[D1EA] Window Shopping (OPEN)

[Usagi Rei]

"Just wanted to make sure you knew I could play, too." Rei murmured. After all, she'd been getting her jabs in; that was part of the fun, of course.
"But I did mean it in good faith, too." He paused then, giving an exaggerated shrug, again setting the basket swinging. "And it is a shame I don't have a ride. I don't suppose you're going by the Diplomatic District, are you?" Rei's tone was all innocence, even as his pale eyes glinted at her.

As she eyed him up and down, Rei was all too happy to pause, his own gaze tracing her form in return, feeling his blood heat just a little. Even on a like this, she stood out... "That would have been quite the first impression." He said dryly. "But it would have been a shame if you'd have passed this off as your imagination." He chuckled, shaking his head. "And my duties only rarely include fistfights. Or other sorts of fights. Mostly paperwork, and continuing to expand my alcohol tolerance. Staying awake during boring conversations." Of course, rarely, wasn't never.

Reaching an intersection at the store, Rei paused. If they continued on, they'd be at the register, and possibly at the end of this very intriguing conversation with a beautiful woman. He shifted slightly, inviting a turn, but not forcing it, ready to convert his moment back forward if she continued onward.

"Yeah, I had an opportunity to transfer. I didn't take it." Rei said. "And I know what you mean. I've seen visiting diplomats that, after two weeks, can't seem to decide whether to sprint back to their shuttle or go hide in the Akatsubaki." He flashed her a quick amused grin. "But with shipboard life I'm at least used to tight spaces and crowded corridors... streets, whatever. Although believe me, shipboard life wasn't nearly so much fun."

[Bayushi Mariko]

"No. The Diplomatic District is usually packed with traffic, especially in the afternoon. I don't think my driver will be taking that route." She shook her head easily enough, perhaps a bit of a calculated denial "You'll just have to hop your way back, or something. I heard that public transportation can't be all that bad."

"That sounds like really hard work." She said in regards to his duties. It seemed like she would be sarcastic or dry with those words but it did lack the inflection, even though the timing was entirely there. "That must be even more the case with Winter Court, if that's still a thing that they do now. I could see why you would need to restock, whether you have to sit in stuffy rooms for hours or if you're doing this from the comfort of your office."

Mariko didn't seem like she was in a hurry to go to the register just yet, although she did reach down and carefully felt the temperature of one of the cans that she just picked up. Drinking in public wasn't exactly good form, even in a Scorpion city, but the refrigerated section did conflictingly encourage immediate consumption.

"City life must be more exciting than ship life, I think that's a given. I'm just surprised that some people want open fields and nothing but sky on the horizon." She gave a shrug of her shoulder on that note. "It's cute to have on a picture or a postcard...but can't be very comfortable."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei shrugged acceptance. It had been a longshot. "It is. And yeah, it's why I picked up a second bottle." He made a face, rattling his basket. "If the speeches don't put me to sleep, this will afterwards."

He smiled, just a little, as the lovely actress implicitly agreed to extend the conversation. Following the gesture, Rei found himself calculating how quickly the chill would fade... well, they had a few minutes, anyway.

Rei shrugged. "Maybe it's nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." He said wryly, a callback to his earlier phrase. "I don't know. I'd try it, once, just like most things. But I'd miss the music, the people... a city like this feels alive, even if it's just a bunch of people doing their own thing."

Slowly, they made their way down the aisle; cases and casks now, casting shadows all around, despite the fluorescent lighting. "So... what's your favorite part of the city?" Rei asked, his pale eyes interested as he watched her.

[Bayushi Mariko]

Mariko chortled with a few nods. "I get where you're coming from, Usagi-san. However, even I have to say that there must be more interesting ways to put yourself to sleep than drinking, especially in this city. Drinking is fine in a pinch but you should probably look harder, up and down perhaps." She said as she looked up and down on cue of her own words.

She took a few steps back, favouring a wall where a display of alcohol could be found, rather than giving a reason for anyone else to bump into them. The display behind them featured a brand of sake that seemed to be fermented with tubbers. The slashed prices, while sales shouldn't be a big concern with samurai, did indicate some lack of popularity when it came to their stock. She was pretty sure that she wasn't going to be in anyone's way standing here.

"I'm not a fan," she said flatly on the matter of open skies, giving a distasteful shake on the matter. "In a way, too much of nothing only leaves you with yourself. I'm sure that's a fine Dragon pastime or those into spiritual retreats but not something I would sign up for. I'd rather be with people...even if not with people."

