{{I'll leave it to Hoshi if she wants to bring friends}}

As the sun began to sink from the sky, the den of ill repute that called itself the Black Elephant was once again bustling with people. Some were regulars, some were those seeking release from their woes, and some were those blown in by the wind with nowhere better to be.

Leaning against the wall just outside the door and fending off the occasional handsy man with a sharp tongue and the threat of a sharp blade stood a young woman, dressed practically in a pair of loose crimson pants and a black beaded choli, her bright gaze surveying the crowd hopefully.

With a bundle in one arm, Hoshi made her way through the streets of Lanka to retrace her steps to the Black Elephant. She had a feeling she discovered her way here before, now was just a matter of doing so while 'awake'. It was difficult for her to scan the sea of people to pick out her friend, more than likely that she would find her first. For the evening, Hoshi wasn't dressed in neither armour or finery, wearing the trouser and short sleeved top befitting of an Imperial sailor, she still stuck out sorely as a Rokugani.

Sure enough, her young friend appeared at her elbow well before Hoshi had a chance to find her. "Lady Hoshi!" Jada beamed at her, slipping her arm into one of Hoshi's without a thought. "You came, is good! Was afraid you disappeared." Giggling, she lead the way into the establishment, swatting men out of the way and, by the sounds of it, cursing the slow ones roundly as she fought her way toward the place where the regulars held sway.

Hoshi gave the girl a quick blink as she felt her arm tangle into hers. "-Ah...Jada. Good to see you as well." She smiled through the expression of her eyes as she was led through the den. From where she was taking her, this place wasn't a fancy to her if she was so familiar.

"What is the usual here again?"

By the grins on the faces of those there, Jada was one of them, though Hoshi got some rather odd looks.

Ignoring them, Jada found one of the small tables and two stools and plopped down on one, calling out for something called a 'hookah' before beaming at her friend. "For eating? Makes very good fish...spicy, though. Also, good kulcha, many kinds. Mostly, is for drinking or smoking here."

Hoshi slid down to the seat across from her and gave glance to the smoke around the place. If Hotei was responsible for that evening, the Fortune had good exotic taste. ”I don’t mind spicy food, I’ve had a good share of spicy food while I was assigned to Ryoko Owari. But drinks are good too...it almost makes me wished I dropped by later.” She lamented (partly) that she may have to book the rest of her evening off.

The girl grinned and then raised a hand, waving over one of the skimpily clad (which, in a land of such heat, was saying something) waitresses and firing off a spurt of orders. "I order what I like, you can share. Liked my choices before so should be good, yes?"?

The drink, of course, came first. There was a pot of tea, something every table got or so it appeared, but there were also several smaller bottles of red and brown liquids, enough for a glass each. Lifting one of the ones with red fluid, Jada happily poured. "Small, for trying. If one brings joy, we get more!"

Hoshi held up a hand to her mask to muffle a laugh, "There shouldn't be any cause for mishaps if we share the same tastes so far Jada." She smirked faintly and took in the environment of the place. Seeing that this wasn't the sort of place where one was required to hide their identity, she wondered what the real red light district was like in this part of the world.

She gave a nod in implied thanks for the pour and slipped of her mask. "Ah. Good thinking, I think I would like to try a lot of things here tonight."

"Enjoy while able, yes? Smart."

The red liquid had a spicy sweet taste which the girl happily explained as 'Fermented berries, with spice. Learned of from other far away people, not yours. Good taste but not too strong.'

'While able' meant a lot of things at the moment. It's been a while since Hoshi had the chance to taste sample alcohol, this was indeed the most exotic treat of all. She smiled in approval at the taste of spiced alcohol. "Mm...We don't have many berry wines like that."

"Not usual here, either. Mostly do rice or naariyal or even fruit of cashew." She tapped the first of the golden serves. "This is naariyal. Stronger, and better if we use fruit in it. Green ones, make lips like kiss..." As an example, she puckered her own rather lush mouth. "Very good. Should wait for food, though, or be too drunk too fast."

With an amused look, Hoshi watched her friend talk and stopped short of mimicking her motions. “-Ah. A good idea then. While we wait, I can give this...” She lifted the bundle she carried with her, which contained her clothes. ”...back to you. I’ve had the servants washed it too. Thank you for the loan Jada.”

The young woman laughed. "Friends like it? Looked nice, but not what I see your people wear."

The Scorpion smirked back. "...It managed to raise some attention, but I don't think many was particular wowed by it. I haven't earned any suitors yesterday. We tend to favour more full outfits back home, flowing whenever possible depending on both season, trend and status. It's a pretty outfit but not something people would wear in our lands. Like your current dress too." She complimented on her choli. "Bare arms aren't something that's taken too kindly on a maiden."

"No?" Jada examined her own with a small thoughtful frown. "Here, perfectly acceptable for warrior women. Need movement for using swords and smooth skin shows skill. No scars, see?"

Hoshi nodded in approval. "Oh, you are good Jada. Mm. I suppose it's to say that the worst warrior women are the ones who cover up the most? That's an amusing thought. I get the feeling that there are also many who wish to be modest as well. Modesty in skills is a common trait in where I'm from."

"No need to brag, is bad." Jada agreed. "That is why, let things show to brag in silence. Even women not warriors show things to do so...thinner weaves are more coin, so show of skin there shows beauty and good family, also richness of dowry."

Taking a long pull of her drink, she added, "Besides, is cooler. Very hot here."

It was hard to argue the practicality of it when it was maddeningly hot here. Hoshi followed her motion with a few sips of her own cup. "Almost the opposite when it comes to money in the Empire, if not exactly so....I would almost like to see what proper Crane maidens would do if they found themselves here. They favour full and multi-layered weaves. Sometimes even those of my own Clan when the trend is right. But here...Even a summer yukata can be too much clothing."

"Mm...then by your appearance, you must get many suitors as a capable woman of notable background." Now aware all of the attention she was getting was just because of the exposed midriff.

The girl shook her head. "Not of high station. Kshatriya, yes, but of minor house. Not wealthy, or else clothes would have more gold, better gems. Have to do much glorious to win a good husband...but not of worry so much now, eh?" She shrugged fatalistically. "Whispers say death comes. Get husband in next cycle, instead."

Hoshi knew little of the title's meaning, only that they were one of the nobles of the land. She smiled sadly at the fate that Jada resigned herself. What the Scorpion heard wasn't too far from that fact and more foolish than dishonest to say so otherwise. "You're bound to have me beat on getting a husband in either case." She joked in a light tone.

"Here..." From her shirt, she took out one of the few kanzashi she brought along to her duty at sea. She doubted there was going to be a need to look pretty again but no real reason not to 'smuggle' them on board. It was a black comb with the design and many butterflies flocking over it. "...There we go. We've meet only for a few short days but I owe you much already. This is some semblance of thanks until some how the Fortunes allow me to fairly pay you back Jada."