[D6 LA] Side Event: Realm Expo RP

[Susumu Sumiko]

Yakumo looked up as she was doing some mental gymnastics, also known as basic math. She'd already dropped a good chunk of money for personal projects earlier that day. And then there was her own shopping list, so that meant subtract 2, carry the four... or wait, was it the other way.

"Just add it to my account, I'm picking up a copy as well along with a couple of other things," she said finally with a shrug as she held up her densai, where she was filling in her orders of what she wanted from the vendors.

A couple of things was an understatement as she seemed to be buying something from most vendors.

"What good is having all these koku the Imperials hand me regularly if I don't use it on my kin who get so little in comparison."

Sumiko looked surprised.

"Are you sure?"

There was a small pause before she smiled.

"This will be extremely useful to me, thank you Yakumo-sama" she bowed deeply to the woman "if there is anything I can do to assist you please let me know."

[Kitsu Kanna]

snip

"I think the Akodo tacticians have at least one full year of college dedicated to the art of winning rigged games, because real life rarely hands you fair odds.

You'll have to ask one yourself for the details, but pretty sure that playing the cards you've been given at the game your opponent has chosen is not the path of victory. You have to shift some variable somewhere to make the impossible possible."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Sumiko looked surprised.

"Are you sure?"

There was a small pause before she smiled.

"This will be extremely useful to me, thank you Yakumo-sama" she bowed deeply to the woman "if there is anything I can do to assist you please let me know."

"Spider are strong when we support one another," she gently reminded her. Or rather, Yakumo was saying what she thought was right, because she didn't exactly feel like all Spider had that mindset.

"Hmmmm... there might be something, actually. But not here. I'll make a visit to the embassy sometime tomorrow, and we can talk further there?"

[Bayushi Mariko]

For what only could best be described as 'a moment' a length of time so vague and yet understandable in all of the right ways, Koyuki just looks to Mariko for a moment as she regards the plushies of her design. There was certainly something about her, something different. That veneer on the surface only ran so deep, and there was much more down below. Not a thought Koyuki would have shared with most, perhaps one person came to mind that could get such thoughts out of her, but Mariko wasn't that one.

Before she lingered on the thought too long, she broke herself away from her own reverie and looks out over that small army of plushies, "Just don't lose the charm that these ones have and you will manage quite a lot, Bayushi-sama," she says with a far more neutral tone than the words themselves deserved.

"I am certainly beginning to understand the very expansive list of talents you can claim. Could be because it all begins with the same start. A good eye for detail can help a lot in all of those endeavors," she muses aloud. Just looking out over all the dolls like she might make ones day by making sure to acknowledge them each individually.

"Oh, I will do my best to maintain my vision, thank you," she said plainly on the situation in return, dipping in a quick bow in her direction. A part of her might berate herself for blabbering so much that she might have unmasked herself but she supposed who else was she going to talk about this and understand the topic?

"An eye for detail, maybe a little bit of imagination. Mujina are a cool idea." She would bring up as she crossed her arms. "I was told that there was a time in the feudal times of the Empire where apparently Kuni shugenja manipulated their shadows and had them work the mines as slaves. A bit dark but I've found that interesting. Not adorable but with some reimagining, I'd like to think someone out there would like a mujina pet out there."

[Usagi Rei]

"I think the Akodo tacticians have at least one full year of college dedicated to the art of winning rigged games, because real life rarely hands you fair odds.

You'll have to ask one yourself for the details, but pretty sure that playing the cards you've been given at the game your opponent has chosen is not the path of victory. You have to shift some variable somewhere to make the impossible possible."

Rei smirked. "That's part of the game too, Kitsu-san." He inclined his head again.

He looked up at the map. "Which areas of the expo have you visited, anyway?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

"Oh, I will do my best to maintain my vision, thank you," she said plainly on the situation in return, dipping in a quick bow in her direction. A part of her might berate herself for blabbering so much that she might have unmasked herself but she supposed who else was she going to talk about this and understand the topic?

"An eye for detail, maybe a little bit of imagination. Mujina are a cool idea." She would bring up as she crossed her arms. "I was told that there was a time in the feudal times of the Empire where apparently Kuni shugenja manipulated their shadows and had them work the mines as slaves. A bit dark but I've found that interesting. Not adorable but with some reimagining, I'd like to think someone out there would like a mujina pet out there."

