[Day 5, Mid-Afternoon, Baths] - Can't wait anymore

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko wanted to remain on the ship. She knew the ship. It was safe on the ship. It was familiar. It was comfortable.

It was without a proper bath.

She had bathed in the small tub on-board as often as she could, but all the same, nothing felt as good as a good bath. And kami knew when she would next get the chance.

Getting herself ready as quickly as she could, Seiko took a moment to appreciate the fact that no one was around. At least, no one for now.

One foot in the water was all it took for the Kaiu to let out a soft sigh of bliss.

This... was worth it!

[Akodo Jishaku]

Jishaku stalked into the bathhouse with an intense look on his face. He was already soaked from the inspection of the City's defenses with his clansmen, but rain was no substitute for a good bath. The rain didn't bother him so much when he was on the ship, but this downpour was souring his mood.

No. It's not the storm, it's the assignment.

With a sound that almost resembled a growl he stepped out of his kimono, letting it slide to the floor as he walked naked over to the baths. He was so self-absorbed that he didn't see the Crab at first and was right next to her by the time he paid enough attention to see she was there.

"Ah. Um. Afternoon Kaiu-san."

With a slightly apologetic smile the Cub slipped into the water, closing his eyes and sighing at the glorious feeling of clean, hot water.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko looked down a little demurely as Jishaku slipped into the water.

"Konnichiwa, um..." Great! What was his name again? "...Cub."

That... could have been done better.

"I... don't recall actually introducing myself. Forgive me. This one is Kaiu Seiko."

[Akodo Jishaku]

The Lion slides his face under the water and then back out again as the Crab speaks to him. Awkward, but no matter. "Well met Kaiu Seiko-san. Akodo Jishaku, but I suppose Cub will do given that we are shipmates now." He smiles. "I have seen you around the ship, but being on different shifts in different locations doesn't make for ease of conversation. How are you finding the voyage so far?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko sighed.

"Only one real storm so far, and that was today." She looked a little disappointed at the Lion. "Storms in the harbor are not nearly as exciting as storms at sea."

There was a pause, which could have been easily filled by the shrugging of shoulders, although the Crab did not do so. After a bit, she continued.

"But other than that, I have no cause for complaint."

[Akodo Jishaku]

That at least brings a genuine smile to the Lion's face as he sits up against the edge of the baths. "Well there was that storm the day after we left port, seems like a long time ago now though." His gaze flicks back to her. "It feels strange to be on land again. I have always been more comfortable on or in the water."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko nodded in agreement.

"I found my sea legs the first day I was aboard the Half Moon. Now that I am on land, I find myself wishing that the ground under my feet would sway in gentle harmony."

She glanced back towards the harbor, a hint of wistfulness that vanished immediately on her face.

"Or not so gently."

[Akodo Jishaku]

"You like the storms then? I must admit it was quite an incredible sensation standing on deck for my first ever storm at sea." He waves a hand toward the doorway. "Not so enjoyable on land." Jishaku submerges again, allowing the cleansing waters to wash his tiredness away. When he rises he looks at her again. "So, what are your duties when we are actually sailing?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko nodded, easily admitting her fondness for storms. It was unlikely for Jishaku to have noticed however, submerged as he was.

When he came up for air, she was still smiling though.

"I am a shipwright. I do mostly carpentry on the Half Moon," she said, answering his question. "Although I am also cleared to work the ballista."

She paused.

"I prefer to do carpentry." The Kaiu looked at the Akodo. "But what of you?"

[Akodo Jishaku]

He nods appreciatively. "Carpentry and heavy weaponry eh? Interesting. I was curious about who would be manning the ballista in time of war." He runs a hand over his face and back over his head, brushing the hair away from his eyes.

"My duties mostly cover general seamanship and navigation, so I'm often in the wheelhouse. I have also studied naval strategy so I suppose I might be called in for tactical meetings but we'll see. For the moment I am assisting the Captain with his visits to the palace."

