[Day 2 EA, Silver Frog] Out and About

[Akodo Reki]

So there was a beach, and Akodo Reki hadn't brought a bathing suit. This was a problem that needed a solution and that meant a highly planned and surgical strike to seize the required item with in an acceptable timeline.

Or just stopping by the mall, she could do with a few new outfits come to think on it.....

She wore her other main casual outfit, again stylish but comfortable as there was no use looking like a slob.

Standing in the main concourse, she studied the map of the Silver Frog and like any good junior officer....was immediately confused by it.

[Hato]

So there was a beach, and Akodo Reki hadn't brought a bathing suit. This was a problem that needed a solution and that meant a highly planned and surgical strike to seize the required item with in an acceptable timeline.

Or just stopping by the mall, she could do with a few new outfits come to think on it.....

She wore her other main casual outfit, again stylish but comfortable as there was no use looking like a slob.

Standing in the main concourse, she studied the map of the Silver Frog and like any good junior officer....was immediately confused by it.

Hato enjoyed the mall. The people, the sights, the smells. She couldn't AFFORD anything at the mall, but as long as you didn't stay in front of any one shop too long, you could walk around at least.

She took in the smells of the food court, the sound of the shoppers and shop keeps in this temple of Daikoku, the sight of a beautiful Lion staring confusedly at a map.

Hm.

She approached the statuesque Lion.

"Forgive this one for asking, Lady Lion, but might this one be of assistance?" she offered with a low bow.

[Akodo Reki]

Reki turned from the map to face the new comer, she studied the other woman for a moment before speaking, "Just looking at the moment and orienting myself to the layout. I assume you are a local to this area?"

She could find no marking of a clan on this one, a ronin then or spy. Or both.

[Hato]

Reki turned from the map to face the new comer, she studied the other woman for a moment before speaking, "Just looking at the moment and orienting myself to the layout. I assume you are a local to this area?"

She could find no marking of a clan on this one, a ronin then or spy. Or both.

Hato nods.

"Hai, this one is a local. If Lady Lion was looking for something in particular, this one would be happy to give directions or suggestions as needed." she offered deferentially.

[Akodo Reki]

"And is there a fee for this service?" Reki asked with a rye smile, "Or is it an act of Courtesy and/or Compassion?"

She turned back to the map, "I suppose regardless, I am looking for beach wear."

[Hato]

"And is there a fee for this service?" Reki asked with a rye smile, "Or is it an act of Courtesy and/or Compassion?"

She turned back to the map, "I suppose regardless, I am looking for beach wear."

A small shrug from the ronin.

"If Lady Lion cares to show their appreciation with a gift of coin, so be it. If Lady Lion would rather view it as an act of Courtesy, so shall it be."

It was certainly nice to give the person who actually needed money to survive, money to survive, but the ronin certainly wasn't going to compel it.

"That being what is it that Lady lion is looking for in swimwear? Is Lady Lion looking for something styllish or something more performance based? Would Lady Lion rather look good sitting next to the beach or would she like to move swiftly through the waves? Is cost a major concern for Lady Lion?" she asks. "Different things are found in different places."

[Akodo Reki]

"Comfort and modesty," Reki replied, shrugging, "But of course one probably has to consider style as well."

She looked back at the Ronin, "So then if I may ask, what compels a wave woman to approach a Lion? If it is a place in our armies you want, I am sure such could be found and easier at the embassy." They both knew such a place was one of much danger and little reward.

[Hato]

"Comfort and modesty," Reki replied, shrugging, "But of course one probably has to consider style as well."

She looked back at the Ronin, "So then if I may ask, what compels a wave woman to approach a Lion? If it is a place in our armies you want, I am sure such could be found and easier at the embassy." They both knew such a place was one of much danger and little reward.

Hato tilted her head a little bit at the question.

"This one saw an opportunity to assist, no further motivation was needed." she offered, turning to look back at the store.

A ronin was certainly not going to quote Leadership at a Lion, but the principles were easy enough to recognize in the answer.


"The department store will give Lady Lion the most choices, though such choice does come with a cost. This one would recommend something from the Shimmering Scales line. Quite stylish, reasonably comfortable, and very durable. This one could direct Lady Lion to the proper section in the store, or guide Lady Lion in a hunt for more elusive prey in any of the area's smaller boutiques, as Lady Lion wishes."

[Akodo Reki]

Reki considered the ronin again in silence, there was a part of her that was suspicious...this was a Scorpion world. But she was also a woman who could appreciate efficiency.

"Very well...lead on then." She smiled and motioned the ronin forward, "And stop calling me Lady Lion. It's grating. I am of the Akodo family, Akodo-sama will be sufficient."

"What is your name?" Reki asked as the walked. Her own would likely come after the ronin's.

[Hato]

Reki considered the ronin again in silence, there was a part of her that was suspicious...this was a Scorpion world. But she was also a woman who could appreciate efficiency.

"Very well...lead on then." She smiled and motioned the ronin forward, "And stop calling me Lady Lion. It's grating. I am of the Akodo family, Akodo-sama will be sufficient."

"What is your name?" Reki asked as the walked. Her own would likely come after the ronin's.

Hato bowed deeply and apologetically.

"This one humbly apologies Lady.....Akodo-sama. This one has been...forcefully reprimanded before about the unworthiness of this one to speak such revered names with this one's unworthy mouth before. This one apologizes profusely for causing the slightest discomfort to La...Akodo-sama." she apologied again with a deep bow.

Hato shivered briefly recalling the man's screaming and hitting.

'How dare filth such as you besmirch the name of my ancestor by speaking his name aloud!"

