[Day 1 EE] Examining the Local Wildlife (Expecting)

[Yūrei]

Snip

Behind them the bright lights of an artificial reef almost glow through the warm green water of the exhibit.

"I never turn down help Ide-sama, but I'd feel guilty calling upon you for anything too great when I've only shown you around some."
Cocking her head
"Maybe you could put your word in with your Clan if they need any work done over the next couple weeks? The Unicorn are known for their generosity and you've seen how much I eat, a steady income comes in handy."

[Ide Yamako]

She nods. “There is always work to be done and people needed to do it.”

She hesitates. “We can speak more of this at another time. But rest assured, I have you in my mind first.”

[Yūrei]

Snip

"There's no rush, or obligation. You have my card if you need me. And I still owe you for those snacks. Maybe in a few days, neh? As for now."
Lowering her voice conspiratorially and nodding at the tank behind them.

"Reef monkeys live in large family groups up to half a hundred, raising their young jointly on the shallow reefs that dot the coastline. They mature after 4 years but....they remain extremely cute their entire lives."

[Ide Yamako]

She sighs. “Lead on. I must face the cutest of creatures to strengthen me against them.”

[Yūrei]

She sighs. “Lead on. I must face the cutest of creatures to strengthen me against them.”

"You will soon become inured to their charms, although perhaps it's best not to watch the babies frolicking on top of the reef-"
She nods at a small group of sea monkeys being enjoying the artificial surf back and forth across the coral, their thick fur keeping them safe as an older sea monk watches from undernearth.

"-Or the sea monkey den, they've got this little observation dome so you can go under and see them all sleeping."
She nods at a little pathway.
"So definitely don't take that way if you want to avoid cute animals."

[Ide Yamako]

She vibrates, desperately trying to keep it together. "You..are somewhat devious Yurei-san. I appreciate that. But pardon me, I must go investigate this." She moves quickly, trying to keep her dignity as she heads to the little observation dome. As she climbs the small ladder and sees the babies sleeping, a very tiny sound escapes her mouth. Something that sounds a bit like "eeeeeeeee".

But no samurai would do such a thing. It must be the squeaking of metal. Yes, clearly.

[Yūrei]

She vibrates, desperately trying to keep it together. "You..are somewhat devious Yurei-san. I appreciate that. But pardon me, I must go investigate this." She moves quickly, trying to keep her dignity as she heads to the little observation dome. As she climbs the small ladder and sees the babies sleeping, a very tiny sound escapes her mouth. Something that sounds a bit like "eeeeeeeee".

But no samurai would do such a thing. It must be the squeaking of metal. Yes, clearly.

Yūrei waits by the bottom so she can have plausible deniability, who was she to say what was and wasn't the squeaking of metal?

"Adorable, aren't they? The sea monkeys are always extremely popular with our visitors."
She checks her communicator with a small smile, replying to a few messages, sending some others, keeping her finger on the pulse.
"Have you been blessed with any children, Ide-sama?"

[Ide Yamako]

"They are incredible. You did not understate their appeal." Yamako has managed not to smush her face to the glass but only through sheer will.

"I have not at this time. But I hope so one day. What of you? Is marriage and children in the cards? Or do you favor a different sort of life?"

[Yūrei]

"They are incredible. You did not understate their appeal." Yamako has managed not to smush her face to the glass but only through sheer will.

"I have not at this time. But I hope so one day. What of you? Is marriage and children in the cards? Or do you favor a different sort of life?"

One of the small creatures stirs and looks up at Yamako with big eyes before yawning and turning to sleep on its other side.

"I cannot imagine it. I...a child needs someone who can be there for them. I don't have that sort of time."
She pauses typing briefly before resuming with a quiet sigh.

"But you will make a great mother one day, I am sure."

[Ide Yamako]

Yamako covers her face with her hands, desperate to keep the squeal of sheer cute inside. She nods along at the right moments til Yurei finishes typing.

"Oh Kami this place is too filled with cute things. I may die."

Closing her eyes to the temptation, she summons her diplomat skin from inside, breathing deeply. "It is difficult to care for a child when one is...struggling oneself. But if you found a patron of sorts, you might be able to give a child a better life. I know that parenting, even when things are ideal, is not a simple task."

[Yūrei]

Yamako covers her face with her hands, desperate to keep the squeal of sheer cute inside. She nods along at the right moments til Yurei finishes typing.

"Oh Kami this place is too filled with cute things. I may die."

Closing her eyes to the temptation, she summons her diplomat skin from inside, breathing deeply. "It is difficult to care for a child when one is...struggling oneself. But if you found a patron of sorts, you might be able to give a child a better life. I know that parenting, even when things are ideal, is not a simple task."

"There are some particularly ugly cephalopods down a ways if you would prefer the chance to recover?"
She listens to Yamarko respectfully, with a nod.

"It's certainly true that with a patron, and some funding I might be able to raise a child. But, it is..hard to imagine them thanking me. And would the empire wish me to bring another ronin in the world?"

[Ide Yamako]

Yamako covers her face with her hands, desperate to keep the squeal of sheer cute inside. She nods along at the right moments til Yurei finishes typing.

