Sapphire Ambassadors

Once again, Tomodachi seems to be doing a decent job of propping up the bar.

At this point, he's got a table reserved for him and his guests.

Are you one of them?

Not quite a guest of Tomodashi yet Shizenko enjoyed his company the previous evening and so did Raakun. Instead of seating on a different table the Kitsune and co sat with the Mantis man. "Good evening Yoritomo sama."

"Kitsune-san! Raakun! Welcome!" Tomodachi says, motioning them to a seat.

"What'll you have?"

The tanuki took a seat as well as his companion. "I think I will go a bit light today, plum wine." She nodded. "And Raakun should have just plain water." The tanuki hissed. "I need you on alert, okay?"

Fine...But tomorrow I get what I want.

"But no alcohol for you." She shook her head at Raakun.
She turned to the Yoritomo and smile. "Shall we?"

"Let's shall," Tomodachi says with faux gravity, and gestures to spur servants to deliver what is ordered.

"How has the contest continued for you?" he asks.

"I barely made a decent display." She sighed. "It was quaint... and simple... I don't compare to those surrounding me."

"No, you don't," Tomodachi says. "You're better, coming from less and doing more. It's easy to excel when you start off ahead, but you excel and don't have that advantage."

The drinks arrive--along with pickles and a small bowl of rice.

"My feet are planted in the earth... I know I won't excel. But I thank you for the encouragement." She nodded.

Raakun again tried to stealthily to take some of the pickles.

"Raakun!"

I am hungry... There wasn't any scraps from food prepared by wall of plant guy.

"His food is quite delicious... but call him by his clan... Scorpion man." Shizenko explained to the tanuki.

"I'm a sculptor," Tomodachi comments. "I appreciate solidity."

"So you find what the stone wants to be and forge their wish." She sipped the wine. "It is difficult to be solid and be forged bay the wind."

"More that I release what is in the stone," Tomodachi says. "The art is already within it; it but needs be let free."

"Sounds good... many people assume that this one could be a sculptor due to the affinity to the earth and ability to hear what the stones may want." The Kitsune nodded. "But I took the art of origami because it is more travel friendly."

"Depends on the travel," Tomodachi says. "Sailing's not the kindest thing to paper."

"You know better than this one." She sipped her wine. "I guess the rocking and the ebb and flow of water. But I doubt there would be many people folding paper on a boat."

"You'd be right," Tomodachi says. "Though there's no lack of creative endeavor. Knot-work tends to be popular, for obvious reasons. Carving, too."

"I would think of singing and dancing." She chuckled. "The boat helps the dancing rocking and rolling."

"There's a fair bit of singing, yes," Tomodachi affirms. "Shanties, mostly, helping time work.

"Dancing, less so. Room on deck's for working, not cavorting around."

"Ah... my bad...not much sea experience." She sipped her wine. "Do you know any? Sea shanties I mean"

"Well enough to follow," Tomodachi says, "but I'm not nearly drunk enough to think I can sing well."

He grins mischievously. "Might be you'd help me with that, though."

"I would like that." She nodded. "But first some rice in our bellies and let Inari bless us before Raakun steals all the food." The Kitsune chuckled. "Itadakimasu." As she took some of the rice.