O' Captain My Captain [Day 7, ME]

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It probably helps that he saw you in the presence of a bunch of imperials." Shouji agreed with a nod. "Honestly you'd think the Crane here would of learned a thing or two about how to treat ronin by now." He said with a shake of his head. Though it was obvious they had not

"Not that such matters are all that important when there is sake to be had. " His eyes shifted to Yoko. "You know where the sake is?"

[Yoko]

"Think so-" she said, shifting up out of her seat and glancing in the direction. "Depends on what quality you aim to have us drinking before you head off to the Crane," she smirked, hooking her thumb into her obi.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Well, there is some decent stuff in that cabinet over there." He gestured towards one of the one's against the wall. "Just pick the one you like."

"I imagine everything they have at the Crane event will taste nice enough but nit really get you drunk."

[Yoko]

"You actually might be surprised," she chuckled, walking on over toward the cabinet and digging into the shelves. Taking her time with her selection. Pulling one out she gave a sniff toward the cork to see if she could get an idea of the scent, and through it the taste.

"Mom actually brought me through Crane lands when we started out. Shame was I was so young back then I couldn't get a share but.." she laughed, shaking her head. "There was actually this one Crane, real respectable guy in charge of a dojo, eh? Mom was real good friends with him and he was helping her out. You see, he looked real respectable, even while they drank in the meeting and all," she set a bottle back, pulled another,"but the moment they got through their.. fourth or so cup? He was so piss drunk you'd think he was about to tear off his shirt and run naked through the streets," she chuckled. Shuffling through a few more options.

Finally she selected one, looking back, "Anyway, Crane are a lot of propped up propriety, eh? But under it all they're still people, and still enjoy the same. So.. maybe you'll be surprised, eh?" she smirked, raising up her selection with a quirk of the brow.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He nodded his approval at the selection, and she'd find cups near the bottles easily enough. "I suppose it's more i just haven't found any of their delegation that seems to really enjoy drinking." He'd shared a cup or two with Yuuwaku but she didn't seem to drink much normally.

"Could be you're right though. I'm just being irritable, mostly." He continued with a half smile. "Court today wasn't exactly what I expected, and I can't say I'm completely happy with it. I think that's got something to do with it."

[Yoko]

"It was-" she said, setting the bottle down on the table. Swinging about with a spin on a heel to go and collect the cups. Sliding them off into her hand she smirked, holding them up and went over to the bottle. "Otomo Saisei.. works right under Otomo Yusuke, eh? Figure.." she shook her head, "doesn't really matter, don't think. Not in the long run. Otomo Yusuke is a man I wouldn't mind facing justice but.. I am glad that she chose to spare him, for what it's worth. If it saves a life, even just a few, it'll be worth it."

Yoko shook her head, pouring the sake into Shouji's cup and leaning back up. Walking over she handed it to him, "Honest?" she smirked, "If you are being irritable I think you've got a right to be, eh? They're.. confusing times."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"And the Scorpion who suggested it works with them both. I just worry about him playing these sort of games when his life is on the line." He frowned. "Proves to me what kind of help he is likely to be." Which from the Mantis's tone sounded like he didn't think he would be any at all.

"Not that I am against saving lives, or that i want to take his. I just think retirement is the best place for him. Not that's it's my decision either." He shook his head. "I suppose it doesn't help that Otomo Saisei has a way of verbally throwing punches at me. He's even tried his hand at turning one of the Crane here against me."

He picked up his cup and took a drink. "That they are, but I also figure you don't want to listen to all this."

[Yoko]

Yoko smiled, "Hey, we're officially friends and all now, eh?" she chuckled, turning that smile into a smirk as she took a few quick steps backwards while facing him. Turning about before she came too close to the table and leaning down again- "Way I see it, you're now one of the growing handful of people that I am exactly supposed to listen to this kinda stuff with, eh?" -pouring for herself from the bottle.

Rising again she turned about, stepping forward once, "So, lay it all on me if you got more, eh? Happy to lend my ear. Won't make it count for the favor, promise," she smirked, waving off the joke. "Seriously though it's.. well, up to you, eh?" she tapped her ear with her free hand, "Happy to listen."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Honestly I don't have much to say other then I don't think I trust any of the Otomo farther then I can throw em. I don't think any of them are quite as small as Meiko either." He added with a chuckle.

"Still, thanks. It's nice to have someone i can talk with. I can't really be all that open around most of those here." His crew waa one thing of course. It was everyone else who was the problem.

[Yoko]

"I'm glad to play the part, Tsuruchi-sama," she said with a smile, giving him a little nod. Taking another drink of the sake as she parsed a thought. "For what it's worth, I know Otomo Saisei a little.. he seemed, a decent enough sort, but I didn't trust him last we spoke. Not enough to say more about.. well," she gave a little wave with her free hand before putting it on her hip, "the curse and everything."

"Inclined to trust him less after what you said, but that is enough about Otomo, eh?" Yoko smirked, "I have your confidence, you have mine. The ronin and the Captain," she chuckled at herself, already she was setting this up too dramatically. "Type of daring partnership that not even adventure authors write about" -raising her cup to pause the thought- "and that may be just cause authors don't tend to write about ronin but," she laughed shaking her head.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"The don't tend to do they, and when they do they're likely some sort of Crane prince on a Musha Shugyo. Dramatically revealing their true identity when the time is right." He shook his head and raised his cup to his lips to take a drink.

Shouji firmly put the talk away as he concentrated on the subject at hand. "Mind you, I don't think they do much in the way of writing about the Mantis either. At least not so far as I have seen. So we're a truly odd pair indeed. Well, from the eyes of artists."

[Yoko]

"Means no one will be able to expect what we manage to achieve together, eh?" she said, raising her cup a little to toast to that concept.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Quite so." Shouji agreed, raising his cup to complete the toast. No one would would suspect the Mantis/Ronin inquisition.

"Kampai." He offered raising the glass a bit further before taking a drink.

[Yoko]

"Kampai!" she added with a raise, and then finished her cup. Glancing over she grinned.

Whatever would come next, the ronin have her few, but very fine, friends.

/scene