Meanwhile, there were some remodling at work in Kumoimine. Unki's right hand helper was busy at work scrawling her hand on bank checks and directing carpenters to work. Residency Purchases
Unki spent: 1,075,000
•Spotlight and Fancy Curtains Package | 25,000 Performer Career. Reduces the amount of missions required to progress toward a title by 1 paragraph while in the residence.
•Workbench | 25,000 Lowers the time it takes for scroll crafting, mechanism, and technology. Reduces the amount of missions required to progress toward a title by 1 paragraph. At grandmaster, this grants [2] additional T3 (Special) crafting slots in scroll crafting, mechanism, and technology.
•In-House Laboratory | 25,000 Lowers the time it takes for pharmacology and toxicology Reduces the amount of missions required to progress toward a title by 1 paragraph. At grandmaster, this grants [2] additional T3 (Special) crafting slots in pharmacology and toxicology.
Unique Purchases to Unki •Deluxe Forge [Upgrade] [Unique] | 500,000 Durability increase on crafted weapons and crafted armor. These items degrade at a slower rate. 1 extra successful hit is required before quality drops in rank. This does not stack with similar benefits that may be granted by other customs or personal attribute. Requires a Personal Forge. •Deluxe Chef's Kitchen [Upgrade] [Unique] | 500,000 Cooking missions completed in the house grant an additional C-rank amount of ryo. While in the house, a chef with All-rounder and Nutrionist branches 1 extra food item may be produced from a single mission. With Food Arts and Shinobi branches [1] custom slot to enhance these branches becomes available. One bonus item is received per branch studied in the cooking profession. [Does not stack with a roommate's Deluxe Chef's Kitchen]. Requires the Homecook's Kitchen.
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 10:15 pm
Masanori's rage simmered down suddenly, Ujitoki's stern tone striking a chord within him that hadn't been struck before. Masanori listened, but soon it would be obvious that all of what Ujitoki had said regarding not going to Kuroi Mura, would go in one ear and out of the other. The only thing that was on his mind was finding Noriko and making sure she returned home, safe and sound. He couldn't allow himself to sit back anymore; it was because of him, that she was in this situation to begin with. The young Hatake's brows furrowed at being called 'defenseless fodder', turning up the heat on his anger once again. "She's defenseless, out there. Right now." If there was anyone that could rescue her, it was him. He wasn't going to wait for some team to come back with nothing - just like the police force had done. Twice.
The information was more than enough for Masanori to work with, at least this is what he believed. He had a name, and the individual wasn't one for covert operations. She'd be a breeze to find, for sure. "There's no time. I'm ready." His voice raised in volume, nearly cutting off Ujitoki's final sentence. There was desperation laced within his words that he couldn't hide, regardless of how frustrated he was.
tab Teenagers. Ujitoki shook his head and propped his jaw up by his elbow on the table. He sneered. “ready, huh?” He would meet Masanori’s eyes and smirk. The whole corridor succumbing quickly to an uncanny, pitch black darkness. All traces of day, light, and life were devoured almost instantly. Only a sound remains. Ujitoki’s voice treading softly as a whisper to flood Masanori’s senses from all directions: “But I don’t think you’re ready.” An airy, ominous whisper that carried on with a warning. “Anyone of the dark underworld shouldn’t be taken lightly. For all you know, an Oni like Nao could crush you with hardly any effort.” Outside of the illusion, Ujitoki left his seat to appear behind to subdue Masanori in one swoop. The boy would feel his own hand pinned to his own back under Ujitoki’s weight. Another hand landing to grip the back of the boy’s neck before forcing him forward with hardly an inch between nose and table. “And you’ll be in hot water right beside your sister.” Light and sound would return to normalcy but the pin was far from being the work of any illusion. “I for one have never seen Nao. You need to remember that. She wants her work and tastes known but didn’t jump to reveal her face.” At this point, Ujitoki’s hold on Masanori would slack before taking a step back. It wasn’t a warning for his anger but his impatience that a simple smack on the head wouldn’t do right by. “It only came from digging that we found out she’s an oni but the clans won’t turn over hard evidence of her appearance. Just two, long slender horns on her head tinted green with gold bangles fitted around the base, yellow eyes, and dresses like she’s worth a lot money. That’s all I know.” That was all the information he had. Kuroi Mura, a name, her tokens, and only a few key features of her appearance.
