RP Kikyō no Sekku YE 46

[Waffles]

Mazu Beach: The napping corner

It wasn't that Hiro and Tae didn't get along, it was more that Hiro more carefree spirit conflicted with Tae's more suspicious nature. However, they had yet to actually spend any significant amount of time together. Tae responded the same way she always did to his playing with a slight smile and a dance to the music.

Seeing that Callie was tired looking as always and seemed to be trying to nap, so with that in mind his playing shifted to an even more soothing song to aid in relaxation. He was the bardic monk of the Yukika II crew, which meant his playing shifted to the company he was keeping. It was true that his natural playstyle was more Metal and Punk, however, he had been trained in several forms as he was learning how to play.

He could see that the beach was beginning to have many more occupants from several different shifts and walks of life to say the least, Hiro had to wonder if there were going to be any planned events during this vacation.

 

[demibear]

Mazu Beach: Nerd Corner

Up to this point, Yingzi was completely absorbed in the scientific papers she was reading to herself. From the perspective from others, she was merely an out of place white hair small nepleslian woman (do they actually make them small?) that was staring mindlessly at the sea with her knees tucked next to her chest as she sat. The sheer level of activity was within her vision, but was nothing by background noise to her at the moment. The current article she was reading was from Fujiko University's College of Natural and Medical Science titled "Material Challenges in Aether Energy" highlighting the crude aether reactor Nepleslian Research and Manufacturing made for a mechanized exosuit called the Crooked Demon in the YE 20s.

Even with Yingzi's basic understanding of Aether Theory from her science training, the basis of the student's arguments had some sound reasoning behind them, the calculations for what materials would make aether energy production for energy usage was way off and likely going to get someone killed. Yingzi was fighting the urge to send a strongly worded letter to both the student and the professor when she noticed the music had taken a softer tone, causing her to yawn. Confused, she looked around for the source and quickly discovered it to the Hiro.

 

[Primitive Polygon]

Neps Sleepy Time -> Sand Castle

Tae's heart fluttered the way it did every time Taii Futaba graced her presence. Not just the living embodiment of the Yukika's machine spirit, but also a mentoring, enthralling soul that took the red oni under their wing personally... The feeling was short lived, however, as the dictation that their kami brought today was a proclamation of their student's shameful failure in judgment.

The Kaimon unit was proven pure in heart, and far above Tae's lowly suspicion. Shameful.

Before they could even voice an apology, their idol had then sped off into the air, leaving Tae in deep bow, with a feeling of melancholy. Was Hiro's shift in tone trying to cheer her up? She appreciated it, but it was a bit too sleepy for her mercurial heart... She kissed the buds of another sakura flower and smiled meekly at him, then propped it up in his leather jacket pocket. Hopefully it would instill good energy. Maybe he'd follow her if he wasn't disgusted?

“Empress bless your soul, Shoi Hiro.~”

Vermillion feet paced aimlessly for a little while after that. She glided in close to the sand castle, wondered if she should apologize or even bless the great work, but realized... Well, this industrious soul had never been aware of her undue suspicions in the first place?

And so, she sat down, in limbo...

Very hot, scolding limbo... No, some huge natural-borns were walking past with giant heaters...

A silver woman? Those of the rare breed, of natural metal-hued souls?... Hurm... Perhaps it was here, it was for the young miko's sanctification to be placed, and usefulness to be proven?

"Hail fellow!~ Excuse my forwardness..." A curious glimmer passed their angular eyes, examining Aliset's chromed form with pure naive curiosity. Of course, Tae's own form was bristling with elements of the arcane, a vulpine doll of crimson clad in the symbology of old thinking. "...Are... are you not a member of the species, 'The Senti'?... I am informed you have some quite... abstract concepts of non-organic divinity?..."

 

[HarperMadi]

"Hail fellow!~ Excuse my forwardness..." A curious glimmer passed their angular eyes, examining Aliset's chromed form with pure naive curiosity. Of course, Tae's own form was bristling with elements of the arcane, a vulpine doll of crimson clad in the symbology of old thinking. "...Are... are you not a member of the species, 'The Senti'?... I am informed you have some quite... abstract concepts of non-organic divinity?..."

"Who...?" Aliset turned, her iridescent green-blue eyes scanning the creature that had approached her curiously. The iconography that adorned her body wasn't familiar to her, not at first. So she attempted to send a telepathic query to the Koun's MEGAMI to get more information, only to receive a ping packet back. As though the computer was telling her to figure it out. Some form of Shinto? Certainly she had seen such practices, never executed in this form. Perhaps this young woman would have some answers for her own crisis of faith, if she offered proper respect and answered her questions.

"I was of the Senti, yes. Please, speak up. You're far too beautiful to be shackled by your own insecurity." The metal woman offered a soft smile as she bowed to Tae. "I am Aliset of Koun. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to identify you. But you speak of... Well, I was always told my beliefs are superstition at best. It is rare that one would ask after them. What would you see known?"

