[Day 2, Early Morning- Up the Rigging] Home Again (Open)

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Y'know anyone in court talks like me?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Crab purses her lips. "Mm. Ok. I mean, Yasuki Nakane-sensei does, but yes, the dojo is a far cry from a court..."

"Some people aren't well-suited to some things..." Her voice trails and then she looks down at the water very intently, clearly thinking about something else.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Yeah? Say, you're not gettin' vertigo are ya? 'Cause lemme know, I c'n getcha secured."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Oh, um. No..." Mitsuko says distractedly. "I think I'm getting used to this. I was just... Thinking about some things that people can't fix." After a pause, she hurries to say, "I mean, like... Um. Not anything about you. You... Definitely don't need fixing."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Tell it t'my Cap'n."

She chuckled.

"Or my mother. But I can't see as you got much needs fixin' either.."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko's bark of laughter is probably heard clearly down on the decks it's so sharp.

"Well, try telling that to my mother," she says emphatically. "Except don't, because... Just don't."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Important job? Wants ya t'measure up t'some huge family legacy?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"My mother was a great shugenja, took a break to have six children - five of whom will be shugenja - and now teaches at the Kuni purifier school," Mitsuko explains, voice without any emotion. "I'm the piece that doesn't fit," she says, sad but resigned.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Eh. Fittin's overrated, Mitsuko-san. Y'seem fine t'me. So I can't say I think much'a your family's judgment if they disagree."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko's blush is invisible under her makeup, but her downcast eyes make clear she's uncomfortable with the praise.

"It, um... That's..." Mitsuko takes a deep breath. "Thank you, Kasumi-san," she says quietly.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Hell, s'what friends are for. Well."
She grinned.

"That an'makin' sure y'don't break your head open on th'deck on th'way back down."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The skinny Crab girl laughs with a little sparkle in the corner of one eye.

"Thanks Kasumi-san," she says, stronger and clearer this time. "Although maybe it is time for me to, um, take a deck break? This is... an intense place to be when you're not used to it," Mitsuko says very honestly.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Aye, an' th' test should be startin' soon too. Might as well be on deck when we're meant t'be, yeah?"

She smiled and headed down- not as fast as she might have done, but she wanted to be ready in case Mitsuko needed a spotter.