[D1EM] Courage (expecting)

[Otomo Koroshi]

A figure in gold stalked the garden rows. Koroshi was decked out in a blazer which was dark green with gold leaf circles pressed into it. He complimented the blazer with a light white button-down shirt, and red and black striped pants. A tie which shimmered with gold thread completed the look, which was sure to draw the envy of many. And possibly blind the rest from space. A Seppun followed at an appropriate distance and tried not to look directly at the Otomo when he was in the skant bars of sunlight that passed through some portions of the garden.

Having risen before the dawn to complete his prayers, the young Otomo was wandering the gardens with the intense focus he brought to every action. He held a flower to his nose and breathed deeply before coughing and sneezing profusely. Once recovered he did it again. And coughed some more.

[Yūrei]

Snip

From the other direction a short figure jogs through the mist. Yūrei makes good time a she starts burning off several kilos of solid pastry from the night before. The Garden was quieter this early in the morning with many of the insectoid gardeners making their way through through the grounds on various missions. Their beeping was oddly comforting to her as she dodges between the robots.

A golden figure in front of her is a little unexpected and, chest heaving slightly Yūrei politely makes her way off the path to let the imperial pass, her head bowed respectfully.

"Otomo-sama, blessings of the fortunes upon you."

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

Koroshi looks up from slowly poisoning himself on pollen to smile at the nice lady. He put his hands up to shine into the sky and radiate the sun's grace upon her. "Fair maiden! Fate's ribbon has sprung from the void to tie us together in this chance encounter and I venerate the Heaven's for their foresight. It is blessing to meet someone from this spectacular planet while out and about on this glorious morning!"

Koroshi took a bow towards the ronin and gestured for the Seppun to keep his distance for a bit. "Righteousness in every action, courage in every step! We bring glory to our ancestors through duty and deed, join me now that we might explore the path laid before us with the strength of our convictions and the light of the Sun!"

He moved to the side to give her space to walk beside him.

[Yūrei]

Koroshi looks up from slowly poisoning himself on pollen to smile at the nice lady. He put his hands up to shine into the sky and radiate the sun's grace upon her. "Fair maiden! Fate's ribbon has sprung from the void to tie us together in this chance encounter and I venerate the Heaven's for their foresight. It is blessing to meet someone from this spectacular planet while out and about on this glorious morning!"

Koroshi took a bow towards the ronin and gestured for the Seppun to keep his distance for a bit. "Righteousness in every action, courage in every step! We bring glory to our ancestors through duty and deed, join me now that we might explore the path laid before us with the strength of our convictions and the light of the Sun!"

He moved to the side to give her space to walk beside him.

"..."
Well, she wasn't expecting that. But you don't say no to an Otomo
"Of course samurai-sama, this uh, fair maiden is honoured by the opportunity to explore the path laid before us."
Feeling ludicrously under-dressed she jogs over to Koroshi's side.
"This one is Yūrei, it is an honour. I do often contemplate the glory of my ancestors."

Suppressing a sigh and finding some peace in the rolling misty garden around them.
"I find this a suitable place for it, Otomo-sama, you have chosen well."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"..."
Well, she wasn't expecting that. But you don't say no to an Otomo
"Of course samurai-sama, this uh, fair maiden is honoured by the opportunity to explore the path laid before us."
Feeling ludicrously under-dressed she jogs over to Koroshi's side.
"This one is Yūrei, it is an honour. I do often contemplate the glory of my ancestors."

Suppressing a sigh and finding some peace in the rolling misty garden around them.
"I find this a suitable place for it, Otomo-sama, you have chosen well."

"You were born on the World of Dreams then?" Koroshi asks with naked curiosity. "It is such a vast place to see from space. I observed many sections of urban sprawl across the continental surface, at least this side of the planet. I have seen only one larger, my family's homeworld."

"But I forget myself! You were contemplating the glory of your ancestors. Please, speak about their deeds and the honor they showed in the face of death!" He did a small dance with his arms at the idea of dying with honor.

[Yūrei]

"You were born on the World of Dreams then?" Koroshi asks with naked curiosity. "It is such a vast place to see from space. I observed many sections of urban sprawl across the continental surface, at least this side of the planet. I have seen only one larger, my family's homeworld."

"But I forget myself! You were contemplating the glory of your ancestors. Please, speak about their deeds and the honor they showed in the face of death!" He did a small dance with his arms at the idea of dying with honor.

"Yes, it's the only home I've ever known. Although of course I would not compare it to your vaunted homeworld."
A flash of longing streaks across her face for a moment.

"My ancestors, Otomo-sama?"
With some effort she keeps her expression neutral.
"I...do not know where to begin. Perhaps I could hear of your exalted predecessors that that their honour might inspire me?"