 

[Gles]

Any worries Molli harbored regarding the ocean seemingly evaporated in the heat of competition. The Nepleslian eagerly hoisted herself over the boat's railing and landed squarely on Sif's chiseled shoulders, which had probably carried heavier burdens than Molli. To keep herself upright, Molli set her hands down on Sif's shoulders, which helped ease some of the wobbling every time her mount moved an inch. "Grab- Grab m'legs, Sif!" she said, voice tinged with slight worry. This was another occasion where Molli wished she had a tail like Sif's for balance.

Once the duo were (mostly) stable, Molli could focus on the woman she was meant to knock off the shoulders of a princess--Boss. In many ways, it was a relief not to contend with Aiko directly, but that didn't mean Boss was any less intimidating, given her veterancy, and the fact that she was responsible for her new arm. It was like getting into a fistfight with your doctor--they know your body better than you do.

A smidgeon of uncertainty darkened Molli's face, which vanished as soon as Boss began to grapple with her flesh arm. Molli's reply was to reach for Boss's shoulder with the metal one while simultaneously pushing back against Boss with the other. Although Boss wasn't Aiko, she was still a Neko; that meant she was flat-out stronger and faster than a lightly augmented and mutated Nepleslian. While pushing against Boss's shoulder, Molli's metal fingers slipped down to her armpit and tried to brush across any inch of ticklish skin.

"Will's-hah! Probably righ'-" Molli said through gritted teeth, "Lil' water ent gonna hurt." Molli could tell that Boss was worried about causing permanent damage thanks to her whinging, so she wanted to nip that concern in the bud rather quickly.

 

[raz]

"Good for you to have given up your concern," Aiko said to Molli, sounding both congratulatory and happily relieved. She dug her feet into the sand underwater and pushed Boss forward more heartily with more of her considerable strength, sensing the Nepleslian girl had given some sort of assurance that the salty sea no longer offended her sensibilities.

"Though we are here to relax, think of this as a touch of further practice," the princess added. Were today not a holiday, the Kaiyō's crew would still be aboard the YSS Battle of Elysia training on how to pilot new mecha in pursuit of their next mission. "You must be one with your weapon, both pilot and vehicle feeling and reacting to the intention of the other. Like this."

Aiko stepped forward through the calm ocean current, not allowing the water's resisting viscosity to slow her down as much as it wanted to. Boss' movements told Aiko how and where she wanted to move in her attempt to dismount Molli, so the princess leaned with the olive skinned MEGAMI on her shoulders to lend Boss more strength and stability. It was just a silly little bit of vacation fun, but Aiko nonetheless enjoyed having Boss ride her for a few moments rather than the usual arrangement wherein the starship Kaiyō ferried her everywhere she needed to be.

"You must not let Molli fall, Sif-kun," Aiko grinned in the shade of her avatar companion's thighs, looking the other Neko in the eyes while a fanged grin crept across her exquisite face. "I am still not convinced she has prepared herself for a full dip!"

 

[Miko]

Mazu Beach: Kōun, Resurgence, and Yukika II Crews

Alastair puffed out his toned chest when he heard that Tachiko heard of him from Sayako. His fame was growing and was enjoying the attention coming from it. Out of reflex his head snapped to tracking Tachiko's MEGAMI who bolted off like a rocket. The always at the ready captains were in perfect sync for this moment. A sign of the precision training both had received over the years.

"Please, I am but a humble captain, Sayako however has been a real star on the ship. She ensures everything operates at perk performance, a key to our continued success we are having during missions. I am both pleased and honored to have her on board the Koun." He shared as he watched her by some act of the heavens pry herself away from Sayako. He smile to see her show all this affection.

Alastair paused for a moment as Tachiko headed over towards a new person who had entered the scene. He believed he had seen this person before and once the name Cherry was spoken knew exactly who this one. "Oh my gosh, had I known we'd have a celeberty here, I'd have worn my dress uniform." Alastair spoke as he followed behind Tachiko. "It is none other than Sakura Cherry, from the supreme eminence of enlightenment, the holy ark YSS Eucharis of the immortal Yamatai Star Empire. I am such a huge fan." He said with the biggest of smiles. Alastair did not know all the details but if Cherry meant something to Tachiko, then she was good in his book.

Mazu Beach Plaza:

Zelphon took a step back to let the family bonding unfold in front of her. It was touching to see everyone come together, have a good time and make memories together. "How about you all get together and I can take a picture of this. Just one big happy family." She said with a smile.

 

[Nameless]

Now balance was something Sif had a good sense of, and not just because she was a neko. She was as surefooted as a neko could be, and that was something she could bring to bear in this chicken fight. The 33A clamped on to Molli's legs like they were the straps of a travel pack--but gently of course. "Molli-sama's securely clamped in!" Sif would cheerfully announce as she moved forwards, keeping careful considerations to her and Molli's combined center of gravity as they wrestled Aiko and Boss.

While it was a relief that Aiko wasn't going directly against Molli, as neither of them could hope to defeat a battle-tested princess. Boss? There was likely more of a chance. They've never seen her fight yet. Well, Molli might have now that Sif thought about it, but at the moment, Boss was exuding some nervous energy, and hopefully that meant that they had a chance to win.

