[D1 - MA] Shrimps on Fire (Open)

[Amika]

After reaching an agreement with the Oshii, the innkeeper, Amika had, for now, managed to at least secure her stay in a somewhat comfortable state. She will have to work in exchange, but doing what she likes the most, so it was actually not a bad agreement.

The wolf painter decided to look around the town, searching for inspiration, observing the differences and traditions of the Crab. One thing that she has discovered when travelling as a ronin, was that, if you really want to know how certain people behave and think, was observing the common folk and how they behave.

As a ronin, knowledge of the attitude of people meant the difference between life or death, it was a crucial piece of information.

[Yoko]

"How's it going?" Yoko said, turning about on a heel as she let momentum bring her back hard against a wall near Amika. Bottles hanging off her hip jingled harshly as they clashed and clattered against each other and her leg. Sword shifting upward as it was pushed up and Yoko herself grunting as her bag of things pressed harshly into her back. For a moment she looked to the other woman with a cocky smirk. Yet, it wasn't long before her smirk fell off and she leaned forward, bringing her hand to her back and rubbing just above her waist.

"O-owwwww," she groaned, wincing. "Don't let me do that again, please," she said, chuckling a little to herself.

[Amika]

Amika was not sure if the strange woman was talking to her or to someone else. Maybe she was drunk, certainly the amount of bottles hanging on her frame didn't help in that regard. Perhaps she was crazy, though, she had met her type of ronin many times before so perhaps she was fine.

'' Don't do what again, samurai-sama?'' She asked, as she moved her simple fan towards her face, opened slightly and covered her mouth with it, while slowly started fanning herself.

[Yoko]

"Do that thing where I-" she brought her hand up, mimicking the motion she took and used another hand as a 'wall' to show the hand that represented her crashing into it- "you kno-" she shook her head. "Never mind just.. acting silly and getting my just deserts, eh?" she suggested, leaning herself off from the wall so she could stand straight.

"Ronin, yea?" she asked, putting a hand down and shifting her wakizashi to draw attention to it. Looking to Amika and raised brows to indicate hers. "No Mons, but.. well, you're different than most I've seen. Got myself curious," she said with a shrug. Bringing the hand up she patted her chest, "Yoko, by the way."

[Amika]

'' Umm, right...'' Amika had no idea what this ronin was talking about. Courtesy demanded that she otherwise ignore the weird behavior.

'' hai, this one is a ronin.'' She replied with a nod, the fan continues to slowly move and cover her lips. '' It is an honor to met you Yoko-san. This one hopes that you have received the blessings of Inari-no-kami'' She said as she bowed. '' This one's name is Amika.'' She presented herself as well.

[Yoko]

"Oh," she patted her stomach a bit, "yea," she smirked, shaking her head.

"Hopefully for you too, eh? Anyway, sorry to come in like this randomly but I have to admit I spotted you here and got real curious. Not often I see a ronin who.." she pursed her lips and thought. "W-well, you know, looks like you? Never, actually. Sure my mom said there were other paths to take, if I felt it right but.. well, guess I never gave it much thought, eh?" she chuckled, looking to Amika. "W-what I mean to ask is, is it alright if I asked you a bit about yourself?"

[Amika]

'' It is fine, Yoko-san. This one has not much to hide to be sincere.'' She nods.

'' Indeed, there are not many wavemen like me, Yoko-san, you are not wrong in your observation.'' She replied to the other wolf. '' In fact, my own honorable mother is more akin to the 'normal' ronin, lacking a better term to describe it. Yet, i was never much into the art of the sword, unlike my mother, and instead i was interested in other things, like the court arts...'' She adds.

'' My mother provided me with the tools that i needed to pursue these skills, and although i know how to use a sword...'' She pointed with her fan to her daisho on her obi. '' It is not my main focus of expertise, so to say.'' Amika said.

[Yoko]

"I-" she quirked her brow, thought a moment, "well, of course. Good to know you can protect yourself on the road, eh?" she said with a smirk, shaking her head. "Can't travel them without some protection.. don't have the.." she waved her hand, she didn't need to explain it to another ronin.

"Anyway, you uh.. got some time to maybe tell me more about that? Court arts? Do you get a lot of work like that, people actually look to you for it? Always figured they'd want someone like us far away from those more.. uh.. noble pursuits, eh?"

[Amika]

'' Hmmm, that is true, in a sense...'' She thinks for a moment. ''While it's true that we are not welcomed in such areas and clan members tend to not recognize that there out someone like me going around near them, it is also advantageous to have me near.'' She adds. '' Sound like a contradiction but, in the same sense that a clan samurai can hire a ronin bushi in order to defend themselves. Why not use a bushi from their clan instead, right?'' She asked the question.

