The New Winds

Sasaiko returns again to the tea room, and again, she goes through the calming ritual.

She prepares the beverage for herself, and she is calmed and restored as she drinks the brew down (Tea Ceremony 17).

Then she puts things away.

"G'day, lass. How 'ave ye been? I missed being nigh ye 'n yer delicious tea. Couldn't hold meself aft I felt the aroma." Kokyou dashes in the room as soon as she puts the last item back into the set.

Sasaiko pauses for just a moment and begins to pull the set back out.

"How has the training been treating you, Mantis-san?"

"Doing superb. I am now the hero o' this school thanks fer the sensei trainin'... 'n that scurvy Imperial ashigaru sprog that thundered me down 'til I could find me invincibility." He says while taking a seat in seize and aiming his eyes to admire her movements.

"So an ashigaru thrashed you?"

She quirks an eyebrow as she continues setting up the tea set.

He raises a finger in objection and narrows an eye. "I wouldna say thrashed. More like hammered me down into a deadly weapon. Jus' like Doji-chan did t' me beautiful pair o' monster slayin' kama."

"So an ashigaru and a Crane girl beat you?"

There's a smile as she set water to boil again.

"Aye. Hate 'n love. They cruise in th' same side o' th' ship, aft all. Don't they?" Kokyou says while putting a hand on the left side of his chest.

"Seems strange to have been boarded thus."

Sasaiko continues to smile as the water heats.

"One trusts that your booty is intact despite such cargo being loaded in."

"Oh. I assure ye me booty be intact, 'n... un-breached. The cargo I load only grows bigger." He nods again hands down to his laps.

"Big load in the cargo area."

Kokyou confirms with a smirk.

"Well, if you swell so below your hatches," she replies, "perhaps the board here is too rich for you."

Full-on smirk.

"Or else the hatch opened wider than ideal."

He rolls his shoulder in a silent laugh and nods. "I confess that may be the case. The ship be new 'n has ne'er sailed afore. Caution be advised. Yet, one could accommodate precious cargo such as yers at the cap'n's cabin."

"What, and have what I offer locked away in some chest somewhere, left to molder and be forgotten against new wares in each port? Oh, no, I think it will not be made so cheap as that."

The water boiling, Sasaiko adds the leaves. Not a ceremony, this, or if it is one, it is a strange one, indeed.

He frowns and then closes his eyes. He better come with a good reply to fix this.

"See. 'tisn't... somewhere. The Cap'n's cabin be the most respected place o' the ship. Also, such a treasured cargo. I am unsure any wise sailor would change it fer new wares. A relic such as this has t' be kept, 'n used on special occasions."

Kokyou leans forward to take the tea and raises his head close to hers to look deep into Sasaiko's eyes. That scoundrel.

D7, Horse, Temptation/Awareness + DB: 5d10o10k3 18
- 0.2 Honor.

Sasaiko flushes, feeling herself tempted (Resist 13).

"K-kept, used." She shakes her head. "Still not a compelling argument for setting sail."

But the waves...

"One has t' learn how t' wait fer the wind t' blow strong, 'n be ready t' batten all hatches when the storm arrives." He says, moving back to his seated position to play a bit difficult.

He drinks. Slurps. Puts the cup down. A single drop remains on his lips, nearly falling.

She looks at it for a moment, shakes her head suddenly.

Ew.

"Certainly, there's a lot of wind to contend with."

He licks his lower lip as she looks at him for a moment, and instantly removes the drop. The boy sets his kimono neck hem a bit looser, saying, "Yer tea be delicious as always. A bit different this time, though. Spicy, maybe, or did it suddenly get hot in here?"

"If the weather is so unkind to you, Mantis-san, surely you have other ports of call."

She takes the opportunity to close her clothing tighter.

"A gentleman o' fortune must endure whatever weather thar be wit' joy in his face 'n determination in his eyes."

He winks to her to reinforce his point of view.