If the objective was to just get the other to topple over, then they'd have to apply some leverage. So Sif made sure Molli had ample room to lean forward to push against Boss, while Sif herself made sure her footing was steady, and that her movements weren't jerky.

=====

With Roy's attention freed from the constant threat of a ball of doom flying this way and that, he looked around the beach and noticed it filling up with more people. Not really surprising, he supposed. What was surprising was the construction of a fairly large sand castle off some distance away. By his estimation, the dodgeball game shouldn't pose a threat to that piece of architecture.

Looking around some more without looking for anything in particular, he got that shuddering feeling of being a complete alien creature starting to creep up on him. A feeling that he just couldn't seem to shake no matter how long he's spent in Yamatai. It had already been a couple of years, so when was culture shock supposed to stop? With a sigh, he gulped down some of his beer and happened to spot Yingzi by herself, seemingly looking out to the sea in a longing fashion.

Taking a spare bottle of beer with him from the cooler, he made his way over to her. "Yingzi!" he called out with a grin, his hand lightly swaying the fresh fished beverage. "Care for a drink? Only the finest of the cheap beer. The fancy cocktails aren't until tonight though."

 

[Primitive Polygon]

"I was of the Senti, yes. Please, speak up. You're far too beautiful to be shackled by your own insecurity." The metal woman offered a soft smile as she bowed to Tae. "I am Aliset of Koun. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to identify you. But you speak of... Well, I was always told my beliefs are superstition at best. It is rare that one would ask after them. What would you see known?"

The red Nekovalkyrja returned the bow in kind, bridging their fingers and arcing their head to one side timidly. The expression was just a little like those lucky cat souvenirs. The one holding the coin.

"My name is Shoi Kohosei Tae Tsuguka, pilot and humble spiritual emissary of the YSS Yukika II..." Her sudden self-awareness was apparent, but she enjoyed the tempered, patient quality of Aliset's tone. Given the fact the Senti shortened her name, it took a moment for Tae to identify her in turn, but her expression immediately changed when they remembered seeing the YSS Koun in orbit, and followed the breadcrumbs to find Aliset Soren's significantly higher rank of Taii. It made the red cat bow again out of nowhere, habitually.

"Forgive the long winded explanation, I am a mere Miko, my Taii, but... to effectively control a large vessel is to mentally integrate with it, to allow it to bend your psyche as much as you influence it in return... and within that, I realized that there are subconscious rituals that all Nekovalkyrja, and our soul transferred kindred, must address, in order to understand the primitive building blocks of our increasingly complex culture." Probably the most she'd said to any fellow enlisted in months, but they often didn't get the chance to be detailed with such matters, either. "...This... concept of one's function, of one's direct integration, it doesn't seem that far from the concept of this 'burial steel' to my eyes? How do your kin view soul transfer technology, now that the immortal soul can be divided from the mercurial flesh? Are these considered separate things?"

 

[HarperMadi]

The red Nekovalkyrja returned the bow in kind, bridging their fingers and arcing their head to one side timidly. The expression was just a little like those lucky cat souvenirs. The one holding the coin.

"My name is Shoi Kohosei Tae Tsuguka, pilot and humble spiritual emissary of the YSS Yukika II..." Her sudden self-awareness was apparent, but she enjoyed the tempered, patient quality of Aliset's tone. Given the fact the Senti shortened her name, it took a moment for Tae to identify her in turn, but her expression immediately changed when they remembered seeing the YSS Koun in orbit, and followed the breadcrumbs to find Aliset Soren's significantly higher rank of Taii. It made the red cat bow again out of nowhere, habitually.

"Forgive the long winded explanation, I am a mere Miko, my Taii, but... to effectively control a large vessel is to mentally integrate with it, to allow it to bend your psyche as much as you influence it in return... and within that, I realized that there are subconscious rituals that all Nekovalkyrja, and our soul transferred kindred, must address, in order to understand the primitive building blocks of our increasingly complex culture." Probably the most she'd said to any fellow enlisted in months, but they often didn't get the chance to be detailed with such matters, either. "...This... concept of one's function, of one's direct integration, it doesn't seem that far from the concept of this 'burial steel' to my eyes? How do your kin view soul transfer technology, now that the immortal soul can be divided from the mercurial flesh? Are these considered separate things?"

Aliset gave a soft laugh as she watched the shoi kohosei realize exactly who Aliset was. "Miss Tae, we're off duty and of different ships. You don't need to treat me with any more honor than your personal thoughts of me, from your own experience. Now that said, I have never met a Miko before, nor did I have to integrate with Koun's systems until recently. I was a pilot, too. But my kin... We usually do it through the hullsong and the physical controls. But now that we can ST, and my lovely designed my body... Well. I think I'm alive. And I have personally reconciled that there are two parts of a soul. One can be transferred between bodies. The mind and the logic, the sense of self. The other is an immutable memory and power borne of your story. The part of the soul that became part of the body of anyone wearing a built form, derived from those who came before. Modern bodies are made of Yamataian burial steel just as Senti ships are made of the bodies of those who have lived their lives aboard them. Is the hemosynth flowing through your veins so different than the steel of my knife?"

