Milea had managed to procure for the group a trio of horses and some basic supplies into the saddle bags, enough to get them to Minato, where one of her contacts was waiting for them. It was someone from her days in the magistrate, someone who owed her a whole lot of favors for over looking certain small crimes, in exchange for information on her marks. That person would be able to get the two on their way and Milea could go back to living quietly in the mountains, away from this dishonorable nonsense. The girl had not given her a name nor had she said she was Azami but to many things coincided for it to be simply coincidence, she was trying to flee as was this Azami girl, this girl was nobility surely and they just happened to pass her by? Yes…to many things leading into one another. She led the horse through the gates of Minato and then looked to the two behind her, shifting her weight slightly. “Were here. I can find someone to take you quite a ways from Kyokita here, if that’s the same goal you want.” She slowly dismounted from the horse grasping her blade off the saddle bag with one hand and fully turning to the boy and girl, neither of whom she had names for at this point. Milea had given only her first name to the two, she kept the name Nasano hidden from them both, best to let the world think the Nasano dead…not that the eldest daughter let such monstrosities happen without being able to stop it. “But it could be awhile before my contact is prepared to meet you. We should get supplies and sustenance while we are here. It may be sometime before you are able to stop like this again.”

Azami had given only a false name of “Ume” when pressed for something to call her by. She didn’t really want to entrust her name to anyone just yet, though she knew she would have to eventually. She was looking for the people on her mother and Junko’s hitlist, and if she started asking questions about them, eyebrows would be raised and there would be insistence to know why she sought them. But for now, she just wanted to get away from the city, from her mother…and then she would, perhaps, be a little more comfortable revealing her name. She glanced up at Milea as the woman looked back at them, giving a slight nod at her words. “Yes. Thank you. I think leaving Kyokita is the best course of action for me.” She smiled faintly and then dismounted, her riding habits showcasing a particular amount of skill. She landed on the ground with a soft “oomph” of sound and then smoothed her robes, moving around to the front of her horse and gently leading him toward the equally short woman ahead of her. “I think that is a good plan. Would you be so kind as to lead the way?” She had tried to make her language coarser, had tried to ruddy her face and hide the nice clothing she still wore…but pretending to be something she’d never spent much time around was proving quite difficult, and it seemed every time they encountered someone, she fumbled with how to act. The misfortune of being Amatsu, it seemed, was that she had no idea how the rest of society worked…in some very key ways.

Milea watched the woman dismount, she was fairly skilled on a horse well that was good, if she was going to flee the empire with this boy she would need all the survival skills she could get. Milea’s face was the ever impassive wall that it seemed to be, since they had met in that darkened street not once had her face or voice shown any emotion, cool…or perhaps more accurately cold to the world around her. The ex-noble woman looked down ‘Ume’ for a long moment and then turned and gestured for them to follow her. Whatever skills the girl had would be needed because blending in was not one of them, she stood out like a sore thumb and would be easily hunted and found by those who would surely come after her. Not Milea’s problem though. She led them through the streets at a very easy, casual pace even stopping on occasion to glance over stalls or various wares that were on display. At last though she led them into a small eating establishment very out of the way and hard to find, as they entered the woman waiting to seat the trio seemed to know Milea. There were no words exchanged but they were led through the crowded front room into a series of private rooms in the back, seated and then the woman left presumably to get them some menu’s or…something. “So…Ume…and company.” She turned her icy blue eyes upon the two of them before settling dead onto Azami’s…and she just flat stared as she spoke as if trying to discern any lie no matter how small. “I wish for you to inform me of whom you both actually are. I have brought you to Minato but I will not put you in touch with those I know if I do not know who I am dealing with.” Milea went silent once more and simply waited.

The boy shrugs with a wry grin. “Told you. Kino. Told you that daaaaays ago.” Nevermind that it’s only been a day and a half, as Minato isn’t actually that far from Kyokita. The boy – Kino – doesn’t seem to take the situation especially seriously. The establishment – known as Eikan Rose – is a small taverna, with little in the way of private amenities, but a spot out of sight of the bulk of patrons certainly isn’t so hard to find. Nobody pays the trio any particular attention at the moment, in any case – they’ve done nothing to draw attention to themselves. (Yet.)

