D2 Information Event: Sake and Skullduggery (Roleplay thread)

[Akodo Reki]

Having detached herself from the knot of drunk and important people, Reki moved into the crowd. For this first outing, the Akodo had chosen her dress uniform. A surprisingly muted affair of browns with gold trim, it did reveal a surprising amount of information in and of itself...for those who knew the nuances of Lion military dress. Indeed one could largely chart out the woman's career from the small collection of ribbon and metal on her chest.

Refusing another offered drink, Reki took up a spot on the edge of the party. She needed a little recharge after the confines of the crowd.

[Usagi Rei]

As part of her eternal contract as an entertainer, Bayushi Mariko was obligated to make some appearances at the event hosted by Soshi Biochemical to add to the star power associated with the company. While she was by no means meant to be the star of the show tonight, she did aim to dress to impress at the very least. Just because she was considered to be a B-movie actress, it didn't mean that she wouldn't aim high to grab some A-ttention. She made her appearance garbed in a red velvet dress with long sleeves and a plunging front cut.

She would stand at the entrance and pose stoically as some company photographers took some quick shots of her for publicity purposes. Her expression was cool and dismissive, which may or may not have been an easy act considering she was dragged out here. Once that was over with, she would join the others at the party.

From across the room, Rei would smirk and raise his glass to her. His eyes flickered up and down. And then, slowly, he bowed.

He wanted her to know he saw her, and he appreciated what he saw. But this wasn't the time...

Blissfully unaware that she's already well over the 'tipsy' line thanks to the wonders of Scorpion biotech, Seika makes the rounds of the launch party like a hyperactive drunken butterfly with a holorecorder, the sheer overskirt of her semi-casual hanfu floating out behind her. Unfortunately, most of her cool party photos will turn out to be unfocused blobs when she looks at them later... but she certainly seems to be having fun.

((Quote or PM to chat! I may proactively grab someone once I've caught up with threads and RL, if no one grabs me first.))

Instead, he found himself in the crosshairs of a Mantis with a camera. "Good evening, Yoritomo-sama." Rei said, bowing a touch unsteadily. "Documenting the event?"

[Utaku Yesugen]

Blissfully unaware that she's already well over the 'tipsy' line thanks to the wonders of Scorpion biotech, Seika makes the rounds of the launch party like a hyperactive drunken butterfly with a holorecorder, the sheer overskirt of her semi-casual hanfu floating out behind her. Unfortunately, most of her cool party photos will turn out to be unfocused blobs when she looks at them later... but she certainly seems to be having fun.

((Quote or PM to chat! I may proactively grab someone once I've caught up with threads and RL, if no one grabs me first.))

During her mingling, Yesugen kept a respectable distance from the Mantis, partially out of etiquette and partially to be out of her pictures. However, unless Seika's senses were too addled by liquor, she could notice the constant glances from the Utaku Pilot.

Is she assessing what to steal later then? How bold...

[Susumu Yuji]

Inasa, who had indulged with slightly less moderation - or rather, was a complete lightweight as a matter of almost never drinking - stood to the side of the crowd trying to keep the discomfort from his face as much as possible. He didn't like the fuzz in his head, or the promise of an eventual headache behind his eyes. Plus, a bunch of talk of commerce, which was very much not his forte. Still... There were some positives.

He stepped over to a particularly interesting-looking Spider with a slight smile, bowing. "Good evening. I'm Akodo Inasa. Enjoying yourself thus far this evening?"

The Deceiver was shocked that an Akodo would approach him, but he kept his On in tact. Bowing to the other man, to thr appropriate level of his station. The drink in his hand completely undisturbed by the movement. "Like all social events, it would be difficult to not enjoy oneself." His eyes were half-lidded, the relaxing effect of the libation just at the edge of his feeling. "Susumu Yuji. It is a pleasure, Akodo-san."