Sitting down cross legged right in front of Tae, she pursed her lip thoughtfully, considering her position. "Sorry if that was confusing. I've... Am still figuring out my faith, and I... Sorry. Most Senti see the soul as immutable. Believing we don't pass on. That the soul is conscious andd trapped in the body on death. So we melt down our dead to form the amalgamate souls of our constructs. A ship, a car... The repairs to a Ginga bearing the remains of one of my husbands. All these things have a soul. As alive as you or me. And sings through the hull. Every sound of the ship, once you filter out the talking. The pulse of the artificial gravity, the way the hull bows and stretches in heat or natural gravity... Lets you visualize the ship in three dimensions relative to yourself. Lets you feel her moving and breathing and acting around you. At first, Yamataian ships did not sing for me. But they do. It's just quiet and soft. I started as a bomber pilot. Waiting for a ship and her crew to choose me when I am ready to be a captain again."

 

[Ametheliana]

Unsure of Molli's intentions with her wiggling finger, Boss assumed she was hesitant about gaining purchase in such a sensitive area. Simultaneously, Sif exclaimed she had Molli "clamped in" and the MEGAMI's greenish blue crop of hair, wet with sea water, was thrown back as she let out a short burst of a hearty, deep laugh. The Neko's proclamation made it hard to take the fight any more seriously than she was, but she could still feel Aiko's agile body beneath her moving with her was a communion she couldn't ignore. The Ketsurui princess would feel a little compression on as Boss wanted to move towards her right, pushing into Molli's left and non-cybernetic arm. With Molli already pressing against Boss' touch, the MEGAMI felt unsure if she was applying some form of torque and correct pressure, delving into her metafexal memory to remember those sparring sessions between the samurai, William, and Aiko as they grappled in the Kaiyō dojo.

Theory and practice were two separate things as Molli was able to gain purchase against Boss's other arm quickly, though, and the MEGAMI relied on the impromptu Ketsurui vessel to react before she herself could figure what body part to move best. They vied against the Nepleslian with force, pressing into Molli's right side. Molli was able to counter it easily and hauled the MEGAMI towards her, as if ready to put her over her shoulder. Underneath her, Aiko pushed at just the right moment to not let Molli pull Boss off of her, giving some indication to Boss on how to move next. Boss' free hand butted onto Molli's ribs, pushing against her as her other hand pulled on her left arm. It was a smart move for a being unused to using this body for sport, a technique her accelerated processor recalled being taught by the samurai.

Whatever push and pull Boss was able to dish out, Molli's intuitive reflexes could work to compensate for. But the forward momentum already decided by the lower half of the coalition Boss was a part of was hard to outmatch. Still holding onto Molli, the MEGAMI suddenly felt like she was watching the scene from her own optical hull sensors in orbit as the two pairs splashed down. Cutting into the natural waves, the two falling masses forced the crystal clear ocean water upwards, encasing them in a temporary glass-like display.

While Molli and Sif tumbled backwards, Boss remained unseated from her unflappable mount but fell to the side she had been pushing towards regardless. Only when the water hit her right side and engulfed her did Boss feel like she was inhabiting her planet side body once more. In the water, she reached down to touch her champion's face, reassuring herself that Aiko was well despite the oceanic tumble and stalemate.

 

[MisterBobbyPin]

Mazu Beach: Illegally Parked Vehicle

Bravissimo Thraxen sat patiently in his trailer as he watched the occupants of the beach move from one end to another. He had sat up his business right on the edge of the beach, his truck dragging its wheels into the sand.

He wore a tropical shirt, slean jeans with deep pockets, and a toupee that kept sliding off the side of his head. He looked exactly like the middle aged salesman stereotype, right down to the excessive junk eating.

He was a special kind of shady, right down to the suspiciously placed posters hung around the trailer. This all culminated in a truly wondrous individual.

His trailer was a mix of color and stains. It was painted in a way that could have only been done by a man of pure insanity, and yet, the writing on it was as legible and clear as the words on a newspost.

AD INSURANCE- 25% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH

 

[Gles]

In hindsight, trying to tickle the optimized killing machine that was the nekovalkyrja was a profoundly foolish notion. Of course their designers would have accounted for that possibility, Molli realized it once her efforts didn't even produce a slight upturn from Boss's lips. Quickly, she shifted her focus to grappling, trying to latch arms with Boss and twist, push, sometimes pull the other woman from her powerful perch. In this contest, Molli's rough upbringing manifested in a very noticeable degree of restraint--several times, she would be on the cusp of some underhanded maneuver, only to reconsider as she remembered her Star Army training, and the people she was sparring with. It didn't take a starship scientist to comprehend how dire the consequences would be for gouging out Boss's eye.

