[Aftdeck, Moon 9, Afternoon] Downpour - OPEN

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Iuchi Rinzuki stands on the aftdeck in the midst of the storm, watching the crew as they scurry this way and that to bring the ship through the storm. She was dressed in her two-layered, sleeveless white kimono, and her wet hair hung limp around her shoulders in a long, tangled mess.

Despite this, the shugenja was smiling, and seemed to be quite at home in the rain and wind and rocking ship.

[Shiba Nozomi]

The patter of rain had been unnoticed by Nozomi, so deep had she been into her book. But certain more active gusts of wind and the movement of people aboveboard piqued her curiosity. Stepping out onto the deck, her bare feet easily find purchase against the wood, and she turns her face up to the sky, raindrops pelting down against her tanned skin.

A flash of white on board catches her attention, and she comes to the realization this must be the third Unicorn that Qulan had mentioned. A small bow is made in her direction.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki catches sight of the small Phoenix and moves closer, a hand coming up to push a clump of damp hair out of her face. "Good afternoon, Phoenix-sama!" she calls, her voice loud enough to be heard over the wind. "Wonderful storm, don't you think?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

Moving to meet the Unicorn halfway, her deft foot placement makes it seem as if she's practically gliding over the deck. It isn't long before her clothes are thoroughly sodden, but unlike the Iuchi, the Phoenix's hands make no move to remove her hair from being stuck to her face.

"F-first of the trip." And again, another Unicorn... with the smiling. It was almost uncanny.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

The shugenja nods in agreement with the other woman. "Yep!"

She pushes the same clump of wet hair out of her face before reaching out to her with one hand. "Iuchi Rinzuki, of the Baraunghar!"

[Shiba Nozomi]

"Eto... Shiba No...mi." Some of her words get obliterated by the combination of rain and mumbling.

The hand gets a blank stare, made even more so by the clouded nature of her eyes. "Ano..." Was she expecting to get paid for something, like the porter back on shore? Nozomi wasn't sure that the Unicorn weren't so monetarily minded...

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki drops her hand after a moment, and instead bows to the smaller woman. "A pleasure, Shiba-sama!"

She straightens and pushes her stubborn hair back out of her face. The smile never leaves her face.

"Have you come out to enjoy the storm?"

[Shiba Nozomi]

Nozomi replies quietly, and again, the wind whips away some of what she says."It's al-always a good idea to gi... voyage's first s-storm it's proper due... show Suitengu-no-kami your r-respect... acceptance of his m-moods."

Her tone is rather matter-of-fact, though as if she's stating the obvious.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki nods in agreement as the wind continues to play havok with her hair.

"Is it safe for you to be out here?" she asks, not quite shouting, but certainly speaking louder than usual. She points at her own eyes with two fingers to clarify what she was asking.

[Shiba Nozomi]

Feathers slightly ruffled, Nozomi tacitly comments,"More so t-than for you. I-I'm at least close to the deck." A small sniff follows.

To the Shiba, the woman was like an absurdly tall white sail. Just asking to be caught by the wind.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki laughs as she flashes a wide grin at Nozomi. "Good point, Shiba-sama! I just wanted to make sure!"

Another push of wet hair out of her face. "No offense intended!"

[Akodo Jishaku]

Wearing no more than his hakama and bearing two coils of rope, a soaked but cheerful Lion prowls over to the Unicorn and Phoenix. His hair also twists in the wind and he offers them both a smile.

"Good afternoon Unicorn-san, Phoenix-san. Akodo Jishaku, fellow new recruit."

He seems unaffected by the storm, his voice carrying clearly and his movements coming easily.

[Shiba Nozomi]

A shrug is the response. "You used to sailing, Iuchi-san?"

Bowing to the Lion, Nozomi mumbles,"Sh..a Noz..i."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Akodo-sama! Good afternoon!" Rinzuki turns and gives him a quick bow, only to push the hair from her face as she straightens. "Welcome to the storm!"

She turns back to Nozomi and shakes her head, seemingly oblivious to her current state of impropriety. "Nope, my first time! Well, second!" Another flashed smile. "It's great, isn't it?"

[Akodo Jishaku]

Bowing to the Lion, Nozomi mumbles,"Sh..a Noz..i."

... Well its not Rumaal. Sh..a, oh, Shiba something or other. "A pleasure I'm sure, Shiba-san." Bowing to both he focuses on the Unicorn, quickly tuning in to the effect the storm has had on her clothing. "Why thank you Unicorn-san. Suitengu-no-kami has truly blessed us today, neh? Also I must apologise as I didn't catch your name." He gives her an even more charming smile. Not that I'm likely to forget you in a hurry regardless.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Rinzuki! Of the Iuchi!"

She grins widely as she looks up at the stormy sky and says something that gets lost in the howling wind.

[Shiba Nozomi]

"Er... great?" Nozomi shrugs. "Sure."

She watches the exchange between the other two with quiet interest. Their interaction is bound to be more educational than anything she has to say at the moment.

[Akodo Jishaku]

"Well met Iuchi-san. Quite the fine storm to welcome us to the ocean." He follows her gaze, admiring the weather. "Better be out here than inside with the, ahem, greener recruits."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"The way I see it," she shouts, turning her attention back to Jishaku with a toss of her head, "I can be out here in the storm, or I can be inside with all everyone tossing their breakfast around!"

Rinzuki grins and holds her hands out to the side as she gives him a grinning shrug.

[Shiba Nozomi]

"I'd h-hope they'd come aboveboard f-for that..." The Shiba had scooted slightly closer to the Iuchi to better hear what was going on over the rain, and it subsequently make her significant'y easier to understand.