Strolling the Streets (Day 1 Mid Afternoon)

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I've not been in Dragon lands for almost three years now. Even then, that was to stop in and inform my sensei of my Musha Shugyo's end. It was not by choice. Poor crops aside, I am not sure it is where I belong right now. Though I fear it might be where I am needed."

She tapped the last of the tobacco out of her pipe and smothered it with her sandal.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Sounds like you have no small amount of difficulties ahead then." Shouji replied, there was little else to be said on the subject though. His clan had no internal problems to speak of, well other then the general disposition many Mantis samurai had towards things.

It wasn't one Shouji tended to support, but we wasn't going to complain if other did. "I'd offer advice, but I have none. So all I can really do is act as a distraction if you want one."

[Kitsuki Naida]

A quiet moment, Naida putting her pipe away before speaking.

"...you know, the role of a guide is most prestigious in the mountains, Tsuruchi-san. There is even a dojo for our Clan that teaches samurai how to master the mountain passes and find food in the most difficult of situations. So I should think your role as a guide to food is worthy enough, no?"

Okay, so the school was more about defending the Dragon lands, but it was an apt analogy in her mind. And she'd fight anyone who said differrent.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"As you say." He agreed simply, sliding open the door to the shop as the made their way near, and letting the Dragon lead the way in.

"It sounds like you've traveled quite extensively though. Have you ever chanced the seas? Or do you spend all your time traveling on foot?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"All by foot. Well, I exaggerate; I've been in a few carts on my travels, and on one particularly slow ox. As to the sea... I've only seen it, not been on it. Oh I'm not afraid of it or such, since I know how to not drown even if it would be an exaggeration to say I can swim well. But I've not had reason, I suppose."

Naida had a server show the two of them a table and found a seat, leaning her pack against the wall behind her cushion.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It seems like the Ox added time to the trip, not saved it." Shouji said as he took the seat opposite of the Dragon. "Though i suppose in exchange it saved you some wear on your sandals."

He nodded at her explanation. "Swimming can come in handy in boat travels, even if we don't do much of it. Though I might say if you intend to travel back north, you may consider taking a Kobune at least part of the way. It's an experience i think most should have at least once in their life."

[Kitsuki Naida]

That got an arch of an eyebrow, "An experience you say. Does that mean a good experience, or a bad experience?"

The hat came off as well, Naida shaking her ponytail loose of the thing before setting the hat with her stuff.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It differs from person to person. I find it enjoyable myself, but others find themselves hugging the railing, their dinner decorating the water below.

"Either way there is nothing quite like it when the ocean is still and acting almost like a mirror. Reflecting the heavens above in a way that make it hard to determine where the horizon ends and the sea begins."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Nothing quite like it, hm? That's what the Unicorn say about riding horses, and I've found you can replicate the experience quite easily if you just... Never mind. But still, I do like looking out over the ocean, it's true. Very different from the mountains back home in almost every way."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Now you've got me interested, Kitsuki-san." Shouji offered with an amused smile. "Maybe I should loosen your tongue with a bit of sake." He was likely teasing about that.

"I would offer to take you out for a good view, but a Kobune not really the type of vessel you take out on a whim." Further conversation came to a halt as one of the staff arrived and listed off the days choices. Mostly various types of seafood paired with rice and vegetables.

[Kitsuki Naida]

And so she ordered that. Seafood with rice and vegetables, that is. If you were some place, you ordered what they were good at, after all.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He did the same, favoring grilled fish over any type of selfish. Shrimp and the like were nice, but he was hoping for something a bit more substantial then a meal of them usually proved to be.

[Kitsuki Naida]

When the server left...

"Come now; A Dragon is supposed to have some secrets, some mysteries, no? Not the same way a Scorpion might, but something to keep you interested and wondering."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I think most women might say the same thing from time to time; whether they be Dragon or Scorpion or some other Clan." He smiled and shook his head. "Personally I think you've already have enough mystery to keep someone interested."

"One more will do no harm though, just an extra helping of mystery."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I think most women might say the same thing from time to time; whether they be Dragon or Scorpion or some other Clan." He smiled and shook his head. "Personally I think you've already have enough mystery to keep someone interested."

"One more will do no harm though, just an extra helping of mystery."

A soft smile, Naida looking at the small flower arrangement on the middle of the table as she brushed some loose strands of hair over her ear.

"What about yourself? Have you ever been mountain climbing, Tsuruchi-san?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"No, there aren't many mountains for it where I'm from. Trees I've climbed though, and masts." That was something just about every sailor did though.

Hee paused a moment thoughtfully. "It sounds interesting though, and I imagine offers some splendid views."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Depends on the mountain, and what you consider a wonderful view. Personally, I think the view above the clouds is quitenice, though I can hardly say there is 'nothing quite like it' without a good deal of irony with you. Personally, as unique and majestic as the view is, it's no more special than this view."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Oh?" He raised as eyebrow out that. "It sounds like there may be a bit of philosophy mixed in there."

His lips played into a half smile. "Or is it more along the line that you're enjoying our conversation here?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"A little of both, but more the former. I think there is a majesty in nature, but I would not say it is unmatched by the majesty of civilization. They're just two separate things; The simplicity of a sky stretching out over an ocean and a flower on a table at a small teahouse can both be a microcosm of beauty or a majestic vista, depending on how one focuses one's mind."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"And that's not even bringing any attention to the lovely woman present in this one." Shouji mused a playful smile on his lips. "I suppose I understand what you're getting at though. Even if I've never really considered it before."

"Perhaps I'll have to keep my mind open to catching bits of beauty regardless of my surroundings."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"You do you, Tsuruchi-san. It was just an observation about my own ideals. But yes, humans are part of nature too, part of the Spirit Realms I suppose one might say in a more spiritual sense. So your own aesthetics compliment everything as well, neh?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"True enough." He mused, falling silent for a moments as their meals arrived as well as soem tea to compliment.

"I suppose I mostly find it interesting to try and see things as others might. It helps me understand them to a degree? Or at least that's my hope." There was no telling really if it actually worked.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"I am glad to hear I'm not the only one. Understand others, try to think like they do, try to go beneath the surface of just another On. Perhaps some Clans whose lands I've travelled through have been more suspicious of that than others, but..."

A shrug.

"I am me."

Her plate was... quite extensive.



And she dug into it with relish.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji's spread was a bit simpler, Grilled fish, pickles, rice, and miso soup. I looked not less tasty though, and as it arrived he began to dig in as well. He seemed to have a healthy appetite, something pretty common in an athletic young man of his age.

"So you are Kitsuki-san." He offered after pausing from eating for a moment. "As far as understanding others though, I'd have to say i'm a bit of a beginner. For example I failed to take into account how your eyesight might change your opinion of certain views."

[Kitsuki Naida]

A small grunt under her breath, "You're not wrong. It's hard to pinpoint all the things that make you think how you do, though I know some people understand themselves better than others. Me? I know wanting to understand slightly comes from my upbringing as a Kitsuki, as well as wanting to learn things like that to compensate for my world not being in focus through those senses as such. I can have as clear of a picture as I want of something by getting to know it; Touch, taste, smell... interaction. For people, there's also getting to talk."

She broke the provided chopsticks apart and moved on from the soup to the rice and fish.