[Day 6 - LE] Noh is the Thing

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

Masao gives the bird a short stare, then turns back to Hanatsuko. "You'll have to tell him that he's not going to stay my friend if he's being mean to you. It's my job to protect people, and I'm very serious about it." He smiles at her, his head cocked to the side, seeing if she's angry with him.

But you are such an easy target. He is saying that because he doesn't know you and we are in the open. He would tease you if he did just to get a smile... or a slap. I don't know.
Hanatsuko chuckled. "Reeeeealy..." Seemed it was address for both, the falcon and the Crane. Thanks to the falcon, Hanatsuko is in a teasing mood. "I see..."

I know right.

"I wonder, how would Kakita sama would react to me visiting Tsuruchi sama's kobune?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's face falls. Part of him knows it's a joke. Surely. Fortunes, please... Oh, come on boy, she's just teasing.

He tries to laugh, shows he's terrible at faking anything, and finally just says, "Um, I don't know." He snaps his fan open to obscure most of his face as he takes a breath.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Daichi chuckles "Well here things are pretty slow. Nothing interesting happens here honestly. At least nothing did the whole time I was growing up. The Wall is a bit of a different story, there it was long cycles of boring easy kills peppered with actual life or death battles. Its a little nerve wracking to be honest. Just waiting around to see if you were going to face some blighted horror or just pick off some goblins that wandered too far north."

"Come now, Hida-sama, it's not so bad here; A nice bath, a nice beach, some wonderful local tea, lots of interesting people... Perhaps you look for more excitement than just everyday pleasantries though? Certainly fighting evil creatures like that is far from what most would look for for excitement. Then again, most people aren't bushi, so I can't say I don't understand, in a way."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

Masao's face falls. Part of him knows it's a joke. Surely. Fortunes, please... Oh, come on boy, she's just teasing.

He tries to laugh, shows he's terrible at faking anything, and finally just says, "Um, I don't know." He snaps his fan open to obscure most of his face as he takes a breath.

She chuckled. "Very well Kakita sama. May be Tsuruchi sama did invite this one to visit his Kobune. Should I go?" She continued to tease.

[Ichiro Taiki]

-snip-

Yoko'd found herself a spot toward the back where she could be out of the way. After the play, she had but the comment of: "Fancy," which she gave ultimately to herself as none of the others around of her would deign to notice.

Still, when it was all said and done she took her glance around and found a familiar big guy out there among the rest. Making her way over she slipped up next to him, and leaned in a little, "Hey, Ichiro-sama," she glanced, smiled, "been a while, eh?"

He tried his best to enjoy the play, and did... A little.

But he was happier to see the Ronin he had talked to before... All the crazy.

"Yoko-san", he said, bowing a bit to her as well. "It 'as. Seems like e'en more with aw tha 'appened, eh? Sae... How 'ave ye been?"

OOC:

Sorry for the long delay. Been some crazy, hard days here IRL

[Kakita Masao]

She chuckled. "Very well Kakita sama. May be Tsuruchi sama did invite this one to visit his Kobune. Should I go?" She continued to tease.

Masao looks at the ground. "Um, I don't..." Grandson, hey, she's not serious. This isn't happening. Hey!

When he looks up, his eyes barely show above his fan. They're sad and angry. He takes a ragged breath. "I do not like this joke." He sighs heavily. "Perhaps it's time that I retire to the house. Today has been... emotional."

[Yoko]

He tried his best to enjoy the play, and did... A little.

But he was happier to see the Ronin he had talked to before... All the crazy.

"Yoko-san", he said, bowing a bit to her as well. "It 'as. Seems like e'en more with aw tha 'appened, eh? Sae... How 'ave ye been?"

"Been well. Well, actually really amazing the last day or so, eh?" she said with a smirk, coming about and finding a comfortable spot at his side. Smiling up at him. "Hope you've been well too. Less sleepless nights at least?"

[Ichiro Taiki]

"Been well. Well, actually really amazing the last day or so, eh?" she said with a smirk, coming about and finding a comfortable spot at his side. Smiling up at him. "Hope you've been well too. Less sleepless nights at least?"

"Oh, 'at's brae tae hear, Yoko-san. As fer me nights...."

Almost getting killed by a multiple-eyed monster, going back to meet it again and thankfully, if surprisingly, scaring it off... Then seeing the fisherman he had seen killed two days in a row actually hanging lanterns to save others?

"Well, the last 'un was finer than the previous 'uns, tha's fer sure. Jus'... Things been... eventful, yeah? "

He looks around, no Otomo to be seen apparently. He notices he hasn't seen the highest ranking one here, or so he thinks.

"P'haps e'en more sae fer Ronin, maybe?"

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

Masao looks at the ground. "Um, I don't..." Grandson, hey, she's not serious. This isn't happening. Hey!

When he looks up, his eyes barely show above his fan. They're sad and angry. He takes a ragged breath. "I do not like this joke." He sighs heavily. "Perhaps it's time that I retire to the house. Today has been... emotional."

