One of the tables set for the feast, for any of the young samurai to gather. It is exquisitely laid out with drink and food, dropped by serants who stay out of sight when they aren't serving. The low cushions are comfortable, and plush.

Kasumi moved to the second table, sitting down with a great deal of focus on not getting tripped up by her unfamiliar garb.

She could have stuck with her fellow Mantis over at the other table, but...

But that would have been playing it safe, and that's not our way.

Jiro moved to sit near the mantis and nodded a greeting. "Good evening. A pleasure to meet you."

The Phoenix artist maintained a warm pleasantness in both his expression and his tone.

Kaoru sat quietly, bowing her head to the other guests at the table. The memories of the Scorpion briefing were flashing through her head as her eyes softly scan the room, trying to put a face on each short description she had been given of her fellow contestants.

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:47 pm

Kasumi moved to the second table, sitting down with a great deal of focus on not getting tripped up by her unfamiliar garb.

She could have stuck with her fellow Mantis over at the other table, but...

But that would have been playing it safe, and that's not our way.

There was little doubt about which one this one was. The Mantis ship girl. A descendant of the many, oh so many, bastards the Imperial line had sired through the ages. There was an entire department of the Shosuro archives solely dedicated to keep track of them.

She tilted her head in her direction.

"Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. The day had been quite cold and rainy, don't you think Mantis-sama? Maybe the islands of Spice and Silk would accept to lend us a bit of their sun? Otherwise, I fear we will have to dress for snow tomorrow."

Shiba Jiro wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 5:11 pm

Jiro moved to sit near the mantis and nodded a greeting. "Good evening. A pleasure to meet you."

The Phoenix artist maintained a warm pleasantness in both his expression and his tone.

Kasumi nodded to the Shiba, trying to bludgeon her voice into something appropriate.

"Meetcha!"

So much for that.

The Phoenix had spoken first, but the Scorpion had... spoken a lot.

Hooboy.

Shosuro Kaoru wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 31, 2021 5:33 pm

"Shosuro Kaoru, daughter of Shosuro Nagisa. The day had been quite cold and rainy, don't you think Mantis-sama? Maybe the islands of Spice and Silk would accept to lend us a bit of their sun? Otherwise, I fear we will have to dress for snow tomorrow."

Damn it.

She'd hoped to avoid much speech, but...

"Kasumi, lately of the Yukikaze, daughter of Kaga no Ryoko. An' this isn't much of a blow- the islands're as likely to lend us a monsoon as a sunny day, so best not asked after."

Jiro nodded to the Scorpion then looked to the Mantis. "Yukikaze? What type of ship is that?" it was asked as though he didn't know anything about ships... because he didn't. But it was an interesting topic to him. Completely out of his wheelhouse, without any bearing on his life, and thus one hundred percent more interesting because he could potentially learn something new.

Why do they keep making me taaaaaaaaaalk, I sound like a damn deckhand!

"Oh nothin' too fancy, just a regular kobune, though Cap'n Kaito can make 'er dance."

Almost as if to relieve the pressure off of the mantis, a unicorn boy approaches the table. His simple clothes are offset by the series of purple and gold patches that designate his clan, family, and lack of official position at the moment. He bows before the group and silently waits for an invitation, attempting not to interrupt a conversation already likely progressing.

Jiro returns the bow of the Unicorn with a seated one of his own. He gestures to a seat next to him in invitation, but there was no relief for the Mantis.

"I take it that you have a very skilled captain then? But as I understand it, a leader is only as good as the people they lead," he offers in compliment.

"Cap'n makes the crew. A slack hand, or a lubberly frame of mind in command, and the best deckhands in the world are left reefing sails to go th' wrong way."

GAH! Way to fight the stereotype of the Mantis clan there, Kasumi! Maybe next you'll pull out a kama and take the nearest courtier hostage...

A thin Crab girl, doing her best to look imposing, slid into a seat at the table without the Unicorn's apparent politeness and then looked from him to an empty seat opposite herself expectantly.

She gave him a final look, pointing at the seat with her head to say Just do it, and then casting glances at the other samurai around the table. She didn't intrude on the existing conversation until invited, but she made no secret that she was actively tracking what the Scorpion, Phoenix and Mantis had to say.

Haru had started towards the second table when his brother had but got distracted viewing all the people gathered here. When he finally focused again many others had already sat at the table and seemed deep in conversation already. Feeling a bit foolish he approached and offered a bow.

"Forgive my intrusion honored competitors. I am Shiba Haru brother to Jiro-san, may I join you?"

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 01, 2021 4:29 am

YES!

Surely, SURELY someone ELSE will be asked questions now!

Mitsuko notices the flash of excitement on the Mantis' face and glances over her shoulder to see Shiba Haru. When no words follow, and still annoyed at the Unicorn's overly polite approach...

"Oh for Kamis' sake!" She curses grumpily, though thankfully not so loud that it carries beyond this table. "Shiba-san, please sit. The pretty-eyed Mantis obviously wants to talk. You too, Unicorn-san. People should just sit, it's an open table."

After a sigh at having gotten that off her chest, Mitsuko looks around, quickly realizing that that wasn't what the books had said to do in this kind of situation. Scowling behind her face paint in embarrassment, she quickly grabs a drink to hide behind.

Thank you Mantis-san, it is a pleasure to see you again Kuni Mitsuko-san though I suppose it will be common to run into one another in the coming days."

Offering another quick bow to the table Haru took a seat opposite his brother.

"How is everyone finding Tsuma so far?"

"It is a most regal place, well deserving of its many admirers," Mitsuko says properly, stonily pretending her previous words hadn't been anything remarkable to anyone.

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:16 am

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

He greeted Mitsuko with a seated bow as she sat, his permanent light smile offered to her as much as to anyone.

Turning to the Mantis, he explains to his brother, "Kasumi-san was just sharing a bit about herself and the ship she's served on. But I suspect that makes for one sided conversation. Perhaps she might be curious about something?" It was a chance to redirect if she wished it.

Shiba Jiro wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 01, 2021 5:21 am

He greeted Mitsuko with a seated bow as she sat, his permanent light smile offered to her as much as to anyone.

Turning to the Mantis, he explains to his brother, "Kasumi-san was just sharing a bit about herself and the ship she's served on. But I suspect that makes for one sided conversation. Perhaps she might be curious about something?" It was a chance to redirect if she wished it.

YES! VERY GOOD!

"Er... well, I mean, ships are most of what I know, so... what do th' rest of you do? I kinda doubt they're gonna have us try to outsail each other here..."

"I am an artisan. I'm particularly focused on origami and woodcarving, but I've studied many different arts," he says of himself. Which leaves a likely not very physical skillset.