[Kaiu Setsu]

Yūrei bows and accepts the card politely with both hands
"Indeed, many in our community remember what the Crab offered. I am sure you have no shortage of heroes now. These days many clans offer special ordeals and a ronin must be wise to pick between them."

“I guess heroes as always in need. Doesn’t matter how many you have of them. Perils ahead seem to be endless.” He raises a pleasant smile as the ronin takes his card and adds, “Anyhow, it would be good to hear your wisdom if you care to share it in the future. I am quite curious to learn more about your skills. Both enduring the drinks like few here. And being here.”

He nods, “Remarkable indeed.”

[Yūrei]

“I guess heroes as always in need. Doesn’t matter how many you have of them. Perils ahead seem to be endless.” He raises a pleasant smile as the ronin takes his card and adds, “Anyhow, it would be good to hear your wisdom if you care to share it in the future. I am quite curious to learn more about your skills. Both enduring the drinks like few here. And being here.”

He nods, “Remarkable indeed.”

A small smile
"Kaiu-sama is too kind. But if you wish to contact me you need only inquire with the Kestrel Newsletter, they'll know hod to find me. We are always willing to share what little we know with esteemed samurai as yourself."

[Bayushi Mariko]

From across the room, Rei would smirk and raise his glass to her. His eyes flickered up and down. And then, slowly, he bowed.

He wanted her to know he saw her, and he appreciated what he saw. But this wasn't the time...

There were some company representatives that instructed her to stand by the display to take some extra pictures, which she naturally complied with the request but did not exactly look too enthused about it. After a few quick pictures, she would turn slightly when Rei bowed. It didn't seem for certain that she saw him with her sidelong glance. Maybe she just missed him entirely to acknowledge him?

[Kaiu Setsu]

A small smile
"Kaiu-sama is too kind. But if you wish to contact me you need only inquire with the Kestrel Newsletter, they'll know hod to find me. We are always willing to share what little we know with esteemed samurai as yourself."

“Well, much easier now that you have my contact. I wouldn’t bother with inquiries more than you would be willing to share about yourself and your feats. Good talents are hard to find. I hope I didn’t bother you here.”

[Yūrei]

“Well, much easier now that you have my contact. I wouldn’t bother with inquiries more than you would be willing to share about yourself and your feats. Good talents are hard to find. I hope I didn’t bother you here.”

"Oh no, not at all. I just wouldn't want to distract any honourable samurai from their more important work. I prefer to be in the background for events like this."

Bowing deeply
"I should probably find my ward or the Scorpion might start asking questions. Thank you for your card Kaiu-sama, and may the fortunes bless you."
With a respectful nod she takes her leave and disappears into the crowd.

[Yoritomo Seika]

Blissfully unaware that she's already well over the 'tipsy' line thanks to the wonders of Scorpion biotech, Seika makes the rounds of the launch party like a hyperactive drunken butterfly with a holorecorder, the sheer overskirt of her semi-casual hanfu floating out behind her. Unfortunately, most of her cool party photos will turn out to be unfocused blobs when she looks at them later... but she certainly seems to be having fun.

((Quote or PM to chat! I may proactively grab someone once I've caught up with threads and RL, if no one grabs me first.))

During her mingling, Yesugen kept a respectable distance from the Mantis, partially out of etiquette and partially to be out of her pictures. However, unless Seika's senses were too addled by liquor, she could notice the constant glances from the Utaku Pilot.

Is she assessing what to steal later then? How bold...

Seika is not too far gone to notice Yesugen's attention, but she is much too elevated to pick up on the suspicion the Unicorn is directing her way...

Instead, he found himself in the crosshairs of a Mantis with a camera. "Good evening, Yoritomo-sama." Rei said, bowing a touch unsteadily. "Documenting the event?"

Seika halts her flitting progress around the room with only the slightest wobble. "'Evening, um... Usagi-san!" She's pleased with herself for recognizing the Minor Clan insignia properly.

"Yeah, you could say that. Not officially, though. It's like--a hobby! I did check it's okay with the host first," she assures him with a winning smile. Which is true! At least, no one official had objected when she'd cheerfully showed off her holorecorder on the way in. That's basically permission.

