Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Making her way out more from the village, she had a date with the wide open of the hinterlands and some practice with her sword. For a while though, Yoko found herself by a post that was set into the ground. One that was wide enough to somewhat comfortably sit on as she looked out over the farms. With her kiseru in hand, much like when she watched the fisherman, she fiddled with it between her thumb and index. Giving herself the moment of quiet peace and contemplation as she watched the farmers perform their daily tasks.

With all the things she owned in this life set below her against the post she was the image of a wandering Ronin. Unbound by duty, for what little that was worth.

Seeking a place of solace, one Kitsuki had likewise found her way to the outlying farms. She mumbled quietly to herself while consulting a few scrolls, oblivious to the ronin for the moment. After a few moments she sighed and began rolling up the scrolls, "Well...I suppose I should verify all this tonight." Looking around her eyes landed on the nearby ronin, studying her for the moment.

Hearing something said, Yoko came from her thoughts to glance over toward Tanaka. That she was being studied in a manner was no secret, far as she was concerned, but what for was by far my interesting. After a moment Yoko just smirked and pulled up the sleeve of her kimono a little, flexing with her arm, her muscle mass wasn't anything to be impressed by but the cocky smirk she wore certainly was. Sliding the sleeve back down she couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

Tanaka marked the woman a warrior...though one that appeared to not have had enough solid meals. The burden of the wave man she wagered. Granted the Dragon courtier also looked nothing like a hardy warrior, perhaps only being remarkable for her eyes. Twin brown orbs that had a sort of intensity that given the impression the Dragon did not miss much.

"See anything of interest ronin-san?" Her gaze shifted to the area the ronin would have been looking earlier.

"Yes- and no," she said, glancing back to where she was looking from Tanaka. "Guess it depends on what you find interesting, eh? Kinda.. well, kinda just enjoying the view of the country-side here. Same, but different than other places I've been. Always the same in the good ways though, nice air, cool breeze, pleasant sun," she sighed happily before looking back over her shoulder. "Though I suppose my journey here would be more interesting to some, eh? Journeying on a boat with a Mantis crew carrying Imperial's, a tale you'd tell to your kids someday I'd wager," she laughed at that little memory and shook her head.

"But, I like this too, it's calm. What about you, Samurai-sama?"

"Oh...." Tanaka looks back, then holds up her little pile of scrolls, "Just engaging in a little consultation of the charts. The road here was rather long and my companion and I left early to get here. Not as exciting a tale as travelling at sea on a packed ship. Not even a harrowing tale of evading bandits. Just a pleasant but long walk."

Her eyes drift back to the open fields, "It has its charms, the calm being one of the key ones."

"I like the warmth," she said with a little smile which turned into a cocky grin, "but a harrowing moment of evading bandits is a nice tale too, eh? Little harsher than the tales want you to think. Your heart pounds, your feet hurt, and your brain gets fuzzy with indecision," she said, but then waved off the hand. "Something of a rush when you get used to it though, walking through dangerous territory," she chuckled to herself, shaking her head.

"Anyway, consulting charts eh? Want someone to listen to what that's all about? Not sure how much I can offer, but an ear is free enough, eh?" she asked with a laugh.

"I have been fortunate, from the mountains of the Dragon to the Crab's coast and nary a bandit the whole way." Tanaka responded, "Though it has gotten warmer as one travelled south."

She nodded at the wave man's other words, "But is it the sort of 'rush' one wants or just something one has grown used to?"

Patting her little bag of charts she shrugged, "The stars read, trouble in the quadrant of the morning star, unseen implications may affect a bright future. Choices must be made, but repetition must be endured. A vague answer for a a vague question...something to get the sense of the coming days."

"Y-yea, that sure is a.. vague question," she glanced back toward the farmlands. Rubbing against the back of her neck as she thought a moment. Looking back she shrugged, "Anyway, yea. Kinda depends on the person with that other thing, yea? Haven't really made my mind up myself yet, eh?" she chuckled as she looked back.

"So, you read stars or something? Make predictions? There's a word for that right?"

"I think it refers more to the bride and groom," Tanaka mused, "But you are correct I read the stars and try to make some meaning out of their positions and movement. I am sadly still something of an amateur at it..."

