Author: Kinnara, Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:05 AM, Post Subject: Biwa Boku-Boku [O]

Walking the streets along the riverside, a young woman dressed in an iridescent blue feather-patterned cloak stretched her arms as she watched the pleasure barges float by. "Ahh… It's good to be home." No matter how many times she came back, the view of the lanterns swaying in the golden afternoon light never grew old. It had been several months since she had been in Jayou. It was where she was born and raised; Lan Ying was glad it hadn't changed since then. Nisshoki had beautiful mountains and was peaceful, but there was no place like home. Crowds of tourists passed by chattering in unknown tongues all dressed in strange and fantastical garments. When night fell, the riverside city was transformed into another world where the evening was twice as lively as the day. It was like those tales of old where an unwitting human found themselves transported to the spirit realm when they took a wrong turn. The weather was warm and she had nothing to do at the moment, so now was a good time as any to scout out places to find work. Being a traveling entertainer had originally been a side job to earn living expenses, but now it had become something of a full-time effort. 

"Well it can't be helped. You don't start getting offers until you're famous." She said with a sigh. There were some new boats she didn't see before, and since Mingyi was resting she could slip on aboard one for a drink. It wasn't morning anymore, one sip wouldn't hurt. Tasting drinks was a good way to figure if a place had business. With the way she was dressed she knew she wouldn't have a chance in more upscale establishments, so she had to start low. When a ship with a darkwood deck pulled up by the pier, she cleared the gap and ducked inside. Lan Ying scanned the tables and noticed what most were having, taking a few minutes to settle in. A man who looked like a regular came in shortly after and headed straight to the bar. "The usual, Yusuf." The man barked as he sat down on a bar stool. The man behind the bar pulled out a clean glass and mixed together a few splashes of amber liquid followed by drops of honey, sliding it towards the patron. "Osmanthus wine with jasmine honey, chilled." The man took the glass and admired it in the light before tipping his head back to swallow a gulp. 

Osmanthus wine wasn't something particularly fancy, but it required a personal touch. Locals would prefer flavors they were familiar with while exotic imported liquors were more for the rich and tourists. The boat looked decent enough, perhaps luck would be on her side today. Seeing that all the other patrons had their fill, she slid in an empty seat before the bar to place her order. "I'll have what he's having." She said with a grin, pointing her thumb at the man nursing his sweetened liquor.