17:14:56 [Chiyaden] Milea’s powers of knowing a guy who knows a guy prove to be quite strong – Kato Leyumi’s strange little drug den is hardly a reputable meeting place, but refugees can hardly be picky about where they want to go for help. The doorman, Aoda Katsu, is more than happy to lead the strange group to a spot that’s more or less out of sight and leaves them with a pot that smells more or less like tea. Its trustworthiness aside, he brings Milea along with him as he goes to fetch Leyumi (or at least alert her that someone who knows someone who knows her is here), leaving Shichiroji, Eloise, Azami, and Kino on their own to discuss… things… of great importance. Or, at least, for Azami to finish grilling Eloise about help, the price thereof, and what the exact handsign for ‘bribe me more’ actually is.
17:23:10 Azami got settled in at their new spot and eyed the teapot warily, her lips pursing. Her gaze turned to Eloise and the others, and she took a deep breath. “So. I believe we were discussing help…and how much that help might cost.” Her eyes settled on Eloise for the moment, though she was obviously ready to talk to everyone…in due time.
17:27:27 Eloise-Iscariot { “Thirty silver talents and your firstborn,” Eloise quipped at Azami; she sat crosslegged and poured herself tea without concern; no worry at all about her surroundings. “Maybe more if your friends keep slandering my good name with accusations of piracy most foul; my good and valiant crew are quite sensitive you know.” }
17:35:16 Azami arched an eyebrow at Eloise and then gave a subtle, amused roll of her eyes. “No to the firstborn, but we can certainly increase the amount of money.” There was a small, humored smile on her lips. She flashed a lazy grin at Eloise and shook her head. “And you and I both know that they’re not yet my friends. So.” She leaned forward slightly, her hands cupping a cup of tea once she’d served herself.
17:36:15 [Shichiroji] “Your price is awefully steep for someone who isn’t a pirate,” he said from his place distanced from the group to see them all in front of him, though obviously close enough to hear things and inject himself into the conversation with one of those rare moments of wit, though if he’d meant to be witty at all was debatable. For now he stood by simply watching, continuing his desire to understand what was going on. A royal wandering through the seedy underground was a rare and exciting thing, after all.
17:39:32 Eloise-Iscariot { Eloise clasped her hands around her cup. “No firstborn; deal, I dont like children anyway. What sort of help do you need? I have a ship and a crew; they can be at your disposal if you make a good offer.” Shichiroji didnt even get a glance; he wasnt offering Eloise large sums of money to be interested in him. }
17:42:47 [Chiyaden] Kino, for his part, seems to appreciate Shichiroji’s commentary. “And awfully sensitive, too. Are not-pirates always so worried about their crew’s feelings?” Which doesn’t change that he’s clearly interested in what Eloise has to offer. He lights up particularly at the words ‘ship’ and ‘crew’. Still no sign of Milea, Katsu, or the fabled Leyumi that supposedly runs the place…
17:44:53 [Chiyaden] There’s a bit of a commotion near the door: it looks like someone trying to bust their way past the doorman by force, a tallish man wearing military standard. He’s shouting something vaguely drunk and incoherent, it sounds like there’s a name (“Mariko”?) repeated throughout it several times. Jilted lover, maybe? Or just someone who sees himself that way?
17:47:33 Azami perked up considerably at the mention of ship and crew as well, and she glanced first at Kino and then to Shichi, giving a small, thoughtful nod before her eyes traveled back to Eloise. She rubbed the sleeve of her robe between her thumb and forefinger, thoughtful. She didn’t pull her coin out of the concealed pouch she carried, but mentally she was tallying how much money she would be willing to spend. “And how much would you say is fair for the acquisition of your ship and crew?” A calm, curious question.
