(D7, EM, Open) The way to a rat's heart is through their stomach

[Inga]

Ayumu followed Inga and asked her in a low voice:

"So?"

Inga pursed her lips. "A few nights ago I woke up in the swamp where this fog was making me think I was hearing a familiar voice." she lowered her head a bit sadden. "Most divination are cryptic messages that one must interpret... and well..." She looked up at Ayumu. "I... I think we should be careful to whom we give our names to... You see my divination was more like... Mind your name."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Inga pursed her lips. "A few nights ago I woke up in the swamp where this fog was making me think I was hearing a familiar voice." she lowered her head a bit sadden. "Most divination are cryptic messages that one must interpret... and well..." She looked up at Ayumu. "I... I think we should be careful to whom we give our names to... You see my divination was more like... Mind your name."

The remark triggered something in Ayumu's mind:

"That reminds me of something. Someone told me about the power of names in recent past. But not as clearly.

I think that was Reiko. Need to check my notes to be sure, but probably her. She wanted to spread the name of Fu-Leng as much as possible. To support his strength. I found the wording strange at that time. Maybe there was more to it that I initially thought."

He tried to focused back on the present:

"Thanks for the advise Inga. I'll be careful.

Maybe you should also talk to someone with the knowledge and the skills to actually understand the full ramifications of this name thing. Dunno who though."

A concerned look at her clean unease:

"Also... Just... Are you alright?"

[Jiyo Sora]

"Yes. And I won't stand for slavery, even if it's captured non-humans." At least that's what she assumed the Seidou had done with the captured Rat-Children.

"And that, my friend, is just part of why we get along so swimmingly."

[Togashi Saruko]

"And here I thought it was because I find your brute honesty refreshing," Saruko remarked with a teasing laugh and proceeded to eat some more of her breakfast.

[Inga]

The remark triggered something in Ayumu's mind:

"That reminds me of something. Someone told me about the power of names in recent past. But not as clearly.

I think that was Reiko. Need to check my notes to be sure, but probably her. She wanted to spread the name of Fu-Leng as much as possible. To support his strength. I found the wording strange at that time. Maybe there was more to it that I initially thought."

He tried to focused back on the present:

"Thanks for the advise Inga. I'll be careful.

Maybe you should also talk to someone with the knowledge and the skills to actually understand the full ramifications of this name thing. Dunno who though."

A concerned look at her clean unease:

"Also... Just... Are you alright?"

She placed her hand on the Jiyo's shoulder and gave a sigh of relief. "Thanks, I think I'll go to that place they call library. I heard there is information there." Inga smiled to try relief his concern letting go of his shoulder. "I am fine... Don't worry... I still live." The girl giggled.

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Thanks, I think I'll go to that place they call library. I heard there is information there." Inga smiled to try relief his concern letting go of his shoulder. "I am fine... Don't worry... I still live." The girl giggled.

Ayumu looked at her with a tiny smile who he hoped was reassuring:

"If you need my help for anything, you know you just have to ask. And if you just need to talk, I'll happily listen."

[Inga]

"Thank you." The young woman smiled. "Now, let eat... I sure you made the best food." She walked towards the table not before giving the skeletal man a brief hug. It was not often she was appreciated.

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Ayumu noded and returned to the makeshift cuisine just in time to save the sauce from a dark fate.

[Jiyo Sora]

"And here I thought it was because I find your brute honesty refreshing," Saruko remarked with a teasing laugh and proceeded to eat some more of her breakfast.

"Well, that's part of it too. And besides, admit it, you're madly intrigued by the dark side of my nature."

He adopted an expression of comic severity.

"So dark."

[Togashi Saruko]

"Aw, but I know that you're secretly a ray of sunshine behind it all, Sora," Saruko teased as she finished her breakfast quickly. The Saru Daimyo certainly didn't waste time picking at her food.

"Oh, by the way, if you want to bring something back to the children, I've been pressing the flowers I've found so far on this journey. It's not as nice as fresh flowers, but it preserves much of how they look like."

[Inga]

Inga took a seat where she was munching on her breakfast.

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Aw, but I know that you're secretly a ray of sunshine behind it all, Sora," Saruko teased as she finished her breakfast quickly. The Saru Daimyo certainly didn't waste time picking at her food.

"Oh, by the way, if you want to bring something back to the children, I've been pressing the flowers I've found so far on this journey. It's not as nice as fresh flowers, but it preserves much of how they look like."

Cheerfully, voice a bit coarse from the very spicy smoke of the cooking:

"Oh, so it's you Kinsen was referencing when she said we should become beacons of light. Are your hair going to turn sun-colored too?

For the children, a piece of Nezumi craft might be interesting too. Do they make toys?"

[Togashi Saruko]

"Ooooh... Nezumi craft of some sort is a good idea. I should look into that too." She figured her own children might be more interested in that.

"I don't know if Nezumi children have toys... I will have to look into that."

[Jiyo Sora]

"Oh, by the way, if you want to bring something back to the children, I've been pressing the flowers I've found so far on this journey. It's not as nice as fresh flowers, but it preserves much of how they look like."

"If nothing else, they'll appreciate the variety, although I'd be wary of trying to evenf ind any flowers from here on out... damn things might have teeth."

At Ayumu's mention of Nezumi toys and Saruko's taking up the idea, he nodded.

"See, that's why Ayumu's the brains of the Imperial operations on this mission. I'm just the winning smile and diplomatic grace."

[Togashi Saruko]

She shuddered a little at the idea of flowers with teeth.

As Sora proclaimed himself the social butterfly of the Imperial duo, Saruko looked at Ayumu. "Be very afraid."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

As Sora proclaimed himself the social butterfly of the Imperial duo, Saruko looked at Ayumu. "Be very afraid."

"I've had to deal with Han-Han and the imperial kids at the same time once. Since then, I haven't known fear."

[Jiyo Sora]

"We Jiyo have to be tough indeed!"

[Togashi Saruko]

Saruko looked very seriously at Ayumu. "Does Han-Han steal your breakfast too?"

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Wouldn't be Han-Han if he didn't.

Though, as far as food-stealing go, Shinsei's crow could give it a good run for their money."

[Togashi Saruko]

She laughed warmly. "Ah. Yes. Karasu is quite the clever little food-thief too."

"I just can't bring myself to be mad for long at either of them though... especially Han-Han since I haven't seen him in so long. The children must be very happy with him around?"