Tsugiharu nods.

"Well it's good to be open to different types of music." he agrees. "It's interesting how different forms draw inspiration from each other. A shame that so much of it is filtered through cultural offices."

"That is the nature of the clans I read," she said with a soft sigh. "Still, much gets through. I know some Mantis and Spider music that I've heard, and Scorpion plays of course."

Tsugiharu nodded.

"Some does get through especially if it has Imperial backing." he agrees. "Still, sometimes you're just in the mood for a certain song whose notes are not allowed outside of the boundaries of your clan's holdings for politcal reasons, you know?"

Taking a sip of tea, Fusako shrugged, smiling. "Sometimes I suppose... but living of a planet of Artisans, you get quite a bit of variety. The Kakita do enjoy experimentation."

Tsugiharu sipped his own tea.

"Anything in particular lately catch your fancy Asahina-sama?" he asked, curious.

"Oh, I am so bad with names," she confessed with a sigh. "I have so many things already milling around in my head that I tend to miss bands and songs. I can always recognize a tune in a few notes, but that's it. Still, I can at least say that I get to attend the Kakita Academy's annual graduation performances, and those are always quite interesting and varied. A few from this years class I imagine could go cross clan."

It was quite the impressive lifestyle. It didn't answer Tsugiharu's question as to why she was at this particular miai, but he had a feeling that being persistent about that mystery would be off-putting.

He sampled the fish.

"Hmm, quite good. Fresh ingredients and a talented chef do make quite the difference with even a simple dish, ne?" he offered.

She nodded. "Phoenix cuisine isn't something that gets around, but I shouldn't be surprised it's simple. Reminds me of Asahina cuisine. Still, not quite as good as the fish I'm used to back home. I suppose a world of oceans can spoil one for seafood."

It was like having lunch with Crane gentry from a broadcast. Every moment spent on flaunting what she had. Why was she here? On this world or even at this lunch? Clearly she could do much much better. And while the thought of her joining the Phoenix as a frontier wife with six kids was amusing, he truly doubted the Phoenix would do that.

As much fun as it would be to cause a scene by asking the waiter for a bottle of ketchup and a plate of chicken wings, he would hold to decorum. It was at least a nice lunch with a very pretty woman. Who wouldn't appreciate that?

"Hm, well the welcome feast showed that the Phoenix have done some very interesting things to adapt to this world with mushrooms and liazard meat. The four tents was also an interesting contrivance. I don't recall you dining at the tent I was in, Asahina-sama, what did you end up eating for the welcome feast?"

"Ah, the tents. I was in the orange tent, had some cold barley tea and pickled mushrooms and vegetables with rice. A simple meal, but quite tasty. Your tent was a bit different then?"

Tsugiharu nodded.

"I ended up going with the pink tent with the music and the meat and mushroom dish." he said. "Truly, I would've loved to have tried the dishes of all the tents, but perhaps the Phoenix wished to show us that there was more to come to those who married into the clan?"

She laughed softly. "I imagine so. It's of course in the governor's best interests to make as good an impression as he can after all. Even those who don't marry a Phoenix might be of some use after all."

Tsugiharu nodded.

"A new colony needs a lot of resources, being connected to a network of people who enjoyed your food and your otori rides is definitely a good thing."

He popped an edemame.

"A connection to a woman of your influence would surely be a feather in their courtier's cap, as it were."

"I'm certain that wouldn't have anything to do with my presence here Kuchiki-san," she noted dryly, smiling with a slight tease.

Meanwhile I'm here because I'm expendable. Must be nice to be born into a life of ease. Tsugiharu wondered.

"I had rather thought that the case, Asahina-sama. Amusing though it might be to consider that you were on your way to a more influential miai and your pilot got lost and you'd simply decided to make the best of it." he offered with a small smile.

"It's early in the miai yet, but has the miai met your expectations, Asahina-sama?"

"Oh, there are plenty of connections to be made here. I've seen quite a few with just as much or more influence than I have. I had little expectation coming in, so they were easy to meet." She paused after a bite, looking at Tsugiharu closely. "What is it you really hope for out of this miai Kuchiki-san?"

He lifted his water glass.

"What does anyone want at a mia, Asahina-sama? To marry well. A shugenja would be preferable to increase the chances of them inheriting the gift of speaking to the kami, but there aren't many shugenja at this miai what with the governor's focus on strength of arms." he mused.

He shook his head.

"He reminds me of some of the Daigotsu of rank in the military." he offered before taking a sip of water.

"But what about you, Asahina-sama? I can't imagine a woman of your discerning tastes not having a very firm idea of what she wants to achieve here."

"Not many, but there are a few." Sip. "Mmm... as for myself, I'm hoping for someone that can compliment my work. That doesn't mean I'm obligated to stay where I am, but I would best be used to design regardless. Someone with artistic or business sense would of course be nice, but I can do those things myself just fine."

She gave a slight smile. "Honestly, the best I can hope for is someone who has the same method of doing things. It's why I'll take my time with this. Personality takes a while to truly learn."

Tsugiharu nodded.

"A wise decision, Asahina-sama. You'll be spending your entire life after this miai with this person after all. It's smart not to latch on to one person hard from the start. You never know what time will reveal about them." he agrees.

Fusako raised an eyebrow before smiling. "Very true. I learned a little about you from your clan's nakodo the other day, but it really is better to learn more over dinner, hm? And much better than shouting over the club music."