Carrie
Another day had passed since the conference, and Mai was surprisingly calm and not all that angry about it anymore. 

Chiyoko was glad; she had been getting the brunt of it, most things getting the ire of the ambassador and leading to some rather heated arguments. While the ronin knew better than to argue back too hard, her ronin tongue was also well-versed in backtalk. 

But, she too had been rather pleased as punch, and not wearing her usual scowl. Mai had inquired about it, but the ronin merely said she was in 'high spirits.' Peculiar, but of no worry. 

Mai was more concerned with the arrival of Tsuruchi Senji. 

A letter had reached her from Tsuruchi Aizen, a rather impressive Samurai of the late Wasp Clan that spoke highly of the young Senji, noting he had a very 'particular fighting style' and was very capable in the field (and the sake den, oddly enough). From how she understood it, he was adopted into the Clan. Not a prestigious as birthright, but in away, even better: Not every peasant can earn the right to be a Samurai, after all. 

"Moshi-sama." Mina, one of her crewmen, stepped into main chamber of the embassy and bowed deeply to the ambassador. "Tsuruchi Senji has arrived."

"Good! Send him in, won't you?" Mina nodded and headed off to fetch the man, while Mai sat on her throne of pillows. Chiyoko stood by, and tried not to look so cheery. She had to keep up appearances, after all. 

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Maxine
Senji had been waiting outside the room, idly leaning on one of the pillars while idly eating on a rice ball. He'd bought a few of them in town on the way to the Ambassador's base of operations.

In terms of attire, he's wearing a simple green kimono with sandals. His Daisho is at his side. A simple but well constructed katana, with a tanto to match. His hair, being grown out as it is, has been tied up into a ponytail. His bluish green eyes wander about the room. He was still getting used to it. Being amongst such luxurious places. It was a far cry from the counter of his bar. Though one thing had seemed to carry over. He had a pretty face. It seemed to be just as good at breaking the ice with people of the higher class as it was with breaking ice in conversations with bar customers.

While he was stewing in his thoughts, the woman from earlier, Mina, emerges from the room, signaling him to enter.

Soon enough, he finds himself standing before the actual ambassador of his new clan. He gives a polite bow, unsure of what to do. "I was... Never taught with etiquette hoops to jump through. So... Tell me if I need to kneel or somethin, Lady Mai. Or... Ambassador Mai..." He doesn't seem nervous so much as confused. He pinches his brow. "They need to write a book on this stuff."

Once finished bowing, he straightens out again and reaches into his bag. "Oh, I brought this with me as a gift for allowing me into the clan. Aizen already got his. My parents spared no expense. It took four years to make." He holds up a bottle of slightly red liquid. "Four years aged grape wine with strawberry notes. Homemade at the distillery."

His eyes dart about the room once more, curious about those surrounding him. Mai wasn't what he expected of an ambassador. She looked like more of a straightforward person. Like she actually went outside to do things other than stare off of a balcony and address people. He could respect that.
Carrie
When the Tsuruchi entered the hall, Mai wasn't sure what to expect. He was strong-looking, young, and carried himself well. But he seemed very green at the same time. All the same, he bowed as expected, and then fumbled about a touch. 

Chiyōko didn't seem all that pleased, and went to address it, but Mai put a hand up, halting her bodyguard. "I know of your upbringing, Tsuruchi-san," Mai replied, "It's understandable. I'm not as stuck-up as some might be, so I take no offense. Lady Mai sounds pretty fancy, but much too Gaijin. No, I'd say Moshi-sama is appropriate. I'll see about finding you some more guidance, all the same. There's more than a few courtiers out here that'd eat you alive over such things." 

The custom was to refuse a gift twice, then accept, but she simply accepted it on the first go, feeling it more appropriate for the well-meaning bushi. "Ah, I haven't had a nice wine since I was back home! I thank you kindly, Tsuruchi Senji. Now, sit, sit. Let's talk a touch." 

