Mutually Beneficial Agreement (D4 EM)

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga shook his head. "Hah. No. Not even close. I can pretty much manage to not embarrass myself is all."

He shrugged. "But it is fun, and I think it would be fun to do together. It's great even with two people who aren't good at it. Sometimes especially with two people who aren't good at it." His lips twist. "It helps if you're not nervous about looking silly from time to time."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

Well, maybe a little...

"Pssh," Yukarin waved off the concern, "One does not get things done in the Unicorn by being worried about tribial things like that. Much like with the Crab I should think, no?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Yes, exactly!" Tomonaga said, clearly enthusiastic about the idea. "I have noticed certain things that the Unicorn and Crab have in common. Okay, we'll do it. I'm sure you'll be just fine." He said confidently.

Tomonaga glanced at the food, which he'd eaten a good amount of. "I think it's my turn to do the talking now. You haven't eaten yet, Iuchi-san..."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Hai, and my stomach is growling too."

With a small sight she adjusts how she's sitting so she can get some of the bread rolls, "That and I'd be more than interested to hear more about you, Yasuki-sama."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga scooted a tiny bit himself, back from the table to give her full reach of the food. And, since he felt that while she was eating, he was the host, he topped up her shochu cup.

"Okay, great." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "Ummm, hmmm. Well, in my case, telling you about my family is the best way of telling you about me. I think I mentioned that we brew sake. Golden Carp is what we call it."

He continued. "Anyway, my parents are both born Yasuki, both very involved in the business. They had a son... and then a daughter. And then a son. And then a daughter. And then, after a gap of five years, me." He let out a breath. "So I'm the youngest in the family. They're all really involved in the business, too." He paused, taking a sip of the shochu.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"I take it in this case you're referring to your older siblings?" she managed between bites.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

He nodded. "Yeah. All experienced traders and brewers before I even came of age. Well-established, solid positions. I've still managed to find a place in the family, though." His lips twisted a little. "I wouldn't mind if that place were a little bigger... that's the next step, I suppose."

"Besides that..." He shrugged. "I also like games. And animals; not just fuzzy or little ones. And trying new things." He gave a firm nod at that. "It's why I've been enjoying the hospitality of the Unicorn so much, I think."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Hm... it's good you found a place, even in such a busy family; I suppose I could have done the same, had I so chosen..."

She gives a small shrug, "As to your interests... do you work with animals regularly then?"

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga shrugged. "Not really. I've just more... well... I don't know. I've always thought they were nice, I guess." He looked a tiny bit sheepish at that. "That's how I know how to ride, a bit. I was fascinated by the village horses. And cats..." He smiled. "That's why they like me so well, I think."

He frowned, thinking back on what else she'd said. "I remember you talked about your family that night we met. Historians and priests, right?"

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Mmm... that's right; Meishodo priests who work with the fire kami as much if not more than the earth kami, which is a bit different perhaps. My mother's side of the family is perhaps a bit more traditional. Her and my older siblings have definitely taken up the banner of preservation prayers."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga blinked, momentarily thrown by the unfamiliar words and concepts. After a moment, though, he nodded, managing to piece the different bits, together.

"Ah, older siblings? Are you the youngest, too?" He smiled at her.

Tomonaga frowned. He seemed to have been directing questions back at her, instead of talking about himself. He glanced at the food, then back to Yukarin, trying to gauge how hungry she still was.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

Yukarin had been nibbling between answers, her upper lip a little shiney with honey, "Hai, two older siblings; Twins, both twenty seasons old at this point. My sister is quite beautiful... was engaged to a Shinjo magistrate before he passed away during the Dark Ride. My older brother is more plain and traditional, married another Iuchi to keep the bloodline strong.''

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Noting her honey-shined llip, Tomonaga smiled, gently amused. Although it did have a tendency to draw his eye, now.

"Mmm." Tomonaga murmured, acknowledging her words, mildly sympathetic for her sister's loss "And then you, huh? Three years isn't so long that-"

He did a double-take. "Twins?" He said, blinking. "Are twins common in the Unicorn, Iuchi-san? Or in your family?"

[Iuchi Yukarin]

Yukarin shook her head as she finished her bite, "I don't think it's more common, no. Though I only say that because I don't recall any other twins in my family lineage. I hear it's more common amongst the Phoenix and Scorpion, but that is just rumour."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga nodded, subsiding somewhat. "Yeah, that's generally believed to be the case. When Crab marry outside the Crab, they often try to marry Phoenix or Scorpion, for just that reason. Twins, uh, are considered to be especially lucky in the Crab." Mostly lucky in that they meant more Crab, of course.

There was only a little shochu left in his cup. Tomonaga drained it, but kept the cup held closely, preventing a refill. I want her to try my sake soon. "Well, I think I'm learning about Iuchi Yukarin-san." He said, smiling. "So far, I think she's very interesting indeed. And pretty, but that's not new information to me." He twirled the cup in his fingers a moment, his playful expression turning more serious. "Iuchi-san... can I ask you what your hopes are? For this miai, and afterwards, I mean?"