Day 7, Early Afternoon, Open, Embassy Lunch

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

The Embassy staff did provide a nice lunch, when asked. Certainly, the Jade Sun would be a much more charming location to dine in, but the fog outside held the promise of death to the unwary. A scorpion may be many things, but unwary was not one of them. Still, lunch within the embassy had it's own charm, and perhaps even company....or if not company nice solitude.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I had been eatting meals in the embassy quite often now. I think some of the servants were perhaps starting to recognise me though I couldn't be sure. The odd fog and general unwelcomeness of the port city had put me off venturing outside much. There had been too many bad experiences recently. Perhaps I should return to ship soon.

I spotted another new face at lunch time. Or rather, a mask. I had generally gotten along quite well with Scorpion samurai in the past though. "Good day sama" I said, hoping to catch his attention while putting my miso soup down.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

It certainly wasn't hard to catch his attention, unless she'd fallen into the habit of addressing servants as sama. It was interesting how on this trip he slowly cycled through the clans. Perhaps someday he'd even meet a Unicorn from the ship.

Nobuyoshi offers a polite bow to the Dragon.

"Good Afternoon, Dragon-san." he offers politely. "I am Bayushi Nobuyoshi, would you care for some company for lunch this day?"

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I stand up and bow to the polite bushi "Mirumoto Tomoe. Now a Hohei aboard the Half Moon. Good to meet you Bayushi-san. Company would be pleasant..." I stop, running my eyes up and down the man, taking in his features that I could see, the look of his mask and possibly what it meant, replaying his words and trying to discern his tone of voice. It was always more difficult to assess a Scorpion. Finally I finish by staring him in the eyes for a good few seconds. How would he react?

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

His tone of voice is the same as always, flat and quiet, serviceable certainly, but a touch emotionless, cold, or simply indifferent. His reaction to the staring is quite similar, he neither challenges the Dragon or reciprocates. As a matter of fact, his eyes seem more focused on a spot about 3 feet behind the Dragon and over her left shoulder.

He takes a seat, offers a quick, if polite, prayer over his food.

After the lunch begins he opens with that most favorite of topics...

"Foggy out today." he offers, punting the conversational kemari ball back over to the Dragon.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I sit down. Well, he is either an indifferent man, used to staring or he doesn't see me as a threat at all. He isn't a coward though. Good. Some defiance is nice.

"Terribly foggy. The weather here is as tempermental as an Otomo child" I say, grinning. I have some more of my food while I muse about that.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

The Dragon's reply does draw a bit of attention from the Scorpion.

"Have you had experience with Otomo children, Mirumoto-san?" Nobuyoshi offers. "It's a colorful saying, but I'm curious to know if you speak from experience as well."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I chuckle and say "I haven't had any of my own, no". After another bite I reply more seriously "There were Otomo courtiers in Mantis lands. Not many but some..." and their children were quite spoilt. At least those that I saw. "You?"

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shakes his head.

"No, but I've been very focused on studying the way of the sword." Nobuyoshi offers. "Not really a topic of extreme interest to members of the Otomo."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I shake my head "Yes, I haven't ever heard of an Otomo kenjutsu master". I go back to my meal. The conversation is light and pleasant. I debate making it more serious or not. "How did you end up here then Bayushi-san?"

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi's gaze drifts back to the spot behind the Dragon.

"You could say it was my grandfather's desire." Nobuyoshi finally admits.

"The Dragon Clan's lands are not known for their easy access to the sea either."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

"Agreed. Luckily I spent a good deal of time in Mantis territories" I explain. I start to eat more heartily now, about halfway through my meal

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods, not in a hurry to finish his meal.

"Did you learn more about these lands in your time in Mantis lands, Mirumoto-san?" Nobuyoshi asks, slowly eating his rice.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I pick a grain of rice off of my lips and poke it into my mouth while thinking. "That would be about right. I spent some time reading up on them and learning the basics of the language. Quite a few Mantis sailors and courtiers seem to know it"

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

The Dragon's hand draws Nobuyoshi's attention, well at least his gaze, while she apparently off-handedly answered the question.

Absent-mindedness or flirting? The fun thing about proper Rokugani flirting was how easy it was to deny. he wonders.

"And now that you're here, is it everything you imagined, Mirumoto-san?" Nobuyoshi asks in his normal neutral tone.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

"Not really..." I reply as I think back on events of the past few days, particuarly those that I wish I could forget. "Not at all" I say after a pause. I sigh once, dejectedly. I really don't know where to begin with that. Instead I choose to just finish my meal

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi finishes his meal, and leaves the Mirumoto to her dejected thoughts for a bit. They had just met, after all, it wouldn't be proper to try and reach out to her.

He sips a bit of tea while considering what to speak of.

"You don't seem pleased by that." he states simply.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

"They worship demons and murder in their name". That is all I can say. Of course I am not pleased

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Tch, and I thought Toritaka-san had bad manners. He's at least a Crab. Does the Ninth have a reputation for being mannerless bores, or did I just get put on the ship with all of them rounded up? So Dragon philosophy paired with Mantis tale telling left you unprepared for reality? How truly truly shocking. Nobuyoshi thinks to himself while watching the Dragon go from sad to angry.

"So what are you going to do about it, Mirumoto-san? Nobuyoshi simply asks, curious as to her reaction to such a simple question.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

"Ignore it and perform my duty. My wishes matter not in the grand scheme of things" I say, moving on to my tea. What could I do about it? A silly question. Like I have any say in Rokugani policy nor the power to use my own initative to respond to things. I decide to change the subject. "I will guess that you are part of the Imperial fleet? How are you finding life aboard ship?"