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

[Otaku Imane]

"Chee-su? It was not unpleasant, just surprising when I was expecting tofu. A much stronger taste."

He picked up another small piece of the processed milk curd.

"No it did not make me reach for sake, or shochu. The red meat almost did, but that was much easier to spot and avoid."

"Oh good, I am glad it was not upsetting to your palette! Which one is the tyo-fuu? I feel I must try it now."

She looked around for something cheese-like but hidden by rice or some sort of disappointing pickled vegetable.

"Which red meat did you try? I liked that tuna, it is much the same."

A look of concern crossed her face on saying Chi-Pu's complexion. Carefully she purred a cup of shochu for her sister and slid it across to her with a gentle smile.

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"I'm sure you're happy to be back in the empire though, with proper food."

Yuzuki put her foot in her mouth.

"You had rice, out there, didn't you? At least?"

"We attached ropes to our rice fields and dragged them with us, Mantis-san," she responded, tone flat.

[Shinjo Hanashi]

He straightens a bit.

"Ah.. my apologies then Usagi-sama. A Fortune of Heroes, you say? A minor clan?" He frowns slightly. "Are there many of these Fortunes, raised since we left? What is a minor clan's place in the Empire? Are you above or below Imperials?"

He blinks...or winks, with only one eye its difficult to tell. "Ah, I'm looking for trees when you speak a forest. Yes, I can be called Shinjo Hanashi; I am a Teller of Tales in the Unicorn, of the Marta vassal family. We keep the histories of the Unicorn." He taps his head with a finger. "And it is my duty to share them, as it has been for a number of centuries in my family."

[Matsu Yurio]

"Oh good, I am glad it was not upsetting to your palette! Which one is the tyo-fuu? I feel I must try it now."

She looked around for something cheese-like but hidden by rice or some sort of disappointing pickled vegetable.

"Which red meat did you try? I liked that tuna, it is much the same."

A look of concern crossed her face on saying Chi-Pu's complexion. Carefully she purred a cup of shochu for her sister and slid it across to her with a gentle smile.

He glanced across the Rokugani section of cuisine to find some soy infused and fried tofu.

"This. It's not always fried. Unless you're in Crab lands. Then everything is fried."

He tried his best not to make a face.

"I did not try any red meat. It is . . . it is just not eaten by those of samurai rank."

[Yuzuki]

"I'm sure you're happy to be back in the empire though, with proper food."

Yuzuki put her foot in her mouth.

"You had rice, out there, didn't you? At least?"

"We attached ropes to our rice fields and dragged them with us, Mantis-san," she responded, tone flat.

Yuzuki didn't seem surprised by the idea.

"Is that possible? I'm not a farmer. They grow rice in water, don't they? Maybe you could put some soil on a cart, get some water on them, and then move the cart? Is that how you did it?"

[Soshi Taira]

"Oh good, I am glad it was not upsetting to your palette! Which one is the tyo-fuu? I feel I must try it now."

She looked around for something cheese-like but hidden by rice or some sort of disappointing pickled vegetable.

"Which red meat did you try? I liked that tuna, it is much the same."

A look of concern crossed her face on saying Chi-Pu's complexion. Carefully she purred a cup of shochu for her sister and slid it across to her with a gentle smile.

He glanced across the Rokugani section of cuisine to find some soy infused and fried tofu.

"This. It's not always fried. Unless you're in Crab lands. Then everything is fried."

He tried his best not to make a face.

"I did not try any red meat. It is . . . it is just not eaten by those of samurai rank."

The Soshi wandering past did not give any sign of hearing, as he placed more of the grilled meat in his mouth, chopsticks nimbly moving from rice bowl over the tall collar without any bits going awry.

This samurai eats what he pleases, lion...

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"Oh good, I am glad it was not upsetting to your palette! Which one is the tyo-fuu? I feel I must try it now."

She looked around for something cheese-like but hidden by rice or some sort of disappointing pickled vegetable.

"Which red meat did you try? I liked that tuna, it is much the same."

