greater harmony and martial support. The Seppun are always interested in new technologies or military techniques and this one thought the Usagi might appreciate the opportunity to gain further reputation by working with the Seppun in joint exercises. Strictly exercises, this would not be a campaign or a contract with the Legions. That might end up costing the Hare if the Emerald Champion seeks to discipline any clan. One cannot fight the Imperial Legions after all, but the Hare are a minor clan..." Koroshi trailed off, expecting the Usagi to know what he was saying.

[Usagi Rei]

Rei tilted his head, frowning thoughtfully. "Hmmm. There's some potential there, perhaps. Hmmm." He took a sip of his drink.

"What sort of training exercises were you thinking?" Rei smiled. "Orbital drops, by any chance?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Perhaps." Koroshi said smiling. "Yes, orbital drops would definitely be on the agenda. As well as other more traditional things on the Seppun side. This one might have been motivated by the idea of trying an orbital drop themselves..."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei grinned. "Well, if Otomo-sama wants to give it a try, I expect that could be arranged."

He tapped his index finger on the rim of his glass. "Certain things couldn't be shared, of course. Proprietary techniques. But I certainly think that leaves a fair amount of room for an interesting training experience for everyone." He took a sip, then smiled. "I can't say for certain, but this sounds like a good proposal to me."