An Eye on the Horizon (Day ) Mid Evening)

[Moshi Meiko]

That caused the Captain to pause and blink. "Wait, what was that there at the end?" Shouji asked a bit dumbfounded.

"You're going to try and find me a wive here?" Could he run now? Should he run now?

"Well maybe not definitely, but at least probably! You know everything about liking women and knowing if you like women, and the wedding is sure to be full of nice women with collar bones. You deserve a partner more than anyone and this is our best opportunity in months to find someone!"

She beams happily at her captain
"I can help be a 'flightman' you know, the person who helps you carry up an appropriate woman. And Komei-san can help keep you two safe from being interrupted and Minari-san can check their destiny is good and Katsu-sama can have those scary talks with them to make sure they're good deepdown and Tetsuo-san can help carry things. We'll all support you!"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Why by the kami had he ever mentioned collar bones? This was certainly a moment the Captain wanted to bury his head in the sand. But sometimes you just had to take these things in stride. "You try not to talk to any ladies about collar bones?" The captain offered after a moment, as long as he could get that garunteed the rest of the conversation was probably mostly safe.

He offered a weary smile at the Moshi. "I'm sure you'll do a good job there. Just don't forget to have your own fun either! I mean you'll likely be a good enough 'flightman' by just you know telling me about people you might think would be a good wife?" Maybe that would keep her out of too much trouble. Doubtful, but sometimes you had to take these things in stride.

[Moshi Meiko]

Why by the kami had he ever mentioned collar bones? This was certainly a moment the Captain wanted to bury his head in the sand. But sometimes you just had to take these things in stride. "You try not to talk to any ladies about collar bones?" The captain offered after a moment, as long as he could get that garunteed the rest of the conversation was probably mostly safe.

He offered a weary smile at the Moshi. "I'm sure you'll do a good job there. Just don't forget to have your own fun either! I mean you'll likely be a good enough 'flightman' by just you know telling me about people you might think would be a good wife?" Maybe that would keep her out of too much trouble. Doubtful, but sometimes you had to take these things in stride.

"Oooooooooh."
Minari nods and then gives the captain a wink
"A secret flightman, I can do that! And I won't even ask directly about collar bones, I can be really discreet, I'll say 'Good day Doji-san' And then when she bows I'll check out her collarbones. And then I can report to you who I think the best matches would be."
She taps her nose.
"Oh, and don't you worry about my fun captain-sama, I don't think we're interested in the same things in people so there's no worry I'd want someone with a good collarbone who would be a better match for you!"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Success! Glorious success! This is why he was the Captain wasn't it? He could at least live with Meiko reporting to him which women had attractive collarbones. It would be kinda weird, but somethings a magnanimous captain just had to ignore. "That sounds like a plan, Meiko-san." He offered with an easy smile. "I'll look forward to your reports."

Her mention of her own interests brought a bit of relief in that it was a change of topic, and he raised an eyebrow as he looked at Meiko, once again checking to be sure she wasn't going to fall off the railing as well. "If not collarbones what is it you're going to be looking for then? If you don't mind me asking?"

[Moshi Meiko]

Success! Glorious success! This is why he was the Captain wasn't it? He could at least live with Meiko reporting to him which women had attractive collarbones. It would be kinda weird, but somethings a magnanimous captain just had to ignore. "That sounds like a plan, Meiko-san." He offered with an easy smile. "I'll look forward to your reports."

Her mention of her own interests brought a bit of relief in that it was a change of topic, and he raised an eyebrow as he looked at Meiko, once again checking to be sure she wasn't going to fall off the railing as well. "If not collarbones what is it you're going to be looking for then? If you don't mind me asking?"

"Oh, uh."
What did she like? It wasn't collarbones
"I think I like people who make me smile! Samurai who are kind and noble with soft warm hands."
Now definitely swaying back and forth again in excitement
"Those are my kind of people."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Maybe one day he dhould let her fall off? When they weren't moving of course. That was for later though, not was for watching the tiny Mantis and making sure she didn't go verboard. "So you like hands then?" He glanced at his own, that was a new one. It probably made a bit of sense though.

"I'll keep an eye out for someone with nice soft hands for you to hold then, just let me know if you figure out if you want it to be a boy or a girl." Soft hands likely meant it wouldn't be a bushi. There were probably going to be plenty of courtiers and priests at the weddign though. So maybe the tiny Moshi would have some good luck.

[Moshi Meiko]

Maybe one day he dhould let her fall off? When they weren't moving of course. That was for later though, not was for watching the tiny Mantis and making sure she didn't go verboard. "So you like hands then?" He glanced at his own, that was a new one. It probably made a bit of sense though.

