(Moon 11, Crow's Nest, Early Evening Open) Sigh

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I'd wager that they'd want someone with good eyes here." he mused, partly to himself.

[Isawa Junpei]

"A safe assumption. The question then is whether my eyes are good enough for the captain. Thankfully it's not up to me to decide, at least as far as I know. I pray they are; if they're not then I couldn't even begin to guess what I might be able to do that is of particular use aboard. No doubt I can learn a sailing trade of some sort, but as of right now being a priest doesn't seem a good enough vocation for a permanent duty."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, yes." Apparently one had to be a scholar to be able to point out the obvious.

"So Isawa-san hasn't been on a ship before then?" the man asked, simplifying the problems of his fellow priest to a single question.

[Isawa Junpei]

"A ship, no. trading boats, fishing junks...smaller vessels. Even then I wasn't ever aboard for more than a few days, no commission at sea. That is simply not what tensai do. We stay and we teach."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I see. Well, now it seems that you are a tensai who sails." he chuckled, kindly. "Better just adjust to it."

[Isawa Junpei]

"I have no choice in the matter, adapt or be left ashore. I chose this appointment, in a manner of speaking, and I will be damned if I'll run from the challenge. Besides, if inexperience stopped everyone from stepping aboard then we'd never have any marines. I might be a bit behind some of the others, but that hardly makes it insurmountable."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, better get started soon then." Iuchi nodded at the man, referring to his airborne state. "You are never going to get your sea legs that way."

[Isawa Junpei]

"No, although it's helped me to avoid making a complete ass out of myself. Besides, working on the deck all morning and then getting into the air has helped to better acclimatize myself than simply sitting in my bunk thinking death would be a sweet release. I also sleep better after a day among the spirits, something that has done wonders to help get my mind onto other things than the rocking of the ship."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Hmm, as you say, Isawa-san."

[Isawa Junpei]

Why did everyone keep saying that. Its as though they found it offensive that he didn't bend his knee at every one of their suggestions. Well, he had a mind of his own and he would use it. "Enough about me, what of you two, why have you sought out the furthest place from the deck?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I figured I could find some solitude here. And the view is also pretty good, even though, somewhat boring." he replied, smiling.

[Isawa Junpei]

"No such luck it seems. With a full complement, I doubt there's going to be anywhere one can find a little alone time." He again dropped his gaze to the crew below thinking about the dozens more that were below deck.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Nope. Probably no. Then again, I doubt that more than a one man is going to sit here, most of the time."
Iuchi chose not to look down. He, unlike the aerial snob, could actually fall down.

[Isawa Junpei]

"We take our moments when we can get them," he lifted his eyes. "It is a curious thing to watch them from above, wondering where they came from, why they're here, what their lives were like before they arrived. I've tried on occasion to get to know some of them, but it's still too early to know everyone's story."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Duty? In a way or another. That's the reason why we all are her, no?" the Iuchi inquired. "The rest... you can find out by talking to them men. On the deck." he continued, smiling.

[Isawa Junpei]

Well, no kidding.

Junpei smiled back, "Duty for sure, but one doesn't just happen into the Imperial Legions, each and everyone on board must have some accreditation to their name. It's just interesting to learn what that is."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Iuchi, being scholar of sorts himself as well, had also mastered the art of stating the obvious. "That too, can be solved the same way.."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Something I've on several occasions already done, though I suppose I've yet to speak with you Iuchi-san. Do tell, if I'm once again not prying, how you came to be in the Ninth Legion? Although, with our current assignment I'm not thoroughly convinced we're yet part of the fleet-proper."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"I applied and was accepted." the man shrugged. "Same as everybody else... barring those who were conscripted."
He didn't feel like telling him why he had applied.

[Isawa Junpei]

"That's not entirely true, Iuchi-san. While I'm sure many have applied and several others were conscripted, I've already had the pleasure of hearing two other means of admission. I don't wish to go into details for fear it might have been for my ears only, but one did not apply on his own behalf and was, of a fashion, promoted to the position thanks to his record. Another is here completely by chance, almost literally. Thanks to a game of Fortunes & Winds they've found themselves on board."