(D3, LE, Murato's) Something Sweet

[Kitsu Murato]

Murato had gone about arranging for a meal to be brought to his room, enough for two. It was not unlike ramen, but was definitely different, more like a soup. The noodles were a non-classical rice noodle in a bowl too big for them, but there was also a steaming hot bowl of vegetable broth with diced tofu and green onion next to it to be poured on. Alongside that there was yet another shallower bowl with things that might be considered a side... cut up pieces of pickled radish and carrot.

The door was open already as he was expecting his guest.

[Kuni Yasu]

Quiet, but heavy, footsteps approach. Yasu notes that the inn has remarkably few of the squeaks and creaks that she's used to throughout the halls at home. Yasu peeks around the open door, making sure she has the right one and isn't interrupting someone else, before stepping fulling into the frame and bowing. She's still in her yukata of a light summer fabric, richly printed with a fan pattern in deep blues and rich reds, the handle echoing the third eye painted on her forehead. A simple black obi with embroidery depicting a winding river in low-contrast midnight-blue silk holds it in place.

"Good evening, Kitsu-san, that all smells amazing all the way down the hall!" Given the open door, she enters, pausing for only a moment before sliding the door closed behind herself, more concerned with the threat of an open door at anyone's back than worries about rumors. "I hope the day has seen you well?"

[Kitsu Murato]

"It has been good," he confirms, standing and offering a seat. "And just seems to be getting better," he tacks on with a playful smile.

"I hope you've had a wonderful day," he offers, indicating the seat nearby. It was a bit smaller a table than what the sake bar offered.

[Kuni Yasu]

Her own smile lifts at his small compliment. Honestly, she'd used a similar one not long ago. "A busy one, for sure, It's a bit like solstice gathering with all the running about to talk to people and gathering for hosted events. Just...without all the research to dig into." She settles comfortably to a seat with a nod of thanks.

"And I know I still haven't met most of those here for the miai. The matchmakers could still end up pairing me with someone I only saw across the hall offering a gift, and I wouldn't actually be all that surprised."

[Kitsu Murato]

"I understand that feeling. Like you want to be in control, but you have to realize you aren't necessarily. But all we can do is try," he said with a smile.

"And I definitely want to try, so I had this small meal prepared. And acquired a small desert as well." He moved to take his bowl of broth and poured it over the noodles.

"Though the few I have met have been quite delightful, so trying has also been pleasant."

[Kuni Yasu]

Trying, yes, she'd need to consider what she should be offering in return through the course of the festival. The thought flits across her mind as she watches him pour the broth and nods. "Yes, exactly. I've been trying to put words to that for a day now...but not entirely in control and trying what I can...describes it exactly. I can't say everyone's been a delight, but mostly. You expect the clans to send good candidates and shuffle the dull ones off to some quiet corner of their provinces where they won't be noticed much." She shrugs. "I suppose sometimes there's paperwork mix ups.

Speaking of which, she follows his lead, pouring her own bowl of brother over the noodles, watching them separate and settle as she inhales the savory steam. "Is this a local dish, or something common at home? The noodles are so plump compared to the fried ones that are common at home."

*assuming separate settings of bowls, will edit if that's incorrect.

[Kitsu Murato]

"Paperwork mixups always cause headaches. But someone may also have been sent to try to get them away from their clan, with as little effort on their part as possible," he chuckled.

"This is a dish I enjoy back home. They happened to have rice noodles available, and the other things are common, so the kitchen obliged. I've heard that fried foods are common in Crab lands. Are you going to put some heft on me with fried rice if I end up as a Crab?" he asks with a smirk.

*yes, two dishes*

[Kuni Yasu]

"Only if you neglect any physical training." She offers a slightly teasing smile, "kemari practice, for example?" Yes, his performance this morning had been noted. "But yes, we do a lot of ramen because it travels well and frying the noodles adds oil to keep troops going longer. Fried rice. And, well, it's hard to get a lot of fresh vegetables in Kuni lands, so...pickles are common." She stirs the fluffy noodles into the broth with her chopsticks. "Speaking of which, do the vegetables go into the broth or remain on the side?"

"Someone lazy enough to foist their job off on minor clan matchmakers needs a reassignment," she says in a bluntly honest assessment.

[Kitsu Murato]

"There are a lot of people that need reassignment in the empire I imagine. But the dice fall where they are," he agrees, but also laments.

"They are pickled, so more of a side, to add some tang between the savory," he says with a nod. His noodles, now sufficiently warmed and plumped by the broth, get a taste test from him. He doesn't give any hint about whether he likes it or not, waiting to see what she thinks.

"Yes, well. Enthusiasm should count for something no?" he asked with a chuckle. "It is certainly not my strong suit. I have two left feet which is why they made me a bureaucrat and not a bushi. But I do put in the effort as much as I can. I can't promise I'll get much better at that stuff, but it certainly won't be from a lack of trying."

[Kuni Yasu]

"Definitely. Enthusiasm goes quite a long way. And in the end, kemari is just a game. So long as you're not hurting yourself or anyone else in the process, trying things like that is worth the effort." She leans over, scooping the noodles, slurping them with evident relish before reaching to wash them down the beverage on offer*

Setting her chopsticks down, she wraps both hands around the bowl, then pauses. "Ah...is this a drink the broth from the bowl soup, or a scoop it slowly with a spoon soup?"

*tea? Sake? other?