17:53:21 Eloise-Iscariot { Eloise smiled craftily; it didnt necessarily look like a suspicious smile but it also wasnt exactly a not-suspicious one. “Well, now, thats a big question; it doesnt answer fundamentals; duration of service, locations to be visited, opportunities for profit orthodox or otherwise; morale of the crew has to be considered. I cant just fly in blind. Well, I can; but I dont want to.” }
18:02:04 Shichiroji Shichi managed a small smile from Kino’s weigh in; it was nice to feel acknowledged by someone. Azami’s glance his way was met with a quizzical expression; perhaps even a touch concerned. He considered the royal smart for not putting all her chips on the table; whoever put in a price first would likely end up in the uncmfortable position of aiming way too high or aiming way too low. However, Shichi wasn’t allowed to employ what he’d learned from his traveling companion (that sly merchant) thanks to ruckus at the entrance. Steps are taken to procure a better vantage point, and it comes to light that someone resembling military personel is trying to muscle his way in. “Is anyone here expecting company?”
18:07:07 [Chiyaden] “Hey! Hey! Mariko! Mariko I know you’re here!” The man shouts from the front entrance, even as a pair of doormen expertly keep him shunted to the outside with little actual force. “I’ll find you! I’ll get what’s mine Mariko!” He sounds rather insistent. And he’s causing enough of a scene that, by now, most every eye in the den is on the door and the commotion he’s stirring up.
18:07:37 Azami leaned forward for a moment, considering. She glanced to Kino, her eyebrows rising in a slight question. But she didn’t wait too long for any hint of his thoughts, and instead looked back to Eloise, gripping the cup tightly. “I would like passage to both of the people I wish to meet with. Unless news tells us otherwise and one of them turns up dead. I will not hinder your pursuit of work opportunities or other profits, nor your methods of boosting crew morale. So long as these things keep us on a fairly stable trajectory…” She smiled to Eloise faintly, trying not to fidget. She didn’t know if this was a good route to take or not, but she hoped. Her head lifted slightly, and she frowned at the shouting, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Mariko…?” She mumbled quietly.
18:08:21 [Chiyaden] Kino glances sidelong at Azami and mouths something along the lines of, I’ll be back. He then slips away from their little group and into the crowd and… that’s strange, he was there just a moment ago… but doesn’t seem to be visible anymore.
18:14:04 Eloise-Iscariot { It was inconveniently impossible to ignore the burgeoning conflict at the front of the establishment; it didnt concern Eloise, but it demanded some fraction of her attention. “Jorin Djose and Liana Rousseau; cant imagine a pair of less-pleasant people to talk to, but if you hire me you’ll make it to them unharmed; on my honour as a merchant.” Hand to her heart; Eloise took a moment to look back towards the front door. Military, exactly what she didnt need. Who was Mariko? “Its a long journey; I think ten per head sounds fair, dont you?” }
18:15:53 ( Eloise-Iscariot rolls 2d6+2 => 4, 6, + 2 = 12 )
18:20:56 ( Shichiroji rolls 2d6-1 => 2, 2, 1 = 3 )
18:23:46 Shichiroji did what he could to get the details of the situation from his position, but for him it was nearly impossible to gather more than there was someone at the door…and they were making a lot of noise. Despite this, he caught some minute details of the conversation still being had between the royal and the merchant (and the disappearance of the urchin has completely gone over Shichi’s head).
18:26:54 [Azami] Rolling a read on Eloise.
18:27:01 ( Azami rolls 2d6+2 => 6, 5, + 2 = 13 )
18:30:12 Azami considered Eloise’s offer. Ten per head for a long journey. She had lost the one person she seemed to trust out of their ragtag group. “I will pay for myself and Kino. If anyone else wants to join the two of us, they will have to broker their own deal. Do you agree?” She folded her hands on the table and bowed her head for a moment. “I have the sincere feeling I am being taken advantage of, at least a little bit.” She gave Eloise a wry smile.
