A Evening Gathering (Day 3 Mid Evening)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"To friendship!" The mantis echoed with a smile. Looking towards the Otomo at his question. "A wide variety of things... "Anything you were looking to know in particular?"

Yuuwaku turns her attentions to the Otomo.

Should be interesting.

[Otomo Saisei]

"To friendship!" The mantis echoed with a smile. Looking towards the Otomo at his question. "A wide variety of things... "Anything you were looking to know in particular?"

Yuuwaku turns her attentions to the Otomo.

Should be interesting.

"I've heard they have different... traditions. Which one does he think would be the most suitable bride?" He says, raising a tiny hint of a smirk on the left side of his lips.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Well, somewhat." The Captain admitted after a moment. "They attended different schools."

As for the later comment, they both have their good sides." His lips moved into a half smile. "Is Otomo-san looking for a bride among my crew?"

[Otomo Saisei]

"Well, somewhat." The Captain admitted after a moment. "They attended different schools."

As for the later comment, they both have their good sides." His lips moved into a half smile. "Is Otomo-san looking for a bride among my crew?"

"Tsuruchi-sama is not incorrect in his words. After all, it is my duty, as assistant to the nakodo to look for potential brides and grooms to be. Is it not?" He nonchalantly lifts eyebrows and takes another sip.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"And here I was asking which one you liked the look of, Otomo-san." The Captain mused thoughtfully. Though his eyes said he was only teasing.

"To answer you though, I'd say they would both make fine brides to the right kind of man. Though whats good for one isn't likely good for the other. It's my personal hope that who ever they wed join the clan though. I wouldn't want to find replacements for either of them soon."

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei nods. "I understand. To gift a fine samurai in marriage to another Clan is a great opportunity, but certain conditions need to be met. As are all matters related to honor."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Exactly so." The Captain agreed with a slight smile. "Which leaves us at something of an impasse i believe. As im not sure how many men here would like to join the Mantis at this point in time."

[Otomo Saisei]

The Otomo tilts his head a bit, "Most of the times, there's no liking involved in these decisions for the grooms prior of them being made. We do strive for an overall agreement, of course."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"True enough." The Sailor agreed with a smile. "Though if I'm honest the Mantis tend to ech o the Crab in some ways when it comes to marriage. If I consider the status of my two priestesses, both will likely have some time to find an appropriate match for themselves before the nakodo become involved. So it's likely their feelings at least will come into play, as long as they don't take too long."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Indeed. Status and other important assignments do require a more thorough process." He says, then sips.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku watches the exchange, taking the occasional sip of her own drink.

Perhaps he thinks to make me jealous? she thinks. Or to sour me on the Mantis?

One can never be sure.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"True enough>" Shouji agreed with a shuckle. "Though it seems we are starting to go round and round on this subject, so maybe another is due?" He asked, looking from the Otomo to the Crane. "Maybe something to involve Kakaita-san?"

"Though perhaps you planned to bring up her marriage prospects next? She is after all one of the lovliest women here. So I'm quite sure there will be competion for her hand."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Another round of subject needs another of sake." He says, and snatches a bottle of someone passing by. What a lucky move.

After pouring to everyone that did not implicitly denied, and raises the cup to cheer, "To the Crane and their lovely brides."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"To lovely brides, and the Crane." Shouji replied raising his cup in toast before taking a drink. No reason to toast only the lovely brides of the Crane after all.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"To worthy husbands," Yuuwaku replies, since drinking to one's self is gauche.

"But there are many women who surpass me and who are yet available for marriage, if there is interest in such things. No few in my class at the Academy, for instance."

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"It sounds like the Crane are hiding away an endless supply of beautiful women, Kakita-san." Shouji replied with a soft chuckle.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Hiding, Tsuruchi-sama?" Yuuwaku replies. "Oh, no. Not that. Unless Tsuruchi-sama means to imply we are afraid?

"But who could fear with such men as he and Otomo-san to protect us?"

She smiles behind her cup.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Hiding was a poor choice of words on my part." He replied dipping his head respectfully. "I wouldn't say any Crane are lacking in courage."

"It was more me being shocked that there could be that many more women as lovely or lovier then you." He brought his drink to his lips for a sip. "It boogles the mind that such is possible."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Tsuruchi-sama has a honeyed tongue," Yuuwaku replies. "One wonders where he learned such a thing."

She lifts her lips to the cup again, cuts her eyes to Sasei to see his reactions.

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei cocks his head back skeptically at that question of being able to protect someone, and chuckles a bit while listening to the rest of the exchange. At the last part, he does raise an eyebrow, stealing a glance on Yuuwaku that might have coincided in timely fashion.

He sips again and grins to the Mantis, "Who is the most beautiful lady Tsuruchi-sama has ever encountered?"

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

"Not one question but two." The young Captain smiled and glanced from the Crane to the Otomo. "The first, well it may seem strange but my mother. Or at least she was the first to tell me of the worth of complimenting people."

"To the second, well I'd have to say I have yet to stop encountering new faces, so it's unlikely I'll be able to answer completely honestly." He paused a moment thoughtfully. "If you're asking for my answer so far though, I'm afraid I have to disappoint Kakita-san as she doesn't top my list. Even if she might."

He offered the Crane woman a warm smile. "It was my eldest sister on her wedding day. A weird answer i know, but hers was a love match, and that day she simply seemed to glow."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

For her part, Yuuwaku smiles.

"Filial piety is admirable, Tsuruchi-sama," she says, "and I would not gainsay your sister on her wedding day."

She glances to both. "Indeed, for many, the day of their wedding is the day of their greatest beauty."

[Otomo Saisei]

The Otomo takes another sip and stays silent for a moment to appreciate another one's sincere joy in their close family. Mother and sister.

[Tsuruchi Shouji]

The Captain offered a warm.smile to the Crane. "I suppose there is some truth in that. Though I've only begun to uncover it."

He smirked. "I don't make it to all that many weddings.

His eyes shifted towards the silent Otomo. "What of yourself though, who is the loviest woman you have seen thus far." This was followed by his eyes moving towards the lovely Crane. "I won't risk heart break asking about the most handsome man. I do wonder who taught you how to dance so charmingly though. Was it your teachers at the academy, or us their a longer story to it?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods her head slightly and turns to regard the Otomo.

Will you answer close to the Throne? she wonders. Or will you offer a more prosaic response.