Neo-Shogun Council

SINNBAD shook his head. While the display of precision was impressive, the disrespect was not. There were other ways of showing off one's skills for intimidation without damaging another's property.

Though the continued dialog, on and off the meeting, there had been mentionings about the questionable actions of the Neo-Shogunate. The last one finally gave SINN pause. It seemed everyone was aware of these events but him. Perhaps his Lord was holding it back from him so that he would go into the meeting without bias. Or more disturbingly, his Lord didn't know himself.

Or, his Lord knew about the Shogunate's more rash history and had sent SINN to help them become more honorable through his association. There were still some tasks to complete. But when they were done, his Lord would be in a position to assist the Shogunate bring about his ideals. For his Lord's main concern was the chaos that gripped the NET. Establishing a beacon of light and serenity was one of his primary goals.
"Woooah! He just broke our whole desk!... Er, desks... Half desk?" Lee cried as she watched the rain of wood come down. Sake was fortunate not to be hit by any of it as she slept hidden in the cushions behind where the desk had been before. "My halberd is still stronger though..." she muttered to herself.

"What balls! Doing that right in front of Yasu, ho ho ho!" Dee laughed with mirth, tapping Yasu on the shoulder with her fan almost as if goading the general into a fight.

Yasu looked like she could blow at any second. Sensing the urgency, Escort moved past her to address AridMan herself. "If at all possible, we would like to avoid confrontation with your group," she suggested. "If our goals conflict and we perceive you as a threat, however, we'll use our force to repel you. We'd certainly prefer your cooperation, however."

"Ha! Cooperation?!" Yasu spat struggling to move forward as Vee and Lee held her back. "As if I would cooperate with such an ill-behaved, absent-minded man! As the first general, I'll accept your group's challenge whenever and wherever you want it! We'll lay waste to your five before you can blink an eye!" she roared.

"C'mon, Yasu! We get a lot of negative attention when you act that way. That's probably why that guy doesn't like you," she suggested. It seemed to have some sort of affect on the general, although she looked more upset than ever. "They got guys without force, right? Why don't we try it and see if it'll work?"

Grunting, Yasu broke free of the others and crossed her arms at her chest. "Can you imagine what sort of fools this organization must employ?! If they sent this meat-headed fool to threaten us, I shudder to imagine the rest of their ranks. But no matter. If it will appease your organization, we will attempt to persuade recruits without force... for a time," she suggested. "But if this is as ineffective a methodology as I trust it will be, you and your organization shall pay dearly for wasting our time."

"We're really going to try and make friends?" Lee asked, looking optimistic but unbelieving.

"I'll discuss the idea with the Shogun, at least," Yasu conceded. "But he will have the final say in the matter... And if he decides to go along with it, I'm going to have to stay off of the front lines for a while," she grunted, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "Is this arrangement acceptable to ensure that you will not meddle in our affairs?"
Once again, AridMan simply heard the other side out before speaking, though he actually seemed slightly indignant at the insulting of his teammates. "I assure ya, it ain't a bad system! Though I'd think I'm more plant-headed than meat-headed...haw haw haw!" Fortunately, he seemed to take it all in stride, quickly returning to his more jovial self. "I guess if ya discuss it with yer leader, that's about all I can ask. Though I'm sure PhoenixMan would prefer a flat-out yes, I'll take what yer sayin'."

With a nod, he looked over at the shattered remains of the desk. Now that a few moments had passed since the display of bravado, it really wasn't a bright move. Those tended to be reserved for the Navis that could generate their own light. "Uh, my apologies for wreckin' yer desk. Wasn't really called fer, I know...but again, I wouldn't underestimate us if I were you! 'Course, we'd rather not fight if we don't hafta." However, as if to contradict himself, he raised his right arm, and pointed it at one of the desk halfs. One of the needles that served as his fingers rocketed forward, causing the entire piece to shatter into mere splinters. He quickly repeated the process for the other side. "There! As a sign there's no hard feelin's on my end over our discussions, now cleanin' that up should be easier 'n findin' a tumbleweed in a ghost town!"

He continued to stand there for a moment, as if waiting for something else. "I reckon that's all m' business here. But I never turn my back on a lady without her permission! It's the law o' the west!"
As the table shattered, SINNBAD reached for his waist as a scabbard appeared. Grasping the hilt of his sword, he unsheathed the weapon and pointed the tip at AridMan. A breeze picked up, an angry wind that ruffled his hair and cloak. He was puffed up like the fur of an snarling wolf. His eyes were all daggers. His voice a growl.

"Your continued dishonor of these hosts is inexcusable. I challenge you to single combat. Put up your sword Sir."

He spat the words venomously.

SINNBAD
HP: 150
[FloatShoes/ShadowShoes active.]
Sword [Battlechip]: [80 [color=gray]Null[/color] Damage + Slashing; Until Overridden/Broken. Breaks after 6 swings.]
Lee looked at the desk in surprise, then stuck her chuckled. "It's like a net-desk anyways, right? We don't really have to clean it up so much as just bleep it off the net or whatever," she muttered, basically missing the point.