Molli's enhanced limb was doing most of the work to keep her on Boss's level, even if she was clearly holding back. The crimson limb was of Yamataian-make, and although it was designed for more powerful bodies, Molli found it easier to exert greater pressure than with the old Nep-made Omni-Tricks model. Maybe it was their mutual holding-backness that kept the contest so evenly matched that a mutual tumble was inevitable. Molli shrieked as she fell, catching a mouth full of water that she prompted sputtered and coughed up upon resurfacing. "Ah didn'- Did ya...? S'not a draw, innit?" Molli asked, scratching now sopping wet mop of hair with confusion on her face.

 

[Yuuki]

Chicken Fight in the Surf

"YATTA NE ONEE-SAMA! SASUGA DA!"

The usually cool, ethereal Yukika MEGAMI was instead animatedly cheering, arms thrown upward in celebratory glee, then took to the air in a pirouette. She flew over to the site of the action, hovering nearby with hands clasped over her chest and worshipfully wide eyes.

Illegally Parked Vehicle

It was probably fortuitous for the illegal parkers that the most of the extensive public safety apparatus of Koukotsu II was focused on event security. It was likely equally as fortuitous that there were plenty of illegal parkers, and plenty of space to do so because of the extensive public transit. Not even the most rabidly lawful Keisatsu was going to ticket all of them. Most of the illegally parked were having their own sort of beach party: tailgating, drinking, playing music, and general skinship were most of their revelry.

Keeping to themselves in their own groups for the most part, it was rather the occasional passerby who briefly paused in curiosity at the trailer.

 

[Wes]

(OOC: Open JP Night 7/27/2024)

It was a beautiful and bustling day at the beach on the Yamatai Star Empire's national holiday of Kikyo No Sekku as visitors to Koukotsu II enjoyed the splendor of its sunburn-free beaches.

Poppy Pink, the Resurgence's Doctor, walked down to the shoreline and into the surf. She was dressed in a bright teal colored bikini that showed off her tattoos and bottom. After the violent mission and Davonte's funeral service, everyone needed some to cool off and she was no exception, having taken Captain Aoba's suggestion to visit the beach with the crew. She looked around to see what as she could see as the waves pulled the grains of sand out from between her toes, slowly wading out until she was about ribcage-level in the water. The lighting on this world was weird - it was different looking to any beach she'd ever been to.

As a wave came in, Poppy hopped up and floated with it. She could help but think of how this planet had once been under assault by the Mishhuvurthyar that were still out there terrorizing the galaxy. She wondered if there were any historical sites to visit related to the battles in the early YE 30s.

The game of chicken now complete and at a draw, Boss’s head bobbed above the azulerean water. She nodded to her Nepleslian crewmen but not without a wide smile. “Perhaps a best of three scenario shall play out to find the true winner? After the crew has secured proper nourishment, of course.” Her attention became divided by the hovering supporter nearby and the Kaiyō MEGAMI looked from the sky and to her first officer.

“My face feels hot, Aiko-sama.” With a dusting of rosy blush across her olive-toned cheeks, Boss looked uncharacteristically embarrassed as she spoke to the Ketsurui princess.

Out in the water in the shade of a noble sailing schooner moored close to shore, Ketsurui Aiko emerged from beneath gentle waves with a wide grin full of Nekovalkyrja fangs painted across her face. Having just been her MEGAMI avatar Boss' mount for a game of shoulder wars against a couple other crewmen, Aiko was content with the bout's result of a tie. For her it'd been all in good fun—a welcome reprieve from the high stakes battles she and her warrior comrades so often engaged in—so she reveled happily in the moment.

"A fine outcome," Aiko said to her fellow combatants, now standing tall with her torso above the calm sea. She soon shifted her attention to Boss, still smiling whilst taking on a sympathetic gaze. "You did well, Boss-chan. Perhaps we should venture ashore to find our snacks. Something cool for you to calm the fire in your cheeks?"

At the princess's suggestion, Futaba's more reserved and formal personality came back to the forefront. "Excuse me, Aiko-naishinnō, my Captain has relayed some information to me after I informed her of the situation." Futaba bowed, "Please accept the hospitality of Motoyoshi while you are here. Aiko-naishinnō's guests are included. The Empress-Taishō is unfortunately still recuperating from her injuries at the Battle of Becurn and is unable to properly receive you. The Handmaiden, my Captain, Tachiko-naishinnō is available if you wish. On their behalf, welcome to Koukotsu."

Then she turned back towards Boss and lost her composure once more, "They don't stand a chance against Onee-sama!"

Boss would have bowed at the gracious compliment, but doing so would only mean dunking her face and chest into the water. For a moment, the MEGAMI considered the humor in this, but upon looking at the other, more newly minted ship AI, decided against it.

"Any recommendations of food stuffs along the beach would be especially hospitable," Boss replied, amber eyes twinkling in the strange quasi-sunset of Koukotsu II. She began treading water, making her way in as she asked, "Tell me, are all Fifth Expeditionary vessels and their compliments so queer?"