"Keep frowning juuuust like that, Utaku-san, it makes you look cool!" she says brightly, snapping off a shot of Yesugen before turning back to Rei with her bold-painted lips still curving merrily. "I think that's gonna be a good one."

(It wasn't.)

[Hotaru Katsutoshi]

Katsutoshi was hardly swaying at all as he moved to collect another drink. This was all the more impressive because the room felt a bit like that time he forgot to repair the inertial dampers. Still, environmental hazards were pretty normal for a Firefly and he ably managed to find himself with yet another cup.

Who to talk to next? Maybe a Lion? Well they were all known for their tactical brilliance, and also needed a lot of ore and minerals, and then look! A Matsu! Where did she come from? He looked at the cup and tried to remember how many he had already finished. Eh, who cares?

From the looks of it, it seemed like most of the ice was shattered by the booze already!

With a polite smile he approached the Lion. "Good evening Matsu-sama, I hope you are enjoying winter court so far?"

(OOC: I'm assuming we have Clan / Family mons somewhere but if not then please assume I just said Lion-sama!)

[Matsu Eriko]

With a polite smile he approached the Lion. "Good evening Matsu-sama, I hope you are enjoying winter court so far?"

(OOC: I'm assuming we have Clan / Family mons somewhere but if not then please assume I just said Lion-sama!)

Eriko just helped herself to a glass of sake from one of the trays that were passing by through the party. While she probably missed the official-official opening ceremony and taste ceremony, it didn't mean that she couldn't participate later. Hm, was it this one blend that seemed to lighten up the mood around here? Poison, maybe? Unlikely? She brought the glass closer to her nose for a few sniffs when the Firefly approached...

"Oh, heeey!" Eriko exclaimed at first, there being some initial surprise in her tone. She gave the Firefly a quick bow. "I'm doing well, yes, thank you. Hey, if Winter Court is going to be anything like this every day, I can get behind that! How about yours? Matsu Eriko, by the way!"

[Kitsu Kanna]

"Oh this is the second year running they've split us up for Winter Court season. I stayed in Crane lands last time and Naz-kun went to New Kawali. This year he's gone to the Homeworld and I'm here. Yuta is in Spider space. Tomoyo went to a Mantis spacestation and Hiroki is back on Isora's Rest."

He blinked. He usually couldn't remember all of that while sober.

Clearly the Crane political master plan here was of such ingenuity and complexity it had left Kanna utterly lost.

That, or her knowledge of the workings of the idol industry was lousy.

"So you're an idol group, you all trained hard to be in sync and complement each other on and outside the scene... But when Winter Court rings, you all split through the galaxy?

I'm not sure I follow there. When you've endlessly drilled a battalion to act as one, you just don't disband it on the day of the battle."

[Hotaru Katsutoshi]

"Oh, heeey!" Eriko exclaimed at first, there being some initial surprise in her tone. She gave the Firefly a quick bow. "I'm doing well, yes, thank you. Hey, if Winter Court is going to be anything like this every day, I can get behind that! How about yours? Matsu Eriko, by the way!"

A polite bow was offered in return, which was probably fine because everyone around here was so relaxed now! "Nice to meet you Matsu Eriko-sama, I'm Hotaru Katsutoshi! I work at the MCA embassy. Been here 6 months now and never got to go to a party like this before." He smiled and took a sip of the sake he'd picked.

"I'm mostly involved in our trade operations, so if the Lion are looking for any particular minerals please feel free to contact me." That was the business pitch completed. "Honestly though, it's nice just to get out and meet samurai from other clans. I haven't met many Lion, and I'm guessing you probably don't bump into many Firefly!"

[Bayushi Tenma]

"Hm, that actually sounds closer to my own homeworld, to be honest," her smile grew a bit more relaxed. "Shiragiku, a planet in the Blacksun system... it's mostly an agricultural world. Tepid, cloudy... hardly glamorous. But, I suppose it is what we make of it - our homeworlds."

