[D6 LE, OPEN] Oshidama Victory Party

[Bayushi Mariko]

Sakura nodded, tugging at her own red-blak hair, though much more boring. "What Bayushi-sama wore to the expo was quite lovely." She smiled. "Haven't seen that style much. I think Bayushi-sama's reinvention has been a rousing succes so far, at least in my modest opinion." She raised her eyes towards the Scorpion's shoulder. "Bayushi-sama's confidence is certainly inspiring."

Mariko raised her brows when Sakura mentioned her expo outfit. Someone had noticed her outfit changes throughout the same day. "Oh, that dress? Thank you very much, Hotaru-sn. I suppose it's a take from that style that the Crane seem to be making popular, although more black and only slightly frilly. I've been looking for an occasion and it seems the expo was the best place. I found myself trying to decide between three outfits this morning and that one won out. Confidence is something anyone can wear with practice, of course." She easily smiled at that as her mood shifted.

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Oh, hmmmm," her lips pursed in thought, "my muse is a very elusive one! Not one to speak many words, but there is a way that a look in the eyes or a simple gesture can speak a thousand words... and it always makes me wonder about questions like what is the story behind the look in those eyes? or where did they learn such gentle touches? especially since they might seem harsh or cold at a glance."

Yakumo paused to catch her breath, and wet her throat. When it came to topics she really enjoyed, she really could go on forever. "Because I really like that mystery that comes with not judging a book by its cover. Sure, an interesting cover might draw your attention but the important stuff is between the pages! The words, the emotions, the experience, hopes, and dreams... so, in a way, my muse is someone who evokes these questions and thoughts within me, and I wish to put it into song. I don't only write my own emotions and experiences, but I often attempt to convey the stories and feelings of others I have met in my life."

Leaning forward, Koyuki leans each forearm down as anchor points just before her knees. Both hands grasping her glass between them in that resting position. Looking down at it as Yakumo speaks, listening intently along with that incidentally hidden smile she was managing to wear a little more often than she was perhaps comfortable with. Gave a little tingling warmth thinking about it so she just tried not to think about it when it happened.

"Most would be wary of placing so much of themselves in someone else," she says, shifting the glass around in her hands so it slowly turns. Watching the rotation like it helped her keep her focus because it did. "I would be surprised someone could manage placing so much into you. Had I not seen what I have seen, what I have heard, and felt." That last one was a trouble point, a jump of her heart for speaking of such taboo things as feelings. "Tonight you certainly proved you are a capable enough singer to rise to the challenge of representing such.. weaknesses strongly, so that they are truly felt."

"I am sure," she says, looking up to meet Yakumo's eye for a moment, "that your muse must be glad to have someone who can hear them. Despite what surface she might maintain." That smile shifts into a awkward smirk as the expression settles down and away from her face.

[Susumu Yakumo]

Leaning forward, Koyuki leans each forearm down as anchor points just before her knees. Both hands grasping her glass between them in that resting position. Looking down at it as Yakumo speaks, listening intently along with that incidentally hidden smile she was managing to wear a little more often than she was perhaps comfortable with. Gave a little tingling warmth thinking about it so she just tried not to think about it when it happened.

"Most would be wary of placing so much of themselves in someone else," she says, shifting the glass around in her hands so it slowly turns. Watching the rotation like it helped her keep her focus because it did. "I would be surprised someone could manage placing so much into you. Had I not seen what I have seen, what I have heard, and felt." That last one was a trouble point, a jump of her heart for speaking of such taboo things as feelings. "Tonight you certainly proved you are a capable enough singer to rise to the challenge of representing such.. weaknesses strongly, so that they are truly felt."

"I am sure," she says, looking up to meet Yakumo's eye for a moment, "that your muse must be glad to have someone who can hear them. Despite what surface she might maintain." That smile shifts into a awkward smirk as the expression settles down and away from her face.

