(Day 4 Early Afternoon Streets) Pachyderm Parade? (Open)

[elonweis]

"... begging your pardon, Agasha-sama, but setting a tanuki on fire wouldn't result in a riot," she murmurs.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Setting it on fire?"

Realisation slowly dawns.

"Oh I'm not suggesting I would set one of these majestic beasts on fire. I was merely theorising on how to stop one that was charging."

[elonweis]

Suzuke just looks quietly set upon as she bows, "Of course Agasha-sama, my apologies."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

I bow back neatly, listening a little longer before taking a dozen steps to join the two. I have another look at the elefantsu. How would one ride such a beast? Surely it was too large to control?

"Pardon me. I was fascinated by the information. Mirumoto Tomoe" I bow once to each, noticeably more to the Phoenix samurai. I have a glance at the crowd to see if we are getting any odd looks. Surely there have been other samurai as unenlightened about elefantsu as ourselves?

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Agasha Qian-Fan. Priest of the Ninth Imperial Legion, serving on the Half Moon. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mirumoto-san."

The servant was saved from further questioning for a short while.

[elonweis]

Once the talk of fire and elephants has stopped, the gaijin return to not staring. The line of elephants continues along, almost as if it had no end.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

-san already? He does not even know my status yet. No bow of formal greeting either. Then again, perhaps he is important? I do my best to hide the slight annoyance at his assumption, hoping my mouth doesn't show that slight moment of agitation. "I will also be serving on the Half Moon. As a Hohei with the Legion. A pleasure to meet you too" I manage to say

I take one more glance at the elefantsu, unable to peel my eyes away from them for too long. Still, there is one thing I must do first. I then begin the necessary routine. I run my eyes slowly, twice, up and down the man. I absorb his robes. Their condition. His height. His age. His personal affectations. His wakizashi. How he carries it. How he carries himself. His other items. He is a shugenja almost certainly - and that explains the escort. He also introduced himself as a priest without a hint of dishonesty. I recall his tone of voice. I try to learn as much as I can by studying his physical self. After a dozen seconds or so I finish by staring into his eyes for a few additional seconds, seeing if he breaks eye contact or not. How would he react?

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

It would be difficult to gain true eye contact with the Agasha. For a while at least, as his eyes were on the elephants at present.

"Where are the air shugenja? I must find Junpei or Fuichi to talk to one of these elephants. See if their knowledge matches their age."

It doesn't take an expert to realise the Agasha is talking aloud to himself.

[elonweis]

Suzuke looks slightly puzzled by the request and remains politely silent, hoping that the Agasha didn't expect an answer from her.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Nor does he look at me when I introduce myself or talk. This man is an ignorant fool. A liability in a fight too most likely. I sigh a little wearily when he begins to talk to himself.

Well then, there is no need to remain. I dip my head once respectfully to the man, my best attempt at being polite further, before giving the Embassy woman a look and saying in Rhumaal "I wish you all the best..." my voice trailed off as I did. I started to walk away from the pair. I should probably start heading back to the Embassy...

(Scene exit)

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

He barely noticed the Mirumoto leave never mind that she spoke the native tongue, mesmerised by the great beasts as they marched past.

[elonweis]

Eventually, the parade does end with a smaller version of the giant monsters that only came to the Agasha's waist. It flapped its ear and trotted along behind its... mother? with one of the drivers making sure that it didn't fall behind and get lost.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

Qian-Fan blinked again as the juvenile trotted past, only just preventing himself from reaching out to touch it. He was smiling now and turned . . . to find the Mirumoto gone.

"Oh . . . . Must have been in a hurry then. I do talk too much at times I guess. So, Suzuke-san, is there a stables or hall for these elephants to live in?"

[elonweis]

"Yes, there is... did you want to see it?" she asks, a bit curious.

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

She got the Agasha's best 'ever so excited' face.

"I would love to see that, Suzuke-san."

[elonweis]

The woman starts to smile, but quickly suppresses it. "Of course, Agasha-san... this way."

She hesitates before adding, "They used to have a whole street dedicated to the keep and sales of exotic pets. It was before the refugees came."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

"Hmm what kind of exotic pets?"

Surely they would be truly exotic.

[elonweis]

"I can take you to the market to see what there still are," she replies with another smile that was quickly wiped from her face. It was a little like talking to Chi-chan. "Colorful birds that look like flying gems, leopards, monkeys... one year they even had a matched pair of white tiger cubs..."

[Agasha Qian-Fan]

The Agasha's eyes continued to be lit up by the conversation.

"Leppards? I have not heard of those. What are they?"

[elonweis]

"They are jungle cats, like tigers except leaner and with spots instead of stripes," she explains as she leads the Agasha through the streets towards the elephant stables.