Kuma came down his tree and landed on the Kakita's shoulder. He started chattering in his ear.

Hey, Kakita san, want to know something... Hana is teasing you because she just want to play coy and trick you. Don't give her that advantage.

"He doesn't understand you, Kuma san. Besides the one playing coy is Kakita san. He may be a good wife." She chuckled. "Come on Kakita san you need to relax a bit... even if present company is... what it is."

[Kakita Masao]

The bird chatter is quite a distraction, and even as grumpy as Masao feels, he puts his fan away and gives the falcon a gentle pet. "Humph," the Crane says, "You're trying to tell me you're not a bad influence on Toritaka-san, aren't you? I'm not sure I believe that."

He looks back at Hanatsuko, still not smiling but trying to play her game. "I won't say what I might do to his kobune," Masao says dryly. Then even that bit of humor fades. "Perhaps if you'd like a more entertaining reaction, ask me not about a man who I might have killed here a few hours ago." He pets Kuma again, trying to shake off his feelings from earlier in the day.

[Yoko]

"Oh, 'at's brae tae hear, Yoko-san. As fer me nights...."

Almost getting killed by a multiple-eyed monster, going back to meet it again and thankfully, if surprisingly, scaring it off... Then seeing the fisherman he had seen killed two days in a row actually hanging lanterns to save others?

"Well, the last 'un was finer than the previous 'uns, tha's fer sure. Jus'... Things been... eventful, yeah? "

He looks around, no Otomo to be seen apparently. He notices he hasn't seen the highest ranking one here, or so he thinks.

"P'haps e'en more sae fer Ronin, maybe?"

"You know- I woulda thought it'd be a little less exciting for someone like me considering everything. Just-" she laughed, shaking her head. "Nope, days just seem to keep getting more interesting.." she paused, thought on something as she glanced away a moment. With a smile she shook her head and looked back, "Anyway, here I am still standing, eh? You too, so that's good."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

The bird chatter is quite a distraction, and even as grumpy as Masao feels, he puts his fan away and gives the falcon a gentle pet. "Humph," the Crane says, "You're trying to tell me you're not a bad influence on Toritaka-san, aren't you? I'm not sure I believe that."

He looks back at Hanatsuko, still not smiling but trying to play her game. "I won't say what I might do to his kobune," Masao says dryly. Then even that bit of humor fades. "Perhaps if you'd like a more entertaining reaction, ask me not about a man who I might have killed here a few hours ago." He pets Kuma again, trying to shake off his feelings from earlier in the day.

"I'll askthen how do you like your wing man on your shoulder then?" She smiled. "Kuma is one to... incite less violence toward the Wasps."

[Kakita Masao]

"A calming wingman, eh?" He looks at Kuma critically. "Well, I do trust everything that Toritaka-san tells me." He pets the bird while looking back to Hanatsuko. "Except when she's teasing," he says with a half smile. They're in a very public place, but he can take a step closer without any hint of impropriety, and he does. He says, in a voice quiet enough that only she and Kuma hear, "I hope we might try teasing again, somewhere else. Here, and it being... him..." Masao sighs. "I was thankful to be distracted by Otomo-san while you were speaking with him. It might have been very unfortunate if I had come over to you." He looks a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry I wasn't more fun to play with tonight."

[Ichiro Taiki]

"You know- I woulda thought it'd be a little less exciting for someone like me considering everything. Just-" she laughed, shaking her head. "Nope, days just seem to keep getting more interesting.." she paused, thought on something as she glanced away a moment. With a smile she shook her head and looked back, "Anyway, here I am still standing, eh? You too, so that's good."

He chuckles and nods. "'at it is!"

That said, he looks around for a moment, as if assessing who's around - or still around. He then says, in a slightly lower voice. "Sae... Yoko-san kent Oturi-denka frae afair then, eh? She seems..." he's got a smile on his face, so it's clear whatever he was going to say was positive, but for some reason he refrains from saying it. "A guess a mean... how does Yoko-san feel aboot... i' aw?"

[Yoko]

He chuckles and nods. "'at it is!"

That said, he looks around for a moment, as if assessing who's around - or still around. He then says, in a slightly lower voice. "Sae... Yoko-san kent Oturi-denka frae afair then, eh? She seems..." he's got a smile on his face, so it's clear whatever he was going to say was positive, but for some reason he refrains from saying it. "A guess a mean... how does Yoko-san feel aboot... i' aw?"

"Good-" she said simply, a short response. Inward with the thought for a moment, "Honest? She, more than anyone, deserves it, far as I'm concerned. Has a good heart, sense of doing right, humble in the right ways," she shrugged. "Not for me to judge or say, but she's a woman I'd follow happily. Which.." she glances away a little, smirking with an awkward little laugh. ".. probably not good to say, but that's a pretty high bar I set for myself."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"A calming wingman, eh?" He looks at Kuma critically. "Well, I do trust everything that Toritaka-san tells me." He pets the bird while looking back to Hanatsuko. "Except when she's teasing," he says with a half smile. They're in a very public place, but he can take a step closer without any hint of impropriety, and he does. He says, in a voice quiet enough that only she and Kuma hear, "I hope we might try teasing again, somewhere else. Here, and it being... him..." Masao sighs. "I was thankful to be distracted by Otomo-san while you were speaking with him. It might have been very unfortunate if I had come over to you." He looks a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry I wasn't more fun to play with tonight."