18:34:21 [Chiyaden] The scuffle at the door quickly turns more violent, then quickly turns much less: the clearly drunk military man screams for Mariko one more time, pulls a dagger from his belt, and is promptly rendered unconscious by a sharp blow from a third doorman joining the fray. And then he is unceremoniously jettisoned out onto the streets. The crowd seems placated quickly enough – certainly, a distraction, but now that it’s gone, not nearly as interesting as the chemical happiness waiting in their cups.
18:35:35 Milea enters this room
18:39:05 Eloise-Iscariot { The situation at the door seemed to be handled; praise be to whichever god they worshiped here. “I sincerely feel Im taking on dangerous fugitives and tarnishing my sterling reputation; thats how you know its a good deal, nobody’s happy.” Eloise sounded nearly vindictive when she said that; she had a promise of a fine payday and the military problem at the door had resolved itself without needing her leverage; there were still a few more birds to kill though. The samurai, Shichi; the other samurai, Milea. They might be trouble still. }
18:44:51 [Chiyaden] Presently, Katsu returns from his jaunt to the back rooms. He stops by Azami for a moment, to deliver his news: “Kato-sama and your companion will be out shortly.” He heads out the front door, resuming his post and dismissing the others who’d filled in for him in his absence. There’s a sense of wounded pride as he does so.
18:46:55 [Chiyaden] He’s true to his word – a few moments later, Milea and a middle-aged woman emerge from the back. The woman, presumably Leyumi, is in her early thirties and drop-dead gorgeous – dark, slightly curly hair about her shoulders, complexion pale and pristine, eyes bright and alert. She’s dressed in high-society kimono, the sort of impractical garb one only wears when one has money, and a lot of it.
18:50:05 Shichiroji was visibly disturbed when the man, to whom few responded to (and no one was owning up to being Mariko), pulled out a knife and was then rather brutally knocked unconcious. He frowned, continuing his observation of the door, only to break away when Katsu returned, said his peace, and retook his position at the door, all the while scrutinzed by the golden eyed samurai. He wanted to follow him. He wanted to know who the man at the door was. He wanted to know exactly what kind of place this was.
18:50:28 Milea seemed rather plain when standing next to the woman, Leyumi, but that always suited her fine, looking as Leyumi did one attracted attention. As always the former samurai’s face was impassive and near impossible to read at a glance, her eyes seemed dull and gave the impression, a very incorrect impression, that she was only vaguely paying attention. As they approached the table she glanced briefly at the now dulled noise from the doorway and then back to the table. She was still speaking with the pirate, this could end only poorly if she was anything like most pirates. “Azami.” She inclined her head politely, it wasn’t to the level most would consider approriate to greet someone of Azami’s rank with but Milea hadn’t shown much care of rank up to this point. She also didn’t seem to mind letting anyone in ear shot know who Azami was which meant she either trusted Leyumi or something else was in play.
18:56:43 Azami gave a small nod to Eloise as she spoke, smiling as though she had a secret as she withdrew her hands from the table, hiding them inside her kimono sleeves and looking up as Milea approached, spoke her name. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she eyed Milea with a look that suggested she was not happy the woman insisted on using her true name. “Milea.” She replied coolly. “What news do you bring?” She asked, keeping hush-hush on the deal she had brokered with Eloise for the time being. No need to go telling her everything until she knew what had taken place with Leyumi. The scuffle at the door, the following quiet, it didn’t earn much more than a cursory glance from Azami, but that wasn’t to say she wasn’t paying attention.
18:57:20 [Chiyaden] Rather brashly, Leyumi throws an arm about Milea’s waist, an open show of affection that’s hardly… polite. Certainly improper. “Mi-chan, darling, that’s a terrible introduction. Who are these fine people you’ve brought to my humble establishment? I want to know everything, do tell!” She bats her eyelashes at the former magistrate, head tilted askance just so.
19:00:34 Azami tilts her head at the display of affection, eyebrows rising ever so slightly. “Yes. Please do introduce us properly.”
