Tawakoshi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 95
Allegiances: Tawakoshi
Registered: Dec 20, 2017 12:22:53 GMT -8
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Post by Tawakoshi on Jun 4, 2019 5:01:48 GMT -8
It was quite rare that a rowboat would venture all the way into the main harbor of Xuandao (the capital now named Sakura-Kyo) as they would normally just dock at the banks along the way and continue their journey through the main gates. However this approach was not illegal although they may catch one or two soldiers trying to hide a chuckle as the two people in the small boat would have to pull themselves all the way up to the high docking bridges when entering land.
A middle aged man with a smirk stroked his long silver striped beard as he approached with the other hand on his back.
"Now now, isn't that a mighty vessel you have there..!" the ship inspector jested. "I don't suppose you have a pass do you? Otherwise I'd need both your names, occupations and reasons for coming here... and you'll have to pull that boat up the water as we can't have driftwood taking up the space for the ships that need this place." his voice self satisfied as a cheeky smile crept up along his gaunt face.
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Hēisè
Established
Roleplay posts: 12 
Physical Description: A young, battle-hardened man with eastern features and unnaturally dark eyes. Carries a worn and simple blade, with a slightly curved spine. He doesn't look as though he can be trusted.
Accompanying Hēisè is an elderly blind man known as Irako. Though seemingly disabled, Irako is a master swordsman and shows unusual loyalty to his younger companion.
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Registered: May 30, 2019 17:51:30 GMT -8
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Post by Hēisè on Jun 4, 2019 5:47:30 GMT -8
Hēisè was a man who didn't usually take too kindly to arrogant jests, but luckily for the bearded man and Hēisè himself, his companion was far more skilled at the clashing of wits and words.
"How right you are, my lady," Irako replied, very purposefully mistaking the inspector's gender for his own amusement. His eyes were glazed and blind, but even so he managed to climb up onto the dock and brush himself off. "It is pleasing to speak to one as sharp in wits as yourself, who realises that it is not the outward appearance of something that puts value to its worth, but rather the contents of its character."
Hēise remained in the boat, looking down so as not to betray any amusement on his face. "I'll let you deal with the inspector," Hēisè said. "I'll go take the boat somewhere out of sight so it won't frighten the other ships."
With that said, the younger man pushed the boat away from the high dock and began to row back out of the harbour. He'd find somewhere suitable to drag the boat up onto land, then make his way back to the ship inspector and Irako by foot. Until that time, however, Irako would try to satisfy the inspector's curiosities.
"My name is Irako, my companion's name is Hēisè," Irako explained, one arm resting on the hilt of the sword that was at his hip. "We are travellers and and our reason for coming here is travelling. I assume, being a noble lady such as yourself, your husband doesn't let you travel much?"
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Tawakoshi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 95
Allegiances: Tawakoshi
Registered: Dec 20, 2017 12:22:53 GMT -8
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Post by Tawakoshi on Jun 4, 2019 6:11:24 GMT -8
A frown appeared on the forehead of the ship inspector as his gender was misinterpreted and he looked right and left to the two guards flanking him - as if he wanted confirmation that his voice was indeed manly. The inspector had no time to talk before Irako finished himself.
"I... I am certainly no woman!" he said offended although he knew not what to say since it was a blind man that made the mistake. Was he insulting him or was it a genuine mistake? It would be both foolish and dishonorable to squabble with such a guy though he was not happy at all.
"Fine! I care not anyway for your little shenanigans." he said disgruntled. "But you'll still pay the fifty gold tariff or you can enter through the main gate instead." he said assertively.
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Hēisè
Established
Roleplay posts: 12
Physical Description: A young, battle-hardened man with eastern features and unnaturally dark eyes. Carries a worn and simple blade, with a slightly curved spine. He doesn't look as though he can be trusted.
Accompanying Hēisè is an elderly blind man known as Irako. Though seemingly disabled, Irako is a master swordsman and shows unusual loyalty to his younger companion.
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Registered: May 30, 2019 17:51:30 GMT -8
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Post by Hēisè on Jun 4, 2019 7:18:31 GMT -8
"Fifty gold tariff? Or the main gate?" Irako asked, somewhat curious. "Do you mean to say that there's no tariff at the main gate? In which case, why would there be a tariff at this one considering we do not even have a ship to dock?" He asked, gesturing towards the missing boat that Hēisè had removed, but in the completely wrong direction.
"I do hope you are not trying to cheat a blind old man out of his money, but I will see if I have enough gold on me to pay your tariff."
Irako dipped into his pockets, pulling out a small pouch of coins. "Please hold out your hand, and tell me when you have your 50 gold," the blind man said, opening the pouch and taking out a single coin. The coin wasn't local tender, but it was definitely a valid currency - in some other land. Slowly he would drop the coin, hoping that the inspector's hand was in the correct place to catch it. "That's one."
He took out another, then proceeded to drop that too. "That's two."
And then he reached for another...
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Tawakoshi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 95
Allegiances: Tawakoshi
Registered: Dec 20, 2017 12:22:53 GMT -8
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Post by Tawakoshi on Jun 4, 2019 7:58:59 GMT -8
"Paperwork, you still need a ship boarding license..." his brows lifting with subtle superiority. "Also your friend might find he can't return to this place very easily, unless going in through the main gate or swimming, you should have brought the boat up here as I offered." The inspector said, only sliiightly too late.
To Irako's question about cheating an old man he merely huffed slightly. But as Irako started dropping the coins he quickly reached for them, the first one slipping away but catching the next one. He looked at the coins skeptically.
"These are foreign, I will have to pay a fee to get them converted..!" He exclaimed annoyed as his hand went for the old man's purse of gold. "Let me help a blind man out!" the inspector said and if he managed to grab hold of the purse he would take out what equaled fifty five gold or the amount that came closest.
