[Day 1, Early Morning] The early Lion

[Matsu Nintoku]

The Lion stared pensively at the Shinjo; he couldn't find it in himself to tell him that such an outcome was very unlikely as his clan did not have a good track record with any of their neighbors, specially with neighbors that might not be as honored or rokugani as themselves.

"That is a possibility." he offered neutrally "Conflict and strife creates the most unlikely friendships." he paused again wanting to ask if that is how they had brought along the Moto but refraining because he didn't know of a way that didn't frame the Moto as foreign barbarians.

[Shinjo Akil]

"Indeed," he nodded, "The Unicorn know this well, as it happens." He considered for a moment, then spoke again. "So does Matsu-san have any aspirations as to what a spouse may be like?"

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Aspirations?" he blinked before shrugging; he hadn't really thought about it. "I can't say I've thought much of it. The only thing so far I know is that she will be of your clan and as such I've been learning as much as I can so I can at least make our marriage amicable."

"What about Shinjo-san?" he inquired "Is there any clan you seem to favor?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"Well, as I said, I have not met any samurai from outside my clan save you," he nodded, "I think, perhaps, a more artistic clan would speak better to my soul. Though I suppose it does not matter terribly much. I have heard that every clan has some form of artistic tradition."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Oh I know, I thought that maybe Shinjo-san might have read about the various Clans." he shrugged "Well it really depends on what does Shinjo-san consider artistic. I think you will see that that varies quite a bit among clans."

"Did you have miai as well before arriving to Rokugan?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"I have tried to gain what understanding I can, but we have been spending much time ensuring that these lands are prepared for us. It... limits the time one can spend considering other matters. As for miais," he considered, "not such as this, no. There was little time for large events while riding. There was of course still a process to getting married, but it certainly was not so formal."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"How did you deal with marriage then?" he was genuinely curious "Also what is this 'long ride' I keep hearing about?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"Not having been married before, I don't know much in the way of details," he let out a small laugh, "I know that it was somewhat informal, though the Ide did their best to keep records so that Samurai would not intermarry too closely.

"The Long Ride was our ride through the Sands. It encapsulates... well, a lot of history."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"Oh no, I didn't meant like that." he shook his head "I meant, how did you arrange the marriages? Did the Ide also preserve the rokugani way?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"I think the selection process ended up being more informal, save ensuring that no one married too close to people they were already related to. It certainly wasn't as grandiose as all this." He considered, "if I remember correctly, for example, my mother approached my father, put her hand on his shoulder, and declared him hers. At least that was how my mother told it."

[Matsu Nintoku]

Nintoku shuddered at the thought of his sisters, or even mother, taking that custom and implementing it among the Matsu. "That is... very peculiar."

"In Rokugan such things would not have place. Well for the most." he explained "Though I guess that method will not be used in this miai? Right?"

[Shinjo Akil]

"If it is, they haven't told me yet," he smirked, "though some Moto traditions involve carrying one's wife away on horseback. Which is... a sight."

[Matsu Nintoku]

"The Moto." he remembered seeing them from a far and being taken back by how foreign they look. "Were they..." he paused, thinking carefully on how to phrase his question "How did they come to join the Unicorn?"

He still didn't like the way he phrased it but it was the best he could do without emphasizing their "special" status too much.

[Shinjo Akil]

"They attacked us," he explained calmly, "and, well, we beat them back hard. Their leaders at the time recognized strength, and saw Shinjo-kami as the strongest that they had ever seen, so they came in contrition to ask for a place among us. Shinjo-kami worked out a ritual that binds them to us, makes them part of our wheel. And from then on the Moto were part of our clan."

[Matsu Nintoku]

He blinked at his explanation. He didn't know much about the Moto but that seemed, from his short experience with that family, something so in character with them that he did not know how to respond.

"I... I see." he managed to blurt out "It is a bit funny though."

"The founder of my family, Lady Matsu, also joined the Lion Clan in a similar way, joining after being defeated by Akodo-no-Kami in a duel of honor. There is more to the tale if you wish to know but the gist is that Lady Matsu dueled Akodo-no-Kami and ended up losing."