Day 1, LM - Makin My Way Downtown (open)

[Kitsuki Naida]

Having crossed the border, Naida made her way leisurely to Fire Shrimp Village and the promised festivities. She was in no particular hurry and walked at a comfortable pace, enjoying the day.

[Doji Soon-ja]

An elderly Crane woman was also making her way down to Fire Shrimp Village. Her kimono was richly embroidered, if a little dusty from travel around the hem, and she hobbled slowly along the path, leaning heavily on a walking stick.

"Ahh, good morning," the Crane said in a high, reedy voice, and smiling upon seeing Naida. "I'm Doji Soon-ja."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"And this one is Kakita Naida. Ma'am."

Naida stopped and gave a bow. She liked walking with old people, usually; They had good stories, and usually weren't in a hurry to get anywhere.

"Heading towards Fire Shrimp Village as well?"

[Shosuro Himeko]

Another was walking nearby. Kiseru in hand, the rather pretty woman in Scorpion colours had gone through the checkpoint with no issues whatsoever. She hummed a soft tune as she walked, keeping a watching eye on those around her. The Crane and Dragon samurai caught her attention, as they seemed to be heading in the same direction as her, and she gravitated towards them. Offering a polite bow but not interrupting their conversation unless invited.

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma joined the impromptu caravan traveling between the guard post and the village. He saw Crane and Dragon on the road before him, the usual routine in a way. And also Scorpion. Not exactly a surprise either.

Another was walking nearby. Kiseru in hand, the rather pretty woman in Scorpion colours had gone through the checkpoint with no issues whatsoever. She hummed a soft tune as she walked, keeping a watching eye on those around her. The Crane and Dragon samurai caught her attention, as they seemed to be heading in the same direction as her, and she gravitated towards them. Offering a polite bow but not interrupting their conversation unless invited.

He walked toward the petite... courtier? shugenja? not bushi at least. And bowed:

"Good morning Shosuro-sama. Doji Yuma of the Crane. Pleased to meet you. Are you headed to the wedding too?"

[Bayushi Shitoru]

Shitoru walked silently behind Himeko. A generous space was given to her as he only seemed to watch for her safety and not interrupt or overhear any discussion she may have. The bushi's eyes wandered from her and the strange shugenja to the old woman and the other strange...dragon?

He was quiet for then. No need to barge into anything and he'd done enough talking back in the Sparrow village to last him some time.

[Shosuro Himeko]

He walked toward the petite... courtier? shugenja? not bushi at least. And bowed:

"Good morning Shosuro-sama. Doji Yuma of the Crane. Pleased to meet you. Are you headed to the wedding too?"

Her attention claimed, Himeko smiled and bowed to the Crane shugenja - that spell scroll bag a dead giveaway - and said "good morning Doji-sama. I hope you are well? I am Shosuro Himeko. Hai, you have guessed correctly, I'm heading to the prestigious wedding between your clan and our mutual friends the Crab. Seems the weather is even in a celebratory mood, ne?"

[Doji Soon-ja]

"And this one is Kakita Naida. Ma'am."

Naida stopped and gave a bow. She liked walking with old people, usually; They had good stories, and usually weren't in a hurry to get anywhere.

"Heading towards Fire Shrimp Village as well?"

"A pleasure to meet you," the elderly Crane said, bowing creakily before continuing at her slow pace. "Yes, indeed, I'm heading to Fire Shrimp Village. For the wedding, you know. It's a fine thing, building another link between the Crab Clan and our own, don't you think?"

The Crane and Dragon samurai caught her attention, as they seemed to be heading in the same direction as her, and she gravitated towards them. Offering a polite bow but not interrupting their conversation unless invited.

Noticing the Scorpion drawing near, the Crane bowed again. "Good morning," she said. "Shall we all travel together? Company makes a journey more pleasant. I'm Doji Soon-ja."

[Doji Yuma]

Her attention claimed, Himeko smiled and bowed to the Crane shugenja - that spell scroll bag a dead giveaway - and said "good morning Doji-sama. I hope you are well? I am Shosuro Himeko. Hai, you have guessed correctly, I'm heading to the prestigious wedding between your clan and our mutual friends the Crab. Seems the weather is even in a celebratory mood, ne?"

Yuma glanced at the sky but saw no obvious sign of fortune or misfortune so he guessed she was only making small talk not referencing an omen.

So he just nodded noncommittally:

"Indeed. Could it be that you're friend or family of one of the betrothed? I have no relation to them myself, having most be called simply to support my betters."

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Good morning," she said. "Shall we all travel together? Company makes a journey more pleasant. I'm Doji Soon-ja."

From back several paces, Shitoru returned the elder's greeting with a bow, but did not approach, content to keep to himself for that moment.

[Kitsuki Naida]

So crowded suddenly, "Well, the more feet the lighter the step, or so they say."

She actually found the otherwise, usually.

"I suppose I should hardly be surprised with the lines at the border, and with my leisurely walking pace. Kitsuki Naida, if none of the rest of you heard."

A slight bow, a dipping of her horned hat.

"And it's a prestigious wedding now, is it? Hopefully the food and drink is equally prestigious then, neh?"

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Let us hope so, Kitsuki-san," Soon-ja said with a smile. "It has been some time since I have eaten Crab cuisine, and my stomach is not what it used to be. But I am sure our hosts will do their utmost to provide their best for us."

