Ganbold trusted, perhaps with a tinge of naivete, that his room-mates would find reasons to be elsewhere during this time, for the pretty pony people needed to have a sit-down to talk strategy.

He sat on his bunk, arms folded as he waited, a companionable smile on his face.

There was a tap on the door. "Hey, Moto-san! It's Shinjo Yul." Yul announced himself. "Can I come in?"

"And, coincidentally, it's me as well, Moto Ruhe!" The big metal-head appeared from behind Yul.

Yul nodded greeting to the unfamiliar Moto. "Shinjo Yul. Good to meet another fellow Unicorn." After a quick glance around, he offered his hand in the Unicorn greeting.

Which was readily accepted and duly shook. A broad smile came extra. "Well met! There should be at least one more with us, one Utaku Hyeong-ji, ain't that so?"

Speak of the devil, there was a firm knock on the door.

"Utaku Hyeon-ju. May I enter?"

"Come in, come in!" Ganbold called from inside. "Door doesn't lock, really." He stands to greet the others, offering his hand in the Unicorn manner.

"Have we all had a pleasant day?"

Dressed in her uniform, tailored, clean, and well-fitting on her sturdy frame, Hyeon-ju stepped inside.

"Can't really complain about the day," she said though the warmth didn't quite reach her face or her words. She did however do the round with proper Unicorn handshakes.

"Utaku Hyeon-ju, hohei of the 7th Sky Rider Wing. Same unit as Yul-san. It's good to have the horde gathered, so to speak."

"Moto-san." Yul said as they all walked in. "Good to see you again." He waited by the door, shutting it again once Ruhe had stepped inside as well.

He chuckled, then grimaced. Damnit... but, well, calling them a horde was funny. "Yeah." Yul said. "Today and yesterday. I think we managed to do honor to our clan in today's event."

"Moto Ganbold, Utaku-san, marine off the Tsust Nar. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He smiled brightly, his affable demeanor as yet un-chilled by hers.

"The birds! Yes, Ishmael was a bit of a rascal at first, sneaky-wise, but he settled down right quick. Of course, this was not the sort of activity that Ide-sama led me to believe would be taking place. I'd say it's much better than the picture she was painting, even if them Spider are all over the place."

Yul grimaced. "Yeah, it feels like every other participating samurai is either a Spider or a Crane. If we're discouraged from those, well, I hope our superiors don't mind a lot of Phoenix."

He chewed his lip a moment. "The Crane are... nice, though." Yul let his eyebrows go up, just a little.

"The fighter pilot bunks in here," Ganbold rumbled conspiratorially. "Has some kinda dog pilot plush-toy. Pretty adorable."

Hyeon-ju's reaction to the talk about the overgrown chicken dinners was an icy silence on the subject. She wanted that pesky bird on a dinner plate some day soon.

"Yes, there does seem to be a lot of Spider and Crane about. We are currently in a position where we're not openly in directly conflict with any clans, but Spider are responsible for attacks on our territories previously, and the Crane on the other hand with the Mantis economic-alliance are hurting our trade and commerce." Delivered like a mission statement, even with a small tug of her collar to adjust it slightly.

"Our relationship with most other clans is mostly that command doesn't want to be drawn into the conflict of the Lion or the Crab, but we could benefit from both. Particularly the mercantile power of the Crab."

"Oh, Daidoji Ishiyo-sama? Huh..." Yul chewed on his lip again for a few moments, considering.

But before they could discuss that further, the ice queen threw a bucket of cold water on the idea. "Not a whole lot of Crab." Yul said, grimacing. "More Lion. And they all seem impressive."

"Like...Akodo impressive or Matsu impressive?" Ganbold asked.

"There is a Matsu war hero here. Matsu Chiyoko, known for famously being quite the sharpshooter with a Heavy Assault Rifle." Hyeon-ju added in, as that was the only Matsu she had met.

"I met one Murame Shoan though, but she seemed more Matsu than Ikoma..."

Ganbold shook his head sadly. "Matsu...well, another one of 'em bunks here, too. Kitsu Nizomi. Seemed nice enough."

"I've met both of them." Yul nodded to Hyeon-ju. "And I thought quite well of them. Very well, indeed. As well as another, Matsu Hide. Built like, well, a Matsu. Wonder how good she actually is at Oshidama..." Yul smirked, flexing his right fist.

He shook his head. "I haven't met a Kitsu, though." Actually, he had, but he hadn't gotten her name.

"The more interesting question though, is which clans are actually interested in Unicorn spouses?" she sighed, taking a seat on one of the creaky hotel-chairs and slipped off her uniform gloves.

"The Spider, Crane, and Mantis all have reason for strengthening their alliance while here. Who knows what the Scorpion even want."

"Bayushi Akagi seemed like a good guy. I mean, still a Scorpion, but...y'know, for what it's worth. As for clans that might be interested in us, I'd say the Phoenix might be looking to patch things up, and I would be surprised if the Lion and Crab don't want to get us entangled. Word of our troubles with the Spider won't take long to spread. Spider might want to work out a deal to keep us out of a conflict, but...I just can't stand those guys."