She gave a gesture around them, trying to get her point across. "I don't know if I have a favourite but I do like the little islands they have in the district. That's kind of my version of a getaway, especially when you can get a private spot on the side. No need to worry if you're going to be able to eat at night or get eaten by some wild animal."

[Usagi Rei]

Well. Rei tilted his head, smirking playfully, giving her a look. "Believe me. I am looking." He said, his voice pitched lower.

He let his gaze linger another moment, long enough to be definitely playful without being weird. Then he chuckled softly. "You know, I actually know a guy who went to a place like that, for a Miai of all things. Lousy dresser." Rei shook his head. "From his reports, getting eaten definitely was a problem there. No, thank you."

Pausing, Rei looked at Mariko again; more thoughtfully than admiringly this time. Sounds like she wasn't happy being with herself. All too relatable.
Another moment, and Rei shook his head.

He smiled again. "That sounds nice. Where you can relax, enjoy the sun and the waves, but still have someone bring you a fancy drink when you want one? I could appreciate that." A gentle shake of his head. "I've visited of course, but just the public beaches. A private spot, yeah, I'd like to try that someday."

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Oh, good, then your attention must be in the right place. At least, I hope so." She gave him a small smile before looking off.

"Some people say that this place could eat you alive, which I think might be true but that doesn't anything close to getting eaten by a giant jellyfish or stompy predator out in the galaxy. Don't know what's exactly worse but I feel that at least you could score a drink or two from the former before you go down." She took a momentary pause. "A miai, are those supposed to be fun? Do you know?"

"Exactly, the outdoors with all of the comforts of being indoors. That's probably the only way to make it palatable. At the very least in my line of work, the outdoors should have a nice trailer with your own dressing room and washroom. Maybe you just need to run into the right people to get your chance. It can't be the same experience when you have to contend with crying children and...other people." She gave him a look over. "I'd think you would likely pass."

[Usagi Rei]

Well... he had a type alright, Rei thought to himself with some amusement. He admired her wit as much as her figure. Despite what he pretended, he'd definitely be waiting for that text...

"According to my friend, they mostly came out of the water. Or they were mushrooms." Rei said wryly. The question made him regard her curiously, tilting his head. "I don't know. This one didn't sound especially fun*. I expect a lot depends on where it is, and who you're matched with. And what sort of activities there are." His pale eyes definitely held a question, but he didn't voice it. Not that it mattered that much; she wasn't married yet.

The comments on the outdoors got an honest laugh out of him. "If only more trailers were provided! I'll have to see if the opportunity arises, then. I've been told that my swimwear looks good on me, anyway." A moment to watch her reaction, and he went on. "Still, I enjoy a walk on the boardwalk from time to time. Sure, you have to share it with everyone but..." he shrugged, "-there's still a sort of distance. My own personal three-foot bubble." He made a vague circle with his free hand.



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*OOC - This player enjoyed it!

[Bayushi Mariko]

"Sounds a pretty bad trip at the community pool to me," she giggled on that note. It wasn't that she doubted the story as it was a big galaxy but you couldn't believe everything that was said either. "But no, I suppose getting in danger isn't exactly fun. When some of the participants get voted out, I don't think anyone wants to see someone getting eaten up instead, unless they actually deserved it. It just seems like all the fun miai get filmed. No chance your friend's miai was filmed? Those are typically scripted, everyone already gets paired in the beginning and they just let them loose on an island or wasteland. I guess the fun is watching for someone to go off the script..."

"One of those had been pitched at me recently. I don't think I've sunk that low..." she said as she drummed her nails on one of the cans in her basket in thought.

"Well, maybe I'll be the judge of that." She assumed a serious judging expression as she crossed an arm over her midsection. It was hard to tell where her eyes flicked to through those sunglasses "I guess a reminder to not go too crazy on those drinks and all of that partying you do at the embassy, huh?"

[Usagi Rei]

Rei flashed her a grin. "If you could have seen these shirts he wears... loose, short sleeves, a mix of different colors..." Rei shook his head, still smiling. "No one would let him go on camera wearing one of those. Definitely wasn't filmed."

Smirking, Rei was all too pleased to let the gorgeous Scorpion judge him. "Maybe you will." He said, giving her a direct look. "But that's definitely a situation where I'd say that turnabout is fair play." His lips quirked, his own eyes flickering up and down. "Should such a situation arise, I promise, I'll have my wits about me."

But then he frowned. "As for the miai offer..." Rei shook his head firmly. "Just one guy's opinion, but you could do better. Both career and for marriage. I mean it." Rei said. His tone was low, but serious, briefly discarding the playful bantering feel they'd kept up throughout the conversation.

