Praying away the shame (D7, EE)

[Miya Mei]

"This afternoon certainly showed some of those traditions."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa blushed at the Miya's words, but didn't wish to add to that.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Monkhbaatar laughed happily at that, not personally seeing a great deal wrong with the afternoon's festivities. "Yes... the Moto in particular are a very forward family. I'm not surprised at that choice of event. Though I did have personal misgivings about being asked to name an individual while we still have days left to meet people."

He looks to both of them. "I mean, this is only my first and second time meeting the two of you respectively. I don't know the minds of the fortunes or the heavens so why would I lay claim to a future that may not come to pass due to their decision that it may be my fate to end up with either of you or that I may become incapable of following through on such claims." He thinks of Chi-Pu in that moment. She certainly won't be marrying anyone... and the Empire is lesser for her loss. But fate is fickle.

[Miya Mei]

Mei nods.

"That is true. I have already spoken with Otake Kitakuhime-sama about my thoughts on the matter, so we can leave it behind us. As far as the miai goes, what do you think of this tradition? It is not like anything the Unicorn do, is it?"

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa shakes her head.

"Iuchi-san said that Unicorn typically marry for love as long as it doesn't break Shinjo's Law, whatever that is." she quietly reveals.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"The miai is a new experience for us. It's far more formal than what the Unicorn are used to, though as I understand it it's far less formal for most non-Unicorn present. That is why I am making sure to restrain myself and aiming more to make many friends and getting to know potential spouses rather than diving in and committing to an individual as I might have if not present here."

He turns to the Doji. "That is the gist of it for us most of the time. And Shinjo's Law is a law among our clan that makes sure that we are not closely related by blood to those that we marry. That law will likely become far easier to accomplish with our arrival here in the Empire proper though," he explains.

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa nods.

"Very sensible." she comments on Shinjo's law. The Crane did know a little bit about the dangers of inbreeding after all.


"Also a good practice to make as many friends as you can here. You never know when they'll be helpful down the road." she comments on this particular Shinjo. The Crane did know a little bit about making friends too.

[Miya Mei]

Mei nods in agreement.

"I have heard it said by someone much older than I that the friends you make in this stage of our lives are the friends who last a lifetime."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"And if I'm fortunate it will be one of those friends that I get to spend the rest of my life with. That would be a gift," he replies with a smile.

[Miya Mei]

"You had two sing for you today, the Hare and the Matsu, no?"

[Doji Fukawa]

With a loud SNAP!, Fukawa unfolded her fan, and brought it before her. That event had been so embarrassing for everyone involved. Especially for the Miya who had gotten a Unicorn lesson about why you never wrestle with a pig. Fukawa had been willing to politely ignore the entire afternoon. With enough ignoring, it would be like it never happened. But the herald, apparently, thought the memory of it needed to live on.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I did. Though I did not sing myself. I believe that that event was a very poor choice on the part of the Moto specifically for that reason. I did not even participate, but whether I did or didn't it has likely done nothing but cause confusion and negative feelings among potential matches. I love my Moto brethren... but they have a tendency to act without consideration and organizing that event seemed to be one of those instances," he says shaking his head. "I can only imagine the amount of displeasure and confusion floating about the village right now."

[Miya Mei]

"I am glad you see it this way. I brought it up to discuss the implications of it. In the Empire, we are not so...open...about affections. Especially when you are not yet married to the person."

Mei looks at the Doji, hoping to convey a message with her eyes.

"Of course, it would be rude for us as guests to not participate."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I see. The affection and such is less of a concern to me. The Unicorn are much more open on that front. But the fact that it took place during a period when we are looking for a spouse among multiple suitors? It feels inappropriate to ask us to call out single individuals publicly before the end of the miai."

[Doji Fukawa]

Fukawa was intently studying the quills of her fan...but not so much that she missed the Miya's Gaze.

"Hmmm, when I write home about these events, I don't think I will put it that way, Miya-sama." she said, unwilling to agree, but unwilling to openly contradict. "I don't think it was the Motos' intention to put us in a situation where we would be embarrassed one way, and rude another way. They're not Scorpions."


She briefly looked up from her fan.


"I sang, because I wanted to showcase the Crane's devotion to and mastery of art. Some felt that the personal embarrassment was too high to take, and did not sing. I would think that our hosts would be fine with either choice, though of course choosing to sing gives them more to evaluate in potential matches, than not singing." she offers.

She looked over to the Shinjo.

"Would that be a fair assessment, Shinjo-san?"