(Day 4, Streets, Early Afternoon, Open) Aah, smells like ...

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"...shit," the Wasp wrinkles her nose as she navigates the crowded streets of the city, her swagger clearly marking her as a sailor. She was glad she had opted to wear a pair of sandals for her exploration of this foreign city, but the romance of exploring distant lands was quickly fading in the ugly face of reality, Where's the smell of spices? The weird fruit? The spicy curries?

[Moshi Chihiroko]

"Tsuruchi-san? Tsuruchi-san!" A voice came from somewhere behind the woman wandering the streets.

[elonweis]

Despite the tension in the air, the two women received a few glances of curiosity. The children, especially, watched them pass from behind their mothers and from windows. Here and there the... eta? they must be eta, were doing their best to clear the streets of debris, but there were simply too many people.

Now and again, it was possible to catch that hint of the exotic as it drifted upon the fitful wind. Here a man frying up breads. There a woman doing brisk trade around large drums of curry, though there was inevitably the strong armed tough standing close by to keep order. At least, it seemed there was still enough food.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

Hearing someone speak Rokugani Kiyo turns towards the sound, "Konnichiwa Moshi-sama! I was just trying to find something edible in this chaos," the bolder children get an encouraging smile from the young Wasp and grins as the mothers try to shield them from her cursed gaze.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Pausing to catch her breath, she smiled. "What kind of something are you looking for?"

[elonweis]

Of course there was someone following the small Moshi. It was one of the servants from the embassy. A young woman with a kama tucked in to her belt. She looks worried as she follows the shugenja through the crowd, glancing this way and that. Chiaki knew that the captain of the Half Moon served both the Imperial Legions and was a higher ranking Mantis than any of the others at the port, but it didn't make her any less upset about having to babysit tourists.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Anything new and exotic," she grins, her mismatched eyes bright with enthusiasm, "But apparently they need coin here and I don't have any. At least that's what I think they meant, else they were being very rude..."

[Moshi Chihiroko]

"Maybe I can try and translate for you?" She half giggled at the situation as she looked back at her babysitter and nodded.

[elonweis]

The woman shrugs a little at the Moshi.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Hai that could work, if they were being rude I'd have to teach them some manners," she glances at the babysitter and back at Chihiroko, "I see you brought a guide?"

[Moshi Chihiroko]

"I suppose. The Captain said we have to bring someone with us." She shrugged and motioned for the Tsuruchi to head in whichever direction she wanted to go.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Oh... I must have missed that," she says with a bashful smile and turns towards their guide and sketches a bow, "I'm Tsuruchi Kiyo. Do you know where we can get something decent to eat?"

[elonweis]

"Chiaki," she replies with a proper enough bow. The woman was polite, "And it depends on what you want to eat, Tsuruchi-sama. The Jade Sun caters to the Rokugani as best they can. If you wanted, we could get food with one of the vendors, though generally their food is spicy and you risk getting the runs."

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"Hai ... let's avoid that," she scowls at the vendors, "I'm looking for something local, but clean... Do you have a favorite vendor? What does Moshi-sama think?"

[Moshi Chihiroko]

"I can eat just about anything. I rather like spicy foods. Cook them all the time. So we can go wherever Chiaki recommends." Another nod of approval.

[elonweis]

Chiaki bows once more and starts to lead them down the street. The woman heads for a small stall run by an old man who looked as if he had wrinkles piled upon wrinkles. He looks up when the three approach and smiles toothless, greeting the heimen with a friendly wave. The two exchange a few words, Chiaki holding up three fingers as the man nods in acknowledgement.

It was a matter of minutes before Chiaki was holding a large fried piece of dough stuffed with spiced chopped chicken and vegetables. She hands it and the banana leaf that wraps it to whoever takes it first. It was quickly followed by another and the last exchanged for some coin.

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

Kiyo eyes the bun-thing suspiciously when she takes it from Chiaki and gives it a sniff before shrugging, I've come this far, and takes a large bite out of it. Chewing thoroughly to savour the wall of flavours that hits her, "Pretty good," she approves.

[Moshi Chihiroko]

Taking her's, Chihiroko took a bite and nodded in approval. "Just like my mother used to make when she had a chance. Very delicious."

Then she took another bite.

[elonweis]

"I'm glad," she murmurs as she eats her own pastry. Between bites she asks, feeling a bit more friendly to the two women, "Is there anything in particular that Tsuruchi-sama and Moshi-sama are looking for...?"

[Tsuruchi Kiyo]

"I'm trying to get a feel for the city and the people and hope to get a bite to eat in the process," she replies between bites, "So this is one out of two so far."