Sleepy Senpai
▰ Whisper Technique [ Mimiuchi no Jutsu ] ▰Rank: D ▰Primary Sense: Sound ▰Additional Senses: None ▰Base Duration: 4 Posts ▰Upkeep: 5 Chakra ▰Source: Audio Phantasm ▰Description: Upon the casting of the technique, the user is able to generate whispers anywhere within the field of battle, no more than twenty [20] yards per rank of the user away in radius. These whispers can be of any audio, whether voice or quiet movement, but the choice always comes out as a low noise. For example, a whisper in an empty room at the loudest. Whilst this normally would be an Enchantment technique, the truth is that in each case a small, invisible mouth is produced to allow the speaking to occur. ▰Synchronization: If using Chouba no Kage and Dokuji no Onsei together, one activation will count for both techniques.
▰ Journey into Black Darkness Technique [ Kokuangyou no Jutsu ] ▰Rank: C ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: None ▰Base Duration: 4 Posts ▰Upkeep: 10 Chakra ▰Trigger: Eye Contact ▰Source: Visual Hallucination ▰Status Effect: None
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 1:26 pm
tab Not far outside the perimeter the palace grounds, a lone boy stood in the village streets. Keeping his head down to avoid making eye contact with anyone who may pass him by, he could but fidget a bit, lightly tapping his thumbs against the wooden box he held his hands. While the box itself wasn't anything ornate or finely crafted, its contents were dearly precious to the boy, hence why he clung so tightly to it. "Maybe this was a mistake?" he whispered softly to himself beneath his breath, his anxiety growing more and more with each passing second. Was it too late to call things off?
▰▰▰ |SHINOBI • INFO| ▰▰▰ Nabi Nyatotabi | C | Kumoito Military | Tamer | Performer
Somewhat more and less conspicuous acting than her friend was another young girl, laying on a towel ontop of one of the local roofs basically taking a cat nap. Her little partner Kaze would be the first of the pair to notice a good friend of its masters and one of few alternative people who he actually liked. Kaze rose from a propped position with his front legs dangling off the edge in what was a comfortable pose, letting out a low, quiet noise that was somewhat akin to a cat growling, though it didn’t hold the same negative meaning. He slunk off of the edge of the building and would drop himself down, sticking close to the shadow of the building that left him close to invisible as his body blended in unnaturally, allowing him to go about unnoticed. The creature patiently sat and waited until the familiar lad was practically skulking about, pretty obviously trying to go unnoticed to the observant eye. Kaze lowered his body toward the ground, his back end and tail rose with a wiggle as the feline waited until Ryuji was just passing by before pouncing on the lad.
Ryuji would possibly feel the air shift a second before something relatively heavy landed on his shoulders, claws making their presence known and something else sharp pressing up against his neck as Kaze play bit the boy in greeting, not enough to draw blood but maybe not the most thrilling sensation. Again a low noise that was somewhat comparable to a cats growl rubbles from his throat, letting go with his mouth and shoving/rubbing his soft face into the side of Ryujis’s before hopping off and looking up at him. ”What’s up goober? You’re seeming a little too on edge aren’t you?” A voice murmured almost directly into his ear, a familiar girl stepping back the second she had his attention, a confident and slightly teasing tone in the voice. Nabi would be leaning forward with a light smirk on her face, her cat like eyes glued to his own as a his friend stood before him, arms crossed beneath her chest and an air about her that implied she didn’t share his misgivings.
tab Just as Ryuji was about to bail and make a swift exit, he felt a sudden shifting of the air around him. "What the-" Just as he turned to see what the disturbance had been he quickly found himself starring down the piercing eyes of a familiar furry face. "GAH!" he let out a shout as the creature latched onto him with his teeth and claws, more out of surprise than pain. The combination of the creature's weight and momentum amplified by his natural state of spasm was just enough to topple him, forcing him onto his back with a thud.
