[D10 LA] Flippity Flop

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She looked relieved.
"Not so well, I think. I sliced off a portion of my bean accidentally. I am no artist."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"I couldn't see what we were supposed to." he shrugged. "At least Tomoe-san did well with her bean." She had earned praise from the judges after all. "I think my bean was smaller than the others..." Dong-Ha added muttering.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I'm glad Tomoe-san did well. It seemed like the sort of challenge that would suit her. Now we see what comes to fruition."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Mhmhm." Dong-Ha nodded, smiling. "Does Usagi-san know Tomoe-san well?" He suddenly realized that there was an opening he could potentially exploit.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

She smiled. "Not as well as I would like. But I think we have developed a friendship that I would like to see blossom from here on out."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"That's fair. So Usagi-san hadn't met Tomoe-san before the miai?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"No no, the Hare clan being as small as it is, we have known one another - my aunt and I met her and her family along the River of Gold. But we were unfortunately never in the same place long enough to grow close. I hope to change that."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Oh, a shame." Dong-Ha admitted openly. "Well, can't be helped, really. I guess I'll have to ask herself, then." he added almost absentmindedly. "Uhm..." the poor young man could not quite come figure what to ask next. "How has Usagi-san found.. all this?"

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"I'm sorry I cannot be more informative, Iuchi-san," she seemed somewhat disappointed as well, and looked off, then back to him.
"Oh! I have enjoyed myself. I have done... well, mediocre, would be the word I would choose for myself to describe my talent in the events, which has been somewhat disappointing. I will not be choosing a husband. My future remains at the whims of the Unicorn it would seem. But I have met interesting samurai, entertained new points of view, tried new foods. It has been a learning experience, and one I have enjoyed overall."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Can't be helped neh." he shrugged, trying to ensure that she understood that he didn't exactly blame her for not knowing Tomoe. "Well, I've come to realize that it only few of us can truly excel, like Togashi-san, for example. The rest of us will have to do with what we have, neh. And hope that perhaps someone will call our name."

"Foods, what kind of foods?" the young Iuchi asked, curious. In his experience the locals had rather strange views on food.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Such is the nature of a competition, I suppose," Tsukimi shrugged a little. "I have my hopes, about who may call my name, and I hope they do, but I will not be unhappy with whatever the Fortunes decide for me tomorrow."

She paused, and laughed depreciatively, shaking her head. "Your milk, your kumis, ...your cheese. I had a reaction to them, the first night we were here. I became violently ill from them."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Oh." an eyebrow rose to indicate curiosity, but the young man did not pursue the matter. She could keep her secret love, not that it mattered anymore. Either the Fortunes would favor her, or they would not. "I'll read a prayer to Bente tomorrow morning and ask him to keep an eye on you, Usagi-san."

"So, what did you like then?" Just like Hotaru, eh...

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"This one thanks you for your consideration on her behalf." She nods her head deeply.

"What did I like? Food-wise, or miai-wise overall?" she seeks clarification.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Foodwise." Dong-Ha asked. "I have the feeling that our dishes are pretty heavy on Rokugani standards."

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Oh!" she chuckled. "Well, I am accustomed to..... rice. And fish. And spices. Your dishes were so different, so many new textures and flavours to the, um, meats? Most savoury. I really enjoyed them!"