[D6 LE] Of Buttons and Bunnies

[Usagi Tomoe]

His sudden closeness was a little surprising to her, but she didn't pull away, even if her surprise was evident.

"Hai... the miai is rather complicated..." If only I was better, I would've been able to choose. As it is... some of the other girls are probably going to pick him first. I don't want to marry someone I've never met. She blushed at his compliments. "Thank you... I mean, you are handsome too."

He wasn't the only one fidgeting with his robes, as she too toyed with the hems of her sleeves. "Mhm... that is a good thought to have, and I agree with it. And... well, my heart is still here," Tomoe continued in a shy tone, cupping her hands over her chest, "I haven't given it away to anyone yet."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

Dong-Ha chuckled, abashed. "Now Tomoe-san is being too kind." There were actually handsome men among the Unicorn like Butaj and Monkhbaatar. "But, thank you, still." the young Iuchi added, his cheeks reddening. What was supposed to do in a situation like this? Someone more experienced might have had a better idea, but Dong-Ha defaulted for taking a second bite from his pastry. "Hmhm, pretty good, these." Rokugani food was full of surprises, he'd noticed.

"Well, it'd be unfortunate if it had taken a ride. You kinda need it yourself." Dong-Ha tried to jest with the matter. "Though..." a small sigh escaped from his lips. "I sometimes wonder if it does even matter with this Crane thing. What does it matter if this obscure.. tournament will determine who we will marry. Does Tomoe-san know if this is the children of Doji handle such things?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I've never attended a miai before, but some of my kin did a few years ago, in Phoenix lands. Though that miai was a little different than this one; participants could be matched with members of any clan, but it was similar in that they had to compete for points and those who scored the highest would be able to choose first."

Tomoe frowned a little. "It is... well, I assume most will pick someone they like or at least knows, but the way this is set up it seems rather counter-intuitive to a gathering meant to promote harmonious marriages. Though miai like this isn't how most marriages are arranged." She couldn't really understand why the rules were the way they were. It seemed more likely that people would be unhappy, especially the Unicorn. The Crane couldn't really be wanting that?

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Well, besides the rules that force Unicorn to marry non-Unicorn and vice versa, that sounds almost the same." he muttered. "So I guess these occasions are somewhat common then?" That would have explained much of the bickering between clans. There was no way unions created by an occasion like the miai could create happy couples. "Yes, you would hope so, yet anyone can pick anyone and there is no way we can meet everyone... or every has the chance to meet us, neh." His distaste towards the arrangement was rather evident.

"I haven't met any of the Cranes myself, for an example while the Ide seems to value them highly... though... it sounds like of them has more or less made her intentions clear. Um... apparently Shinjo Akil-san caught their attention." Akil had admitted as much himself.

Figuring they'd need something to drink with the pastries, Dong-Ha moved to open the shochu bottle, only to realize that he had not brought any cups with him. His kin was more than fine with sharing a bottle and with the rumors troubling his mind, he hadn't thought about the matter. "Shochu?" he offered the bottle to Tomow. "Uh... I didn't bring any cups though."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"They're not uncommon as such, no..." not that Tomoe had heard of many miai gatherings, really. There was this one, and the one in Phoenix lands that her fellow Hare had gone to. But that one got crashed by a snow spirit, so that was really weird. "I don't think I've had the chance to meet Shinjo Akil-san yet, but... if he seems happy with the match, that is good then, no?"

"Ah... I have tea-cups, if that is fine?" she suggested, accepting the bottle he offered her. "I didn't bring any sake-cups with me here, but maybe tea-cups are too big?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"We don't need to top them." Dong-Ha offered. There was no need to get drunk, was there? "I'm happy for him. Well, at least he seemed to be pleased with the state of things." he paused for a moment. "Makes you wonder... how many others have come to an... agreement. If rumors are to be believed... you know how they can be..." he blushed slightly, waving his hand to dispel the notion of reliable rumors. "...quite a few people have come to terms, in way one or another."

