"Impressive." It was a single word, but judging by her tone, and the raised eyebrows, she was impressed.

"I can see why you have been elevated to new heights to reach then, Murame-san. I wish you the best of luck in living up to the expectations placed upon you."

“Um, thank you.”
She shakes her head as if clearing away something unpleasant

“I’m sure you have much more impressive stories. Dogfights, rivalries with other aces, dangerous bombing runs.”
Quirking a lip is ever so slightly
“At least, that’s what is groundpounders here.”

"Well, there are dangerous missions for ground-pounders, marines, and pilots alike," she shrugged, "but I prefer not to get caught up in rivalries or kill-counts between aces - the success of a pilot hinges on how well they fly with their unit and accomplish their goals alongside with them. A pilot that think they are going to be the solitary ace winning the day will get themselves killed. Or worse, the rest of their squad killed."

“That’s a good attitude Utaku-sama.... not that you need my approval. A hero who gets their squadron killed is no hero at all.”

Relaxing a little now
“Where you always going to be come a sky rider? With your family and the traditions there...”

"Most likely, yes," she said with a proud nod. "Either that, or a Navigator, most likely. Both my mothers are Sky Riders, and two of my siblings are Navigators, and the other two are also Sky Riders... both sides of the family have long and proud lines of both Sky Riders and Navigators. We are proud to trace our lineage back to the original Battle Maidens who rode sacred war horses into war."

There had never been any other alternative really.

"What about you? I'm ashamed to admit I don't know much about the Murame family."

“Ah” she shifts slightly
“There is no need to feel that way Utaku-sama. If you have visited an Ikoma holding you will have seen my family. We are guards primarily, although some of my family represent the Ikoma in the army or the marines.”

dipping her head
“We do not have the prestige of the Utaku and the work is often simple. But it is honourable and necessary.”

"All great traditions and prestige must start somewhere, and for a long time, my clan was looked down upon as barbarians and uncouth." In a way, the Unicorn could probably thank the Spider for coming on stage and being truly terrible, whereas the Unicorn just looked funny, talked funny, and ate good stuff like meat and cheese.

"The Dynasty of Iweko is younger than the founding families of the Great Clans, even younger than many Minor Clans. Yet still... an idea of that in time, people can reach great heights." Of course, she kept a very reverent tone when speaking the name of the Imperial dynasty.

“Only a few centuries to go then, one hopes. And yes, there was a time when Unicorn customs were... particularly unknown”
They still eat bad stuff like red meat and cheese!

“The honoured Iweko dynasty is far beyond my humble kin, although perhaps one has guarded a room one of the imperial family has visited?”
A slight rise and fall of her shoulders
“We... I, I suppose, are content enough with doing our duty as required of us. My family has few heroes, but no villains”

"Wouldn't be much of an Empire if everyone were pursuing being a hero and were neglecting their duties," she nodded approvingly to Shoan. "One can take pride in doing their duty."

"Your family are guardians too?"

“Hai, and their parents. And their parents before them.... not that they have the same parents, different sets of parents doing the same thing. I think it would have been my calling if... things had not changed.”
Thankful to seemingly be edging towards the Unicorn’s good side.

“It’s difficult. Not all those present are as respectful of simple... or boring duties as you Utaku-sama. But maybe it merely weeds out the proper samurai from the... other samurai present. Um, if this isn’t improper to ask, you must have had several samurai interested in you as a potential spouse already?”

"Hm, yes, it does separate the pretenders from the true samurai," she agreed.

"As for potential suitors, I wouldn't say that anyone has dedicated themself to pursuing me as far as I know. I think there are some good candidates, but it is far too early to tell, and I don't have a good idea of how others may... rank me, so to speak."

Politely “I’m sure it’s very thigh.... I mean high, Utaku-sama. I had a small favour to ask. One of my cousins, Kitsu Nozomi-san is a talented young samurai. She is a talented priestess and has an honourable heart... but is only slowly going though suitors.”

Slightly apologetic
“If you knew any samurai who might be a good match for her, whether among the Unicorn or others you are aware, it would be a kindness.”

"Kitsu-san? Ah I have met her earlier today..." she wondered a bit about the request, finding it a little strange for Shoan to speak so on behalf of her clanmate, but decided it was maybe a Lion thing to look after their shugenja this way.

"I will keep it in mind. There are no Shugenja present from the Unicorn I'm afraid. Apart from the Unicorn, is there any other specific clan that the Lion wish to reach out to?"

Shoan mentally reaches back to the great Lion list exercise, scanning through the various smiley faces and shrugging emojis

"...There are a paucity of good matches for Lion samurai at this miai Utaku-sama. Obviously the Crab have a reputation as skilled warriors, but those present...."slight shrug "And then there are no Dragon of note, perhaps some of the Crane? But it is not an ideal match."

"No, the Crane would not be an ideal match for either of us, considering... the current Three Clan Alliance going on there." She of course meant the Crane-Spider-Mantis alliance.

"... What is your opinion about the Crab here so far, if you don't mind me asking? It sounds like we may have similar impressions..."

A few moments of silence
"Kuni Koryn-san seems....amicable? As for the other Crab present."
Another longer stretch of silence
"I have not met any of them at any real length, I would not one to judge them rashly."

"Amicable, yes. Sadly, way out of his depths..." she shook her head with some dismay. "He seems very young and naive for this kind of event."

And she had more or less erased him from her list because of those traits. Hyeon-ju was not a woman who had the time to make sure her partner didn't mess up because someone told them that you could totally breathe in the vacuum of space without a suit or a helmet on.

"I've not had the chance to meet them all yet, but... well, I've mostly been confused by them so far. Which is not a descriptor I thought I would use for the Crab ever in my life."

"There is much about the Crab that is confusing."
Whether she means the Crab in general or just the Crab at the miai was is unclear
"I understand many of them are....business people. Doubtless if one is a samurai obsessed with money then their ways are much clearer."

"True enough..." the Utaku rested her chin against the palm of her fingers, elbow resting at the table to support her.

"I just... I don't know if I'm reading too much into it, but one of them seemed to try to help a Spider set up a date of sorts with me. I still don't know what to make of it. Should I be concerned of this Crab's allegiances, or should I be insulted that the Crab wish for a Unicorn to partner up with a Spider."

"Yes."
Shoan nods empthatically