Dadidoji Shizuku sat quietly in the common room, her still closed densai in her lap with her hands resting on it. She was quiet... unsettlingly so. Perfectly still, aside from very slow breathing and the rare blink. A cup of vending machine coffee sat in front of her on the coffee table, no longer steaming. Her head was slightly bowed, eyes focused somewhere past the floor and walls of this building, and maybe those of this world.

Yul was getting up for the day. He'd showered, and dressed in his uniform pants and a tank top. No aviators yet... although they were tucked in a pocket.

Walking out into the common room, on his way out, Yul almost didn't notice her at first. "Oh, good morning, Daidoji-san." He said, sketching a quick bow. He started to continue on, when he realized she hadn't responded.

Or moved.

Frowning, Yul turned back. "Ummm... Daidoji-san?" Confusion flickered across his handsome features. Slowly, almost carefully, he walked closer, his eyes taking in the strange little details. "Are you alright, Daidoji-san?"

Her expression remains perfectly neutral and unchanging. She didn't so much as twitch until he was nearly beside her and he said her name. Finally, her head snapped up and she sucked in a breath, blinking at him with wide, surprised eyes. Once she focused on him, a blush creeped up her Crane-delicate features.

She rose and immediately bowed deeply to him. "I'm so sorry. Shinjo-san."

Yul blinked, almost taking a step back at the sudden unexpected reaction. Recovering, he smiled instead, especially as he noted her blush.

"No, no need to apologize." Yul said, bowing. "Shinjo Yul." He introduced himself. "Ummm... I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Were you meditating, or something?" He gestured to the coffee and densai. "Or taking a quick seated nap, or something?" His brow creased in mild confusion again.

"Daidoji Shizuku. You didn't disturb me. It's... a little hard to explain. It's like a computer's sleep mode - it goes into it when you haven't interacted with it for a bit. Everything's still on and ready to resume, so it's not actually asleep, but it goes into a mode where it uses minimal energy and you have to joggle it a bit to resume what you were doing," she said, hands moving as she explained. "I apologize again... It's involuntary, but that doesn't excuse rudeness."

"No, that's fine." Yul tilted his head. "Or... I accept your apology, Daidoji-san. If you'll allow me to join you for a few minutes." He flashed a smile at her, gesturing back to the table.

"So... Like a computer, huh? And then I joggled you. Alright." Yul's lips quirked. "I'm not sure I've ever joggled a person before. First time for everything, huh?"

"Of course! Can I get you some coffee or bad tea or anything?" She asked with a chuckle. "I need to refresh mine anyway."

She laughed gently at how he put it, smiling brightly. "Yep, I guess so. I have an alarm set on my densai to make sure it doesn't happen, but I didn't quite get to opening it before I got lost in thought. Maybe I should call it an auto-joggler."

"Bad tea?" Yul chuckled. "Maybe I'd better get the coffee, then. That sounds great, thanks."

"An auto-joggler? That sounds great." Yul grinned. "Could you name it after me? Shinjo Yul's auto-joggler, or something like that?"

He started to ease himself into the seat opposite her, then stopped. "Why don't I give you a hand with the coffee?" Yul offered.

She grinned. "That's the choice I would make, as well. I brought some good tea. Maybe if we meet up again, I can make it properly."

"Shinjo Yul's auto-joggler. I like it. I might do that," She said thoughtfully as she started getting the coffee. "If you want to, but it's really the least I can do after that."

"Well, thank you, then." Yul said. "I'll hang out here." He sat in the spot opposite where she'd been, a fairly casual sprawl, leaning with one elbow on the table.

He watched her as she worked. "You know, I don't think I've ever had proper Crane tea. I've heard its wonderful of course, but it's... well, it's not hard to get, but it is expensive in Unicorn lands. I would like to try it, sometime."

"I'm sure I'll be free tomorrow or the next day. We could plan for it. It won't be a fancy tea ceremony or anything, but I can at least make enjoyable tea competently," she chuckled before bring the coffee and setting one down in front of him.

"Hey, that sounds great. Thanks." Yul said. He put his hands around the cup, letting it warm his hands a little before taking a sip.

"So..." Yul began, looking at Shizuku, smiling pleasantly. "How are you liking this whole thing so far?"

"I'm not sure... I didn't have a great start with the Otori yesterday," she replied with a sigh. "And trying to meet people with potential marriage hanging over every interaction is a little weird, you know? I've had fun meeting people, but I'm also kind of nervous. How about you?"

It was, if nothing else, an extremely honest assessment.

Yul chuckled. "Yeah, I know what you mean about that. I mean, I guess right now that's our job, but that doesn't make it any less weird. Weirder, maybe." He shrugged.

"So..." Yul's lips quirked, "-how's that part of it going for you? Any luck?" He couldn't help but let his gaze flicker over her; she was Crane-pretty, naturally.

"Of course. It's part of our duty and I take it seriously, but... Yes, that makes it weirder," she agreed.

She smiled. "I've met a pretty decent variety of people. I'm not sure I'm on the top of anyone's list, though. I don't know if it's me or what." She shrugged. "You? I know Doji-san was talking about a Shinjo the other day. Was that you?"

Yul's eyebrows went up. "Doji Hakka? Or Doji Ichika? I've met both of them. They're both very nice young women. And very pretty. I suppose that's a Crane characteristic, huh?" Yul's tone was innocent, but, well, it pretty much was his duty to at least try flirting with pretty much everyone.

"They both impressed me." He went on. "I gather Doji Ichika-san has her share of suitors?"

"Your eye for Crane beauty is appreciated, though there are certainly some here that have cultivated it especially well." Not her, that was certain.

"Ichika. I haven't met Hakka," she said, smiling and whirling one finger in a circle. "If she did, she only brought up you, I believe."

Smiling, Yul gave a nod of acknowledgement and left it at that.

"What... heh." Yul chuckled, then shook his head. "Well, I'm sure she can explain it better than I can. She just mentioned being excited that some important person was interested in her. I wasn't quite sure how to take it, myself." Yul shrugged. "Well, even if two people don't marry, doesn't mean they can't be friends, and she's very sweet."

"True," she said, sighing. "The uncertainty of anything in a miai is frustrating."

Yul's lips quirked sympathetically. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I've got a few worries, myself."

He took a sip of the coffee. "Not bad." He murmured. "So, what sort of duties do you perform for the Crane? I'm a pilot, myself." Yul smirked confidently. "Seventh Skyrider Wing, Insect squadron."