tab Letting out a soft groan, Ryuju laid prone as his mind processed what had just transpired. However, upon feeling the fuzzy embrace of his attacker, he quickly caught himself up to speed. "Oh. Hey there, Kaze. I see you're in high spirits, as usual." he grumbled, pushing himself up into a seated position to meet the face of the tiny creature that looked perhaps a bit too pleased with its accomplishment. Of course, where there was a Kaze, there was also What's up goober?" Hearing a voice in his ear, he couldn't help but jump, scrambling to his feet. "Dammit, Nabi. Don't scare me like that." he scolded her, letting out a soft sigh as he gathered his nerves. Sure enough, there she was, Kaze's keeper and his longtime friend, Nabi.
tab After giving himself a light dusting, Ryuji then took a moment to examine the bento box he'd been carrying with him. Thankfully, nothing had happened to the contents, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. "You're both lucky I did such a good job packing this or else this would all be a bust." he said sternly. Or at least, he did his best to seem stern. Unfortunately, his steeled gaze was no match for Nabi's smirk, as he was the first one to break eye contact and admit a silent defeat. "Anyways. You sure you're down for this? I can go in own my own, you know?" he said, averting his eyes from her gaze as he attempted to change the subject.
Shinji, having travelled to Kumoito to conduct a bit of personal business, appeared a few yards away from the Imperial Palace in a blur of movement. It was well within his ability to have simply walked the distance between the edge of the city and his destination, but patience has never been a virtue he particularly grasped. Grey eyes darted about the area to absorb his surroundings. He had never been to Kumoito before. The Lightning Empire was mostly foreign to him, but the information that he was able to find on this place gave him at least an idea of how to find his way. Shinji remained in place a few more moments, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do.
His sudden appearance had caught the attention of some of the guards, one of which intercepting him as he began to trek closer to the palace gates. Shinji produced a few documents he had stashed within the folds of his kimono to identify himself, providing his name and explaining that he had come from Arashigakure on a personal errand. Rather than immediately delve into the details, he changed the subject, engaging in small talk with the guard as a way to further ease whatever tension had formed with his arrival. He let the guard know that he was a bit embarrassed as to the reason for his request, but asked if he could have an audience with the Empress.
Shinji’s nervousness was a familiar sight to palace guards. Just about anyone who wasn’t arriving with their own miniature procession, claiming nobility, were often intimidated. Whether guests are intimidated by the gates, the guards, or the governing powerhouses hidden inside, infamous for whatever wallop they could whip out was a frequent thought to this particular guard’s mind. Shinji’s status as a Storm shinobi held some weight. He wasn’t just a recruit being directed to the hub of an empire or an ordinary so ‘n so who had something worthwhile to say. He was led and handed off to someone else further into the gates.
Someone who was primly dressed in grey and plum fineries who, just as the previous person, inspected the handful of documents from a Storm shinobi before cordially leading Shinji to yet another plum colored personnel. “Mr. Ketsueki,” an older woman with her hair pinned, bowed politely. “Her Majesty, Empress Unki will be seeing you shortly," and she led them further onward and motioned to enter a richly decorated room: the throne room.
In a whole, the décor of Kumoimine Keep flips between western and eastern. Imposing extravagance and cozy minimalist. The throne room was one sort bearing an influence from the foreign, western world that was willing to embrace something different with polished columns, grand ornate, windows supporting a room rightfully fit for no small audience. Someone somewhere wanted to impress. There was light and warmth into the room spilling in from just about each window, each outlined with curtains. Ornate little details from floor to ceiling showing that someone wasn’t sparing the expense of looking like an empire’s centerpiece. And that someone happens to be the beaming subject of a massive painting on the throne room wall. A tireless image of a red-haired young man, skin like a soft flush peach, and a sharp yellow stare. Sturdy yet dashing in black vestments, immense white fur cape, and content with his hands atop a sheathed katana upright at the boots of the young Emperor.
