Wedding at Fire Shrimp Village an L5R PbP

Koemi did not bother covering herself after scrubbing herself free of dirt and grime before heading for the bath itself. After all, plenty of her fellow sailors had seen enough of her body to eliminate any need for imagination. What she did not internalize was the pleasantness of her form depending on the beholder. While not anywhere close to being soft and smooth, she possessed pleasant curves; a particularly drunk sailor had told her before that they "rolled like the waves." Perhaps it would have been a compliment if it had not come from one of her half-brothers.

Despite her gruff appearance, the heat of the bath gave her pause. She dipped a toe in and, after a moment's hesitation, waded in slowly. Water being so hot was almost unnatural to her.

There was some sort of event tonight. a party or something like that hosted by the Crab for the groom, amd Shouji intended to go and so a bath was most dfeinetly in order. Taking the time to give himself a thorough cleaning; he was nowhere near as dirty as his crew but he knew he needed it, the Captain then made his way towards the bath proper.

He didn't have much problem with being seen, but knowing others might not have the same feelings on the matter he wrapped a towel aroudn himself as he made his way towards the pool. Not that it went into the water with him as he slipped into the pool, settling in with a content sigh, he closed his eyes for a moment before opening them up and casting his gaze around the waters. He was a bit surprised to spot his rigger close by and he offered the young woman a smile. "Evening, Koemi."

"Oh," Koemi said, clearly surprised. But, since it was Shouji, the surprise was more of a welcome one. "Cleaning up after a good day of work, Captain?" She made a bowl out of her hands and ran the water through her hair. "I'm happy to report that there're no issues pertaining to my area of expertise aboard your ship."

She offered an easy smile, though with her that rarely worked in her favor. "Maybe you want to talk about something else though?" An offer of friendship, spawned from a touch of desperation. His approval was something she craved here in the solitude of this bath house. It did not have to be in such an exposing place; being away from prying eyes and ears was the important bit.

"More in anticpation of wanting to look something other then dirty later this evening." Shouji offered with a half smile on his lips. Having worked with the young woman for a while now he was used to her smiles, at least a little bit. They could be a bit unsettling though every now and again even to him. "Still I'm glad to hear."

"Certainly." He offered at her request. "Did you want to practice your Thranish while we're at it?" Shouji asked, having learned the language when young he had a better grasp of it then most of his crew, but even he had an unmistakable accent at least to a native. "Or do you prefer to leave that for another time?"

"You intend on attending that party?" she asked. "Personally, I believe the place to be unbecoming for a samurai of your status. Well, for most sorts, to be honest." The Yoritomo shrugged, inadvertently leading to a ripple in the bath that she paid no heed to. "We may speak crudely aboard the ship but on the shore... it's different."

Koemi nodded. "We can work on Thranish," she affirmed, her accent much thicker than her fearless leader. "What do you want to talk about?"

"It likely is very much that." He agreed with a chuckle. "But it's also the type of place that will attract quite a few people, and it's probably wise to see a few more faces before the more formal events of the wedding." It might prove to be an advantage.

Reaching a hand up he ran it through his hair. "I don't know, we hardly get the chance to talk much just you and me." He looked the woman over for a few moments. "Maybe we can chat about what you might like to do here? It's not often we get this much time on shore."

"Want to try and meet someone special like Meiko? Or just looking forward to some time without any pressing duties?"

"I see. In that case, it is wise for you to go," Koemi affirmed with a too-wide smile. "Not that I have any place to judge your decisions. But anyways, I hope you understand that I won't be attending myself." She looked away. "Not really my thing."

The subordinate sailor shrugged earnestly, once more causing the ripple in the bath. "I cannot think of much," she confessed. She shut her eyes to think for a moment and sighed. "Pardon the Rokugani for a moment, please. Easier to think without needing to translate. Let's see... you mentioned about finding someone special? Do you mean marriage?"

"I know." He reached up a hand and tapped his temple. "We've been around each other for me to know you're not much of a drinker, and don't really like spending too much time in crowds of straneg people." The woman was aware about how much she unsettled some people after all.

"For Meiko? No." He chuckled and shook his head. "She seems intent on finding someone to hold hands with, that she can pine after once we leave port. You know like from one of those romantic pillow books." His lips moved into a fown. "Thoguh at the same time she said she might try and try her hand at finding me someon e to marry."

"Knowing the crew is the duty of the captain," she commented, sure that she was nothing special. "I would think the first party would be in the castle or something. Perhaps that will be the first official one."

Koemi flushed a bit, though the bath helped conceal it. "Right. She asked me for help with that," she confirmed. "Why did you think I could help her?"

"That will be a different type of party altogether, one thats a bit more formal. I'm supposed to dress as a rough and bold Mantis Captain though. So maybe you can help with that?" She might know a thing or two then he there.

"Maybe I thought something silly like that would be a good way for you two to bond." Shouji offered with an warm smile. "You're smiles might be a bit unsettling to some, but you've always come off to me as a woman with a good heart. So I figured you'd be able to explain things to Meiko, which got me out of doing the same. As well as come a bit closer as crew mates." Meiko just might rely on him too much, or so he thought.

"The wardrobe should not be too difficult. Wear something similar to your usual garb," Koemi responded. "Maybe enlist the help of Moshi Meiko-sama, seeing as culture seems to be her area of expertise."

