Sisterhood of Smoke (D6, Early Eve, Black Elephant)

[Rixy]

Jada, gaijin that she was, didn't refuse. Instead, she accepted with a gasp that was almost a squeal. "Oh, pretty! Is how ladies wear hair in your home?" Delighted, she undid the simple ribbons she used to keep her hair in a tail. "How to use?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"-Uhm..." Managed to escape Hoshi's lips when the comb escaped from her hands and into Jada's. With a blink, she settled into a mask of a small smile to hide her disappointment. Courtesy was perhaps much to expect from a gaijin anyway.

"Hai. Sometimes, depending on the occasion. There are times when we wear our hair up for formal occasions, and as a mark of status. The comb is best used then, along with with pins and floral ornaments. -Ah...Here..." Rather than confuse the girl with further terms, she went behind her to help her with redressing it as best she could on short notice. There were pins lacking but she managed to help her with the basic beginnings of a Rokugan-gami.

[Rixy]

Delighted, Jada rose from the table when it was done and flung her arms around Hoshi in an enthusiastic hug. "A good friend, you are. Many thanks for gift."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi blinked at the sudden hug from the gaijin and managed to laugh off any feelings of awkwardness away as she returned the gesture in kind. "...I only do alright in trying. You're very welcome Jada. It goes well on you."

[Rixy]

The girl resumed her place, just in time for the food she had ordered to come. There were two deep dishes, one holding fish fillets in a spicy orange sauce, the other an assortment of breads with vegetable fillings. At this arrival, Jada finished her wine with a few long swallows before pouring a share of the golden, now that there was food to soak it up.

"Quick, finish...more for drinking, less for time."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi savoured the food without tasting them yet, they looked delicious and was likely an experience that would not repeat itself. To wolf them down for the sake of alcohol, seemed almost wasteful... She took a piece of bread and started conservatively. "-Ah first...what are these two called?"

[Rixy]

"Fish is NeiMeen, way of making is vindaloo...has curry and wine and herbs, is spicy but very good. Bread is kulcha, different sorts of things in those, all things from ground or tree."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

The mention of curry had Hoshi erasing what little concern she had about the food in the first place. "Oh? Now is also sounds equally appetizing. Spicy food is actually a favourite of mine." She chuckled and partook in a good share of NeiMeen.

[Rixy]

The fish was one unfamiliar to the coasts of Rokugan but had a robust texture and taste not far removed from the great swordfish that were served only upon special occasion in those places near enough the coast to get them fresh. The sauce was indeed hot, spicy enough to water the eyes and turn one's lips a rosier shade. Jada tucked into her share with obvious enjoyment despite the fact she had to pause often to wave at her reddening cheeks, seeking to cool them. She took frequent sips of her drink, too, which made her cough and call to a passing waitress for something that turned out to be two mugs of a foamy white liquid that smelled sweetly of almonds and exotic spices Hoshi could not name.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Seeing it was a night for enjoyment than masks, Hoshi made no attempt to hide her discomfort with the food. She would probably be the first one to succumb, trying to her best to blink her eyes away and slowing down once she decided that perhaps the original recipe here was out of her league. "...Too hot." She embarrassingly admitted with a giggle, finding a remedy in the next concoction that was brought in. "Mm. More spiced liquor?"

[Rixy]

The girl shook her head. "No, is for the burn of the mouth. It makes it less, tastes good, too!" Beaming, she took a pull from her own. "Sometimes, used to put other liquors in but this is without. Have to do tasting of pure before it is hidden in other things, yes?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi laughed in realization. "Clever. Only a fool would ask for water after spicy food anyway." She followed with the same motion as Jada, placing the back of her hand to her lips once she finished. There was a small cough afterwards to remind her to not mimick such a motion with all familiar drinks. "Mm...very rich."

[Rixy]

"Is made good here...best thing that is not liquor." Jada smiled fondly toward the bar. "Go through many barrels each day...my friend is wife to owner, she says so."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"It almost sounds more popular than tea. No wonder they treat you so well here Jada but...you're probably still their best customer anyway." She smirked with a wink. "Has this Ho-ka been served already?"

[Rixy]

The girl giggled. "No, but there is wait, always. Has to be boiled between so to be...um...fancier word than clean but I am not remembering it. Is for smoke...like that, see?"

One finger pointed to a nearby table where a small group of men were smoking from a thing that looked like a large vase except for having a very large pipe bowl in it instead of flowers. There were mouthpieces attached to what must be hollow ropes, pretty-looking brass things that the men used almost like the drinking reeds some Scorpion used to work around drinking while masked.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi turned her gaze to the vase like object, now clear what Jada ordered was not meant for drinking but smoking instead. She spied on the activity almost longer than being polite before looking back with an approving smile. "-Ah, that one will be fun. After it goes through cleansing from use..."

"You must have some friends beyond a strange gaijin such as myself Jada, don't you usually have others to lounge around here?"

[Rixy]

"Yes, saw them earlier though. Very curious, mad I did not bring them to meet you." She laughed merrily at that. "Especially boys. They will remain until doom comes, though, and you will not, so time with you is more...needed?" Not the right word but, again, it was the best the girl could do.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi leaned back slightly with an obviously feigned look of suspicion. "...That's very flattering of you Jada, I didn't know that I was important enough to take up your evening schedule from other social obligations. I wouldn't have minded meeting a few of them. What would they be curious of me anyway?"

[Rixy]

"I told them of your weapon. Called me liar for saying a chain could cause harm." The young woman giggled. "Too, you are unusual to us, look more pale and yellow and with odd eyes that angle like cats'. "

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi did a roll of her eyes, "Maybe it was for the best that you didn't bring your friends with you after all. It sounds like they lack much in imagination. Be thankful you didn't encounter the Hare who wishes to use an oar as a weapon...And -ah hai. I must look extremely alien here...without even trying."