Too much time or too little (Day 1 Late Evening)

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji was a bit early back into town after dropping off his bathing supplies at the ship and getting ready for the evening. There was little reason to linger on the Sea Fox after all, it was mostly a skeleton crew when there was leave to be had after all, and warm meals were not easily had.

Food was on his mind too, especially since he expected to be doing a lot of drinking this evening, so he kept his eyes open for a restaurant or even a stall selling late night eats. The second might be more common given the hour and the fact that most looking for food had already started their drinking. Maybe he should too now that he thought about it, at the very least a cup or two wouldn't do any harm.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Kakita Yuuwaku is also out and about, looking at what nightlife the port village has. She steers largely clear of the docks--she's heard things about such places from Daidoji and others she's known, and she's not quite ready for that yet--but the streets themselves are worth looking into. And it is said that the cooks in Crab lands do absolute wonders with fried food--especially tofu.

Too, she knows about the later event, and a bit of starch in the stomach does wonders to appease the spirits later on.

Seeing teal green amid the seas of darker blue, she smiles. There's something different, she thinks, and not bad to look at, either.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Spotting the shorter Crane in the crowd was a bit more difficult of a task, light blue did appear different then dark blue though. Esven in the lantern lit streets, so eventually Shouji's eyes landed on the diminutive figure and he offered her a polite nod in greeting as they passed close to each toher.

"Evening." He squinted his eyes as his eyes moved across the woman for a moment looking for mons. "Kakita-sama." He added after identifying them. "Out for a evening stroll, or looking for a bite to eat like me?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku's eyes flicker up the man--of course, since she is short--and she bows.

"Tsuruchi-sama flatters. Kakita Yuuwaku, of the Academy at Tsuma. And a stroll is nice, though a bit to fill the belly would not be unwelcome in this hour."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He returned the bow, seeing as the young woman wanted to be a bit more formal. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kakita-san. I'm Tsuruchi Shouji, Captain of the Sea Fox."

"It seems a meal is on both of our minds though, so perhaps we should see what the city provides at this late hour?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku bows again, deeper this time.

"Apologies; this one was unaware of Tsuruchi-sama's station. But she is gratified to be asked along.

"And it is to be hoped that the shrimp of the village's name are on offer. It would be a shame not to get to sample them while here, after all."

She smiles and looks up at him. "Too, the Crab are renowned for their age tofu."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"No apologies nessacary, Kakita-san. It's not like it's easy to identify a Mantis Captain from any of the other sailors on the boat." At least not in his experience. He was young too, which likely didn't help matters.

"I'm sure we'll be able to find one of the two if not both." Though the shrimp seemed more appealing to him, seafood after all was a favorite.
With a gesture he set of towards where he hoped to find something, settign a sedate pace so the short woman wouldn't have to struggle to keep up. "I take it this is your first evening in this city though?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku falls in with him with little difficulty. There is something of a bounce in her step as she accompanies him, her hands on her fan as she holds it horizontally and closed.

"It is, Tsuruchi-sama, and the first evening in a new place is always so exciting!

"But is it the captain's, as well? If so, I place myself in his care; if not, I am happy to explore with him."

She smiles as she says it, looks up at him through her eyelashes. Can't be helped, really; he's a head taller than she, or close enough as matters little.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

She was certainly an attractive young woman and as she looked up at him through here eyelashes he found himself looking away. Of course it didn't help matters that he happened across the Crane after Koemi and he had spent some time discussing inappropriate matters. "I've been in town for a few days, honestly."

"Though between attending to my ship, cargo and crew I've had little time to do much in the way of exploring, or tasting local delicacies." He glanced back towards the Crane and offered the woman a smile. "So in all likelihood we're both in for a bit of excitement today."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"A dashing sea-captain for company and excitement; what more could a woman want?" Yuuwaku asks, laughing as her fan rises to cover her mouth.

Her body seems to glide alongside his as they move through the crowd. "I think I might've glimpsed a sign for shrimp, though I cannot be sure" she says after a few moments. "People here are so very tall and broad." She points with the fan. "Did I see that one right?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

He wouldn't really call himself dashing, but it would be a lie to day he wasn't pleased with the compliment. "I suppose I'll need to strive to live up to the words of the lovely young woman at my side." He replied with a soft chuckle, somehow managing the compliment without blushing.

"I think you're right." Shouji offered after a moment, his eyes following the woman's pointing arm to the sign. "Which means we have a destination." No reason to look for half the night after all.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I shall trust to your navigation, my captain," Yuuwaku says, and follows him over.

It takes some doing, of course, amid so many large folks, but she finds her way through, almost dancing through the crowd. And there seem to be only a few foods on order: boiled shrimp, fried tofu, and noodles. Drinks are sake and tea.

Many people are in line, which is always a good sign. Almost always. But there are other food vendors in eyeshot, so the one bad reason for a line seems not to be the case.

"What do you think they boil the shrimp in?" Yuuwaku has to raise her voice to be heard. It's not unpleasant, but a bit loud.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Now that was just cheating and a bit of red did touch his cheeks when she said, My Captain. Maybe his father had made a good point about these things after all?