A look of concern crossed her face on saying Chi-Pu's complexion. Carefully she purred a cup of shochu for her sister and slid it across to her with a gentle smile.

He glanced across the Rokugani section of cuisine to find some soy infused and fried tofu.

"This. It's not always fried. Unless you're in Crab lands. Then everything is fried."

He tried his best not to make a face.

"I did not try any red meat. It is . . . it is just not eaten by those of samurai rank."

Chi-Pu takes the drink, but notably does not drink from it. Hearing the Lion speak about meat, Chi-Pu looks to him with a questioningly raised eyebrow.

[Usagi Tomoe]

He straightens a bit.

"Ah.. my apologies then Usagi-sama. A Fortune of Heroes, you say? A minor clan?" He frowns slightly. "Are there many of these Fortunes, raised since we left? What is a minor clan's place in the Empire? Are you above or below Imperials?"

He blinks...or winks, with only one eye its difficult to tell. "Ah, I'm looking for trees when you speak a forest. Yes, I can be called Shinjo Hanashi; I am a Teller of Tales in the Unicorn, of the Marta vassal family. We keep the histories of the Unicorn." He taps his head with a finger. "And it is my duty to share them, as it has been for a number of centuries in my family."

"Hmm..." the rabbit thoughtfully tapped her chin with her folded fan. No, there hadn't been any Minor Clans in existence when the Ki-rin left as one of the oldest Minor Clans, the Badger, had been created due to the Ki-rin's departure.

"Ara, ara, I guess there is a lot to catch up on... yes, there are many new minor Fortunes who have come into existence during your exodus, by word of the holy Emperor. I am no priest, but I have studied theology enough to list many of them. As for the Minor Clans, we are not ranked above the Imperials, no. We are like the samurai of the Great Clans in many ways, but our lands and power are much smaller. Some have been created out of nescessity, while some have been rewarded for examplary skill and ability."

She took a sip of her drink, a little surprised at the flavour of the foreign beverage, but enjoying it nonetheless. Where to even start?!

"I held a short lesson on some of the recent history in the Empire earlier today, and I intend to continue to do so during the rest of the miai as long as I'm allowed to... I would love for you to come and listen, even if I am not a talented storyteller. I will make sure to tell the history of how some of the Minor Clans were created, so to better help you and your kin understand how all these new clans have come into existence."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"We attached ropes to our rice fields and dragged them with us, Mantis-san," she responded, tone flat.

Yuzuki didn't seem surprised by the idea.

"Is that possible? I'm not a farmer. They grow rice in water, don't they? Maybe you could put some soil on a cart, get some water on them, and then move the cart? Is that how you did it?"[/quote]

Maybe, had she had a little less to drink she wouldn't have chuckled at that. Yet, she did. "N-no, Mantis-san, that is not possible."

[Matsu Kogo]

He half grinned.

"It is called Shochu. A drink the Crab are very partial to. Less refined than sake but often more efficient at obliterating memories."

In return he pointed at some of the gaijin cheese.

"What is that? I thought it was tofu, but evidently I was incorrect."

"Oh I see! Yes it was very effective at bringing me cheer after initial misfortunes with the menu." She gave a firm nod and reached over to collect a small piece of cheese.

"This? This is cheese. It is one of the many things that can be made from milk, and there are many different flavours and textures that can be produced. What did you think of it? Was it a pleasant surprise or did you wish for a large mug of the drink called Shochu?"

Imane pointed over at a nearby seat in case her sister wanted to join them.

Chi-Pu nods at the gesture and walks to the table, sitting down. She does not interrupt the conversation, listening intently. Her face almost has a green tinge to it, and occasionally a rumble from her stomach can be heard.

Kogo steps away from the table and moves back a moment, feeling the rumbling of her belly at all the red meat. * I wish Noburu were here. I could have slipped it to her. She would have loved it. And I would not be ill.*

She looks over and sees the noble Unicorn looking green and pale. A sister in similar crisis. She walks carefully over and looks at her, whispering "You too noble unicorn-sama?" and gestures subtly towards her belly.

