No Shoulder to Lean On [Day 7, MA]

[Yue]

"So a sort of community service then?" she said curiously as Yoko's answer did make it seem like that it was motivated by altruism at least.

She nodded slowly in acceptance, "I guess I haven't really found a circumstance or job yet that I'd be comfortable doing solely for myself yet. I guess it's probably comforting to have completely your own boss in that aspect, huh?"

[Yoko]

"Sorta?" she shrugged, shaking her head with a short chuckle. "I accepted this job to do a service for the people, and to get some extra coin. By the time it was over I found others who needed the coin more than I did. Just a matter of putting more good into the world when I can, eh? I've coin, I've somewhere I'm expected to be and a different life set up in front of me too. Would feel rather greedy to keep what extra I coulda got," she smirked.

[Yue]

"It's not often that circumstances change faster than a job too," she nodded soundly as she brushed some hair behind her ear, "Your mom's listen must have helped you get this opportunity, right? I don't think that you merely stumbled onto it by accident at least. I'm sure the captain knows too?"

[Yoko]

"Follow what she told me every day, with the blade and with myself," she smiled, nodding as a double confirmation. "But, yea, the captain knows. Watched me walk up to the Empress at court and ask if she would have me. I- I had some good suggestion from speaking with others how it might go but.. well, you never know with something like that, eh?" she smirked.

[Yue]

"It couldn't have been just handed to you but you tried and got something out of it. It sounds like to me that you managed to get the best outcome. Considering the worst they could have said was no, you managed to do pretty well for yourself," she gave her a look over before nodding.

[Yoko]

"Thanks," she smirked, giving a short nod. "You know, much as I was prepared for the idea it might work walking up still got my nerves. Not one to speak in front of that many people, eh? Still, I did and now I'm here. Whatever comes next, comes next, eh?"

[Yue]

"I think the same goes for me when it comes to those words. It's nice to see a bright horizon but I guess you won't necessarily get there in one day? Being well in the here and now is pretty good as is, or whatever qualifies as the here and now," she gave a shrug of her shoulder, repeating days not withstanding.

"I'll just take it one step at a time."

[Yoko]

"One day at a time serves me well enough. No need to worry about what happens tomorrow," she shook her head, thinking on the humor as her lips curled somewhat but didn't form a smile quite. "Since apparently even waking up in the same spot isn't guaranteed all the time," and then she grinned.

"But- any thought to where you might be going, when the wedding's done?"

[Yue]

Yue looked up as she let out a small sigh, "That's a pretty good question that I don't really know the answers to myself. They say that there's more work for any ronin who is willing to go further south and the potential for fealty and all that. I don't think that's something that I'm looking for at the moment, especially when it means potentially dying for it in the process. I might just linger her or go to somewhere bigger, like a city. If it's not too great, I could always go back up north once it starts to get warmer again."

"If I get over myself, I could just take your place on the ship, maybe," she gave a shake of her head as that seemed a bit doubtful on her part.

[Yoko]

"I'm sure Tsuruchi-sama would be glad to have you aboard, eh? Way I figure would mean that we'd have some more time to chat at least, way my future is looking. Still," she gave a wave of her hand. Shrugged, "Honest? When we came here I would have never. I.. well, I'm not sure about their little arrangement down there, eh? Seems to me like it's something just to get someone killed. But I met someone who changed my mind on it, at least a little," she gave a look, the touch of a smile. "There could be some good a ronin could do down there, if you play it safe. Way I figure a bow is a pretty nice way to do it, eh?" she said, smirking as she glanced to the item in question.

[Yue]

"For now he seems fine with it," she said with a shrug, "I think we've come to an agreement that it's not something long term, especially with my feelings on the seas. I don't want to overstep my bounds, especially when kindness is offer. Just because someone offers you some rice, doesn't mean they'll exactly let you freely drink the sake. Standing on board on a boat is...interesting, still a bit uneasy when it gets too bouncy."

"Yeah, a bow would keep me safe," she sighed, "although it would mean things would also get extra hairy for me if it ever gets close. There is plenty of work around the Empire. Just need some luck and perhaps speaking up for once.

[Yoko]

"Someone like you, I figure you wouldn't be caught out like that unless you wanted it, " she said, putting her hand to test the wound a little. She winced, it still hurt. Shaking her head she looked to Yue with a little smirk. "Considering you're not as reckless as I am, probably doesn't happen often, eh?" the smirk returned.

