If Fishes were Wishes (Day 1 Early Evening)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji sat on a crate near where the Seafox was moored watching the crowd of fishing vessels as the started to return after their days work. There was a piece of salted fish on a piece of parchment by his side, and shaving off a piece with a knife he popped it in his mouth and chewed.

It wasn't much as far as meals went and really didn't taste too good, vmbut a proper meal could wait for a bit still. At the moment all he wanted was a snack.

[Hiruma Sen]

Well, that Moshi was a Mantis and the Mantis came in on these kobune. So this would hopefully be the correct place. Sen couldn’t help but feel worried about the poor girl that got caught up in that rope snare.

Spotting the Mantis sitting on the box, Sen approached cautiously. “Ah, excuse me... I hope I’m not botherin’ you or nothin’, but I’m looking for someone. A short Moshi.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Tthe Captain glanced up at the crab, setting aside his knife and dusting off his hands. "A short Moshi? I know a couple, you're likely going to have to be a bit more specific then that." Shouji offered a slight smile on his lips.

[Hiruma Sen]

“Uhhhh... She was energetic? And tiny. Very tiny.” Sen watched the Mantis place the knife to the side. “She ran off surprisin’ly fast. I think either I spooked her or the rope snare gave her whiplash or somethin’.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Oh, that must of been Meiko then." No one would ever describe Minari as energetic first and foremost, maybe Tetsuo, but never Minari. "She got caught up in a rope snare though?" He reached up a hand to rub at his temples. "Could I ask where so I could tell her to avoid that area?"

[Hiruma Sen]

“Moshi Meiko... Ah! That’s right. That was definitely her name.” Recognition crossed the Hiruma’s face, causing a relieved sigh to escape. “Ah, yeah, the traps. Just past the farms. Avoid trees.”

“So... Have you seen her around at all? Pretty worried. She kind of ran off in a hurry despite her foot back been caught.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Sounds like you like her." Shouji replied with a flash of a grin, taking a mental note of hwere the Crab said the traps were. It seemed a odd place to trap being this wasn't exactly a battlefield. He had heard how paranoid the crab could be though so he wasn't going to bring that up.

"I haven't seen her though. But I imagine if she went running off after getting her ankle caught she is well enough, and she'll be by later this evening."

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen couldn’t help but raise a brow at that. “Like her? Well, she was pretty good company, I do have to admit.”

Though, mentioning company did make the Hiruma realize that introductions hadn’t happened yet. So, with a bow, “I’ve been rude. Hiruma Sen, local from these parts.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Sure, you apparently just met and you were worried enough about her to track her back to her ship. Even with the fact her ankle was in good enough condition for her to run on." He shrugged and offered the crab a smile. "Course I'm probably reading a bit too much into it.

He returned the bow from hsi seat on the crate. "A pleasure Hiruma-san, I'm Tsuruchi Shouji, Captain of the Seafox." He indicated the ship with a dip of his head.

[Hiruma Sen]

“Ahhh, so Tsuruchi-sama is Moshi-san’s boss?” Sen’s head tilted to the side ever so slightly, “I guess it is silly to be worried about it. But she ran off so quickly, so I wondered if it was somethin’ I said to upset her. And I admit I was a bit surprised she could run like that. She had me carry her to my place an’ all that, so I thought she might’ve still been pretty sore.”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Yeah, she's one of my crew." Possibly the most troublesome one of the bunch oddly. "She had you carry her over though?" He probably shouldn't tell the Hiruma of Meiko's thoughts about romantic encounters. Best the Crab figure that out on their own. "I suppose that explains the worry then. Thoguh I should likely tell you that while she is clumsy, she does intend to recover quick, so that's probably a bit what you were seeing."

He reached for his knife, and cut off another bit of the fish. "I wouldn't worry about upsetting her though, she doesn't offend to easy, and probably would of tried to smoothe things over if that was the case. Most likely she was just a bit nervous about being in a strangers home."

[Hiruma Sen]

“Oh, that’s a relief.” Sen couldn’t help but smile, more than just a bit relieved. “Thanks for the advice, Tsuruchi-sama. Don’t wanna upset any of our Mantis friends, and you must know all your crew pretty well. Any standouts on your crew?”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It's part of a Captain's job, to know his crew." As well as how best to use them. "As far as standouts I suppose I have a few, thought I suppose that also depends on what you think stands out."

He popped the piece of fish into his mouth and took a few moments to chew. "You want to hear abotu cute girls, or hadnsome gentlemen? Or maybe just the more important members of the ship?" Like his first mate or navigator.

[Moshi Meiko]

Behind them both the small Moshi in question comes down the gangplank humming an upbeat tune, when she spots Sen talking to Captain-sama Meiko's eyes nearly pop out of her head and she freezes, as though hoping they could only see movement.

[Hiruma Sen]

“I mean, I guess any of those qualify as standouts I guess?” Sen froze as the sound of footsteps came up from behind them. The sudden stop of the footsteps was even more suspicious, and Sen’s Hiruma instinct kicked in, turning around quickly to try and catch the culprit!

Who was frozen in shock. And was the Moshi they just talked about. “Oh. Moshi-san!”