"Hmmm," Yakumo vocalised thoughtfully as she sipped her drink, taking her time with it. "I like to pride myself on hearing and seeing, yes. Seeing the little details, and the quiet emotions. Hearing the unspoken words."

Her gloved hand trailed around the rim of the glass as she looked away for a moment to the party happening around them. Most of the activity seemed to be around the jacuzzi, as not many people were interested in just lounging.

"Isn't that kind of what the Kuni do too? Look for the little things?"

[Matsu Hide]

"That's great! Uh, not the trouble bit, but that you too are so close."
She half considers shoulder bumping Hide but decides over familiarity is rarely appreciated.

"I'm sure whatever it was it regretted troubling a pair of Lion."
She takes another sip of beer as a strange expression crosses her face for a moment.
"Matsu-sama, um, and tell me if this is too personal. But is...is courting a woman different to courting guys? Just asking for a friend, a ronin friend."

“Y’know, they certainly did.” Hide noted the change in Yurei’s expression and leaned in a bit closer to inspect the ronin. “Hmmm… Courtship, huh? Well, it’s been a few months, but maybe I can help a little.”

She straightened herself out and sat up and alert. “Honestly, courtship isn’t just based on someone’s gender. It’s based on the person themselves. Everyone’s different on some level, so you just gotta get to know them some. That’s my take on it… Of course I had the benefit of being at a miai and having all kinds of crazy stuff happen where I could prove myself an adventurous partner.”

[Yūrei]

“Y’know, they certainly did.” Hide noted the change in Yurei’s expression and leaned in a bit closer to inspect the ronin. “Hmmm… Courtship, huh? Well, it’s been a few months, but maybe I can help a little.”

She straightened herself out and sat up and alert. “Honestly, courtship isn’t just based on someone’s gender. It’s based on the person themselves. Everyone’s different on some level, so you just gotta get to know them some. That’s my take on it… Of course I had the benefit of being at a miai and having all kinds of crazy stuff happen where I could prove myself an adventurous partner.”

Yūrei nods along, mentally taking notes.
"Ah huh. Well I've sort of got that figured. I've known them for a long time. It's just, how do you know if someone is a close friend or...maybe something more? Or maybe not, I mean, what if it's not and now you've ruined everything? Do you know any hints I should be looking for?"

Self-consciously taking another sip of beer
"I'm uh, pretty sure I already qualify as an adventurous partner."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Hmmm," Yakumo vocalised thoughtfully as she sipped her drink, taking her time with it. "I like to pride myself on hearing and seeing, yes. Seeing the little details, and the quiet emotions. Hearing the unspoken words."

Her gloved hand trailed around the rim of the glass as she looked away for a moment to the party happening around them. Most of the activity seemed to be around the jacuzzi, as not many people were interested in just lounging.

"Isn't that kind of what the Kuni do too? Look for the little things?"

"Yes," she chuckles, brief as it is. An almost strange thing to hear from her. As if she wasn't quite sure how to accomplish the right sound with it the tone of it shifts from the start to finish. Brushing along the glass with her thumb once before returning to turning the thing in her hand. "It is usually threats that we seek out. Subtle changes in a friend or lover that might suggest they are not who they once were. Perhaps the subtle changes in the surroundings to know you are being crept upon. Threats.. everything holds a level of threat. But.."

"Yes," she says, "I do like spotting out the subtle curiosities in people myself. I admit. Understanding people is.. I like to have that which others do not about another. To be more, I think," she twists her lip, shaking her head. No, that wasn't quite right, "To understand more about a person than anyone else ever has, or ever will."

[Matsu Hide]

Yūrei nods along, mentally taking notes.
"Ah huh. Well I've sort of got that figured. I've known them for a long time. It's just, how do you know if someone is a close friend or...maybe something more? Or maybe not, I mean, what if it's not and now you've ruined everything? Do you know any hints I should be looking for?"

Self-consciously taking another sip of beer
"I'm uh, pretty sure I already qualify as an adventurous partner."