She looks at the arm dance for a second then mimics it.

The two continue down the path, passing one or two other samurai out for the early morning, a few joggers, some retired samurai out for their constitutional.

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Yes, it's the only home I've ever known. Although of course I would not compare it to your vaunted homeworld."
A flash of longing streaks across her face for a moment.

"My ancestors, Otomo-sama?"
With some effort she keeps her expression neutral.
"I...do not know where to begin. Perhaps I could hear of your exalted predecessors that that their honour might inspire me?"

She looks at the arm dance for a second then mimics it.

The two continue down the path, passing one or two other samurai out for the early morning, a few joggers, some retired samurai out for their constitutional.

Koroshi nodded excitedly at the idea. "I will begin with Seppun Koroshi, my great-grandfather on my mother's side. He fought in battle against a group of privateers who wished to make off with cargo bound towards an Imperial world! The shame of such things, to steal from the Empire itself!" He shook his fist at the Heaven's in rage at the very idea. It appeared entirely sincere.

"He was greatly out numbered so he purposeful destroyed one of the engines of his craft while his son moved the cargo onto a light cruiser. As the raiders closed in, his son was able to escape with the others while Koroshi-shiryo detonated a radiant weapon into the core of his ship and scattered them. His sacrifice allowed his son to return to the sector with the Imperial Legion and wipe the scum from the astroid belts." Koroshi had accompanied the story with pew pew sounds and other onomatopoeia. He then proceeded to another little arm dance at the idea of killing people who had murdered your father. This one looked more like a superhero transformation sequence though.

"But yes, and your own ancestors? I wish to hear their deeds from their filial daughter! Speak that they may hear that you have learned their names, and understand where your honor lay!" He pumped up visibly at the idea. The Seppun drew a little closer to make sure he wasn't having some kind of attack before drawing back to the polite discrete distance from earlier.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Yes."
Smiling, a little uncomfortably
"My great grandmother, Tsutomu once had a similar experience. An enemy slipped a bomb aboard a pleasure barge her lord was taking to court and the boat was evacuated. She volunteered to attempt to defuse the bomb and... was not successful. But she faced her end with dignity."
She pauses for a moment before making a quiet
"Boom" sound, as the Otomo had with his story.

"Your ancestor's story is a good one though. Do you follow his example then as a fierce..bushi?"
Her glance flickered down to his family mon for a moment.
"Is that what brings you to the World of Dreams?"

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Yes."
Smiling, a little uncomfortably
"My great grandmother, Tsutomu once had a similar experience. An enemy slipped a bomb aboard a pleasure barge her lord was taking to court and the boat was evacuated. She volunteered to attempt to defuse the bomb and... was not successful. But she faced her end with dignity."
She pauses for a moment before making a quiet
"Boom" sound, as the Otomo had with his story.

"Your ancestor's story is a good one though. Do you follow his example then as a fierce..bushi?"
Her glance flickered down to his family mon for a moment.
"Is that what brings you to the World of Dreams?"

"I will offer a hundred candles at the altar tonight for your ancestors memory, Yūrei-san. They shall not be forgotten for their sacrifice in service to their lord. Courage is not always leaping into the battlefield, sometimes it is holding cutters against the edge of a detonator!" He mimed the action before snapping his fingers at the Seppun following them. "Seme-san, remind me about Tsutomu-shiryo when we get back to the embassy."

That note finished Koroshi did a little jig as he imagined himself fighting as a bushi. Then he laughed so hard he almost cried. It took a bit for him to calm down but he did eventually. "No, I am, no, hahaha. No I am not a bushi. My service is as a courtier, and the bulk of my training as a priest. I was trained to speak to the kami in the elementalist tradition and to harmonize with the elements until they are willing to listen to my small requests."

He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small piece of candy to chew. "Ah, want some? It is a lemon drop. And what of you? You have the look of a fighter, perhaps a magistrate or something?"

[Yūrei]

"I will offer a hundred candles at the altar tonight for your ancestors memory, Yūrei-san. They shall not be forgotten for their sacrifice in service to their lord. Courage is not always leaping into the battlefield, sometimes it is holding cutters against the edge of a detonator!" He mimed the action before snapping his fingers at the Seppun following them. "Seme-san, remind me about Tsutomu-shiryo when we get back to the embassy."

That note finished Koroshi did a little jig as he imagined himself fighting as a bushi. Then he laughed so hard he almost cried. It took a bit for him to calm down but he did eventually. "No, I am, no, hahaha. No I am not a bushi. My service is as a courtier, and the bulk of my training as a priest. I was trained to speak to the kami in the elementalist tradition and to harmonize with the elements until they are willing to listen to my small requests."

