Shards of Memory--Act I: The Boundless Void

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Zaeryn]"Mmmm, good. As you may have discovered, I like exploring natural highs very much!"

(OOC: Yup, it's weird because it's a depressant, but it does that for some people. I've never had a drink in my life, but I know a lot about the chemical and psychological processes. I remember one time at a party I was talking to someone who was rather drunk about it too He saw me again later, and he was like "Hey, you're the guy who tried to explain the effects of alcohol to me while I was drunk" )[/SBLOCK]

 

[unleashed]

Zaeryn T'Erilan, Male Altanian Arcanist

[SBLOCK=Rystil]“So I’ve noticed my love, and it’s very enjoyable exploring such highs with you!” Zaeryn replies, kissing Valyssa softly on the lips.

OOC: Fortunately I have to drink so much to get drunk it just doesn’t happen, well once, but that was a deliberate attempt to find my limits...I never have a hangover either, lucky me. [/SBLOCK]

 

[Keia]

Yotsu Yuriko, Female Larakese Martial Artist

[sblock=Galley Hallway][sblock=Larakese]

"Ah, touche Yotsu-san," Diedrik said in good humour, coming to understand Yuriko's point of view, "I guess if silence did have a colour it could easily be some shade of gold, or perhaps something close to silver. Silence may be exaggerated after all, but who am I to say?"

"I would not think silence is exaggerated . . . silence is a time to be watchful," Yuriko offered.[/sblock]
*Yuriko watched as Diedrik stumbled, she moved to help him, but stopped as he popped up.*
[sblock=Larakese]

"Guess I should start taking this seriously then, eh?" he proposed, glancing around for other witnesses to his blunder, "So what's been your impression thus far of those we have to share the journey with? I mean, it'd be good for us to cook up security evaluations of the others onboard, but do you think it's going to be difficult or easy to work with some of them?"

Yuriko waited until they were in a location more private before replying, "Indeed, Deidrik-san, we should evaluate the others. However, I would feel more comfortable if I knew what the geisha threatened you with in the galley," Yuriko replied quietly. "I cannot do my job if he whom I report to has been compromised . . . by anything. You understand, yes, Diedrik-san?" [/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Festy_Dog]

[sblock=Keia only, Larakese]

"I would not think silence is exaggerated . . . silence is a time to be watchful," Yuriko offered.

"Again your wisdom humbles me Yotsu-san. I'll remember that one," he said as he brushed himself off.

Yuriko waited until they were in a location more private before replying, "Indeed, Deidrik-san, we should evaluate the others. However, I would feel more comfortable if I knew what the geisha threatened you with in the galley," Yuriko replied quietly. "I cannot do my job if he whom I report to has been compromised . . . by anything. You understand, yes, Diedrik-san?"

"Heh, in your request there are four things I wish to address," Diedrik said, "The request itself, and three other matters. I'll start with the easiest because giving you the answer you want will take some explaining. Geisha, though normally an inappropriate reference for a lady of her standing, I would agree with for personal satisfaction and her current situation. Also, I am surprised and impressed that you speak Rowaini, and you'll have to tell me all about your learning it some time. On another note, don't bother with this reporting to me business. If anything I should be reporting to you since you were kind enough to bring me in on your job. I'm willing to make a compromise there though, how about we regard each other as equals as far as this security work is concerned?

"And finally, what you wanted to know about Vanessa's threat. As you must understand, there are very few Rowaini who have spent much time on Lara Kai. The only Rowaini people who have ever been capable of being accepted into the culture are those with the most sincere interests in learning of the culture. One controversial woman, who you may not have heard of, spent quite some time on Lara Kai. Roese Galienne was the name she travelled under, and what made her so controversial was that she had a half-Larakese son after spending some time on Lara Kai. She wasn't nobility but she had married a Rowaini nobleman, and I had the pleasure of meeting her once when she stayed at my father's tavern for a brief period of time. She told some amazing stories of Lara Kai, and even taught me a little of the language before she departed again. I didn't know anything about her significance or background until I heard she had been executed for the murder of her own daughter. She didn't seem like the type, but I didn't know her for long enough to tell anyway.

"And so her son disappeared not long after that, if I remember correctly. I think he was actually fairly popular despite his mixed heritage, but that didn't seem to stop him. Not long after that I finally finished saving for my trip to Lara Kai. It was pointless staying home, I was the youngest of five brothers and wasn't about to inherit anything important, so I left to learn about this wondrous place Lady Galienne had told me about. I spent a long time there, and soaked in as much as I could before I left again to see if I could find a fortune of my own somewhere among the stars. Somehow I think Lady Vanessa had me mistaken for Lady Galienne's son. I mean, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure I would have to look as though I had Larakese heritage before I could be mistaken for her son, and I'm pretty sure he's younger than me anyway. Seems she deems a knowledge of Larakese sufficient evidence alone to assume I'm some nobleman on the run, either that or she couldn't think of anything else to prompt me to stay out of her business. I guess I don't need to tell you why her situation is so concerning, but for the time being I guess I can respect the Lady's privacy until she is in a mood to explain. Asking Kirkesh may prove somewhat more beneficial anyway, there could hopefully be a level of understanding between one traveller and another.

