[Day 2, Late Afternoon] Ambush?

[Hiruma Sen]

With her chores largely done for the day, Sen had taken to sitting outside her house. But that proved to be a bit on the boring side, so she went over to the wood stacked out on the side to inspect it. And reorganize it again for the third time in the last hour.

The Hiruma could not wait until all the festivities were over and she could go back to town safely without fear of dealing with Crane and Imperials.

[Moshi Meiko]

With her chores largely done for the day, Sen had taken to sitting outside her house. But that proved to be a bit on the boring side, so she went over to the wood stacked out on the side to inspect it. And reorganize it again for the third time in the last hour.

The Hiruma could not wait until all the festivities were over and she could go back to town safely without fear of dealing with Crane and Imperials.

Little does the Hiruma realise that something stalks her, something so short it falls below conventional sightlines, allowing it to sneak up with furious precision.

Day 2 fluff stealth roll: 4d10o10k3 28

[Hiruma Sen]

Actually, the Hiruma did realize she was being watched. No sudden movement to draw a sword, no, instead she just gripped a piece of the firewood. Whatever it was, it was small. A wild dog? A fox?

Wait, small? Oh, Sen couldn’t help but smile, Meiko was really trying hard to sneak up on her. “Moshi-san, you can come out now.”

Day 2 Fluff Investigation/Perception w/ Wary TN 28: 6d10o10k4 34

[Moshi Meiko]

Actually, the Hiruma did realize she was being watched. No sudden movement to draw a sword, no, instead she just gripped a piece of the firewood. Whatever it was, it was small. A wild dog? A fox?

Wait, small? Oh, Sen couldn’t help but smile, Meiko was really trying hard to sneak up on her. “Moshi-san, you can come out now.”

Day 2 Fluff Investigation/Perception w/ Wary TN 28: 6d10o10k4 34

Meiko pokes her head above a log with wide eyes
"Wow! How did you know I was there? I was so quiet and everything, I didn't even sneeze when I got grass up my nose."
Clearly very impressed
"I knew I was dealing with a master!"

[Hiruma Sen]

“I could hear your faint footsteps. Also helped me figure out that you weren’t something big.” Sen turned around, placing the piece of firewood she picked up just in case back to its spot on top of the pile. “How long you been watching me?”

[Moshi Meiko]

“I could hear your faint footsteps. Also helped me figure out that you weren’t something big.” Sen turned around, placing the piece of firewood she picked up just in case back to its spot on top of the pile. “How long you been watching me?”

"...Not long!"
Meiko beams before clambering over the log, face planting into the grass and then jumping up to hurry over to Sen
A little proudly "I circled the house a few times to find a good point of approach and then I got really low and was thankful I was wearing my outdoor clothes because sneaking is dirty!"
Looking around
"You've been stacking wood!"

[Hiruma Sen]

“Yeah... Stackin’ wood. Makin’ sure every piece is in place,” she nodded in agreement with Meiko’s observation.


Sen then eyed back over towards the wood pile. “Dad and I don’t have servants, so we gotta do basic chores like this. I should probably split a couple pieces for later.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Yeah... Stackin’ wood. Makin’ sure every piece is in place,” she nodded in agreement with Meiko’s observation.


Sen then eyed back over towards the wood pile. “Dad and I don’t have servants, so we gotta do basic chores like this. I should probably split a couple pieces for later.”

"No servants? So it's just like being on a boat!"
A land boat!
"But don't you want to be in town partying with everyone else? It's so quiet out here."

[Hiruma Sen]

“Huh? Why would I want to party?” Sen turned her attention back to Meiko, a look of confusion plastered on the Hiruma’s face. “Big social gatherins make me uncomfortable. The festival was just a big game, so that’s different...”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Huh? Why would I want to party?” Sen turned her attention back to Meiko, a look of confusion plastered on the Hiruma’s face. “Big social gatherins make me uncomfortable. The festival was just a big game, so that’s different...”

"Oh! So you like being solo, like a mysterious Hiruma scout ranging over hills and keeping low, always one step ahead of everyone else. At night you make a small fire and you think of home and family and it warms you, but you know your duty takes you further ahead still."
Really getting into it now
"And sometimes you brood on the tops of trees or at the bottom of valleys as the sun sets, and the shadows frame your face just right!"

[Hiruma Sen]

“Ehhh... Moshi-san, I have never heard anyone romanticize Hiruma scouts before.” Sen gave Meiko an odd look. “Well, actually, the story of the Hiruma scout on the Wall yellin’ out a death warnin’ as somethin’ big grabbed him is kind of romanticized in a Crab way.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Ehhh... Moshi-san, I have never heard anyone romanticize Hiruma scouts before.” Sen gave Meiko an odd look. “Well, actually, the story of the Hiruma scout on the Wall yellin’ out a death warnin’ as somethin’ big grabbed him is kind of romanticized in a Crab way.”

"Oh you're so modest! Obviously the Crab don't boast to eachother about their accomplishments, but I've read all the books!"
Hopping excitedly
"What was romantic about the death warning? Were they warning their lover even as death claimed them?"

