After a long trip, a late shuttle and a night in the Kennel, Shion felt Stray deserved to get out and spread its legs a bit.

She sure did too.

She walks around keeping the mutt on a long leash so as to give it some space to explore and run around. She takes a look at the buildings and establishments around, a bit surprised and definitely uncomfortable with the heat, having to take off her jacket and throw it on her shoulder. Stray, meanwhile, seems happy to explore, stopping by a number of walls to sniff something... but the smells often seem to overwhelm his sensitive nose.

Maybe she should look for a different place to walk with him the next days...

Not far away Nishida could be seen. He looked a little more casual than usual. He only wore a shirt and vest, no tie and wore jeans instead of his usual chic suit pants. On a long leash he led a very excited Shiba Inu who always ran back and forth to his master and occasionally got a treat. A broad smile was seen on Nishida's face when he interacted with the dog.

Akechi, his bodyguard, was walking next to them and they seemed to be talking about something undefined.

Nishida briefly handed the leash over to Akechi, stretched and lit a cigarette, it didn't seem like he recognized the other samurai so far.

Shion saw the other men approaching, but left him to his own devices for now. He seemed nice enough - well, nice with the dog at least. That was always a good sign.

But... he seemed serious, somehow?

Of course Stray didn't care at all about such things, and when the leash was handled from the man in the vest to the one following him, he suddenly ran and pulled at the leash, dragging Shion closer as he tried to get closer and closer to get a sniff at the Shiba Inu's butt.

Shion tried to rein him in a bit, her other hand going to her forehead and her eyes rolling before she bows her head in apology, then to greet them. "Aaaaah Samurai-sama... I'm sorry, he's a bit overeager at times. I hope I haven't disturbed you too much. Suzume Shion... and the... crazy thing here's Stray". The word she uses is 'crazy', but it's said in a clearly affectionate way.

Nishida let the dogs do their dog things. He gave the Samurai before him a proper bow and introduced himself: "I'm Yasuki Nishida, procurment specialist for YamadaCorp. This is Akechi, my servant." he said, pointing to Akechi. He then bowed a bit to pet the Shiba Inu. "And this is Mochi" he said smiling at the dog.

"Tell me if I'm wrong, but you are also here for the Miai, right?" he asked

"Pleasure to meet you, Yasuki-sama, Akechi-san." Her expression lightens a fair bit as she bows down and looks at Mochi. "Oh, Mochi's lovely, isn't he?" - she looks up a bit "Oh, sorry... He? She?". She extends her hand a bit towards the dog as Stray is busy sniffing around the Yasuki's dog. "Can I?", she asks.

"Hai... here for the Miai. I guess most of us visiting right now are, ne?". She seems much more excited about the dog than the event, really, but she tries a smile. "Wondering what type of event and people we'll be seeing."

Akechi gave her a proper bow "Good morning Suzume-sama." he replied to her

"You may pet him" Nishida said friendly. "And yes, i guess so. Most likely this is the most visitors this planet recived in ages. I've seen a bunch of spiders, a scorpion, a few crabs and you so far, Suzume-san. But we'll see most of our fellow competitors this evening."

"Thanks for the permission, Yasuki-sama.", she says, controlling her excitement and almost returning to her usual neutral look as she slowly kneels to pet the Shiba Inu.

"I suppose you're right. I'm not sure I've seen so many samurai from different clans and places outside of the Miya Network offices, to be honest. It... should be quite an experience"

She attempts a smile at him, but it comes off somewhat subdued again. "So... has Yasuki-sama particular... expectations for the festival?"

Edit: Posting while working , hadn't noticed it was the servant calling her 'sama'...

Mya Network? Interesting, he thought. "You're in duty to the Mya Networks? That seems like very honorable duty, Suzume-san. Concerning my expectations? No more than other representatives of the clans, to procure a promising marriage for my own clan if possible." he said, meeting her insecure smile with a smirk.

Mochi was very excited to meet a new human. He waggled his tail around and panted heavily. Nishida smiled "Calm down a bit, buddy, show some etiquette."

The girl seemed slightly surprise with the Yasuki's words, but smiled at him.

"Oh... it is an honourable duty, I suppose. We hope to produce interesting, inspiring material".

Her attention might be a bit more focused on the dog than appropriate, but she tried to keep looking at the Yasuki while petting the dog.

"He's so full of energy", she says, grinning. "Mochi's such a good boy, aren't you?"

Still petting Mochi while extending her hand to call Stray near, she looks up again.

"So... I don't Yasuki-sama is in the entertainment industry as well, then, ne?"

He chukled a bit "No, YamadaCorp equips our samurai with the tools they need to fulfill their duties. My duty is to ensure we can keep up with the demand"

He looked at Mochi and smlied "He really does, have you heard Mochi, you're a good boy"

Mochi panted and did barked happily two times.

"I have him since my Gempukku, what about your dog?" he asked.

"Oh... I see", she says, now scratching behind the Shiba Inu's ears as she pets her own dog as well. "So... more or less a... procurement professional, then?"

After quite some time, she finally gets up, rubbing her hands together to clean them a bit. "Stray... I've taken him a little less than two years ago. Not long before I joined the Miya Network. He... had seen some rough days, I guess. But he's grown all big and nice, ne, Stray?", she says, calling the dog close to her and petting its head again.

"So... I suppose we'll meet at the Botanic Garden later, then? Have you met other participants of the festival so far?"

"I suppose so. A few I have. Some fellow crab, a few spiders and a scorpion,... oh and you of course"

"Then it looks like the little ronin has probably found a home and a lord to take care of him, ne?" he said smiling at the Dog.

"I see. I haven't met many people myself - only you and another Crab, funnily enough", she says with a small smile. "And... I suppose those in the midnight shuttle might count? I wasn't really awake to properly meet them though..."

Her smile grows a bit as she pets Stray, who gets up and claws at her legs. "Hah. This is a very loyal servant now indeed, ne, Stray?"

OOC
Sorry for the big delay. Been afk or working most of the time for the last few days. Thinking I may have to be content with very slow and little posting for this game sadly

"I would be suprised if yuo would know many people early one, there is a week ahead to get to know each other, right?" he said with a smile.

"Un", she says, agreeing with a nod. "I suppose you're right. So... heading somewhere in particular?", she says, getting up and trying to get Stray to focus close to her again.

"Oh, just a walk arounf the block, getting acoustomed to our temporary home, do you and stray want to join?" he asked friendly.