"At my rank... it's a lot of report writing. When I am in the field, however, I am fully prepared to run the quarry to ground. Feats of athleticism can be quite dramatic, when they happen." He mused for a moment.

"I once did have to run down some members of smugglers who were trying to ferret out some contraband. It was raining quite a bit, so visibility was limited. The Yoriki I was assigned to put in his notes my efforts and I received a commendation."

"Smugglehs?" Ishiyo raised an eyebrow, "Who would smuggle in Spideh space?"

"It sounds like something of a story though. Were you have to track them at the same time oh just keep you-eh eyes on them" She pushed up the UV glasses, getting a look at the Spider without the weird filter of the glasses.

"Same reason anyone would smuggle anywhere. Ill gotten gains and money." He raised his shades to mirror her, the pupils of his icy blues adjusting to the natural light. "We had come across the evidence of wrong doing. They were not expecting us. Two of them ran in a panic. I could not let them escape justice, so I sprinted after them. One surrendered... after the other tried to gut me with a knife."

He shook his head. "It was a poor attempt."

"Knife fights in the rain after a foot chase, sounds something more akin to a vid then a real incident," Her voice had just a hint of playful teasing when she spoke. "I would imagine that the greatly regretted theih decision to break the law in you-eh jurisdiction."

"Do you enjoy you-eh work? What made you decide on it oveh say a traditional soldieh or perhaps even courtieh given you-eh mother?"

"I do. It is fulfilling. And my family has always been magistrates. I showed a lot of aptitude for the skills necessary, and thus was placed in the path of that office at a young age." He seemed a little proud of being good at what he did. "By no means am I prodigy, but I have a lot of reverence and zeal for the law. And my schooling has lent me some utility to act in the Courts, so I can always lend support to my fellows there, if needed."

A breath, deep and calming. "Sorry, I was rambling. I really do enjoy my work. And if, however this goes, I can lend my skills to whoever I am betrothed to, all the better."

Ishiyo laughed at his apology, "Oh....well considering my own tendency to ramble such can be forgiven."

"Family duty then? A heavy burden, I am fortunate that my eldeh siblings are more interested in the nuances of fatheh's company. It freed me up to pursue my true passion." She adds hands disappearing under the cape and a warm smile appearing on her features, "What then are you looking fo-eh in a future spouse? Assuming you wished fo-eh more then political gain and family responsibility."

"A heavy burden. But I carry it gladly. My siblings will be able to pursue their own designs. My sister, Ayame, is following my mother's steps. Our brother, Sanjiro... will be able to do as he pleases. He is only five though. Plenty of time." He matched her smile, and his hands clasped behind his back.

"I suppose that is the real question, is it not. Ostensibly, what I look for doesn't matter. My match should best benefit the Clan, and... if you excuse the crudeness... be a good genetic match for me. But..." he paused.

"I would want a partner. One who I could anticipate and supplement, and they do the same. Someone who enjoys the arts as I do. I want a spouse who I bring joy to, and who makes me smile."

"An honorable course to shouldeh the burden for you-eh siblings," Another gentile smile, though it turns to an embarrassed semi-frown when he mentions 'genetic matches'. "I suppose one's clan dictates one's ultimate plan in marriage. My own desires political marriages."

Her expression softens again as Ryuu explained his actual preferences, "A tall ordeh for a samurai, but fo-eh what it is worth I hope you find such a person." Her voice was sympathetic expressing a sincerity in her words. "Benten seems to bless few marriages from the outset though...at least from what my own limited experience shows. You might be betteh to think of such wishes as a project to strive toward."

He nodded. "I have the example of my parents. They hadn't even met before their actual wedding day. Their betrothal was negotiated as part of a trade deal. My mother had confessed that she was... less than enthusiastic to be married off into the Spider. I have no notions that if one were wed to me, and became a Spider, that may be the case as well." He looked up to the taller plants, pausing a moment in his story.

"My Father did his best to provide his new bride with what little luxuries were available to him, to help her become accustomed to her new home on Shiragiku. It took time. They worked. Together. Conversing daily. Being open in what they desired their joint path together should look like." He turned to fully face Ishiyo.

"I do believe that they have the blessings of Benten and Hotei. But those blessings were earned, working every day, together. I understand that it may be a long, difficult road. I am not averse to putting in the work. To showing my spouse that I would be there, for them." Ryuu stood taller, his eyes almost sparkling in the light.

"You mentioned your clan desires political marriages. The same question to you. What do you desire in a spouse?" His voice softened, his expression shifted to vested interest.

He blinked.

"It seems you were indeed provided with a good example to build from," Ishiyo nodded, "It is heartening to heah of a couple taking the situation they were given and putting in the work to please Benten."

When the question was asked of her, Ishiyo crossed her arms and dipped her head in thought. Her head bobbed for a moment before she looked back up.

