Rules: No rules. This is a fluff event.

Several colorful tents have been erected in the xenobotanical gardens for the guests with Phoenix guards standing in attendance, only allowing people with an invitation pass. While this has disgruntled some of the locals, the guards are quick to assure everyone that the garden will be open to everyone soon enough and that this event was announced on the info.phx weeks ago. Ever helpful, the guards have the relevant announcement open on their communicators.

The tents the Phoenix have prepared for the occasion are large, easily fifteen meters wide and more than five meters tall at the center. Large mesh-covered windows woven on the ceiling let in the evening light. As soon as the sun falls beneath the treeline the spirit-lanterns are lit, bathing everything in soft yellow light. The guests are free to mingle among each other and while there Phoenix media is present the few journalists seem to focus on interviewing the locals and leave the off-worlders to their devices for the time being. Several security drones hover above the tents, their low buzz drowned by murmur of the gathered samurai.

In the pink tent, a large pot of something is simmering on an open fire, the servant glad to explain that the local hearty stew has been made with meat of aquatic lizards, mushrooms and root vegetables grown by the locals. The governor's staff carry large jugs of watered down sake and shoju, ready to fill an empty cup if they spy one. Several digital paintings depicting 'Kyuden Yoake - ths City of Future' hang on a hastily erected wooden wall, making the governor's vision of future plainly obvious.

Asako Mal-Chin found a spot to set up pair of holo recorders with 'Kyuden Yoake' as the backdrop. He accepted some of the stew, enjoying himself.

Four tents? Which one to choose? Pulling out his Densai, Hayato took a open to pull open a small app and check his days fortune.



Rose? Was that pink or red? Deciding to error in the direction of the lighter shade. Hayato made his way towards the Pink tent stepping under it's roof and pushign up his recently purchased shades to get a better look inside. For the most part it seemed empty still, but that might change soon and until then there was booze.

Approaching one of the servers he took a cup and had it filled with watery sake, no reason to get blitzed by drinking shochu, right?

Mal-Chin bends forward slightly, nods to himself at the mon, and calls out a polite, "Tsuruchi-san! Welcome!"

"Oh." Hayato turned towards the sound of the voice and offered a bow. "Evening...." He peered at the man's mon. "Asako-san."

"Even if someone else has said it, welcome to Asakaze and Shiro Yoake! I'm Asako Mal-Chin, a local here. Please let me know if you have questions or need guidance as to where things are."

"Oh, thank you Asako-san." Hayato replied with a easy smile. "I just might take you up on that sometime, I admit to having a bit of trouble finding a good place for Kaf earlier this morning after all."

"That's somethign for later though, Introductions first. I'm Tsuruchi Hayato, It's a pelasure to meet you Asako-san."

Driving in a fancy car, Nishida reached the scenery. Dressed in his best suit, he was accompanied by Akechi to the tent, where Akechi, understandably, was not let through. Nishida nodded to him that Akechi would wait for his master outside. He entered the tent, took a watered-down sake and walked along the gallery and inspected the pictures.

"Looks like someone has big plans," he said to no one in particular

The smells of food beckoned Ruhe to this tent. He entered the tent dressed in slick black studded leathers and looked around, seeking a spot with good access to food and good company in one go.

Asako Chiruha made her appearance at the pink tent, causing a small bit of local fan fair as she entered. Perhaps underestimating the scale of the miai, she was merely dressed in her usual functional clothes of a colonists' jumpsuit. She gave a few bows to the familiar guards on security tonight before she was unexpectedly swarmed by some journalist crews. It was a bit overwhelming, especially when she never expected to be the target of a media blitz. Did those even exist here before tonight? She straightened slightly and gave them a quickly blurb as commentary.

"Uhm, whoa! Hey! Hai, I think it's great that father has decided to generously host a miai at Shiro Yaoke. It's probably business less than usually but we'll rise up to the challenge to ensure everyone has a pleasant experience at the end of their stay...Oh! Orihime-san! You're here too?!" She quickly called out to a local Phoenix in the room as she snaked out of the interview, giving her an enthusiastic wave.

"Mal-Chin-san!" She called out happily as she spotted another familiar Phoenix in the tent, making her way over as she dodged the servers who presented her with sake. "Is this the local tent, now? Oh...my apologies, Tsuruchi-sama..."

She bit back her smile and gave him a deep bow. "Welcome to Shiro Yaoke, this one is Asako Chiruha."