Her damage dealt, she certainly wasn't going to press the woman further. Offering her that switch as easy as she could manage. Which was actually rather easy considering the interest that new topic did bring to the fore, "You are not just an artist but truly have some interest in the history of the Crab. Unexpected, but interesting. I do not remember much from my schooling days. Mujina were mentioned, briefly, of course in the grand scope of things but I am yet fuzzy on the details as I once was," she offers, a very brief smile. Only really noticeably so because of those red-painted lips.

She'd underestimated her commitment to the Crab half of her blood a little more than she'd perhaps suspected. Not something she'd say, but maybe just maybe something would notice in the way Koyuki's brow quirked upon hearing of that new idea.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Spider are strong when we support one another," she gently reminded her. Or rather, Yakumo was saying what she thought was right, because she didn't exactly feel like all Spider had that mindset.

"Hmmmm... there might be something, actually. But not here. I'll make a visit to the embassy sometime tomorrow, and we can talk further there?"

Sumiko smiled at that, nodding.

"Hai, we are" she looked down at the Jade tattoo on her wrist at the comment, before looking back at Yakumo.

"That would be fine. I'm always happy to assist. Do you want to come by in the morning or early in the afternoon? I can have some tea prepared ahead of time."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Sumiko smiled at that, nodding.

"Hai, we are" she looked down at the Jade tattoo on her wrist at the comment, before looking back at Yakumo.

"That would be fine. I'm always happy to assist. Do you want to come by in the morning or early in the afternoon? I can have some tea prepared ahead of time."

"What about in the early afternoon? I would prefer to sleep in and have a long morning before I get my day started tomorrow. Would that be suitable for you, Sumiko-san?" The idea of tea sounded nice as well.

[Kitsu Kanna]

snip

"Deception. Horror. Evil. You know, putting myself in the mood for the war against the CMS alliance.

As for yourself?"

[Bayushi Mariko]

Her damage dealt, she certainly wasn't going to press the woman further. Offering her that switch as easy as she could manage. Which was actually rather easy considering the interest that new topic did bring to the fore, "You are not just an artist but truly have some interest in the history of the Crab. Unexpected, but interesting. I do not remember much from my schooling days. Mujina were mentioned, briefly, of course in the grand scope of things but I am yet fuzzy on the details as I once was," she offers, a very brief smile. Only really noticeably so because of those red-painted lips.

She'd underestimated her commitment to the Crab half of her blood a little more than she'd perhaps suspected. Not something she'd say, but maybe just maybe something would notice in the way Koyuki's brow quirked upon hearing of that new idea.

"I wouldn't say an interest in the history of the Crab. Wars and politics, there's already plenty of that in the Bayushi that I can't keep up with," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Just an interest in some of the fantastical elements of the Clan, more or less what my mother has told me in passing and a few things I've found with some quick research. I'm sure it's probably what most children with shugenja parents, who are not shugenja, might go through. I just think they're neat, so to speak...It's undeniable that the Family has a lot of gothic elements, let's call it, that have my attention."

[Kuni Koyuki]

"I wouldn't say an interest in the history of the Crab. Wars and politics, there's already plenty of that in the Bayushi that I can't keep up with," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Just an interest in some of the fantastical elements of the Clan, more or less what my mother has told me in passing and a few things I've found with some quick research. I'm sure it's probably what most children with shugenja parents, who are not shugenja, might go through. I just think they're neat, so to speak...It's undeniable that the Family has a lot of gothic elements, let's call it, that have my attention."

"Splitting hairs to avoid improper associations," she says, with a direct look to the woman. A relenting glance away as to not make it so much of a teased challenge. "But, no, I can see how those would appeal to someone with as much connection to the family and blood as you have. I was certainly much more rooted in the here and now with my own childhood, best to know the threats of tomorrow and not yesterday. But-" she puts extra emphasis on that pause, having started that way twice- "that does call some attention to another thing worth commenting on," she says, and glances down over Mariko.

"You have decided upon quite the outfit Bayushi-sama. You have my approval," she says, with some self-assured knowledge of how much her approval on something like that might mean.

[Usagi Rei]

"Deception. Horror. Evil. You know, putting myself in the mood for the war against the CMS alliance.

As for yourself?"

Rei smiled. "The same as myself. It's a wonder we didn't bump into each other. Although the halls certainly are twisty." He shrugged. "Although unlike you, I couldn't say why I picked those."

"Shame our existing contracts with the Crane make contracting with the Lion a challenge." Rei said. "These broad alliances certainly cause complications."

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko smiled at that, nodding.