She motioned to a cushion to sit upon, across from herself. "Ah, before I forget, this is Chiyōko. She's my yojimbo, and a bit of a problem solver, when the need arises." The ronin bowed to the samurai, and remained silent. "She's the quiet, brooding type. A standard ronin, if you ask me. But, enough about her. I wish to discuss you." 

Mai eyed him carefully, sizing him up now that he was close. "Tsuruchi Aizen-sama spoke highly of you. Noted you are adept in a very... Unorthodox fighting style. And, that you were a barkeep before you became a samurai. Rather large change of pace, don't you think?"
Maxine
As she tells Senji he needs a lesson in manners, the young Tsuruchi bows his head. "Apologies. Thank you, Moshi-San. I am... Somewhat lost. The school, while it taught me a lot of the blade and fist, left a lot to be desired in terms of manners. I was thankful to attend just the same."

Once told to sit, he does so with legs crossed. "I hope ya enjoy the wine. My father prides himself on the recipe. He's been tampering with it for a long time."

When introduced to the Robin yojimbo, he gives a respectful bow of his head before once again returning his attention to Mai.

"Unorthodox is... Definitely the word for it. Have you per chance ever heard of the Drunken Mantis? It's... Not a style often used, but it was made by the Mantis clan. Legend goes that a Mantis martial arts master was... Somewhere. I can't remember all the details. But he saw a drunk monkey, and observed the way it stumbled around... Yet still deftly dodged anything that was in its way. He was inspired, and proceeded to make a fighting style based off of it. A fitting fighting style for a barkeep, I think." He chuckles slightly.

When questioned about his transition from barkeep to samurai, he rubs his chin thoughtfully before using his hand to make a 'so-so' gesture. "As the barkeep, it was my job to keep the peace within the bar. Made sure no one was harassing the ladies, causing fights or setting anything on fire. In a way, the job of a samurai isn't too different. The big adjustment is now I help watch over an *Entire* State instead of a bar. So, I'm doing what I did before. Just on a larger scale. Or at least... That's what I tell myself to alleviate all the pressure on my shoulders." Senji shrugs.
Carrie
"Drunken Mantis? Bah, I heard that was just an excuse monks made to sneak sake into their dojos." Indeed, Drunken Mantis wasn't well-known, most not thinking it a real style. If her late husband was still on this plane of existence, he would have told her all about it, knowing a few practitioners himself. "I might just need to see a demonstration sometime," She added, "See how it stands up against my own style." 

As they discussed life as a bartender and a Samurai, Mai decided that she liked this young man. He seemed genuine enough, and while a little rough around the edges, he'd serve well and with courage, no doubt. "If it makes you feel any better, Tsuruchi-san, I understand the feeling. Shugenja to Mother to Pirate to Ambassador is hardly an easy transition itself. But like the waves, we have to just roll into whatever shore we find ourselves." 

Mai leaned back a little on her cushions, and got to brass tacks. "For example, I may have use of you, and soon enough. I need someone that's not afraid of danger and death, if it comes down to it. Things are peaceful enough for now, but who knows for how long. We have a pleasure ship and bazaar shops to protect, as well as our shugenja and courtiers. Muscle is necessary. Think you can be that muscle?" 

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Maxine
"That's the other rumor. That the style evolved into existence through drunk monks trying to figure out how to fight practically. More likely, but a less cool story." The young man states with a slight chuckle. "I'm no master, but id love to show it to you sometime. Its main use is being unpredictable. Drunken fist is..." He pauses, rubbing his chin in thought for a moment. "It's at its best against people who aren't completely confident in themselves. Or against people who's fighting style involves getting settled into a specific rhythm." It made sense. Such an erratic combat style would make those who aren't confident in their capabilities struggle to put up a proper defense, and those who settle into a rhythm would falter in the face of someone without rhythm to their fighting.

Senji gives a polite bow of his head. "Not sure I'll ever fully abandon my barkeep upbringings. Too much useful info learned there."