"Really I suppose it is just an excuse for me to look at the night sky." Another small shrug.

"So, curious.." she said, bringing a hand up as she winced from craning her neck so much. With a decisive hop she slipped off the post and shifted around it. Facing more toward Tanaka she leaned her back up against the post. "How do you even know if you're an amateur at reading the stars?"

"I suppose it is more...a feeling," Tanaka rubbed her chin, "...well and having been around those for whom such things seem easy. Of course speak with enough confidence and anything seems easy."

"If one wishes to speak on curious though...I do have to wonder what brings you here." She waves a hand, "Not in the accusatory sense mind you, simple curiosity on my part. Just the latest shore the waves have deposited you, hoping to catch the eye of the Crab, or a guest of someone?"

"Honestly?" she laughed, a wicked grin accompanying it as the sound ceased. "Just came in off the boat. Signed up with some Mantis sailors on their way down here who needed a good pair of hands. Found it was work I could do, and work that kept me in a bed with food in my belly. Now I'm here.. new lands I've never been so," she shrugged, "first one," she laughed.

"Guessin' as I saw a wedding was coming on through I'd pay a mind to the other guests, see what work I might scrounge up, eh?"

"So followed the waves then." Tanaka smirked, "How has the search for further employment gone?"

She glances back to the fields, "I imagine the Crane, Crab, or Mantis are the best to seek such with no?"

"Mantis.. seem to be the best option. Crab want nothing more than for you to journey south, risk your life against beasts, and take up their cause. Crane.. well, they'd rather just rather forget you existed, leave the coin on the table, and let you see yourself out," she shrugged.

"Mantis.. they tend to look you in the eye which," she smirked, "well, doesn't come by often, eh?"

"To be ronin is to be beneath notice in the eyes of many," Tanaka shrugged, not bothering to coat the hard truth in meaningless sweets. "Or at least beneath notice until you are needed."

"Not that I particularly share that attitude, mind you. I find most people interesting."

"Well, that's good," she said with a small chuckle. "Anyway, I don't think I've introduced myself yet, eh?" she brought a hand up to her chest, tapping it once. "I'm Yoko."

"Kitsuki Tanaka, of the Dragon." She dipped her head a little, "A pleasure to meet you Yoko-san."

"Well, did Kitsuki-sama want to join me for a bit then? I'm not of a mind to turn away someone who wants to. But, well- not one to suggest you should either," she shook her head, chuckled. "I'd appreciate the company a bit though, if you are of a mind."

"I would not mind but the Dragon are not a clan of wealth." Tanaka smiled, "I mean in terms of material possessions, I suppose I could pretend to be an enigmatic philosopher if needed."

"Has your road often been lonely? Or have you been lucky enough to be among others for much of the journey?"

"Not lately, came here on the Sea Fox. One of the Mantis ships you'll find in the village's docks when you get there. And," she chuckled, shaking her hea.d "Don't you worry, I'm not after any coin. Least, not from you, and not right now," she moved from the pole, finding a nice spot in the grass they could both sit for a spell.

The Dragon took the offered seat, "Yes with some Imperials no? I am surprised the Mantis did not press you to a more permanent position on the ship. One hears that sailors are always in demand. How does one end up in such a position anyway?"

"They picked me up in another port before coming down here, needed another set of hands and mine were available with nowhere to go so," she shrugged. "As for giving a more permanent position.. no offers, but then I wouldn't care for one all that much. They don't really need me too much beyond the now anyway, eh? Just a blade looking for work, I'm not much of a proper sailor."

"Oh...well I meant in the manner that leaves no room for refusals." Tanaka clearly believe some of the stories of sailing that had filtered up to the mountains. "Still what sort of duties did you do as a non-sailor on a ship? And did you not feel sea sickness...I hear it is a somewhat common affliction among those who do not sail."

At the first, Yoko laughed and shook her head. "A-alright," she chuckled again, "first up, I actually managed quite well. There were others who didn't have quite as nice of a time, but I didn't have that problem. But- what exactly do you mean, no room for refusals, if I can ask, Kitsuki-sama?" she said, chuckling a little more.