[D0LM] First Steps (closed, expecting)

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Well, I don't know that he'd claim that." Hirame flashed a quick smile. "I mean, Lord Yoritomo is... Yoritomo. Every Mantis wishes they had half his guts, and a quarter of his panache." From the way Hirame briefly gazed off into the middle distance, he was no exception to that.

Hirame had at least been trained in the basics. "Hmmm..." He frowned a moment, then smiled. "Well, this gift is just from me, so it's no extra trouble on my family." He looked at her expectantly, eyebrows up, waiting for the next counterthrust.

[Kakita Ahiru]

That he was not as practiced as her with the gift-giving ritual amused her slightly. Seemed like the Mantis were scoundrels after all.

"Still, you and your family has already gifted much. I would not wish to appear greedy or spoiled to my future family..."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"No way could anyone think you're greedy!" Hirame said, quite nearly offended on her behalf for the imagined slight.

He frowned as he considered a more formal way to phrase that. "That is, your good character is both obvious and above reproach, Kakita-san." He said, smiling, inclining his head once more. That was it, right? Three times?

[Kakita Ahiru]

Greedy or poor... which one was worse to be called? Probably poor.

"Thank you. That is very kind of you to say. Then, I will gladly accept your gift, Hirame-san, with the caveat that you in turn accept a small gift from me in return, as a proper exchange as we are both above reproach and obviously not greedy, neh?" she said with a smile, hoping that the little exchange meant that they didn't have to go through the expected refusals again. Ahiru wasn't sure if he could manage it again as well as the first time.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Oh?" Hirame's eyes narrowed in appreciation, even as he smiled. "You're full of interesting ideas, Kakita-san. I think I might have to approach our engagement with a bit more creativity." A quick grin flashed, implying excitement, possible danger, likely impropriety of some sort. A very Mantis sort of grin.

He inclined his head. "Once again, I accept your terms, and therefore your gift." He straightened. "A fair exchange. I like that. Although Mantis are not often considered above reproach, I'm sorry to say."

[Kakita Ahiru]

From behind her, Ahiru took out a small wooden box as she smiled and placed it before her on the floor, nudging it closer to Hirame with a push from her fingertips. While the closed box didn't reveal what was inside, the long slender form gave some idea as to what could possibly be in it.

"Are they not? Perhaps something to prove others wrong with then, I'd say," she suggested as they exchanged the gifts.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Believe me. I intend to." Hirame said, pressing his lips together firmly.

Eyebrows curiously raised, he accepted the box, gripping it firmly with both hands. Eyebrows went further up as he saw the contents. "A fan! And quite a nice one." He drew it out, snapping it shut and then opening it wide, experimentally. He held it up, on display, showing off the wave design, doing his best to match it with his very stylish sharkskin jacket.

He snapped it shut again. "Thank you, Kakita-san. I understand that fans are items of some utility in court, right? Or on the battlefield? For signalling, either way." He chuckled. "On a ship, we favor barking orders, but Mantis adapt to their circumstances."

[Kakita Ahiru]

Ahiru cringed internally as Hirame opened his gift right away, though kept a polite exterior. Well... guess that meant she was free to open hers too.

"A fan will be most useful in the courts, yes. It might even be an advantage to you in some of the trials of the tournament, as it is quite common to test the competitors ability to handle themselves in courtly situations."

Looking down at the box, she delicately moved away the lid to have a look at what was inside. Much to her surprise it was... a quite beautiful pearl. "Oh. Goodness, it is beautiful, Hirame-san. Thank you. I will have to try to think of something to do with something as pretty as this... maybe a hairpin or a comb..."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"I see." Hirame said sturdily. "Well, I'll have to see what I can do to learn them." He smiled. "Well, if I can't, it won't be the first time I've found myself in a strange situation, and had to improvise." Like that time that the gaijin had held out his hand just when Hirame was starting to bow...

He beamed. "I'm glad you like it! It is a rather nice one, isn't it. Although it's not worth too much, I'm afraid; although you really couldn't sell a gift, anyway, no matter the state of one's finances." Hirame shrugged, unconcerned. "But I do think you would wear it quite beautifully." He tilted his head, imagining it adorning her hair in some sort of ornament.