"Perhaps some of it is the culture of our fleet's sector, and it may be a translation and mitigation issue through the Kessaku-to-KAIMON adapter I am testing," Futaba was once again in countenance and tone an out-of-place Yuki-onna in the tropical paradise, with no snow to be seen. The ice blue and silver-white of Futaba's hair was a strange, colorless nothing under those same strange lights. "And it may simply be activation alignment."

Futaba thought for a moment, before adding, "But I only know First Expeditionary ships outside of the Fifth, so I am unable to make a relative judgment with a high degree of certainty."

"I can, however, with certainty recommend any of the Yugumo Signature restaurants, of which all are represented. Even the Takeda House here has a more relaxed dress code to accomodate the local culture. If Aiko-naishinnō's party were to arrive without reservations, I have just checked and they are indeed able to accomodate."

"Then I remain fortunate to keep the Empire's hospitality wherever I tread," Aiko said thankfully after regarding the floating sprite who'd addressed her and seemed familiar with her MEGAMI. "Please extend my gratitude to those who have sent you with this message," she added, not being immediately familiar with the names Futaba had listed beyond the Motoyoshi clan itself. Nowhere in all of Yamatai had ever denied Aiko any request though her substantial Prestige System status, but she would never think to do anything but welcome such a generous statement.

"You should all take the stewards of this planet up on their offer," Aiko continued, peering over her shoulder at the other Kaiyō crew assembled on and around her sailboat.

"Oh my Yui! Aiko-sama!" Luna squealed happily with glee as she spotted her old crew mate, pulling on the hand of her cousin, Yuri. "shall we go join them?" Luna asked Yuri feeling excitement at the prospect of introducing a crew mate to her cousin.

Yuri nodded and the two jumped into the water and hovered-swam over towards them.

Giving a happy wave to Luna, Boss turned back to Futaba, "I see and will further explore the unique sector's culture to understand it better, as I have done for many of the parts of Yamatai I have had the fortune of exploring thanks to my first officer, Ketusuri-chusa. How have you fared in this newfangled 'consort' body?" Boss went on to ask, pushing her knees sharply against the middling waves as the depth of water lowered against her. Aiko strode toward the sandy beach beside her, and other than to extend a friendly wave toward the passing Luna and Yuri, the princess simply listened to Boss talk with the other MEGAMI and gave an occasional dignified glance toward them.

"Ah, it is different. A pilot program, as a fully android body does not require the maintenance resources of a hemosynthetically-created Nekovalkyrja sprite. In my initial testing, the world feels more 'disconnected' I suppose. I feel insulated by its durability and somewhat dissasociated due to the adapter between my base Kessaku system and the KAIMON/Ascendant system." Futaba smiled after a moment, "However, Kessaku did an absolutely wonderful job developing this adapter, and I can really feel the quality and the effort they put in. I find giving the constant usage telemetry back to them about it very rewarding."

At the part of the beach where the water brushed at their ankles in one moment and swept away the next, Boss stopped to face Futaba. "It took my years to feel like a 'person', but it also took me years to go out and explore the worlds of Yamatai around my hull. Since you are doing so in such early stages, I would love to know from you in some time to hear how your personhood feels. For now, though, I do believe we could be verging on boring the princess." Boss looked to Aiko and smiled, "Or perhaps not. I'm appreciative of the answers to my queries. It seems it should be me teaching my imouto, but not in this case."

Futaba nodded while considering Boss's words. "The mandate to gather data for the pilot program is a strong impetus to go out and explore. In general, aboard the ship I primarily utilize the volumetrics, which are shipwide on my class. I have never spoken to a Fuji before, either, only to my hull-sisters and my mothership. When I was alerted to your presence I found myself unable to resist approaching. I do not believe I have ever been excited in that manner."

Lowering her head and her tone, Futaba apologized, "If I have been offending Aiko-naishinnō I deeply regret it, but I will answer any question my Onee-sama asks!" She looked back up and smiled as her speech rose again.

"You have presented no offense," Aiko interjected, continuing toward the shore. By now, they were close enough that the water only licked up around Aiko's ankles and otherwise laid bare her pale, statuesque form only covered by beads of glittering water and the strappy black-and-red bikini she wore today. "I welcome the company of any Yamataian for their due time. Please continue your conversation with Boss."

Hiding a smile behind a hand, Boss almost giggled. "Excited? I've barely shared anything of interest, though! I suppose telling you I once created a sprite loaded with false information on Yamataian battle groupings helped us win a battle deep in Kuvexian space is an equal exchange? There were boarders in me and I flushed them and her out with a shock of the water recycling systems through the fire suppression systems."

"S-sugoi," Futaba's eyes lit up, literally, the Omnihue irises taking on a glow that was vibrant even in the color-sucking light of Koukotsu's binary red dwarf suns. The princess's authorization to continue only encouraged her. "This ship had three kills of the new and previously unencountered Asthlacthu-Class Gunship at Becurn, two with the main gun, one with torpedoes!" There was a hopeful look in Futaba's eyes that her exploits be acknowledged by the Fuji avatar.