[Shosuro Himeko]

Noticing the Scorpion drawing near, the Crane bowed again. "Good morning," she said. "Shall we all travel together? Company makes a journey more pleasant. I'm Doji Soon-ja."

"We do seem to be heading in the same direction Doji-sama" Himeko said with a smile, bowing respectfully to the old woman "I am Shosuro Himeko."

Yuma glanced at the sky but saw no obvious sign of fortune or misfortune so he guessed she was only making small talk not referencing an omen.

So he just nodded noncommittally:

"Indeed. Could it be that you're friend or family of one of the betrothed? I have no relation to them myself, having most be called simply to support my betters."

"I have never met neither the bride nor the groom, something I should hope to change very shortly. I'm just an honoured guest, here to observe the growing relations between two clans which can only promote more peace within Rokugan" Himeko said with a smile "that can only be a good thing, ne?"

[Doji Yuma]

As the group got more compact, Yuma bowed to both the Dragon and the other Crane:

"Doji Yuma. Pleased to meet you."

"I have never met neither the bride nor the groom, something I should hope to change very shortly. I'm just an honoured guest, here to observe the growing relations between two clans which can only promote more peace within Rokugan" Himeko said with a smile "that can only be a good thing, ne?"

"Peace itself is always a good thing but not all peaces are made equal. There is an infinity of nuances and variations in peace, from the dreaded peace through mutual annihilation to the ideal peace through mutual acceptance. Achieving a good peace is almost as hard as achieving peace itself."

He quickly glanced at her luggage:

"If you cannot rely on family will you be staying at the inn? Or is there some Scorpion embassy in the village?"

Also, noticing that were followed by a Scorpion warrior:

"Your bodyguard?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida noticed said bodyguard as well finally and made a muttered excuse about the pace being too fast before dropping back. She fell in step with the Bayushi."

From back several paces, Shitoru returned the elder's greeting with a bow, but did not approach, content to keep to himself for that moment.

"Hello, Bayushi-san. Nice hat."

She kept it short; It was nice and quieter back here, and she had no urge to be the one to break the silence too much.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Hello, Bayushi-san. Nice hat."

She kept it short; It was nice and quieter back here, and she had no urge to be the one to break the silence too much.

A grunt and nod.

"Likewise."

He continued, silently feeling out the kenshi walkimg next to him.

[Shosuro Himeko]

"Peace itself is always a good thing but not all peaces are made equal. There is an infinity of nuances and variations in peace, from the dreaded peace through mutual annihilation to the ideal peace through mutual acceptance. Achieving a good peace is almost as hard as achieving peace itself."

He quickly glanced at her luggage:

"If you cannot rely on family will you be staying at the inn? Or is there some Scorpion embassy in the village?"

Also, noticing that were followed by a Scorpion warrior:

"Your bodyguard?"

"As far as I'm aware this village has no embassies. I imagine I will be staying in one of the local inns. However if Doji-san has somewhere she recommends or would rather I stay I'm certain it can be arranged" there was a small teasing smile on the womans face as she peeked back at Shitoru.

"Bayushi-san is a dear friend of mine. I wouldn't say he's a bodyguard, however if I were to be in danger I would feel safe knowing he was watching over me."

[Doji Yuma]

"As far as I'm aware this village has no embassies. I imagine I will be staying in one of the local inns. However if Doji-san has somewhere she recommends or would rather I stay I'm certain it can be arranged" there was a small teasing smile on the womans face as she peeked back at Shitoru.

"Bayushi-san is a dear friend of mine. I wouldn't say he's a bodyguard, however if I were to be in danger I would feel safe knowing he was watching over me."

If there was any innuendo it went miles above Yuma's head:

"Sorry can't help you there. Know close to nothing about the village the ceremony will take place. The Crab said they would provide housing for the Crane for the duration of the wedding. If there is no similar arrangement for other guests, I guess you are on your own unless you manage to persuade them to extend their generosity to... the two of you? Or are you two part of a bigger delegation?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

A grunt and nod.

"Likewise."

He continued, silently feeling out the kenshi walking next to him.

For her part Naida just quietly walked, paying more attention to the scenery around than the masked man beside her. She hummed quietly to herself with her hands together behind her, under her traveling pack. She was just about the same height as Shitoru, so he could easily she her slightly luminous earrings swaying as they moved from behind her black hair occasionally.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

For her part Naida just quietly walked, paying more attention to the scenery around than the masked man beside her. She hummed quietly to herself with her hands together behind her, under her traveling pack. She was just about the same height as Shitoru, so he could easily she her slightly luminous earrings swaying as they moved from behind her black hair occasionally.

And the quiet continued for a while between them, even as others spoke. Shitoru knew he'd be doing a great deal of unnecessary talking in the village and it was nice to share a quite space with someone on the moment.

Eventually, however, he nodded to her again.

"Bayushi Shitou, of blackened sight castle", he introduced himself.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Hm?"

The words seemed to break her out of a sort of reverie, looking to the man before it seemed to register, "Ah. This one is Kitsuki Shion, born of Shiro Kitsuki and trained at the Iron Mountain Dojo. ...a nice day out for traveling, no?"

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Quite", he answered and kept walking on, watching the trees and birds. "What brings a dragon this far south, Kitsuki-san?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Wedding. Not every day you get an invitation to one of those from your lord."

At least it wasn't a common thing in her experience.

[Bayushi Shitoru]

"Indeed not", he said in agreement. "Have much wedding experience?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Not in the slightest. You?"

Another glance in the masked man's direction.