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Hēisè
Established
Roleplay posts: 12
Physical Description: A young, battle-hardened man with eastern features and unnaturally dark eyes. Carries a worn and simple blade, with a slightly curved spine. He doesn't look as though he can be trusted.
Accompanying Hēisè is an elderly blind man known as Irako. Though seemingly disabled, Irako is a master swordsman and shows unusual loyalty to his younger companion.
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Registered: May 30, 2019 17:51:30 GMT -8
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Post by Hēisè on Jun 4, 2019 8:23:08 GMT -8
"Ahh, thank you, thank you," Irako replied politely as he let the inspector take his purse. "It's so refreshing to see the youth of today treating their elders justly," he added, waiting for the inspector to finish and to feel his purse placed back into his outstretched hand.
"Now what's this about paperwork? I'm afraid we'll have to wait for my companion, for as you can clearly see, I am blind and cannot. Don't worry about Hēisè, he'll find his way back sommehow. He's a strong swimmer, you know. He once out-swam a shark, if you can believe it. I know I didn't, but then I couldn't exactly see his proof, could I?" Irako was beginning to ramble a little, but paused just in time to take a nice, deep breath.
"Now about this paperwork and boarding licence. I'm not sure what those are, but as you can see I am clearly nothing more than a decrepit old man, with no trouble to cause in your fine city. Perhaps you would fill them in for me? Or at least, point where I need to sign so we can all be on our way. I'm absolutely craving some teriyaki right about now - perhaps you can recommend me a good restaurant? Hēisè always gets antsy when he's hungry."
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Tawakoshi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 95
Allegiances: Tawakoshi
Registered: Dec 20, 2017 12:22:53 GMT -8
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Post by Tawakoshi on Jun 4, 2019 8:43:39 GMT -8
The inspector calmed himself a little as he counted out the right amount of coin.
"Youth you say... Yeees..." he replied no longer doubting this guy's attempt to insult him just so... However he was not a samurai of easily offendable honor, he was a merchant and gold eased his heart greatly so letting the old man speak he placed the purse back in his palm.
"Don't worry about the paperwork..." he said and took a standard form where he just added their names and the size of their trade ship - 'diminutive' was a word he had yet to use on a form - and rolled it together before stuffing it into the old man's tunic or under his arm whatever seemed more easy. "A shark you say... Interesting indeed." the inspector sounded to pay little interest in his far out story now that he had gotten what he needed.
A small amount of pity crawled into the man's heart though and he sighed.
"How would you even know where to go?" he asked and sighed, knowing that he couldn't just leave him here on the harbor where he would be in the way of everyone and risked getting pushed over the edge.
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Hēisè
Established
Roleplay posts: 12
Physical Description: A young, battle-hardened man with eastern features and unnaturally dark eyes. Carries a worn and simple blade, with a slightly curved spine. He doesn't look as though he can be trusted.
Accompanying Hēisè is an elderly blind man known as Irako. Though seemingly disabled, Irako is a master swordsman and shows unusual loyalty to his younger companion.
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Registered: May 30, 2019 17:51:30 GMT -8
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Post by Hēisè on Jun 4, 2019 10:02:33 GMT -8
"Don't worry about me, my companion will return shortly," Irako said, seeming quite confident in the fact as he put his pouch back into his pockets and took the rolled up form. "In fact, unless my ears mistake me that's him now."
Just as Irako suggested, the young man known as Hēisè was literally swimming back through the river gates, trying to stay as clear of the boats and ships around him as possible. It was quite clearly a stupid and dangerous move, but it was happening anyway and before long a drenched figure was climbing up onto the dock besides them. "There, are you happy now? The boat isn't here to bother you any further," he told the Inspector, an annoyed tone in his voice that came more from his own exertion than anything. He pushed himself up, using a foot and both palms to stand and then gathering his hair into a clump that he wrung river water from.
"Now, if you don't mind," Hēisè continued, "can we please enter the city? I want a warm, dry place to eat warm, dry food."
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Tawakoshi
Committed
Roleplay posts: 95
Allegiances: Tawakoshi
Registered: Dec 20, 2017 12:22:53 GMT -8
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Post by Tawakoshi on Jun 4, 2019 13:07:42 GMT -8
The inspector saw Heise swimming back through the River Gates and made big eyes - perhaps he actually could swim away from a shark? At least the inspector considered it a possibility as Heise drew himself up.
"Ahh well... of course." his lips parted in surprise as he stepped out of their way. There was something to report for his samurai superior tonight that was for sure - but for now the two foreigners were granted entry to the city as per the pass Irako held.
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Hēisè
Established
Roleplay posts: 12
Physical Description: A young, battle-hardened man with eastern features and unnaturally dark eyes. Carries a worn and simple blade, with a slightly curved spine. He doesn't look as though he can be trusted.
Accompanying Hēisè is an elderly blind man known as Irako. Though seemingly disabled, Irako is a master swordsman and shows unusual loyalty to his younger companion.
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Registered: May 30, 2019 17:51:30 GMT -8
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Post by Hēisè on Jun 4, 2019 15:32:58 GMT -8
"Good day," Hēisè replied to the official, giving a slight nod. Water still dripped from his robe as he proceeded to enter the city, but until he dried he would have no choice but to weather the stares of those who were unused to the peculiar.
Irako repeated Hēisè's nod, then began to follow him. Suddenly, Irako's movements were steady and secure and he needed no guide to aid in his travel or direction. His eyes still stared into that nothingness that was a lack of sight, but it appeared Irako had other trusted senses. It certainly explained the sword he had, which to most blind men would be little more than a waste of steel.
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