Azami frowned when Milea turned on them, wanting to know who they actually were. She simply stood for a moment, gazing steadily at the woman with a calm, critical eye. “I’m Ise Azami.” She said after a moment, her voice very, very soft, her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a small line. “But I’m guessing you might’ve suspected that. Would you do us the same favor and give your full name?” Azami was polite, calm, but there was an edge to her voice that said she didn’t really like being called out…though the edge was probably irritation aimed more at herself than anything.

There was no alteration of her face, no change in her emotion or voice when the Amatsu revealed herself but Milea did gesture to sit before she drew attention to the group. She glanced momentarily to Kino perhaps a simple urchin she had picked up, thankfully she wasn’t wearing any formal dress and Azami was smart enough to wear something over her finery. “No.” Milea said flatly in response to wanting to know who she was and then she looked away for a moment, scanning the crowd before looking back to the two. “Here is how this is going to function, I shall put you contact with a woman, who can find you transport to…almost anywhere you wish. She owes me greatly, she will do so without asking price. Then we shall part ways.” Milea seemed to hesistate for a moment before speaking again, “I however have one question for you, Child.” She looked squarely down upon Azami but refrained from using her name, possibly because there were people nearby and they needed no risk. “What is your plan, why do you flee?” She turned to Kino, “Why do you flee with her?”

“She said she needed fleeing. I happen to be an expert in that,” Kino replies, leaning back, folding his hands behind his head. “Also an expert in not getting killed by empresses. I don’t know why empresses want to kill her, but I figure empresses have their reasons and noone ever gets to be empress without killin’ someone, right? Anyway, usually I don’t get asked for help running away in public, so the novelty was as much fun as anything else. Now why are you so sure someone’ll do something for you without asking anything in return? I know how things work, and that’s not usually how things work.”

Azami her eyes narrowed and her gaze seemed to sharpen as she regarded Milea and her simple “no”. If Milea wanted to be difficult, Azami was all too happy to be difficult as well. So when she asked Azami to answer her question, Azami simply arched an imperial eyebrow and tilted her head. “Seeing as I have potentially put myself in danger simply by offering my name to you, and you will not provide me the same courtesy, I see no reason to answer either of the two questions that you have asked.” She turned her head slightly, glancing at Kino as he made his reply and giving a small nod. "As it stands, because of your reticence to provide any name beyond “Milea”, I’m also not sure I feel comfortable using the method of transit you offer." Her voice was so calm, so steady…The fact that she was actually terrified Milea worked for her mother was not evident in her at all, though deep, deep inside, she was concerned.

Milea eyed the urchin for a moment and the nodded, the answer was…fine for the moment, there was more at work there, like why anyone wanted this Kino boy dead, but she had other issues which was Azami being exactly what she feared. The Amatsu was being rather annoying and time wasn’t exactly on their side as things stood by now the Empress knew her little….bundle of joy was gone and would be searching and it wouldn’t take much for the Magistrates to check Minato it being so close. How could one little girl possibly do anymore damage, aside siccing Tsuruchi’s lackey’s upon her…but perhaps an honorable death while claiming the life of her families murderer might well be worth it. “Very well, Amatsu. You wish my name, you shall have it. I am Milea Nasano.” Milea didn’t even waver but there was a…a hint of something in her eyes, “Now answer my question, What is your plan? Do you seek to just flee and hide from the Empress? We shall go no further and you shall find no others willing to aid you.” Milea turned her head briefly to Kino, “The indivdual in question will aid us. If there is a cost it shall be to me, not to you two. Beyond that, I will say no more.”

Kino is silent for the moment. Eikan Rose, however, is getting quite a bit more active – all as a group, a small cadre of men and women dressed up in raggedy black clothes walk in. The foremost among them shouts out, “A round of yer finest drinks, keepa!” And the lot of them – there looks to be twelve or thirteen – saunter their way to places, taking up a full half of the little establishment.

At the tail end of the procession is a woman, smaller and more finely dressed than the rest of the black-clad crew; she wore corset and roughly cut-off skirts in a Marsellan style with a tanjuu pistol at her hip. “Keep yer pants on Junichi,” Eloise took a seat alongside the apparent leader of the group; she set her pistol on the table in front of her, “no time to haul yer drunk ass back to Madrigal.”