Moving her hand, waving it a little, "Anyway. Tsuruchi Shouji is good folk. No harm in checking with him about anything, eh? Shared a drink with me plenty enough. I'm sure he'd let you stay on long as he can make use of the hands, and you are willing," she looked to Yue a moment, grabbing a thought, but holding it for later.

[Yue]

"I can be reckless," she admitted, "but I think I want to be certain when it's a sure thing? The shots I've taken probably would have been considered risky by most people, especially in the middle of a fight. I could have probably played more conservative but it doesn't seem fitting for you to take me along to have me gawk at you from a distance while you were fighting. I'd consider that risk a sure thing, at least."

"Yeah, something worth considering but I think I have a few more nights before I make that decision. I wonder how everyone else is holding up with their hunt and if he expects us back. I don't think I would have gotten anywhere near hanging out with some Crane, at least."

[Yoko]

Yoko laughed, shaking her head, "You actually might be really surprised on that one, eh? Crane I've met have all been.. rather interested in me. Last night even had one interested because I was a ronin. Not usually a good sign but," she shrugged. "Well, he seemed harmless enough, eh? Talked a bit at that.. play thing," she waved her hand as if it might help reference the Noh play the other day.

"Anyway- we should be getting back at least. Wouldn't do well to be walking around in.." she gave her armor a little pat, "well, all this. Oh-" she raises the same hand quick, "and for what it's worth, risky by most isn't necessarily risky for all, eh? Half the time I talk is considered risky by most," she chuckled with that, shaking her head a little.

[Yue]

Yue gave a shrug of her shoulders, "Maybe I had my fill of Crane already that I naturally avoided them. I guess that you were fortunate to get a friendly one."

Yoko was better looking than most people, even if a ronin. She imagined she played off the attention well, even if wasn't completely sure about the nature of the interaction.

"Yes, let's," she nodded and proceeded to make her way to the direction of the ship. "At the end of the day, it's probably not so much a contest. We managed to get out of it, whatever we did. That's a pretty good metric to go on."

[Yoko]

"When the worst thing for it is a bit of a cut, maybe a bruised chest a little while," she nodded. Nodding toward one way over the other, directing on what she felt was a better way to get back toward the ship. "Honest, I was, but-" she laughed, shook her head, "well, I'm two for three out of the one's I've met here, eh? Part of the risk with it. Pretty good odds though, considering."

[Yue]

"Maybe I've been too hard on them. Is there really that much of a risk when it comes to speaking with Cranes? Other than the risk of scathing words and making us feel lesser than we are. You only risk walking out with your feelings hurt so long as you don't do anything challenge worthy. I suppose they can't be that bad, although the few nights I had to camp outside wasn't that great."

[Yoko]

"I mean, you're right. Just seems that others, Clan samurai, tend to find more in that risk than I do, than we do. Never met a samurai too willing to put anyone to the blade over a few words from some random ronin. Best to berate them and move on," she shrugged. "Not sure what I can say about most, but.. mom, she was a Crane once. Can never allow myself to not see some good in them, eh? Especially when we went to visit some of her old acquaintances, they're just people under it all. Same as you or me."

[Yue]

"Everyone is a person in the end," she said with a shrug, something she didn't have too many qualms about one way or another. It sounded silly and obvious but just something she wanted to point out nevertheless.

"A Crane? It seems that you've manage to hold on to a lot of what your mom taught you and it has shaped you well. I haven't been close to mine and my father died pretty earlier. I guess others out there are still looking for definition, so to speak."

[Yoko]

"She sacrificed a lot for me," she glanced away a moment, thinking. However, she pointed out another different route to take, "through there, we should come just out by the ship. Then I can go see about getting this looked at," she indicated the wound again, looking to Yue with a small smile.

[Yue]

Yue nodded and followed with Yoko's turn of direction, perhaps realizing that she hadn't seen as much of the village as she wanted. She had been rather preoccupied at the inn and the ship.

"I'm sure there are a few shugenja on board who could help you with that. Moshi-sama? I'm sure we can trade a short tale for exchange of their services, perhaps? That might be worth our trouble," she said with a faint smirk and continued on her way to the ship.

/scene