[Day 1 - Early Morning] Duty Awaits

[Boogiepop]

After a day of festivities and celebrations over the reverence of Scorpion heroes, it was back to duty for everyone in the city. That included heimen and ronin alike. The city found itself in a different state almost immediately, much like a switch. Much of the evidence of the festivities had cleared out quickly, the street cleaners making quick work of any confetti or streamers that lingered around. Some of the temporary banners and decorations were binned for disposal efficiently. The only thing that perhaps couldn't change as quickly was the lingering rain. The sewage system wasn't as efficient as in other parts of the city and some of the drains were still funnelling much of the rain from yesterday.

The streets were packed as heimen went about their duties. There were many cafes found on the main street and they did their duty catering to much of the district in the mornings. Many of them took to the streets with folding tables and chairs, serving simple fares like congee and beansprout chow mein as their main offerings.


Taiki

Taiki took a seat at one of the tables as soon as it cleared with much of the plates still on the table before they were cleared in short order. There was duty in the morning but it could wait until after breakfast.

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Clan samurai don't usually have breakfast in a place like that, but it wasn't uncommon for Senshuken to roam around the slums. The young Scorpion never overdresses as a principle, but she takes good care to appear as fiting as she can when she finds herself at this particular part of the city. Much to her dismay she had to park her bike in the last safe place, a parking lot about a mile away, and walk.

Long story short, the Bayushi, mons evident and all, enters the establishment. She takes a look around her. Heimin, heimin, heimin and a ronin! She nods to the man and picks a table relatively close to him. You never know when opportunity can knock on your door in a place like the World of Dreams. Or when danger will. Awesome any way!

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

Taiki wasn't exactly dressed in anything fanciful, perhaps a bit old-fashion in his garb of a top and hakama with a jacket cloaked over his left shoulder. When the server asked what he wanted, he asked for tea and beckoned for the menu to be brought it. The menu was a simple cardboard sheet with the laminate process already wearing out at the edges, they kept their prices the same over many years at least.

He laid the menu on the table and stroked his chin as he browsed the options. There weren't a whole lot of choices, just a combination of your starch of choice with a topping of your choosing. The cooks here are more intent on getting people fed than catering to any specific requests. However, he did look up with one eye (the other was an implant) when he spotted a Scorpion wandering these parts and it didn't look like she was a magistrate, he couldn't be sure. The mood did change around her slightly too with heimen more than happy to give her space.

"Bayushi-sama," he would call out to her in a casual manner. He did rise from his seat and bow deeply to acknowledge her. "Good morning to you! Unless you're expecting any company, I would be more than happy to share my table with you if you'd tolerate me. It doesn't seem all that fair to the heimen here for us to take up a table each."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken doesn't have the time to take a seat before the man speaks. She offers a small bow of her own and takes a couple of steps closer. "I cannot refuse such an offer. Especially since it makes the lives of so many heimin more fair." A few more steps and she sits in a leisurely loose seiza. "Senshuken of the Bayushi." She says to the ronin and turns her head to the heimin waiter. "I'll have what he'll have."

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"That's entirely up to you, Bayushi-sama, as we are all more or less your kin's collective domain," he said with a slight crack of a smirk on the corner of his lips. "However, I think we'll all thank you for your kind generosity, even if many of them here won't say it directly. I'm sure you can see the appreciation in their eyes if they'll even look at you directly. As for me, oh...I don't think I'll have anything too fanciful. Breakfast is meant to be a meal that feeds you, rather than pleases you. However, nothing a lot of oil and soy sauce in a wok to flavour can't fix."

He waved the menu upwards to get the server's attention like a flag. "Tea for the generous Lady Bayushi and just chow mein for the both of us, thank you."

After the server scurried away, he looked at the Scorpion in front of him. "I'm Taiki and I'm grateful to meet you, Senshuken of the Bayushi."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Having the appreciation of the heimin is always important to the Scorpion clan." She only comments with no hint of sarcasm in her tone despite the irony that quite a few people would note in her statement. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Taiki san. And to share breakfast with you." The Bayushi smirks behind her mask, a fact that is hardly evident to the untrained eye, and looks at the ronin across the table. "Do tell me. Please. Are you grateful to meet me because that's a quite polite greeting towards a clan samurai or for a reason that I cannot see yet. The world grateful in this particular happenstance is..." a shrug "ambiguous."

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"I don't doubt your appreciation in the slightest, even if not directly. At the end of the day, there had to be someone that made your clothes and kept the floor you walk on dirt free. Your appreciation might come in allowing them to continue to serve you, which in itself is a gift, I believe." He smirked faintly on the matter as the Bayushi is brought her tea, which is served unceremoniously in a thick plastic cup as standard for the restaurant. It was probably a bit less worn than the others but it was a simple cup nevertheless.

