The New Winds

It was evening.

The perfect time to eat under the stars.

Just light enough to see the food, dim enough for privacy

Light From Above was busy that evening with guests, what with the perfect weather for an open roofed dining experience. Otoko ate by herself, but knew the luck of the Yogo would give her a guest to dine with soon enough.

It was inevitable.

Oh joy.

Mai was looking somewhere to eat. Then, she notices the Scorpion and walks over and bows. "Hello, Scorpion-san. I am Mai of the Mantis Clan. It is a pleasure to meet you."

A Mantis. Perfect.

Otoko's face was lit by a small lamp at her table, as all table's were so the stars could be better seen. She gave a slow seated bow, a pause before speaking in a low whispered monotone. "Mantis-san. Yogo Otoko."

There was another long pause, a soft exhale. "Sit..... Please."

A Yogo! There was something about them, but Mai forgot what.

"Sorry budging in." She takes a seat. "But I saw you alone, so I figured here for the same reason I am. For the this school the Ruby Champion is putting together."

A slender eyebrow slowly rose. She nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes. For... my family."

She raised a sleeve up over her mouth, eyes drifting off to the side. "...And the Unicorn." A very basic meal of miso soup and rice sat before her at the gas, but Mai hadn't seen Otoko touch it since she'd arrived.

"The Unicorn? Oh. I thought the Yogo were a Scorpion Family. I am sorry." Mai feels really embarrassed and annoyed right now. She hope the Yogo wasn't insulted.

The girl's head shook slowly. "Scorpion family. You were right. Trained by Iuchi."

Otoko picked up her tea with both hands, taking a leisurely sip.

Mai tries not to blush out of embarrassment, but is less than successful. "I see. Forgive me." Time to change the subject. "I met an Iuchi earlier when I arrived. Iuchi Prashant. Did you happen to train with him?"

The Scorpion girl shrugged gently. "...Maybe. Probably. What's he like?"

ichiro had worked up a bit of an appetite, though he always had a little bit if one. This open air place was one of the few places he didn't feel boxed in by the building, he might actually be able to relax here.

He saw the two younger people and approached "Don't see too many people my aged hanging out without an adult near by you all sent to this new school thing too?" He asked the girls taking a seat at the table without asking if it was OK.

Mai was about to describe him when the Moto sat down. So many Unicorn. She bows to the newcomer. "I am Mai of the Mantis Clan. It is a pleasure to meet you. And yes, we are her for the new school." She allows for the Yogo to make her introduction.

She'd have rather not.

"Yogo Otoko. Have a seat." It was a bit late for that, but her ancestor would appreciate the thought... maybe. It was at least mildly interesting to see someone berate tall like she was.

"Moto..Ichiro" he paused briefly and the name was said with a touch of distaste and it was hardly necessary to identify himself as a Moto, his size and unusual garb would have said that for him. He wore leathers and furs rather than the kimono of most Rokugani and the leather fur lined vest left his chest open which revealed not only a fairly well muscled physique but also a strange pendant hanging from a leather loop.

He regarded the mantis girl "Well at least you talk like a normal person, ran into a mantis at the docks that I could barely understand what he was saying."

He then turned his attention to the soft spoken Yogo "and you're a quiet one, guess it fits the whole creepy mysterious vibe you Yogo are rumored to have." he said bluntly before looking around "hopefully this place has a good steak or maybe some rabbit, since I've been on the road all I've had was either salted beef or fish and vegetables itd be nice to get a nice rare cut of meat." he said with grin revealing sharp incisor teeth that were not really fangs but sharper than most Rokugani teeth.

"That must be Kokyou. He may spend a little too much time at the docks, but he's good guy."

She turns to the Scorpion. "You're not creepy. I think you're lovely."

Otoko merely shrugged softly at the comment. "I am myself, labels will not change that."

Her eyes moved to Ichiro a moment. "... I doubt this restaurant will have any red meat. Perhaps some sashimi would do." She looked back to her meal, taking a small bite of pickled yam.

Ichiro shook his head "hey I wasn't sayin it like it was a bad thing, I think the Yogo are pretty cool."

Then he cocked his head and let out a little chuckle towards the Mantis girl "you sure you're a Mantis cause you sound like one of those Ide always trying to talk stuff out and smooth things over."

She nods as the Yogo speaks. Clearly, her new friend is a wise, mature older kid.

She turns to the Moto after he speaks. "Well, I dunno. Pretty much everyone I have met coming to this new school is either an Unicorn or trained by them. Maybe I am and just didn't know it?" She gives them both a mischievous smile.

"You are yourself, as we all are. Only you can determine what that is, and what it means." Deep.

Or at least, reflective. Growing up uncared for purposefully made for a lot more introspection.

"Might think about it, you seem you'd fit in with them. What is it you study anyway? I assume the Yogo is a priestess but what about you? From the way you act seems pretty courtierish but I guess you could be a polite priestess or a really polite bushi."

Mai nods to the Scorpions wisdom again. Clearly, this was a girl she needed to hang around so some of that maturity can rub off on her.

"I am priestess of my Clan. We serve aboard ships helping with the weather and often serving as the ship's navigator."