When Tomoe brought forth the cups, Dong-Ha poured some for her, leaving the cup half empty before doing the same for his cup. "We were drinking last night, after the funeral." he explained his caution.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"I don't know... maybe I should see if I can talk with some of the girls who are ahead of me in points," which is almost everyone, "see what they might have decided on? I spoke with one Asako Yuki-san yesterday who seemed to have taken a liking to Moto Butaj-san." Tomoe accepted the filled cup with a nod, and took a moment to smell the shochu first. Not that she was an expert at this or anything, but she had always seen others do this for sake and shochu.

Speaking of the funeral did give her a rather somber expression. "Understandable, considering you lost one of yours. Drinking and mourning seems to go hand in hand in many places..."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"And I heard that Tombo... what was her name... Misa-sama had taken liking to Moto Butaj-san. That she'd claim him." he blushed a little when he mentioned her claiming him. "Uh... or so Butaj-san told us the night before." Dong-Ha sounded surprised. "Perhaps Asako-san has not made her intentions clear?" he suggested. "Or then Butaj-san is trying... erm... secure his flanks. Though I am not sure why he'd do that." Dong-Ha too picked his cup, but instead of enjoying the scent, he merely took a sip. "Ah.."

"Well, we do drink, but we do not mourn. We celebrated her deaths, for she died well and will surely be judged justly. She will be born again, and eventually find her way to Heavens." Despite his doubts in the fairness of the system, the young mystic had no reason to doubt reincarnation. "We talked a fair bit..." Recalling what Silvia had told them, he blushed. He wanted to ask about the topic the Moto had brought up, but didn't quite dare yet.

"I take that the funerals here are more sober occasions?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Tonbo-sama? I wouldn't know... I haven't talked with her," I guess I really really should talk more with the girls higher than me. Yuki didnt' seem like the type to make her intentions too clear for someone as thick-headed as Butaj. "Maybe Asako-san hasn't. But if there are two women vying for him, I don't want to meddle too much there, even if I've tried to help as many as I can to find good and happy matches."

That reminded her that there was still the matter of Tsukimi and Monkhbaatar, and she had to see how it was going with Kogo too!

Tomoe took a small sip of the shochu. It was stronger than the sake she was more used to, but it wasn't unpleasantly so. "Mm, this is rather good. Thank you for bringing it."

"It usually depends on the clan. The Crab tend to have brief ceremonies, but rather boisterous carousing afterwards as they drink to the fallen ones. The Lion will have a more sober affair, where a bard gives a eulogy or tells everyone gathered about the deeds of the deceased. In my clan, since we are so few and most know eachother, funerals are usually a quiet thing, focused on supporting the family of the deceased. No way is wrong or right, of course. All are good ways to honor the dead and care for those left behind." Tomoe took another sip, finding herself a bit more at ease when she could be a teacher.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Mhmhm... perhaps you could talk to Asako-san at least, so she knows how things are." Better to find out now and figure a back-up plan than to realize the problem on the final day. "I haven't talked with her either, but Butaj-san seemed impressed. He said that Tonbo-sama is looking for someone to restore the Tonbo back to their former glory." Dong-Ha quoted the tall Moto, taking a small sip from his cup. He didn't want to cough or grimace in front of Tomoe. "He said that Tonbo-sama wasn't happy with how the things are among her kin." A soft shrug followed, indicating that he had actually no idea how the Tonbo were faring.

"Tomoe-san is welcome." he bobbed his head enthusiastically. "We usually drink kumis... it's fermented milk that's alcoholic. Not as potent as shochu, however." Fermentation produced only so much alcohol.

"I see. Well, that makes sense." he muttered, feeling silly for having assumed that the traditions were uniform when it came to funerals. "I guess... ours resemble more the Crab ones, then."

