Dead Man on Duty (Day 3, Morning, Open)

[Volsung]

Picking up the early shift, Furaito and Dageki stood at the Foredeck of the ship, watching out for dangers. The pair were especially alert for danger now that they had come across a wrecked fleet and brought a survivor on board. There were few words exchanged between the two, but they worked well together and used non-verbal queues to point out any possible impending threat.

If Dageki himself was feeling any tension at his impending death, he did not show any sign of it. His eyes cautiously watched the sea, though if he caught sight of a samurai he would give them an appropriate bow. Furaito seemed to be more tense than the older sailor though. Between threats in the water and death on the boat she was holding her spear a little tensely and bowed much deeper to any samurai that approached the pair.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi was still serving her shift and did a casual patrol of the deck, dressed in an outfit with black and crimson armour. She glanced out at the two heimen, giving each a nod as she strolled over to take the spot next to Dageki without any words for now.

[Volsung]

Furaito bowed deeply to the Bayushi as she approached and Dageki bowed as well. Furaito was happy to remain silent however unless she was asked a question. Dageki glanced to the Bayushi however, though for the most part he kept his watch.

"Did ya need somethin', Bayushi-sama? Or are you on watch too?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi turned to give the ashigaru a glance, thinking that it was obvious, then looked back to the seas. "I'm on watch here. How are we doing?" She asked simply as if it was a regular shift.

[Volsung]

Dageki shrugged. "No sign o' trouble. Whatever hit that gaijin fleet, looks like it's gone. Good thing too. I wouldn' want to wrangle with somethin' that took 'em out."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Good." Hoshi said simply in approval at the report as she watched the horizons a little longer. "Let's hope it stays that way, at least until when we're prepared later."

"How are we doing?" She asked again, in a different context.

[Volsung]

Dageki actually laughed at that question. "I'm as well as a dead man can be, Bayushi-sama. Ship's making good time. Few major incidents. Most of the crew looks like they might make passable sailors."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Oh. Dageki then?" Hoshi brought up when the man's situation gave him an identity, she did have a feeling long before though. She folded her arms together and gave the man another look. "For a dead man, you sound like you're taking it easily. It will be unfortunate to not have you wish us to finish the trip."

[Volsung]

Dageki smiled at the Bayushi. "That's me, Bayushi-sama. For the next day or so anyway." Then he shrugged. "Was gonna die some day. Wasn't the way I would have preferred, but being able to knowingly face your death ain't such a bad thing I fig're." The ashigaru looked back out at the sea. "You all are in good hands. Captain knows what he's doing."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

There was almost something samurai about how he accepted his death. She thought heimen who were at the end of the line would be less in control of themselves, the Scorpion typically didn't give them much time to lament their ways anyway. "That's thoughtful of you Dageki, I don't doubt the Captain, thank you. You're fortunate though, you have some time, and time to review your lesson before you're sent off to the next cycle."

[Volsung]

"Review my lesson? Mm, perhaps. And time to put matters in order before I die. At least Touhi will be taken care of once we get back to port."

Furaito, looking uncomfortable at the topic that was being discussed, and rather sad, moved on in her patrol to get away from the conversation.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Perhaps? There is a reason that you were brought where you are now Dageki. The least you can do take in this lesson to heart so it can be something you will take you with on the next cycle. Consider this a luxury little have. You have that, even if this is not how you wanted to die." She gave a few glances about. "...We do appreciate that you've put matters here in order, there is also the matter of putting yourself in the same way."

"Touhi?" She brought up the name curiously.

[Volsung]

Dageki shrugged at the first part. He was a heimin, not exactly well trained in the mysteries of life and their meanings.

"Touhi's my sister. The one that Daidoji knocked on the head so bad." The ashigaru looked only slightly disappointed that the Bayushi did not know any of their names.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi glanced impassively at the heimen's shrug, Tch, this is why Compassion is a waste of time... She matched his shrug with one of her own.

"Oh. So I see." She breathed out softly. "It's good that she will have a place in your absence. She'll have to bare the hardest burden of all."

[Volsung]

"Hai. Off boats too. She's never been much in love with the sea. I've set some things up for her that should help her forget this... get her educated as well." Dageki stared out at the sea with a smile on his face.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Does your family make a career of being ashigaru? Or you've made well with your request?"

[Volsung]

"Most've been on the sea, doin' this or that. Got a little brother stationed on another ship o' the Ninth. Crafter. Littler sister on apprenticeship, got the makings of a crafter as well." Dageki smiles a bit. "Touhi though, with some luck she'll be headin' up to the Phoenix."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Let's hope for that, the Phoenix Lands have a good standard for education in their heimen. With some luck it won't be too far from the seas. In the situation she should find her other sibling not too far away from a break in their duties."

[Volsung]

"So I've heard. Isawa-gunso was explainin' some of it as well. I dunno much about the Phoenix though." Dageki looked over at the woman, as though wondering if she could elucidate things more for the ashigaru.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi smiled faintly though her eyes. "I wish I could share more beyond what I've told you Dageki, I do know them as a reputably benevolent, from their legendary efforts to stop many wars and appreciation for peace, sometimes at great cost to themselves. They treat their heimen up north well enough, stories of their shugenja blessing the land are commonplace. Your sister will have a good home there."