[D2 EE] Perfectly Proper

[Shiba Jiro]

He smiles at that. "Most of the time I do try to actually make something, but it happens."

He takes the sake cup between his fingers and slides it around on the table, not actually taking a drink at the moment.

"Is the crew of the Yukikaze pretty big?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Eh, 'bout average. 'Bout thirty, counting officers. Sometimes more, dependin' on the job. Once had about thirty budoka an' ashigaru aboard. Cap'n Kaito hated that. Ship wallowed like a drunken sow."

[Shiba Jiro]

He chuckled at the description. "I suspect most samurai don't know what an overpopulated ship or a drunken sow looks like. I think I'd be entertained to see either."

He looks at the bottle and grins mischievously. "I wonder if there are any pig farms on the city outskirts."

Turning his attention back to Kasumi. "But that does sound like it would be uncomfortable. From the way the ship was set up earlier, I got the feeling that space is probably a limited resource even without additional passengers. Did your captain have them sleeping on the deck?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

Kasumi nodded.

"Stuck a few in the hold, stuck a few on deck, strung a few extra hammocks... an' it was pretty ripe a day or two in."

She made a face.

"I know some thought the ship t'day had an aroma, but trust me, that was a sweet ship compared t'one with too many aboard."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well, I spent as much time on the deck as I could. The rolling didn't have so strong an effect on my stomach as it did others, like I mentioned. I think the wind helped with any scents too. But you spend so much time up the ropes that you probably had a nice breeze almost all morning. I..." was watching, "...saw you up there quite a bit. You looked happy as the day is long."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well."

She tapped her cheekbone under her left eye.

"Got good eyes, so I do plenty'a time as lookout, so the top-rigging's kinda... home."

She winked.

"Also rocks a bit like m'hammock, so it's restful."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Well from what I've seen of your eyes, I'd say they're much better than good. A lovely shade of brown, reflecting the light in a beautiful manner," he replies with a smile. "I've never slept in a hammock. What's that like?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"This is the bit where I offer to let y'find out on yer own."

She sighed.

"It's... restful, at least for me. Kind suspended, offa the deck."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Probably not going to let some strange Phoenix wander onto a boat and ask to try out a hammock. It would be suspicious to me if someone I didn't know came up to my place and asked if they could try out my tatami mat," he replied. "Do you only use them on ships or do you suspend them inside buildings too? If so, maybe you can show me how that's done so I can try it out?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, I'm not used t'tatami, so I brought mine wi'me."

Nudge, nudge, wink of the eye.

"They're pretty simple. I could show ya."

[Shiba Jiro]

His eyes widen a bit at that, but only for a moment.

"A little cultural exchange?" he asks.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Could set it up in the garden. Let ya see how it works."

Tempting as a more private demo could be.

[Shiba Jiro]

"I think that could be fun, but if we wanted to do so, should probably be in addition to other plans. Would be a shame to just set it up to give it a try and then do nothing else, no?" he says.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, I'd say a creative gent like you could likely come up with somethin'."

She grinned.

[Shiba Jiro]

"Guess it would depend on the time of day. Probably best in the afternoon for warmth, unless the temperature warms suddenly. Could put together a lunch though."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"I'd like that. Maybe swap a couple of tunes, too."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Sounds like a plan to me. Perhaps we could do that tomorrow and figure out the games and groups another day? Figure out who to invite and whatnot?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"If y'like. I've found Akodo Michi-san and Kuni Mitsuko-san t'both be a lot of fun. An' Hirame-san's good people."

[Shiba Jiro]

"Who among them is most likely to not be put off by some songs of questionable lyrical content?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, Hirame-san knows a lot of the same songs as me, and Kuni-san is a Crab."

Stereotypes were going to stereotype.