(Moon 7, Distillery) Please Help!!!

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi frowns, not caring for the topic.

"Then let us hope you can convince the kittens not to hunt rats."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"I can try. Persuasion's not my best skill but at least we have size on our side."

He patted the one he carried gently.

"These fellows are too small to take a rat right now. It'll be weeks before that happens so I've got time to work on convincing them mice are good enough and to leave the big boys to the ferrets.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Supposing that we can't get them not to hunt rats. Do you know any ways we might counter or divert Daikoku-kami's displeasure away from the Captains familly? Was his condition for letting me take them aboard."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"You could start feeding the rats so they breed enough to replace the losses, I suppose..." The big Phoenix rubbed his chin. "Or you'll need to be making a very hefty donation to his temple come landfall. Zeni a rat would be good, though a bu would be better."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Ah, I think i'll avoid breeding rats, don't want our stores to get overun by them. I will be sure to visit his temple and pay my proper respects and tribute when we return to land, and will add prayers to Daikoku-kami to my morning routines."

[Isawa O-Washi]

He nodded absently, descending the stairs and wandering the hold with the ease of having arranged it all. At the back near the bilge were two berths, one occupied by a sleeping man, the other empty. He stopped, peering around with a frown.
"Figures..."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi stops behind him and tries to look around the large phoenix, and with how difficult that is, gives up and starts glancing around for rats.

[Isawa O-Washi]

{{Investigation/PER (search) or Hunting/PER, our choice}}

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Investigation/PER = 17

[Isawa O-Washi]

Though there are ample signs of rodent inhabitants, none of them seem interested in showing themselves for harvest.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

A bit disheartened, but determined to find a rat so that he can spare himself from the wrath of multiple fortunes, Choukichi takes another look around.

[Isawa O-Washi]

{{In the usual scheme of things, only those with Investigation of 5 or more get to repeat an attempt. This being fluff, I'll allow it}}

This time, he had better luck. In the corner near a crate labelled 'barley', a rat was studiously trying to figure out just how it could get inside.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

As quietly as he can, Choukichi nudges O-Washi and points in the rats direction, then carefully picks the other kitten out of his basket, trying to get the squirmy little guy to look at the rat.

[Isawa O-Washi]

The big man looked about to question just what the blazes the Mantis thought he was up to when he, too, spied the rat. Blue eyes lit up in glee and he turned the little kitten he still held on one palm in that direction, murmuring very quietly to it, provoking a veritable storm of tiny mews.

"See that? No...no, the other...no, I don't have any milk...ah...what? No, you can't go...yes, that! That's a rat! You're not to try and...yes, I know...no....there's still....Merciful Fortunes, you cat's are perverse! Just....just leave them alone!"

Aggrieved, O-washi extended the kitten by it's scruff. "Alright...give me the other one...and here's hoping it's less of an ornery cuss than it's brother."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi tenses up when O-Washi dares to say bad things about his cat, but since he is trying to help, he gets away without a fist in the face. Choukichi hands him the second kitten and collects the first, immediately beggining to scratch it behind the ears to make sure it is not too upset by O-Washi's words.

[Isawa O-Washi]

The same process of scroll, spellwork, and then a quiet discussion between man and beast occurred. This kitten, at least, seemed more bidable than it's sibling...it looked where pointed, only made a few 'brrrrrrt' noises in response to O-washi's instructions not to eat the rat it was looking at, and then set up a respectable amount of purring. This earned it a few extra pats from the gunso before he passed it back.

"A nice lad, that one. Pity it's probably going to be the subordinate unless it gets bigger than it's brother. Have you or the Captain given them names yet?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi sets the pair of them back into the basket so he can carry them both easily, then shakes his head.

"They don't have names yet. Captain hadn't agreed to let them on board, and I can't name them myself since I brought them aboard, that would maketh em my cats, and they aren't my cats, they're the ships cats."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Huh. Best to take a vote, then. That way, the burden of the name's shared out equally." O-washi gave the basket one last look before turning to start back up back toward the bay again, though slowly so that the Yoritomo could follow. "The Scorpion'll want to give them awful names, no doubt."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Hai, that would be the best way, makes everyone feel responsible for em too, and little guys like this are gonna need a lot of looking out for at first."

Choukichi follows along easily, already pretty comfortable with the ship having paid close attention on his way down.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"They are pretty small..." Now O-washi was worried about the poor little things, brow furrowed. "We'll have to keep a watch on them, make sure they don't weasel their ways into something they shouldn't. Mind you, we've largely ferret-proofed the ship but these can probably get up higher than those two hoodlums."