Poorly Prancing Pony [Moon 10, Aftdeck, Evening] - Open

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Assuming that I don't fall off the boat or get carried away by a tentacle monster," she adds with a smirk. "But so far, it hasn't been too terrible. The captain and crew seem like rather nice enough samurai, and the view is certainly pretty."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi blinks a few times and stares at her.

"Tentacle... Monster...? Just what sort of stories have you heard about the sea?"

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"The Crab were talking about them at the dinner a couple nights ago." She tilts her head as she look at him in confusion. "Apparently they're somewhat dangerous."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Maybe in the sea of shadows, all sorts of weird things in there. I've never spoken to another sailor who has encountered a tentacle monster before, I think you're safe from that."

Despite his words, Choukichi makes a warding gesture and utters a quiet prayer to Suitengu before continuing.

"The real threats are quite a bit more mundane than that, though no less dangerous."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki pushes off from the railing and takes a step closer, concern etched on her face.

"What sort of dangers do you mean, Yoritomo-sama?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Wind, waves and lightning mostly."

Choukichi stops and utters a short prayer to Suitengu begging forgiveness for speaking of his fury in such a simple manner.

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"But not pirates?" she asks, apparently surprised they hadn't made the list.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi shakes his head, not worried about pirates at all, and quite comfortable with dismissing them as a threat.

"They're around, and ignoring them would be foolish, but they are not nearly as dangerous as Suitengu-kami. Pirates prey on lone or lightly guarded merchant vessels. Attacking a sengokobune and it's accompanying ships would be suicide for any but the very largest of pirate fleets, and even then the rewards of attacking would not be worth the tremendous losses they would suffer."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"That's certainly reassuring." Rinzuki smiles as she glances back over the water. "So just storms and wind and such?" There was a definate sense of relief to her words.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi frowns at how lightly she seems to take the elements, and makes another warding gestures and utters a short prayer begging Suitengu to forgive her words.

"You should never take the elements so lightly lest you raise Suitengu-kamis ire and bring his wrath down on the ship. Even the most terrifying sea monster is nothing compared to the might of the sea."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Rinzuki raises a surprised eyebrow at Choukichi's words, and then furrows her brow in thought. "Is that why everyone seems to be making so many warding gestures? I mean no offense, Yoritomo-sama, but a great deal of people on this ship seem overly superstitious to me."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"They are no superstitions, they are how one survives on a ship. At sea, you are completely at the mercy of Suitengu, it is foolish to think otherwise and so the wisest course of actiion is to do your best to remain on Suitengu-kamis good side."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

The look she gives him implies that she isn't quite buying into the party line on that one, but she still manages to smile and nod her head. "Thank you for explaining, Yoritomo-sama."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Maybe I should throw her overboard? There aren't too many people around, and I am sure they would understand... A female priest who shakes her body like that and doesn't understand or believe in proper naval traditions or respect the fury of Suitengu can only bring this ship ill fortune... She is a priest though, and harming a priest brings bad luck...

He decides against it in the end, but doesn't seem particulalry pleased.

"You should take my words more seriously, it is more than just you who will suffer if you bring Suitengu's wrath down on us if you are not appropriately respectful of a ships traditions."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"I believe in respecting the Fortunes, Yoritomo-sama." She nods her head towards the stairs leading down into the bowels of the ship. "I have been making daily prayers for the safety of the ship. I simply do not believe that the fortunes wish for us to endlessly annoy them with such gestures."

Rinzuki smiles warmly. "It is much like samurai and peasants, is it not? It is right and proper when a peasant bows and praises a samurai, but if every heimin on this ship were to bow deeply and praise you whenever you passed, how many days would it take for you to grow resentful of their respect?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"You may not believe it, yet centuries of practice with these traditions has demonstrated that they are exactly what Suitengu-kami wishes."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

Once again, Rinzuki nods her head in acquiescence to Choukichi's words. "Of course, Yoritomo-sama."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi considers tossing her over the rail one last time, then offers a polite bow.

"I have taken more than enough of your time, I should return to my evening devotions. It was pleasant speaking to you Iuchi-san, and thank you for the dance."

[Iuchi Rinzuki]

"Yourself as well, Yoritomo-sama." Rinzuki returns the bow, and then wanders off as well, the fan casually twirling in her hand.

/exit

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Once she has gone, Choukichi resumes his tour of the rails, stopping frequently to offer rice to Suitengu and utter a prayer in his name.

/scene