On the shore, as she caught up with Cherry, Tachiko looked out on the water as the Kaiyō II crew began wading ashore along with the floating avatar of her ship. Her ears fell back a little at the anxiety of an approaching Ketsurui—she was, after all, still somewhat terrified of her own adoptive mother, even years later. A new one, even one without Katusko's fearsome reputation, was a frightening prospect indeed. She hoped her avatar could handle it and not have to engage in any official business herself.

"Ah, three kills! That's really something!" Boss said, clasping her hands together before looking to Aiko. "Is it not, Ketsurui-chusa?"

"Even one defeated Mishhuvurthyar is a vast credit to any soldier or ship," Aiko nodded, her attention immediately caught from otherwise surveying the beautiful beachfront. "A glorious trio of triumphs is worthy of honor to be sure."

Futaba floated at a bit higher of an altitude at the praise, smiling, then frowned and shook her head. "I apologize deeply. Her Highness Katsuko I was critically injured, as was my mothership, the Battle of Ayenee Capital City, in the engagment, along with thousands of other casualties. I am sorry for my lack of decorum regarding the solemnity of the battle's outcome in such a prideful celebratory display." She then bowed her head, "However, I still humbly accept Aiko-naishinnō's gracious praise."

As the rest of the Kaiyo crew swam off, the resident non-Yamataian yawned. He had fallen asleep with the rocking of Aiko's boat. By the time he woke up, the ship was basically vacant. Sitting up, he clocked Aiko and Boss. "They left me..." He yawned again, rolling off the boat and into the water.

Swimming up to the pair, William cleared his throat. "You could have woke me up."

"We could have," Boss reassured William with a nod. "But then you may have fallen asleep once more at our subject matter... That is, until it turned to this ship's recent seen battles. My condolences to those injured; an Izanagi suffering is assuredly no slight thing." She bowed deeply, able to do so on the beach without taking a comical face full of water.

"I recall you wanted to be left behind, Wil," Aiko said, regarding her Nepleslian friend as he approached. In truth, she was glad for the diversion because she never enjoyed discussing casualties. "It has only been a few minutes, though. No doubt ample enough rest for someone of your immense stature," she joked.

"I never said leave me behind, I only said I was sitting out chicken." William replied to Aiko, a smile touching the corner of his lips. "And I appericate the gesture Boss." He added turning to the MEGAMI.

Boss went on to Futaba, "This is William, son of Gaelan Sanders and one of my first passengers that I took on eight years ago when I was first commissioned, though a Plumeria class then. I wish the honor to have such a longstanding voyager on every ship I meet, though such a fine warrior at that would be harder yet to come by."

Futaba's expansive artificial mind, despite its power, boggled a bit at the concept of a MEGAMI "growing up" from a Plumeria to a Fuji, though it only showed as a brief flickering of her pupils and irises. "It is an honor to meet you, William, son of Gaelan Sanders. I am Taii Yukika Futaba, the MEGAMI of the YSS Yukika II." She bowed in the air once more, as the breeze made her little yukata-style coverup flutter at the edges of the hem and sleeves.

William turned to Futaba and performed a perfect Yamataian bow. "The honor is mine." He turned back to Boss. "You are gonna make me blush if you keep talking me up like that." The Nepleslian chuckled.

Poppy made a surprised face as little tentacles gingerly touched her leg. She fished around in the water and then gently lifted some sort of octopus out of it and made eye contact with it for a moment before releasing it back into the sea. "Don't worry, we're cool," she assured it. Just because Yamatai was fighting the Mishhu didn't mean they hated everything with tentacles. She gave Yuri a wave as Yuri and Luna swam by somewhate nearby.

Yuri waves back "look, my mentor's over there" Yuri told Luna, who looked over towards her. Poppy was someone Luna wanted to meet too. She grinned as Boss reacted to her, and so the two went towards Poppy. "hey, you're Chief Medical Officer onboard the YSS Resurgence right? I wanted to thank you for teaching and looking after my cousin here, Yuri is a sweet girl" Luna said as Yuri blushed.

Poppy nodded. "Yes, that's right," she nodded, giving a mini-bow of greeting. "She's been a good help in the medical lab and has gone with the away team in my place a couple of times. We see a good amount of action out there, so it will be good experience for her," the pink-haired doctor told Luna. "It's also a place where people can make a difference, which is why I'm there."

Yuri blushed as Poppy spoke of how she'd been a good help on the ship. But it pleased her to know this. Yuri nodded "yeah my first away mission was crazy" she said softly. But nodded "yeah thus far though it has been a great experience and i learned a lot, especially about myself.

Luna smiled and hugged Yuri gently. as she felt so proud of her cousin.

A highspeed hover nekovalkrja passed nearby Luna, Yuri and Poppy in the water, hugging the water closely. Kokoro Hayashi had decided that swimming was simply a little too slow and leveraging the neko hover ability, she had essentially become her own jetski. She giggled as she darted around, leaving a significant wake in the water behind.

As a jetski, Kokoro had been splashing water everywhere. Sacre's hair went from dry to soaking in an instant. "Hey!" She exclaimed at the passing Neko.