"Hai, we are" she looked down at the Jade tattoo on her wrist at the comment, before looking back at Yakumo.

"That would be fine. I'm always happy to assist. Do you want to come by in the morning or early in the afternoon? I can have some tea prepared ahead of time."

"What about in the early afternoon? I would prefer to sleep in and have a long morning before I get my day started tomorrow. Would that be suitable for you, Sumiko-san?" The idea of tea sounded nice as well.

"That would work" Sumiko nodded "I usually go to do my prayers in the morning, so I will be able to return with plenty of time to arrange tea before you arrive. I can even find the spare cushions again."

She collected the very heavy books, and balanced her plushie on top of them.

"I will make sure I'm not up all night reading also!"

[Kitsu Kanna]

snip

"Do not play dumb with me Usagi-san."

Kanna's voice hadn't raised any higher, as if this was but yet another off-hand comment.

"The contracts you're speaking of are gigabytes of legal mumbo jumbo in which both the Crane and the Hare have weaved a few escape clauses for the day they would need them. Your clan could have broken them at any point after the Crane decided to throw its honor aside for an extra modicum of temporal power.

If you're still honoring them at the moment, it's not out of legalism, but because you're waiting to see how high the bidding for your service can raise."

She adjusted her glasses, as to better see her interlocutor.

"I have little doubts you'll work with the Lion eventually, once this idiotic mercantile standoff will be finally solved. Because the Hare isn't stupid. They know the Lion is going to win this war in the end. And losers are bad payers."

[Usagi Rei]

"Do not play dumb with me Usagi-san."

Kanna's voice hadn't raised any higher, as if this was but yet another off-hand comment.

"The contracts you're speaking of are gigabytes of legal mumbo jumbo in which both the Crane and the Hare have weaved a few escape clauses for the day they would need them. Your clan could have broken them at any point after the Crane decided to throw its honor aside for an extra modicum of temporal power.

If you're still honoring them at the moment, it's not out of legalism, but because you're waiting to see how high the bidding for your service can raise."

She adjusted her glasses, as to better see her interlocutor.

"I have little doubts you'll work with the Lion eventually, once this idiotic mercantile standoff will be finally solved. Because the Hare isn't stupid. They know the Lion is going to win this war in the end. And losers are bad payers."

Rei listened, his smile fixed, his eyes narrowed. "An interesting analysis, Kitsu-san. Never would I do the mistake of treating you as anything less than intelligent." He inclined his head again.

He tilted his head. "But if the Hare are honoring their contracts, I might suggest to you that it is out of honor, not out of greed. And we wouldn't break our contract, or our words, lightly. A position I trust the Lion can respect."

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Splitting hairs to avoid improper associations," she says, with a direct look to the woman. A relenting glance away as to not make it so much of a teased challenge. "But, no, I can see how those would appeal to someone with as much connection to the family and blood as you have. I was certainly much more rooted in the here and now with my own childhood, best to know the threats of tomorrow and not yesterday. But-" she puts extra emphasis on that pause, having started that way twice- "that does call some attention to another thing worth commenting on," she says, and glances down over Mariko.

"You have decided upon quite the outfit Bayushi-sama. You have my approval," she says, with some self-assured knowledge of how much her approval on something like that might mean.

Mariko would give Koyuki a blink at the upfront assumption but she supposed she wasn't entirely wrong with the bit of courtier-speak on the matter.

On the topic of her outfit, she would look down at her gothic but a bit frilly choice of dress. She chuckled softly as she took a moment to show off her dress with a modelling pose. "Your approval comes unexpected but thank you, Kuni-san. It seemed the perfect occasion to wear it, even if I probably should have gone a little more overboard with the expo. I feel that costumes are better saved for later. A variation of Crane design but obviously I think black is a better colour than white."

[Kuni Koyuki]

Mariko would give Koyuki a blink at the upfront assumption but she supposed she wasn't entirely wrong with the bit of courtier-speak on the matter.

On the topic of her outfit, she would look down at her gothic but a bit frilly choice of dress. She chuckled softly as she took a moment to show off her dress with a modelling pose. "Your approval comes unexpected but thank you, Kuni-san. It seemed the perfect occasion to wear it, even if I probably should have gone a little more overboard with the expo. I feel that costumes are better saved for later. A variation of Crane design but obviously I think black is a better colour than white."

