[D1EE] Window Shopping (OPEN)

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Tea set, huh?" Hirame's eyebrows went up. "I've never had tea out of a proper tea set. Seen plenty for sale, though." He shrugged. "But yeah, that's the thing, eh? Don't know what I'd do if I ended up miles from the sea. At least a proper lord would probably make sure that didn't happen. And if they've got a coast, they must have some kinda ships..." Hirame frowned; who wouldn't have a navy, if they could?

As they walked, he gave her a curious glance. "Well, you'll be an adult soon. Maybe your captain'll set up a match for you? Or sign off on it if you say 'hey, this one'?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Could be. I mean, m'folks didn't exactly gimme a model of married life t'follow, so not sure what it is I'd want beyond good looks an' agreein' I'm right about everything..."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"What more could anyone want?" Hirame snorted. His expression turned more serious as they walked along.

"I mean, maybe that's enough?" He said suddenly. "I mean, there's a few couples on the Funegao who do pretty much everything together. And then there's couples where one's a sailor, and the other tends the home, and they see each other twice a year. And everything in-between." He gave her a sidelong glance. "No need to use your folks as a model if they weren't a good one." It definitely sounded like they weren't.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Oh, b'lieve me, a marriage like theirs is one I'd like t'avoid. Mom's captain of her own kobune, the Kaga. Dad's a harbor pilot. I think twice a year might be more'n they've seen each other since I was born..."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Well..." Hirame said, "-I guess you need someone who likes water, then."

He flashed her a grin. "So, you wanna try throwing the Phoenix boys in the river? Whoever's into it, that's who you marry. Seems clear to me."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, 'least one of 'em's spoken for, so I should keep my flirtin' gentle with him."

She grinned.

"Or not. Think it'll depend on if his intended pisses me off."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Oh yeah? Just toss them in, too!" Hirame grinned back.

"Who's his intended? Another competitor, or the Phoenix next door, back home?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Bit'a both. She's another competitor- and also a Phoenix. Haven't met her yet, maybe she's nice, maybe not."

Kasumi shrugged.

"Not my lookout either way, really."

[Funegao no Hirame]

Hirame frowned. "I've met a few Phoenix girls. They went to the same school, one of them told me. They're strange. Like really strange. Nice..." Hirame admitted, nodding and smiling, "-but definitely strange."

He shrugged. "But you hear that about the Phoenix, and some of their shugenja. I guess you know better than me, with that ship you rescued, eh?"

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Asako-sama wasn't all that odd. I mean. She's a courtier, so she's gonna be a bit weird, ey? An' the Shiba aboard were normal enough. Bit uptight, but that's t'be expected."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"All great clan samurai are a bit uptight." Hirame said, chuckling softly.

They rounded another corner. Hirame pursed his lips. "I don't exactly care what they think about us. But... I also do kinda care, y'know?" He said, frowning. "I mean, I'd stack one of our sailor's courage against any o' them, but..." A moment, and Hirame shrugged.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"If what they thought of us didn't matter, why would Lord Yoritomo have done all he could t'make 'em take notice, y'know? At the same time... we got ways they don't. Tryin' t'explaina sea fight to someone who's never seen one is... hard."

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Yeah." Hirame smirked. "And hey, if Lord Yoritomo's doing it, that gives me a good feeling. And as for sea-fighting, well, that's one place we're second to none."

He grimaced. "Now I just have to hope that'll come up in one of these tests. Kicking a ball, eh. Maybe we'll get to try keeping our footing on a dinghy in the tide. That sounds like my kind of fun."

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Well, hope all ya like, but... given th' state of thing, y'really think the Cran're gonna go outta their way t'let us look good?"

[Funegao no Hirame]

"Who knows?" Hirame said, shrugging. "Maybe they'll consider it part of fair play. You know, let us have a chance to show they can beat us at our own game."

There was a short pause.

"No, probably not." He admitted with a sigh.

[Yukikaze no Kasumi]

"Has any Great Clan ever gone outta their way t'let anyone else look good?"

Since neither young Mantis had the gift of prophecy, they couldn't possibly know that the next day's test would see both of them happily in their element.

"But tell ya what, you keep that Crane of yours on her toes, even if the rest of 'em get to ignore us, hm?"