Some blunt words elsewhere did draw her eye for a moment.

Tenma noted hearing the exchange but didn't glance over; If Yakumo wanted to talk to her fellow Crab about such things that'd be her purogative, "If it wouldn't be too forward to ask then... what made you decide you wanted to leave Shiragiku? Wanderlust? Opportunity? Feeling a calling to what you're doing? If it's something too personal, I understand if you don't wish to talk about it, of course."

She made a note of what the ronin said as well, wondering to herself would have thought to have hired a ronin to bring to something her Clan was hosting, of all places...

[Miya Nishida]

Drunk and wavering a bit, Nishida stood at a small table and tried not to lose his balance.

---

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[Utaku Yesugen]

Seika is not too far gone to notice Yesugen's attention, but she is much too elevated to pick up on the suspicion the Unicorn is directing her way...

Instead, he found himself in the crosshairs of a Mantis with a camera. "Good evening, Yoritomo-sama." Rei said, bowing a touch unsteadily. "Documenting the event?"

Seika halts her flitting progress around the room with only the slightest wobble. "'Evening, um... Usagi-san!" She's pleased with herself for recognizing the Minor Clan insignia properly.

"Yeah, you could say that. Not officially, though. It's like--a hobby! I did check it's okay with the host first," she assures him with a winning smile. Which is true! At least, no one official had objected when she'd cheerfully showed off her holorecorder on the way in. That's basically permission.

"Keep frowning juuuust like that, Utaku-san, it makes you look cool!" she says brightly, snapping off a shot of Yesugen before turning back to Rei with her bold-painted lips still curving merrily. "I think that's gonna be a good one."

(It wasn't.)

The camera turned her brought further concerns to her. At the very least, they completely eradicated any notion that she was here to steal things. Unless this is part of some keikaku. Has the way of the Scorpion rubbed off on everyone here?

Of course, she didn't think too much about her usual frown. "What is with everyone trying to document me today?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

Having detached herself from the knot of drunk and important people, Reki moved into the crowd. For this first outing, the Akodo had chosen her dress uniform. A surprisingly muted affair of browns with gold trim, it did reveal a surprising amount of information in and of itself...for those who knew the nuances of Lion military dress. Indeed one could largely chart out the woman's career from the small collection of ribbon and metal on her chest.

Refusing another offered drink, Reki took up a spot on the edge of the party. She needed a little recharge after the confines of the crowd.

Sakura wore something black with long sleeves tonight. She glanced around, and saw Yurei-chan conversing with a Kaiu, Usagi-sama be coolly aloof, and it seemed even Katsutoshi-sama was speaking with someone.

Time to brave the waters then! She glanced around, and saw someone wearing....a dress uniform. But Asahina-sama said dress uniforms are not good for tonight? It must be someone brave then!

"Ah, greetings...Akodo-sama?" She managed to make out an Akodo pin in the many, many, maaaaaaaany pins and medals there. "Is Akodo-sama enjoying herself?"

[Mirumoto Shigure]

Drunk and wavering a bit, Nishida stood at a small table and tried not to lose his balance.

---

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The Dragon notes the Imperial who didn't look so well. He moved to aid the man and add some conversation to his mix. "Miya sama, would you like to sit down?"

[Asahina Hinata]

"So you're an idol group, you all trained hard to be in sync and complement each other on and outside the scene... But when Winter Court rings, you all split through the galaxy?

I'm not sure I follow there. When you've endlessly drilled a battalion to act as one, you just don't disband it on the day of the battle."

"Well we used to be together all year round for the first two years and then our manager got upset about the Crab hiring some Hare drop troopers while we were on another planet. I don't quite know how he expected us to stop that. By singing at them? The Crab have never been very nice to our group to be honest so they probably wouldn't have listened."

He frowned into his two sake glasses.

"Oh maybe he meant the Hare . . . . ?"