Gazing (Day 11 late Evening Aft-deck Open)

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The fact of the matter was it really didn't mean much to him at all he wasn't much into heraldry after all and figured it was fine as long as he knew most of the major families of the clan's. Still though he though he had heard it a time or two so he nodded slightly. "I can't say I know much of the Nasu Shiba-san. No disrespect intended of course but I never learned much of the vassal families of the various families of the great clans and while I have heard a bit of em being the main shipwrights and sailors of the phoniex I haven't heard much else."

[Shiba Nozomi]

A flicker of a smile."That you've heard of us at all would make my father proud. Not many of us around..."

She tilts her head, causing most of her hair to slide slowly over her left shoulder."And you?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Myself? Oh I'm just plain ol Yoritomo Kaito both my parents were mantis and I've been on the sea for most of my life really. Was born on it in fact though I've only been a proper sailor for about 3 and a half years now. " He said as he scratched at his chin "The Half Moon here will be the fourth ship I served with."

[Shiba Nozomi]

4 ships in 3 1/2 years? That could either be good or bad... Nozomi isn't sure.

"Ano... this m-may be an o-odd question... b-but do you... s-sing?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The mantis grins. "Surely do but not well. Quite off key if I do say so myself." He cocks his head to the side for a moment before asking. "Do you wanna hear? Ol' Capn Saotoshi made sure we all knew some lil songs to sing to while away the time on deck."

[Shiba Nozomi]

The look she gives him is utterly thrilled. "In-t-tune is not required, or ex-ex-expected... unless you're C-Crane."

There'd been singing on board, yes, but Nozomi had never really been close enough to hear it. She changes how she's sitting, getting a bit more comfortable by lying down on her stomach, elbows against the deck, chin in hand.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Well he hadn't really ever sung in front of a audience before or even by himself but why not singing was more for fun then anything else anyways. Scanning his mine for one of the least bawdy songs he knew, some of the songs he knew being completely inapproiate for most young samurai-ko to hear. He began singing a traditional mantis sailing song.

It was as off key as he promised and he didn't sing too loud to avoid attracting attention but sing he did. It was a easy song to remember should the young phoniex wish and even had a easy to sing chorus all the easier to join in with.

[Shiba Nozomi]

Oh. My.

The man was simply awful. Nozomi wasn't sure which song he was trying to sing at first, until he hit the chorus. But the fact that he wasn't skilled, and was doing it anyway made her smile.

She lay her head down using her hands as a pillow and began to hum along with him. Eventually she begins to song the chorus too, albeit, very very softly. And even though she's really trying, she's just about as bad at it as he was. It reminded her of being on her cousin's ship...

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The mantis brings his song to and end and then chuckles. "Told ya I wasn't any good at it Shiba-san it was kind of you to join in with me though. Singing generally better with more people after all." He didn't seem to mind that she was a poor singer too in his mind it was that she sung at all that mattered.

[Shiba Nozomi]

She hides a bit of a smile and murmurs, "G-good thing we w-weren't drunk, or we'd have s-someone t-toss us overboard for wailing like c-cats."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The mantis laughs heartily at that. "Ah you're likely right about that one Shiba-san. That is unless we sing better drunk that it. Which when you're talking about how poorly I sing is a distinct possibility."

[Shiba Nozomi]

"You m-might, but I don't. I'm t-told I just get a little l-louder..."She holds up two fingers very close to each other. "W-which isn't good for an-anybody." She wrinkles her nose a little.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

He considered ther response for a moment pondering how much it likely took for the young woman to get drunk. One cup two at most likely. At her size any more would likely make her pass out. Maybe he could convince someone to bet on it later.

"I figure just about everyone gets louder when they drink Shiba-san. Knew a crab once he was pretty loud normally but when you got him drunk." He shook his head. "I'd be surprised if you couldn't hear em from half across the empire."

[Shiba Nozomi]

Musing, she replies, "I g-guess you're right. Except my br-brother. He gets really q-quiet. I was worried he f-fell asleep just sitting there... he n-normally is really... talkat-tive."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"It sounds a bit like he passed out to me but if he's still awake I guess not." His pipe makes its way into his mouth once again seeming to be some sort of habit he had at least when he held it. "Do you and your family drink together often or is it just one of those occasional things?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

"Well... it was af-after his wedding... so he m-might have just b-been in shock." Here she makes a noise that sounds almost like she's snickering.

"He s-says to this d-day he had a ha-hard time believing she ac-actually went th-through with it."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The Mantis laughed heartily at that a large smile playing over his features. "Likely shock then from what I have seen of weddings then." He replied laughter still in his eyes "I am guess though the wedding to his lady wife was something he wanted and not something arranged then? Or perhaps it was a bit of both?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

"B-both. They were the f-first born of each family, and p-promised before birth. And sh-she turned out to be b-beautiful, and demure... and just... perfect for h-him."

She yawns a little. "M-makes good dumplings, too."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

The mantis nodded slightly in response. "You don't find beautiful damure dumplin makers everyday it seems like your elder brother found a fine match for himself." Hearing her yawn he glanced over at the young woman. She was likely up past her bedtime.

"If you're gonna fall asleep out here ya might want to get yourself a bed Shiba-san. I don't think I know you quite well enough yet to share."

[Shiba Nozomi]

Blinking a little, her ears pink. Thankfully, it's hidden by the low light. The increase in her stutter, on the other hand, is not. "Ano... I d-didn't... I w-wasn't... um." She coughs lightly and moves to sit up.

"I m-mean, you're v-v-very nice and a-all... b-but..."