"Huh??" She came to a slow stop, still hovering over the water. The navy haired engineer snorted and laughed as she saw Sacre's soaked hair. "HYEH! YOURE IN THE WATER ALREADY! DONT COMPLAIN ABOUT GETTING SOAKED!" She shook her head, grinning.

Yuri and luna squealed in shock as Kokoro came by soaking them and those around them. "Kokoro-chan!" Yuri called out to her.

"Stupid kitten-lemming." Sacre grumbled, sweaping her powerful tail in the water to toss a wave of water at the hovering neko.

Kokoro shook her head aggressively to get some of the water being splashed at her out of her hair, like a puppy shaking water off of its fur. The navy haired neko rolled her eyes, before waving at Yuri. "HEYYY!! YURI-CHAN!!!" She greeted in return.

Poppy wiped the stinging salt water out of her eyes, coughing a little. She hadn't been expecting to get splashed this much! She began swimming back to the shore to grab something for lunch.

Yuri grinned with mischief, as she prepared herself and suddenly shot to Kokoro, and wrapped her arms around her crewmate, and attempted to pull her under water.

"ACK-" Kokoro screeched as she dissapeared underwater with Yuri. The engineer tried to come back up, attempting to use her float to acomplish this.

Poppy walked out of the ocean, shimmering wet, and made the short trip up the beach the Resurgence cabana and grabbed a soft plushy towel from one of the baskets inside, and wiped her face dry. She connected wirelessly to the local network and began browsing nearby restaurants for lunch ideas.

Castle Koun
Ancilla grinned at her creation and glanced over to Spark, "so what do you think?

"I think it's great!" Spark stood, rolling to her feet to approach Ancilla. "The kids are a nice touch. By the way. Gift for you." The human giantess offered a smile as she reached into a storage compartment on her arm.

Ancilla grinned as her creation was complimented, indeed she was proud of her sand castle. But, Ancilla's head tilted in confusion as Spark mentioned a gift for her, and watched as Spark reached for something in the storage compartment of her arm.

"Your bikini volumetric or cloth?" Spark asked.

Ancilla grinned, and showed off her outfit "oh its volumetric, i thought that real cloth may not fit on this body, so i had my volumetric image modified a little, instead of my uniform its a bikini in our nation's colors, I happened to get a email of someone named, Itatski who gave me instructions." Ancilla said "but more importantly, whats the gift?' she sked.

"Lima 304, Ancila, you have proved time and again your intelligence, bravery, dedication, and strength of both character and spirit." Spark pulled something out of the compartment of her arm, keeping it hidden.

Ancilla's volumetric face could only blink as she watched Spark, with confusion. Wondering what her partner is getting at.

"I went behind your back and am sorry for that. But Duskerian Legion Command has seen it fit to issue you new orders to continue assignment. They have also given you Trooper Grade Four, Warrior Cadre, Vehicle Operator. Congratulations, E4WV Ancilla Hartbrook." Whether or not the bikini was a simple hologram, Spark knew that they responded and held structure like enough to cloth for her to pin the rank pins on Ancilla then and there. "No more hiding your personhood!"

Ancilla's volumetric face flickered as her face began to show new emotions. First being shock, that Spark went behind her back. with some mild disapointment and worry, before she learned what Command have said. "Hartbrook? like Angela, and you" She said in a hushed tone of voice. Her face flickered again to show her tears, happy tears. "i.. i can still serve as your AI partner right?' she asked her.

"Only if you want it. But I have a litle pull."

Sacre came out of the water, wringing her hair and leaving it loose and untamed. She didn't often let down her hair and even wet it was long and voumous. She was muttering something about a neko waterskiiing.

= = =
OOC: JP by Wes, @Yuuki, @raz, @Charaa, @Soban, @Ametheliana, @Madi, @Gunhand, @Lizalopod

 

[Ametheliana]

With a long, pronounced bow that had been practiced in the halls of the Empress' palace as much as among her own decks, Boss bid farewell to Futaba for what she hoped was not the last time.

"I long to see Aiko-sama with burger in hand," Boss said once they were walking on the pale, dry sand. It clung to the moisture on her feet and the back of her ankles as she looked back to William. "It is true that she is even more becoming when she's enjoying herself, but I wonder if the Nepleslian ID-SOL blood in your veins means you would now outdo her majesty in satisying such an indulgence."

 

[Yuuki]

Bowing in return, Futaba turned once they had left, and flew back towards Tachiko. Tachiko was relieved that Aiko and company were headed somewhere other than towards her. Boss would likely be pleased to find a Kagami's burger restaurant that was covered by clan ownership very close to where they came ashore.

At the Mazu Resort Complex it would be unusual for there not to be one of them close enough for a hungry swimmer to grab a burger to refuel. The ubiquitous Kikyo Pie Company, a Tachi's izakaya (named for the poor, relieved Nekovalkyrja captain herself), a Tokyo Brewing Company brewpub, and a Sea Of Plenty fast seafood concept were also nearby. The Takeda House Futaba mentioned was a little farther, out on its own quay, jutting far out into the water, with a commanding view of the breaking surf on all sides.