(D1 EM, The Sea Fox) Necessary Cleansing

[Moshi Meiko]

Talking about homosexuality and its perception in Rokugan was not one of the topics Koemi ever had in mind. "As I said, people's personal opinion can vary. I don't think any particular area likes or dislikes it more than another," she said, rubbing her chin in thought. "Yes, discretion is always key. I suppose the person who might have the most issues is someone who only wants to have relations with their spouse."

The rigger then blinked. "You said hand holding?"

Flush
"I know it's pretty risqué but I kind of want to go all the way and hold a hand if I can find the right person for it."

[Yoritomo Koemi]

Koemi blinked a few more times. "You remember that I was talking about plowing, right?"

[Moshi Meiko]

Koemi blinked a few more times. "You remember that I was talking about plowing, right?"

Swallow "Yes, a very direct euphemism for..uh...things. But hold hands isn't a euphemism, people hold hands all the time, I've seen them do it!"

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Holding hands is rather tame in comparison," Koemi explained with a slight smile. She peered at the Moshi. "This is your first time going anywhere outside of your home, huh? Even after so much time with us...?"

[Moshi Meiko]

"Holding hands is rather tame in comparison," Koemi explained with a slight smile. She peered at the Moshi. "This is your first time going anywhere outside of your home, huh? Even after so much time with us...?"

"Well we've visited a few ports, but this is the first time I'll have real shore-leave. And It's a big party, right? So it's the sort of place where you can do stuff like hold hands."

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"And plowing," Koemi pushed. "That is what most people get up to when they go on shore leave and especially so when a party is involved."

[Moshi Meiko]

"And plowing," Koemi pushed. "That is what most people get up to when they go on shore leave and especially so when a party is involved."

“Well I mean... it’s not quite like that....It’s a little like that. But not completely. I’ve never held hands-” Meiko didn’t seem to want to get into the plowong terminology
“-before. But I’m 19 and I want to, but with someone who’s sweet and kind with nice palms.”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Hand holding can be serious," Koemi said, "based on the person." Her eyes went up towards the deck of the ship. "Would you consider helping someone onto the ship as holding hands?"

[Moshi Meiko]

"Hand holding can be serious," Koemi said, "based on the person." Her eyes went up towards the deck of the ship. "Would you consider helping someone onto the ship as holding hands?"

“Oh no. That’s just hand holding. It’s not holding hands.”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"I see. More about the intention than the action," she further clarified. Koemi crossed her arms and looked hard at the Moshi. "Okay, you probably have a shot at this. You'll need to find someone worthy of your affection then."

[Moshi Meiko]

"I see. More about the intention than the action," she further clarified. Koemi crossed her arms and looked hard at the Moshi. "Okay, you probably have a shot at this. You'll need to find someone worthy of your affection then."

“You really think so???”
Meiko bounces up and down happily
“I promise I’ll try really hard and find a really appropriate samurai. Someone the whole crew would approve of!”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Eh, it's really none of our business as long as you're not getting married to them... or compromise the boat. But that's a rare thing, really."

[Moshi Meiko]

"Eh, it's really none of our business as long as you're not getting married to them... or compromise the boat. But that's a rare thing, really."

“Oh, well I don’t think I’ll do either of them. Marriage would be complicated and I think someone who would compromise the boat isn’t someone I’d want to hold hands with.”
No siree they wouldn’t deserve hand holding at all!

“You have a really good understanding of this Koemi-san!”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"It's simple stuff, what I've said," Koemi brushed her off. "The hard part is making it all work. But, as it were, shore leave is a good opportunity to practice. What happens here could end up just staying here, ya know?"

[Moshi Meiko]

"It's simple stuff, what I've said," Koemi brushed her off. "The hard part is making it all work. But, as it were, shore leave is a good opportunity to practice. What happens here could end up just staying here, ya know?"

“Absolutely! I’ve already planned the tearful farewells. I think that’s just part of the sailor’s life.”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"The tearful farewells?" Koemi narrowed her eyes. "Are you some sort of pillow book reader?"

[Moshi Meiko]

"The tearful farewells?" Koemi narrowed her eyes. "Are you some sort of pillow book reader?"

“....”
Meiko freezes for a moment
“Uh, n-no. Not really! I mean, I’ve glanced at a few other people’s books but I wouldn’t consider myself a reader.”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"It's fine to be a pillow book reader. Just a rather soft thing to do," Koemi said with what was meant to be a reassuring smile.

[Moshi Meiko]

"It's fine to be a pillow book reader. Just a rather soft thing to do," Koemi said with what was meant to be a reassuring smile.

“Oh! Uh, well I was going to pick some up in port. Captain-sama said they might have some interesting things to teach me.”
Nervously poking her fingers together.
“So long as that’s not too soft.”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"It is soft," Koemi said with a wink. "Such things are for people who long for romance, not those who seize it." She made a dramatic fist, not that she had any right to say anything on the matter.

[Moshi Meiko]

"It is soft," Koemi said with a wink. "Such things are for people who long for romance, not those who seize it." She made a dramatic fist, not that she had any right to say anything on the matter.

Meiko mimics the action with her own small fist
“Seize their hand with your hand in a dramatically romantic way!”

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"Not everyone will like that," she advised. She surely wouldn't, though that wasn't based off of any experience. "But seriously, don't pick up any of those. I'm not the only one that wouldn't let that go."

[Moshi Meiko]

"Not everyone will like that," she advised. She surely wouldn't, though that wasn't based off of any experience. "But seriously, don't pick up any of those. I'm not the only one that wouldn't let that go."

"Oh, well a slow romantic hand taking can work just as well. They can look me in the eye and say something sweet and then I gently lay my hand on theirs and then they flush slightly and I say something really sweet back."
Clasping her hands together and spinning around
"It will be perfect!"

[Yoritomo Koemi]

"You're doing it again, all the fantasizing," Koemi groaned. "Doing that is going to set yourself up for failure."

[Moshi Meiko]

"You're doing it again, all the fantasizing," Koemi groaned. "Doing that is going to set yourself up for failure."

"But it's romance, it's all about fantasy! I could go and...and" blushing "Pay one of the people at the Hole to hold my hand right now if that's all that mattered. But I won't! I think it's best when it's sweet and kind."