"I'll keep an eye out for someone with nice soft hands for you to hold then, just let me know if you figure out if you want it to be a boy or a girl." Soft hands likely meant it wouldn't be a bushi. There were probably going to be plenty of courtiers and priests at the weddign though. So maybe the tiny Moshi would have some good luck.

"Yup!.....Wait, um....do you like collarbones because they're soft and warm and you like to hold them? That's why I like hands."
It would make sense, she had never met someone with a cold collarbone.
"Boy or girl? Gosh that's going to be confusing, most of the samurai are know are boys or girls!"
Nodding excitedly
"I'll let you know when I've figured it out, maybe I'll hold hands with both?...Not at the same time though, that would be wrong and improper!"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Ah.... No. Collarboens are to be looked at not held. There are plenty of other warm soft parts that are better for holding then collarbones." He stopped for a moment considering what he just said before adding. "Like hands! Hands are excellent for holding."

He turned away for a moment to compose himself, his mind seemed to be going straight into the gutter today and he couldn't keep it out. "That's not a bad idea as long as it's seperately. If you're not really sure it may be the best way to figure it out. Holding hands with a friend is different then holding hands with someone you like after all." Or that's what he had heard.

[Moshi Meiko]

"Ah.... No. Collarboens are to be looked at not held. There are plenty of other warm soft parts that are better for holding then collarbones." He stopped for a moment considering what he just said before adding. "Like hands! Hands are excellent for holding."

He turned away for a moment to compose himself, his mind seemed to be going straight into the gutter today and he couldn't keep it out. "That's not a bad idea as long as it's seperately. If you're not really sure it may be the best way to figure it out. Holding hands with a friend is different then holding hands with someone you like after all." Or that's what he had heard.

"Oh that's nice, people my size would probably struggle to hold onto a collarbone anyway."
Meiko was glad the people who'd made the rules of etiquette had thought of everything.

"It's different when you hold hands with someone you like? is there a special grip or something?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It'd certainly look pretty awkward too, pulling someone's kimono part of the way down so you could get a grip on their collarbone." You'd probably expose other things, and let's just stop that train of thought there.

"Sure there is! You don't just hold hands but you kinda twine your fingers together like this." He held up his hands fingers intertwined as an example. "It feels different too? It's less 'Why am I holding my friends hand' and more 'I like holding this person's hand'. That made sense, right?

[Moshi Meiko]

"It'd certainly look pretty awkward too, pulling someone's kimono part of the way down so you could get a grip on their collarbone." You'd probably expose other things, and let's just stop that train of thought there.

"Sure there is! You don't just hold hands but you kinda twine your fingers together like this." He held up his hands fingers intertwined as an example. "It feels different too? It's less 'Why am I holding my friends hand' and more 'I like holding this person's hand'. That made sense, right?

Meiko nods and jots down 'intertwine fingers'
"And then it's an easy signal to everyone else whether you're friends or friends!"
She intertwines her own hands and very nearly goes back over the rail before locking her legs under and whirling around upright.

"Have you held hands with someone like that, captain-sama?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Captain was quick to try and offer a hand to help steady the Moshi, but his gaze turned away a moment later as he answered the young woman. "Maybe a time or two." He admitted at the question. His father had always said a man of the sea should have a bit of experience, and had kinda encouraged more then just the holding hands and kissing that Shouji had experienced.

"It's um nice." He admitted after a few moments. "Especially when you're off together somewhere all alone." He added a bit or red returning to his cheeks.

[Moshi Meiko]

The Captain was quick to try and offer a hand to help steady the Moshi, but his gaze turned away a moment later as he answered the young woman. "Maybe a time or two." He admitted at the question. His father had always said a man of the sea should have a bit of experience, and had kinda encouraged more then just the holding hands and kissing that Shouji had experienced.

"It's um nice." He admitted after a few moments. "Especially when you're off together somewhere all alone." He added a bit or red returning to his cheeks.

Meiko looks very interested
"I bet! Was she nice? Where did you two meet? Are you still friends?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He looked towards the sky fighting down another bush. "You know I probably shouldn't be telling you these sort of things." He grumbled a bit to himself. "But yes she was nice, and as if we are still friends? Probably not that I exactly see her much,"

"As for where? Back in Mantis lands, where I went to school she was a bit over a year older then me too, if ya want to know a bit more." That was probably vague enough for the sake of discretion.

[Moshi Meiko]

He looked towards the sky fighting down another bush. "You know I probably shouldn't be telling you these sort of things." He grumbled a bit to himself. "But yes she was nice, and as if we are still friends? Probably not that I exactly see her much,"

"As for where? Back in Mantis lands, where I went to school she was a bit over a year older then me too, if ya want to know a bit more." That was probably vague enough for the sake of discretion.

