Mutually Beneficial Agreement (D4 EM)

[Iuchi Yukarin]

A little bit of pink touched Yukarin's cheeks, "My hopes? Well... I'm sure I'm no different from most in hoping to find someone I love and get along with to marry, while still benefiting my Clan. But I suppose my personal way of looking at it is finding someone who is interesting and kind and accepts me for who I am..."

She fidgeted with her fingers in her robes as she talked.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga gave Yukarin a soft smile, his brown eyes warm. The blush, the fidgeting, both seemed so endearing. His body language changed ever so slightly, his weight shifting towards her unconsciously, even as he continued to fiddle with his cup.

He nodded. "Yeah... I have familial hopes, too, make a good match for trade with the Unicorn. But I've allowed myself some personal hopes..." He swallowed. "They were kinda a list, but I think you've really brought it down to the essentials. Kind, interesting, and who accepts me. Love..." He said the word almost thoughtfully, as though testing it. "For so many Clans, love is often seen at odds with duty. In the Unicorn is it... okay?"

[Iuchi Yukarin]

A small sigh before looking up with a shrug, "Honestly? It's hard to say. Compared to what I know of marriage here, there were both more barriers to love and less at the same time; On the one hand, political marriages between tribes and to keep certain bloodlines strong were absolutely essential to keeping unity, traditions, and peace while traveling in disparate groups. On the other, unless one of those factors were at stake, then marriages tended to be open to love or other factors. Especially for those in leadership positions, since Moto traditions of the powerful simply getting to pick their spouse were a bit blended in."

A pause, "...I think I've seen that attitude still in some of the more traditional Moto here."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Huh, interesting." Tomonaga said. "I... guess it's kinda the same way, here, really." His expression brightened. "Besides, authors spend rather a lot of pages portraying it as something to be admired if it's actually a bad thing. So, I guess what I'm saying, I think that it's something that's okay to hope for, or even to try for."

"Traditional Moto?" A smile played about the edges of his lips. "Yeah, I think I saw that in action. Moto Khulun is a traditional Moto, would you say? It... got results, anyway."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"I only know Moto Khulun-sama by reputation... but I do know she has fairly pure Moto heritage. I'm just glad the rumours and her actions don't seem to be scaring anyone away."

She grins back.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Mmmm, well..." Tomonaga said, wincing slightly, but mostly still grinning, "I did talk to a Scorpion who'd received what sounded like a rather blunt proposition from a Moto lady. He seemed a bit scandalized." Tomonaga chuckled in memory. "But I think it didn't put him off the miai, just that particular Moto, so all's well, there."

Tomonaga shrugged. "I didn't tell him so, but I think it might have done him some good. He was a little tightly wound. Even my sake only loosened him up so much."

Reminded, Tomonaga took a peek at her cup, seeing if there was any shochu left in it.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

The shochu was gone.

"Mmmm... well, many do seem tightly wound around here. But then, we Unicorn are much less used to this whole business with etiquette nd keeping one's On. So I suppose tightly wound to me might be normal in other's eyes."

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga gave Yukarin a crooked smile. "Can I say, Iuchi-san, I actually really appreciate that about you. The Unicorn, I mean." He cleared his throat. "When I first arrived, I couldn't figure out what characteristic you have, or at least tend towards. Yesterday, I decided it was this: you're genuine. The face that you put on is who you are." He shrugged. "I... find it really appealing, I guess."

After a moment, he turned picking up his sake bottle, looking back at her with a smile. "Would you like to try some of my family's sake?" He asked, his tone casual, although his eyes were a little intent, indicating the importance this had to him.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

Yukarin looked at the bottle with a tilt of her head; Unlike her shochu, this actually felt like a gift, real art by expert craftsmen rather than yams grown in the back of a wagon.

"Are you sure, Tomonaga-sama? I could hardly claim this an extravagant enough setting to open something I am sure is of such fine workmanship and quality."

Hopefully though, he would take the refusal question for what it was; Polite probing to make sure she wouldn't be rude by simply jumping on the offer of something so important to him.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

Tomonaga smiled gently at her. "Of course I'm sure. I'd really like for you to try it, in fact. There are people who drink sake alone, but I've never been one of them. Sake is for sharing in company, and fine sake is for sharing in fine company. And, well, I'm very much enjoying your company. So... may I?" He gestured towards the flask of warm water she'd used earlier.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Well..."

She was supposed to object a second time if this really mattered, right? She would not make the same mistake her classmates had made with the Lion; This was too important to her.

"You certainly have a good point about good drinks best being shared in company, and I appreciate you thinking me as good of company as I find you... But is it not usual to heat or chill sake for best enjoyment? I would hate to taste your fruits in a way that does not live up to how they are properly served."

She knew at least a little about sake thankfully.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

"Ummm..." Just a little, the smile faded from Tomonaga's face. He usually didn't have this much trouble getting someone to accept his sake. And she said she found him good company, which was great, but then she refused the offer again and again...

Oh.... Enlightenment dawned on Tomonaga's handsome features.

"Right, uh..." He cleared his throat. "Actually, that really depends on the sake. Different blends are best served at different temperatures. This one, while it could be served at a warmer temperature, can be quite thoroughly enjoyed at room temperature, I assure you. It would be perfect to share now." He watched her, waiting expectantly.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Then I have no objection," she said, a smile breaking across her face, "It would, in fact, be an honour."

Since he had asked for the water she turned now to pick out up, turning back and holding the somewhat hefty thing (to her at least) out to him.

[Yasuki Tomonaga]

A smile of Tomonaga's came to match Yukarin's. "Oh, good." He said, chuckling, amused.

He took the water with murmured thanks, holding it easily, his grip clearly strong. With practiced ease, he washed out first her cup, then with. With the same sort of practiced motions, he then poured a modest amount of sake into her cup. He paused in his pouring to lift her cup in both hands, handing it carefully to her. "This sake is rich, and a little... I would say rough, if the quality was less. Instead, I'll call it flavorful."

Filling his own cup, he lifted it, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Hmmm... last time, we toasted to discovery. We've been doing that. Maybe this time... enjoying the moment?"

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"To an enjoyable moment with excellent company then."

Yukarin took the cup up in slender fingers, raising it up to the same level he held his at as her big expressive eyes looked at him.