Azami gave a slight nod to Milea and seemed to relax a small amount once she had heard her full name. She didn’t comment on her being a Nasano, namely because while Azami knew some Nasano history, she didn’t know enough. When Milea repeated her questions, she gave a small nod. “I do not intend merely to flee. I intend to find the people that she and…Junko…wish eliminated alongside me. I do not know why I am being targeted, or why Sasaki Kino or any of the others are being targeted. But I want to find them all…and see if there is something we have in common that makes my mother and Junko want to kill us.” Her words were already soft, but as the people in cloaks entered the room, she became even quieter, her eyes narrowing on them for a moment. “I do not intend to hide for the rest of my life, nor do I intend to be perpetually hunted. I will fight back when I have established the logic behind my mother’s actions.”

“Logic’s simple. You’re a threat, threats get eliminated.” Kino pipes up, almost cheerily. “Don’t know why you’re a threat, but empresses wouldn’t have any cause to try killing you if you weren’t. I’m probably a threat too. I don’t feel threatening, but I guess I am pretty amazing.” He stretches, catlike, and flashes a brazenly cheshire smile at Milea.
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Junichi growls at Eloise and leans back in his chair. “Yes’m. No need to worry bout that. Boys need a day to rest is all, drop of good sake does a tired body good.” He’s sullen tonight, but Junichi’s most always sullen. It’s as though he never quite outgrew his teenage angst. Then again, many of his crew seem to have similar problems – perhaps it’s a thing with sky pirates.

Milea sat quietly as the loud group entered but for the moment, she gave them no mind, the names meant naught to her and the fact they were armed meant even less. The tavern was close quaters if one of them began trouble with a gun, Milea would remove the grasping appendage before they had time to blink. Milea closed her eyes in quiet thought for a moment before answering again, the girls answer had been…enough to get her to aid them this far but nothing to compel her to go with them on this mad quest, the entirity of the Empire would be arrayed against them, the only natural end was death. “My Contact, Kato Leyumi has an office here in Minato. We should go to her as quickly as possible and arrange transport for the both of you, perhaps south or west…” She looked to Kino and nodded to his smile, “Likely. My interest is in more why you two are threats. After all…the girl is her heir.” Milea shook her head none of this matters, the girl and her mad quest were pointless and none of her concern and yet a voice nagged at the back of her head. She couldn’t quite hear it yet, “Once you two are ready, I will take you to Leyumi.” Milea grasped her staff a bit tighter, the loud mouths are a concern, after all…Azami was in youth and quite beautiful and they were…drinking heavily, not a good combination for men like that. Milea had no such concern and had never considered herself that lovely and she was no longer in the prime of her youth either.

Azami smiled at Kino’s words, then gave a slight nod. “Logic was…not the right word to use. More I want to know why we are considered threats. I am her daughter, and the heir…The only thing that seems to be a common trend right now is…elemental attunement, since I can tell that you have a very high attunement…” She glanced from Kino to Milea, sighed, and shrugged. “The pieces will come together as we progress, I hope.” She frowned and then her gaze shifted to Eloise and Junichi, her lashes lowering demurely over her eyes before her gaze flicked back to Milea. “I am ready to depart. The faster I can put distance between myself and my mother’s…helpers…the better.” She wrinkled her nose, then glanced at Kino, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes.

“Little drop o’ poison for all my favorite gents and ladies, of course of course,” Eloise coolly replied; her voice sweet and sensuous. Never argue alcohol with a crew of pirates; not even Junichi, bless his loyal soul; not if she wanted to live past thirty. “Rest n make merry boys, we heave away again at dawn; been far too long since Ive flown round friendly skies.” Eloise snapped open the revolving tanjuu, and checked the ammunition; then she snapped it closed again. “Do tell me if anyone interesting shows, wont you Jun?”

