[Day 1 – Evening] The Night’s Return (Open)

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi placed the back of her hand over her mask to restrain the evidence of a yawn as she strolled the deck’s upper levels, the motion out of habit even if the yawn couldn’t be seen. If yawns were contagious, then even more reason to prevent one from breaking out, lest the Captain thought his crew was getting lazy. Mm, a toll of an early day. I should get used to the idea of sleeping earlier. She gave glance to both sides of the deck before claiming a place by the railing that the current staff didn’t take.

Another part of leaving the Sea of Shadows was also the true night’s return and the stars with it. It didn’t take a diviner or astrologist to find some appreciation in them.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Out for his nightly ritual, Choukichi wanders the ships rails, stopping at precise intervals to utter prayers and throw the occasional small amount of rice into the waters. When he gets near Hoshi he stops and shifts uncomfortably for a second then steps to the rail next to her, not innapropriately close, but almost. He then starts uttering quiet prayers to Suitengu and Osano-Wo.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi hadn't quite noticed the Yoritomo until he took notice of her. She was first bow politely in greeting but said little else as it seemed this one had a ritual in mind. The feeling that she might have been at his usual spot came to mind but there was nothing that obligated her to move. After watching him for a snippet of his prayers, she returned her eyes to the skies, perhaps waiting for him to finish.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Once he is done he turns to Hoshi and offers a polite bow.

"My apologies for not greeting you right away Bayushi-san, and I hope I have not disturbed you?"

[Volsung]

A pair of ashigaru are on patrol, walking along the edge of the boat and talking quietly with one another. When they spot the samurai, both stop talking and bow low. Waiting more than long enough before they right themselves and keep on their patrol. The woman looked as though she had spent much of the day sobbing, the man looked eerily stoic as they passed by the samurai duo.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi gave a moment's glance at the ashigaru's bow then returned her attention on Choukichi, shaking her head lightly. "Iie Yoritomo-san, you had important obligations that demanded your attentions elsewhere. I was hoping that I wasn't disturbing you actually." She said while giving glance to the spot she was standing at.

"This one is Bayushi Hoshi, formerly of Ryoko Owari Toshi." She bowed politely at her introduction.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"No, no, not at all, I only hesitated out of worry I might disturb your thoughts."

Choukichi smiles pleasantly and bows politely in return.

"Yoritomo Choukichi, formerly been sailing out of Kyuden Kumiko. A pleasure to meet you Bayushi-san."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"I had little to concern myself over tonight, nothing was disturbed really." Hoshi lifted a hand and waved off concern from the Yoritomo. A slow breath was released as she glanced out to the skies. "Just an appreciation of the skies. They were always supposed to be bright, even at night."

"Oh, pleased to meet you Yoritomo-san." She said with some degree of familiarity. "You're the one who they call 'Spooks'...right?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi scoffs at the mention of his name.

"Hai, dissapointing really. I thought they might be a bit more creative, Spooks is hardly a new name."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Not the first time? Then what was the meaning behind the other times they've called you that?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Always the same, people think I am afraid of evil spirits."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi shrugged once, "Fear of the spirits isn't strange by any means, especially where we just came from. They were very real. -Ah...but I take it that you're not, only people seem to think so?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Precisely, i'm not afraid of them, I just don't like them, nor do I like the idea of being killed by them, and you can only prevent that sort of death by being prepared."

A keen observer can easily tell that he is probably at least a little afraid of them, though he would never admit it.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Perhaps catching that sort of sense of fear from him, she merely gave delicate nods at that. "Hai. Of course. You might make good friends with one of the Toritaka on board with that thought in mind...but I do agree preparedness is good."

She folded her arms and looked to him. "Are you prepared for the spirits who reside in foreign lands too?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Maybe, I don't really know how different gaijin malicious spirits are from ours. My great grandfather believed his preparations would keep me safe from them as well, but he could not say so with absolute certainty."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Mm. I know little less about our destination, even less of their spirits. Aren't the Mantis supposed to be knowledgeable of oceans beyond?"

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Not in general, even we have little enough contact beyond the empires borders. My great grandfather knew a great deal about our destination however, and I have learned some from listening to his stories."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"You should hope that will be enough in itself. You're feeling confident." Hoshi phrased in a tone that almost sounded like a question.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Ah... Confident enough, I don't know a great deal about our destination, but having some knowledge at least is comforting."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Good. That's good Yoritomo-san." Hoshi gave a few sure nods, making no outward show of her opinions as she took his words as is. There was a glint in her eyes as she seemed to smile under her mask. "...I recall you're the one with the cats isn't that right?"