A scene immortalizing a man acknowledged as a compassionate cornerstone of widespread liberation and a charismatic war criminal who crowned himself Sovereign of a new world. This portrait oversaw just about anyone who entered the room and certainly in sight of almost anyone approaching his throne at the end of a long, blue rug. But where was the Emperor’s Empress? The woman Shinji came to see. It wasn't too much longer that the one would find the contented lull of the throne room shattered. A loud rumble abruptly snapping the calm with drumming thunder rolling toward the room as if a storm was crashing into the mountains.
The room trembled amidst the clamor. Imperial banners and floor length curtains shivered. Off to the side, one such low-hanging embellished banner suddenly revealed someone standing beside it. A tall, finely clothed white haired man was stepping out from behind. He gave a knowing, white-eyed look to Shinji from a distance before looking away and entering more into the room. Step by step. The man’s attention wholeheartedly fastened to each careful step a young blond woman took as she too appeared. A frilly creamy white sweet lolita dress with long sleeves and a polished ornament atop her head. She seated herself and her becoming escort kissed her cheek before stepping out of sight. “Hi!” the seated woman squeaked. ”I’m Unki!” There were no outlandishly formal fanfares to announce her. Unki just… arrived. Then sat and squared her attention to Shinji from the one, gilded chair elevated three-steps up, in front of the span of a blue curtain. She looked happy to see him. Happy to see anyone, probably.
Clack-clack-clack-clack! Tiny rhythmic scratching sounds against the floor and the occasional tiny, tinkling was chiming in. The noise quickly revealed itself to be a prideful prance of a short, honey colored dog. Maybe a cocker spaniel? Maybe a poodle? Maybe both? Whatever she was, Unki’s four-legged company had her nose practically pointed skyward and completely steered clear of joining Unki. Instead, the dog approached Shinji. Parading herself between Shinji and Unki and came to a stop about a yard’s length from him, twitched her little black nose, and stared at him. Sizing him up?
As the guard led Shinji beyond the palace gates, his anxiety waned a bit. The prospect of meeting with royalty was enough to tense the white haired shinobi, but the possibility of being detained at the gates was its own beast. He couldn’t help but silently mull over his request as he ventured further into the grounds with not just one, but two individuals each dressed in a luxurious purple garb. He wondered how many similarly dressed personnel actually wandered the palace, but since math was far from his forte, he decided that attempting to figure that out wasn’t worth the headache. "Huh? Oh, thank you!" He said to the older woman who would be ushering him into the throne room.
He could tell that a lot of care went into the interior design of the palace. Everything seemed to fit neatly into place. However, his lack of cultural exposure hindered him from fully grasping the distinction between the western and eastern styles. Still, something about the meshing of ideas that the decor imposed left the man with a sense of appreciation for the effort. That is, until he saw the throne room. It was unlike anything he had seen, and he lived in a village where the leader sat in the top of an ungodly tower that used to float freely away from the ground. Shinji made a mental note to stop by the Spire when he returned, to see if it's levitation properties were still in effect since the last time he visited.
He took in the sight with awe. Columns stretching from floor to ceiling, windows fashioned with designs unfamiliar to him. The room itself was massive. Shinji lifted a foot slightly, preparing to tap it against the ground to check the acoustics of the chamber. However, raised foot was slowly returned without a sound after his eyes caught sight of a portrait. He inspected the bottom of his shoes for dirt before taking steps further into the room, letting the blue rug in the center lead him towards the throne, inspecting the painting from his position. Shinji was sure there was more to the Emperor's story than he knew, but that wasn't what was on his mind. What he wondered, was what a man in his position must have felt while sitting for that portrait.
The query didn't have long to play in his mind before the room began to tremble. Shinji whipped around to try and discern the source of the rumbling, but instead only found a white eyed man looking at him from beside a banner. The man did not seem phased by the disruption, which set him slightly more at ease. Stunned into silence by the increasingly strange series of events, he watched as the man accompanied a young woman into the room, then leave shortly after she was seated. Her introduction was… unexpected, to say the least. As a royal figure, he wasn't prepared for the empress to seem so informal in person.