"You may be surprised at my peace keeping abilities, Kakita sama." She smirked. "To me ..." She whispered "You are always fun."

[Kakita Masao]

The Crane gets a warm and tingly feeling in his heart, and a loving smile appears on his face. Belatedly, his fan whips back in front of his face, and his eyes close as he silently curses himself. Gonna have to do better than that in court, grandson. Notching gives away a secret like your face.

After a moment recovering himself, Masao looks at Hanatsuko over the fan, his eyes showing the joy she brings him. He restores his on enough to lower his fan and close it, and he says to her quietly, "I should probably have learned by now that you accomplish what you set out to do."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

"With friends like Kuma and Sari, I rarely fail." The woman nodded. "A samurai is as good as their word and their action speak louder than words." She wished she had a fan but her sleeve must do. "I am not properly equipped for this nor any courtly battle I must admit..." She whispered to the Kakita.

[Kakita Masao]

"With friends like Kuma and Sari, I rarely fail." The woman nodded. "A samurai is as good as their word and their action speak louder than words." She wished she had a fan but her sleeve must do. "I am not properly equipped for this nor any courtly battle I must admit..." She whispered to the Kakita.

Masao smiled, remembering in previous days a little less confidence. "Actions speak louder than words, hai. So let us act. May I walk you back to town? Along the way, we might speak of hope that neither of us should be in a courtly battle." He smiles at her affectionately. Watch it there, grandson, he hears in his head, but he makes no move to open his fan again.

[Hida Daichi]

"Come now, Hida-sama, it's not so bad here; A nice bath, a nice beach, some wonderful local tea, lots of interesting people... Perhaps you look for more excitement than just everyday pleasantries though? Certainly fighting evil creatures like that is far from what most would look for for excitement. Then again, most people aren't bushi, so I can't say I don't understand, in a way."

Daichi laughed "yes it certainly isn't the worst place in the Empire but trust me the number of interesting people sharply drops when there's no event happening. Far fewer beautiful Dragon warriors too." He said with a wink both physical and verbal

"And yeah I mean the Wall is an interesting place to be, lots of new faces coming in all the time and get to test yourself against some of the most dangerous things we've seen. Certainly not the place for everyone but not a bad place if you like danger."

[Toritaka Hanatsuko]

Masao smiled, remembering in previous days a little less confidence. "Actions speak louder than words, hai. So let us act. May I walk you back to town? Along the way, we might speak of hope that neither of us should be in a courtly battle." He smiles at her affectionately. Watch it there, grandson, he hears in his head, but he makes no move to open his fan again.

She gave a gracious bow. "I will be honored to be escorted by Kakita sama."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Daichi laughed "yes it certainly isn't the worst place in the Empire but trust me the number of interesting people sharply drops when there's no event happening. Far fewer beautiful Dragon warriors too." He said with a wink both physical and verbal

"And yeah I mean the Wall is an interesting place to be, lots of new faces coming in all the time and get to test yourself against some of the most dangerous things we've seen. Certainly not the place for everyone but not a bad place if you like danger."

"I neither like nor dislike danger. I do like being called beautiful, and a warrior though. Has a nice ring to it. Though I do see how the village could be a little less interesting without such people around; I will confess that it's hard to be too interested in the locals as a samurai; Especially when you're on the job rather than at a wedding."

[Hida Daichi]

"Well it appears you just enjoy hearing the truth, your beauty is evident to any who look though I suppose I have nothing but your word that you are indeed a warrior but you do not seem the type to lie."

"The village is as it always is, functional but uninteresting. The people here work hard but outside of the Hole nothing terribly interesting ever happens."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Oh, that's the sort of place you'd rather be right now, hm? I confess, having been there once, not my sort of place per say. Though the drinks were as fine as any other when the mood struck."

[Ichiro Taiki]

"Good-" she said simply, a short response. Inward with the thought for a moment, "Honest? She, more than anyone, deserves it, far as I'm concerned. Has a good heart, sense of doing right, humble in the right ways," she shrugged. "Not for me to judge or say, but she's a woman I'd follow happily. Which.." she glances away a little, smirking with an awkward little laugh. ".. probably not good to say, but that's a pretty high bar I set for myself."

He nodded, a smile on his face. "'Och, nae fer me tae judge awso, o'course!", he says with a chuckle. "Bu' fer wha it's worth... at's nice to hear."

His face, if not his words, make it very clear he trusts her greatly.

"'En... 's tha' mean ye wull follow 'er, then?"

OOC:
Argh, sorry for the very late answer, missed this here during the chaotic weekend!