With the uneasiness of the Sea of Shadows having settled over the ship for the entire day it seemed like as good a time as any for the Lion Clan to assemble and bring cheer to any who chanced upon them. In this sense cheer generally meant long-winded stories about great Lion victories over everyone else, long lists of ancestors, and inspiring tales of courage, duty and other virtues. Also there was food in the galley and Jishaku was hungry.

Amuro entered the galley for the evening meal as well. Taking note of Jishaku he stayed a polite distance waiting for his turn at the food.

Helping himself to as large a portion was allowed the young Lion found himself a spot at one of the benches. He offers a polite nod to his fellow Akodo and gestures to the seats around him, indicating that anyone is welcome to join him.

Amuro bows politely to the offer and take a seat. "Evening." he says simply taking a bit of food while it was still warm. He had spent enough years in service to know that it was usually best to eat the food while it was warm, as it rarely tasted or looked more appetizing cold.

(Snickers, love the thread name)
A few moments later Hikaru appears. Today he seems to have finally resigned wearing something more fit to be on a ship. Instead of a court kimono or something of the like he is dressed in the grey uniform provided. He has however altered it slightly to include the mon of the Ikoma next to the Imperial Chrysanthemum.

Hikaru secures a small bowel of rice and enough tea for a few people before moving to Jishaku's and Amuro's table.

"Good evening Akodo-san's. Perhaps you would enjoy a cup of tea?"

"Evening cousin." Jishaku bows to Amuro and then again to Hikaru when he enters. This evening he wears his navy-issued trousers along with a light-weight, strangely cut jacket that looks to provide good freedom of movement aboard ship. "Good evening to you too Ikoma-sama. Tea would be most refreshing thank you." He looks from one Clanmate to the other. "Our pride is assembled, neh?"

Hikaru sits and pours tea for both Jishaku and Amuro. The moves are quick and efficient however lack the grace and refinement one might fine in a Crane. Only after both have received there tea does Hikaru worry about himself.


"Hai Akodo-san. It is nice to enjoy a meal with my clan mates." His tone for once has a slightly warmth to it, albeit only slightly.

Amuro takes the cup with a nod of thanks to the Ikoma.
"So it seems." said the older Lion, to the younger Akodo. "And we are of equal status, and Clan there is no need to use anything other than my given name." he says between mouthfuls. "Ikoma-sama of course may address me how he wishes."

Jishaku nods to his fellow Akodo. "Then you must call me Jishaku, Amuro-san. At least until they assign us our nicknames." He grins and takes a sip of the tea. "Hai Ikoma-sama, and I enjoyed our trip up to the Crow's Nest yesterday. Such a view!"

Hikaru nods at Amuro and says "of course Akodo-san." It appears he wasnt quite ready to cross that social barrier yet.

"And yes I quite enjoyed it up there. Perhaps I shall be lucky enough to spend more time there."

"I too am interested on how crew assignments are being made, I will admit." Amuro says. "I have mostly kept to myself the last few days and observed interaction, and I find the dynamic here...green overall, though the commanders seem at least moderately competent if temperamental. At least if it came to a fight tomorrow." he adds that last as an afterthought.

Hikaru nods and says

"Hai, I agree with Akodo-san's assesment. However I suppose we cannot expect everybody to have the same precision that we are use to. For the most part I am not to displeased with my interaction with the crew."

Jishaku nods at their conversation. "I am also curious as to my eventual assignment, and seem to be fitting in relatively easily. I suppose it is somewhat easier for myself, having served in our Clan's naval units."

"Oh did you serve with Lord Otemi's command, before he assumed the championship?" Amuro asked politely. Truthfully he had no actual knowledge of the younger man's age, and assumed him to be in his twenties.

"I was blessed with the opportunity to learn something of naval tactics from Ikoma Otemi-dono when I was in training. It would not be a stretch to say that is what inspired me to take the naval path." He shrugs lightly. "I have never served on the Deathless, only on our smaller vessels. Though I did see it once when we joined it in battle around Otosan Uchi. That was a fine day."

"That sounds like the beginning of a story if I have ever heard one." The older Akodo said simply.

"Well I'm no Omoidasu, but sure." He washes down a mouthful of food wish some of the refreshing tea Hikaru had provided. "It was 1165. I was fresh out of my gempukku and desperate to see some action, you know how it is. Well, there was a report of unusual activity in the ruins of the old capital and so Lord Otemi ordered an expedition. There wasn't room for all the reinforcements on the Deathless, so as a newly minted soldier in the Lion navy I was honoured to be involved in transporting our troops to help rescue the defenders." He looks off into the past. "Naturally the Deathless arrived first, but we got to the city in time to help our brothers and sisters. The Battle in the Ruined City they called it. Killed myself all sorts of undead and tainted samurai that day, which was quite an experience given I'd been nought but a cub until a few weeks before." He takes another sip of the tea. "I guess its an appropriate story given what we're sailing through."

Amuro nods. "You won't hear me say otherwise."

Hikaru nods and says

"That is indeed a fine story Akodo-san. You claim not to be an Omoidasu, but I think there may be some talent in there somewhere."

"Kind of you to say so. There is a longer version, but I tend to get carried away with the one on one combat. Any stories either of you would like to share over dinner?" He quickly switches back to eating his meal while it is still warm.