"I'm not sure what your laws tell you, but you are a fool to think that we'd take advantage of an opponent's unaware state. I am bound by honor and would never use such a cowardly tactic," Yasu answered the newcomer, frowning distastefully. Before any of the girls could react further, however, SINN stood up to fight for the honor of the Neo-Shogun Dynasty, even revealing his blade. Yasu's one exposed eye widened, and she grabbed hold of his arm angrily. "What the hell do you think you're doing, you pig-headed man?!" she growled, trying to force the sword out of his hand while keeping his arm locked. "If you're looking to help us, don't fight battles unless I tell you to!"

"Or the Shogun," Lee interrupted, again off-base.

Dee smiled, turning her eyes towards SINN with a mischievous bat of her eyelashes. "Don't chastise him too hard, Yasu. He's just a guy who knows what he's looking for and doesn't think about his methods, ho ho..." she chuckled. She seemed to think that she had SINN all figured out.

"I know you want to defend our honor, SINNBAD, but please consider the feelings of my superior. She wants to fight more than anyone but is tempering her emotions to avoid an unprofitable conflict. Furthermore, trying to defend Yasu is probably... an insult to her honor. I'm not entirely sure about her code yet," the mysterious woman in black told SINN, whispering the last part uncertainly.

"Consider that challenge void, AridMan! This insignificant ape does not represent our organization!" the first general barked, using very harsh words. SINN had to wonder whether Escort's view of Yasu as a woman upholding an honorable and organization-minded decision was appropriate.
SINN's sword arm stood strong despite Yasu's effort to stop him. His eyes continued to look at AridMan as he addressed the others.

"It is true that I do not represent you. But Honor must be served regardless to one's allegiance."

Despite his words, he immediately stood straight and sheathed his sword.

"The challenge still stands. However, the will of the host takes precedence. I am at least not without honor."

He stated, his voice loosing a bit of its venom.
AridMan reached back and rubbed the back of his head, which was thankfully spikeless. Seemed he was really rubbing the Shogunate the wrong way for some reason. One of them was even challenging him to a fight. Due to that, SINN became to focus of his attention for a moment. "Hombre, I like showdowns at high noon as much as any Navi...but I'm here on official business, and that business doesn't involve fightin'!" And even if he accepted for friendlier reasons, PhoenixMan would give him an earful and a half.

With the challenge given a spikes down, the cactus Navi turned to Yasu once more. "Well, with yer permission, I think it's time fer me to mosey along." But first, he had one other thing to do. But that thing didn't require him to take one step, as he simply raised his right arm, triggering a small sphere to appear in front of it. "But before I go, I figure a little exchange o' banners can't hurt!" He extended the sphere towards the fellow green Navi, as a second one appeared by the other arm. "Here ya go! The official banner of my organization, the Sol Battalion!" And he had the Neo Shogunate's banner...okay, looked like everything was taken care of. "Well, it was a pleasure meetin' y'all! Take care, and remember our lil talk!" Turning into a fairly large beam of light, AridMan exited the area. There was no jack out signal, however...perhaps he went to a different part of the Net?
SINNBAD turned to Yasu. He backed away a foot and bowed.

"Apologies for my earlier outburst. I hope this does not tarnish future relationships between ourselves."

He stated solemnly, head bowed, waiting for her leave.
Yasu watched the man leave with a sly smile, turning the banner over in her hand. "Sol Battalion, huh? I wonder if they'll be worth remembering..." she laughed to herself. She turned to SINN with an irritated frown, then crossed her arms. "No, you have not done anything to upset your relations with the Dynasty. But remember that if you wish to aid us, you will need to play by our rules. The Shogunate will eventually come to embrace all ideology, but for now, cohesion is absolutely necessary to our goals. That means no making decisions that don't align with the Shogun's orders or his acting representative, that being me," she explained.

"Ho ho ho! I find it rather charming that he's become so taken to us that he is willing to raise his sword in our protection," Dee interjected, inciting another growl from Yasu. "Yasu may find it annoying, but the average woman finds a guy like that quite attractive."

The first general didn't respond, but gave the woman in blue a stern look. Most of the visitors had already left, it seemed; that was good as far as she was concerned, since that little fiasco with the Sol Battalion's rep wouldn't have done a lot positive for their public relations. "We're done here; let's head out. If you truly do wish to help us, SINN, then we'll remember your name and find you again in the future."

With that (and with Escort grabbing up Sake's sleeping body from the cushions), the Neo-Shogun representatives left the net.

((SINN gains 1 Arch FXP, 1 Dee FXP))
Now alone, SINNBAD walked over to the banner for the Neo-Shogunate and placed his hand on it, copying the data. Then disappeared in a beam of silvery light.

[SINNBAD LOGGED OUT!]