D5LE, Pet the Kitty (Gusai's rooms, Closed!)

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai obliges, stroking her ears again.

"It's a different thing," he says, "sailing the sea and sailing up and down rivers. I've done both, as you might guess, and there're different hazards--and opportunities. Much easier to maneuver on the sea, for one, though far, far easier to grow lost."

He smiles. "For most folks. I never seem to have the trouble, myself."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"I see, Otomo sama. Tell me then will you ever settle or will your love always be the sea?" She enjoys being pet. "Tell me more, please."

[Otomo Gusai]

"When I am bidden," Gusai replies, focusing the attentions of his hands on the outer edges of Sasori's ears, "I will wed, of course. But I have been the master of the Hopeful Endeavor for some time now, and served on her decks longer than that. I don't think I'm like to leave her as long as I can steer her straight."

His hands leave her ears. "There might be some things work better if you turn around."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Perhaps, but why don't lay your head on my lap. I can try and give you a nice massage. " The girl looking down at her lap.

[Otomo Gusai]

"Face up or down?" Gusai asks.

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori chuckled. "You are the master today so it is up to you."

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai sets his cup down, then, and turns himself around before he lays back, putting his head into Sasori's lap. He grins up at her slyly, wiggles his eyebrows at her, and says "If my lady would care to proceed?"

[Bayushi Sasori]

The young lady untied his hair and started to massage his head. "How does that feel Otomo sama?" She smiled. "I will be gentle."

[Otomo Gusai]

"It's lovely," Gusai replies, shifting slightly as he lays out. "I place myself in your hands."

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori continued to massage the head. "Good Otomo sama. Would you help me learn more about the was of the sea." She went down to the ears as she massaged the lobes. "I would like to see the sea one day. Never been outside the river boats."

[Otomo Gusai]

"Of course," Gusai says before shivering a little bit at her touch. "That's good--what would you like to know?"

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Is it true that there are sea serpents beyond the horizon?" She continued her massage moving to rubbing the shoulders. "I have read stories about the Orochi. Have you ever encountered such creatures?"

[Otomo Gusai]

"Mmm," Gusai says as her hands slip under his shoulders, and he answers her.

"I can't say it's not true about Orochi, though I've not seen 'em. I have seen more'n a few things, though. Great beasts with tentacles that lashed about. Uminyudo calling for buckets or barrels or ladles. Funayurei clawing for company. Kechibi streaking as flames across the waves."

He shudders as another memory comes to his mind, and his left hand goes to his eyepatch.

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori noted the hand reaching for the patch and held it. She started give it a massage as she felt the rough edges. "I might need some oil to soften your hands." She frown. "Bad memories sama... I didn't mean to bring them up. I want you to feel good not bad. Have you been married sama?"

[Otomo Gusai]

"Can't let 'em get too soft," Gusai says of his hands. "They're hard for good reason.

"But, no," he says, pivoting to the question, "I've never been married. That's...not mine to command, really. Have to wed for the good of the Family and the Clan."

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Ah, so you fish and eat the fish to then fish again?" She pondered. "Or do you just like to play with the fish and set it free when you are bored?" She started to massage the arm.

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai chuckles a bit.

"I can say with truth," he replies, "that I eat hungrily wherein I cast a line from my rod. And there are many as've nibbled at my hook but that I've not reeled in. But no catch I've made has said to me they've regretted it.

"And there are waters that bear dipping into more than once, to be sure."

[Bayushi Sasori]

Sasori chuckled. She dipped her fingers in the tea and moistened his lips. "Is that so? Would the fish still bite?"

[Otomo Gusai]

Gusai nips at the fingers playfully, then licks his lips.

"Some would have been caught by others," he says, "but those that still swam free would once again taste what I dangled for them."

He catches her hand and kisses the tea-moist fingertips.

[Bayushi Sasori]

"Then you are quite the fisherman." Sasori giggled at the nibbling of the fingertips. "Would you help me?"