"Well, no-one's really off limits, not entirely." Yul said, shrugging. "Just, some matches are going to be easier to make for the Unicorn's advantage than others. But again, I think good matches will speak better of us than poor matches made to a friendly clan. That's like friendly fire, almost."

"I agree."

She frowned, thinking.

"Maybe we should try to have some... hm... group-meetings with some of the other clans? Like, go out for drinks together? Doesn't make it a date, and we can keep it informal enough that it isn't some important meeting."

Yul's eyebrows went up a little, but he shrugged.

"Maybe the Lion?" He suggested. "Their names have come up a few times, among a few of us."

"That's a grand idea!" Ruhe grinned broadly.

"Right. Lion then," she nodded, taking in the reaction of the others...

"... Any idea of what we could do? Club? Bar? Dinner... humm... that might be too formal."

"They like formal." Yul said, chuckling softly as he shook his head. "This morning, one of them told me that when they ask someone out, they send a formal invitation. Does that mean we need to break out the paper, I wonder?" He looked around. "Does anyone have any paper?" Maybe a formal e-vite would work?

He crossed his arms, frowning. "On the other hand, we need to be comfortable, too. Maybe dinner on the more casual side. Something with alcohol. Like meeting them in neutral territory."

"How neutral is the Drunk'n Crab? Is it mostly in the name?" Ganbold was feeling philosophical tonight.

"I guess they don't shake hands then. We talked with one on the first day, right, Hyeon-ju-san? Or rather you talked. Seemed quite out of sync with the whole thing."

"I've never been to the Drunk'n'Crab, so I wouldn't know. Only been to Kayama myself when it comes to places to drink and dance."

She chuckled dryly. "Don't think they've caught up on such greetings yet after all these years. But yeah, that was Matsu Chiyoko I was talking to... and I am going out on a trip with her tomorrow, so I might ask her in person? She doesn't seem the type to be too caught up in formality."

"But we can aim at the day after tomorrow, or something? Tomorrow would probably be too sudden."

"Formality probably demands a full day's advance notice on the invitation." Yul said dryly. "Let's deliver it tomorrow, and go the day after."

"Hm, yeah... that sounds fine. And it's not that formal really, right? I figure that folks are setting up for dates and what-not these days, trying to find out who they might pick as their partner."

It really was kind of surreal that they were mostly hanging out with other people who could all potentially be their future spouse.

"Yeah..." Yul nodded. "I've set up some of those myself. It's not what I'm used to."

He grinned suddenly. "Should we be practicing maneuvers? At least when we're fighting pirates I know how you're going to cover me."