[Day 2, Evening] - Once more, enjoy the night

[Kaiu Seiko]

"Hai," Seiko replied. "I heard that there was a bridge famous for being a favorite for lovers to meet. And there was a story about how two lovers did meet there, as arranged by their parents, and... you say this story is true?"

Details, details! Why can't I remember the details?

[Bayushi Hoshi]

“...” Hoshi gave a single blink at that, feel slightly embarrassed as they were indeed talking about different stories. Far too of an optimistic story to be true in Ryoko Owari, she thought. “Gomenasai, that one I wouldn’t know if it was entirely true. I’ve heard of a few variations really. The one I had in mind was of the lover who ended up waiting forever...and the one of the twin suicides...”

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko managed not to look crest-fallen. Still, it was disappointing and she couldn't hide it completely.

"I... see," she said. "I... have not had the honor of hearing that story. Either of them."

There was a silence between the two that threatened to become awkward.

"So... why don't you tell me about them? Those stories, I mean?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Mm... Hoshi let out a small breath as she weighed both her reason and confidence with telling the tale. She wasn't a particular good storyteller, nor one who made a habit of hearing many of them. Was it going to be a habit of people asking her of performances she had no talents in? Still, a try for the sake of entertainment wouldn't be bad. "I don't see why not. I could share one of them. But perhaps at another time? The drafts are strong here for a proper tale."

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko paused. It was something that had always bothered her, that one could get something just by requesting it. She had asked of a story from Hoshi... maybe it was some of the Yasuki in her ancestry, but it didn't seem right to just take the story as a gift. But on the other hand, she wasn't just taking the story as a gift, but she was avoiding the entire gift-giving tradition.

Yet to offer a story in return might be too much like an exchange of services, too much like being a merchant.

So what is the correct way to respond here again?

"Arigato, Bayushi-san. I look forward to hearing it, whenever you feel the time is right."

She gave the Scorpion a polite bow.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Seeing that Hoshi wasn’t a storytelling artisan by any means, she hardly expected her offer to be treated as any gift at all. Seiko would have to endure any mistakes she was likely to do in her future performance. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get by without the puppets.” Hoshi half-joked.

“I think I’ll be returning back down to rest my head for the evening, it was nice chatting with you Kaiu-san.” She bowed politely to excuse herself.

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko bowed politely back.

"Rest well, Bayushi-san."

She herself was likely to turn in, but wanted to wait a little first to enjoy the night alone.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

After partings were exchanged, Hoshi quietly made her way back down.

/exit

[Kaiu Seiko]

Seiko stayed for a while longer, enjoying the night air.

Then she too descended to take her rest.

/scene