Still, though, Shiji knelt before her and bowed his head in reverence. "It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am. My name is Shinji Ketsueki," he offered as an introduction. A light scratching sound against the floor caught his attention, just enough for him to look up and watch a small semi-ambiguous breed of dog insert itself between the white haired shinobi and the empress. 'What a cutie.' If it weren't for the present setting, Shinji would have already made an attempt to pet the dog. The thought crossed his mind to offer his hand for the pooch to get his scent, to see if she would even let him try, but realized that if the small creature was a sort of guard animal, then they might snap at him instead. To avoid the chance of being bitten, he offered a big friendly smile. "And what's your name?" He glanced beyond the dog towards Unki. “Er.. Apologies for my sudden visit, your highness.”
The dog’s close examination of Shinji closed when he inquired about her name. He offered no hand to smell. "HE’S CLEAN!" The dog’s echoing bark was an abrupt announcement of whatever judgement she made about the guest before turning away and pointing her nose upright again. The noise of her claws narrating her retreat up the steps. The dog quickly made herself comfortable a top Unki’s feet before giving Shinji the time of day. A proud look in her eyes as she spoke sounding very satisfied with herself. “My name is Chouki, if you please,” her little nose still wiggling between her introduction. I’m first in line to protect pack leader Unki.” Above, Unki lowered her head and cupped her cheek as she smiled and furrowed her brow, interjecting lightly. Embarrassed but amused. "Thank you, Chouki." The dog snorted and crossed her paws, "not big boots, other there, hiding in the corner. He can handle himself…" She gestured to the white-haired man out of sight. He never left. Unki carried on, however, with her spry and cheery warmth. ”It’s a treat to meet you, Mr. Ketsuki.” She pauses, passing a glance down to Chouki and pat on her knee. ”Or may I call you Shinji?” Chouki stood between questions just to hop onto Unki’s lap, probably looking a little larger now in comparison. The animal contently stretched, slumped over the Empress’s lap, and heaved a sigh. ”Did the Arashikage ask you to bring me a message?”
A pout crept into Shiji’s face as Unki’s companion, who he knew now to be called Chouki, trotted further away towards the empress. Whatever feeling of surprise he may have felt when she spoke was overshadowed by his disappointment. If he ever had any chance of petting the hound, that window of opportunity had been definitively closed. Though, it did appear that his assumption was correct, in some fashion at least. The fact that she spoke hinted that the information he had was correct. Truth be told, he had suspicions that there had been some confusion, resulting in more than one inaccuracy within a series of data that had been collected in recent times. Given the current state of affairs in Arashigakure, the current head of the ANBU had been an adamant voice for keeping tabs on prominent figures, both in the village and the lands beyond. Regardless, meeting the empress himself was the only way to know for sure.
The revelation that Unki’s escort hadn’t actually left didn’t come as much of a surprise. Shinji had seen the man step out of view and drew a baseless conclusion. The man staying in the room made more sense than the alternative. ‘Big boots?’ The white haired shinobi cocked his head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of where he might be standing, but quickly straightened his posture before he could see anything. After Unki responded to his introduction, Shinji shifted into a seiza position, resting his palms on his thighs. “Either is fine with me, your highness. You may call me whichever is preferable to you.” Chouki’s new position on the empress’s lap brought a soft smile to his face. Despite her personality, Shinji guessed that she was an affectionate companion, and definitely loyal to her core, as was made clear. The mention of the Arashikage caught him off guard. He let out a nervous chuckle.
“No ma’am, no message. Lady Arashikage has no knowledge of my visit. I’ve come for,” he paused a moment, tearing his gaze away from the empress and towards the floor. The shinobi was careful not to let his expression show his emotions. He knew that he couldn’t give details regarding the recent events in the village. At least not at the moment. Given everything that had transpired, an information blackout was a temporary necessity. Until the chain of command had been restored, any leaking of intel could be detrimental. Shinji cleared his throat and looked back to Unki. “I’ve come on a personal errand, and I’m hoping that you’ll be able to assist me.” Another pause, taking a deep breath to prepare a simple question that would serve, potentially, as a preamble into the true nature of his visit.