"Oh Kami this place is too filled with cute things. I may die."

Closing her eyes to the temptation, she summons her diplomat skin from inside, breathing deeply. "It is difficult to care for a child when one is...struggling oneself. But if you found a patron of sorts, you might be able to give a child a better life. I know that parenting, even when things are ideal, is not a simple task."

"There are some particularly ugly cephalopods down a ways if you would prefer the chance to recover?"
She listens to Yamarko respectfully, with a nod.

"It's certainly true that with a patron, and some funding I might be able to raise a child. But, it is..hard to imagine them thanking me. And would the empire wish me to bring another ronin in the world?"

“Yes please, the cephalopods. Precisely what is needed.”

As they journey further and Yamako’s mind returns to some equilibrium, she ponders the question. “I cannot say what a child that does not exist would say. But I think that one’s own honor, how one acted as a ronin and why one became one would…possibly influence the thoughts of others. Theoretically of course.”

[Yūrei]

“Yes please, the cephalopods. Precisely what is needed.”

As they journey further and Yamako’s mind returns to some equilibrium, she ponders the question. “I cannot say what a child that does not exist would say. But I think that one’s own honor, how one acted as a ronin and why one became one would…possibly influence the thoughts of others. Theoretically of course.”

"Cephalopods it is."
In only a few minutes Yūrei has led Yamako to a smaller dark tank with some impressive looking squid-like creatures floating slowly through the water. They didn't seem to be particularly cute.

"Yes, theoretically."
She smiles slightly at Yamako
"But this is a hard planet for a ronin to be truly honourable on. Even the most honourable, the most principled, which I dot not count myself among, they have to make sacrifices."

[Ide Yamako]

A small wrinkle appears at the sides of the Ide's mouth, barely enough to be called a frown. The cephalopods receive only a cursory glance. "Honor is complex. To find one's way through is a lifelong journey and struggle and each clan sees its fruition differently. But it sounds as if you have already surrendered to your status. Pardon this one's curiosity, but why?"

[Yūrei]

A small wrinkle appears at the sides of the Ide's mouth, barely enough to be called a frown. The cephalopods receive only a cursory glance. "Honor is complex. To find one's way through is a lifelong journey and struggle and each clan sees its fruition differently. But it sounds as if you have already surrendered to your status. Pardon this one's curiosity, but why?"

Yūrei leans back up against the wall of the tank as the cephalopod floats sadly behind her.
"It's not surrender, Ide-sama. But, sometimes to survive you have to do things, and they can't all be honourable-"
Pause
"-hypothetically. Once you've done that, lived that. It feels a bit hypocritical to turn around and say you're an honourable samurai, that you deserve that status that brings."

[Ide Yamako]

She pauses, taking this seriously, as well as turning towards Yurei and the tank. "And what of Duty? There are times, hypothetically, in a samurai's life where they must choose between two impossible paths. Do you suspect that all samurai are perfect in their choices? Or is that standard only apply to those who fail to meet the criteria?"

[Yūrei]

She pauses, taking this seriously, as well as turning towards Yurei and the tank. "And what of Duty? There are times, hypothetically, in a samurai's life where they must choose between two impossible paths. Do you suspect that all samurai are perfect in their choices? Or is that standard only apply to those who fail to meet the criteria?"

Raising an eyebrow, a little surprised that she hadn't just been brushed off.
"Uh, well I suppose not. Sometimes there's no good answer. Sometimes, you don't even get a choice..."

There's silence for a few long moments before she shakes her head slightly
"I guess that counts as failing, or close enough."

[Ide Yamako]

A compassionate smile glides over Yamako's face. "Take it from one who has failed quite spectacularly in the line of Duty. It is only as bad as you make it. One can recover and find a way back to honor, but one must believe in a way to find."

[Yūrei]

A compassionate smile glides over Yamako's face. "Take it from one who has failed quite spectacularly in the line of Duty. It is only as bad as you make it. One can recover and find a way back to honor, but one must believe in a way to find."

Shocked, she listens silently
"Ide-sama, I...you don't have to-."
Taking a breath.
"I am honoured you would share something so personal with me, surprised, but honoured. Your compassion is impressive, I should have expected no less from an Ide."

Rubbing the back of her neck with a rueful look
"Guess I can't say really say no after that. Would you take an 'I'll try?' "

[Ide Yamako]

A compassionate smile glides over Yamako's face. "Take it from one who has failed quite spectacularly in the line of Duty. It is only as bad as you make it. One can recover and find a way back to honor, but one must believe in a way to find."

Shocked, she listens silently
"Ide-sama, I...you don't have to-."
Taking a breath.
"I am honoured you would share something so personal with me, surprised, but honoured. Your compassion is impressive, I should have expected no less from an Ide."

Rubbing the back of her neck with a rueful look
"Guess I can't say really say no after that. Would you take an 'I'll try?' "

She smiles. "It is all right Yurei-san. I suspect I just see something in you that has possibility. And I hate to see possibility wasted. Trying is the first step. But I will hold you to it."

She looks serious. "But you are right. This is not the place to continue to share such things. But perhaps you could join me another time and we could speak more on this topic."