[Moon 13, Aft Deck, Evening] Strolling the Deck (Open)

[Usagi Zenko]

He turns and nods. "Hai!Of course. I was a guard at the Shrine to Inari at Shiro Usagi. Much of my family are shugenja, and my father is the priest in charge of the shrine. While I don't have their gift with the kami, I was honored with the duty of defending the sanctity of the place." He smiles. "And yourself?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Oh, a temple guard, fancy that. At least this one can see I suppose. "Your role in the defence of holy ground must be a recognize in appreciation by your family nevertheless." She nodded once. "As for myself...I formerly served the 14th Scorpion Legion over watching Ryoko Owari Toshi, my post was the area surrounding the Governor's district. Being as sea is far different than what I'm used to but an appointment into the Imperial Legion is not without prestige."

[Usagi Zenko]

"Ryoko Owari? Then you are no doubt quite skilled!" he exclaims.

"Amaya? What were you up to before this boat?"

[Bayushi Hoshi]

The Usagi's praise got a stifled chuckle from Hoshi, she lifted a hand to give a tilting wave. "...Ahah. -Ah. Well. I think I do alright there Usagi-san. Thank you for the thought."

[Amaya]

"Fishin, -sama," she said, nodding. "Used t'work the sampans just off a Crane village south'f the spine. When wasn't workin on a boat, I'd hit the docks an make sure things were tended. Been doin that most'f my life." The word 'City of Lies' came to her ears, which caused Amaya to remember every debauched, exaggerated story she'd ever been told about that filthy, horrid place where people smoked opium in the streets, fornicated on the rooftops and did the most unspeakable things to the local poultry. However, she forced herself not to gawk, since the woman looked perfectly normal and not like a bellydancer in half a stitch of clothing, and that razor blade she came with didn't like people gawking at her, so instead she stuck to focusing on the fishing topic.

Better her than me.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi seemed to smile through an amused tone. "-Ah...There's also the part where Amaya here is also a delicacy hunter when it comes to hunting particular fish. When in more sane and shallow waters, she may become a valuable asset to the chefs on this ship...Shark fin soup are one of those dishes are one of those items that never go out of style no matter how preserved."

[Usagi Zenko]

His ears perk up a bit. "Oh? Cooking? Do you know anything about it? It would be interesting to work with sea fish, and learn how to best cook them. Always helped cook at home myself." He seems geniunely interested.

He nods at Hoshi's humilty, "Alright in Ryoko Owari is quite different from alright as a shrine guard. If you've only ever dealt with one criminal in your duties, then I'll be quite surprised." He shakes his head and looks forlornly back towards the empire a moment. "The lovely Otomo's palanquin landed me here amongst you all, during that chase..." he adds at a lower tone.

[Amaya]

Amaya didn't specifically say anything, but rather opted for a simple nod of her head to acquiesce to what the woman was saying. The whole shark hunting thing was going to get her killed if she wasn't careful. She knew what great whites were like, considering that they were in the deep waters, this was not something she felt trying anytime soon.

And, then, the Usagi spoke. "Err, no, -sama. I know the hunting of such creatures, not cookin em. Cook's better f'that sort of thing," she said.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi never meant to imply Amaya was also a cook with the sport she hunted, though it would be almost amusing to have the scarred heimen take up responsibility of chef if she was suddenly given the reputation of one. Almost amusing as in up to the point that good shark fin was spoiled by unskilled hands. She gave a nod at Amaya's testimony. "Mm."

She took in a small breath, "Hai. I...would be hard pressed to argue the scope of my duty is the same as yours. My duties with the city are only what is required of the governor." Said simply on the topic of criminals in the city.

"Yet we are both serving the Imperial Legion now and are bound to share some prestige no matter our origins." She angled a curious look on the man. "But I can't say I got here because of an Otomo's palanquin. Either you have high profile backing or I'm missing a part of the story...Usagi-san."

[Usagi Zenko]

"Heh.." he goes a little red, although if it could be easily seen in the evening light that was another issue. "Hai..uhm. Well someone thought they could grab an offering to the Shrine and bolt. In the process of chasing the thief..." He holds up one hand with four fingers extended downwards, meant to be the people carrying the palanquin. "He went under and the carriers were ordered to lower the palanquin...only I didn't hear that order and so in correcting my path ended up going right through it, and clipping one of its sides." The hand teeters and then tips over in demonstration.

He rubs his neck a bit. "An important Otomo dignitary, on his way to Miya lands. Wasn't very happy...but he couldn't exactly punish me for rescuing an offering to Inari-kami. I did manage to catch the thief, thankfully. And that got me ah..." he shrugs, "the glory and honor of being conscripted into the Imperial Navy."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Really? Is that so?" Hoshi said with some appreciative humour in her tone. "That's not usually how conscription are worked out, from the very few stories I've heard...yours is easily the most extraordinary out of all of them. It starts with a thief and ends with you behind here...If the Fortunes are on your side, moments like that are sometimes how epics are started. The whole incident could be a blessing in disguise."

[Usagi Zenko]

He shakes his head. "I'm no epic. Just a samurai serving." He looks askance suddenly, having forgotten a moment about watching for the ocean sneaking up on him. "I swear, the Otomo knew somehow that I wouldn't like the ocean. Don't know how, I'd barely even heard stories about it back home."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

The Otomo have a particular talent for putting people in strange places. "You'll have to accept it's how the Otomo operate Usagi-san, that's the best answer I can give you from my understanding of them. It's late to contemplate that fact for you ne?"

[Usagi Zenko]

He snorts at that. "Hai, too late for a lot of stuff." He glances behind the Bayushi briefly, before straightening.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi followed Zenko's sights to whatever he was looking at, perhaps something within the ocean? "Far from any reasonable chance of swimming back safely for sure Usagi-san. If the Hare aren't particular ocean dwellers, perhaps your assignment could be consider pioneering for a new generation?" A little much, but she did find amusement in the suggestion.

[Usagi Zenko]

He nods at that. "Hai, I can see where the Hare's duties would require them to travel the ocean... A bloodsp..." he stops then makes a warding gesture. "Ah, I mean one who's been tempted away from the righteous path by spirits such as what we travel so near now by the temptation of power, would be quite devastating to a ship."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi's eyes immediately narrowed to a dire look at the half pronounced word before she managed to get herself to relax as it was merely an example. "...-Ah, hai Usagi-san...Nobody is immune to the blasphemous temptation of power. I'd rather be prepared than hope for the best. Good to have you on board Usagi-san."