19:03:00 Eloise-Iscariot { Eloise raised one eybrow then the other at Leyumi when she arrived; that was a very beautiful woman hanging like arm-candy off a very stoic samurai; the sort of person that made a career out of being exhaustingly uninteresting. She found it slightly confusing; didnt say anything much about it. “Yes, share your news!” Her attention was actually more directed at Shichi; he seemed to be the one not interested in what was happening at the table, which meant he might know something she didnt. Couldnt let that stay for long. }
19:09:20 [Milea] The coldness of Azami’s tone elicts not a single response from Milea however the sudden arm about her waist causes the woman’s eyes to narrow slightly and a soft sigh to escape her lips. It was one of those things that Milea always had to deal with when dealing with Leyumi, she was good at finding things that irked people. She didn’t however make motions to throw Leyumi off as much as she desired too, she had learned long ago if you made things difficult on Leyumi, she would do the same so it was always best to let her have her fun. “I was merely alerting Leyumi to our presence, I bring no major news yet.” Milea answered Azami first and then turned her blue eyes to the woman hanging off of her waist. “I know only a few of them. As I am sure you were aware, since the moment we came into the city, before you is Ise Azami, Heir to the Empress. The others…I know very little.” She first gestured to Eloise, “This is Eloise Iscariot. Another young man, Sasaki Kino is here as well and finally..” 3, 2, + 1 = 6 )
19:52:47 Eloise-Iscariot { There was someone she hadnt seen before; helloooooooo Ikale! Eloise found her eyes drawn to him and lingering there for longer than mightve been healthy; she only realized in retrospect that she hadnt actually heard a word of what transpired between Shichiroji, Ikale, and Katsu. That hadnt been the plan; she refocused herself a little bit irritably; she certainly wasnt accustomed to being distracted by that. Who did that guy think he was? Why wasnt he offering her good times already? }
19:53:15 Azami watched the back and forth between Leyumi and Milea, and her eyes narrowed, a brief spark of irritation forming in their depths before it was smothered under the calm reasoning that Azami tried to use in wake of her irritation. “Leyumi-san.” Her voice was soft and yet the way she pitched it, the tone that followed it, was designed to draw attention. “I am afraid that I have very little time nor patience for the history that you and Milea-san seem to share. If you can help me, I am more than overjoyed to make use of your service. You would, of course, be compensated.” Her eyes were resting squarely on Leyumi, a small, far too pleasant smile on her lips. “If there is a personal matter between you two, might I suggest that it be cast to the wayside until my business is complete? I would be most appreciative.”
19:55:23 ( Azami rolls 2d6+1 => 4, 5, + 1 = 10 )
19:55:49 [Ikale] “Just had a question. You should leave questions to smart people, Shiro.” The merchant reminded, ushering him back through the door with both hands to shoo him. “I was headed inside—“ Ikale gestured to his friend as if to remind the samurai that he did have a life and acquaintances outside of his travels. He did, however, amiably accept Ando’s leave with promises to meet him inside in between. “What are you doing here is really a more important question-nevermind me! I didn’t know you had a spot for tea.” Poor Katsu was left, uninvited to the conversation (as if that were really the worst thing that could happen), on the sidelines.
20:00:35 [Chiyaden] Leyumi looks for the moment like she might start something – like she’s seen weakness in Milea and she’s ready to pounce – but Azami steps in, and she bows her head slightly. “Of course, Okami. I live to serve. I am not certain I can be of much help to you, truly, but I will do what I can. Naturally, a woman like yourself has access to resources… I could send you to someone who might be willing to trade ammunition and rations for fern, if you’re clever about it.” She keeps her arm planted firmly about Milea’s waist through it all, though she seems to have given up the games with her hair and most of the more outrageous flirting.