He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small piece of candy to chew. "Ah, want some? It is a lemon drop. And what of you? You have the look of a fighter, perhaps a magistrate or something?"

"Thank you, that is very kind."
Yūrei's shoulders remain tensed slightly, but then relax slightly as Koroshi laughs...and laughs. It almost makes her smile a little.

"You are a priest as well? Otomo-sama is a man of many talents. The World of Dreams must be fascinating to a blessed shugenja, so many kami working in so many ways. So many mysteries. The Soshi are masters of their craft."

Her gaze snaps down to the lemon drop even as she mentally adds a few hundred yards onto her run.
"If Otomo-sama has candy to share I could hardly deny such a kind offer."

Yūrei is tempted to laugh at the Otomo's question almost as hard as he did at hers, but she manages a rueful:
"No Otomo-sama, I do not have that honour. I seek to help people as best I can, finding things or people who are lost, seeking out knowledge, those humble duties. If you have any need of such things you have only to ask."

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

Koroshi hands half a dozen plus one over with a gentle touch at odds with his normal absurd energy. "I am pleased to offer you this sweet; for a sweet woman such as yourself, it can only be a complimentary hint of color to the tapestry of your most excellent life."

"I will remember this list. I do not often get lost, or require finding so I cannot imagine that I will need anything myself. But I have the ear of many people. Some of them even like me!" He seemed genuine about that as he punched the air in victory. "But yes, I am a shugenja. It is a honorable duty which I hold in my heart at the beginning of each day so that I may walk with the spirits in the most upright and perfect manner, displaying all the traits of a samurai with the dignity and purpose such a duty requires. One must steel their spine, strengthen their heart, sharpen their mind! I will meet these mysteries with the power of my intellect and the openness of my soul!"

Each phrase got a little dance move to it. "I am so glad to be here, this will be a spectacular delight! Made more spectacular by your presence even now!"

He is only getting louder.

[Yūrei]

Snip

Yūrei winces ever so slightly at the volume but doesn't object, far more focused on the many sweets she had been given which rapidly disappear into her pockets except for one tossed into her mouth.

"You certainly seem to have an open and noble soul, Otomo-sama. And you're very flattering, you make me consider if my life is as excellent as it could be."

She flicks her gaze back to Koroshi's yojimbo, wondering if she was meant to dance a little as well.
"Yes, a spectacular delight in deed."
Cha-cha-cha

"Have you had much chance to explore the planet? I'm sure there are many places of interest you could walk with an upright and perfect manner and enjoy the scenery."

The two enter a small forested grove, the mist swirling through the pines trees combine with the sound of running water from a small brook to enhance the garden's peaceful air.

[Otomo Koroshi]

Yūrei winces ever so slightly at the volume but doesn't object, far more focused on the many sweets she had been given which rapidly disappear into her pockets except for one tossed into her mouth.

"You certainly seem to have an open and noble soul, Otomo-sama. And you're very flattering, you make me consider if my life is as excellent as it could be."

She flicks her gaze back to Koroshi's yojimbo, wondering if she was meant to dance a little as well.
"Yes, a spectacular delight in deed."
Cha-cha-cha

"Have you had much chance to explore the planet? I'm sure there are many places of interest you could walk with an upright and perfect manner and enjoy the scenery."

The two enter a small forested grove, the mist swirling through the pines trees combine with the sound of running water from a small brook to enhance the garden's peaceful air.

"Grasp your future with both hands Yūrei-san, it shall not escape you!" He balled his fists together to demonstrate. It is likely more confusing than inspiring but Koroshi is unconcerned.

"Uh...no, I arrived late last night and had to sleep off the travel. Flying in a ship can be very tiring if one is not the pilot. It drains one in a way that is difficult to describe..." He put a finger to his chin and then shook his head. "Yes, I cannot."

"But tell me what you would recommend? Have you any great places for food, fun, and other such things? Perhaps you can recommend somewhere I should not go, or should definitely see? How about art? Religious activity? Fashion?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

"Of course Otomo-sama, you appear remarkably well rested for one who has endured such an arduous journey. I hope your time planetside revives you."
Rubbing the back of her head and taking a breath of the cool morning air as she thought.

"I am fairly certain most guests never observe the Dark Iron Forge, but I think as a priest you might truly appreciate it. It's...unique, but also said to be haunted. Although I cannot imagine the spirit bold enough to assail you."

Ticking off on her fingers
"There's Akatsubaki, which is one of the better Oiran houses. I've worked security there once or twice, they're exceptionally discrete and the entertainment is something. But I would watch what you say to the staff, talk has a way of getting around. The Tsukune no Saisei no Kibou Wildlife Sanctuary is wonderful, like the Gardens here but full of life you will find nowhere else. I'm certain that if you asked they would organise a private your for you if you have an interest in animals. In fact the artificial islands themselves are well worth the expedition, no expense was spared."

