[Day 5, Late Morning, Baths] Waterpony!

[Shinjo Qulan]

Qulan slowly sunk herself into the bath. A much needed bath. A relaxing, muscle-easing bath. She had to admit this was one of the things she missed most on the mainland. "Ahhh... Much better..."

[Kakita Sugita]

For no real reason, Sugita imagines playing water-polo on ponies in a bath. How weird would that be? He doesn't even know what polo is! The though puts humor in Sugita's tone, as he answers, "Glad to hear it is pleasant." The Crane had just come out of the bathing area, and unceremoniously drops himself into the bath, leaving his towel bunched up to rest his head on. Care is taken to keep his back to company, for he'd prefer to discuss many things before the scars there.

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Yes, it is quite pleasant. I love having a proper bath." Qulan sunk lower into the bath, smile on her face. Her imagination was currently on trying to figure out a way to have a proper bath on the boat. She failed to find a plausible way.

[Kakita Sugita]

"Nice and warm. ... Not salty." That isn't said with much appreciation. Like he doesn't understand.

Ah well. "Are you staying here on land?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"... Staying?" Qulan sounded a bit confused.

[Kakita Sugita]

Sugita waves a wishy-washy hand in the air. "Staying, sleeping, spending the night. Whatever."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Oh. Well, I'm not sure yet. Wherever I'm needed, I'll go." She said as she ran a hand through her wet hair. "How about you?"

[Kakita Sugita]

His brows furrow, and he takes a sharp breath. "Nooo. I don't think so. This place gives me the creeps. The bath is nice, the food is good, but there is this feeling in my gut. Like I just don't belong and that could cause trouble."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"I don't think we are very welcome here." The Shinjo responded. "Reminds me of some of the stories I've heard of my Clan's exodus."

[Kakita Sugita]

"I don't have such stories to fall back on." The Crane doesn't want to hear about gaijin, but hearing of a Clan's ordeals should be different right? "What sort of stories? Did the Unicorn not get along well?" Seems like they got along well enough with gaijin to Sugita. Marrying them, taking their names, taking their customs and food. Strange.

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Well, with the early Moto's help, we were able to survive the odd Gaijin customs of the Burning Sands. But we still felt all kinds of unwelcome, or so the stories told." Qulan sighed. "It was the same with our return, to be honest."

[Kakita Sugita]

"I felt that way when I went with some Daidoji into a Crab city in Earthquake Fish Bay!" Sugita chuckles heartily. "I swear they kept the Crab away by winning staring contests."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Winning staring contests?" Qulan giggled to herself. "That's an interesting concept."

[Kakita Sugita]

"You know us men. We like to puff ourselves up." So much so that Sugita does it now, putting his hands on his hips, raising his shoulders and giving a shrewd, chin forward look. "May the manliest win."

[Shinjo Qulan]

The Shinjo let out a loud giggle, trying to keep herself from tearing up with laughter. "I'm afraid I do not speak 'man', Kakita-sama."

[Kakita Sugita]

"It's a good thing," he replies while deflating. One hand goes up in a warding gesture."You doing that would send an entirely different message."

"I asked the question because I was wondering if you have gotten a feel for this place yet. Some strange things I've heard and I like to know if trouble is coming."

[Shinjo Qulan]

"I... Am unsure. But I do have an odd feeling... I don't want to stay here long enough to find out." The girl frowned.

[Kakita Sugita]

Making girls frown was not the intention. Shit. "Ah. I'm not going to worry over it or nothing. What's a problem for the island isn't necessarily a problem for us. And I don't put much faith in feelins. Ya know?"

[Shinjo Qulan]

"Well... It could become our problem, though. That's the thing." She sighed. "Oh well. What happens happens."

[Kakita Sugita]

"You found anything of interest though? Dunno if you've been outside the embassy. I got a good look at the ships in harbor, but that's all."