Kino tilts his head and waves a hand dismissively when Azami brings up his elemental talent. “Perish the thought, Ume, I’m just a normal boy from the normal streets. You haven’t never been to Asakura, I don’t think, that’s all you’re smelling off me.” Asakura, it seems, smells of cloves and ozone in the estimation of the strange boy. “If it’s away from all the helpers, the distance you wanna go is Marseilles. Independent you see. Asakura might be a good plan too, ‘cause the treaties. The treaties are still binding, right? That’s what mum always told me, anyway.”
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Junichi lets roll a deep throaty laugh. “‘course I will, cap’n. Hand on me heart, mate’s honor.” This isn’t an uncommon sort of promise for a pirate to make, the blackbirds are hardly an exception. When it comes from Junichi, though, and is made to Eloise – he’s absolutely loyal. It sounds in his voice, even through the sullen sarcasm. He promptly tips back his cup of sake, drains it, and pours another.

Milea was listening to the conversation going on nearby and was not liking it, friendly skies, she was an ally of Chiyaden then though she hardly seemed the type. Then again she had used the womans kind in her work all those years ago, “Elemental attunement? I see. Let us depart, the less I know the better off I shall be I think.” Milea contiuned with her trend, for all intents and purposes it did not seem the woman planned on moving past Minato with them, she was delivering them to her contact and leaving. The former magistrate stood up and brushed herself off picking up the double bladed weapon next to her. “Treaties,Netruality mean nothing in this kind of flight, Sasaki Kino. The Empress will send the Magistrates after you…and you two do not hide well.” Milea said quietly and then gestured for them to be off leading the way around the group of drunken idiots. However Milea also stayed very close to the two of them and put herself between any of the men and Azami and headed for the exit. While she had no doubt that she was in little danger from them, the other two seemed…fairly poor in combat skills. She somewhat doubted Azami had anything beyond basic combat training if any from the Empress but…she could have been wrong and painting that in a bad light, biased and all.

Azami gave a slight shrug at Milea’s questioning tone, then glanced sharply at Kino as he tried to play it off. She did smile, however, as he referred to her as Ume. “Yes well…that is probably for the best that you stay uninvolved beyond this. I am sure you have your own business to attend to.” The statement was not, in fact, a veiled question. Azami was too exhausted to try and puzzle out the mystery of Nasano Milea beyond what she already knew. The woman seemed disinclined to provide more answers than she had to, and Azami was happy to accomodate the woman’s privacy…for now at least. She did admit some curiosity, but she wouldn’t push. Not unless she could persuade Milea to join them, which at the moment seemed unlikely. “The best place to start is to track down Liana Rousseau or Jorin Djose. Both, preferably. Or at least get myself into contact with either of them.” She frowned, seeming to be weighing how she could manage this as she moved with Milea and Kino toward the exit, aware of Milea’s strategic positioning, but not commenting.

Eloise gracefully stood and interjected herself in the conversation; she had very good hearing by the looks of it. “Oh, you dont want to track down either of them; Djose hates Chiyadenese you know. Liana just hasnt got shit for a sense ah humour,” Eloise specifically didnt step too close, but, leaning on the back of a chair just by the door, she smiled to the three of them. “Magistrate troubles?” Eloise sounded sugary sweet; but the tanjuu rested back at her hip; she was poised like someone very ready to make a move if necessary; wound up catlike and ready.

Shichiroji casually walked in through the front door and took a deep breath once in the establishment, relishing in the scent of both of his favorite things: food and booze. With his pouch filled with coin, and an appetitie that could rival any monster of the deepest, darkest forest, the beaming smile on his face served as the only indication of the plans he had for the watering hole. “Ah!” he bellowed as he exhaled, taking in his surroundings, briefly observing the present faces to ascertain their disposition, which would surely tell him if the food and drink here was good. Granted no one seemed to have particularly grim faces on (which were the only two expressions Shichi was currently tuned to notice) he decided that this…would be a good place to fill his gut. He quickly made a beeline for a table and sat himself down, expecting prompt service.