“Do they seem happy to see you when you come into the room or whatever?” Hide couldn’t help herself from grinning wide. “My wife has a hard time not looking happy. Pretty sure I’m the same way.”

[Yūrei]

“Do they seem happy to see you when you come into the room or whatever?” Hide couldn’t help herself from grinning wide. “My wife has a hard time not looking happy. Pretty sure I’m the same way.”

"Umm...yeah? I think so? But she's nice to everyone, one of the nicest people I know."
Yūrei smiles unconsciously at some memory.

"And she likes to hangout. But that's what friends do right? Is there something different that someone who's...you know, interested would do that a friend won't?"

[Matsu Hide]

"Umm...yeah? I think so? But she's nice to everyone, one of the nicest people I know."
Yūrei smiles unconsciously at some memory.

"And she likes to hangout. But that's what friends do right? Is there something different that someone who's...you know, interested would do that a friend won't?"

"Huh... That's a hard one. What does she do when she looks at you or when you hang out?" Hide suddenly realized that maybe she's not the best at this kind of thing, but she for sure would try to help out!

[Yūrei]

"Huh... That's a hard one. What does she do when she looks at you or when you hang out?" Hide suddenly realized that maybe she's not the best at this kind of thing, but she for sure would try to help out!

"Oh you know, hugs, kisses, normal friend stuff."
Furrowing her brow
"Ronin friend stuff. She likes checking up on me and making sure I'm alright, and I do the same for her. We were sleeping together...I mean, in the same room, but not together, apart-together, for a long time, so she knows me really well."

[Matsu Hide]

"Oh you know, hugs, kisses, normal friend stuff."
Furrowing her brow
"Ronin friend stuff. She likes checking up on me and making sure I'm alright, and I do the same for her. We were sleeping together...I mean, in the same room, but not together, apart-together, for a long time, so she knows me really well."

"Oh man, Yurei-san... I'm pretty damn sure that she likes you. But it seems it's just something you should talk to her about this." Hide shrugged, now surely outside of her wheelhouse. "Eriko and I didn't do stuff like that until... We were married."

[Yūrei]

"Oh man, Yurei-san... I'm pretty damn sure that she likes you. But it seems it's just something you should talk to her about this." Hide shrugged, now surely outside of her wheelhouse. "Eriko and I didn't do stuff like that until... We were married."

"Oh..."
It's the ronin's turn to be a little confused.
"But, you knew she liked you because you bonded over crazy stuff at miai? Without hugging or kissing one another?"
Clearly impressed by Hide's ability to judge character and emotion.
"You're much better at this than I am. I wish I had half your brains."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Mariko raised her brows when Sakura mentioned her expo outfit. Someone had noticed her outfit changes throughout the same day. "Oh, that dress? Thank you very much, Hotaru-sn. I suppose it's a take from that style that the Crane seem to be making popular, although more black and only slightly frilly. I've been looking for an occasion and it seems the expo was the best place. I found myself trying to decide between three outfits this morning and that one won out. Confidence is something anyone can wear with practice, of course." She easily smiled at that as her mood shifted.

Sakura nodded. "I haven't heard about that style, but now I'm at least partially intrigued." She titled her head in curiosity. "Practice? Really? Bayushi-sama's confidence seems so...natural. Like she was born with it."

[Hotaru Tsuyo]

Kazumi nodded "You've been on World of Dreams for some time now yes? The open sky still makes you nervous? Interesting I suppose it is a big change from the mining ships most firefly are used to."

Kazumi fished a glass from the bar "I don't drink often but tonight seems like an occasion for it, at least a little have to drive back later and all that. I'd love to share a drink with you Hotaru-san" kazumi said happily offering up the glass.

"Better part of a year, but most of it spent up there," she points with the bottle, "suited up and gettin' the installation together. Down here, the buildin's are dense enough to not feel so open. Spent most of my days in ships and tunnels. Maybe someday I'll get used to wide open skies." The bottle tips and pours easily once a glass is procured. "Celebratin' a good game and better concert seems appropriate."

