((Open thread, with GM permission!))

Atsumori tried to be subtle, rather than nervously fidgety, about adjusting the stiff wings of his kataginu as he waited below the stage with the other candidates. The engineered textile wouldn't wilt in the sticky heat like old-fashioned starched silk, but that made it all the more important not to leave it sitting cockeyed.

His camera drone was running, because his family would want to see this...

Whatever Hyeon-ju was feeling was behind her impeccable On and steadfast willpower. There wasn't anything left to do now but to show up and show her best - and that was a purple furisode with colorful butterflies, paired with a geometric patterned obi. Rounding it off to make it more eye-catching, she wore black gloves matched with a black pillowbox hat, whereas her hair was up and secured with old-fashioned pins and combs.

Dressed for war, she eyed this battlefield warily.

Shizuku stood among the crowd, dressed in her fine light blue furisode with sprays of cherry blossoms sweeping across it. Her eyes were closed and she took long, slow breaths. Everything would be okay, no matter what. She opened her eyes and did her best to wear her usual bright smile, even if her hands folded in front of her were held a little tighter than necessary.

Nozomi leaned in to whisper to Shoan. "They're listing the Unicorn's ancestors list longer than ours," she commented with a wry smile. "That's a little insulting, isn't it?" She scanned the rest of the crowd and then dipped her head in waiting.

Shoan quietly hides a smile of her own as she bends down to listen to the shugenja.

"I imagine clans that don't have libraries and histories like the Ikoma have to make a great public display of their bloodlines. We know who are ancestors are, and each of them speaks for themselves. But for the Unicorn....well"

Cocking her head as the list goes on....and on....and on....
"I can see why they're worried that 'Emek' 'Emin' and 'Esin' might get mixed up in the histories and then they end up with a marriage they'd regret."

The Osprey is pretty pleased with the forethought of whoever chose the sleeveless dress as her formal wear for this event. The sticky heat would have been a lot less bearable with sleeves, on top of the high collar. The lightweight tan pant, visible through the waist-high slits in the cornflower blue dress, aren't bad in the heat either.

She hadn't realized they'd be reciting entire genealogies; the nakodo had not gone into that particular detail other than to note, as if checking of a box on a list, that their ancestries were apparently compatible. Her teeth worry at the inside of her cheek as she waits, uncertain what she's about to hear.

Ichika was dressed in the same blue kimono she arrived in, with a blue-eyepatch she did not but synchronized with the color of her kimono well. Hiding somewhere in the crowds she allowed herself a brief foray into the improper while the genealogies were being listed for the Unicorn. Having smuggled in a piece of paper and something to write with she carefully made little attempts when no one was looking to jot down some lines. Small casually attempted poems that would never have any worth beyond the paper, perhaps, but ultimately it kept her mind busy and trained that ever wonderful skill.

Hayato was dressed as few had likely seen him, having changed into the kimonno he had worn only once before under Shoan's request. It was a fine thing, meaning it was both heavy and hot under the days light, not that the Mantis showed any sign it bother him. The kimono itself was a sea green, a nod to his clan, and embroidered with bamboo in golden thread a nod to the wealth he and his family had. Black hakama covered the lower half with tabi and sandals on his feet.

The wealth portrayed in the garment was likely a bit ostentatious, but such was the nature of his clan, as such portrayals of wealth come also not help but intimidate. His face was a mask as he moved to join the crowd, his eyes on the stage as he watched those before him make their choice.

Mal-Chin was dressed formally. He had practice walking in the old kimono, and was thankful for it.

He had absolutely no idea how the Moto got away with doing a fiddle solo before announcing his pick.

Her father had told her about when he married her mother, they had to go through a long long list of ancestors. So she expected to be waiting pretty much forever as the first two people were Unicorn. And waiting just made her more and more nervous about being so far down on the list.

Nishida wore his traditional clothes.

Calm he stood with the other participants, awaiting his turn.
Everything will work out, don't panic. he thought.

The Fox's forest green formal suit was impeccably tailored and matched the green contacts he wore perfectly. It even matched with his hair . . . well one part of his hair. The green portion of the rainbow of colours across his shoulder length hair.

He showed no nerves at all, absolutely certain in his own mind that he'd be picking his choice very shortly.

Nara looked the closest to a Spider samurai that she had ever looked this miai, in all black with slightly different colour trimmings. It might be the last time she was a Spider, so why not look the part?

She watched and listened. How interesting this all was!

Kuni Eriko was perhaps bemused that the amount of kimono that showed their head again at the ritual. She thought kimono day was yesterday and not today. This was not something she was going to go through again and she appeared in a contemporary outfit this time around. Her outfit was a blouse with blue orchids and comfortable pants. Given the temperature, she was pleased with her choice.

If she was nervous about the proceedings at all, she wasn't going to show it. This was less dangerous than getting shot at, right?

Chiruha had to dust off a traditional outfit for this special occasion and appeared here in a hanbok with an orange skirt and a yellow top. She wore a set of red tassel accessories at her waist. Today was the day and she couldn't recall feeling this anxious since her gemppuku, which was perhaps fitting in many ways as all the samurai here are about to hit another milestone in their lives. She took a breather in to calm herself, taking consideration of the moment now and how she could appreciate it in the future when looking back.

Ruhe joined the audience by virtue of waltzing in directly from the stage as he was announcing his marital claim. He'd probably have attempted a dive had the gatheted people were more packed and more, well, metal. As it was, it was an end and a beginning for him, and Tenma was now the focus of his joyous attention.

So. Many. Names.

She was almost relieved when the Moto cut the first round short, even if it was kind of buried in the horrified embarrassment at being kind of rude to their hosts, and tingle of worry that Yul might be brash enough to follow suit. The names kind of blurred as she kept her eyes on her intended, smile twitching at her 'composed for ritual' expression when he was finally able to name his choice.

Oh..and then the names of *her* ancestors. A much more motley mix. Agasha? Ok mom. She was definitely asking about that. There was the very good excuse of preparing for married life to press for more of her mother's experiences.

But that was off in the future. For now, she tried to anticipate where Yul was likely leaving the stage and makes her way in that direction.

Yul made his way from the stage with a reasonable amount of decorum. The stiffness of the uniform, as well as the riding boots, certainly helped. Still, there certainly was a bit of spring to his step as he headed for the stage exit.

There was a number of ways off the stage, and one of them was near the shortest path between them. He headed for that one, as Mumei correctly guessed.

The crowd was fairly easy to move through, and fairly polite. And perhaps a little relaxed, after hitting their flasks during the recitals. Before long, Yul and Mumei were face to face.

Yul's grin definitely had an exhilarated edge to it, his chest rising and falling as he did his best to breath calmly. "Hey, future wife." He greeted her, tone casual, with a heavy underlay of emotion.

Returning from the forefront of the stage, Bayushi Akagi gave Asako Chiruha a smile and a bow before rejoining the crowd of miai participants.

Eyes bright, the daylight and blue dress bringing out the green in them, Mumei offers a reasonably formal bow, made a lot less formal by the thrilled smile. "Hello, yourself, future husband." There's an excited edge to her voice, recognition that this is actually happening.

"Oh...wait, I should probably learn this better," She holds out one hand-a bit high for a natural handshake.