'' We are disposable without much risk, right? If something goes wrong then they can keep their face by blaming people like us. But if things go well, then there is no disadvantage in having a ronin nearby, especially if that ronin is skilled. It is a win-win scenario for a clan samurai.''

'' That is true for any ronin, including me. Yoko-san'' She said. '' And as for now, this one already have two different jobs, although one is not for a samurai and it was more of an exchange of services, more or less.''

'' In any case, if you are interested this one can teach you about the arts, Yoko-san.'' She offered in reply to her question.

[Yoko]

Yoko laughs by the end, shaking her head. "I'm afraid I'd never be much of an artist but-" she shrugs- "gotta say I'm curious enough about it if you wanted to show off what you do sometime? You gotta get your work done, me mine, but if we find the time, eh? If it doesn't interrupt, maybe I might find myself being able to take a gander while you work on the other.. piece? That's what you call the things you make, yea?"

[Amika]

'' hai, this one will be honored to show some of her work when you have some free time, Yoko-san'' Amika bowed '' This one is currently staying at the local inn, and one of my works indeed has to do with said inn. '' She adds.

'' Are you staying at the inn, Yoko-san? '' She asked.

[Yoko]

"Nope," she said with a shake of her head. "At least.. not yet for tonight. Got myself a few fine folks to check in with again first before I go making other arrangements. Guess I'll know where you are so I'll let you know, eh?"

[Amika]

'' Of course. This one will be probably be there most of the time, unless some other work is required from me.'' Amika said as she continues to fan herself slowly.

'' Might i ask you a question, Yoko-san?''

[Yoko]

Crossing her arms over her chest she leaned back into the wall, finding a comfortable way to do so, even supporting herself a little by planting one of her feet against it so that her knee stuck out. "Go right ahead, wouldn't really be fair if I said no, eh?" she shook her head, chuckled. "I'm an open book though, happy to help however I can, hmm?"

[Amika]

'' Are you here for the the Twenty Head Winter? '' She asked. '' This one knows that there is a long time ahead for that event, but someone asked it to me so i think it is something that i guess is in the interest of people like us? '' She adds. '' You don't have to answer if you don't wish of course, this one is just curious''

[Yoko]

Yoko shook her head, "Nah. Not really my style, heading out there to risk my life against creatures only to spend the rest of my life fighting the same. Good work they do, supposedly. Just.." she shrugged. "Guess I'm not that desperate just yet, eh? There's a lotta life I got to live still."

[Amika]

'' I see.'' Amika nods. '' Indeed from the stories i have heard, it seems that it is really a quite difficult test to complete. This one has heard that not many complete it, and even fewer ones return alive after trying.'' She adds.

[Yoko]

"Mm," she nods. "Can't imagine most do, eh? Just the desperate who want back in, need to be given a place with everyone else. Or.. maybe just those that can't manage on their own anymore," she shrugs. "Risk it all and get the reward of doing it again and again and again, just with a bit more support, eh? Good enough of a life, I 'spose. Just.. eh," she shrugged.

[Amika]

'' I guess so.'' Amika nods '' This one has never felt the need to do such an extreme thing. Then again, the honor of gaining a name once again could be a powerful factor for those seeking redemption in the eyes of the Celestial Order, who knows...'' She adds.

[Yoko]

"Guess so.." she quirks her brow a moment, crossing her arms a bit tight. "Guess- it would make sense to me, eh? That those who've known the Clan all their lives, only to be cast as ronin.. they might be ones to seek such a thing? Not sure-" she shook her head, "not really something they'd get taught in those dojo, eh? How to survive on your own. How to live," she shook her head again.

"Course.. some just don't have the luck to get the work, or the skill to do it.. and it's better than no chance at all, I guess," she shrugged again. "Anyway," a little smile, "enough of that. Maybe I'll come find you some day soon, eh?"

[Amika]

'' Of course.'' She nods. '' You can visit me whenever you wish Yoko-san. This one would prefer that if you visit, you would do so in the afternoon or later. Unfortunately this one has troubles to sleep so, this one tends to, not be available during the mornings. But if you have no other free hours, then this one could adapt.'' She adds.

[Yoko]

Shaking her head, "Nah, not gonna come by and disturb you too early. I'll come find you sometime, eh?" she said with a smile, stepping back off toward the main section of the road. Waiting the moment before she fully departed to glance back.

[Amika]

'' Then i will be waiting for your visit, Yoko-san '' She bowed gracefully to her. '' May the Fortunes bless your path.'' She adds.

[Yoko]

Yoko dipped her head and promptly made her

/exit