"Well, the Shiba..." then she shrugs. Those were probably barely considered warriors among the Crab, honestly. Most clans bushi were in that category when she'd traveled on Crab ships.

"You know, I think my clan probably expected me to catch the eye of a decently well-off Isawa here, or maybe even meet one of the Osprey from the settlement. But I haven't met either of those." She was reasonably certain her mother had no input in the decision.

"I suppose, bushi are less likely to provide a..profitable match?" She grinned a little at her own scruffy cargo pants and scritched Mochi behind the ears as she took herself off the profitable match possibilities list.

"I mean, anyone can be a profitable match. Fighting talent is sought of after all,.... but the vast majority of samurai are bushi, for a reason." he said, also scrathing Mochi behind his ears.

"A Shugenja like you is always a profitable match." he said. "Everyone wants the spiritual attention and power the kami provide, only a fool would ignore this fact."

"Seems less desirable at this miai. The Phoenix are hosting, but I haven't seen a single Isawa running around these evaluations, or contests, or whatever they want to call them." She shrugs. "Though I suppose there's some value folks might see in connection to our schools. We're good for training up potential Navigators. But...our own hosts are reluctant to marry their youngsters to the handful of shugenja who came."

"Last time i checked there were like 7 phoenix samurai, but i guess it's difficult to keep up with everyone. This miai is crowded after all."

"Don't sell yourself short, one navigator can move a ship through space, wich could resupply a frontline or a starving planet. It could move a influential diplomat who secures a long sought after ceasefire. One navigator in the right place can change a lot of things. Their value is absolut."

He said giving her a small smile

"At least that is how a Yasuki evaluates it."

She laughs. "Oh, I know our value, or at least potential value. I've a fair bit of training before I'm Opening the Way. Just...I'm a bit disturbed that the Phoenix saw fit to offer only one shugenja at this miai (well...among PC's at least). The Spider have more spiritual representation...at a Phoenix event. It's a shame, really."

A hand-sized moth flutters across the path, dusky grey with pale 'eyespots' on the wings. Possibly far more interesting in UV.

"The Crab certainly seem to have taken the event seriously. Quite a broad group from what I've seen so far. Were you acquainted with any of them before coming here?"

"Ahh, the phoenix would rather join a war than share their mystical secrets with anybody. I'm suprised there's even one shugenja from them in the miai." he said, maybe a bit jokingly.

"The spider delegation is in fact very,.... uhm,.. extensive. As a courtier i'm able to remain face and deal with them, but I'm afraid my aren't as,.. schooled in these matters. And no, i haven't known them before."

Mochi would try to catch the moth flying by, but all he would do was jumping and snapping at it without succes.

Mumei will drop to one knee to greet the unsuccessful hunter pup. "Silly Mochi. It's going to taste like dust, and possibly be poisonous. Good thing your moth hunting skills are a bit slow."

Looking up to Nishida she adds, "yeah, didn't think your crew would be all that pleased to see so many. One of yours with..." She holds her left arm up and across her chest, to indicate the fleshcraft limb. "..an artificial arm, enlisted my aid to peel one off a Daidoji maid on the dance floor. Very...diligent."

"Ahh that must've been Hida Akemi-san. She has a certain,.. open hostiliy towards the spider. Maybe this has something to do with her fleshcraft? It wouldn't suprise me, our troops and the spiders forces are always getting into fights."

"So I've heard. I'm not sure I was sensing a lot of hostility...but everyone was being pretty chill on the dance floor. She's got some presence to her, not just the arm...though that's noticeable and all."

"Osprey are a bit small to be getting into fights with anyone at all, but the pirates are chewing our tailfeathers to the Nebula and back, seems like. So...not too fond of them and their allies myself...but they're like half the participants, which is a bit nerve-wracking"

He would walk a bit in silence.

"That something that worms me too. But as Samurai we're expected to show courtesy even to our enemies, of course that's easier said than done."

Mumei nods. "It helps that they're not down here actually mugging other participants. That would make it really tough to show any."

He chuckled a bit "That would end their participation pretty fast i guess"

"Yeah...maybe I could find a way to taunt one into doing that." She only sounds half serious about the idea.

"Hopefully there's enough better choices around for your investment of time."

"I think that I have still made a profit from every investment, otherwise i wouldn't be where i am now" he said with a smile.

Mochi was happily running around sniffing at things, Akechi had an eye on him just in case the shiba would start eating something.

"I've seen more dogs here than in ages," she says, watching Mochi's antics. "I almost never see them on ships. Too big to afford the cost for them and their collection of food when they start calculating your ticket by how much space you're taking up on a cramped ship."

"But I don't imagine that's an issue for you." It's not even a question.

He nodded. It was a privilige to own a dog.
Mochi, Akechi and Nishida would follow Mumei around in the park until they eventually would find a place in wich she could do her commune.

"Thank you for the company. I.. well we dance to commune, and that will probably look rather odd. I wouldn't ask you to stay, though you're welcome to."

Because, while she appreciates that she is less likely to be interrupted with them nearby, it's a little strange to flat out ask someone to watch you pray.

"It was a lovely evening, Nakauchi-san. I hope we'll see us again" Nishida said offering her a bow.

Mumei returns the bow, using the lower elevation as a good time to offer Mochi a farewell pat. "Thank you so much for the company and conversation, Yasuki-sama. I hope our paths will cross again."

"I hope so too" Nsihda said and left. Mochi would look back from time to time, but they will ultimatly get out of sight.

/exit