[Moon 11, Foredeck, Afternoon] Navigation station (Open)

[Rixy]

"Exactly so." The woman gave him another sidelong glance, approval clear. "Now, the Taisa doesn't hold with it but he lets us al captain our own ships. If you see a bit of a spark or two on our decks, well, don't go raising the alarm if Isawa-san puts you up on watch, mm?"

[Akodo Jishaku]

The Lion nods. "A Captain is the daimyo of his or her ship, so I'll be satisfied knowing what the cause is Daidoji-sama. Unneccessary alarms tend to make the real ones go unnoticed." He gives her a wry smile. "Any sparks on this ship and I'll be roaring though."

[Rixy]

She laughed again. "With Moshi-san on board? Sparks won't be as surprising as you might think...especially if someone makes her really lose her temper."

[Akodo Jishaku]

So she hasn't lost her temper yet...good to know. "I'll remember to bear that in mind Daidoji-sama." He looks out ahead, enjoying the view and the salt air.

[Rixy]

Kiriyo, it seemed, was content in silence because she said nothing more for a time, making minute adjustments to the wheel in accordance to shifts in the tides and current. After a while, she asked, "Have you ever actually steered, Akodo-san?"

[Akodo Jishaku]

The Lion blinks. "Nothing that was large enough to justify an actual wheel Daidoji-sama. I hope to earn the opportunity one day." I have imagined myself steering a ship since I was a cub. He watches how she handles the ship, impressed.

[Rixy]

"Come over here, then."

She stepped aside, though she kept one hand on the wheel.

"Let's see what you make of the feel of the sea against your hands."

[Akodo Jishaku]

Don't have to ask me twice. He is at the wheel in a flash. "Thank you Daidoji-sama." Taking the wheel he revels in the sensation as the ocean currents try to push the boat one way, whilst he works on holding the Half Moon steady. With a fierce smile he relished every moment.

[Rixy]

"Ease your grip some."

The Daidoji studied his posture more than his bearing.

"Just as you'll overtire your swordarm with too tight a hold, so too will you wear out if you don't use your body right at the wheel. Steersman as to stay on their feet for a long stretch of time and has to hold steady without cramps or weakness...the waves are on the gentle side now but when it picks up, good stance is vital."

She tapped her own hand, still on one of the spokes, with it's mate. "Like this..."

[Akodo Jishaku]

He nods and follows her direction, modifying his posture and relaxing muscles that were being used needlessly. It felt quite different. "I understand, thank you Daidoji-sama. Is this better?" He moves a hand to the spoke above hers, placing it in a similar manner and doing his best to relax into the posture. Thanks to his innate direction sense he could tell when the ship started to move off course and corrected accordingly, if a little stiffly.

[Rixy]

She studied the way his muscles moved under his clothes, then nodded. "Just so, though you're going to have to build the muscles in your lower leg up a bit if you plan to do much standing. Most folks just think of movement as hard, never think of how hard it is to remain still for candlemarks at a time."

Looking out to sea again, she murmured, "I manned a helm for two days straight once...my calves didn't give up on cramping for a solid week after."

[Akodo Jishaku]

"Would you recommend any specific exercises for doing so Daidoji-sama, or should I just practice standing in one place for as long as I can manage?" He remains focused on his posture and maintaining the direction of the ship. "If I may ask, how long have you served in the Imperial navy Daidoji-sama?"

[Rixy]

"Seven years." A faint smile crossed her face. "I joined up as soon as I could, it was all I ever wanted to do. I did some time with the Crab navy in school and right after gempukku and I missed it sorely when I got dragged ashore to marry. As for strength...build the muscle of calves and feet. Climbing up steps in the hold with weights is a help."

[Akodo Jishaku]

The Lion smiles. "I too have felt the call of the ocean for as long as I can remember Daidoji-sama. It feels like home, though perhaps that is a little strange for a Lion to say." He shrugs. "I'll see about getting my calves into shape. This is fantastic."

[Rixy]

She snorted. "Lion have rivers. Sea is different, yes, but it's still enough to whet the appetite for the feel of power under your feet. It's really only the Dragon who come to sea I find strange..no boats through the mountains, eh?"

[Akodo Jishaku]

"I've only seen one so far, could be more being sick in the hold of course." He grins. "But yes, most of my experience was on the rivers. I did see some action in the bay near Otosan Uchi. Closest I've been to actual ocean combat."

[Rixy]

"Once you taste the power in the danger of it, no other battle is ever the same." The Daidoji women sounded almost hungry, her eyes seeing not the sea but visions of battles past. "I tried cavalry once...it's not the same."

[Akodo Jishaku]

"I leave the horses to the Unicorn. They don't like me...but then lions eat horses so it makes perfect sense." The wry smiles touches his lips and he tries to imagine ship to ship combat in a roiling storm.

[Rixy]

At that she turned to face him, face twisted in disgust. "You'd damn fucking well be joking..."

[Akodo Jishaku]

At that she turned to face him, face twisted in disgust. "You'd damn fucking well be joking..."

"Oh, did you think I meant..." He looks disgusted himself and manages not to gag at the thought of eating red meat. "I was talking about the big cats Daidoji-sama. Lion cavalry have to keep their horses well away from our beastmasters in case their steeds end up with claw marks or as breakfast. Hence horses don't like lions. I was attempting to be metaphorical but it doesn't seem to suit me. Apologies."