[D0, LA] Late Afternoon is for Tea (Open)

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He put his mask up.

"It's better this than fleeing out the window."

[Seppun Unsei]

"Am I really that difficult to talk with that you're contemplating jumping out of the window?" For once, their On was up, masking whatever they were feeling about that.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"As a creature used to hiding, being overlooked and finding peace in that, it is an option even if the Emperor sought me out for tea. Shall I seppuku now or shall I wait until you've asked for my final poem?" Hikimasu rested his chin on his hands and looked across at the Seppun now.

[Seppun Unsei]

"I suppose waiting until the final poem." They answered a bit plainly. The whole thing was a conundrum. Unsei wanted to be nice and flirt, but how could that go in the right direction when the person hated it so much they wanted to run away.

So, instead of saying anything else, the Seppun just finished their tea.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"More generosity than I'm used to, so I'll say thank you for that", he said, looking a bit relieved.

[Seppun Unsei]

"Oh yeah, giving you time to write your final poem. So nice." They muttered a bit sarcastically before setting their cup down. The realization that all they had done was make someone just uncomfortable had lessened their mood considerably for the time being, but they still kept a neutral On, acting like a proper Seppun for the first time since they got to the Kyuden.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

And now, of course, Hikimasu could tell they'd ruined Unsei's mood somehow. Well, best do something.

"Erm...do... you know much about Miai? I imagine this is your first but you'd mentioned wanting to be arranged by the Otomo. How do they do it?"

[Seppun Unsei]

"I've no clue. I did want to have it arranged by an Otomo, but it was never during a miai or anything and they ended up sending me here." They answered politely. "What about you?"

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"There should be some kind of event, likely tomorrow, where we get to officially introduce ourselves to all the other eligible parties", he said. "Unless the Shika decide they want to do something bizarre. I don't know their traditions, but in Scorpion lands at least the women and men would have been kept separate from each other, masks doing most of the work on keeping surprises in tact. Here though, I don't know what to expect."

[Seppun Unsei]

"Scorpion way sounds kind of odd honestly. Being kept apart until the arrangement. What about ladies who want to marry ladies or the same for men? Keeping them separated by sex wouldn't really work." They shrugged some. "But, the Scorpion are notorious for their legendarily rare marriages for love, so I guess it makes sense."