Pink seemed a suitable color to go with her ensemble of black fading to the violets and pinks of a sunrise, a theme touched upon with her makeup as well for the day. On her back, the white mon of the Utaku was proudly displayed. Keeping in with the clean lines of her outfit, her hair was up in a braided chignon, finished off with a lavender-colored ribbon.

The scent coming from the barbeque over at the other tent had been incredibly tempting, but she figured that it was probably best to see what sort of food drew the attention of the other clans.

She picked up a cup of sake as she moved in, looking around with an analytical gaze to start with.

It was the way of the Matsu to dress appropriately for the situation, or so the Ikoma have told Chiyoko. And she was sent with a small variety of clothing to truly dress to impress. It didn't help, mind you, that Chiyoko has literally never worn good clothing in her life.

We set the scene. Matsu Sharpshooter. Soldier of renown and grand fame. Dressed in a beautiful, traditionally styled kimono. And trying her letter best to disguise her discomfort at such clothes. Try as she might, the tall blonde woman looked just a bit out of sorts in a cute kimono better suited to an elegant courtier or fashionable statesman.

But, importantly, there was sake. And there was now a cup in her hand. Things were going to be ok.

Well someone who dressed in a traditional style was always eye-catching. And it was a beautiful outfit too. The lady wearing it seemed to let the outfit wear her though, rather than the other way around.

The Utaku moved tactically across the room, approaching the Matsu.

"Good evening... Matsu-san?" there was something familiar about the blonde woman. Hyeon-ju gave a simple bow, sharp and efficient in its movements.

Matsu and Utaku. A rivalry inextricably linked over millennia of being the two matriarchal families that people on the internet liked to argue the superiority of. Chiyoko was never really sure why this was. Each family had their own merits.

But this was not as important as the woman in front of her. Chiyoko bowed politely. "Indeed, Utaku-san. Good evening to you, too. My name's Matsu Chiyoko. Matsu Infantry, Sharpshooter's Division. I hope the evening is treating you well." Be polite. Introduce yourself properly. Smile, but don't smile too much. Shit. What was the other thing? Chiyoko's face settled into a polite smile, if a bit forced at the moment.

Hyeon-ju on the other hand considered the Matsu worthy of respect, as another Family with a long history of noble warrior-women.

"Utaku Hyeon-ju, hohei and pilot of the 7th Sky Rider wing," she responded with a formal introduction of her own. "Ah... now I realise why you look familiar. Maximum Range." A brief chuckle. "Sorry. Your face has been on the newsfeeds even outside of your clan's space. Your skill has earned you a bit of a reputation. An admirable one at that."

They told you this would happen. People will recognize you. Take your fame in stride. She let out her own chuckle. "There is no need to apologize. Fame has a way of following one everywhere, eh?" She took a small sip of her sake. "A pilot, hm? What's it like for you, flying out in the stars so often?" Let's see if she's as dreamy eyed about the sky as that Daidoji.

Her posture was clearly military, the way she held her free hand behind her straightened back. However, she seemed quite comfortable with such a posture, including the clothes she wore that were fashionable, but she didn't let the clothes wear her.

"It is a great honor to fly in the Sky Rider wing - as some of the most accomplished pilots in the Empire." She didn't say the most accomplished pilots, as there would probably some who would take offense to such a statement, but no one could deny that the Utaku were top tier in the field. "I take pride in continuing the traditions of many generations before me. Though I also enjoy the rush and the speed of braving the high R-forces*."


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*=from what I understand of the fluff-document, R is the space-Rokugan version of G, for Gravity.

"I would imagine so," Chiyoko seemed to relax a bit. This one seemed rather professional. "From what I have heard from the pilots I have already talked to during the journey here, it seems a much different experience than my own. But adrenaline does not quite flow the same way when you are in the same spot for hours or even days at a time."

"Flying can be a boring experience, like the shuttle-rides to planet-side, or a thrilling experience. All depends on the pilot and the craft," she smiled briefly and took a small sip of sake.

"But I can understand that adrenaline is at a stand-still if forced to stay in the same spot for an extended period of time. Reminds me of some military excersises." Just because she was a pilot didn't mean she was without training on the ground. "Still, it requires a great deal of patience and skill to keep your senses sharp and your wits about you for so long. Not a quality found in all soldiers." Hyeon-ju nodded approvingly.

"Not an easy skill to learn either," she admitted. "And just a bit outside my family's usual MO, or so I am constantly told." The conversation sticking to topics she knew seemed to calm her considerably. She almost seemed comfortable in the stuffy clothing. "But I'm quite certain flying has it's own great challenges, too. I have a hard time imagining learning the ins and outs of the cockpit."