Scouting the Terrain (Day 1 Early Afternoon)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The crew were likely expecting to host a party in their time here, at least one of them if he was honest. So a location was an important place to find. Of course the Seafox would likely work in a pinch. A beach party though? That had something of a charming ring to it, at least to the Captain.

This place wouldn't be too bad either. The Mantis thought as he walked along the sand. He'd just need to find the tide line and then they'd be mostly set.

[Otomo Saisei]

With his sandals tied up and hanging over his shoulder, the Otomo can be found under the shade os one of the lonely trees not too far from the shore. He has a good smile on his face as he hears the sounds of the waves.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Enjoying the weather, Otomo-sama?" Shouji called as he spotted the man relaxing and made his way closer. He hadn't chatted much with this particular Imperial on the trip over, but they had at least been introduced.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Eto!" Saisei lifts himself up and provides a proper bow to the Mantis Captain, saying, "Hai, Tsuruchi-sama. Please. I beg your forgiveness, perhaps you might have taken me for someone higher. I am merely Otomo Yusuke-sama's assistant. I am called Otomo Saisei. An honor to finally meet your acquaintance. I did not want to disturb you while traveling."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Some might say that's an honorable enough position to show deference too, Otomo-san." Shouji offered with a slight smile before returning the bow. "Otomo-sama is a man with no little sway in this land after all."

"Still, it is nice to finally get to chat. As you already know I'n Tsuruchi Shouji, Captain of the Seafox. A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Indeed. Otomo-sama is a man of exceptional skill and renown. I am indeed fortunate, and very thankful. Yet, what I do cannot be compared with the responsability of leading a crew of the Mantis fleet. The honor is mine, Captain." The Imperial bows again, still carefully not moving too much out in the sun.

"Quite a beauty, no –– our Lady Sun's magnificent ocean reaching down below here." He says, putting arms in his back and inhaling the waves.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Tsuruchi nodded, there was not much more to discuss on that particular point, so he didn't bother.

"It's not my favorite way to view Suitengu's domain." The Mantis admitted turning his eyes towards the sea. "That doesn't mean it's not a lovely sight though." He glanced towards the other man. "Have you spent much time around the sea, Otomo-san?"

[Otomo Saisei]

He chuckles, "I've always lived in Otosan Uchi. So I can't really say much time compared to older people, but I can say I've been around the sea, to counterweight the Mantis into the sea."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

That seemed like an awful lot of time spent in one place, or so it seemed to Shouji. "Is this your first departure from the Capital then? Or have you spent some time in other locales for court and the like?" The man may be a bit more well traveled then the Captain figured.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Otosan Uchi has many districts, and the Hubs villages as well as close Lion and Crane provinces. Golden Bay Area is where I've been around. Then, down south here." He says, not really understanding where exactly Shouji wanted to get at.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He nodded, that apparently made a bit of sense at least to the Captain. "Seems you've done at least a little in the way of traveling then."

"Outside the Capital and the hub villages that is." Shouji didn't count going to the hub villages as traveling. Not really at least.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Someone with a boat like a Captain must have travelled far and beyond, I imagine. Any exotic places?" He asks, still looking at the sea and sand.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Nothing worth mentioning yet. As far as truly exotic that is." There was a bit of disappointment evident in his tone as he spoke. "I'm still fairly new to the position after all. So I'm gaining experience mostly moving between the islands and the mainland."

[Otomo Saisei]

The Otomo opens a flat smile and provides a nod of confidence to the Mantis since Saisei himself is a journey to gain experience. He says, "Well. I have never had a more delightful, quick and safe travel as with the Captain of the Sea Fox. Tsuruchi-sama is doing an explendid job."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"A good crew makes everything easier, and I have a fine one." Shouji repleid with a smile in return. "Even if some of them are still realtively new to all this." Tetsuo was the name that popped first to his mind there, followed shortly by Meiko.

"Still thank you for your words, I'll be certain to relay them to my crew."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Speaking of your crew. Some seem to be very knowledgeable of foreign... terminologies." He mentions, smiling back to Shouji. "They spoke it openly with me around. I confess I've felt a bit foolish."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Ah, I'll caution them against that sort of bevaior then." The Captain offerd, it seemed the best way to solve that problem. "Though I admit it's something we all do a bit of, even if it's just the odd word here and there."

"My apologies though that their lack of attention to their company caused you to feel foolish, Otomo-san."

[Otomo Saisei]

"It is no problem to me. I just felt it was important to mention, in case Tsuruchi-sama get important passengers in his boat in the future. My master Otomo-sama is very strict sometimes with minor details." He raises both eyebrows bot a moment and provides a short bow. "I appreciate the apology. Your crew should learn such honorable by example."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji decided not to mention that the older man didn't seem to mind the language. No reason to get into that after all. "I'm sure they will, this was the first time we've ever escorted such important passengers. So they're still a bit unsure about how to act occasionally."

"Life on a ship isn't the most conducive to polite society after all." He dipped his head in thanks. "Still i appreciate you bringing it up."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Just a detail. Nothing to linger on for much longer." He says, then looks down to the sand, burrowing his fingers underneath. With a sigh, he asks, "So, what are Tsuruchi-sama's expectations of the ongoing festivities?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"I expect to have a few days of little activity followed by a wedding in a few days." The young Captain offered with a shrug.

"Do you expect things to be any different?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"It is my first time away from Otosan Uchi, and the first in lands of the Crab. Since it is said the Mantis and our hosts share lineage bonds, I just wondered Tsuruchi-sama might have some tips. After all, there are plenty of rumors going on about Crab courts and how they differ quite... eto... exotically... from the more traditional courts."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Well, that's probably true enough." Shouji mused, frowning for a moment as we looked over the other man. "The Crab and many of the Mantis tend to be a bit plainly spoken. They don't approach the courts in nearly the same way as some of the more cultured clans you might say."

He reached a hand up and rubbed at his chin. "Any thing in particular you are worried about? That may be the easiest way to approach this."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Nothing in particular for the moment. Just wondering what to expect from the Crab, and specially their close cousins the Mantis. And how a humble servant like this one could be of help to their plans."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Mmmm.... I'd say you should expect to be approached directly. Most sailors don't beat around the bush as it were, and the same is true of the Crab as far as I know."

"They might not respect flowery words or phrases either. So keep the poems and the like to a minimum." He rolled his shoulders and stretched.

"As to how to help, well. I'd say if you want this marriage to go smoothly try to make the culture exchange between these two clans as smooth as possible. If you see either side upset, try to figure out the why and act on that information."