"What made you decide ta sing tonight? Really nice choice there, fit in well with the energy Susumu-san was settin' up, I thought."

[Matsu Hide]

"Oh..."
It's the ronin's turn to be a little confused.
"But, you knew she liked you because you bonded over crazy stuff at miai? Without hugging or kissing one another?"
Clearly impressed by Hide's ability to judge character and emotion.
"You're much better at this than I am. I wish I had half your brains."

"Half of my... What?" Oh no. It was happening again. Between the people at the Eriko rescue mission and Eriko herself, Hide had been called things she didn't feel matched up with reality. "I mean... Some of the most wild things at a miai you could think of. Killer mushrooms and a whole kidnapping. And it was a miai so we all had to find a marriage partner and whatnot, but..."

Hide let out a long sigh as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I dunno, I was actually pretty unsure of what she thought of me until after one of the first incidents. And then all my friends tried to meddle. In good faith, mind you."

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Ohhhh, yeah. I follow you."
She nods until freezing, her face going pale

"I've...I've just realised, I think I have some friends who've tried to do the same thing, meddle in good faith as well."
Eyes going wide.
"Oh kami...I..maybe it is...not completely platonic"

[Soshi Kazumi]

"Better part of a year, but most of it spent up there," she points with the bottle, "suited up and gettin' the installation together. Down here, the buildin's are dense enough to not feel so open. Spent most of my days in ships and tunnels. Maybe someday I'll get used to wide open skies." The bottle tips and pours easily once a glass is procured. "Celebratin' a good game and better concert seems appropriate."

"What made you decide ta sing tonight? Really nice choice there, fit in well with the energy Susumu-san was settin' up, I thought."

Kazumi nodded "Fascinating work you do, asteroid sculpture. I'd imagine it's an impressive thing to see, though I doubt I'll ever get the chance to see it in person. The photos I've seen are quite spectacular."

Kazumi nodded in thanks when the glass was filled "Uhm, well its something I'd toyed with the idea of doing before but" they shrugged "never had the confidence I guess? I'd relesed the song in a slightly different version before but no one knew I was the singer on it. I showed it to Yakumo-sama and she said it was good and I mean, I guess I figured if someone like her liked it then I was probably ready to share with everyone. That mixed with the concert happening" They shrugged "guess it just seemed like the best time. But thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it, we all put a lot of work into tonight so its nice to hear people enjoyed it." Kazumi gave her a look that expressed sincere gratitude.

[Matsu Hide]

"Ohhhh, yeah. I follow you."
She nods until freezing, her face going pale

"I've...I've just realised, I think I have some friends who've tried to do the same thing, meddle in good faith as well."
Eyes going wide.
"Oh kami...I..maybe it is...not completely platonic"

"OH! Good for you, then!" Hide placed her beer on the ledge and clapped briefly. "You should introduce me to your maybe potential girlfriend soon."

[Yūrei]

"OH! Good for you, then!" Hide placed her beer on the ledge and clapped briefly. "You should introduce me to your maybe potential girlfriend soon."

"Yeah...I mean no! I mean...maybe? I don't...oh kami, this is all so complicated."
Resting the beer against her brow.

"I've just got...there's a lot happening...with me...right now. So I don't even know if..."
She sighs, shaking her head slowly.
"Cursed are those who live in interesting times."

[Matsu Hide]

"Yeah...I mean no! I mean...maybe? I don't...oh kami, this is all so complicated."
Resting the beer against her brow.

"I've just got...there's a lot happening...with me...right now. So I don't even know if..."
She sighs, shaking her head slowly.
"Cursed are those who live in interesting times."

"Hey! Lighten up!" The Matsu couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the ronin's romantic confusions. Maybe this is why people teased Hide all this time?

"So... Dinner sometime? Double date? My treaaat."