[Map Room, Moon 7 Afternoon] The Lay of the Land - OPEN

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"That is the Shadowlands?" she says, looking at a section of the map with surprised eyes. "I had always imagined it to be far larger than that."

After a moment she turns her attention back to Uminushi. "Yes, it is."

[Volsung]

"Not as big?" The Yoritomo looked a little bewildered at that. "It will take us two weeks, a week and a half if we're lucky, to get to the Coral Islands because we have to go around them, into deep water." The Yoritomo chuckled slightly. "I suggest claiming a bucket now before everyone else. You won't get a chance after we hit our first high seas."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminushi had the good sense not to laugh at Soyoko's comment. He grins and shrugs non-chalantly, "Everything looks smaller on a map."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"That long?" Rinzuki looks back to the map with surprise, and a hint of blush in her cheeks. "Perhaps I underestimated the scale of the map. I apologize for my foolish words."

"If I may inquire," she adds after a moment, "what does Yoritomo-sama mean by 'claiming a bucket?'"

[Volsung]

Soyoko glanced down at the map, then back to the Iuchi. "As Yoritomo-sama says, everything looks smaller on a map. An understandable misunderstanding if one is not used to the maps."

He then looked over to Uminushi, giving him a look of 'I'm betting on this one being among the first to need to find out'. But also indicating that maybe he should field this question, as he's her captain.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminushi shares an amused look with his Chui and shrugs again. His gaze slides towards the Iuchi as he chuckles, "Well, Iuchi-san, what Soyoko-san is trying to say is that Suitengu-no-kami isn't always kind to us seafarers. Especially those new to his realm. A ship's small and a bucket helps to keep unpleasantness in just one place..."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Is that so?" Rinzuki pulls herself back up to a standing position and places a hand on her belly as she looks down at it. "Truthfully, my stomach has remained quite settled since stepping onto the boat. I haven't quite gotten used to the rocking of the boat, but in that way, it's alot like riding a horse, isn't it?"

She looks up with a playful gleam in her eyes. "Granted, it's alot easier when you've got something between your legs to keep you from leaning too far to one side."

[Volsung]

Soyoko, for his part, nearly swallowed his tongue at that comment and his face turned a little red. "Hai, well, I would not suggest that here, Iuchi-san. The worst storms are like a bucking bronto that lasts for days." No, that's only going to encourage her isn't it...

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Not quite like riding a horse. Horses have their own pace, but the sea is unpredictable," he confirms with a devilish smile as Soyoko turns colors. "One moment, it's as gentle as a caress and the next it's trying to slap you around. Best thing to do is not to fight it and just rock with the motion. It can be quite pleasant once you get used to it."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Leave it to a Mantis to make sailing sound exciting," she says with a playful laugh. "I will try my best to just surrender myself to the will of the sea. Though given your description, I am somewhat surprised that it is refered to as a woman and not a man."

At Soyoko's comment, Rinzuki glances towards him and winks. "I can see why your Clan holds storms in such high regard."

[Volsung]

Their fun at Soyoko's expense didn't last too long. The Yoritomo got control of his emotions again fairly quickly. "Wouldn't suggest surrendering. That's a good way to drown." He doesn't break eye contact with the Iuchi immediately, but he doesn't seem to have any interest in joining in on the fun with her and the other captain. "You'll experience it yourself soon enough."

Oh it was easy enough to get a suggestion out of that, but the way he phrased it made it clear that was not how he had meant it at all.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

Uminushi just smiles, looking like the cat that ate the canary.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki flashes Soyoko a grin and leans back over the map, apparently quite interested in its intricate designs. "These really are beautiful maps," she says, bringing the conversation back to stable ground. "Did you make them yourselves?"

Her fingers glide over one of the areas that had been pointed out to her. "What sort of place are these Coral Islands?"

[Volsung]

Soyoko looked back at Rinzuki and slowly shook his head, "No, these were made by Imperial Mapmakers. I've little skill for making maps, just reading them."

Soyoko looked at Uminushi for a moment at that question before answering. "I've never been there myself, but I've heard stories from my father. Rather beautiful apparently, with all sorts of creatures and plants you'd never find in Rokugan. It's one of the main supply line between Rokugan and the Ivory Kingdoms."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Green, tropical, a touch humid," he makes vague gestures before coming across a thought, "Have you been to Mantis lands...?"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Unfortunately not," she says with a shake of her head. "I've been rather far south on the mainland, though. Is it much like the Crab lands during the summer?"

A sudden thought occurs to her, bringing a frown to her delicate features. "My wardrobe isn't suited for anything tropical. I'll have damp silk clinging to every inch of me."

Surprisingly, this seems to annoy the young shugenja.

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

His hand lifts, wobbling one way then the other, "In a manner of speaking... wetter I'd say. There are days where water will fall from a cloudless sky."

A small grin tugs at his mobile face at the Unicorn's dismay. "Leave off a few layers and see if you can't get the sleeves removed. It should do you and I'm sure the lads won't complain," Uminushi somehow manages to give the advice without smirking or leering. It was a talent.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"I suppose I do have an extra kimono," she mumbles, more to herself than to either man. After a moment of thought, she looks up and flashes a grateful smile at the captain. "Thank you for your advice, Yoritomo-sama. My stipend is already a bit light; I cannot imagine what buying a new wardrobe would have done to them."

[Yoritomo Uminushi]

"Mind you, the Sun can be fierce and most porcelain complexions won't last out here," he adds after another complicated bow full of unnecessary flourishes. The twinkle was back in his eyes, amusement glinting in their light blue depths.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Perhaps I should travel to the market and purchase a parasol...?" She considers this for a moment, her eyes moving back to Uminushi as if seeking his opinion.