Kuchiki Tsugiharu continued his exploration of the planet by locating Starcade. It might be a planet full of natural wonders, but the flickering sign, the failing air-conditioning, and the hum and buzz of slightly rundown machines, these called to him.

It was early enough that the arcade wasn’t that busy, though it was already starting to warm up. Still, it wasn’t so hot yet that a session of Hyper Dance Stars would leave him too sweaty to attend the luncheon. It would be better in co-op mode though….

"Hey!" Ichika called out, coming up and putting her hands on a nearby metal bar that separated the lane of traffic from the dance machine. With a warm smile, bright eyes, she looked over to Tsugiharu, "That spot taken?" she asked, her voice was light and filled with a nice lively quality. Aided in no small favor by the smile, certainly. As she leaned in the atmospheric lights played across her face.

It wasn't that surprising for Tsugiharu to not notice someone approaching over the din of 'Combat Fighter Hiya!'. He turned, and bowed to the person addressing him.

"Ah, no Crane-san, I was hoping that the fates might send me someone up to a little co-operative dancing. Someone charming, and elegant, and won't hit me too hard when I misstep."

"I am Kuchiki Tsugiharu. Shall we dance?"

Ichika frowned a little, stepping around the bar and then up to Tsugiharu. Bowing in her greeting. When she rose she looked at him, "Do.. do people usually hit you when you don't do good at dancing, Kuchiki-sama?" she asked, concern on her tone.

Tsugiharu considered the menu and the question. He didn't know any of these songs, but he did know the answer to the question.

"Hm? Not typically. Most people find the failures funnier. But Daigotsu Rumiko is the sort of person who has to win at everything, be it combat, or jan-ken-pon. So if you partnered up with her at this game, she'd expect perfection from herself and her partner. Although given her position, it's not hitting, it's "Kinetic Conditioning for the Acceleration of Reflex and Agility Enhancement. KCARAE for short. Or 'Caring' too much as it came to be known.'

He nodded at the screen.

"See anything you like, Doji-san?"

Frowning again, she shifted through the titles. Taking a direct hand on the control she indicated two in order, "We could do this one from Usagi Drop, it's my favorite," she said with a little smirk. "At least from them... orrrrr, maybe this one by Susumu Yakumo?" she said, looking back to Tsugiharu with a grin, "Pay some homage to your Clan, yea?"

Tsugiharu blinked before looking at the songs.

"Oh, did her new galactic tour have her doing a cover of that song? I haven't been keeping close tabs on it, but it'd make sense to have her do covers on the older stuff to broaden her appeal." he commented.

After all, finding a Yakumo original programmed into an ancient machine on a Phoenix world run by a Spider hating governor would be as likely as finding a good yakitori stand with walking distance of the Pit of Fu Leng.

He shook his head.

"Let's do your favorite. Maybe your love of the song will inspire me to do better he said cueing up the song.

(After some quality rules clarification, Tsugiharu gets a 12 and a 25)

"Alright!" she said, with a chipper step into the place on the machine. Once she double checked they were both ready, Ichika showed herself as not the most exciting or thought-provoking dancer! But she wasn't the worst dancer in all of creation. Regardless, she had fun, and by the end of it was laughing.

[Ichika Results: 12 and 19]

The song had surprised Tsugiharu a bit. Usagi Drop was known to be a pretty frentic group, but he guessed everyone must have one ballad in their collection. There had been a possible twinge when the option for hyper-mode came up, and he declined it. Rumiko would have 'kcared' him for that, you needed hyper mode for hyper scores.

But he wasn't dancing with Rumiko, he was dancing with a Crane who was having fun, and he found he rather enjoyed that.

It also didn't hurt when at the end they were scored as 'Perfect' for in-snych.

"Guess your love for the song really did carry us through, Doji-san. Very nicely done."

"Only if we forget your ability to match me so well!" she said in half-laugh and half reply. Moving quickly to collect the pins she spun about and returned to Tsugiharu. "Hey! So, which one do you want?" she asked, holding them both out for Tsugiharu to examine.

He picks the one in her left hand, and fastens it to his collar.

"One should proudly display their victories after all." he offered. "Would you care for a drink after our stunning display, and perhaps some conversation?"

Ichika promptly pinned the other to the left side of her kimono's collar, carefully getting it on just right. Stepping down from the dance-platform she nodded happily, "Of course! We should celebrate our victory over the dance!" she said with a little over-dramatized fist-pump.

"Shall I let you lead the way then, Kuchiki-san?" she ventured to guess that wouldn't be inappropriate term of address.

A small bow of acknowledgment followed by a short walk over to the vending machines. And a brief study of the sign.

"Odd for such a notice to be up for so long." he says gesturing at the 'No booze' sign. "From what I understand, the Inn doesn't serve alcohol either. I wonder if that's a Phoenix preference, or they simply haven't gotten around to either being able to make their own in abundance or trade for it."

He turned to the Crane.

"What do you like for drinks then? Something sweet? Fruity?"

"I haven't really a taste for the alcoholic stuff anyway," she said with a light wave of her hand. Looking at the options she smirked and turned so that she was somewhat between the Machine and Tsugiharu but off to the side a bit.

"Something fruity, but how about you take a guess as to what I want? Sounds fun, right?"

"If you're willing to do the same for me, why not?" he offered.

He perused the dials, before inserting the money and turning...the unmarked dial...which dispensed an unmarked can.

"A little mystery, and a little adventure would seem to suit you well Doji-san." he said offering the blank can.

Taking and raising the can in her hand she looked at it with a furrowed brow, "Weird," she laughed in a reserved manner.

"Hmmm," she said, perusing the choices and selecting one. The can rolled down with a rattle and she quickly collected it for him.

"It's a little watered down, I think, but the fruity Yonge to this one is nice. Should hopefully bring you a little more joy in the day, yea?" she said with a light smile, offering it over

"There's been considerably more joy to today than I was expecting, but a little more could not hurt." he said opening his drink. "Kampai."

Ichika frowned at that, furrowed a brow, but with the cheer she joined in, "Kampai!" she said, opening the can and taking a sip. Furrowing her brow she looked at the can, then again, took another sip which seemed to offer no answers.

The Spider looked at her quizzically.

"Well, it's not empty or motor oil." he offered. "Can you not pinpoint the taste, Doji-san?"

"No.. but I cannot place it either, it's.." she looked at the can again, trying to figure it out. Taking another drink. Tasting it carefully. "Like, a strange kind of.. aftertaste? Just the taste of it overall too.. I can't figure out what it's supposed to be.." she offered the can over to Tsugiharu. "Want to try?"