dear_mun | Oh dear..

Never know until you try!

Oh my! [a visitor! A roguish type, by the looks of him. She doesn't mind, generally speaking, but she feels somewhat alone]

I'm not sure I wish to. [she folds her hands in front of her] The Akabeko keeps me quite busy as is, and I'm not looking forward to so much violence.

If it's any consolation, you won't miss any work time.

Is that so? I suppose that's some consolation at least but... what would I do?

Unless... [she puts a hand to her cheek] I don't suppose you need a waitress or a savvy business woman?

Think about it! Any good working crew moves on its stomach, right? Any ship would need a good cook.

Well I haven't been on a ship unless you count a ferry, but... if I don't have a choice in the matter then I'll do my best. I can feed hands-- hungry sailors at least.

[and then a thought]

Oh, my... I hope there are some women aboard as well! I heard that women are bad luck but if it was just me alone, why, that simply wouldn't do! It would be scandalous!

Women? Bad luck? Since when? If anything, I'd want an ENTIRE crew of women.

Really? Women sailors? [how shocking! Why, she's never heard of such a thing! Though...perhaps this gentleman isn't entirely on the up and up but there's certainly nothing lascivious in the way he said this]

My, you must be Western! Is that really the modern age? [she can't imagine Japan ever following in that direction! Certainly more freedom than they had but that--! Goodness!]

Oh, well, in any case yes... it's a superstition here that women cause all kinds of bad luck just by being aboard...unless they are passengers, I suppose. I'm not entirely sure how it's supposed to work.

Western? What do you mean by that? I'm from the Hei Phong region, myself. Sentinel 3 colony. Either way, I've never heard anything that silly.

Besides, women have all sorts of positions on space-going vessels, without a hitch. Some of the toughest people I know are women.

Hei Phong... I'm afraid I haven't heard of that.

[though it sounds Chinese. She's not sure what Sentinel 3 colony means but it does sound important. Maybe a military base of some sort? Goodness.

She smiles a little at his statement]

Of course! Women are always tougher than people give them credit for! [why, they have to be! Sailors or not, it was certainly a hard world out there for everybody, and for those bearing and taking care of a child, that much harder. Not that she's gone through that experience.

Yet.

Yet.]

Still, your world must be quite an experience... [oh dear, she doesn't know his name. Where are her manners?]

I'm Sekihara Tae. [bow] It's a pleasure to meet you.

Ah! Japanese name, right? I used to hear about that place back when I lived on Earth. Nice to meet you, Miss Tae.

[He flashes her a quick grin and a wink.]

I'm aimin' for that place, too. Maybe we'll end up on the same ship, who knows?

[not a name in return. Well she's floundering a bit but she'll recover. After all if he hasn't lived on earth for a while--

Hasn't... lived on earth...]

Where...Pardon me for the rude question, but, where do you live if not on earth? [the moon perhaps? Was that even possible?]

Eh? Oh, wait a minute...Can you travel space, yet?

I'm afraid not. [China was more advanced than she imagined] We do have a railroad that's been established for several years now and more places than ever have electric lights, so I can't imagine we're far behind!

[after all, it couldn't be too difficult to go up, could it? Hot air balloons certainly did]

...Man, I'm at least a few hundred years from you guys.

Gene Starwind, by the way. Of Starwind and Hawking. We're a private business with our hands in a lot of different projects.

A hun-- Goodness! That is quite a long time!

[she can't even comprehend! A hundred years from now. My... Well, that's a mite longer than her estimate of how long it would take--still it wasn't so long. After all, it had taken them almost three hundred years to even come to a state where they could accept Western technologies, and now look at them! Up and coming and with a bright future!

But, here, she's being rude]

Starwind-san. It seems you're an astute businessman! If you ever require a woman that knows a thing or two about setting up a restaurant, look me up!

[she would wink, but that might seem too flirtatious. She doesn't truly wish for that sort of relationship. Or rather, she wouldn't mind, but she would much rather have it be a business relationship. Akabeko in the future. She can see it now. Hot Pots on the moon. How wonderful]

Well, not like my pedigree in space adventure is much good bound to an ocean.

Oh? Is it that much different?

