D6LA, You Knew It Was Coming (Open)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Flatterer," Yuuwaku replies. "Though my sensei would doubtlessly be pleased to hear themselves in me.

"And what do your sensei tell you?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Flatterer?" He smirked. "When I want to be."

"As for my sensei." He paused a moment thoughtfully. "Cultivate the prejudices people will have for me." Then use them to your advantage when need be. "If that makes any sense at all."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku looks right back at him.

"It does," she says, her voice slightly flat.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He smiled slightly.

"You have something you wish to say?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Many things," Yuuwaku replies, "and not all of them to present company.

"But, yes, I am aware that some prejudices...can be put to use." She breathes deeply, rolls her shoulders back. "And that that can sometimes have...other effects."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He nodded. That was understandable and it wasn't something we was going to pursue.

"Yes, it's not something I like to particularly rely on. I'm a Captain of a ship after all, not one who spends an overly abundant amount of time in court."

"But it's something I learned."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"One imagines such lessons serve on deck and at the dock, as well as in court," she replies. "But I gather that Tsuruchi-sama is trained as a courtier?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That would be correct, even if parts of my educationwere a bit broader then others in my class." He replied with a smile, standing up a bit straighter. "Do I not quite look the part?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Much more rugged than many who frequent court," Yuuwaku says, "and certainly more clearly enjoying the blessings of the Sun. But," and Yuuwaku closes some of the distance, "there are no few who value such."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He glanced towards her parasol. "Standing beneath one of these all day would never work while at sea." He glanced down at her, not retreating when she closed the distance between them. "But I think I've seen the truth of yours words at least once already."

"Not everyone appreciates pale skin and soft features." He studied Yuuwaku for a few moments. "Though personally I can see the draw in such things."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I think it is often the case, my captain," Yuuwaku replies, "that we are drawn to what we ourselves do not have. Not always, but often."

Her mouth spreads in an easy smile. "Though it is true that seeing, shall we say, other versions of ourselves can be...illuminating."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"You may have a point there." Shouji replied thinking back a bit to how he thought of such things. "Though I admit it's not something I've thought about."

Her next words caused him to smirk. "It seems you're versed in all manners of contemplation. Not something everyone could say, im sure. Caught up as most of us are in opposites."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"And what such net could ensnare so mighty a man as Tsuruchi-sama?" Yuuwaku answers with much the same smirk. "What opposite seems to catch him?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I suppose that depends on if it's just his interest the fisher intends to catch or if they're trying to keep him." The Mantis mused. "The first i think you know a bit about already."

"The second is harder to describe." He paused. "Though I suppose I could try to describe it if that's your wish."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Please do," Yuuwaku says, and leans slightly in to listen all the better.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji nodded, pausing a few moments to organizehis thoughts before speaking. "I think it's easy to say that most men would prefer to be caught by a lovely woman. Though I would say I don't have a particular preference for soft skin untouched by the sun. So I'll count that among the strands of the net that could bind me, though its probably not the most nessacary one."

He glanced towards Yuuwaku and smiled. "After all you said it yourself, I don't just want a pretty flower I can sit on a shelf. It would be preferable if our duties aligned to some degree. I can't be bound by someone I never see. If she is off in courts while I rest at home and at home when I'm at sea. Well I think we will be hard pressed for many things."

"Family is also something important to me, specifically having a large one. Someone with little interest in such a thing would likely have trouble holding the ropes as it were."

"There is more of course, that the catching of me is something mutually beneficial to our clans is important." He wouldn't take just any one as his wife. "A strand that can put me more firmly in a woman's hands." A short pause. "Also the ability to choose her friends well. I wouldn't want she who catches me to be nagged by those without our best interest in mind."

He chuckled and shook his head. "I suppose there is more, those are what come to mind though. And they in ways might be negotiable. As it is I seem somewhat difficult to catch."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"It would be quite a weaver, indeed, to make such a net," Yuuwaku notes. "And it is good that the captain esteems himself of such value, regards his duties thusly. Though I will hope he is not so tightly bound when he is caught as might be the case; some weave their nets quite small."

She sighs, thinking.

"But I have never been much of a fisherwoman, to be sure. A lure, perhaps, or bait to draw the eye. And I have often enjoyed it." She curls her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before saying "Sometimes very much so."

She sighs again.

"I mean to continue it, of course, until I cannot, whether because my body fails me or because I am bidden. As well as my dancing."

She looks him in the face.

"I think I understand you better, my captain. And I thank you for that gift."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That was quite a lot of sighs." He replied his tone slightly teasing. It was easily understandable though his words had to be somewhat disappointing to the young woman. "I did consider though the size of your net and if it could truly catch me though." The young man added after a moment.

"It's been a bit on a conundrum and made me wonder if I should truly try and tame such a magnificent creature." They likely both understood the various reasons why it wouldn't work out though. "Not that such means we can not dance to our own tune."

He dipped his head at her thanks. "You're welcome Kakita-san. It feels liek it was the least I could do."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

She bows in return, teases right back "And is having a woman sighing after you so bad, Tsuruchi-sama?" She gives a wry grin and adds "I do hope I can dance with you again, however; you were far from the worst partner I've had in it."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I suppose not when you phrase it like that." He replied with a playful wink. "We'll have to what time allows for though."

"It seems we are both rather busy of late."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods. "There are worse things, though. We could be given no trust, no task--and then where would we be?"

She laughs.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Not here that's for certain." He agreed as he joined in with her laughter. "I'd likely be back in the lands of the Tsuruchi if that were the case."

"Dreaming of ships very far away."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"If I may ask," Yuuwaku says, "why did you not follow your Family's school?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Because of my father." Shiuji offered with a half smile. "He wished for his first son to be a sailor, and my mother agreed."

"You can't learn a great deal about ships in Tsuruchi lands, so I was sent to train with my father's family the Yoritomo. Haven't been back to Tsuruchi lands since."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods.

"You seem not to regret it, certainly. And that is good."