Strolling the Streets (Day 1 Mid Afternoon)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

There wasn't a lot to do in towns of this size usually. That's something that Shouji had figured out in thecfew years he had spent sailing. A few places to eat maybe a few more for drinks or tea. That was about all though.

Still is was a nice change of pace from staring at the same people day in and out, so the Captain was talking the time to stretch his legs. He was dressed simply in a light kimono in mantis green that was tailored well, but had little in the way of decorations. No one was around he really needed to impress after all. His green eyes were on the buildings around him more then the people. Maybe there was someplace interesting around here to get a bite to eat.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Arriving in town, having taken her time in coming from the border, Kitsuki Naida wandered the streets with her traveling kit at her back and her swords crossed under it. She was famished and in no hurry to find the inn, especially since they usually didn't check people in so early, so she found herself wandering around with no particular goal in mind. She squinted down a few streets, trying to make things out, but had little luck in seeing any signs or such; It was true she could have simply asked around, but as was already established, she was in no hurry.

And wandering was a pleasure unto itself.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Strangers in a strange land, it wasn't odd for the Dragon with a horned hat to stand out among the crowd of Crab peasants. "Can't find what ou're looking for either?" The young mantis asked, as his path crossed with the Dragon Samurai-ko. It was probably a bit rude to just stride into a conversation like that, but most wouldn't comment about that.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida squinted at the person talking before a slight bow, "What I'm looking for, Mantis-san? I am not really sure WHAT I am looking for in the first place, honestly. I have been walking for weeks, and I got a bath out of the way... but I am unsure what to do next. I was kind of just looking around, though no one prints their signs large enough around here, I swear..."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Sounds about the right time to find a meal or an inn." Shouji replied, his eyes seeking out her mons, apparently his eyesight was better then hers as he identified them. "But that may just be my opinon Kitsuki-san."

He glanced towards one of the signs, it seemed readable to him at least. "After such a long trip from Dragon lands, it might be nice to sit down if nothing else."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Mmmm... sitting is not so necessary. My feet are used to traveling. But perhaps you are right about a meal; All I've had to eat today is one rice ball, some dried mushrooms, some chestnut mochi, some sesame crackers, and a plum. Oh, and those two sweets that that nice old lady gave me. And some grilled fish."

It wasn't much to her, anyways.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

It was a lot of small things, none of which really made a meal as far as Shouji was concerned. "Let's see what we can find then." He mused glancing at some of the nearby signs.

"I suppose I should introduce myself too. Tsuruchi Shouji, Captain of the Seafox."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"A ship's captain?"

There was brief amusement for a moment.

"I thought the Yoritomo usually handled that. Still, I suppose I should be one to talk; We each have our callings and gifts."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"They tend to, but my Father was a Yoritomo and he wanted his first son to know the Sea." The Wasp offered with a shrug.

"It just worked out that it was me." He offered the woman a smile. "Not that I dislike my calling at all."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I could not fulfill my duties very well as a courtier, and it was not as if I was terribly interested in the lessons anyways. So I cannot say I dislike where I have ended up either. Though, in my case, that has absolutely nothing to do with my family's wishes and more the whim's of fate."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"The whims of fate?" He raised an eyebrow at that. "Sounds like there is a bit of a story there." The Captain mused.

"Unless you were referring to the skills you were born with?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I meant my poor vision, actually..."

She slightly muttered that but spoke up afterwards, "I think I need a light."

The Dragon woman pulled a metal smoking pipe out of her sleeve and set about giving it a quick light with a striker before taking a long drag. As she breathed the smoke out her nose, she looked at the Mantis, "...I tend to miss fine details of things, especially from a distance where it's all a blur to me. Most courtier schools I imagine that would not be much of an issue, but to my Family everything revolves around the power of perception, and understanding the small details that play into the way a court behaves."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Oh." He had noticed that to a degree, but hadn't thought of how it might affect her skills as a courtier. But then he only had a vague idea how the Kitsuki did things anyways. So that was no surprise. "I guess that explains the signs." He gestured towards on ein the distance. "Seems there is a eatery over there.

"If it put you on the path of the sword though, and you enjoy it. I suppose fate may of been on your side though, Even if it was in something on an unexpected way." He didn't mind the pipe, Minari smoked alot and he was kind of used to it, even if he had no desire to do the same himself.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"That is the way of things, is it not? The Fortunes take with one hand and give with the other. It is up to us to make of that what we will. And by all means, lead the way. I should probably finish this before we make it there, after all. Probably."

More smoke from her nose, almost like a real dragon. It was certainly a sight with her horned hat and fiery orange earrings that caught the light in a strange way.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It's not like we have to hurry our way over there either." Shouji replied with a easy smile. "So you'll have plenty of time to finish that smoke."

He glanced her way and motioned towards her hat. "Did you have that made, or is it a common style in Dragon lands?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"The hat? No, this was certainly custom made. By myself, actually. Don't worry, Tsuruchi-san, they're not real horns or anything."

She gave a sly little smile before taking another puff on her pipe.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I'm sure you wouldn't be walking the streets in Crab lands if they were." Shouji teased as he looked the hat over for a moment. "Still you made it? The whole thing? Or did you just add the horns?"

Her sly smile was returned with a smirk, and he shook his head in amusement.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"The whole thing. Making hats is kind of a project thing for me. I've made three so far, though this is my favorite. The other two are s folded festival hat and a flat gasa for dueling. This one, this is for traveling."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Well, if I only found myself with a need for a hat." He smirked. "I'd know just know to ask."

"I wonder though, did you bring all three with you. Or just the one given you had a long way to go, and likely didn't bring much in the way of luggage."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Oh, no, they're with me."

Setting the heavy pipe down, Naida took her bag off and popped what looked like a round black mat off of it. The thing ended up not being quite as flat as it looked between her and the bag.

"This is my military hat, and this..." she pulled out a folded festival hat with a Dragon colored ribbon, "is the first hat I made. I rarely get to wear it, but it still has a lot of sentimental value."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Hrm, so you work with metal as well as more standard materials." He replied thoughtfully, looking over the two hats she had produced for a few moments.

"They're nice, though its a bit of the shame you don't get to wear your first creation too often." He offered her a slight smile. "Don't make it to that many festivals?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Not... particularly. I've been spending a lot of time as a yojimbo at various courts across the Empire. But in Dragon lands...? Not much time or reason for festivities before I left. Mood's a bit subdued."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He'd heard mention of that and all he could really do was nod. "I suppose that would make festivals a bit difficult." Shouji offered after a few moments. "In time though I am sure things will be different."

"If festivals are your thing though, and if you're ever in the islands do try to visit Tokigogaschu. It's well know at least in the islands for it's festivals. I'm sure you'll have more then enough reason to wear your hat there if you ever went."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Tucking the headwear away as the Tsuruchi talked, Naida gave a small smile and nod, "A Dragon wandering out the Mantis Isles, hm? That seems like a very exciting and exotic prospect. At least in context. I almost wonder if I shouldn't wander back northward after this. I have been so long away it feels like, at this point..."

She sighed as she hefted her bag over her shoulder again with one hand and picked up her pipe with the other.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Sometimes nothing calls to you quite like home?" He asked as much as said as he set back off towards the resturant, they were almost ther and the woman's pipe seemed mostly smoked. "Not even the things that are exciting and exotic."

"A shame." He murmured softly to himself, as he lead the way along. "Though I suppose I'm curious how long you've been gone. It you don't mind the question."