Shichiroji’s beeline brought him past a rather tense situation at the front door, with a pretty blonde woman casually faced off with a boy that smelled of cloves, a lovely girl with an aire of nobility, and… an elder woman with a staff. He did, however, receive very prompt service – a waitress was at his table in moments, providing a pot of tea and a cup, and watching him expectantly, waiting to fill in his needs as they came.
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Kino quirks a brow at the sudden intrusion, first by Eloise, then by Shichiroji, and takes a step back, laying a hand on Azami’s shoulder. “…could turn ugly…” he whispers, before saying, a little more audibly, “Jorin’s in Lillehamr. That’s an old House, and they don’t like the Empire much.” He muses for a moment, before whispering again, “…which could actually play to your advantage, if’n he doesn’t just take your head for the principle of it, which he might…”
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Junichi sighs as Eloise inserts herself into the one possible wasp’s nest of trouble in the whole damn tavern, and he stands up as well, grudgingly, to take a place next to her. Important to protect his captain, in case anything untoward goes down. Fff. Coulda been drinking more sake, what is this shit…

This…was unfortunate and Milea had been in enough battles and bar fights incidentally, you would be amazed how many people tried to lose her in a bar fight, to know that the woman in front of her was not some thug and the weapon was not for show. Milea stared at her blankly for a long moment and then another man joins her and another enters into the tavern, this one…a large man, earth elemental if Milea had to guess, they were easy to spot most of the time, big. The woman in front of Milea was also larger than her but that..wasn’t hard with Milea and had never given anyone an advantage so far. Milea just…stared for a moment before turning to Azami, “Please take your…companion of the night home, M’Lady Ume. I shall be outside momentarily to escort you.” Milea dripped into a very,very graceful half bow to Azami, something one would find in a court of nobles or something similiar and then turned back to Eloise. “The troubles of her ladyship are no concern of anyone’s. You should return with your men to their drinking and merriment, one does not often stop in a port for very long. There is no reason to trouble yourself with us.” Milea’s voice was flat and emotionless throughout her entire speech, the woman was good at hiding the truth…she’d had enough practice.

Azami frowned as Eloise approached, her words making Azami a little uncomfortable, though they didn’t dissuade the girl from her chosen course of action. Of course, Azami got the feeling they weren’t really intended to. Her eyes shifted to Shichiroji as he entered the building, and she inhaled slowly, then jumped as Kino laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned to face him slightly, listening to his words even as Milea told her to wait outside…and called Kino her companion. Azami went rigid for a moment, and she very nearly lit Milea on fire…the thought did cross her mind. Anyone looking could probably see her bristling at the suggestion Milea had made. But she calmed herself, keeping a bit of control on her temper, and turned her gaze instead to Kino as he whispered in her ear. She gave a small nod to him, her eyes moving to meet his for a brief moment. “Thank you.” She said quietly. She turned her gaze to Eloise and Junichi, studying them, and then glanced at Milea as she spoke to them. She had directly ignored the other woman’s suggestion, of course. “What more do you know about Djose and Rousseau. I can perhaps make it worth your while.” The implication of some sort of reward was very evident in Azami’s words, and she genuinely meant it. She would make the trade of information worth Eloise’s while.

Bless her crooked little heart; Eloise eyes lit up when Azami bit her hook and baited it back in turn, “Oh, Djose, nothing very new Im afraid; you see, he’s still sounding his war drums, doesnt like your little empire at all I fear,” as she spoke she looked to Junichi; giving her first mate a hand-sign that said more or less ‘stand down’. This was going well. “Rousseau, though, poor Liana; I know her quite well.” Eloise fondled the pocket watch-locket hanging from her neck; she smiled viciously. “Wasnt too happy when I lifted this off her; poor girl, wound up Lady Regent ah Saint-Augustine since noone else wanted it; not after what happened ta poor Bernard.”

Milea could almost feel the daggers being stared into her by the Amatsu but quite frankly at this point she didn’t care, the more she saw of Azami the more she saw how little she understood about the real world…and then she offered to pay the woman for information and Milea almost slipped. Almost. The woman’s face didn’t change but when Azami spoke Milea’s arm muscle tensed if only ever so slightly ready for anything that might happen to go down. However beyond that for the moment Milea would remain silent, she would have a talk with Azami…no wait, she wouldn’t…why should she, wasn’t her problem. That voice was back, nagging her…reminding her of things she wanted to forget, things that no longer mattered. Why. Why didn’t they matter? Why did honor and duty not mean anything anymore? Why did they mean anything before? Because it is what makes you a Nasano… Milea could almost hear her father and quietly cursed her own mind for it.