"Uh.." the young mystic seemed slightly troubled. "I have but asked questions tonight... so please, if you want to ask anything, feel free to do so." the gentlest of smiles flickered on his lips as his dark eyes rested on Tomoe.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Ah, I've had some luck with the kumis. It's not so bad as some seem to think," she chuckled. "And really, it's not like we don't eat other kinds of fermented foods in the rest of the Empire either, so some people are making a much bigger fuss about it than nescessary."

As he put the ball in her court for questions, there was one that came to mind, since they had been talking about traditions. "Uhm... there is one thing..." she blushed and took a much bigger sip. Which was followed by a small cough. "... Someone told me that it was a Unicorn, or Moto specifically, tradition to err.... kidnap the bride for the wedding by throwing them over the horse and ride off with them? Is that true?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Oh, that's good." Dong-Ha recalled Hotaru's troubles with milk. Perhaps the small Scorpion would better be served by finding a someone willing to join her clan. "Well... some of the guests got slightly ill after the dinner, but I'm glad you like it!" Most tended to feel a sense of connection with people who shared their tastes and Dong-Ha was no different.

"Uh...uh-huh.." the young mystic coughed, taking a sip from his cup and swallowed to clear his throat. "That well, it has happened in the past, certainly. Before the Moto became Moto, they were known as Ujik-Hai. Fierce and savage warriors. I have been told that the Ujik-Hai sometimes stole women from other tribes... making them their wives or... erm.. concubines."
He seemed to be bothered by the fact. "We, Shinjo-kami encourage us to seek spouses outside out clan, so we would not end inbred..." he used terms of a horse breeder. ".. and many of us have married people from the tribes we have met during our journeys, my father's father being example of such, but err... I don't think that the Moto do that anymore, no."

"I don't think that Usagi-san needs to fear that." he reassured the small Hare, leaning awkwardly to pat her knee.

[Usagi Tomoe]

"That is a relief," she chuckled... and her face flushed full crimson as Dong-Ha patted her knee. That hands-on approach of the Unicorn was still something she was trying to get used to. "... I-I probably would have put up a fight against such an attempt, even if it would have been rather feeble."

"So... what are traditions for the Unicorn around marriage then, since you don't do that sort of thing?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Such things are now thing of the past." Dong-Ha repeated with a nod, withdrawing his hand as he saw Tomoe blush. "Uh.. sorry." he muttered, not entirely sure why he should feel sorry. "Yes, though... Moto are ferocious fighters and if they want their hands on something... they usually find a way to do so." Silvia-san had been a strong proponent of this philosophy. Which reminded that the others had told him to grab the Hare, causing him to blush. A friendly pat counted as a grab, right?

"Umm... that would depend a lot on the family and the people getting married." Dong-Ha began his explanation, taking a sip from his cup. "It's important that the lore keepers ensure that the two people are not related by any means. This is the law of Shinjo. And then... well, usually the couple announce their intentions, seeking the of their parents. If the parents are agreeable and if the lore keepers can show that the two are not related, the parents consult their liege lords... if they deem it necessary. Some lords take more interest in such matters, some don't seem to mind."

He paused for a moment to take an another sip from his cup before laying it softly on his knee. "This applies for the most, though I have been told that the children of the hatamoto and daimyo might have hard time persuading their parents... their unions have political value." Dong-Ha shrugged softly. "If the permission is granted, the families will start preparing for the occasion. There will be hunting parties to provide some fresh game. Others will collect herbs and vegetables."

"Uh... are you sure you want to know everything?" Dong-Ha tilted his head to the side. "It can get bit complicated."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Ah... I think I get the gist of it," she giggled a little, "even if I like listening to you talk about it. And... uhm... don't be sorry. I'm just... well, I was a little surprised by your touch, that's all."

Tomoe tried to hide some of herself behind the cup as she took another sip, but it was kind of hard.

"I'm not the only one blushing though," she said with a lightly teasing tone. At least it made her feel better that she wasn't the only one flustered.