"Well, it's an important aspect of Otomo training, having a strong understanding of the clans. Which is an important aspect of my duty to the Hanako. My sister, who will be the next daimyo, was trained with the Miya instead of the Otomo as they wanted a varied outlook among the Hanako head family."

"Oh, that is quite interesting" She nodded. "How did you decide that you wanted to study the clans and their interactions?"

"It's more of a duty than a personal interest. I want to be able to serve well, and since I'm trained as a courtier it's something I need to learn more about," he replies. "Hopefully travel will allow me to gain more insight through personal experience with the different clans."

"Having personal experiences allow one to gain knowledge. But clans are not circumscribed to a demographic. For example people continue to view us as pirates. In the reality the only family that tends to dedicate to what people may address as piracy is not even that anymore." She explained. "The different clans view the other clans very diffrently. But are we really just being judgemental because of the ancestry or because the reality we live?"

"The information and stories that disseminate about the clans and families is often just a caricature of historical references, cultivated images, inter-clan propaganda, and reality. Some people cleave to that image among their clans, others vehemently stand as apart from it, while many just don't care as it never directly affects them," he replies with a nod.

"Knowing what is what among the different clans is what I hope to learn. Getting to know what the general feeling is among families about their own families and gaining insight into political motivations of the rulers of those families and experiencing their cultural preferences probably gives the most useful understanding for my intentions."

"With the short time you have experienced here what do you think?" She wondered. "I know one cannot make an overly informed opinion knowing it might change... anoo... what you make of it?"

"In regards to your clan? I still have a lot to learn of the Mantis to form any solid opinion. But as for yourself, you seem inquisitive, pleasant and devout and I enjoy your company," he says with a smile.

"Really..."She blushed. "I see... I just hope that it is just equally pleasant when you meet others of my clan."

He nods at that. "I hope so as well, although meeting anyone new is always interesting to me so there is that at least."

"May I ask something Hanako san?" She wondered as she finished the food. "Are you always this serious?"

"For the most part, yes. In conversations and discussions. It's what most of my family is like, propriety and tradition are an important part of the Hanako lifestyle and we are raised in it. That and the Otomo training tends to instill a serious demeanor," he says with a nod.

"I see..." She nodded. "I wonder then what is under the mask you wear. I doubt that this serious demeanor is what makes you you."

"I think what I am is simply visible through it, but not really distinguishable from it. Curiosity and a desire to learn aren't overly affected by social norms. Even when I am by myself in private I observe proper etiquette because it doesn't interfere with reading or watching documentary programming."

"That sounds like a nice way to spend an afternoon but sometimes the bambu must bend." She smiled. "Etiquette and social norms sometimes doesn't allow you to do certain things." She nodded. "Sometimes one should break out of normality to satiate curiosity."

"Being outside of what is normal doesn't necessarily mean etiquette can't be observed in such situations. Emergencies and danger are really the only situations where they can lead to problems. It's more of a calculation of when it is counterproductive to do so, for those that place more importance on it than others."

She frowned. "What if I was too... I don't know... do something that for your etiquette wise is not appropriate but for me is quite normal? Like my message... you know."

"I don't control other people. We all make our own decisions and take our own actions. Etiquette is based as much on situations as it is on social norms. It would be inappropriate for a yojimbo to tackle me in the middle of a conversation, but it would be inappropriate for a yojimbo not to tackle me to get me out of a dangerous situation. Thinking about and considering people's decisions, however, is more of a mental exercise to me rather than any real judgement of their character. People will be who they are. I might choose to associate with someone that outright acts against etiquette if they were a loyal friend or interesting conversation partner. Etiquette is simply not an accurate means of judging a person's worth, it only indicates their own feelings on that topic and doesn't harm or help their position in my estimation."

"I... I guess... but ... anooo... sometimes opposites attract each other..." She looked at the Seppun vassal. "It... it is a matter of shades and saturation."

"In fact, opposites attract more often then not, since for many there is a natural attraction to the opposite gender," he replies with a chuckle. "Not always but it is the most common form of attraction by my understanding."

"You strike me as a gold... green... person Hanako sama." She nodded. "Gold Organized and green studious." She replied. "That is under the 4 color palate that I read about in a book somewhere."