[Crew Quarters, Moon 8, Evening] Cold Pony (Open)

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Iuchi Rinzuki sat at the table in the common room, a heavy blanket draped over her shoulders as she sipped at a cup of steaming liquid. Despite her obvious chill, she seemed to be in a pleasant mood, though that might have had something to do with the pillow book that was resting on the table in front of her. Her attention was focused upon the book, though only in a casual manner.

[Suzume Satsuki]

A head of dark brunette hair in a ponytail poked its way through the door of the Crew Quarters, and Suzume Satsuki got a smile when she saw another person in the room. She slipped into the room and came up alongside the table and gives a quick bow when she's finally within the other woman's visual range.

"Good evening!" she greeted in a manner in stark contrast to the outside weather.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Good evening," Rinzuki says as she look up from her book, a friendly smile appearing on her lips. She makes a sort of half-bow, about the most one could do while sitting at a table. "This one is Iuchi Rinzuki, of the Baraunghar."

Her eyebrows raise slightly as she notices Satsuki's mon. "And you are...don't tell me...Sparrow Clan...?"

[Suzume Satsuki]

"Hai!" she responded brightly, pleased that her mon was recognized. Not that the Sparrow were poorly known, but it seemed great every time."My name is Suzume Satsuki. Pleased to meet you!"

Apparently, if her manner was any indication, she was really, really genuinely pleased.

"Do you mind if I join you at the table? Some company is always nice in this sort of weather."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Of course not, Suzume-san." Rinzuki pats a cushion right beside her. "I was just reading over one of my favorite stories. Are you familiar with Hearts and Pincers?"

[Suzume Satsuki]

"I've never heard of it," Satsuki said, leaning over the indicated book with interest after settling down in offered cushion. "What's it about?"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

The scent of lavender - no doubt from the Unicorn's perfume - is unmistakable at such close proximity.

"It's a love story," Rinzuki explains, her carefully manicured finger tapping at the open page. "It tells of an Ikoma architect who meets an optimistic young nun while helping her repair her war-torn temple. Though the two originally dislike each other, they soon find that they have more in common than not, and their relationship becomes passionate."

She glances sideways at the small Sparrow, a playful smile on her lips. "But, just when it seems that they will be happy together, the general of the Scorpion armies appears and is smitten by the handsomeness of the Ikoma. He refuses her advances, and in retribution she kidnaps the nun and holds her ransom in exchange for the architect's love."

Rinzuki's explanation was passable, but it failed to convey the true appeal of the story's forbidden love.

[Suzume Satsuki]

"It sounds interesting! May I borrow it when you're finished?" The Sparrow asked with interest, looking up at Rinzuki with a bright smile. "It's rare to see a story where the male is kidnapped and not the girl. I bet there are some interesting side notes, too, with one of the protagonists being an architect."

Every sentence that came out of her mouth seemed to be marked with enthusiasm for nothing in particular. She just seemed to be surrounded by a haze of undirected energy.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Oh, of course," she says, closing the book and sliding it towards the other woman. "You may borrow it now, in fact. I've read it dozens of times already."

She flashes another friendly smile in the Sparrow's direction. "It really is an interesting change. But then, it was written by a woman of the Dragon, so it would almost be disappointing if there were not some unconventional elements woven into the story."

[Suzume Satsuki]

"Thank you!" the Sparrow says as she picked the book up and positively beamed at her companion.

At the comment about the Dragon, she nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose that would be true. And every book has it's own unique elements, also."

Suddenly, another smile broke out. "Oh, I bet this would be fun to read, and then retell aloud!"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Retell out loud?" Rinzuki tilts her head a bit to the side as she regards the woman curiously. "Is that a habit among Sparrow?"

[Suzume Satsuki]

"Well... not exactly... I mean, storytelling is. I've never tried adapting a book to a told tale before, though. I just think it would be fun to try. I could tell it in a bunch of parts and leave things on a cliffhanger. It would be fun," she said with absolutely no doubt that it could be anything but fun and successful.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki laughs and nods her head in approval.

"That sounds aboslutely delightful, Suzume-san. I look forward to being at the front of your first audience."

She considers the story for a moment.

"That would certainly make for a nice way to wrap up the evenings aboard the ship. The chapters each end with a rather steamy love scene - or rather, the implications of one - so it would send everyone to bed with pleasant images dancing through their heads."

[Suzume Satsuki]

The Sparrow paused for a moment at the consideration of telling an implied steamy scene. She considered the idea for a few more moments. Finally, she smiled brightly, "I guess whether I included it would depend on the company. I wouldn't want to make people too uncomfortable when I'm just getting to know them. "

A couple more moments pass, and she finally says, "That must be a lot of scenes like that if every chapter ends with them."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Oh my, yes," she giggles, her hands moving back to the book and flipping through the pages. "My favorite is...here we go, this one."

Rinzuki pulls back so that Satsuki can read the selected passages. "It's the first time that the Ikoma and the nun are together, and you can really feel the longing in both of them. Of course, the chapter ends before things become too explicit, but it still sends shivers down my body each time I read it."

[Suzume Satsuki]

Satsuki glanced down at the indicated passages and looked a bit embarrassed, but laughed cheerfully. "I'll be sure to read it later... but I'm probably gonna read it in it's context. You know, once I get to it."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki nods and closes the book. "Of course, Suzumi-san. And my apologies for spoiling the main story...I have a few others you might like, but I shall keep their contents a secret, so that they retain some element of surprise for you."

[Suzume Satsuki]

"It's okay... I don't really like surprises anyway," the Sparrow said with a bright smile, waving off the apology. "I'll read this one, then I would like to see others, if it's not inconveniencing you to let me borrow your books."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Not at all," she says, shaking her head. "I probably have most of them memorized by now anyways. And it would certainly be entertaining to listen to a favorite story as told through the eyes of another person.

[Suzume Satsuki]

"I really hope that proves true," she said with a smile. At that, the tiny woman hopped to her feet. "I still have a few things I need to do before tonight. Have a good evening!"