"Ah, well, Bayushi-sama...I'm a bit flattered and wounded by the words. I promise you this is hardly a trap of any sort. If you've lived as long as me, you've already hit your peak when it comes to subtlety and patience. When I want something, I typically just find a direct way to make it happen than just hope the opportunity appears. Besides, I believe this is the first time we've met? I'm just pleased to have your company." He smiled for a moment before continuing. "There are a million perspectives in this city and it would be great to get yours if I'm lucky enough."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken raises an eyebrow, almost playfully, as she reaches for her cup of tea and takes the scent in before sampling it. It isn't evident whether it is to her taste or not.

"An exhange of perspectives then. The most unique gift a samurai can offer to one another. I'll answer to 3 questions of yours regarding my personal and not clan perspective on the matters you'll set and then you'll do the same for me."

"Honesty will be appreciated. Do we have a deal?" She adds after a light chuckle.

[Boogiepop]

Despite their squalid living and the quality of the restaurant they were at, the tea had some flavour to it. It was rather bitter from being steeped too long. As a positive side effect, it was enough to wake most people up from an early morning at the very least.


Taiki

Taiki looked intrigued and chuckled out loud at the offer. "That's quite an offer, Bayushi-sama! To be honest, I didn't think I ever intended to pry that much out of you. You come from the Clan of Secrets and by associated custom, I think I'm allowed to keep some of my secrets at the same time. Do as the inhabitants do, as they say. But sure, if this is a sort of game you want to play, I'd be willing to see how far I manage on this particular dare."

He took a sip from his tea before starting it out. "First, what are you doing in this part of the city? You don't exactly strike me as a law-enforcement type and if you are, you might have drawn short straws on duty."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

Senshuken chuckles. "That's an easy question with a quite obvious answer, I might add. Whomever you ask, even the local online network if you are that type of a person, will tell you that I am a rich brat who seeks for danger in the most impossible places." She takes another sip from her tea. She used to hate this perspective, but she has started seeing the merits in people considering it absolutely safe to con and deceive her. There is strength in weakness. She smiles broadly this time.

"My turn, I believe. Forgive the comment, but you seem... old. What kind of life do you live that has allowed you to prosper till now?"

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"Impossible places?" He smirked as he looked about his surroundings, seeing nothing but heimen moving about as they worked quickly to finish their breakfast or waited anxiously for a table so that they could order said breakfast to get on with their day. "To me, this is just a nice little safe and productive neighbourhood, you might have to go a little further if you're going to look for danger. That is a funny little hobby, Bayushi-sama. Don't you have people who might worry for your safety?"

Their food came after the question, there was probably a slight delay as sometimes it just took a brief beat before the food would immediately come. A plate of hastily stir-fried chow mein was put in front of them. No frills of note, just onions, leeks, and bean sprouts. It was also very oily too. Taiki reached for the tall container that kept a bundle of plastic chopsticks and took one of them.

"I am indeed old, elderly to most around the city." He smiled a bit fondly at this fact. "I don't know if this means that I've unlocked some sort of secret in life. If I did, I'm sure monks would be lining up and asking me for guidance, which I doubt very much would happen, Bayushi-sama. My life hasn't been easy but I've kept very active, so that my sense never dull and the boredom never catches up to me. Never stay on the streets for too long and always do what you do best. Actually, I've been thankful to have masters who typically want the best for their people. I'm sure they've kept me around for more than my charm."

He slurped up some noodles, the pipping hotness of his breakfast didn't phase him too much. After chewing them he asked his next question. "If you're not a magistrate or yoriki wandering these parts. What is your duty to your Clan, Bayushi-sama?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Yes, I have a family and friends. They might be worried, but they take relief in the fact that I am currently in a nice little, safe and productive neighborhood." She replies and samples her breakfast. "Ah, that's not bad, not bad at all." She comments and listens to the man talking about his life.

"I mostly have court duties and I'm a professional bike racer." She answers readily. "My turn I believe. You mentioned masters who want the best for you and their people in general. Who might they be? Is it a steady type of employment? More than that as the years go by? Friendship, perhaps? You seem to think highly of those people."

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"Of course, of course, Bayushi-sama!" He chuckled in good humour after the exclamation. "Although you did mention that you were actively looking for danger. Well, I'm sure this place is enough to be on the fringe and you know must know well enough where real danger can be found.

Taiki would take another mouthful of noodles and wash it down with some tea afterward before continuing the conversation.

"That's more than a few questions, a lot of questions, Bayushi-sama," he chided her with an amused smirk. "It doesn't seem fair to you to bore you with the particulars, especially a proper samurai such as yourself. The words aren't worthy of your ears. Besides, my current master does value his privacy. We're something of an otokodate, I'd like to think. Friendship is nice but doesn't quite feed you like purpose. Our few years together have indeed felt like decades in comparison. I suppose that's our bond together."