Shichiroji was quick to order himself something to drink – something strong with enough kick to put some hair on his chest, and then order nearly everything on the menu (if there was a menu, otherwise he went completely off the cuff). Once he’d accomplished this task, he went to serving himself up some tea from the offered put and the cup set before him. Meanwhile, his ears were tuned into the conversation happening closer to the door, because he wasn’t so oblivious as to not notice interesting people – interesting people who looked a whole lot like royalty. With his order made and tea in hand, he stood up and rather forwardly strode back to the group gathered. “Should her highness really be consorting with pirates?” he asked plainly, and on hip as he took the first and last swig from his current cup of tea. “This doesn’t seem like the place for royalty, especially dealing with…” He paused and turned his head to give Eloise and her companion a once over… “Yeah….”

Kino makes a face at Milea, and not the prettiest and most pleasant face that ever was. It’s fleeting, though. Huff. Night’s companion? Well, actually, he supposed there were probably worse ways to get tagged for a death penalty than seducing a crown princess, but… you know. One step at a time, gotta escape first. He chirps in on Eloise and Azami’s conversation. “Wasn’t Bernard poisoned last winter?”
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Junichi makes a rude gesture at Shichiroji. He looks somewhat annoyed at being called a pirate. However, at the hand-sign from Eloise, he stands down, taking a few steps back. He pointedly doesn’t sit again, as his captain, it seems, is getting herself into all sorts of potential trouble. Again. “Why’s the pretty ones always so fucking dumb?” he asks one of the other pirates, off to the side. He gets a shrug in response, clearly beaten out by alcohol in the ‘interesting to his crewmates’ department.
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The waitress returns some time after Shichi rises to insert himself in the growing scene at the door – she simply sets down his warm flask of shochu, a plate of sticky rice balls, a plate of roast eel, and a grilled fish on a stick. And she quietly, quietly backs away, wanting nothing to do with this shit.

Azami ignored the way Milea tensed and reacted to Eloise and Junichi, instead listening to Eloise’s explanation about the two people who, aside from Kino, were the top of her priority list. She closed her eyes and thought things over, her fingers clenching gently inside of the sleeves of her robe, gripping her cloak a little closer. It was, of course, at about this moment that Shichi walked up, and Azami lifted her gaze to him with a very calm and serene look. “I need information, they can provide it. I am not concerned with what their occupation or status is so long as they treat with me and provide me good information.” Her gaze shifted back to Eloise, regarding her thoughtfully. “And since I have offered to sweeten the deal, there is little reason to provide bad information…but time shall always tell.” She offered Eloise a faint smile, though it was clear that Azami didn’t actually trust anyone. She wasn’t that naive or that unaware of the world. But she would do what she had to.

“Astute l’il bastard arent you?” Eloise purred at Kino. “Bernard Lamstrand was poisoned last winter; hemlock, n the ones what did it; they never did get caught ‘n hanged like they should. Now we got Liana; right unreasonable thing, I mess Bernard; when he got angry, there’s this vein on his forehead, it pulsated n throbbed like it was something alive.” Arms crossing, Eloise practically whirled upon Shichiroji; her face alight with shock, shock. “Pirate? You wound me sir; such an accusation! I am but an honest merchant; a simple traveling entrepreneur; an innovative trade specialist. I shant have my good name besmirched like this in public!”

“My apologies, your highness.” He attempted to ammend the forward manner in which he’d injected himself into the situation, bowing his head respectfully to the much shorter royal before turning his attention back to the accused pirate. Unfortnately, his assumption failed to stick, and his conviction in thinking her a pirate wavered with her admittedly convincing performance (or convincing to him). “My apologies to you too,” he said, continuing to save face. “The company you keep… I’m sorry I thought they looked a little on the ignoble side.” That said, he could admit that this woman and her cadre may not have been pirates, but they still wreaked of being untrustworthy, though there was the lingering possibilty that the group pitted against this wily woman was well equipped to deal with her, a thought solidified with the notice of the very unique scent and feel coming from her highness and the urchin with her. It was at this point that his nose caught the scent of his food, and he turned ©
22:25:23 [Shichiroji] attention onto his previous seat. “If her highness is sure she has the situation handled…” And then he took slow steps backwards, eyes fixed on Eloise, not yet convinced she wasn’t playing the royal and her companions.

