[Day 5, Early Evening] A Corrupting Influence (Expecting)

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

It had certainly been... a day.

And Kasumi was utterly fried, and had sent word to Akodo Michi that no progress had been made on the matter she'd sought the Lion's help with, but that if the Lion wished, they could always get a drink.

So she ambled into the Poisoned Water sake house, and tried not to think about how she's only missed one night's attendance since arriving in Tsuma.

[Akodo Michi]

Entering the sake house, Michi found herself disappointed. She would pick the venue next time. Her time spent with the Seppun and Kakita at the Neko had sold her on the place. The poisoned water was far too common.

Still, Kasumi had invited her, she would not speak ill of such a choice, not easily.

Doffing her hat and cloak, as it was much warmer inside and sake helped with that further still, she approached the Mantis

"Yukikaze no Kasumi-san, I pray I find you well this evening.". After a bow, she took a seat next to the sailor.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

The Mantis glanced at the Lion.

Returned the bow.

Smiled.

"The better for your company, Akodo-san. You ever have sake before?"

[Akodo Michi]

"Twice before today I have tasted sake, once before leaving on my journey with my parents, the second a day ago in the company of Seppun Urusai and Kakita Yuji", she informed. "Both proper affairs."

A heartbeat or two passed.

"I am uncertain if that counts in some others reckoning."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"So... maybe one cup each time, then? I'd say that rates as a taste in the fleet, not an actual drink..."

[Akodo Michi]

"With my honored mother and father, that would be the case", she admitted. "With our fellow competitors we finished the bottle over stories quite quickly."

A look of concern nearly flashed to life on her face, but did not show completely.

"And excess in drink makes one slow, besides." She looked away slightly.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"An'it makes your head feel like a monkey's livin' in it th'next day."

She grinned.

"But there's a trick to it."

[Akodo Michi]

"I have been told by many of my father's comrades such, yes", the Lion said dubiously.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"'Bout th'monkey or th'trick?"

The Mantis signalled for a some booze for the Lioness.

[Akodo Michi]

"Claiming there is a trick beyond vigor is seeking an easy way, which I find in ill regard", she said and accepted the bottle and cup. "Yet there are fortunes who enjoy such clever foolery, so do not take my words as the end of all matters."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, one trick- not th'one on offer- is t'build up a tolerance to it like any other poison."

She took a sip.

"Th'other secret, an' one I'm only sharin' because I like you? Water."

[Akodo Michi]

"I see", she said and poured Kasumi some from her bottle, before filling for herself. "Then we shall drink sake in toast to water, as it makes just as great sense."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"As good a toast as any!"

Kasumi lifted her cup.

"An' make sure y'drink plenty'a water after your sake, helps keep th'monkey outta your head th'next day."

[Akodo Michi]

"Kampai", she held her cup aloft in salute, then emptied it.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"So. Akodo-san. How are you this evenin'?"

[Akodo Michi]

"I have kept myself within the bounds I have set, I train each day, then pray, complete matters of the tournament, then find myself in good company", she said and refilled her cup. "Not only with you, but I happened upon Seppun Urusai-sama just prior."

Sip.

"I trust Yukikaze no Kasumi-san's adventures are worth telling as well?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well. I have myself within such bounds as I set, I have found the tournament a real pisser- I don't mind losing to other, worthier competitors, but I truly hate failing t'even achieve th'basics- an' the great consolation..."

She smiled and raised her cup in salute to the Lion.

"... is that when all else fails, m'friends don't."

[Akodo Michi]

"Failure is a simple fact of life", she said, a little more thoughtful than perhaps she meant to appear. "If we do not strive and stumble, the eventual glory of victory will not be as sweet." She sipped, finishing the cup on the second. "Yet not reaching a basic ground you know you have mastered in the past is a wound to pride, I agree. I have ever seen such obstacles as reason to work harder, one must be free of distraction to perform their best."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"In any event. Glad you're here. So. Speaking of distraction..."

She refilled the Lion's cup.

[Akodo Michi]

"What of it?" she asked, and returned the favor to the Mantis. "Is there a difficulty you need to rid yourself of?"