"They do, they do," she smiles a bit, shaking her head. "But I think you misunderstand a little why it'll attract.." she furrowed her brow a little, put on a voice, "the ladies," she dropped the voice, "yea? Proper samurai show good care to their appearance as a matter of displaying an orderly self, hmm?" she leaned forward a little, scrunching her nose and giving it a slight shake.

"I'm a Mantis you know though, I hear that makes me rash and a bit of a rascal." He observed thoughtfully, though his tone really wasn't all that serious.

"Still, I suppose I could comb my hair and maybe even put on a proper kimono if we ever go on that garden walk."

"I would love to see you in one, Tsuruchi-san," she said with a bright smile. Nodding her head. "I think you'd clean up really well if you gave it your best," she smiled just the same as before.

"I've done it once already when I've been here." He admitted after a moment. "No one took pictures though or I'd show you." Which really wasn't all that surprising.

"Yeah, I didn't think that you were the type," she grinned, "not by a long shot. However, I'm sure some avid fan here could suggest at least half a dozen costumes you could be suited for. Not a whole lot I could dress up as unless I remove the face paint."

“Yeah, that would be a disguise in and of itself if you think about it.” Hide couldn’t help but wonder what she looked like without it, however. “Hmmm... I guess I used to watch a lot of tokusatsu things as a kid. And I do enjoy the Kaiju Slayer series. But I haven’t really seen anything I am familiar with.”

She nodded toward someone dressed as a character from a tokusatsu as they walked. "Those are pretty fun but entirely cheesy. Do you get that sort of vibes in the back of your mind whenever your getting ready for duty in your line of work?"

“I mean...” Hide rubbed the back of her neck as she watched the person in question. “Pretty similar feeling when I’m dressed for ship duty. Actually, the real thing is more skintight. And no fancy mask.”

"Not even a fancy helmet?" she smirked and then shrugged. "I never had much experience with the military. Other than the mandatory tour duty for the Crab where they ship off to somewhere dangerous to learn duty and hardships for a year or two. They stuck me around the logistic squad, sitting in front of a computer all day to read blips and lines, working for the opportunity to push that button to send a missile afar. I never got to push that button, unfortunately."

“There’s a lot of just sitting and waiting for me as well. That’s just military life right there. Shore leave is where the excitement is,” she let out a long wistful sigh. “How long ago did you do your mandatory service?”

She took a glance at a table to renga before answering. "Just a year. It doesn't do them much good to keep witch hunters in such a position when they could be elsewhere. Being a Crab makes me a candidate for military duty but being a witch hunter isn't exactly a good fit for such a duty. Yeah, sure, some witch hunters work as a military unit but I manage better by working alone with my feet on the ground at all times. So after my stint was done, it was off to the galaxy abroad. My sensei had to reel me back in for this miai, of course."

“Ehh? But if you work alone, who will pull you out of holes that you find yourself in?” Hide couldn’t help but tease her Kuni companion, but she did genuinely mean at least a little bit of that. “Miai is a good chance to find not just a spouse but a partner.”

"Will just have to show me next time you get into one, yea?" she said with a small laugh. Giving a notable glance around, "Anything else you need here, Tsuruchi-san?"

"I will." He replied offering an easy smile to the Crane. "There are a few things I wasnted to have a look at as well." Hayato said after a moment. "I think I may have stolen the conventions favorite water vendor for long enough though."

"Ah, you're right," she said, a little laugh as she glanced back the way they came. "I really should get back to seeing who needs help with what. We'll catch up again soon, yea?" she asked, looking back to him already ready to make her way.

"Yeah." He agreed with a warm smile. "Thanks for all your help, Doji-san. " Hayato offered with a polite bow of farewell.

"Okay, hey..." she said as she almost brandish the reaver plush again, "that hole was particularly clever and I felt like I was in a rush. They don't usually get me that badly. That was just a special case, do you hear me?"

"But you are right about the other bit," she nodded at first, "but thankfully you've gifted me reaver-san, right?"

"There won't be any holes when I'm around," she said in her own version of a rock-swallowing voice.

“If you say so, Eriko-san. But I did kind of warm people to be alert,” Hide said, a bit smug. She could be a dumbass and smartass in equal measures.

Then there was the issue of the reaver plush.

“Reaver-san, you lucky bastard.” Hide’s eyes narrowed once again at the little plush as she got down on his level, “You have made a rival this day, toy. I bet you can’t even lift my rifle!”

"But why would I need a rifle when you've fallen into my trap of getting in my face?" the reaver would say before moving forward and stopping short of bopping Hide in the face once much.

Eriko would chuckle at that and take back the reaver, "Okay, now I'm having more fun with this thing than I'm supposed to, your first mistake was giving me a partner in crime. Reaver-san and I, we're going to be as thick as thieves from now on. It'll be the start of a beautiful friendship."

Hide just glared at the plush reaver as she stood back up straight, arms crossed in front of her chest. She puffed up in mock annoyance, “Partners in crime, huh? Are all your crimes wounding a poor Matsu’s pride?”

She was obviously having good fun with the teasing.