[Bayushi Mariko]

Mariko merely nodded at the mention of the shirt but didn't seem to think much about it. Her mind couldn't exactly fathom a shirt to be that bad, maybe this person didn't wear complementary colours or maybe Rei was talking about a shirt that looked out of date? That's as far as she could get with her imagination. If a shirt that bad was worn on the World of Dreams, he might have become a laughing stock in short order if it was a slow enough day in the city for rumours. "Uh-huh, I just had to be there to see it and all that?"

"You can see if you want but I wouldn't say it's anything to ogle about." She cast a cautionary glance at him on that.

"Oh, I'm very sure of that," she said in regards to her being in a miai. "The publicity might be nice at first, probably could be better if any controversy happens but yeah, definitely a higher tier. If I could get your testimony to my nakado, that would probably work wonders for him to do better."

With that, she made a few steps toward the register. She wasn't moving so fast that she was getting away from Rei or ending the conversation here but she was going to be paying for these drinks before they got too warm to drink.

[Usagi Rei]

"Sure." Rei said, his tone bland. "Give him my card, too." He smiled. "Just don't lose it.

Well... no matter how intriguing the conversation, hanging around a liquor store wasn't the place for it. A moment to watch her walk, and Rei followed, taking the spot behind her at the register.

"Well. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Bayushi-san." Rei said, his tone friendly, less flirty in front of the storekeep. "Not at all what I expected from a trip to the mall. I guess my day's looking up."

[Bayushi Mariko]

To Mariko's credit, she did keep his card in the pockets of her large hoodie. There was a good chance that she wasn't going to lose it, unless she was going to put her clothes in the laundry right after this meeting. If this was a sales pitch, she might have tossed it in her purse and completely forgotten about it. "Well, I'll probably mention you by name, Usagi Rei-san," she said her name purposely, perhaps both to indicate she remembered and as a reminder to herself. "I'm sure potentially I might be doing him a favour for him to build his network and all that. Maybe both of you will get chummy."

She gave a shrug at that. While it was perhaps a nice thought, she wasn't exactly in the business of going out of her way to help the social life or someone who was supposed to be helping her.

"Oh, mine too." She would turn slightly to give Rei a sidelong smile. "Just between you and I, I had been shopping for a hangover but you might have done the trick...but I'm still going to have this green tea cooler when I get home."

[Usagi Rei]

Rei shrugged. "I'm sure we will." He said dryly. He couldn't care less about her nakado, really. Just more of the very enjoyable exchange of banter.

The items were paid for and bagged up. Lifting the bag, Rei glanced at back at her, smiling. "Sounds good to me. Maybe I'll break open one of these bottles, myself." A casual shrug, shoulders rising and falling. "Or maybe I'll save it for a special occasion. We'll see."

He waited until they'd stepped far enough away from the cashier that they couldn't be overheard; Rei leaned just a little closer, pitching his voice lower. "I look forward to receiving your message, Bayushi Mariko-san." He murmured, the words going no further than her.

Straightening, he slung his bag casually over his shoulder, giving her a smile and a nod, almost a bow, but definitely less formal.

[Bayushi Mariko]

Mariko's purchase was made rather quickly, she pulled up the sleeve of her large hoodie and gave a quick flick of her bracelet to be scanned without looking at the price. Her purchase wasn't exactly extravagant to be fair, all of her cans put together could equate to one of the low-priced bottles of liquor in the store. They would put her things in a paper bag and she was once again reminded of the heft she had to drag back. Maybe she should have cut back on a can or two.

"Just don't spoil yourself before our date." She smirked as she put some distance from the store and found their way back to the streets.

Reaching for her sunglasses, she pulled them off and regarded Rei with an amused look on her expression before she adopted a more aloof mask to convey some disinterest. "But, I don't know. I never promised anything yet, did I? I'm still thinking about it. We'll see."

As much as she wanted to be elegant and carry her things effortlessly, she readjusted and pressed her purchase against herself in a slight cradle for ease of carrying. "...if I see you around, Usagi-san. Farewell."

With that, she made her exit as she weaved her way through the mall crowd.

/exit

[Usagi Rei]

It was a smiling Rei that watched Mariko walk away. Both to allow his gaze to admire the walk itself, and partially to see if she'd glance back. Not that it really mattered if she did. He kept watching until she vanished into the crowd, part of the throng once more.

Chuckling and shaking his head, Rei turned away, beginning to walk towards his own destination. He stopped suddenly, though, frowning. Yes, he certainly had a type. Sensually gorgeous, witty, playful... he'd married just that type a year and a half ago.

I wonder where she is now?

Forcing a smile as he forced the thought away, Rei walked on, vanishing into the crowd himself.

(/scene! And thank you! )