Scene Five: Landfall in Japan

[Mr. Handy]

Tony also bows slightly to Jennifer. "Yes, thank you Miss Toganama," he says, tipping his hat. "I'm glad for your help too, and that sounds like a reasonable offer. I'm Tony Esposito."

[kabukiman]

Francis takes his hat to show his respect, will mumble "madam" but won't bow.

[Priest]

Jennifer returns the bows, "The first thing is that I must apologise for the rudeness of the officers, especially to you madame"
She turns to where a tattoed crew member is stuffing female attire back into a case.
"Foreigners are barely tolerated in Imperial Japan, and a special dislike is reserved for Americans and British, whom they see as arrogant and ill mannered" She smiles at you, "But I told them that they should be above such petty displays given their position"
Again she bows, this time towards the hovering customs officer, and says something in Japanese, before turning back towards you.
"I asked him to forgive you for your lack of knowledge concerning guns and Japanese law. It seems that he is satisfied that you have all been humiliated enough, so they will confiscate the weapons and leave. So how can I assist you?"

Paul Wellington,You can confirm that she did indeed say that with a few extra words such as 'ignorant', 'disrespectfull' and 'foreign devils' and you guess she wasn't referring to the officials.

[BenTheRat]

Ted Nelson
.
"Thanks ma'am much obliged." Ted says, tipping his had towards the young lady with a nod of his head. "I hate giving up my pistol, I feel a bit naked out here now. Where we are going might be considered a bit dangerous, don't you want to know what you're signing up for?"

[PatGrillo]

Professor Krugman: Indeed, er, Miss. We are most honoured to make your acquaintance. (He attempts to replicate the polite half-bow.)

[Priest]

Jennifer acknowledges the bow from the professor and the polite gesture from Ted. She smiles to you both, a charming smile that makes her eyes light up in a most delighful way.
"Thank you, honourable sirs, you will find that here in Japan there is little need of pistols as we are not afflicted by Gangsters as in the USA. But you speak of danger, why and where are you headed?"

[DrVendetta]

Paul looks around at everyone who is still standing fairly close and watching this situation and suggest after recieving his papers back from the lead custom's official "Maybe we could find a more private place to carry on this conversation"

[kabukiman]

Francis mumbles to himself:
"They insult us, they treat us like criminals and say we are arrogant? Those guys don't have a mirror?"

[Priest]

Jennifer nods at Paul's suggestion, and politely ignores the grumbling Francis,
"Of course, there is a small but comfortable tavern a few minutes from here. I am sure that we can talk more easily there"

The customs officials having handed back your papers are starting to move towards a small hut on the dockside. With their departure the crowd of beggars are beginning to shuffle towards you, hands held out in the universal sign for money.
Towards the back of the crowd a chap dressed in a once white linen jacket with a New York taxi drivers cap perched on his head is waving with one hand while pointing with the other towards an ancient looking Model T cab.

[PatGrillo]

Professor Krugman: A tavern? Oh dear! I thought Japan, if anything was renowned for its TEA... Oh well...

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe they have tea in taverns in Japan," says Tony.

[Priest]

Jennifer laughs, a sound that enhances her appeal, "Of course a tea shop if you prefer. I thought that being American you might like something more American. Either way I think it best we procur a Taxi" she nods towards the approaching crowd of beggars and sellers of curios.

[PatGrillo]

Professor Krugman: Not all Americans are savages you know my dear... Just most of them. (He makes the nearest thing he can to a smile.)

[DrVendetta]

Paul, carrying his bag, continues to follow Jennifer taking in all that he can see and hear. He is still beside himself that he has finally followed through on his dream of visiting foriegn exotic lands.

[BenTheRat]

Ted Nelson
.
"I can pass on the tea, after that ship ride, I need something a little stiffer, its good to be on dry land." Ted waves at a taxi, ignoring the beggers around him, but also making sure his wallet is safe.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'd rather go to the tavern myself, too," says Tony, collecting his luggage and heading with the others to the assembled taxicabs. "It'll be nice to just walk into a place and buy a drink for a change. Back in the States, you can still get it, but it's more expensive and not as good, and you have to go through all this rigamarole."

[kabukiman]

Francis pay attention to the details near him. He is already thinking about a book with beggars full of deformities that may transform themself in something else.

[Priest]

With the demure form of Jennifer leading the way, and showing a determined roughness as she forces her way through the ever increasing throng, you make your way over to the taxi. And with your luggage safely aboard, you, somewhat cramped, suddenly find yourselves driven at a breakneck speed along the dockside, up a narrow side street into a road cammed with vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
The driver pulls down his window and spits a stream of Japanese, which Paul assures you is not to be translated in front of ladies, and bullies his way forward.
Eventually he stops outside a wooden building that bears a small sign of a willow tree.
"Ah" says Jennifer already turning the door handle to escape the confined space of the taxi, "We are here."
As you begin to exit the cab, she smiles, "Gentlemen, although here in Japan this is a tavern, you may find it unlike any tavern you have visited in America"

[PatGrillo]

Professor Krugman: Well I'll say! And that was certainly unlike any ride I've experienced in America.

[jbibblesworth]

Bridget exits the cab and keeps pace with Jennifer, completely uninterested in the tavern.

"Jennifer, do you know anything about the Aokigahara forest?" she inquires.