|
Post by emeralddragon on Mar 12, 2018 0:59:28 GMT 10
Arriving in Scorpion-controlled space for the first time in many months, The Warren slips past various advertising and magistrate satellites as it approaches the World of Dreams, the only planet in the Empire which is as bright on its dark side as it is on its light, with a constant haze of light pollution across much of its surface visible from orbit.
Shiba Itsuki, face sterner than in recent days, sits stiffly on the bridge, one hand managing navigation with the other hovering just above a spell scroll unfurled on the console. He looks very uncomfortable. On edge.
The ship is hailed by World of Dreams traffic control, and Itsuki hurries to transmit the ship's identity and landing credentials. ((OOC: If anyone else is on the bridge for the arrival/landing, please make this known, and also roll Investigation/Perception. TN20 will get you something.))
There is a brief delay, but whether this is due to the high volume of constant traffic in this system, or another reason, is unclear.
"Cleared to land, The Warren. If not landing at the Twins' Embrace Phoenix Embassy Precinct, please use bay 8862. Coordinates attached." The tone is curt, but given the tension between the Phoenix and the Scorpion this is to be expected.
Even now, even here, in a place that sees thousands of ships a day from every Clan, the tension between the Scorpion and the Phoenix is clear. If it was anyone else, any two other Clans, the drums of war would already be beating, and the ship would never have touched the ground. Yet war is not the way of the Phoenix, and the Scorpion prefer the shadows. Both Clans see the other as the traitor, and both with deal with this betrayal in a manner that suits each clan.
But this Cold War is in its own way, far more dangerous to each individual Samurai.
|
|
|
Post by M'thack-kir on Mar 12, 2018 8:33:12 GMT 10
Kiru is not on the Bridge, trusting Itsuki to bring his home safely to port as always. Instead, he is sitting in the captain’s seat at the dining table, busying himself with making two furoshiki of fruit and vegetables freshly picked from the ‘pantry’. Unfortunately, he is not an expert with knots, and the furoshiki is not forthcoming with advice on how to properly prepare itself.
|
|
|
Post by Hida Tetsuko on Mar 12, 2018 10:52:39 GMT 10
Hida Tetsuko sits on her futon behind the shoji screen, listening to her headphones. Then she looks up as she feels the ship emerge from hyperspace.
|
|
|
Post by Shinwa on Mar 13, 2018 0:56:25 GMT 10
Shinwa is on the bridge, in his seat but keeping his paws well off the controls. He is filled with a nervous energy about the landing and leans forward to watch the descent through the atmosphere. He stoically maintains his on through the descent, but there is disgust in his tone as the Warren descends through the clouds of pollution and advertisements that encircle the planet. "No one could want to live like this. No one could mean for this to happen to their own home." He is too appalled by the condition of the world to notice certain small things. < Investigation/Perception roll>
|
|
|
Post by Mirumoto Nanashi on Mar 13, 2018 9:37:36 GMT 10
Nanashi is in the vehicle bay making sure the transports are up to snuff. Oddly, there isn’t any music playing.
|
|
|
Post by emeralddragon on Mar 14, 2018 3:51:17 GMT 10
The ship makes a steady, uneventful descent to the planet's surface. Even if Itsuki hadn't been here before, he would not need the assistance of the ship's kami to point him in the right direction; one of the few patches of sky which isn't oversaturated with artificial lighting of high rise skyscrapers is the Twins' Embrace Phoenix Embassy, a swathe of natural reserve with environmental protection status with a temple complex at its centre, bordered by administrative buildings and one ship hangar.
"An unintended masterpiece of negative space," Itsuki mutters to himself, remembering a lesson his sensei at the same temple looming on the bridge's visual display had once taught him. "If only it felt like home."
A small data burst is received in coded cipher, to which Itsuki responds before rolling up his spell scroll once more, now visibly relieved.
The Warren lands in an open hangar, with the building's pagoda roof rematerialising a short while later. ((OOC: If anyone is present on the bridge, their stomach feels queasy for a moment as this permanent illusion is temporarily broken before their very eyes due to watching as the ship passes through it. Then they feel fine.) Itsuki then announces over the ship's internal comms, "Landed safely. Get your breath of fresh air and a glimpse of civilisation while you can. Departing soon."
A second, slightly more public transmission follows the initial coded one,
"Greetings Shiba-san, This is Chiba Tomaru. The Nezumi's opinion of 'The World of Dreams' has long been known, so we must admit, it is hard to say whether we or the Scorpion shall be more surprised by your arrival. Regardless, before entering the city for whatever business you have, Chiba Jinn-Kuen-sama requests that you and the rest of The Warren's crew enjoy the hospitality of the Chiba family, something we are always eager to share with our friends, both inside and outside the Phoenix. We are eager to hear what news you bring.
