Joo eyed the different bubble teas on sale. What would taste the best? What would a Fox drink? Or say?

He hoped he didn't come off too stalkerish with texting out of the blue Kitsune Izumi, but hey, he was late, he needs to get started working on this marriage thing!

It appeared that FoxComm 210 had not autocorrected his reply so much as to scare off the Unicorn. Izumi arrived in a bounce of bright yellow hair.

"IuchiJoo-Woo-san?"

Joo smiled and....looked down? "Ah, Kitsune Izumi-sama? I am indeed Iuchi Joo-Woo." He gave a bow appropriate to Izumis station...even if he had to bow pretty deep compared to the Foxeh stature.

"May I invite you to a nice cup of bubble tea?"

"Sure. Ilovethebubbleteahere. Justtheplainsweetteaoneformeplease."

He hauled himself into a seat.

"Areyounewhere? I'veseenYul,Ganbold,Hyeon-juandtheotherMotobefore."

Joo asked for two sweet ones. "New and not. Arrived at the start, but got waylaid by pirates on the way here, and spent my time here on the hospital until today." He shrugged. "Now I get to play catch up."

He placed the tea in front of the Fox.

"You've been here from the start, from what I hear?"

He nodded while scooping up his tea glass and swirling the 'bubbles'.

"Yes, notdoneoverlybrilliantbutstillenoughtoobtainanOtori,cloakanddroneofmyown."

He decided not to mention falling off a giant mushroom . . .

"Oh, and Otori and a cloak?" After some brief deciphering, he managed to figure it out. He took another sip. "Sounds great! What kind of cloak?"

"AnOtorifeathercloak. GotitforcompletingtheOtoriracewithDasshuafewdaysago."

He grinned. Riding Dasshu through the forest had been one of the best moments of the week . . . even if he hadn't seen that much with the gas mask on.

"Sounds lovely! Would Kitsune-sama show it to me one day? Dasshu is your otori then, I presume?" Joo sighed. "Missing the chance to ride one is my greatest regret at this miai so far. Damn pirates!"

"Sure. YesgotDasshuintheroundupearlyonintheMiai. He'sreallyfast. Maybethey'llletyourentanOtoriforadayorso?"

He had wondered on the purpose of the meeting but it seemed all Miai business so far.

Joo nodded. "That would be great. I saw an Otori of Shiba-san's the other day, it was quite magnificent." He placed his own cup down, and glanced towards the tiny yet adorable Fox.

"So, Kitsune-sama, how do you find the miai so far? Any prospects?"

"It'sbeengoodfun!"

If you ignore the apocalyptical threats in the background.

"Lotsofgoodpeoplehere, butnooneinparticularhasstoodoutyetforme."

That'll be because you've been too busy poking vulpine nose into other business.

Joo nodded, taking another sip...a small piece of foam sticking on his nose.

"Ah, I see I see." He tilted his head. "Well, that means there is still time to win Kitsune-sama's heart?" He asked jokingly.

The Kitsune's eyes sparkled at the foam stuck to nose but he didn't laugh . . . yet.

"Iwillfindsomeone. Twodaysleftandthenwealldecide."

Ifwehaven'tbeeneatenbySakkakubythen.

Joo nodded solemnly.

"Hai, that is a good approach Kitsune-sama." He gave a small bow of his head in acknowledgment of his wisdom...and his nose got stuck into his bubble tea.

"Ack!"

Izumi did laugh this time . . . despite trying his best not to, and then attempted to change the subject while the Unicorn recovered.

"Haveyoutriedthenightcluborthekaraokeyet?"

Joo laughed, not taking offense it seems. "Ie, not yet. Have you?"

"Beentoboth. Greatfun, youshouldtrythem!"

His turn to drink, but Foxeh had mastered that art long ago.

Joo tried again, this time...foamless fictory!

"Ah, I see. Maybe I'll do so. Can you recommend any good songs, Kitsune-sama?"

"Whaddyalike? C-PophastobeUsagiDrop! Forrockthere'sSLATE. GreatKaiurockbandthateveryonethinksisKUnicosofthefacepaint. Ifyouwantsomethingslowthenthere'stheLionEnkastuff. Tooslowandboringformethough."

He'd been watching the bubble tea for more antics and was disappointed. Enough that he didn't notice a 'bubble' blockage in his straw . . .