Let's all hold hands and sing Kumbaya

[notzubats]

Who: Everybody! It's a planet mingle!
Broadcast: If You want!
Action: On the Holding Hands plant!
When: From June 23 until whenever we need a new mingle.

[At long last, the fleet has arrived to a new planet. This means it's time for a mingle guys! Get in! ]

Comments

forest;

[ino]

That's me. [ She gives her an amiable smile. ] Where'd you get that weapon from? It's pretty cool.

forest;

[therewerefifty]

Ah. [She smiles, satisfaction clear on her face.] I had it commissioned in the markets. I had one much like this, but it was left behind when I joined the Fleet. I hadn't missed it much until... recently.

[ino]

[ She's just looking it over with appreciation. ]

They did a good job.

[ She'll reach back behind her to pull out a tanto attached to her back, holding it out to show it off to Makie. It's a simple blade, but it's well crafted and has some pretty amethyst gems set in the hilt. ]

I had this made several months ago. Pretty nice, right?

[therewerefifty]

[Her pleasantness turns to outright interest at the sight of the tanto. She hasn't seen one in a very long time.]

It's an excellent blade. I hadn't thought to see one outside of Japan. I should have known better.

[She shifts her grip on her own weapon, holding it out so Ino can get a closer look in turn.] That is, I am assuming you come from elsewhere. Forgive my assumption.

[ino]

[ She's distracted for a second, checking it out further before she answers. ]

Uh ... well, I've been told that Japan is a lot like where I come from, except the country I'm from is landlocked, and apparently Japan doesn't have shinobi anymore. But I think we speak about the same language? And eat the same food?

[therewerefifty]

Apparently. [It's said drily. She'd heard shinobi were a relic of her time, but shinobi were secretive at the best of times. Makie wonders if they're just known by another name.]

So a very similar place to Japan, then. Is there a caste system?

[What she's really curious about is whether Ino's a fighter with the blessing of her society. Olden day Japan kinda bites.]

[ino]

[ Her dry comment gets a little knowing grin. ]

My village and a few others have a system of military ranks, and certain clans are considered more "noble" than others. In civilian villages ... they're run by a daimyo, there are plenty of nobles and stuff like that, and then there's a couple of other "classes" that are considered below that, I guess.

[therewerefifty]

And women are allowed to fight? [You're like a step up there on her Japan already.]

...although I suppose that's not entirely fair. I know there are women amongst the shinobi precisely because they're women. But in wider society, it is... frowned upon. [To understate it.]

[ino]

Until recently, the leader of our military village was a woman, actually.

[ She looks a little sympathetic, though. She's heard of some places treating women like shit and she has pretty much zero tolerance for it. ]

There's always gonna be idiots who underestimate us or think we can't do the job just because we're women, but truth be told they wouldn't get a thing done without us.

[therewerefifty]

[She laughs softly after a moment.] Yes. I'm inclined to agree. Your village sounds like an interesting place.

[ino]

[ That gets a little smile. She's proud of her village, after all! ]

It's pretty great. It's too bad I can't really show it to you. Japan sounds interesting, too.

[ She sheathes the tanto, and then proceeds to incline her head respectfully as she introduces herself. ]

I'm Ino, by the way.

[therewerefifty]

[...Ino, you're the first person to greet her like that in years. It's a taste of a home she pretends no longer matters to her, and it makes her smile wistfully, appreciative as she returns the greeting.]

Otono-Tachibana Makie. It's good to meet you, Ino.

[ino]

You too, Makie-san! That's such a pretty name.

[ Well, prettier than "boar in the mountains", anyways. She tucks a few stray hairs behind her ear. ]

Hey, have you seen any interesting plants while you've been out here? I was looking for some stuff to bring back to the garden.

[therewerefifty]

Nothing that really stands out to me, no. [She looks faintly sheepish. She's learning how to garden; maybe she should be paying more attention to her surroundings.]

There were some lovely flowers east of here, but I assume you're looking for plants of a more practical nature.