20:08:34 Milea showed no outward sign of emotion but she was…suprised at how well the young Empress managed to turn the tables upon Leyumi. It was…very impressive, with the aid of the sky pirate, the young boy and the samurai, the girl had a fair chance at her goal. “It seems you have buisness to discuss Leyumi. And i’ve a long trip home.” She reached down and removed Leyumi’s arm before Milea without further word strode out of the establishment, the woman didn’t even slow as she passed the group at the doorway. Milea removed herself and headed down the street and then..stopped after she had gotten a short ways from the establishment. She reached into her shirt near her throat and pulled out a locket on a chain, the front was broken unopenable but the backside opened and Milea looked down at it. …What would you have me do? Why must I…The girl has guardians, let me return to my life… Milea’s eyes closed briefly as she snapped the locket closed, her mind wheeling this way and that unable to settle<c>
20:08:57 [Milea] upon a decision. She is likely to turn out just like her mother…Why should she be the one…
20:09:06 [Shichiroji] The crack to his intelligence caused a deep frown to appear on Shichi’s face. Unfortunately, he was used to it by now. Still, the comment didn’t sting any less. Still, he managed to be swept up by the quick transition in conversation, little protest given to it at that. Ikale’s friend got a hard stare; a very thorough scrutinizing. Once he’d been deemed acceptable company (an act which required Shichi to lower his standards), he lightened his expression. “There’s a lot about me I don’t tell you,” he responded to Ikale’s inquiry, well aware the merchant avoided the samurai’s question. “Excuse me, sorry to have bothered you.” This serves an an apology to Katsu, hopefully sating whatever irritation he might have been feeling. The Kurado son soon moves back towards the group he was with initially, maintaining a distance, and then nodding in their way. “That’s why I’m here.”
20:15:05 Eloise-Iscariot { The scene at the door turned out to be quite anticlimactic except for the samurai woman sweeping past in a huff; perhaps things hadnt gone as she had hoped. If she didnt come back, that just meant one less samurai to be trouble for Eloise; a situation admittedly appealing to a woman of questionable ethics like Capitane Iscariot. Shichiroji and his new friend turned back inside; Eloise found she had little choice but to do the same. She rejoined Azami and now Leyumi; her attention remained on Shichi and his very pretty arm candy though. How did he get his hair to do that? Eloise wanted her hair to do that. }
20:17:43 Azami gave a gracious smile and nod to Leyumi, giving her an assessing look as she offered what she knew. When Milea made her way out of the establishment, Azami did not call for her to stop, nor did she send anyone after her. But there was a slight frown that formed. Her gaze shifted back to Leyumi, however, and she picked up the tea pot, deftly serving herself once more. “I would be willing to send one of my contacts to broker a deal through this particular means. How much fern would you suggest, and how much would you think may be needed?” There was a glint in Azami’s eye…brokering deals and managing various trade-offs in one evening was turning into exhausting work, but if she could secure everything she needed in a single evening, she would welcome the exhaustion. Her eyes briefly lifted toward Shichi, Eloise, and Ikale, eyes lingering on the newest entrant to the establishment…and then her eyes shifted back to Leyumi…all calm and business once more. She considered, briefly, sending someone -
20:18:26 Azami – after Milea, but finally decided that it was not her business if the woman came with them or not.
20:18:39 Milea exits from this room
20:18:41 [Chiyaden] Kino reappears at about this time, slipping back through the crowd as though he’s been there the whole time. The boy takes his place by Azami, leans close and whispers something to her. Then, he folds his hands behind his head and looks innocent. (He’s not good at looking innocent.)
20:18:48 Milea enters this room
20:19:02 [Azami] The second part of her question should be, “How much should I compensate you for the fern?”
20:20:57 Azami tensed slightly at Kino’s whispered words, and her gaze briefly shifted toward a different part of the room, then shifted back to Kino. She swept her tongue briefly across her lips and then leaned toward Kino, whispering a quick reply after shooting an apologetic look to Leyumi.
