[D1: LE]Scorpion Swim in Sake as Well as Water

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami walked down the street with Aya. He puffed his pipe, taking in the tense mood of the city and savored the sweaty scent it made. Felt like was was coming, but who would they really be fighting this time?

They'd been quiet a moment, he left Aya to herself most of the day after court and didn't feel much like asking her how things went. It was her own business.

Though he knew the woman well enough, and despite her considerable fortitude of mind, there were things she'd want to do. So he grunted to get her attention and turned them off the main street, having spotting a particular light down the way.

They came to a small cart, steam peeking out from it's cover as it cast into the night air. He smelled food and sake, he made the correct turn.

"C'mon, i'll buy you a drink", he said and pulled the flap aside to let her in.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya grinned at the offer. Just like Norikami had annoyed their fellow soldiers with his prowess with the blade, she had annoyed them with her prowess with the sake bottle.

"Likely the best idea you've had all day, Norikun." she said with faint praise. "How long do you think it's going to take for all these grieving courtiers to drain this city of sake until it's as dry as a doji matron's cave?"

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He shrugged as he moved to sit down. It was warm in there, he could feel his fingers coming to life again.

"They don't seem that excitable, i give it a week instead of the usual three days, hopefully the supply line isn't interrupted."

I don't want to see you three days without a drink...

He held up two fingers to the heimin cook.

"Spicy ramen for me as well."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Bayushi Norikami wrote:

He shrugged as he moved to sit down. It was warm in there, he could feel his fingers coming to life again.

"They don't seem that excitable, i give it a week instead of the usual three days, hopefully the supply line isn't interrupted."

I don't want to see you three days without a drink...

He held up two fingers to the heimin cook.

"Spicy ramen for me as well."

She smirked a bit at Norikami's order.

"For me as well, but we mean Scorpion spicy. None of this, 'Oh I put in an extra pinch of pepper, I am so daring' nonsense." she clarifies.

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami shrugged. "You heard her."

The drinks came quick, perhaps the heimin wanted no experience with a displeased Yogo.

"So my day was about as eventful as a Crane gempukku, how about yours?" He pushed the drink set before him toward her as well. "Aside your splash debut at court, let's not talk about that."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

"True, I wouldn't want to endlessly brag about my awesome work in court." she said with no apparent irony.

"Met a couple people in the gardens. Looks like a lot of them are still grappling with this whole death of the Emperor thing, and wondering how many people made it out alive. People are strange."

She sips on the sake.

"Dying is about the most human thing the Emperor could do, and it's not like he's not going straight to Yomi. Though I do wonder who the last Emperor to die to the sword actually was. Maybe I can as an Ikoma about that."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He had to admit it was an interesting question.

"People are going to be grasping at meaning in life for a while. Glad i was born a Scorpion."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya snorts at that.

"You're more Scorpion than Stutterstep-san ever was." she offers as means of a toast.

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He raised a hand. "He was flustered, and looking for someone more important to talk to, also someone less Yogo."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya laughed at that.

"Well, duh, who wants to talk to a Yogo? If we didn't work together you'd keep at least a province between us." she says dismissively.

"Pity. You'll never know the joy of seeing just how far you can push things without facing serious consequences. Maybe you'll be a Yogo in your next life. Care to drink to that?"

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

"I haven't yet, that's not changing now. Though please, drink to yourself all you'd like."

The ramen found its way before them.

"Here we go", he picked up chopsticks and thanked inari-no-kami.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya ate the ramen, with a sidelook at Norikun.

"Norikun, you may be a man of few words and fewer thoughts, and it annoys me to even have to ask, but what's wrong? Haven't seen you this somber since your favorite girl bought her contract."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He slurped a large amount of spicy noodles, chewed and looked at Aya.

"This shitter killed our Lord's lord, the living god who sits on the throne. The one guy off limits to everyone. As a Scorpion, that doesn't piss you off?"

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya rolled her eyes at that.

"You're sounding very Lion-like today, Norikun." she chided him. "My whole immediate family waits for me in the court of Emma-O, no one gets to avoid his spear forever. Maybe you should be inspired by it instead. If a living god can die by the blade, then surely his killer can as well."

She sips her sake.

"Assuming we're told to do that, of course. Honestly, I think it'd be like a fish trying to hunt a bird. People on that level are just outside of what we can reach."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

"You know, fuck you with this Lion shit...obviously I want to sneak into the guy's room at night to cut him and his futon in two if our Lord gives the word", he snorts. "We're still samurai, Yogo-chan."

He went back to his noodles.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya snorts at that.

"I must've missed the lecture on when Akodo said, 'Sneaking into people's rooms at night and cutting them for revenge is what it means to be a samurai.' Must've been when you missed the lecture on what dooms a soul to Toshigoku." she says.

She sips her sake.

"We're samurai. If our lord tells us to kill the SC, we kill him. If he tells us to kill the people the SC doesn't like, we kill them. If he tells us to open a small bakery in Sparrow lands, you'd best get to measuring flour."

She shrugs.

"That's what it means to be a samurai, no more, no less. Not this bullshit, third rate heroic avenging ronin fantasy you're peddling."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He rolled his eyes heavily this time.

"And you're nagging for the sake of nagging, nag."

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya grins at that.

"Well if you're going to be all dour and boring, then yeah. And while I appreciate you listening earlier about not choosing completely incompatible insults in the same sentence, just repeating the same one is lazy."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

"Nagger of Nagoria", he drank from the bowl.

Yogo Aya · **Joined:** Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:42 am **Posts:** 719

Aya cocked an eyebrow at that.

"Oh, you want to play with alliteration, Norikami the Nasty, Naughty, No-goodnick Neredowell of Nikesake?" she teased back.

[D1: LE]Scorpion Swim in Sake as Well as Water

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