(Moon 11, Crow's Nest, Early Evening Open) Sigh

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"I suppose ya have a point," she offers a chuckle of her own, "about the world and the Fortunes." Now its Yakusoku's gaze that turns to the sea then up to the few birds that fly about overhead. She was no theologian by any means but she knew a few of the more spiteful, easily-angered Fortunes. Though rarely one to ask for blessings she offers a short, silent prayer warding off their wrath.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Fortunes favour the mortal man, they say." the man mused. "Though, Fortune favouring a man might do a disservice to another. In face of this, what can mortal do but to read their prayers."

"Pardon my gloominess. I'm not sure I am suited to this." After a moment of silence, he spoke again, chuckling dryly.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Iuchi-san," she turns her gaze squarely to the Unicorn, her voice a bit more matter-of-fact than it had been moments before, "I spent the last couple a years amongst the Crab. Until ya done that, ya ain't seen gloomy," she exhales softly then raises one hand. "Not to insult the Crab. Some of'em have a lot ta be gloomy 'bout."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Not all of them, I'd say. If the ones aboard are anything to go by." the man chuckled, gazing at the deck below. "Yasuki-san seems most... bombastic, and Hida-san, the one called Sayuri, isn't exactly grim fellow either. Then again, I haven't lived among them, so..."

"I am sure most of them would take that well... they have few reasons to celebrate, it seems." he added, recalling the story the Yasuki had told him. She had seemed happy about it, but to him it seemed horrific.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Yeah... but when they celebrate," she whistles, "ain't no one that can throw a better party." For a brief moment, pleasant memories steal away her attention and Yakusoku smiles. "Glad the ones on the ship are a pleasant seemin' lot though. Don't wanna spend time listenin' to a buncha doom-and-gloom stories from the Wall."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Hee, they do? Then again, I can somehow imagine that." The story the Yasuki had told to him resurfaced again. She had killed bog-hag with a table. And her teacher had applauded her for it. if they approached celebrations like they approached combat... he was not sure he ever wanted to see a Crab party.

"The both I've talked to mentioned having been on the well. Then again, i think most of the Crab have been on the wall at some point." he muttered.

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Sure seems that way," she nods in agreement. "Though the way I see it, the more ya hear 'bout it the less meanin' each tale 'bout it has. Can only hear so many 'and then an oni ate her' stories before they just ain't got an impact anymore."

[Isawa Junpei]

The sound of voices carried on the wind causing Junpei to look about. They were far too clear to be coming from deck and, sure enough, there the pair were. It seemed like an odd place to get together, but the young tensai could practically count on two random samurai climbing the crow's nest and getting to know one another. Uncrossing his legs, he took a standing position, and floated down from his lofty position to where the two samurai sat perched.

"Konbanwa, Iuchi-san, Ichiro-san," rather than bow he nodded his head which seemed far more decorous given his position. "I pray I'm not interrupting. If so, just let me know and I shall be on my way."

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

Seeing the moving bit of color before Yakusoku really registers that its the Phoenix, the young woman watches curiously and then smiles. "Isawa-san," she nods looking out from the crow's nest at the emptiness beneath the shugenja's feet, "evenin'." A quick is cast toward Xiao Hua, the Badger quietly wondering if he cared one way or another about the presence of the flying tensai.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Show-off... Iuchi thought. And I wonder how he does that... natural airhead, maybe... The horrible pun was luckily lost to the crowd as the man was prudent enough to not voice his thoughts.

"Good evening, Isawa-san." he nodded his greeting to the airborne priest. Despite his thoughts, the man managed to keep a resemblance of smile on his face.

[Isawa Junpei]

Approaching he brought himself level with the two of them, although with the swaying of the ship he stayed in place as they bobbed to and fro, "An unlikely meeting, a Phoenix, a Unicorn, and a Badger, but aboard the Empress' ship, not so much. I'm Isawa Junpei, tensai of the kaze-kami."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well met, Isawa-san." he nodded, regarding the man curiously as he floated in the air. "Iuchi Xiao Hua, priest of the kami." And a merchant patron, but..

[Ichiro Yakusoku]

"Still seems kinda unlikely," Yakusoku replies with a smile tugging at the side of her mouth, "not that I'm complainin'. Ichiro Yakusoku," she bows her head slightly, her tone confident. "Bushi of the Badger though I spent the last couple years sailin' out of Clear Water with our allies in the Crab."

[Isawa Junpei]

"It seems each time I come up here someone new has climbed the mast and found the crow's nest. Yesterday it was Shiba Nozomi-san and Hida Musasha-san." He looked down at his dangling feet to the deck below watching a few random crewmen headed this way or that.

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Unlikely pair." he nodded. "I guess some people like the solitude."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Personally, I come for the company," he gestured at the open air. "It's a place to finally be alone with the spirits away from all the chaos and profanity below."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Iuchi chukled. "That's not exactly the best way to make friends, Isawa-san."

[Isawa Junpei]

"True, though, lucky for me there's always a rotation of people coming up here to talk to. Of course everyone comes up for a different reason."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Yeah, but sooner or later you'll have to go down."

[Isawa Junpei]

"Eventually," he looked back up, "But I could stay up here all day given the chance. But something tell me that may be a luxury I'm not often gifted with. That is unless the captain decides to give me a duty up here."