[Day 5 - Early Afternoon, Tearoom] Tea, Just Tea (Open)

[Bayushi Hoshi]

After a moment, which was a short awkward one, Hoshi returned to sitting upright again and reached to refill both their cups of tea. “Ah. So nothing to do with it I suppose.” She let out a small breath in slight disappointment. “A kimono would make a nice gift item for a lady, especially one that you find yourself concerning over.”

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... I can be less concerned if it makes Bayushi-san feel better?" he offered, smiling still. Nodding his thanks, Iuchi raised his cup once again to his lips. "And my concern is... probably not the kind you assume... or then I assume what you assume." he stuttered. Beautiful women had sometimes that effect on him.

"You don't have a spare kimono with you?" he asked, curious. "It's not that I couldn't afford one, but... some people might.. misunderstand things. And I am spoken for so..."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"The fact that you have to assume twice means that you're not sure enough to assume much Iuchi-san." Hoshi said softly after a sip of tea.

"Also asking if I had spare clothing could lead to all sorts of misunderstanding as well." She smirked in her tone. "Spoken for? That's something you haven't made clear until now."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Right. Something sensible to say. Something sensible to say.

Iuchi stared his cup rather intensively before he raised his gaze carefully. "When one asks for a kimono, especially under circumstances as this, the question of the spares comes up... And I have to admit that I do not see the misunderstandings such a question could cause, but I trust on Bayushi-san's word in the matter." the man mumbled.

"Erm... I haven't considered it necessary... but there seemed to be a possibility of... misunderstanding. On the ship before, I was merely worried you had injured yourself... here... well, you were unaccounted for and... None of these things should be taken as... advance on... erm. You know. But then you brought up the matter of kimono and..." Shugenja was rather flustered.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

“-Ah. Of course Iuchi-san. Perhaps it’s something only I see at the moment.” Hoshi shrugged.

“But if I’ve taken everyone’s concerns of me as an advance, I think I would be a very lonely person. Even if that was your intent, it would be the most subtle of approaches. You were just unfortunate to catch me on two awkward occasions, consecutively maybe. The matter of the kimono...it only seemed like you were ready to buy one for me really.”

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Perhaps." he nodded. Then a thought occurred to him. He recalled certain hakama and what had happened to it. "Oh... I think... I may understand." Iuchi nodded. "I am.. sorry, for all it's good for."

"Erm... I think that Bayushi-san can wear anything and still steal the breath of most men in the room. Were she less battered. " he offered her a compliment, awkwardly. "You really thought I was going to offer to buy you a kimono? Such a personal... thing."

"So, may I ask what ailed you the first time? Now that you are well and fit." The man's curiosity, would most likely lead to his demise.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

Hoshi crossed her arms together on the table and watched the Unicorn, he must have enjoyed continuously digging himself into an awkward hole whenever possible. “I don’t know what I’ve done to suddenly deserve your half-compliments, you needn’t appease my ego with them. I didn’t really think you were going to buy me a kimono. Because you...can’t. Not here.” She gave a glance about the place to make her point.

“I was well and fit before Iuchi-san, wasn't this said already?”

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... as you say, Bayushi-san." Xiao Hua dropped his head. Had he been an army, he would have been in full retreat.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

If the Iuchi was an army, Hoshi made an advance. "Did you get the chance to know much of your betrothed? Or would that begin once the veil is parted?"

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"She is a Shiba... from an another merchant patron family... I was told." even though the man had revealed her identity to the Hida, and Tsuruchi, Xiao Hua didn't feel comfortable revealing the actual state of matters to the Scorpion. Such deception left him feeling uncomfortable, a fact he tried to hide. And failed, miserably.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"A Shiba? That's good." She approved. "They say those from the protective family of the Shiba make for attentive spouses. Maybe even more fitting that you yourself are a shugenja to compliment this. Still, you can only be sure when you meet her in person. I hope all the best Iuchi-san."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Man nodded. "She is a bushi, so it could work like that. And she seems to like household chores, so she seems like a good wife to..." rest of the sentence was swallowed. Then he grimaced. He had done it again.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Mm? To...? I hope you're as certain as your words Iuchi-san. It does sound to me that you know more of her than a casual mention of a marriage list. Good. Knowing your spouse is a solid step to marriage, or so I'm told."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Erm... yes, I hope so." he muttered. "Never been married before, can't tell..." Iuchi added, chuckling awkwardly as he stared his teacup.

[Bayushi Hoshi]

((Much apologies, I forgot.))

Hoshi gave a small shake of her head. "It's bad luck to go into a marriage less than prepared Iuchi-san. If you are to support your bride then...she could at least deserve some confidence from her would-be husband."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

Iuchi's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "It's not like she is seems like a bad person, just that well... all you can do is hope things go well, neh? I... trust her as much as I can, given the circumstances."

Marital advice, from a Scorpion...

[Bayushi Hoshi]

The Scorpion grew more curious, "The circumstances must be unusual Iuchi-san."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Well, I haven't known them for a long time. It takes a time to build trust." the man murmured. "You know that probably." A dry chuckle. Scorpions and their fixation on loyalty was well known.

"Well, I do not wish to question the choice my father made, but it seems definitely... peculiar."

[Bayushi Hoshi]

"Of course Iuchi-san." Was all she said at his chuckle. "So peculiar circumstances then, perhaps you only have your father's wisdom on the matter. But being at odds with your future spouse isn't a favourable option either."

[Iuchi Xiao Hua]

"Ah... at odds with her as much as... wondering if her background matches mine." the man explained. "She seems to come from a... rustic family, where my own is... erm... more.. well-established. Such things have some importance in marriage, after all."