I barely remember ever being on a boat, but it certainly seems different. Out there, there's nothing to tie you down. Every direction is open. In cars and boats, you're grounded to one plane of motion. Not nearly as fun.

It does sound wonderful. [she puts her hands to her cheeks] And all those stars...

[how romantic...]

Tell me, have you been to the moon? What's it like?

Kinda' depends. There's a lot of moons that have been explored. I guess you mean Earth's moon. I haven't been that close to Earth in a while, I'm afraid.

Oh...are there? Goodness. [it's difficult to imagine so many other moons]

You're quite an explorer, Starwind-san. Even if space is different from the seas, I'm sure you'll have no problem adjusting.

I'm gonna' miss bein' able to move from place-to-place, in the blink of an eye.

I'm sure you will. As much as I will miss my Akabeko. But it's only temporary, ne? And... as you said no time is lost so--perhaps it's a gift in a way.

Luckily, the ol' Starwind luck always pulls through for me. I'll land on my feet.

Of that I have no doubt, Starwind-san. Good luck out there... or godspeed or whatever is traditional to say in this situation.

Beg my pardon, but if mudanes actually did consider what we desired, no doubt most of us would receive exactly what we wanted if not, not even have anything to do with the majority of them.

[oh my. Well didn't he look dashing? She had a true weakness for dashing types. She absently smooths a wrinkle in her kimono and straightens]

I suppose we all must do our best if there's no choice in the matter. Have you been pulled to a certain place?

Indeed my lady, and it is the strongest of us that can persevere whatever they have in store.

[ Slight huff ]

Two years ago I was whisked off to a different location yes. Alas my mundane insists I head to another place after her little break.

What about you dear? There must be a place in particular your mundane is sending you.

[her kingdom for something to do with her hands. Though this was certainly no time to act coy. Not in such a situation.]

Oh, what kind of place? And yes, unfortunately. [she sighs and looks at her hands] I've heard of these...slice of life games? I think they call them. I wouldn't mind one of those. A new experience is always welcome! But she insists in sending me to a game rife with pirates and, well, adventure... I'll endure of course, but I don't think I'm cut out for that sort of thing.

She has a few in mind, one of them the game you just described.

[ Vlad goes and reaches out to hold her hands in his. He looks at her in the eyes, seemingly sympathetic. ]

Perhaps in the midst of that, we could run into each other. It's such a pity dear mun memories do not carry on into such places.

[oh. My. Well that was-- quite a bit more forward than she would have expected but... perhaps... human contact is always preferable in times of stress and so, she keeps her hands where they are and even squeezes his in return, blushing faintly]

Yes, I do hope so. Goodness, I don't even know your name! I'm Sekihara Tae. [awkward to bow this way so she will just remain as she is with a pleasant smile]

Vlad Masters, Miss Tae.

[ Brings her hands close to his lips, kissing the digits of her hands. ]

Edited 2014-07-12 00:05 (UTC)

[alright. This had gone quite beyond comfort. Especially hers. She gracefully extricates her hands from his, and folds them in her lap]

Masters-san, please. I'm glad to meet you, but I hardly know you.

My apologies Miss. I had no intention of making you uncomfortable.

[ Smiles still, straightening himself up ]

Perhaps we can both pretend it never happened then yes?

Of course. No harm done. [a warm smile and she pours him some tea, holding her sleeve out of the way] Since we are both here, why not tell me about yourself? You seem quite put together, Masters-san.

[ Slight chuckle ]

Together as a businessman can be yes. I oversee different companies in the United States, all of them advance in technological pursuits in security and overall better enhancement in the human condition. And that's honestly putting it in more layman's terms.

[ Inhales the scent of the tea as she ours ]

Such a lovely scent, what type of tea is this?

Edited 2014-07-12 00:50 (UTC)

[it all sounds so complex and Tae is impressed, even if she's not exactly sure of the details]

So you're something of a philanthropist! [enhancement of human conditions certainly seemed to indicate as much] My, fascinating.

[she smiles at the question and pours her own cup]

It's a jasmine/chamomile blend. It was my mother's recipe. We use it all the time at home. Isn't it relaxing?

Oh dear..

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Whoops, missed that part.

XD sokay

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