Still, the ronin wasn't going to spend all the day groveling for forgiveness, the Lion had given the command to lead on, and lead on she would.

It wasn't too hard to find the swimwear section, there was a lot of beach on the world after all. The section seemed to be divided up by clan of origin. The Scorpion display was the largest with the models displaying some rather pretty swimwear with a metallic sheen to it, flanked by smaller Crab and Dragon displays.

Shimmering Scales was a fairly distinctive line in the Crab section, being the highest quality one.

"These are the ones I was recommending Akodo-sama."

[Akodo Reki]

Reki rubbed her temple, they were good choices to be sure...but the Akodo wasn't exactly wanting to draw that much attention. Still the Crab's offerings were not too far from her choice.

"Perhaps...something in more muted colors." She said, her eyes turn back to the ronin. There was some manner of enigma there. Granted her own clan were not known for their treatment of the clanless.

"Were you to buy one, which would it be?"

[Hato]

Reki rubbed her temple, they were good choices to be sure...but the Akodo wasn't exactly wanting to draw that much attention. Still the Crab's offerings were not too far from her choice.

"Perhaps...something in more muted colors." She said, her eyes turn back to the ronin. There was some manner of enigma there. Granted her own clan were not known for their treatment of the clanless.

"Were you to buy one, which would it be?"

Hato shook her head.

"Oh, this one's choices for oneself would not do for Akodo-sama at all. This one could not justify the gift for a swimsuit purchased here. This one must also be very particular about colors chosen. Were Akodo-sama to choose a black swimsuit with crimson highlights, rumors would spread that she was romantically involved with a member of the Scorpion clan. Were this one to attempt such, this one would be beaten very badly indeed for the affront. Then there is the simple fact that this one lack's Akodo-sama's powerful frame." she said, ticking off the reasons why it couldn't work.

It's not that the Akodo was in poor shape, far from it. She was a well fed, well maintained soldier of the glorious Lion armies. Hato was lucky to have two bowls of rice per day, and fish was the stuff of dreams, not dinners.

She looked thoughtfully at the Lion.

"Perhaps something in a golden-brown would suit Akodo-sama? Or even a bit darker with some spark of color to not make it too dull." she suggested.

[Akodo Reki]

"Ah yes...every choice requires much consideration." Reki sighed, "A political statement, though I must confess the thoughts my choice of red and black would send a Scorpion on a few days of wasted time uncovering why is tempting." She chuckles lightly.

"But you are correct, let us stick to the colors of my own clan and not just muted." Her eyes moved through the swimsuits. "So then what has landed you on this world? As good as any other I assume? For the clanless at any rate. Though a few of your number have risen to lofty heights."

[Hato]

"Ah yes...every choice requires much consideration." Reki sighed, "A political statement, though I must confess the thoughts my choice of red and black would send a Scorpion on a few days of wasted time uncovering why is tempting." She chuckles lightly.

"But you are correct, let us stick to the colors of my own clan and not just muted." Her eyes moved through the swimsuits. "So then what has landed you on this world? As good as any other I assume? For the clanless at any rate. Though a few of your number have risen to lofty heights."

Hato shook her head.

"Ah, this one apologizes, Lady Lion. It was a sharp and heavy stone that brought forth this wave from the ocean. Such a burden is better left beneath the surface of the ocean where it can harm no one else." she said, really not wanting to get into the whys of her being a ronin on World of Dreams.

"It would be a poor story compared to Lady Lion's this one would assume. This one wonders what Lady Lion has seen on her path that lead her here." she indirectly asked, seeking to shift to conversation to the Lion's past.

[Akodo Reki]

"The same old story then?" Reki looked at the ronin for a moment, then smiled, "My own history then? Born to a political marriage, my parents were both warriors so I lived in a creche for much of my life. Then training, then war, then more training, and war again. Such is the life of a Lion."

"Well then, perhaps one might better ask...how have you found the planet? I imagine you have seen parts the tourists like me don't."

[Hato]

"The same old story then?" Reki looked at the ronin for a moment, then smiled, "My own history then? Born to a political marriage, my parents were both warriors so I lived in a creche for much of my life. Then training, then war, then more training, and war again. Such is the life of a Lion."

"Well then, perhaps one might better ask...how have you found the planet? I imagine you have seen parts the tourists like me don't."

Hato nods.

"That is a fair assessment Lady.......Akodo-sama." she said, her player having forgotten the correction from the thread being quiet a few days.

Hato considered the question.

"This one has little to compare it to. Tourists pay more and see less of the sacrifices that make the world of dreams what it is. There is misery and suffering, but also beauty and hope. Some have said it is a pretty face painted upon a rotten apple, but this one feels that that is too harsh a view. There's shadow, but shadow does not exist without light." she offered, holding up one swimsuit package and then another for the Lion's review.

[Akodo Reki]

"Nor is there anywhere in the realm of the living where light does not cast shadow," Reki observes, her eyes on the new swimsuit, "Hmm...yes this is much more appropriate I think."

"Do you wish to leave this world?" Her eyes were back on the ronin, "If such was in your means? I mean...without having to sign on to a warzone."

[Hato]

"Nor is there anywhere in the realm of the living where light does not cast shadow," Reki observes, her eyes on the new swimsuit, "Hmm...yes this is much more appropriate I think."

"Do you wish to leave this world?" Her eyes were back on the ronin, "If such was in your means? I mean...without having to sign on to a warzone."

Hato tilted her head at the sudden question.

"This one would admit that if this one had the means to support oneself somewhere else and a way to get there, this one would certainly consider the offer. Although, this one must profess ignorance as to the exact location. This world is unlikely to be the worst in the Empire as a whole." she admitted.