He slurped some greasy noodles and stroked his chin in though with the chopsticks still in his one hand. "Mm. Am I on my last question already? Let's just say you're looking for something, or rather someone, in the city. How you go about it, Bayushi-sama?"

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The Scorpion keeps eating and listening.

"Well, as a general principle and due to the tools I have in my disposal by profession, I would begin with the rumors. What people whisper for the target. Depending on who they are, I might search online, as well." She shrugs. "Not all types of people or information can be found in such a fashion, though. So as a last measure, I would hire someone who would have more means to employ."

She looks at the man across her in an effort to further assess him. "Same question to you, Taiki san."

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"Rumours?" He said questioningly after a sip of tea, a smirk creeping up from the corner of his lips. "You'll have to forgive this ronin if I find that a little questionable. I suppose that might do something if you're attending court or have some sort of public presence. Besides, has anyone ever truly acted on a rumour? I'm genuinely curious. I just imagine some people might murmur, giggle, and ultimately shrug. The smart ones, tend to think for themselves, and the dumb ones...well, they can't be relied on, can they? I suppose what I'm looking for requires more directness and a different sort of subtlety involved."

He forked some more noodles, nearing the end of his plate, eating them up without paying much mind to their oily nature. At the very least, the tea helped wash them down easily.

"I'd probably use my own two feet and do the footwork directly." Taiki shuffled his feet on the concrete floor for effect. "But, if I did that around here...I'd likely need a new set of legs after it's all said and done. So, I am perhaps a bit reliant on others to do the looking, having eyes in more than one place. In this case, I'd consider hiring ronin, those far younger than me, of course. There are many souls who seem rather eager to run around for just a few bu. I'm always quite envious of their spirit."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

The young Scorpion chuckles. "Perhaps we are looking for the same qualities in a person after all. Your feet are too old and mine too soft for the necessary legwork." She comments. "In either case, I tend to keep my eyes and ears open for spirited youngsters such as the ones you describe. Keep that in mind and I'll keep in my mind that you are in need of directness and the kind of subtlety that cannot be employed by a diplomat. Who knows? Perhaps mutual ground can be found for us to rest our feet while others do the walking."

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

"Too soft?" He mentioned at first before letting out a snicker. "I suppose is that the reason that you race on your bike then? You could stand to cover a lot of ground on a bike but that does also leave you with little time as well. Fair enough, Bayushi-sama."

Taiki finished the remainder of his noodles in short order and reached inside his coat pockets, using the arm he had been favouring for the duration of the conversation. He pulled out what seemed to be a new packet of cigarettes and put it on the table, sliding it closer to Senshuken as an implied offer.

He stroked his chin in thought, scratching at the stubble. "Now that you've mentioned it, there's supposed to be something of a Winter Court happening now, right? Is that just a name of the season or do people still attend court nowadays? I'm not seeing too many formal kimonos on the streets to tell me that but I don't have a good view from the slums. If that's the case, no need to pay heed to my interests, Bauyshi-sama. I'm sure the competition for able-bodies is difficult as it is."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Well, if that's your wish, I cannot further impose on your thoughts, needs and wants, of course. It is obviously not an urgent matter that is pestering you." She doesn't take a cigarette but nods in recognition of the offer.

Senshuken isn't certain at all if this ronin can be of any use or not, but what the hec, it's just breakfast, no matter how awful it might be, with another brand new acquaintance. Not a bad morning, but she won't insist on anything. Taking a step back from the conversation actually helps it progress sometimes.

[Boogiepop]

Taiki

Taiki would give a few nods at the implied refusal and would wave to a server to bring him a ceramic ashtray. Cigarettes weren't exactly a common habit, especially considering that modern inhalers were thought to be more elegant in comparison. He would put the cigarette in his mouth before lighting it.

"Well, I never said that it wasn't an urgent matter, Bayushi-sama," he spoke after taking a long drag from his cigarette. The flavour wasn't exactly friendly, tobacco and tar were pretty heavy in this blend with poor filtering. "Here I was trying to be a properly elderly gentleman. It's likely not proper to involve you when you have things like status, reputation, and youth on the line. In reality, I'll scrape up any help I can get. At the end of the day, expediency is far greater than waiting for the Fortunes to drop the answers on your lap."

[Bayushi Senshuken]

"Well, sometimes one can find the right shoes to cover the softness of their feet, but they need to want to do so."

She leans closer to the table and takes another bite from her unfinished breakfast. "Do tell me, Taiki san, what is it that you need and why should I change my shoes in order to offer it to you. I do have more that a few bu, so payment of that form doesn't really move my soul."