Kino glances towards Shichiroji as he withdraws, paying particular attention to the man’s armor. A rather well-equipped giant, with a good enough eye to pick out Azami’s distinct features. Also… “He could be useful,” he murmurs to Azami. “Smells like loam from here… sense of chivalry on top of it. Doesn’t look like a Magistrate…” He quickly turns his attention back to Eloise, though, apparently quite amused by her rebuttal to Shichiroji. Sky pirate or not, she has spirit. It’s clear enough he’s developed a bit of appreciation.
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Junichi sits down, finally, when Shichi backs away a bit. The boss seems to have it handled, but he does dispense with a sign to the rest of the blackbirds. He wants them all ready, just in case a fight does happen to break out. Though, fortunately, it’s looking less likely just now.
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The waitress, seeming to find her courage, returns to the front with a nervous sort of smile. “Is there… anything else I can get for anyone? We have fish coming off the grill right now…” And almost as though it’s fate, just as she says that, the rather savory scent of grilled trout and curry wafts through the main room of Eikan Rose. She looks very much like she’s hoping noone will kill her in the face. So many dangerous people tonight…

Milea remained at the ready, the woman was a sky pirate, she knew enough from her band,words and demeanor to put that together. However her worry lied opposite of the giant mans, sky pirates could be honorable sorts and Milea had always known them to do exactly what she assumed in the past, the problem was…that was rarely what you needed them to do. The scar on Milea’s face throbbed painfully as she thought about this and banished it from her mind, this was a poor place to discuss this and so Milea broke one of her cardinal rules, she was going to risk her neck on a stupid stunt that might not lead anywhere. “Ume. This is a public location and probably unwise to speak of this here. I know of a more…private location not far, I can send word to my friend…and you can discuss buisness in safety.” Milea only hoped the girl was wise enough to put her personal dislike of the old woman aside and see the wisdom, by now they would have Magistrate’s on their tail and not much had been done to disguise it yet. If they were any good at their jobs…and Milea knew a damn chunk of them were, they would be in this city within a few hours, if they were lucky and the Empress was feeling lazy. She really didn’t want to be spotted with the girl by the Magistrate, they’d have a garrison down their throats if this was as bad as it seemed. She ignored the rest for the moment verbally anyway, she had marked and was watching everyone of them for any kind of hostile move. The offer of food is however rejected, at Kino’s mention of the giant not looking like a Magistrate she can only close her eyes quietly in frustration. As if Magistrates went around loudly announcing who they were when they were hunting for people.

Azami stood, looking thoughtful, quiet and watchful while Shichi and Eloise spoke, and while Milea and Kino provided their thoughts and suggestions. She gave a small nod to the both of them, frowning and then turning her gaze to Milea. “Yes. I think that best.” Her eyes moved to Kino and she gave him a nod as well. “I agree. Perhaps we should…ah…invite him along?” She smiled faintly, then looked to Eloise and Shichi, and then the waitress. She politely declined any more food, giving the woman a polite smile and a very calm, almost reassuring gesture. “We shall be departing soon.” Try to soothe the fears to those not involved and not rough and rowdy enough to deal with what was happening. Her gaze moved to Eloise, and Shichi before he walked away. “If you would care to join us, we can perhaps continue this conversation in a more secure location.” The offer was extended to both parties, to Shichi if he was interested, to Eloise because they had struck something of an arrangement.

Its not like Eloise couldve actually blamed Shichiroji for his suspicion; she did have the looks of a shifty sort and she was a stranger with what looked an awful lot like a pirate crew. Good that he backed off about it though; best if it didnt turn ugly. “Be delighted to accompany you, miss; absolutely and utterly at yer service. Juni, you have the bridge my love; do be a dear n keep the quiet while Im away.” She spun about on the heel of her boot and fell in right next to the royal girl; Eloise knew opportunity when she smelled it, wasnt any doubt about that.