D2, EA) Home Again Lads (Upper Deck, Bow) (Open)

[Kakita Yuji]

Having no real interest in climbing the rigging like a monkey, Yuji instead returned to the front of the ship to watch Tsuma swell into sight as the ship move back to home. It wasn't a long enough trip to truly miss the city, but it was still fun watching the buildings come into view.

[Asahina Sakura]

"Enjoying the view, Kakita-san?" came a question on approach of another Crane, and Sakura took a place to his side, a proper distance apart.

[Kakita Yuji]

"Enjoying the view, Kakita-san?" came a question on approach of another Crane, and Sakura took a place to his side, a proper distance apart.

Yuji bowed at his fellow Crane's approach.

"Well, I don't have the sort of longing one might experience after a months long voice upon dangerous seas, but watching the various sights of Tsuma fade back into view is a refreshing change of perspective. That seems to be a theme for today." he offered.

"And yourself? Has your time here today convinced you to seek out opportunities captaining a Crane vessel?" he asked with a small smile.

[Asahina Sakura]

She smirks, "Not even a little bit. But I'll admit the view is quite nice. Very inspiring, wouldn't you agree? I wish I'd brought my sketchbook..."

[Kakita Yuji]

She smirks, "Not even a little bit. But I'll admit the view is quite nice. Very inspiring, wouldn't you agree? I wish I'd brought my sketchbook..."

Yuji couldn't help but smile a bit.

"Ah see, this is what we were saying in that practice debate. Poetry is clearly the superior artform because you need only yourself and inspiration to create, rather than sketchbooks or chisels." he said referring to one of the practice debate they'd participated in at the Academy.

He looked back over at her.

"Which reminds me, I meant to talk to you about this earlier, but I'm working on a sort of final project. I'm attempting to gather two poems from each competitors at the tournament. One reflecting their initial impression of the tournament and one their final to showcase the change between. I can count of your contribution to it I hope." he requested.

[Asahina Sakura]

"Ah see, this is what we were saying in that practice debate. Poetry is clearly the superior artform because you need only yourself and inspiration to create, rather than sketchbooks or chisels."

His words brought forth a wider smile and a small shrug.
"You may be right, there." her gaze shifts from the waters to search his features then.
"I could do that, if you'd like, Kakita-san. It'd be an honour to assist another student in their work, this one thanks you for the consideration."

[Kakita Yuji]

His words brought forth a wider smile and a small shrug.
"You may be right, there." her gaze shifts from the waters to search his features then.
"I could do that, if you'd like, Kakita-san. It'd be an honour to assist another student in their work, this one thanks you for the consideration."

Yuji was clearly pleased with the response, that was obvious on his face. It wasn't a lot of reaction, but the two knew each other well enough to see certain signs.

"Excellent, Asahina-san. I can't wait to see what your contribution is."

He turned to her.

"What about you, Asahina-san? Are you working on any sort of final project?" he asked.

[Asahina Sakura]

"What about you, Asahina-san? Are you working on any sort of final project?" he asked.

She nodded at his subtle expression, then presses her lips together for a quick moment, "Oh. Nothing substantial, I think. Categorizing and reporting on the spirit activity here, as expected of this one, I suppose. And hopefully finding a bit of time to ...er, haunt the Emerald Magistrate," she smirks meagerly at her joke that surely won't land. It wouldn't do to let her older brother get too comfortable with his cushy position, after all.

[Kakita Yuji]

"What about you, Asahina-san? Are you working on any sort of final project?" he asked.

She nodded at his subtle expression, then presses her lips together for a quick moment, "Oh. Nothing substantial, I think. Categorizing and reporting on the spirit activity here, as expected of this one, I suppose. And hopefully finding a bit of time to ...er, haunt the Emerald Magistrate," she smirks meagerly at her joke that surely won't land. It wouldn't do to let her older brother get too comfortable with his cushy position, after all.

Yuji frowned a bit. There was the shrine again. The thought of tearing it down certainly was becoming more appealing.

"Hmm. The spiritual activity is probably going to keep you fairly busy." he allowed. "Two of the other competitors have talked to me about the shrine to lesser fortunes, and if two are openly willing to discuss it, who knows how many more are whispering about it?"

[Asahina Sakura]

"Hmm. The spiritual activity is probably going to keep you fairly busy." he allowed. "Two of the other competitors have talked to me about the shrine to lesser fortunes, and if two are openly willing to discuss it, who knows how many more are whispering about it?"

Her brow furrowed at his frown and she looked off to follow his gaze. "I've.. yet to visit the shrine though I plan to later today, all things willing. What, um, what sort of whispers might there be?"

[Kakita Yuji]

Her brow furrowed at his frown and she looked off to follow his gaze. "I've.. yet to visit the shrine though I plan to later today, all things willing. What, um, what sort of whispers might there be?"

Yuji lowered his voice but a bit. The sound of the boat covered conversation quite well.

"For the worldly, it seems mostly a matter of shame for the Crane. After all, how can the wealthy Crane not take care of one of their own holdings so close to the Topaz tournament?" he said, feeling no small amount of shame for his beloved hometown.

"But those more in tune with the spirits, the tidings are much, much darker. The spirits leaving. The spirits dying of starvation. Darkness seeping in."

He shakes his head.

"I find I lack the words to truly express the direness of the situation there."

And Yuji had a lot of words.

[Asahina Sakura]

"But those more in tune with the spirits, the tidings are much, much darker. The spirits leaving. The spirits dying of starvation. Darkness seeping in."

"... How truly saddening," Sakura shook her head, eyes narrowing just a hint at the view of the shrine from the bow.
"All the more reason to visit and see what might be done to soothe the spirits and restore balance. This can't stand."

[Kakita Yuji]

"But those more in tune with the spirits, the tidings are much, much darker. The spirits leaving. The spirits dying of starvation. Darkness seeping in."

"... How truly saddening," Sakura shook her head, eyes narrowing just a hint at the view of the shrine from the bow.
"All the more reason to visit and see what might be done to soothe the spirits and restore balance. This can't stand."

"Should not be allowed to stand, but I must admit the logic of allowing this state of affairs to come about is...baffling to me. People can claim it's a lack of resources, but it's akin to showing up to the Imperial Winter Court with a giant hole in the back of your kimono. We are supposed to be better than this." he said with just a hint of passion.

Yuji took a great deal of pride in both the Crane and Tsuma and this state of affairs was truly vexing him.