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Meiko." Shouji offered his crewmate a polite nod of greeting. "Why don't you come over and join us." His lips curled into a half smile. "You'll never hold anyone's hand if you just stand frozen like that."

Turning back to the Hiruma. "I suppose we will start with the women then? Other then Meiko here, the one's of my crew that stand out are Yoritomo Koemi, and Moshi Minari, who is only a few inches taller then Meiko here."

[Moshi Meiko]

“I mean, I guess any of those qualify as standouts I guess?” Sen froze as the sound of footsteps came up from behind them. The sudden stop of the footsteps was even more suspicious, and Sen’s Hiruma instinct kicked in, turning around quickly to try and catch the culprit!

Who was frozen in shock. And was the Moshi they just talked about. “Oh. Moshi-san!”

"Meiko." Shouji offered his crewmate a polite nod of greeting. "Why don't you come over and join us." His lips curled into a half smile. "You'll never hold anyone's hand if you just stand frozen like that."

Turning back to the Hiruma. "I suppose we will start with the women then? Other then Meiko here, the one's of my crew that stand out are Yoritomo Koemi, and Moshi Minari, who is only a few inches taller then Meiko here."

Meiko robotically bows low to both of them, blushing furiously at her captain's word as she hurries down the plank.
"Um, Hiruma-san, I, uh it's good to see you. I see you've met captain-sama. Captain-sama, um, this is Hiruma-Sen-san."

Shuffling her feet slightly
"I wasn't expecting to see you, see you both I mean, see you both here, now, together."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Cutting another bit of fish from the piece of salted fish, Shouji offered it to MEiko. "Fish?" Hr asked, hoping that giving her somethign to do would distract her from the presence of the Crab and her Captain.

"Still, Thanks for the introduction. Hiruma-san, had just come by to ask if you were doing well, and I was assuring then you were fine." He smiled at the Moshi. "No trap is going to keep you down."

[Hiruma Sen]

Sen glanced to the Tsuruchi, wondering if this nervousness was normal for Meiko. He didn’t seemed worried, and that was good enough for the Crab. “Yeah, Tsuruchi-sama is correct. I was worried after you left so suddenly earlier.”

[Moshi Meiko]

Cutting another bit of fish from the piece of salted fish, Shouji offered it to MEiko. "Fish?" Hr asked, hoping that giving her somethign to do would distract her from the presence of the Crab and her Captain.

"Still, Thanks for the introduction. Hiruma-san, had just come by to ask if you were doing well, and I was assuring then you were fine." He smiled at the Moshi. "No trap is going to keep you down."

Meiko accepts the fish and disappears it in a flash before turning to Sen, mainly so captain-sama can't see how embarrassed she looks.

"Oh that's so kind of you! I just left because uh, I was abusing your hospitality."
Hanging her head
"Um, my ankle wasn't really that sore, and my calf wasn't even really hurting. I probably didn't need a massage but agreed to one anyway. I apologise unreservedly. You were kind and welcoming and hospitable and your hands were surprisingly soft and uh-"
Cutting herself off
"It's really nice you came to check up on me."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I don't think you need to apologize for accepting someone's hospitality Meiko-san." The Captain offered after a moment. "Though I might say that carrying a young woman into your home and offering to massage her calf is a bit beyond the scope of hospitality." He added, his tone a bit chiding as his eyes moved towards the Crab, perhaps a small bit of displeasure evident there.

His eyes shifted towards the Moshi. "You were likely right to leave when you did."

"If the pair of you are looking for my opinion on the matter."

[Hiruma Sen]

“It is? I was just doin’ what my...” There was a momentary flash of pain in Sen’s eyes, but it was stuffed back down just as quick as it came to the surface. “Just... Doin’ what my mom did for me when I got caught in a snare when I was a kid.”

An apologetic look was flashed towards both the Mantis. “Sorry for botherin’ you both, then... Maybe I should go?”

[OOC: spending Void to not be depressed. Lost Love triggered.]

[Moshi Meiko]

Meiko's eyes go wide at both the captain's remarks and the Hiruma's pain.

"N-no captain-sama, it was my fault. Hiruma-san has been nothing less than welcoming. Maybe we can get them some tea?"
Like the captain's nice tea....?
"For their trouble in coming all this way? I don't want anyone leaving with bad feelings tonight, it isn't right when there's a wedding on and we're all friends!"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Well at the very least the Hiruma seemed to be considering how they're actions might be perceived by others and seemed apologetic for it. Which was enough for him.

"My cew member is right though. You came here out of worry and offered your hospitality to Meiko when she was troubled." He'd still have to ask one of the higher ranking Crab about the reasoning behind Sen's trap placement. That would wait though.

"So it would be rude not to return the favor." He gestured towards the gangplank. "Why don't you join us for some tea?"

[Hiruma Sen]

There was a hint of discomfort, but the Hiruma slowly nodded. “I... Guess it would be okay. I mean that sounds very kind.”

Eyes darted between the two Mantis, settling on the Tsuruchi for a moment. He didn’t seem very pleased a moment ago, but now he seemed nice. Back to the Moshi, she seemed pretty distraught by the thought of Sen leaving. “You’re both kind.”