"Your highness, what do you know of the Sage Lands?"
No message? Still? Unki couldn’t help but crumple her brow as the thought lingered over his pause. It was actually disappointing their most valuable ally hadn’t reached out to them yet. If only the empress had been given the luxury of learning her guest’s status, Shinji might have made a perfect messenger in her mind. Sounds like sending something to Storm was looking like the means of action. Daydreaming about taking messages would just have to wait. She had a guest, after all. A guest who seem invested in weighing the moment carefully from his words to his very posture. It must have been uncomfortable to sit on the floor in this room.
Two words effectively caught her attention. Two words were kindling to keep conversation aflame and diverting all worries and wonders. An overly cautious woman, which Unki is not, would already be prying with a dozen or so questions back in response before answering his. A cautious woman might be thinking about his intentions. An impatient woman, however, might be leaving Shinji’s intentions to fate and sprinkle just the right words to ward the wicked away. Or warn those with ill intentions, that is, if Unki’s reputation held any weight. "I know that they're very special places," excitement was already trickling into her voice but being in a symbolic centerpiece of her husband’s empire kept her enthusiasm in check to just tamed, curling smiles about ready to bubble over with happiness. "From what I'm told, the Sage Lands come in many earthly designs and each one is perfection in its own right.” The empress paused as she lowered her sights from Shinji to admire Chouki. “Life thrives peacefully, richly, and as long as you’re a good little visitor,” her hand gingerly smoothing fur, running the length of Chouki’s body. “Playing by their rules,” Unki’s violet sights returning to Shinji as a hard stare with a smile waning and then waxing over her vague, dire warning. “Then everyone gets along.” The dog too then looked to Shinji. Chouki’s round coal colored eyes taking him in. If she hadn’t determined him to be “clean” then what would she have done? It was as if the look in Unki’s eyes shifted back to the informal, neighborly young lady who was happy to meet him. She shrugged in some attempt to shift the mood, "but wherever it is you’re going I would recommend a lot of patience and an openness to find the sensation of it.”
The news that he hadn't come bearing a message from Lady Arashikage seemed to have an effect on the empress. Shinji couldn't help but wonder just how long she had been waiting for some form of correspondence. Miyuki had come into power while the young man had been in a comatose state. From what he understood she had inherited a large quantity of work from the start, and that hill only got steeper will time. It was no surprise that maintaining their relationship with Kumoito fell to the wayside given the circumstances. Still, peace between the empire and Arashi would continue to be an important endeavor. If Miyuki didn't have the time to fortify their friendships, then it was all the more important for the next…
Shinji shook the thoughts away. This wasn't the time nor the place to be concerned with that. He wasn't much of a diplomat. Political affairs went far above his head in the best of circumstances. However, the well-being of Arashigakure was always on his mind. Shinji stuffed his arm deep within his cream-colored kimono and fished around for a moment, withdrawing three items. A plain looking scroll, a feathered quill, and a small bottle of black ink. He set the ink and quill down and unrolled the scroll on the floor in front of him as the empress offered what knowledge she had over the subject of his visit. His pale colored eyes met hers, shifting their hue briefly to a golden color as they rose from his view of the floor. He picked up the hints of a warning in her words, but it wasn't enough to deter him from his path.
Shinji decided to try and split the conversation into two halves. He gave a warm smile to Empress Unki and Chouki. "I can't make any promises on a timeline, but if you'd like, I should be able to get a message to Lady Arashikage on your behalf. Is there anything you'd like me to relay?" He uncorked the bottle of ink and raised his quill, preparing to scribe any words she would want given to his kage, whoever that may be. Perhaps if he could get the message to the new kage before they were swept up in their undoubtedly large workload, a meeting between the two parties could be organized.
