Shokomaru came onto the hotel lounge to find something to snack on. He'd more or less wasted the previous day, but it was festival time. That was later though, so he was dressed casually in a grey short sleeve button down and black jeans, boots on his feet.

Grabbing a table for himself he ordered some miso, vegetables and egg rice.

Then he settled in with coffee and put his densai on the table to catch up on events.

Akodo Akihiko enters the lounge in his fatigue uniform -- the one without singe marks from radiant blasts -- looking better than he has in almost two days. His face is still a little drawn, a touch paler than usual, but it would be a challenge to guess the highs and lows of his recent days.

The Lion orders a humble but hearty breakfast, takes a teapot to a table near Shokomaru, but stops himself beforesitting. He turns to the Spider.

"Ah, Daigotsu-sama, isn't it? From the shuttle, and ... in passing. Might I join you this morning?" He smiles and bows, though it's a little awkward while holding the teapot.

"Eating alone is a shame", he rose to return the bow and offered the seat across from him.

Sitting he nodded. "And I am indeed the one from the shuttle. Daigotsu Shokomaru, commander of the fifth company, 9th Obsidian legion."

Akihiko sits, and as he pours tea for himself, reminds: "Thank you, Daigotsu-sama. Akodo Akihiko, gunso, Long Claws fighter squadron. And, I'm sorry, I see you have a beverage, but would you also like tea?"

"The 9th runs on harsh fuel, it burns brighter", he held his coffee cup up in cheers and sipped. "Though I appreciate the offer. So how is Akodo-san's morning?"

By the man's pallor, he had a guess.

"Ah, in need of fueling," he jokes. He sips the tea, having the same unpleasant experience as every other morning on Asakaze, and then concedes, "Sometimes we must use the fuel available, not the fuel our equipment prefers."

"How has Daigotsu-sama found his time here? The conclusion draws near." The Lion's easy smile remains in place, except after taking sips of his tea.

"My honest assessment is that I don't like mushrooms now, where as before I had no opinion", Shokomaru answered. "I trust the tea is some manner of challenge you're trying to best...?"

Akihiko smiles wider at the joke and glances around tio ensure the staff aren't too close. "Among the many ways to suffer on this planet," he says quietly but clearly, "the tea is actually pretty gentle. But," he concedes, "I also always have tea in the morning, and I refuse to have that taken away from me."

He seemed skeptical but nodded, people have their reasons.

"I have to agree with the sentiment", he looked like he had a similar bad taste in his mouth. "But enough of that, this jig is almost done and we get our arrangements tomorrow. Having high hopes?"

Even without dining the tea, Akihiko swallows wrong coughs a bit.

"Ahem. Excuse me. Ah, hope seems like a dangerous thing to have in such an uncertain situation. But I have been told it's better to be in a position of choosing than having to wait, so at least we can have more hope than those lower on the lists?"

"Do you think that's right? Getting to choose sooner, but not first, just leaves you with crippled leavings of possibility. If instead you get chosen, at least you know someone wants you around", he answered back and drank his coffee.

Akihiko looks at him thoughtfully. "You're only really safe if you're number one on the list. No competition, no chance your top choice will already be gone." He shakes his head. "But even there you have the pressure of expectations. Wherever you pick, it's not like it's only up to you."

"I suppose there might be, there's that Imperial here, if first place doesn't choose them I think it might be an insult not overlooked by their family."

The Lion nods thoughtfully. "I forget sometimes," he admits a little sheepishly, "just how many miai participants there are. You are right, there will be much room for offense to be taken." Akihiko sighs. "Seems like we're back to it being safer to be chosen than to be choosing."

"Just so", he sipped. "There in lies the burden, something has to make this hotel worth it, eh?"

"It was unsettling to go from ship bunks to a fluffy bed, but staying here has had its usefulness..." He pauses. "Er, the hotel facilities, like this space, have been useful. The fluffy need has been purely functional," he clarifies.

"It's big too", he nodded. "Man would have to be cross county champ to keep up with his wife in that."

The Lion stopped cold. "Uh, I suppose that's right. I haven't... really thought that far ahead. I'm still trying to figure out what I'll do tomorrow." He takes an intense interest in his tea, trying not to add any more things to think about right now.

"Not that difficult to figure out what you'll do tomorrow, Akodo-san", Shokomaru added. "You'll pick a proper spouse that furthers your clan's goals and honors your ancestors. Doesn't take kuwaru coins to hit that nail on the head."

He finished his cup of coffee and leaned to the side, scowling at the servant as he waved it gently at her.

Fortunately the young lady was already on her way with their breakfasts.

"Yes, Daigotsu-sama, you're right," he concedes. "But just as there can be different strategies to win a battle, there are ... different ... honorable paths forward." The Lion looks uncomfortable but doesn't back away from the conversation.