[Moon 9, Morning, Distillery] Herbal Remedies (Open)

[Shiba Nozomi]

The tiny physician watches the Isawa cautiously, making sure that her feet were safely out of splash range. Hearing the sound of another's footsteps, she turns and bows quickly to the newcomer, keeping watch on Junpei out of the corner of her eye.

[Isawa Junpei]

Oh, this was just great. Junpei wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out, something the Ikoma might have empathized with. Sharing the same sleeping quarters as all the other men of the ship, the two had obviously seen one another, but talking had not been foremost on the young priest's mind, especially with the worry that at any moment he might simply collapse from the weakness pervading his limbs.

And so, sitting on the floor, ashamed beyond recognition, he didn't even raise his eyes, feigning deftness. Instead he pondered his water cup, and took another bite of his mint leaf.

[Ikoma Hikaru]

"So......Nice day today." Hikaru says flatly. He raises an eyebrow at Junpei but doesnt say anything else.

[Isawa Junpei]

I'll kill you.

Junpei spat his silent venom, raising his eyes. Pale as a sheet with eyes barely able to focus, his hair was damp and only half-done. The overall mien gave the distinct impression that the Phoenix found no levity in the Ikoma's remarks.

[Shiba Nozomi]

"H-hai, L-Lion-sama. Did... you n-need help wi-with anything?" A few subtle footsteps place her small frame directly between the Lion and the other Phoenix, in an attempt to at least sort of obscure her clansmate's condition. Thank goodness he was sitting on the floor, or it wouldn't have helped.

[Ikoma Hikaru]

Hikaru's thin lips turn into a frown and he says,

"Please forgive me, I have been remiss. We have not be properly introduced. I am Ikoma Hikaru, Warrior of the Ikoma, cousin to Ikoma Haigo. Damiyo of the Ikoma." He nods slightly again in greeting.

He then turns to Nozomi and says "Hmmmm no?"

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei simply bowed his head. Any more than that and the gesture would most likely be ruined by some untoward retching. Whatever pleasantries and introductions were to be made, he would leave it to the petite Shiba. Of course, it had completely slipped his delirious mind that he'd never introduced himself to her. Oh well, c'est la vie.

[Shiba Nozomi]

Not wanting to make the Isawa behind her have to try and work words from his throat, Nozomi steels herself.

"I'm Shiba Nozomi, Ship's Medic. That's Isawa-sama, Honorable Priest of the kami." It seems to be an effort to say it clearly, but she finds the strength from somewhere. And she hopes he's honorable and she's not accidentally making herself a liar.

"An hon-honor to m-meet you, Ikoma-sama."

[Ikoma Hikaru]

Hikaru raises and eyebrow as the Shiba moves between the two men.

"An honor.. Yes I am sure." He replies to Nozomi.

"Perhaps You have heard of Ikoma Otemi, Hero of the Lion? Some to not know that Otemi-sama is the best captain the Lion has ever had. He commanded a ship crewed by nezumi and fought the minions of the shadowlands on the sea. He was a peerless warrior, commander and captain. However he once told me that even he got sick the first time he was in rough water."


It almost sounded like Hikaru was trying to be nice here........almost.

[Isawa Junpei]

This conversation was going to require Junpei to stand, he could feel it. Mentally shaking his head, he braced himself against the wall and used it to help him stand. Of course the straighter he stood the paler he got, "Words of encouragement, of a fashion. Arigato. And yes, we have heard of Ikoma Otemi-sama. He was your regent for several years after all, acting Champion for the entire Lion." He wobbled, and gripped to one of the "ribs" of the ship, along the wall, tight enough that his knuckles reached a pallor to match his face.

[Shiba Nozomi]

Nozomi coughs delicately and says very politely, "Eto... How r-reassuring to hear..."

Meaning: er... that's very nice? Why the Lion chose to talk about the humiliation of his superior clansmen to strangers mystified her.

[Ikoma Hikaru]

Hikaru's perpetual frown remains on his face and he says.

"Well.....I pray the ancestors watch over you." With that the odd Ikoma bows slightly and makes his way back out of the distillery.


/Exit Hikaru

[Shiba Nozomi]

She bows very properly to him as he leaves. Turning her full attention back on the Isawa, a look of concern flashes over her small brow. "Gomen-nasai, Isawa-sama..."

[Isawa Junpei]

Get all the way up and then the man leaves. Junpei sighs and rests against his head against the wall. "I don't want to seem ungrateful, Shiba-san, but honestly I think it would be better if I just returned to my bunk. For as much fun as sitting on this damp floor is..."

[Shiba Nozomi]

She nervously twists her fingers in her hair and stares at her toes. "I..if you n-need anything, y-you're w-wel-welcome to have one of t-the heimin c-come get me, o-o-ok, Isawa-sama?"

[Isawa Junpei]

"I'll keep that in mind, Shiba-san." The comment was more meant to escape the conversation with as little fuss as possible. In actuality, it was very unlikely that even if he did have need he would fetch her. Offering a last, weak nod of thanks, he let go of the wall and tried with all his might to walk a straight line to the door.

/exit

[Shiba Nozomi]

She remains perfectly still until he's out of sight, then carefully goes about cleaning up the spilled ginger. Not wanting it to go to waste, the little healer mixes up the rest of it into small, dose-sized wax-paper packets. Finding a muchly misused calligraphy kit somewhere in the recesses of the room, she clearly labels them.

Once all that is completed, she shuffles over to the still and sits across from it, studying it much more closely than she had the morning previous. Still not sure which part did what, she tries to mentally take it apart and imagine it that way.