"That is what I am often told," she mumbles. Taking that half-step back to allow the dress to be shown off in good and proper fashion. Taking the opportunity to appreciate it for what it was a bit more. Much much too femme for her to ever toy with the idea of wearing certain, but it definitely had an appeal. "My best is that I can agree on the choice of black over white. It suits you," she says, a brief nod to replace all she could say on not being as up on different styles or trends. Conceding to Mariko that she most certainly held the experience there wordlessly.

[Bayushi Mariko]

"That is what I am often told," she mumbles. Taking that half-step back to allow the dress to be shown off in good and proper fashion. Taking the opportunity to appreciate it for what it was a bit more. Much much too femme for her to ever toy with the idea of wearing certain, but it definitely had an appeal. "My best is that I can agree on the choice of black over white. It suits you," she says, a brief nod to replace all she could say on not being as up on different styles or trends. Conceding to Mariko that she most certainly held the experience there wordlessly.

Mariko got a sense of her respective audience at her table and held herself back from babbling about her designer or the recent shop she discovered close to the slums that specialized in the style. She could have sworn there was a Yogo around here that made that her business and identity, would have been good to pick her brain.

"Anyway, thanks for dropping by at my table, Kuni-san. I'm guessing there's a bit of disconnection, obviously, but I'm at least happy at the few bits that I could get right. I hope it was mostly tolerable on your part?" She asked with a faint smirk. "There's supposed to be a concert after the expo over at the Wicked Wasp with Susumu Yakumo, Asahina Hinata, and Soshi Kazumi headlining it. I'm guessing that's definitely not your scene with the Spider on stage?"

[Kuni Koyuki]

Mariko got a sense of her respective audience at her table and held herself back from babbling about her designer or the recent shop she discovered close to the slums that specialized in the style. She could have sworn there was a Yogo around here that made that her business and identity, would have been good to pick her brain.

"Anyway, thanks for dropping by at my table, Kuni-san. I'm guessing there's a bit of disconnection, obviously, but I'm at least happy at the few bits that I could get right. I hope it was mostly tolerable on your part?" She asked with a faint smirk. "There's supposed to be a concert after the expo over at the Wicked Wasp with Susumu Yakumo, Asahina Hinata, and Soshi Kazumi headlining it. I'm guessing that's definitely not your scene with the Spider on stage?"

"Yes, it was-" and then that second question registered a little more clearly. Staring blankly for a second as she really processed that. Few very present flashing memories, with that sappy filter over them. When did you turn into such a sap? Ah, right, you always were. After the whole affair with the expo's other section she was a touch more unprepared than she normally was. After a moments hesitation she took a casual breath to settle herself.

"Not usually," she admits. Glancing around rather than focusing on Mariko as she had to get a read of her surroundings a little more. "Susumu Yakumo, and Soshi Kazumi both are performers I have been encouraged to go see. One quite a bit more passionately than the other. I-" Would hate to disappoint them, you were about to say that, weren't you? Geeze you are practically falling apart. "-found myself convinced."

Nice save, not.

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Yes, it was-" and then that second question registered a little more clearly. Staring blankly for a second as she really processed that. Few very present flashing memories, with that sappy filter over them. When did you turn into such a sap? Ah, right, you always were. After the whole affair with the expo's other section she was a touch more unprepared than she normally was. After a moments hesitation she took a casual breath to settle herself.

"Not usually," she admits. Glancing around rather than focusing on Mariko as she had to get a read of her surroundings a little more. "Susumu Yakumo, and Soshi Kazumi both are performers I have been encouraged to go see. One quite a bit more passionately than the other. I-" Would hate to disappoint them, you were about to say that, weren't you? Geeze you are practically falling apart. "-found myself convinced."

Nice save, not.

Despite the earlier talk about Mariko's cultural influences, she was still very much a Bayushi at the end of the day. She gave a few nods, although the hint in her eyes would indicate that she caught something being off with her response but it would be impossible for her to know the whole story. Maybe the topic was gauche? She would assume the Crab would just tell her to her face if that was the case.

"Asahina Hinata, too, I hope." She added with a small smile, pointing out one name Koyuki missed. "I didn't know if you found offence in her or not. I guess it's no big deal. She's probably a celebrity and singer first, Spider second."

While that probably wasn't entirely true, that's the optics that most of the public are going to take when it comes to celebrities of opposing Clans. "And she puts on a good show, I heard, especially after coming from that Imperial contract. Not a bad idea to attend for the spectacle itself. I'm looking to drop in if I get out of post-expo clean up fast enough."

Her gaze went to her 'dolls' momentarily. "After packing up at least a few of my friends."