Hyeon- herself was ready for the day, except for changing into something more fashionable than her tank-top and combat-pants. Today she had gone for a makeup look of intense eyeliner, and a cherry-colored lip.

She had given Ichika a glow-up the other day, but she still had two more victi-- errr... roommates left, that could be prettified.

And who better than Daigotsu Ryuu. So she waited patiently for him to return from the washroom.

He re-emerged into the room. Standard sleep uniform of a black tank top, dark grey sweat pants. His hair was loose about his shoulders, arms and upper chest that was visible from the cut of the tank very well d efined. Slippered feet padded into the room, as he saw Hyeon-ju.

"Good Morning Utaku-san."

"Good morning, Daigotsu-san," she offered a curt bow.

"How is the miai going for you?" It was an innocent question to start with.

"We shall see if Fortunes favor me after the Hunt." His mind drifted to the night before, his face showing a contented smile, though he did not forget to bow. "Hopefully I have at least made an impression on some."

Two in particular.

"How about for yourself, Utaku-san?"

She shrugged. "I did much better than I expected in yesterday's diplomatic attempts, but I was sadly outshone by my much more charismatic cousin, Moto Ruhe." She didn't bear the Moto any ill will for this. He had simply proven himself superior in skill when it came to diplomacy.

The Utaku gave Ryuu a scrutinizing look though. "... I hope you're not planning on going out like that, though?"

"No. I have my field uniform." He looked down at himself. "Much more appropriate for the day." Eyes flicked back up to the Utaku.

"Why do you ask?"

Ichika, during the exchange, was still sitting in her bunk this morning. Something she realized last night had been getting to her since. With her densai pulled up into her lap, turned over and used as a stand. Ichika had a paper pinned up against it and was working words onto a page, occassionally dashing a few out and re-writing underneath it.

With a pensive, focused look on the page she tuned only half in to the conversation thus far though it didn't seem like too much.

"With your hair like that? Tch, Daigotsu-san... we are almost halfway through the miai." She spoke like a commander assessing the situation ahead of them. "We're at the crucial point where we need to stand out more against the competition. To truly catch the attention of those we want to look in our direction."

She gave him a firm nod. "I will help you get ready for today. Hair," she pointed to each point on the agenda, "makeup, clothes."

He blinked slowly, regarding the Utaku woman, before seeing Ichika at her bunk. Without thinking, he stood a bit taller. "What is wrong with my hair? It will be tied back and out of the way."

"Yes, but it's not... stylish. Function is of course vital for a warrior, but that doesn't mean you cannot put on a little extra touches to really be eye-catching to the ladies."

Now she wondered if he dyed his hair that color or if it was natural... no, those roots. He dyed it.

She stepped closer as if she shared an important military secret. "Crane women enjoy a man who puts in the extra effort in his appearance. It is known."

He froze slightly when she said those words. Two rapid blinks, then that unnerving intensity as he focused on her. "Do it."

Her chin tipped up slightly, satisified with the response. "Excellent. Take a seat, Daigotsu-san."

She already had her supplies nearby on the table. "I will have to touch you, Daigotsu-san, to work with your hair. Do I have your permission?"

The Doshin moved to the seat, each movement precise, unnatural. Or maybe it was juat him. He slid into the seat, looking forward. "You do, Utaku-san."

Koryn comes in whistling merrily, in a rather good mood, he appears to be freshly bathed and moves immediately to feed Inu. "Utaku-sama I see you are at it again"

Koryn's whistling dragged Ichika's attention up from the page. Looking over the sight she found Koryn, whistling happily. Ryuu sat with Hyeon-ju as she was preparing to help him with his hair. All of it, she smiled brightly as she watched all of it for a moment. Almost as if she was apart from it but feeling so enmeshed in it that she couldn't very well contain the emotion as to not smile as brightly as she did.

For the work she'd done so far, for the work she was yet to do, the warmth she felt in this moment carried her inspirations forward and ever faster toward her goal. Every line clicked as if they were meant to click. Rhymes synced well with her overall theme, her goal. Everything came together as if it was meant to come together.

Never did she want to forget this moment, never would she.

EM 5 | Poetry [Awa] vs Cumulative TN 110, No Progress.: 7d10o10k4 60

"Careful, Kuni-san, you might be next," she remarked back to the Crab roommate as she started brushing Ryuu's hair.

"Hmm... is it fashionable to dye your hair white among the spider, Daigotsu-san? I think I've seen two Spider now with that hair color."

"Maybe tomorrow if you catch me before my morning bath" He smiles, "I had a date last night, I am seeing her again tonight and I plan on taking her to the snow maiden tomorrow or the next day with my voucher, if it goes well." He nods toward the Retro Game night voucher he purchased with tickets sitting next to his bed.

Ryuu nodded to the Kuni, without trying to disrupt Utaku's work too much. "I would not say it is common, Utaku-san. I do it to honor my mother and her family before marriage. I have for a long time..."

Memories flashed back to that diplomatic mission from the Crane to Shiragiku. The disdain his grandmother, and cousins showed for their planet. The coldness with which they regarded him. It was also the first time she appeared, Doji Ayumi, his ancestor. Always there, always giving advice....

Bright blue eyes looked to the Utaku. "I do not have all the requisite data to honestly say if it is a trend."

"Of course, Kuni-san. I'd be honored to make you presentable for your date tomorrow. Do tell us more about her."

Having brushed through Ryuu's hair, she began separating it into sections. There was word of a hunt today, so it was prudent to give him a practical style. Nothing was more annoying than loose hair flying in your face at inopportune moments.

"Let me know if it hurts, Daigotsu-san. Braiding can sometimes feel unpleasant if one is not used to it." The Utaku's fingers were calloused, signs of hard training with weaponry and rough life of a military woman. Still, there was a little bit of length to her fingernails, probably because as a pilot it she didn't depend too much on keeping them neat and short.

"I will. But pain will not be an issue, Utaku-san." His fingers rested on his legs, his eyes straight forward. What was surprising was how much he found he enjoyed her nails against his scalp.

He kept the thought to himself.