"Courageous, Honorable, Courteous, Wise, Skilled, Caring, and a peerless warrioh," The expression on her face and the mirth in her eyes spoke of a lack of seriousness in her answer. After moment any doubts to it being serious were dispelled by her soft laughter. "My apologies Daigotsu-san. I just have not put any thought into that question. Well beyond fulfilling what the clan requires of me." Her cheeks reddened a bit recognizing the unsatisfactory nature of her response.

His eyes narrowed for a moment. Yet the curl of his lips, as off as he seemed, indicated he was in on the joke. "No apologies necessary, Daidoji-san. Like you said, we are so focused on not disappointing our minders, and living up to expectations, we cannot always think of ourselves or our wants."

There was a slight step next to her. Still socially acceptable in the distance, but it was a bolder move on his part. "I would welcome that knowledge whenever you feel you can answer that. In the meantime," he looked ahead to the path, then to her, "do you enjoy hunting?"

Her face flushed a little at the sudden forwardness, "Well...wheneveh I have an answer I will remembeh to deliveh it to you." She tugged her uniform jacket. "Hunting?" That had caught her off guard, "Ah...no, well that is to say I have neveh tried it but I also have neveh felt the need to."

"I am an okay shot with a rifle though." Her eyes like wise turned down the path.

He noticed the flush. He noticed the tug. A slight step away, to not so much invade her personal space as he had initially. "Being an okay shot with a rifle works for hunting. It can be thrilling. To test oneself against nature. It can also be calming. To be alone, almost meditative, in a way."

He was silent for a moment. "I have been told there is bold game here. Dangerous even. If there was a good sized expedition, it could be a good hunt."

The step back had proven equally surprising, her expression was one of gratitude at the Spider's thoughtfulness.

"Ah I see," She rubbed her chin in thought, cheeks still a bit red, "I must confess I have spent little times outdoohs, the longest was part of some survival training during flight school. My interests have always been drawn more to the technical and to the stars. I am more at home on a carrieh then in the woods."

"Yes, I had heard as much as well." Ishiyo's hand dropped, "I have been wanting to try my hand at terrestrial flying, if I can find time fo-eh such without shirking my own duties. Perhaps it could aide in you-eh expedition."

"I would like that." His eyes sparkled somewhat in the lighting of the fungal gardens. "I doubt the rentable copters are anything as agile and powerful as the Naval Fighter Model 3 Daisagi," he had committed her favorite craft to memory, "but they are available. I have not inspected the craft for how they handle or accomodations. I only read the notes on the city and amenities before our arrival."

"Different sort of flying," Ishiyo nodded, "But you would be surprised, I have flown similar vehicles and they can be a handful for the unwary." She smiled. "I suppose then inquires will need to be made on the vehicle." Ishiyo pushed her glasses back down, though Ryuu might have notices her cheeks had kept their rosy tint...and that the glasses seemed to now hide it.

Notice he did. He did not say anything. Ryuu lowered his own glasses as she did. The vibrant colors exploded back into view, the path winding as they walked the garden.

"You mentioned your elder siblings. Any others? What was your family life like?"

"Yes fouh of them to be precise." Ishiyo's eyes wandered the gardens, taking in the sights again, "I am the youngest, and my siblings would say the favorite. Jealousy perhaps? The treated me well enough regardless."

"And even if I was fatheh is a busy man running Peregrine and motheh spent most days away from ouh home serving the clan, most of my upbringing was done by nannies and my tutohs." She didn't sound to disturbed by that, "But those times with my parents home are found ones, theih marriage was a pretty typical one. Strategic joining of a Doji branch to ouh line of Daidoji, it cemented some ties grandfatheh had been building. My parents loved me more then each otheh I think."

"At around five I convinced fatheh to let me join him on a touh of one his research facilities, watching those engines flare up in the test chambeh left an impression on me. As did the pinnace races fatheh would take me to while he was home." She chuckled softly, "I think he was hoping I would take to the races, be a sort of spokes person foh the company while my elders managed it....he was quite surprised when I grew interested in the military. Oh well when I stopped just begging for models of fightehs and expressed my intention to become a pilot."

"Still in the end he supported the decision and used his influence to get me into the Kakita Flight School." She shrugged, "Though I think he still hopes I will grow tired of this and return to the company."

Ryuu listened intently, his focus entirely on her. Committing the elements of the story to memory. There was no feigned interest. He had asked because he truly wanted to know.

"It is excellent that your parents supported your decision." What was unsaid was his own concern. It was apparent that she came from well landed, if not kuge, then close enough, nobility.

He was from a gnarled branch of the Daigotsu line. No where near her level of prestige.

"What is your favorite food, Daidoji-san?"

"My favorite food?" Ishiyo looked back to Ryuu, a bit confused before answering, "...Sakuramochi, sorry I was not expecting that sort of question." She looked away, embarrassed, "...I probably should have been considering what we are all here foh."

She adjusts her uniform, seen from the outside as just s shuffling of her cape. "What would be you-eh's, Daigotsu-san?" Her voice gained something of her previous confidence. "And...perhaps I might ask foh a glimpse into you-eh childhood? It seems only faih."