Koemi sank into the bath, right to her chin. "It was a light topic," she admitted. "But if you know that much about me, then you know that I haven't done it much. There aren't exactly a lot of suitors for me."

"That's the wrong type of culture." Shouji replied with a soft chuckle. "She's supposed to be here to help us blend in with the more traditional people in the Empire." He'd thought his crew might be misunderstanding that. "Course in time the job might expand."

"I know." His smile was a bit sheepish as he continued. "Might of been it was a bit of petty revenge too. Seeing as you're always teasing me about plowing girls. Though I suppose I could just be a bit less nervous about that thing and find a few who want to."

"I'd argue otherwise. It'll be important to blend both when it comes to the Crane and the Crab." Koemi looked around for the captain's clothing for an example. But, seeing as they were in the bath, they were probably off in the distance. "In a way, you could symbolize that union. Kind of poetic, right?"

The rigger rose a bit out of the water, leaning her neck against the edge of the bath. "That is sailor talk," she protested. "I think you will be able to plow somebody in this town if you put your mind to it."

"I'll see what I can do after this first party of ours." Where he'd wander around showing off his muscles apparently. "I can dress up all nice and fancy easily enough, combining it with practical may be hard though."

"You're right." He agreed with a chuckle his eyes moving away from his crew member as she rose a bit out of the water. "On both accounts most likely. I suppose I should figure out if there is someone here I want to with. Father always said I could do with experience there."

"That's why you should weigh Moshi Meiko-sama's input, not necessarily heed it completely," Koemi said. "You are, after all, the Captain."

She smirked at the mention of a father. Then, it twisted, and her expression turned more dour. "You need to have stories to brag to other sailors," she affirmed, though without much heart in it.

"True enough." He agreed with a thoughtful nod. He was still getting a bit used to his role as Captain and perhaps he could do with being a bit more assertive.

"I think I'll pass on the bragging. My dad just thought experience was a good way to avoid doing fool things for a pretty face." He smirked. "Apparently it helps keep you from doing that sort of thing with your crew too, if you take care of it on shore."

"Plowing is all some sailors care about. You may need to have stories and fake ones are easy to figure out," Koemi said. "But yes. It is good idea to not have that happen on the ship. Bad luck." She truly did believe that. Damn superstitious sailor.

"Especially when I'm not too good at tall tales." The Captain replied with a soft sigh. Maybe he would need to try and bring someone back to the ship tonight?

"Right. Things would be different if I was just a member of the crew. But I can't be having relations with crew members as Captain. It would bring ill fortune." He smirked. "I suppose it's a relief to know I won't be chasing after you for a plowing though."

"A good story might lift the crew's spirit, Captain," she said with a warm smile. It didn't have to be about plowing, of course.

"You should keep sailing and plowing separate. No bringing women, or men if you end up liking them, to the ship either," Koemi explained. "The crew is mainly for professionalism."

She raised a brow. "A relief? I thought that was... always out of the question."

"I'll see if I can find something to make one then." Though he had no idea what it might be about. "Might mean doing a bit of exploring in nothing else.

"I guess I may need to actually arrange a room at the Inn then. Not just the one's I intended for you and the rest of the crew." She was right about keeping that sort of thing off of the ship at the very least.

"As Captain and crew certainly." He agreed with a wry smile. "If we were crew mates? Who knows, you aren't an unattractive woman after all. You have all the right curves in all the right places."

"There are enough interesting individuals here for a good story," Koemi affirmed. "And, if nothing else, the Fertile Mound might end up being a comical place to go to." A wicked grin spread across her lips. "You could take a diplomatic meeting there."

The Yoritomo raised a brow. "Are we not staying aboard the ship?"

She turned redder at his words. "Captain! That is no way to speak in your position." She looked away. "Crewmates should not involve themselves in such things either. It comprises the sailing."

"Oh?" The name of the Shrine was an interesting one. "Any particular reason why?" He asked eyebrow raised questioningly. Though if Koemi was mentioning it, the reason likely had to do with sex.

"You're free to if you wish, but it's nice to have a place for some privacy. To be able to sleep on a futon, or to bring someone for a bit of plowing."

The blush brought a smile to his lips, but he decided to cut the teasing there. "Right you are i suppose. Crew mates need to be able to look at things objectively after all."

"You haven't been yet, huh?" Koemi smirked with those wicked lips of hers. "There are several dick-shaped statues."

The rigger shrugged. "It seems like a waste of money. I tend to sleep better on the ship anyways." She smiled at her own thoughts of Meiko and her softness. "Keeps me hardy too."

She sighed. "Yes. Objectivity keeps the ship working well."

"Oh, must be a favorite of some of the crab here then." Shouji mused, maybe even part of his crew. Not that he was going to say that out loud.

He stretched his hands over his head. "I don't mind sleeping on the ship either. Buti can understand wanting to be on shore. Maybe we just keep the rooms for the softer folk."

"Right." He wasn't certain it was true. But people likely said it for a reason.

"I doubt anyone could fit the whole statue," Koemi added. "They're wider than a human being."

The subordinate sailor scrubbed her hair, remembering that she was here for another reason. "Or for the plowing," she said in regards to the rooms. "Might be a little odd though..."