20:22:43 Milea moved away from the establishment and into a nearby alleyway and leaned against the wall. Those eyes fell again upon the locket and it was snapped open, Milea’s thumb ran over the picture within and for the briefest of moments, flickering of seconds the frozen samurai’s lips creaked into a smile. It was not a half smile or a tiny one but a smile of longing and joy all mixed into one and then, forced below her calm once again. So be it…for you I will see. And for you alone…if she answers correctly…she will have it, the first in almost two decades. She did not move from her spot, she needed to think about how to approach this situation, she needed the answer but only one could hear the question and the one who needed it wasn’t exactly what she called cooperative. Takada…Please don’t hate me. The locket snapped shut and was hidden once again, she turned and headed back to the Establishment, it was time to get her answer…
20:25:26 [Chiyaden] “It doesn’t take much, little Empress. A few leaves is enough to tide a strong man for a full week.” Leyumi’s grown very businesslike in Milea’s absence. “I would suggest you ask him how much he needs, though… his name is Sakai Tsuro, you can find him at the requisitions office. Be mindful that he probably won’t deal with you while any of his subordinates are about. Addiction is expected in the rank and file, it isn’t tolerated in officers.”
20:26:38 [Chiyaden] Kino, listening for a moment to Azami’s response, shrugs his shoulders and says aloud: “How could they not?” He sounds noncommittal about it, whatever he’s talking about.
20:36:44 ( Ikale rolls 2d6+1 => 2, 5, + 1 = 8 )
20:44:37 [Ikale] “Oh, look at that,” Ikale clapped a hand on Shichiroji’s shoulder with renewed life in his smile. “You made friends, Shiro. Good job!” The merchant scanned the group at the back for expressions, for details—for anything at all before he decided he intended to just meander on over with his larger friend. Before that happened, he tossed a glance around (following Milea’s storm out , captivated for a second longer than he’d later admit) and returned it to Shichiroji in some time with the same grin painting his face. “So I trust you’re going to introduce me to your lady friends over there?”
20:47:26 Azami studied Leyumi as she explained, considering. “And how much would a few leaves cost, Leyumi-san?” She turned her head toward Kino as he answered her and her entire body tensed briefly, then she gave a small nod. Her gaze swept back to Leyumi, and she smiled pleasantly to the woman. “What is the likelihood they will wait until we depart from this place to act?” She asked Kino, mostly because he was the one who would know best.
20:51:13 Milea finally returned to the Establishment, calm and placid again. She moved up next to Leyumi and in front of Azami, she left her weapon near the entrance knowing Leyumi’s men would know better than to steal it. She said nothing for now but she had returned, eyes scanning over the group including their newest little groupie, the young empress was apparently quite…good at attracting people. Whether this was good or ill was yet to be seen and…Milea doubted would be seen by her.
20:55:43 [Chiyaden] Leyumi clasps her hands in her lap. “A favor to me named later, little empress. Nothing more.” She produces a small paper box from within the folds of her kimono, and slides the container across the floor towards Azami. It’s deeply fragrant, with a loamy head to it. It smells, in fact, much like the entire establishment – though much more concentrated, much more pungent.
20:57:25 [Chiyaden] Kino shrugs at Azami’s question. He doesn’t answer verbally, but that can be an answer in and of itself.
20:59:42 Azami deftly takes the offered box, her eyes resting intently on Leyumi, seeming to be weighing whether or not a favor owed to the woman is a good thing or a bad thing…but she took a risk, giving a small nod to the woman and sliding the box into her own kimono sleeve. “Then we have reached an accord.” She said, giving the woman a nod. “I will let you resume your personal business, Leyumi-san. I have more business to discuss with my cohorts, if you do not mind me haunting your establishment for a little while longer.” A polite dismissal if there ever was one. She smiled, her gaze shifting to Milea and both eyebrows rising, and then to Shichi and Ikale, her gaze meeting both of theirs and her head tilting, a silent invitation to come closer…if they were paying attention, of course. “Kind of you to rejoin us, Milea-san. I presume that there is information you seek.”