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Actually, I was thinking that the Asahina would," Seiko said in response to manning the balllista. "He... from what I heard... seemed to know his siege weaponry."

She paused, remembering why she heard about the Asahina.

"Of course... Moshi-gunso probably still is... less than thrilled with him still. So... you might be right."

The thought did not sit well with the Kaiu.

Then she caught the rest of what Jishaku had said.

"Assisting the Captain? I... am curious what that is about." She smiled, which made it appear that she was very interested in what the Lion had to say. In truth, she was interested, but not that interested. It was more that she didn't want the conversation to remain on the topic of ballista operation in times of war.

[Akodo Jishaku]

Jishaku gives her a charming smile. "Yes, I was there when Asahina-san had his discussion with Moshi-gunso."

He sinks back into the water slightly as he remembers his morning in the palace.

"Well this morning it meant being part of the Captain's escort as he met the Maharaja, who is in charge of their city. He is the top of their caste system. The visit involved being brought before their court and given the right to enter the palace."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko was quiet as she took that last bit of information in.

"The gaijin have courts of their own? I would not think they were... inclined... to such things." She paused. "So how do they compare to the courts in Rokugan?"

In truth, the Kaiu was torn about how she wanted Jishaku to respond to that. She knew how important the courts were, even for the Crabs... but the Crabs were not enamored of them, as a general rule of thumb. The Wall and the never-ending battle with the Shadowlands were the focal points of the the Crab Clan. But on the other hand... they were gaijin. To hear that they had courts with more splendor and protocol than even the best the Crab could offer...

[Akodo Jishaku]

"Ah, I am not the one to ask Kaiu-san. I have spent mercifully little time in the courts back home, and only the memories of my childhood at Kyuden Ikoma to compare them with."

He thinks back.

"At home you are less likely to be stared at in the way these gaijin do. They wear strange clothes, and possess a magic that enables communication between those who do not share a language."

The Lion shrugs, clearly not that interested in the court either.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko quietly contemplated this.

Gaijin staring... well, yes. They were gaijin. Staring was rude, but you couldn't expect a gaijin to know when not to be rude. But even aside from that, there was the fact that they were new... so it was understandable, even to Seiko, for a bunch of gaijin to be curious about them.

Strange clothes... gaijin. Figures.

Strange magic... that allows communication...

"It is a good thing that we all speak a civilized language and have no need for such tricks," she remarked at last, dismissing the wonders of the Ivory Kingdom as little more than parlor games.

[Akodo Jishaku]

"Hah, quite." He grins and closes his eyes. "And have you uncovered anything of interest in your time here Kaiu-san? Any information that might aid the Captain or tells us what we have gotten ourselves into here?"

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko shook her head.

"Iie. I have been staying on the ship as much as I can. This has been the first time I have been on land since we left port... ten days ago? Twelve?"

She shrugged.

"I'm sorry, Akodo-san. I'm... not one for braving the strange ways of gaijin."

There was a pause as she thought.

"Although... I might make an exception if I could get on-board one of their ships..."

[Akodo Jishaku]

"For a people of inferior culture and separated from the blessings of the Divine Empress, these gaijin can at least build quite impressive ships." He looks thoughtful.

"You might try speaking with their ambassador to us. Jayant Utpal, the gaijin we rescued from the wreckage. He might be able to arrange such a visit I suppose." His expression turns dark. "Not to mention that the vessel which destroyed his own is currently docked in the port."

[Kaiu Seiko]

The space of the pause was... a touch tense.

"Excuse me, Akodo-san," Seiko said, a slight thickness in her voice. "I must have misheard you. You... are... impressed? By their ships??"

Disbelief was definitely there.

...and the vessel that destroyed his own is... wait, what?

Gaijin politics. That must be it.

[Akodo Jishaku]

He gives her a funny look. "Quite impressive for savages Kaiu-san. I thought that was implicit."

And then he shrugs and shakes his head slowly.

"I can't see why they'd just leave that boat sitting there. They are a very strange people, which will make the next few days quite confusing I have no doubt."