So, does that answer your question Yotsu-san?"[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Yuriko]*Diedrik seems to be a bit defensive as he tells his tale, particularly when he goes out of his way to specifically mention why what Vanessa said must be mistaken, including his appearance, and that causes Yuriko to become curious, curious enough to look very closely at Diedrik and notice that he is obscuring his appearance somehow through disguise, although even Yuriko's keen eye can't detect precisely what he would look like under the disguise. Still, this is good grounds to consider the rest of his words in a different light, especially since .*

*She has never heard about this Roese Galliene, which makes sense, since it seems that the woman was off the world before or around the time Yuriko was born.*

(OOC:
Sense Motive 19 + 12 = 31
Spot 14 + 12 = 26 vs Disguise 14 + 8 = 22
Knowledge[Local] 5 + 3 = 8)[/SBLOCK]

 

[Keia]

[sblock=Festy Dog/RA only, Larakese]

"Heh, in your request there are four things I wish to address," Diedrik said, "The request itself, and three other matters. I'll start with the easiest because giving you the answer you want will take some explaining. Geisha, though normally an inappropriate reference for a lady of her standing, I would agree with for personal satisfaction and her current situation. Also, I am surprised and impressed that you speak Rowaini, and you'll have to tell me all about your learning it some time. On another note, don't bother with this reporting to me business. If anything I should be reporting to you since you were kind enough to bring me in on your job. I'm willing to make a compromise there though, how about we regard each other as equals as far as this security work is concerned?

"Very well, Deidrik-san," Yuriko replied. "Though I would prefer that in public you take the lead on these issues. I am uncertain of these travelers and crew, but most in my home would prefer not to be questions or take orders from a woman. The background allows me to observe, watch for danger, and see mistakes and slips that others might not make if I were dealing with them directly." *Yuriko finished the mouthful of words, which was a lot for her, who typically spoke very little.*

"And finally, . . . <snip> . . . Seems she deems a knowledge of Larakese sufficient evidence alone to assume I'm some nobleman on the run, either that or she couldn't think of anything else to prompt me to stay out of her business. I guess I don't need to tell you why her situation is so concerning, but for the time being I guess I can respect the Lady's privacy until she is in a mood to explain. Asking Kirkesh may prove somewhat more beneficial anyway, there could hopefully be a level of understanding between one traveller and another. So, does that answer your question Yotsu-san?"

"Perhaps, Diedrik-san," Yuriko commented neutrally. "I guess I should have expected sincerity instead of honesty from you, Deidrik-san."
*Yuriko took a step back from Diedrik and inclined her head slightly toward him. One hand brushed a lock of hair back onto her face, while her other hand rested casually on the katana in her obi.*

[sblock=Rystil Only]*Yuriko glanced down at Diedrik's sword hand as she moved her lock of hair.* Yuriko thought, 'Tao-sama, this is the one with the sword cut, yes?'
[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=Yuriko]'Yes child, you can see the cut there from sheathing the sword. Unlike the one called Kirkesh, this Diedrik has one.'[/SBLOCK]

 

[Festy_Dog]

[sblock=Keia only, Larakese]

"Very well, Deidrik-san," Yuriko replied. "Though I would prefer that in public you take the lead on these issues. I am uncertain of these travelers and crew, but most in my home would prefer not to be questions or take orders from a woman. The background allows me to observe, watch for danger, and see mistakes and slips that others might not make if I were dealing with them directly." *Yuriko finished the mouthful of words, which was a lot for her, who typically spoke very little.*

"Yotsu-san, I respect you enough to be willing to have you question me, or tell me what to do. However, if hanging towards the back is what you want to do then I'm not going to stop you," Diedrik responded with an amiable smile.

"Perhaps, Diedrik-san," Yuriko commented neutrally. "I guess I should have expected sincerity instead of honesty from you, Deidrik-san."
*Yuriko took a step back from Diedrik and inclined her head slightly toward him. One hand brushed a lock of hair back onto her face, while her other hand rested casually on the katana in her obi.*

Diedrik's expression sank, his amiable smile faded. His eyes fixed themselves on Yuriko's hand, resting on her katana. He raised his hands, getting them away from his own sword.

"Ease up there, Yotsu-san. Speak your mind, and we'll sort this out," he said, clearly nervous, "What's with this sincerity versus honesty stuff?"[/sblock]

 

[Keia]

Yotsu Yuriko, Female Larakese Martial Artist

[sblock=Festy & RA only, Larakese]*Yuriko's expression was level, her voice quiet.*

"Ease up there, Yotsu-san. Speak your mind, and we'll sort this out," he said, clearly nervous, "What's with this sincerity versus honesty stuff?"

"The tenets of bushido . . . Gi versus Makoto . . . Honesty is the truth . . . sincerity is the true belief in what you say. It is a measure of the truth, one can mean something that isn't the truth," Yuriko explained by rote, as though it had been ingrained in her many times over in her training. "As one versed in Larakese culture, you should know that the nobility value sincerity over honesty . . . it helps them sleep better at night."

"I do not mind that you were evasive with the courtesan, it was necessary . . . it is not necessary with me," Yuriko stated simply. "If we are to be equals as you insist, how can our duty to this ship, to each other in our tasks, be based on anything but honesty."[/sblock]

 

[Festy_Dog]

[sblock=Keia only, Larakese]

"The tenets of bushido . . . Gi versus Makoto . . . Honesty is the truth . . . sincerity is the true belief in what you say. It is a measure of the truth, one can mean something that isn't the truth," Yuriko explained by rote, as though it had been ingrained in her many times over in her training. "As one versed in Larakese culture, you should know that the nobility value sincerity over honesty . . . it helps them sleep better at night."

"I do not mind that you were evasive with the courtesan, it was necessary . . . it is not necessary with me," Yuriko stated simply. "If we are to be equals as you insist, how can our duty to this ship, to each other in our tasks, be based on anything but honesty."

"Hehe, it's not just nobility who find comfort in sincerity," Diedrik says, letting his hands rest on his hips now, "I will give you honesty then, as far as I am willing. What do you want to know, Yotsu-san?"[/sblock]