[Crew Quarters, Moon 7 - Morning] The Stable of the Sea

[Shinjo Qulan]

"N-no... I guess you're right." There was that forced smile once again. "I'm sorry..."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"No apology needed," Rinzuki says, waving the matter away with delicate hands. "Besides, I have a very light touch. Who knows, perhaps I'll even have my fingers inside you at some point."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Well, I guess if it had to be anyone, Rinzuki-chan, I'd prefer it to be you." Qulan replied, still pale in the face. "I don't think I'd be fond of strangers pulling arrows out of me."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"You've never had an arrow in you, then. Most of those I've treated with such wounds can think of nothing but having the arrow removed. And while we're on the topic, if you are struck by an arrow, I would advise against just pulling it out yourself."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"... Is is bad to do that?" Qulan looked towards the Iuchi with wide, surprised eyes. "I've only ever shot arrows... Never been shot at."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"It depends upon the arrow," she explains, holding up her hands to demonstrate.

"If it's a smooth-tipped arrow..." Rinzuki holds one of her hands vertical, and 'pokes through' the flat plane of her hand with a finger from the other. "...then it comes straight out." She easily pulls back her second finger.

"But, if it's an arrow with a wider head - forgive me for not knowing the proper names - then you have a problem." She poked her finger through her hand once more, this time curling it into a hook. "When you pull those ones out..." As she demonstrates, the hooked finger pulls back on two of fingers from her other hand.

"Barbed arrows are the worst, though. They have these little backwards-facing hooks all along the head, so that when you pull them out, they catch and drag on your intestines. I've seen grown men rip out their whole insides just from pulling out a single arrow." Rinzuki lowers her hands and shakes her head in a serious manner. "Unless you can identify what sort of arrow is stuck inside you, it's best to have a healer tend to it."

[Shinjo Qulan]

That made Qulan feel even more pale in the face. "Now I feel bad for using flesh cutter arrows. Very bad."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Is that what they're called?" Rinzuki considers this for a moment, then shrugs lightly. "The name downplays their actual effect a bit, but they're definately some nasty pieces of work."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"I feel like a big jerk now." The poor Shinjo let out a small, forced laugh. "I didn't know they did that."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"I would assume that when you are firing your bow, you are aiming at enemies of the Clan?" She steps forward and places another reassuring hand upon the woman's arm. "In which case, the fool that caught your arrow deserves everything he has coming to him. Remember, regret is a sin, Qulan-chan."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Hmmm... True." The Shinjo was indeed comforted by the slight touch. "Thank you, Rinzuki-chan."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Nonsense, I have done nothing." She meets Qulan's gaze and holds it for a moment before finally allowing her hand to fall away. "A few words here and there are nothing that you need to be thanking me over."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Think of it as a future thanks, then." Qulan held a straight face, keeping her gaze directly on the Iuchi. "For if by chance you have to... Go inside me." She held a small pause. "To dig an arrow out."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Let us hope that if I do, it's for much more enjoyable reasons, hmm?"

She winks playfully at the other woman, and leans back against the wall of the ship.

[Shinjo Qulan]

And that went over poor Qulan's head entirely. And it showed on her face. How would going inside me be enjoyable?

"I... I guess so, Rinzuki-chan."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki merely smiles as she continues to lean back against the wall.

"You are a very amusing woman, Qulan-chan."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"I... I'm amusing?" Qulan asked with a slight blush.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"I hope you do not mind me saying that," Rinzumi says, her eyes lowering to the floor.

[Shinjo Qulan]

Qulan leaned more in Rinzuki's direction, as if coming to comfort her. "Oh, no! I don't mind at all! I actually... Liked it."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Truly?" She looks up at Qulan, a soft smile on her lips. "I do not wish to be too forward."