The young mantis samurai goes silent as she begins describing the work that there is to be done. He gains a sudden glint in his eye as she mentions the pleasure ship. "Moshi-San. I've a question. Will this pleasure ship have a bar on it? If it does, I may have a preposition on a way to put more than just my muscle to work. Alcohol loosens lips, but that's useless if you don't have someone who's proficient at overhearing those loose lips." He sits up slightly, his position less relaxed as he gets excited about his idea. "Back home, I knew all the village gossip. Who's kid wasn't actually theirs. Who's husband cheated on who's. Which daughter was going after a boy who her father didn't approve of. *Which fool lost all of his daughter's dowry in a fit of gambling.*" He seemed particularly disgusted with that last one. "Every piece of that info I received was at my parent's bar, their lips loosened by alcohol. Your pleasure boat may be more than a pleasure boat, Moshi-San. If it has people from other clans visiting, adding a bar if it doesn't already have one could make it an informational *Gold mine*. All you need to have is a barkeep that knows how to listen." It seems young Senji was more complex than initially seeming. There was a bit of a schemer under all that village boy nervousness.
Carrie
"Well, if you're so certain that you can do great things with it, I think you should take part in an upcoming tournament." Moshi Mai crossed her arms, a little proud of herself. "The Mantis Clan will be putting on a Hand-to-Hand tournament, on the Tomodachi Maru fro the spring festival. The prive is a custom riverboat, and the bragging rights, of course. I obviously can't enter, since I'm the one putting it on, but there's a few Mantis taking part. You should do the same. Might just win yourself a boat!" 

As the topic shifted to the major ship, Mai liked what she was hearing. "You're not wrong, Tsuruchi-san," She said, rubbing her chin. "We have a few bars on the ship, above and belowdeck. _And,_ I can say that every servant we have aboard is reporting what they find out to me. But, having a proper bartender that can throw his fists around and keep an ear open as well? That sounds like a lovely asset." 

Mai stood a little straighter as she thought of the proposal. "...Done. You'll be lead bartender on the ship. You'll be in charge of the heimin that deal with refreshments, and any rowdy folks that need to begone. Sound good?"

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Maxine
"I may look into the tournament." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "I'll have to brush up on counter attacks. I know how to do them... But drunken mantis requires you to bend your spine at some *Strange* Angles."

Senji seems surprised. He was making the suggestion, but he didn't think she'd give *Him* The position. They had just met after all. He instantly bows his head. "It sounds excellent, Moshi-San. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations." His mind instantly begins racing, his mind piecing together how to make this operation that's been dumped on his lap more efficient. It's then that one thing comes to mind. Something he believed to be an important piece of the puzzle.

"Moshi-San. Do I have permission to hire people I find qualifiable to work as servers on the ship?" He tilts his head in curiosity. "I've no doubt that the servers you've hired are competent. Not to mention I'm sure they're beautiful since it's a pleasure boat and that partly donates to information extracting but..." He pauses, thinking over how to place his words. "There's something more important to it than a pretty face. Me? I mostly overheard information. My mother? They practically *Fed* Their woes to her on days where she was serving the floor. I think there's something to it." He drums his fingers on the table in front of him. 

"People find comfort... A certain relief, in people that have a... Motherly or fatherly countenance to them. Beauty or no beauty, it matters not. The pretty faces on the staff might pick up a tidbit here or there. But I think hiring people with that sort of temperament. Those are the ones that will dig up gold."
Carrie
"You'd better," Mai teased, "Or I'll send you back to your little village for guard duty and nothing more. Look, just do what you do best, and we'll have no issues, I don't think."

She did her best to ignore the small infraction against her, taking into consideration that he was not of noble birth, and focused more on the question at hand. "Ah, I see what you mean," She said, rubbing her chin. "I recall telling many of my senior sisters my woes during my training days. But, you already have that permission to hire as you see fit. Just be careful to vouch them carefully, yes? We have friends in this city, but more enemies, no doubt."

Mai leaned back a little, and figured she'd correct him, just a bit, "Just, do me a favor, won't you? Pick up a copy of one of the Doji etiquette scrolls. I might be nice enough to correct you on calling me Moshi-sama instead of _-san,_ but some of these Clans in this city will take it so seriously, they'll make it into a thing. And then use that thing against you and the Clan. Understood?"

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