Cocking her head to consider a last destination
"Lastly, there's the Golden Frog. It has beautiful views and a fine drinks list, I'm sure they could find you anything to drink that you wished."

[Otomo Koroshi]

"Of course Otomo-sama, you appear remarkably well rested for one who has endured such an arduous journey. I hope your time planetside revives you."
Rubbing the back of her head and taking a breath of the cool morning air as she thought.

"I am fairly certain most guests never observe the Dark Iron Forge, but I think as a priest you might truly appreciate it. It's...unique, but also said to be haunted. Although I cannot imagine the spirit bold enough to assail you."

Ticking off on her fingers
"There's Akatsubaki, which is one of the better Oiran houses. I've worked security there once or twice, they're exceptionally discrete and the entertainment is something. But I would watch what you say to the staff, talk has a way of getting around. The Tsukune no Saisei no Kibou Wildlife Sanctuary is wonderful, like the Gardens here but full of life you will find nowhere else. I'm certain that if you asked they would organise a private your for you if you have an interest in animals. In fact the artificial islands themselves are well worth the expedition, no expense was spared."

Cocking her head to consider a last destination
"Lastly, there's the Golden Frog. It has beautiful views and a fine drinks list, I'm sure they could find you anything to drink that you wished."

"Indeed! I am not running on all cylinders and am wilted." He gestured to his general person. "I could only don the suit of a thousand suns and trudge along the paths of this garden to gather more energy from the bustle of the city!"

The young Otomo put his hands above his head and shined the light of the dawn like a discoball around him. This leads him to be standing in front of a gardening bot which beeps. He put his hands down and bowed to the robot, "My apologies, go forth and do honorably gardener-san."

Koroshi hurried for a few dozen steps to make sure he was out of the way. "But yes...how about the Golden Frog. I think that would be nice, I like sake, I like fine dining. What time should we meet Yūrei-san? It would have to be tomorrow...how about mid-afternoon?"

[Yūrei]

Snip

The spider bot beeps respectfully and then continues on.

"You want to go to the Frog with me?"
She shoots Koroshi a sidelong glance, wondering if this was all some bizarre act. But if it was the Otomo was a better performer than most Shosuro.

"I...would be honoured to join you for drinks tomorrow, Otomo-sama. Mid-afternoon would suit me. I'll call ahead and make sure they have space for your illustrious personage."

[Otomo Koroshi]

The spider bot beeps respectfully and then continues on.

"You want to go to the Frog with me?"
She shoots Koroshi a sidelong glance, wondering if this was all some bizarre act. But if it was the Otomo was a better performer than most Shosuro.

"I...would be honoured to join you for drinks tomorrow, Otomo-sama. Mid-afternoon would suit me. I'll call ahead and make sure they have space for your illustrious personage."

"Drinks at the Frog! Yes. I will adjust my outfit to match the importance of the occasion, while the somber nature of my current set reflects my mood appropriately, it is not what is called for to meet with a nice lady for drinks! That requires fire! Zest!" He did a small dance in an outfit that probably blinded someone as they were running because they ran into a bush. Koroshi ignored it and continued walking.

"And speaking of, here is my number." The Otomo reached for a card that wasn't there and then flushed. "Uh...I have something to write with if you will bear with me."

His next few moments are spent pulling out a brush and transparent sheet of plastic to write on.

[Yūrei]

Snip

"It's no trouble Otomo-sama."
Yūrei waits, fiddling slightly with her own card and shooting an apologetic glance at the runner slowly extracting himself from a particularly thorny bush.

"It's been sometime since anyone invited me for drinks there, I am looking forward to it." Mostly.

[Otomo Koroshi]

snip

The Otomo managed to get everything together long enough for his purposes. He gave the ronin the card and would accept her's with grace. "There is no need to worry about anything Yūrei-san."

He smiled at her with genuine happiness. "But enough, enough. What is one thing that you would like to see before you enter the Wheel?"

[Yūrei]

The Otomo managed to get everything together long enough for his purposes. He gave the ronin the card and would accept her's with grace. "There is no need to worry about anything Yūrei-san."

He smiled at her with genuine happiness. "But enough, enough. What is one thing that you would like to see before you enter the Wheel?"

A wince at the mental whiplash.
"Before I die? That's not something I've thought about often since I've focused more on not dying."
Craning her head up for a moment.
"Other worlds, I think. I have business to settle here but then I think I would like to see the Empire. Most of my neighbours will live and die seeing only the World of Dreams, I don't want that."

Feeling a little self-conscious now.
"Do you have one thing you'd like to see?"