[Kakita Ahiru]

Ahiru frowned, finding the good mood soured. "... I would never sell a gift," she said defiantly, though she avoided adressing the real crux of the unspoken insult.

"There are plenty of talented artisans here in Tsuma, I might ask the best to set it in an ornament." The best of course implied the most expensive, or at least so she thought. With that in mind, Ahiru placed the lid on the box back.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Of course not..." Hirame frowned, sensing the change in mood, but not understanding why. His lips parted, then closed, then he shook his head. Better to just leave it for now.

Following her example, Hirame replaced the fan in the box, closing it as well, firmly but carefully. "A fine idea, Ahiru-san." He looked at her. "Perhaps we might go together? It occurs to me that we have an opportunity that many people marrying between clans don't. We can actually get to know each other before the marriage. Plot a proper course." He held up one hand in a flat palm, waving it as though dodging imaginary obstacles. "What do you say to that, eh?"

[Kakita Ahiru]

"That is true..." many of her cousins (of blood and not) often got married to someone they hardly knew. "... I suppose that is a good idea, yes. We should try to do some things together, to get to know one another better. Good idea, Hirame-san."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Great." Hirame agreed with a smile. "I'd like that. Seize the opportunity! That's the Mantis way." He gave a nod, both firm and enthusiastic.

He sat back, relaxing. "I don't know about you, but I haven't had a chance to explore Tsuma yet. It's not the biggest city, but I'll bet there's still a lot to see. The market, the docks... is it strange that I'd like to see how the ocean looks from here?" Hirame shrugged, chuckling softly. "You'd think I'd be tired of seeing it.

[Kakita Ahiru]

"I have been here many times before. Even had the chance to observe som parts of the Topaz Championships sometimes," she said with a touch of smug confidence, since she had an advantage he did not. "Not much of an ocean-view here though, but the river is quite lovely. You might appriciate it?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Is that so...?" Hirame eyed her shrewdly. Subtlety might not be his strength, but risk and confidence were, and he understood the implications. "Well, perhaps you'll have to show me around, then."

He smiled, his chin tilting up. "Although I wager I can find something here you haven't seen. It sounds as though you might be a step ahead, but I'm a fast learner. I'll catch up."

[Kakita Ahiru]

Ahiru chuckled a little bit. "Something I haven't seen yet? Sure, I'll look forward to that. You do have until the end of the tournament, so that should be plenty of time for you, neh?"

Well, he wasn't too bad. That tan was terrible though, as was his clothes. But in time he could look good in the white and sky-blue of a proper Crane.

[Funegao no Hirame]

Meanwhile, Hirame was trying to imagine Ahiru wearing a bandana, a pair of those really cool golden loop earrings, and about 8 fewer layers. That last was a challenge; maybe it was like one of those gaijin wooden dolls, where they had progressively smaller and smaller dolls inside until the last one was empty. Well, she could certainly pull off the rest of it.

He shook his head dispelling the image. "Oh, I don't think it'll take that long." He smirked. "Actually, I have an idea already. Just gimme a few days to check something out."

[Kakita Ahiru]

Ahiru's fan tapped gently against her chin, an amused smile on her face. "Oh? Already and you haven't even been here a day yet? Now that will be interesting."

She was certainly goading him on a little bit.

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Sure." Hirame said, smirking. "Actually, you gave me the clue yourself. I just had to be paying enough attention."

Reaching up, he mimed tying a string around his lips. "But I shouldn't say any more. I don't want to give away the surprise, after all." He looked at her directly. "You do enjoy surprises, don't you, Ahiru-san?"

[Kakita Ahiru]

"Did I?" her eyebrows rose with some surprise. Wait, what did I say to make him think that?! I said something about the river, I know...

Regaining a bit of her cool, Ahiru fanned herself. "As much as the next person, I suppose..." she said a touch nonchalant. Or at least trying to be. Female protagonists in pillowbooks never gave in easily to the ones seeking her favor, after all!