"Seasoned water by the smell of it." Shouji answered after taking a moment to take in the scents. "Which means they'll likely have some sauces to dip it in?" He speculated.

Stepping in a bit closer so they wouldn't have to talk so loud he continued. "There is likely a reason they call it fire shrimp after all, and not boiled shrimp village."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

If Yuuwaku sees the blush, she does not remark upon it. But neither does she step away when Shouji closes the distance between them.

"I'd heard it was for the color of the shrimp when they're cooked; I hadn't thought about a seasoning blend or sauces. Do the Crab go in for such things, do you know?"

She looks at what others are eating. "Whatever it is, it seems popular."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"You could be right." He mused. "I hadn't thought about that myself." Though cooked shrimp had never really reminded him of fire.

"As to Crab cuisine? Sometimes? They seem to prefer a bit thicker flavors for the most part. If that makes any sense. Though most of what I know of the Crab is from port towns and small fishing villages like this."

"I've never had the chance to travel deeper into their territory." He followed her gaze to the others. "It does seem popular though, you're right there."

A small pause. "I suppose I should ask if you enjoy spicy cuisine."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I'm game to try it."

She turns to look at him. "I'm game to try a lot of things. It's the only way to find what is good in life."

And she smiles again. "Let's try some!"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

His mind went straight to the gutter with that revelation and he found himself cursing his rigger and their earlier conversation.

"Right you are, again." He flashed the young woman a smile. "So try we shall."

He moved up into an empty space to place an order. "Are you thinking sake or tea to go with?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I was planning on attending tonight's event, so I probably ought to wait to start with sake. I am," and Yuuwaku gestures to her body, the motion of her hands inviting Shouji's eyes to look her up and down, "easily moved by the spirits, as might be guessed."

She smiles. The shifting light of the evening makes it difficult to tell, but she might have winked at him.

"So tea, if the captain pleases."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

She was a slight thing, that was easy enough to help even with the formal nature of the Crane's clothing. "Easily swayed by spirits? I'll remember that in case we ever shares a bit of sake." Not that he had any intention of trying to get her drunk. Well, he probably didn't.

"Since it's tea fir both of us this time." Glancing back towards the proprietor after his inspection of the Crane's form. He placed an order for the pair of them.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Such gentlemanliness! But what else could be expected of such a captain?" Yuuwaku laughs as she finds a pair of seats. Given constraints, they are quite closely spaced.

"I look forward to sharing this with you!" she adds, gesturing for him to join her. "Even a small adventure can be quite thrilling."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Shouji chuckled along, Yuuwaku wasn't exactly what he had been expecting from a Crane. Not nearly as shy or demure, but he didn't mind the difference it made her more approachable at least to him.

"I'll agree with you there." Shouji said, moving to take the offered seat. He'd ordered a bit of everything which meant plenty for the pair to share, and while the green tea that was served was low quality. It wasn't bad. "These little adventures are some of my favorite things about traveling."

"New local specialities to try, and new faces to share them with." He offered Yuuwaku a warm smile. "So thank you for agreeing to join me."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"I am honored, and it's far better to see new faces when they are so ruggedly handsome as can be found here." There might be a wink accompanying the reply; it's hard to tell in the evening light.

The tea had preceded the food, but the food is not long in coming. As it is set before them, Yuuwaku says "I receive it humbly" under her breath and waits for Shouji to take from the plates. As she does, she remarks "It all looks splendid. Are you sure you didn't message ahead to arrange it all, you cunning man, you?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

Compliments were apparently a weak spoke for the Captain, and ink rose to his cheeks once again. Though luckily the wink he thought he saw gave the words a bit of a teasing quality and he managed to avoid being tonguetied as he responded. "I'd argue with that, but I can't have assume that such a lovely young woman knows what she is talking about. So I'll accept your word on it."

"Her words were interesting, though Shouji didn't repeat them, as he started to select a view pieces for himself. "I'm told I can be: a cunning man that is, though not tonoght. It seemes the fortunes favor us this evening, and your keen eyes as well." He looked towards her and smiled. "It's you who spotted this place after all." His smile turned teasing. "So perhaps you're a cunning woman?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku's chopsticks follow Shouji's, getting a little bit of each of the offerings.

"I'm glad to know I have the captain's confidence," she says as she seeks out choice morsels. "Though I have been known to display cunning, on occasion, when I'm with the right kind of person. I've appreciated it more than once, as well. But it does take a cunning man to keep a cunning woman."

So saying, she gets a bit of noodle between her chopsticks and, with delicacy and a surprising amount of verve, sucks it up, licking her lips after.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

If his eyes lingered on her lips for a moment as she licked them, it was likely impossible to tell given the light. "Are you a woman looking to be kept then?" The Captain asked his tone curious. "I'd thought you were more of a free spirit looking for a bit of adventure before looking along."

He took a moment to divide one of the pieces of fried tofu with his chopsticks and let a morsel of it disappear into his mouth before continuing. "Or am I misunderstanding a bit of things of both sides there?" It could be she was a bit from both columns after all. Or something else entirely.