[Hiruma Sen]

“Romanticizin’ isn’t about love. It’s playin’ up somethin’ to be more glamorous than it really is. Scouts are coated in dirt. Fires aren’t always an option. And a Hiruma usually dies in silence far from people to warn of impending’ danger.” Meiko usually put Sen in a good mood, but at the same time the Hiruma knew her lot in life was not one to be put in fancy stories.

[Moshi Meiko]

“Romanticizin’ isn’t about love. It’s playin’ up somethin’ to be more glamorous than it really is. Scouts are coated in dirt. Fires aren’t always an option. And a Hiruma usually dies in silence far from people to warn of impending’ danger.” Meiko usually put Sen in a good mood, but at the same time the Hiruma knew her lot in life was not one to be put in fancy stories.

Meiko nods
“But because it’s so hard don’t you think you deserve a little romanticisation? Why should we romance boring court stuff when we have genuine heroes to tell stories about?”
Pointing a finger determinedly at Sen
“You deserve to be romanced appropriately!”

[Hiruma Sen]

“Errr... You mean romanticize, right, Moshi-san? Being romanced is... The other thing.” Sen started to feel a bit hot in the face, probably because she had started blushing profusely.

[Moshi Meiko]

“Errr... You mean romanticize, right, Moshi-san? Being romanced is... The other thing.” Sen started to feel a bit hot in the face, probably because she had started blushing profusely.

“The other thing? Oh! Hand holding!”
Meiko shakes her head
“Why wouldn’t you deserve that Hiruma-san? Everyone deserves it if they’re a decent person, and I know you’re better than decent! Although I think you’re also a bit sunburnt too!”

[Hiruma Sen]

“...Hand-holdin’?” The Crab gave her companion a very skeptical look as her words continued to boggle her mind. “...Sun burn? What are you talkin’ about?”

[Moshi Meiko]

“...Hand-holdin’?” The Crab gave her companion a very skeptical look as her words continued to boggle her mind. “...Sun burn? What are you talkin’ about?”

Oh no! Sen didn't know about hand holding! Well fortunately Meiko now had a very good idea of what was involved and could help her Hiruma friend out!

"Don't worry Hiruma-san, it can be a little complicated but I figured it out only recently."
Meiko jumps up on a log and pats the space next to her
"Come sit with me and I'll explain it all, it's something you have to know about!"

[Hiruma Sen]

Was there something about hand-holding that Sen didn’t know? It’s just when people touch hands together, right? Or did Meiko know something more about it? Like something secret?

With a slight shrug, Sen sat herself down next to Meiko, curious as to what would come from this. “What about hand-holding?”

[Moshi Meiko]

Was there something about hand-holding that Sen didn’t know? It’s just when people touch hands together, right? Or did Meiko know something more about it? Like something secret?

With a slight shrug, Sen sat herself down next to Meiko, curious as to what would come from this. “What about hand-holding?”

Turning to face Sen, completely earnest
"Okay so, when two samurai really like like eachother, sometimes they will hold one another's hands. Not normal, hand holding, like this."
Meiko demonstrates on herself, a simple hand on hand clasp
"But the special hand hold, like this!" Now the shugenja interlocks the fingers in both hands

"That's the signal that you're having an affair, or that you're married, or that you're married and having an affair. I think everyone deserves to hold hands with someone special at least once. Just because you don't like parties doesn't mean you aren't worthy of someone coming along and holding your hand."

[Hiruma Sen]

“Eh? That’s the sign that you’re havin’ an affair?” Sen was absolutely puzzled, is this some kind of Crane thing that got pushed on the Mantis? “I thought affairs were when two people wanted to sleep together or somethin’.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“Eh? That’s the sign that you’re havin’ an affair?” Sen was absolutely puzzled, is this some kind of Crane thing that got pushed on the Mantis? “I thought affairs were when two people wanted to sleep together or somethin’.”

Meiko cocks her head curiously
"Sleeping together? But I sleep with the whole crew down in the hold every night. Oh, well except for Katsu-sama and Minari-san, they sleep together in their own cabin. And captain-sama, he's the only one not sleeping with anyone."

[Hiruma Sen]

“What? No, not that kind. Like bangin’. Sex. That kinda thing.” Sen crossed her arms, nodding to herself as she spoke. “You also do that with your spouse, obviously. But yeah, hand-holdin’ kinda leads up to that point. So does kissin’. Probably other kinds o’ touchin’ I gather.”

[Moshi Meiko]

“What? No, not that kind. Like bangin’. Sex. That kinda thing.” Sen crossed her arms, nodding to herself as she spoke. “You also do that with your spouse, obviously. But yeah, hand-holdin’ kinda leads up to that point. So does kissin’. Probably other kinds o’ touchin’ I gather.”

Meiko's eyes widen as her jaw drops.
"b-b-banging? But why...why would anyone want to be banged?"
The Moshi appeared to be suffering some kind of overload.

[Hiruma Sen]

“It’s slang for sex.” It was becoming very clear that some Crab slang would be lost on this girl. Sen just sighed, “Moshi-san, I’m not sayin’ that hand-holdin’ wouldn’t be nice. I expect it would be very nice. But I don’t want you goin’ in and thinkin’ that’s all some guy is gonna want to do. They ain’t like that most of the time.”