“The Sage Lands sound like wonderful places. I’d like to visit them some day, if I get the chance,” Shinji stated. His words seemed plain at face value, but there was an underlying hint of something in his tone. Was it yearning? No, that wasn’t quite it. It was deeper than that, bordering on longing, but not enough to earn that title. “Truth be told, I have selfish reasons for looking for them.” The man’s grip on the quill tightened. Selfish was too light of a description. When he was younger, he was plagued with a sense of powerlessness. He thirsted for strength that he felt was unattainable. It drove him to the brink of insanity. And now, with everything that had transpired in Arashi, he couldn’t help but feel a similar sensation creeping into the back of his mind. However, it wasn’t for himself that he wanted strength anymore. He wanted to be stronger to better protect the people of the village.
In his mind, as was undoubtedly the case for many, it was easier to protect people if you were strong. However, it could also be said that too much strength could be a catalyst for tyranny. Truly two sides of the same coin. A sense of duty and a straight moral path were the only things that he could count on to keep him on the right side. “I envy them. Lands unhindered by the will of man. If anyone threatens their way of life, the inhabitants are more than capable of defending themselves." He shifted a bit, clearly getting uncomfortable from the way he was seated. "Yet, they aren’t inclined to the same level of violence as humans. I could have them completely wrong, but they do indeed seem like the peaceful sort. Personally, I feel that as a whole we could learn a thing or two from them. What do you think?”
“Well,” she paused. Going quiet was the best way to stop any noise of meager sounds of hesitation. Um’s and uh’s are very distracting! Shinji’s offer to forward a message was a polite gesture. Unki, however, bit her lip. She was without real knowledge on what Shinji's place is in Storm and this was really placing a lot of trust in his hands. Strangely enough, weighing the right words to say was almost like sitting on nails kept her balance. “Let me think,” she replied, before the matter was sidetracked. Sort of. Shinji was shortly posing questions that ultimately had her thinking all about the mystical dogs. “If there was anything the otherworldly sage animals should be teaching us is how to be less greedy. Our world might be better for it.” It felt like a dreamy, idealistic thought that she almost got caught up in. It was plain about plain to see on her face. Yearning, hopeful. “O-oh! Before I forget, sorry, sorry! I’d like to visit. I'm feeling better since a month ago- at the citadel- and i'd go the distance to restore things to how they were. End! There! No fun sitting there until your hand gets tired." Seconds or so later and it seemed Unki had found the topic of mystical animals again. “In their element, the dogs otherwise come off as looking peaceful. They run, play, and sleep as a pack without a care in the world and-” she stopped herself short of another syllable. It was hardly even a second sooner before Unki was already speaking again but, now, the volume of her voice was sailing skyward. ”C’mon!” She called looking over her shoulder, completely exasperated. Chouki, all the while, only going as far as to lift her ears to the noise. Nothing worth jumping around about. It was probably just another day on the job. “Shiro-chaaan, tell me that this isn’t the WORST place to have guests!” The man concealed in the corner could be heard chuckling heartily, warmly, in light of Unki’s complaint. ”No wa-wait!” A look came to her face like an idea was coming to light, “This. Use this. Please, before my knees go numb too from just watching you.” Unki leaned forward just enough to disturb the dog. She plucked a large blue round cushion. Some plush accessory of the throne. Chouki, please,” the cushion was held out in front of Chouki’s nose with the empress’s sweetened plea, “I’m not just going to throw it at him.” The dog didn’t fuss, grunt, or groan as she was coaxed from a comfy, warm spot. Chouki did what was expected and bit the corner of the cushion just to flex her strength to their guest. A quick transfer of one stuffed cushion occured from Unki, to dog, to Shinji. Chouki avoided any hope of passing glances, deposited the pillow with a polite bow of her neck, and flicked her tail as she turned away again. Unki was showing her further embarrassment with a noisy facepalm, ”ugh, you know, we have two rooms like this and just we have to pick the marble-y one.” She spoke like the choice this round wasn’t necessarily hers to make. ”The other room where we hold important audience thingies like this is just tatami and with a big bamboo curtain between us. I guess it’s just stately enough for some people,” Chouki had by now dutifully hopped back to stand at