[Shinjo Hanashi]

"Hmm..." the rabbit thoughtfully tapped her chin with her folded fan. No, there hadn't been any Minor Clans in existence when the Ki-rin left as one of the oldest Minor Clans, the Badger, had been created due to the Ki-rin's departure.

"Ara, ara, I guess there is a lot to catch up on... yes, there are many new minor Fortunes who have come into existence during your exodus, by word of the holy Emperor. I am no priest, but I have studied theology enough to list many of them. As for the Minor Clans, we are not ranked above the Imperials, no. We are like the samurai of the Great Clans in many ways, but our lands and power are much smaller. Some have been created out of nescessity, while some have been rewarded for examplary skill and ability."

She took a sip of her drink, a little surprised at the flavour of the foreign beverage, but enjoying it nonetheless. Where to even start?!

"I held a short lesson on some of the recent history in the Empire earlier today, and I intend to continue to do so during the rest of the miai as long as I'm allowed to... I would love for you to come and listen, even if I am not a talented storyteller. I will make sure to tell the history of how some of the Minor Clans were created, so to better help you and your kin understand how all these new clans have come into existence."

He smiles a bit in thanks. "Ah, well, as long as my duties do not interfere I will have to attend. I am planning to share stories at my campfire each evening, unless the events of one of the families take precedence. Please, invite all you would like, especially those inspired to tell their own tales. There is much history to share between the Unicorn and the Empire."

The last is perhaps spoken loudly enough for anyone eavesdropping to hear, for he wanted to insure others knew about it, more and more.

"Okay. So not above the Imperials. Do minor clans have different types of mons?" He looks at Tomoe's clothing a few seconds then back to the kebab in his hand and then back at her. "Which one is your family, which your school and which your clan? I admit, I don't have them all memorized yet, but two of the ones I see seem very similar to each other."

[Otaku Imane]

He glanced across the Rokugani section of cuisine to find some soy infused and fried tofu.

"This. It's not always fried. Unless you're in Crab lands. Then everything is fried."

He tried his best not to make a face.

"I did not try any red meat. It is . . . it is just not eaten by those of samurai rank."

The littlest battle maiden looked confused by that. "Ah. Oh." She tried the tofu. It was actually okay, if a little plain. The frying was definitely appealing.

After some thoughtful chewing she responded. "Well your tofu was nice enough, but I don't understand why rank would prevent one from eating perfectly good meat?" She looked at the platters. "Have the animals been over-hunted in our absence? Is that why so much of the menu is fish and vegetables?"

[Soshi Taira]

Saksaha finds she's enjoying this "miai" thing more than expected. Certainly she's not turning any heads (at least as far as she can tell), but she's been able to listen in on all sorts of interesting conversations, and she can't remember the last time she'd eaten this well. Thanks to the secret teachings of her Iuchi ancestors (and the tough constitution of her Moto ones), she's also making her way through the sampling of drinks on offer with little noticeable effect on her habitually phlegmatic demeanor.

((would love to chat, but please drop me a PM if you approach so I don't miss you!))

After a while, a Soshi landed nearby, taking a seat to examine the offerings in this part of the tent.

They had Friendly Traveler here!

Pouring a cup of the sake, he glanced to the Iuchi, and then offered, in a conspiratorial whisper, "This is actually a rather fine vintage, if the label is honest. The Yasuki swear by it."

His bowl, stuffed full of meat, rice, and a rich dark sauce, was doubtless a bit much, but the newness of the experience and flavors kept him from stopping.

[Matsu Yurio]

How to explain . . . ? Where's a Kitsu when you need one?

"It is a matter of spiritual purity. That grown in the earth and fished from the waters is of the highest purity. It is something impressed on us at an early age by our priests."

[Yuzuki]

Maybe, had she had a little less to drink she wouldn't have chuckled at that. Yet, she did. "N-no, Mantis-san, that is not possible."

"Are you sure? Modern engineering can accomplish some amazing things. I wouldn't be surprised if a Mantis-built ship could be used as a mobile farm."

It was possible she too, had a little to drink.