Gathering Waves (Day 1 Mid Morning, Sea fox)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Drinking had taken the place of their intended meeting a few days ago. Which left the new planning session for now. Not that Shouji really thought there would be that much planning.

Shifting aside a few pieces of furniture he made room for the main members of his crew in his cabin and waited for them to arrive.

[Yoritomo Koemi]

Koemi barged into the cabin and took one more peak outside. "Good to finally have the ship to ourselves," she said. "I feel like I can still smell Crane perfume all over the ship." She rubbed her nose. "Not that it's bad. Just... not something I'm used to."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That could just be my cologne." The Captain replied with a smile. "Though I understand what you mean. That many people on board and the whole ship feels crowded."

"It's nice to be finally able to stretch a bit."

[Yoritomo Katsu]

Katsu was there, early, as always.

"Captain." He said, giving a quick bow, nearly just a nod of the head. "Here, let me help." Grunting, he moved to take the other end of a piece of furniture.

[Moshi Meiko]

“It wasn’t that crowded, Captain-sama!”
Meiko sticks her head into the cabin with a wide smile.

“At least, I didn’t notice any lack of space.”
Meiko bows politely to all before perching on top of a sea chest.

[Moshi Minari]

"It was crowded," the less cheery Moshi followed up with as she followed behind Meiko. "Oof, it sure is good to have the ship to ourselves again. Fly free and what-not."

Minari had a big of a grumpy expression on her face this morning, though it was probably not from the lack of guests as they had been cleared out earlier.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Katsu is given a nod of thanks as the piece of furniture is moved towards the wall to give everyone a bit more room. "That might be because you're small enough to pack away in a sea chest, Meiko." The Captain observed.

Minari received a smile as she entered. She must be looking forward to her side of the bet. "It is nice to be on our own again. Even if we might just be ferrying most of those same people north at the end of this."

[Moshi Minari]

"Tch, figured as much. Must by why the omens didn't give me much this morning, except just saying unexpected things may or may not happen." She crossed her arms and found a wall to lean against.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That's not good." The Captain replied with a frown. "Sounds too likely that something is going to try and get in the way of this marriage with a reading like that."

[Yoritomo Katsu]

Katsu scowled. "That's an omen? Okay, great, let's maybe watch out for unexpected things."

He grabbed a chair for himself; First Mate's prerogative.

[Moshi Minari]

"Divination ain't a perfect art," she shrugged, "I will consult the coins once more tomorrow. Maybe things will be clearer then. But yeah, I agree with you captain. Seems like there's gonna be a lot of guests for this wedding, and some are probably not gonna hold their yaps shut when the priest asks if anyone opposes the marriage."

[Moshi Meiko]

“But what could destabilise the whole event!”
Meiko crosses her arms firmly
“We cannot let them ruin the wedding.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I suppose that leaves us the task of shutting them for them. Or at least drowning out any protests." There were enough of them to likely help with that.

"Still keep me advised of the omens, if there are any bad signs about I'd like to keep us out from under them." Shouji replied, kissing his fingertips before placing them over the jade pendant of Suitengu he kept tucked under his clothing.

" But you're right Meiko. So back to the topic on hand, who do we figure may try to stand in the weddings way?"

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Oh I'm used to your cologne by now," Koemi said, taking in another good whiff.

"It doesn't make sense... Unless, would someone from within one of the two clans interfere with the marriage? Perhaps some disinterest in the union?"

[Yoritomo Tetsuo]

The Last Mate arrived, scratch marks on his hands as he arrived.

"Archie did not like bathing." He glared at Minari. "We're at port Minari-sama, I'm not your servant anymore. Besides, shouldn't you get some Crane perfume for yourself, if you are to be the demure young lady?" He smirked, still finding the idea amazing.

"Hm, if someone is to disrupt the wedding, surely it is because they are deeply in love and cannot rule their passions....or something."

[Moshi Minari]

"Really?" She feigned surprise. "Still, good job. All that saltwater isn't good for him." Goodness knew how much sea water the cat actually drank while on the ship.

"And believe it or not, I do own perfume, tch." She was rather wealthy after all.

"As for interrupters, I suspect clans that might not want their neighbours and rivals to cozy up too much with eachother."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It's not all flowers and sunshine, but it is nice." Shouji agreed on the subject of Minari's perfume. "Either way, good job with Archie, as the Navigator said he needed that bath."

"Though that goes the same for most of us."

The Captain was right with Minari when it came to the who and she received a nod of agreement at her words. "Thats who I waa thinking too. Neighbors and anyone on bad terms with the Crane or Crab. Which probably isn't exactly a short list."

[Moshi Minari]

"Unicorn. Lion. Maybe Scorpion - who knows what those shifty bastards are up to or planning, right?" she frowned. "Never will understand those shit-heads anyway. Wear a mask to say they can't be trusted, then get all pissy and upset if you don't trust them."

"Who knows, maybe even some of the Crane or Crab don't want this wedding to happen. But from what I understand, it's good for business for us that it goes through without hindrance."

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Don't get too reigned in by the Scorpion," Koemi advised. "They might serve as a distraction. The obvious schemer might have someone in the background doing the actual work." She rubbed her chin. "Assuming that they have the foresight to do that. I've encountered some... less than savvy Scorpion in my time."

[Yoritomo Tetsuo]

"Well..the Otomo want this to happen. And they have a Scorpion yojimbo." He frowned slightly. "That seems weird. At least for me. A scorpion that only wants pillows of great warriors. What a weirdo."

[Moshi Meiko]

"It's almost certainly the Scorpion, I mean, it's always the Scorpion. Every book, the villain? Scorpion. Who nearly destroyed the empire? Scorpion."
Mieko nods seriously as though these were hard facts.
"I bet they'll have sent some here to cause trouble, we need to be on guard."

[Moshi Minari]

"So... be on guard for Scorpion-, or other clans, shenanigans, right? Make sure this marriage between Crane and Crab works out, and we all profit, right?"

Minari reached for her pipe, but for now, just twirled it between her fingers.


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D1 MM Compulsion Willpower: 3d10o10 15

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That's the long and short of it." The Captain agreed with a nod. "Though I should probably add that we should keep an eye open for others that might have a problem with the match." It couldn't be only the Scorpion.

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Would the Phoenix have any desire to interfere?" Koemi added. "They're not a fan of ours. And then there are also the Lion?" She looked towards Meiko, hoping their cultural attache also had more information on politics. "I'm not expert."

[Moshi Meiko]

"Would the Phoenix have any desire to interfere?" Koemi added. "They're not a fan of ours. And then there are also the Lion?" She looked towards Meiko, hoping their cultural attache also had more information on politics. "I'm not expert."

“Oh. Well obviously anyone opposed to the Crane would not want them to resolve peaceful relations with the Crab. So there are probably Lion elements opposed to it. The Phoenix might also be against it given their weakened state and it allows the Crane one less front to have to focus on.

The Scorpion are probably opposed, they’re opposed to most things in general. And I’m not sure where the unicorn and dragon fall on this. I only know things are really complicated in dragon land.”