Unki’s side as Unki was busy gesturing toward one object her disapproval. The massive painting of the Emperor was “shoo’ed” at with a flick of her wrist, “I guess there aren’t enough big portraits of Shiro-chan in there to fit the bill.” ”I’m sorry,” Unki sighed exhaustingly again. Her candid grumbling didn’t feel like professional empress behavior. So she fanned her wrist, “ no, no, I took us totally off topic. It just bugged me how you didn’t look comfortable down there,” and she sighed with her whole being. She slips into an apologetic slump, sloping her shoulders without stint before perking up again. “We were talking about the sweet magical puppies.” And just like that, her demeanor changed again. Unki was "all bubbles" again. As if she was now hardly perturbed by her own complaints. “I'm sure you know well, a selfish reason is still a reason. At the end of the day, it was selfishness that tied us all into one power but I like to review parts where the intention was selfless. The animals themselves cast judgment on you. I'm still trying to understand it myself, but, being good to them and agreeing to work with them may otherwise be all it takes. For the dogs, at least." Chouki was chiming in below. ”All this talk! Does he want to be our friend, or not?” The dog angled her attention back up at Unki and came to stand on her hind legs. Paws propping on the chair, “I already said he was OK I know I’m not as PERCEPTIVE Tsubaki but I’m the best we’ve got!!! ”
Shinji lowered the quill as Unki requested some time to think. He knew that she must be hesitant to have this shinobi of unknown rank or stature deliver a message on her behalf. After all, as far as public record was concerned, he was only a run-of-the-mill chunin. Sometimes he wondered if going into the ANBU was the correct choice of career path. There were so many secrets that he needed to keep. It would all have been so much simpler if he didn’t have to hide the truth. He nodded in agreement towards the topic of greed. ”That’s very well put,” he offered in a verbal reply. The expression she held at the thought was almost enough to sweep Shinji away with the thought as well. A less greedy world was an almost utopian idea. At least when compared to the reality they lived in.
When the Empress switched the topic back to the message she would like delivered, Shinji hurriedly scribed her words into the scroll. ”Got it, I will make sure that the Arashikage receives this as soon as I return to the village!” He made a mental note to make sure to apologize to the Empress if they crossed paths in the future, as another change in regime was in the works at the moment, but he couldn’t tell her that right now. Shinji produced a cloth from likely the same place within his kimono that the scroll, ink, and quill were held. He held a finger slightly away from the cloth and molded his chakra just enough to condense some of the moisture in the air, forming a small droplet, using the cloth to absorb the liquid. He had just wrapped the now damp cloth around the tip of his quill when Unki paused her statement. Shinji glanced towards the Empress, worried that his use of chakra within the palace was about to get him into some sort of trouble. When she addressed the man hidden in the corner, his worry subsided. Shinji finished cleaning the feathered utensil and rolled the scroll up, storing the contents away.
He arched an eyebrow. ”What’s so wrong with this room?” His thought was answered by the procurement of a cushion from the throne. ”Thank you, ma’am,” he said as Chouki took up a corner of the pillow. His eyes sparkled as she approached. This was his chance, finally he could- No. Shinji’s hand was left wavering in the air as Unki’s familiar trotted back to the throne. A slight “oo” sound escaped his throat. The white haired man cleared his throat and shifted to place the pillow beneath his knees. Perhaps if he knew her better, he would ask about her apparent displeasure with the portrait. That wasn’t his place, though, so his curiosity would be shoved aside. ”Ah yes, the puppies!” The pitch of his voice raised a bit. The topic seemed to incite excitement in him.
”Yeah, I suppose selfish intentions are still reasons at the end of the day, even if they leave a sour taste. But.. The line between selfless and selfish is blurry, in my experience. Oftentimes we make decisions that seem like one on the surface, but the reasons that we make them are the opposite if you look deeper,” Shinji wasn’t sure if his words would make sense to the Empress. It was a murky idea at best, and at worst he was wildly delusional. Chouki’s interjection brought that sparkle back into his eyes. ”Yes! I’d love to be your friend.” The shell of formality he had been trying to force was crumbling away now, piece by piece. He was visibly giddy with the idea of befriending the dog. He was bouncing slightly on the cushion that Unki had offered him.
