[Moon 11, Aftdeck, Morning] Training and stuff...

[Shiba Naomi]

Before today's session with O-Washi, Naomi decided to get in a bit of training of her own. Knowing she was going to mostly keep her daisho below deck, wrapped up to be protected from the worst of the salty envoirement, the nage-yari would be her secondary weapon after her yumi. And she knew well enough she could use some more practice with it.

Dressed and ready for the day, she began with the gentle movements of warming up, getting into the rythm of using the rocking of the boat to her advantage with the spear.

[Volsung]

The Shiba was not alone for long. Two of the heimin, the man armed with a spear, the woman with a bow, were walking towards the aftdeck on patrol when they spotted the woman training. Both were dressed very similarly, with vests and short hakama on. Both also had short hair and the only evidence that one was female was the wrappings around her chest.

The man looked to the samurai and smiled. "Samurai-sama. Are you preparing for training later today?"

[Shiba Naomi]

She gave a nod and a cheerful smile in greeting as she paused in her moves. "Hai, that's right. Are you going to train too?"

[Volsung]

Happy was still smiling, though the woman didn't look quite as pleased with the prospect. "Nah, they haven't called on me yet. Dageki knows more than I do about how to fight so they let him do it." He paused. "Between you and me. Watch out, he doesn't pull his punches in practice."

[Shiba Naomi]

"I see... thank you for the warning. It's appriciated." Another nod was given. "I'm tougher than I look though, so hopefully I'll have that on my side, neh."

"I don't think I've learned your names yet...?" She had heard them, but it was so much easier to put a name to a face when introductions had been made personally.

[Volsung]

The man blinked. "Oh, my apologies samurai-sama. I'm Higyou, though most people call me Happy." He looked back at his female compatriot. "This is Furaito."

The woman looked at Happy and sneered slightly. "I can introduce myself." Then she bowed deeply to Naomi.

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi resisted the temptation to giggle at their behaviour, as it made her think they were bickering like an old couple.
"A pleasure. I'm Shiba Naomi... and it's probably easier to call me by that than 'samurai-sama', since there's alot of samurai here."

[Volsung]

"Arigato, Shiba-sama." Both reply at almost the same time. Happy looks a little more carefully at the Nage-Yari. "Pardon me, Shiba-sama. Is that your only one of that weapon?"

[Shiba Naomi]

"Uhm, yes?" She looked at her nage-yari briefly. "I'm more of an archer, but I feel I must keep up my skills with the spear as well. I find the nage-yari easier to use on a ship than it's larger companion, as there's a limited amount of space on a boat after all."

"It's not my only weapon though. I got my yumi, and daisho of course, but I prefer keeping that one below deck."

[Volsung]

Happy nodded. "Ok, it's just most time when you see one of those, the person intends to throw it. Just thought I'd warn ya, if you throw it you aren't gettin' it back. That counts for most things on a ship."

[Shiba Naomi]

"Ah, I certainly hope it doesn't come to the point where I have to throw it. That means we're all out of arrows."
The thing costs an entire three koku after all. I will never understand why a pointy-stick can be so expensive...

[Volsung]

Happy nodded, and Furaito responded. "Not to worry, sam- Shiba-sama. We'll make sure every arrow counts."

Happy chuckled. "We're unlikely to run out of arrows. We're gonna re-stock our supplies at the Coral Islands, and the Sea's Bounty has got plenty more supplies for us."

[Shiba Naomi]

"That's good to hear." I've more faith in my archery skills than with the ones with spears...

"Do you know about how long it will take to reach the Coral Islands again? It seems we've had rather good weather so far."

[Volsung]

Happy considered that for a minute as he glanced out at the open ocean. "Another week or so? Maybe less if the wind keeps up like it has. Thing's be gettin' a bit more dangerous soon though." Happy and Furaito both made signs to ward off evil.

[Shiba Naomi]

"Ehm... what do you mean?"

Naomi didn't remember them saying anything about danger on the way to Coral Islands... or did she miss a memo somewhere.

[Volsung]

Happy started to look like he'd run out of happy for the time being.

"Well, this part of the trip's where we get closest to the Sea of Shadows." He said, assuming that this would explain everything while he was busy warding himself again.

[Shiba Naomi]

Naomi shuddered and felt the hairs on her neck stand up.

"... Ah... yeah... that kinda explains it..." she followed suit with warding off evil. No need to tempt fate.

[Volsung]

Both Ashigaru nodded at that, watching the sea a bit longer than the Shiba had. Finally, Happy turns back. "So Shiba-sama, what brings you to the Imperial Navy, if I may be so bold as to ask." The man smiles winningly, and maybe a little hopeful that he hasn't overstepped his bounds.

[Shiba Naomi]

"You know what they say, Fortune favors the bold... and mortal too, of course," she chuckled lightly in reply to assure him that he wasn't overstepping. Well, at least she didn't feel like he was overstepping. The heimin were apart of the crew after all.

"I was encouraged by my brother, and some of his friends in the Imperial Legions to apply for a position like this one, since I got experience with a bit of sailing and ship-life, as well as decent knowledge of the Phoenix coastline. I rather liked the idea myself of serving the Empire while being close to the sea... before I have to return home and be a wife."

[Volsung]

Happy nodded as he listened. "Haven't been up to the Phoenix lands much myself. Most work we do is down here. I heard it's all rocks and such from another fellow though."

Furaito piped in, "Well just cause ya marry doesn't mean you gotta sit at home and pop out kids, right? You're a samurai. I mean, Moshi-sama ain't never gonna retire."

Happy glanced about conspiratorially. "I heard she was gonna soon. Gettin' married to some Ivory Kingdoms prince. That's what this is all about."

Furaito rolled her eyes. "Oh? And who told you that?"

"Cook did." Happy quickly retorted, looking hurt that she thought he was lying.

"Cook was tellin' stories again ya nitwit!" Furaito yells.