Should you be willing, I have a room set aside to meet and enjoy Tea and refreshments."
|
|
|
Post by Shinwa on Mar 14, 2018 5:51:02 GMT 10
Shinwa unbuckles and stands, picking up his bag and the motorcycle mempo that had been on the floor at his side. He slings the bag over his shoulder. "Thank you for the skilled landing, as always, Shiba-san. If you are not planning on stretching your legs also, I hope to see you again soon." He bows and walks towards the cargo bay that holds Mirumoto Nanashi and his motorbike, passing Kiru on the way. Their private farewells have already been made, but he gives the Nezumi a polite nod as he passes.
|
|
|
Post by M'thack-kir on Mar 14, 2018 7:18:21 GMT 10
Itsuki groans without groaning. Sighs without sighing. He is Shiba, and he will be polite...even if it kills him. He follows Shinwa out of the Bridge (after beseeching the air kami’s blessing to make himself appear refreshed) to the now open hangar door and awaits the Captain to disembark.
As Shinwa nods at Kiru, he says nothing in return but shoved the crumpled but sturdy furoshiki into Shinwa’s hands. The Nezumi then wanders off to the hangar, to smile at Nanashi, whisper, “No refusing,” and then hand him the other furoshiki.
|
|
|
Post by Shinwa on Mar 14, 2018 8:47:20 GMT 10
Shinwa gives a small bow of gratitude, not refusing himself out of deference for Kiru's preferred mode of gift-giving. He shoves the furoshiki into his bag and follows the Nezumi out, a wry smile on his face. He allows the Nezumi the right to disembark first, following after him as he goes down the ramp into the hangar.
|
|
|
Post by Hida Tetsuko on Mar 14, 2018 15:35:30 GMT 10
Reluctantly, Tetsuko comes out from behind the shoji screen. There are some things that have to be endured. She looks over at Nanashi, then heads out down the ramp.
|
|
|
Post by Mirumoto Nanashi on Mar 15, 2018 1:12:43 GMT 10
Nanashi’s takes the gift unceremoniously and follows the group down the ramp. He returns the look of the Hida but remains silent. He stays to the rear but is keeping an open eye for any issues.
|
|
|
Post by emeralddragon on Mar 15, 2018 4:55:11 GMT 10
Walking into the hanger as the crew disembark the ship, is a young man and women, walking side by side. On the left was one of the Illusionists that made this tower home, her robes neat, and well made, but clearly designed to make sure her art remains the centre of attention, subtle and dark shades or Red, and Orange for the most part.
This made her almost vanish beside Chiba Tomaru. Tomaru's Kimono was extravagant to the point of excess, with intricate designs and patterns sewn into the outfit. And the Obi-Belt had clearly been a canvas for some artist on the world, looking more like a picture then a belt. It was an outfit most clans would only use during a formal court meeting, rather then to meet some low ranking Samurai at a hanger. However he clearly was showing some premature aging. His eyes while young, were clearly sunken slightly, and his hair had gone completely Grey, with fine worry wrinkles around his face. He was stressed, and either didn't bother to hide it, or had been woken up not a few minutes ago to meet with the group.
Bowing, he said, "Ohayou Gozaimasu, Minna-sama. Thank You for agreeing to meet with me and welcome to the World of Dreams. With me is Shiba Honami-sama, whose talents are simply a wonder to behold, I assure you. A true master of her art, one who I am lucky to have been blessed to work with more then once. Before we go to tea, is there anything you desire, anything at all that could make this stay more comfortable?" He spoke fast, with the energy of a showman, although at least right now he was trying to keep his volume down right now, "Nezumi-san in particular, anything you need?"
Shiba Honami for the most part, remains quiet, although its very clear she is listening carefully to everything that is said. Those who would pay closer attention may notice she is actually a Sensei to this school, which does lead to the question of why she would take part in something that is likely merchantile.
((OOC: Lore Heraldry roll if you care. She is actually high enough in rank for it to matter.))
|
|
|
Post by M'thack-kir on Mar 15, 2018 5:44:20 GMT 10
Itsuki bows low at the approach of an illustrious Sensei of his school, but keeps his voice and thoughts to himself.
Kiru bows also, but not as low—he is a polite Nezumi, but one who obviously doesn’t understand the importance of the people before him. “M’thack-kir is pleased to meet more members of the Tribe. Have not heard of ‘Chiba’ before, though, so M’thack-kir just asks clarification. Was ‘Chiba’ litter-mate of ‘Shiba-Shiba-Shiba’?”
(OOC: right out the gate, insults an entire family of his own clan. You do you, Kiru...)
|
|
|
Post by Shinwa on Mar 15, 2018 5:57:25 GMT 10
Shinwa also bows, taking in the two and noting the Chiba's getup with concealed amusement. Well, the vidscreens show popstars with worse, so no complaints. He tries to place the mons of the Shiba <Int\Heraldry = 16>. But mostly he is scanning the hanger. He has never really understood the relationship between the Nezumi and the Phoenix, though it is, as always, surprising. But there were reasons beyond that strange relationship that he could imagine the Chiba being so welcoming, and they were not all good. Shinwa hoped he would be wrong.
|
|
|
Post by Hida Tetsuko on Mar 15, 2018 22:55:56 GMT 10
Tetsuko didn’t like this city. There were too many shadows to hid behind, too many bright lights to deceive. The less time she spent here, the better. She made a bow. “Hida Tetsuko,” she says, not saying anything more.
|
|