The Welcome Dinner (Post-Event Thread) [D1, Early Evening]

[Doji Fukawa]

That confuses Butaj. He scratches his stubble in thought. "Do you think the size of a stallion like mine will be a problem?"

"Perhaps" comes Fukawa's response, her voice sprinkled with light amusement. "A stable is of little use if you cannot get your horse into it. And surely, greater size means greater appetite, does it not?"

[Moto Butaj]

"Surely! It occurs to Butaj Doji Fukawa knows quite a lot about those things." Butaj looks at the Crane maiden with awakened interest.

[Kitsune Kumahime]

((Edit: Disregard post. Conversation partner skedaddled.))

[Moshi Asakiko]

"It was my pleasure" Hideo returned the bow "however my talents are far less interesting. I'm a scholar by nature, and I have tried to cover as many topics as I can. Beyond that and my calligraphy, I'm truly not that exciting."

She shook her head and smiled. "You sell yourself short Seppun sama. A scholarly man is one full of knowledge and keep an intelligent conversation. One that knows more than what one expects. It is not about brute force but the way things work. Knowing is half the battle." Asakiko chuckled.

(Sorry for the bad pun)

[Seppun Hideo]

She shook her head and smiled. "You sell yourself short Seppun sama. A scholarly man is one full of knowledge and keep an intelligent conversation. One that knows more than what one expects. It is not about brute force but the way things work. Knowing is half the battle." Asakiko chuckled.

"Perhaps...We shall see how much knowledge helps me through this miai. I suspect the Unicorn will look towards physical prowess more than mental" Hideo chuckled "I'll have to hope that the Unicorn consider my status among the Imperials important as well."

[Moshi Asakiko]

Asakiko looked at the bright side of the position of the Seppun. "Well being a scholar allows you to have an open mind to all this new cultural things the Unicorn have brought from the gaijin. I think that gains value to a bachelor like yourself." She nodded.

[Seppun Hideo]

"An open mind will be very important in all of this" Hideo confirmed with a nod "I would hope the other samurai will also keep an open mind though, as the Unicorn have been welcomed back. It wouldn't look good to come to this miai to disrupt it, neh?"

He looked at the Ide, beginning to clear up the foods.

"It appears the banquet is beginning to wrap up."

[Doji Fukawa]

"Surely! It occurs to Butaj Doji Fukawa knows quite a lot about those things." Butaj looks at the Crane maiden with awakened interest.

The fan concealed the Crane's reaction, whether it be a blush or a smile.


"Oh, one hears things, Moto-san, if one listens." she replies. "I take it you have much experience in riding hard?"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Ah. So it is the Sochu of the Unicorn then."

A faint smile.

"Sake, while less flavorful, is strong. Sochu is much stronger still."

Shrugging, he added. "So I don't know what manner of bird or fish this is, but it is quite delightful." Picking what was, most likely, sheep, from his bowl, he examined it quietly.

Surely it was a bird of some sort, yes?

"Perhaps it is?" Saksaha hasn't encountered this sochu stuff yet. No doubt she will sooner or later. "But, um... bird? That is just lamb, Soshi-san," she says, never one to disappoint the universe when it's trying to set a man up for a spit take.

[Soshi Taira]

"Perhaps it is?" Saksaha hasn't encountered this sochu stuff yet. No doubt she will sooner or later. "But, um... bird? That is just lamb, Soshi-san," she says, never one to disappoint the universe when it's trying to set a man up for a spit take.

A protracted moment of stillness, while Taira digested his options.

Finally, he said, "I guess that isn't some sort of bird or fish, then."

With a soft sigh he set it back down and gave it a contemplative look. Well... he'd already eaten some...

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

Oh," she did in fact get out of the way. "Yes, likewise. Uh, have a nice evening."

With a bow, and nothing more to say, Shinjo Liu Fei made her exit from this evenings event.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Well... no." Who in the world can't tell lamb from fowl? Sure, the Ide had said these people in the old country don't eat much red meat, but she hadn't thought the difference was this extreme. "Why does it matter? Is there something unsuitable about our food?"

[Soshi Taira]

"Well... no." Who in the world can't tell lamb from fowl? Sure, the Ide had said these people in the old country don't eat much red meat, but she hadn't thought the difference was this extreme. "Why does it matter? Is there something unsuitable about our food?"

Taira quirked his head, giving the woman a sidelong glance, and then sighed.

"It is not... customary to eat the meat of mammals in the Empire. Not to say it is forbidden... only that it isn't... a done thing."

With a little shrug, he picked the meat up with his chopsticks looking at it pensively.

"That said... it's quite delicious, and I've already eaten plenty. Stopping now makes little difference."

That said, he placed it in his mouth, and chewed in a contented silence for a moment, before swallowing. "It makes me question the Dragon and their 'mountain tuna' as the flavor is very similar."

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Mountain tuna, sea cucumbers... does anything on the tables of the Empire have a name of its own? Saksaha wonders, just a little tipsily.

"I have seen some maps and pictures. They say the other Clans use their land all for growing grain and planting forests for wood, and there is not enough to spare for pasturing herds, and that is why you all eat fish and fowl instead... if that is so, why not enjoy it when it is offered, yes?" She snags a bite of grilled fish and chases it with a swallow of kumis. "On our travels we have few chances to eat all these things from the sea, but you will not see us looking so nervous about them," she adds, blissfully unaware of the crustacean-induced travails awaiting some of her kin later that night. "Take the opportunity and don't be fearful about it, right?"

[Soshi Taira]

Taira nodded. "I remember a priest saying something about purity once, but it sounded a little contrived to me."

With a shrug, he indicated how much he thought of priests. He was more of a Taoist.

"So, if you don't mind my asking, what sorts of lands did you see? I've never gone beyond the borders, and while the Empire is vast, to my eyes, you may see it differently."