"Aren't you sad you can't see her anymore?"
Meiko looks very sad on Shouji's behalf anyway as she hovers on his every word.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Some at first, but It's been a couple years you know." Sailing off on a ship and leaving a girl he liked behind hadn't been all that great of a thing, it was a sailor's duty though. Or so his fatehr explained it. Though he never quite understood why he was supposed to leave a broken heart behind in every port he visited. He hadn't bothered attempting it yet either.


"Feelings like that tend to fade after a while if they aren't tended to." Or so it seemed to him.

[Moshi Meiko]

"Some at first, but It's been a couple years you know." Sailing off on a ship and leaving a girl he liked behind hadn't been all that great of a thing, it was a sailor's duty though. Or so his fatehr explained it. Though he never quite understood why he was supposed to leave a broken heart behind in every port he visited. He hadn't bothered attempting it yet either.


"Feelings like that tend to fade after a while if they aren't tended to." Or so it seemed to him.

"Oh but that's so romantic! Two lovers separated by duty. You out here on the seas pining for her, she....probably also on the seas pining for you! I hope I can find something like that."
Meiko wraps her arms around herself and closes her eyes
"Just like those books I keep finding under people's pillows when I do the linen check."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

I⁰t didn't sound too romantic to him, honestly being together and kissing and stuff seemed a lot more romantic to him. Pining after each other an ocean away sounded frustrating.... Maybe that's why brothels existed?

Not that he said that out loud. "You read the books you find under peoples pillows?" Shouji asked raising an eyebrow. "I mean I'm sure you will find something just like that if it's what you want though."

[Moshi Meiko]

I⁰t didn't sound too romantic to him, honestly being together and kissing and stuff seemed a lot more romantic to him. Pining after each other an ocean away sounded frustrating.... Maybe that's why brothels existed?

Not that he said that out loud. "You read the books you find under peoples pillows?" Shouji asked raising an eyebrow. "I mean I'm sure you will find something just like that if it's what you want though."

"N-no, never"
Meiko emphasises this with a firm shake of the head
"That wouldn't be appropriate! But they do have covers with titles on them sometimes, and when I ask people about them they'd always change the subject. I think they were just embarassed people knew they were pining for someone."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"That's probably a wise thing." Shouji muttered after a moment, thinking back to make sure he didn't have any of those types of book he hid under his pillow. "They're probably full of talk and swords and sheaths and showing a lady your bushido." As well as other metaphors like plowing and fertilizing seeds.

"Probably best you don't go looking for books of that type when we get to shore either." He really didn't want to field any questions about that sort of thing.

[Moshi Meiko]

"That's probably a wise thing." Shouji muttered after a moment, thinking back to make sure he didn't have any of those types of book he hid under his pillow. "They're probably full of talk and swords and sheaths and showing a lady your bushido." As well as other metaphors like plowing and fertilizing seeds.

"Probably best you don't go looking for books of that type when we get to shore either." He really didn't want to field any questions about that sort of thing.

"Oh, well if you say so captain-sama."
Serious nod. Clearly these books were not appropriate!

"How do you show someone your bushido? Do you have to be naked, like in those books?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Well, um... Sometimes." As far as he could tell a lot of times clothign could be pushed out of the way. Hsi eyes widened a moment later though as he realized what she had said.

"Wait! I thought you said you hadn't been reading books like that!" How else could she tell the peopel were naked?

[Moshi Meiko]

"Well, um... Sometimes." As far as he could tell a lot of times clothign could be pushed out of the way. Hsi eyes widened a moment later though as he realized what she had said.

"Wait! I thought you said you hadn't been reading books like that!" How else could she tell the peopel were naked?

".....Uh...um.....maybe I glanced at one or two pages."
Her eyes grow large and the Moshi looks very sorry.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

One or two pages? It seemed like it was probably more then that.

"It's.... Well... Maybe you should just buy some of those pillow books for yourself after all? I mean you're an aduly and curious and, well They'll at least tell you a little about what it means to show someone your bushido. It ill keep you from reading other people's too." Which would get him off the hook from explaining it. "I mean, I can't um... Explain everything to you?" He after all only had a loose understanding of certain parts of things.

[Moshi Meiko]

One or two pages? It seemed like it was probably more then that.

"It's.... Well... Maybe you should just buy some of those pillow books for yourself after all? I mean you're an aduly and curious and, well They'll at least tell you a little about what it means to show someone your bushido. It ill keep you from reading other people's too." Which would get him off the hook from explaining it. "I mean, I can't um... Explain everything to you?" He after all only had a loose understanding of certain parts of things.

"You're right captain-sama. A samurai doesn't rely on others for help, sometimes they need to go out and buy some pillow books and work hard to achieve something for themselves!"
Meiko flings herself down from the railing and strikes a triumphant pose
"I shall purchase many of these books at our destination and learn all I can about showing your bushido to others. I will make you proud, senpai!"