A match made in breakfast. (Day 9 Mid Morning, Open)

[Hiruma Daichi]

Daichi made his way into the banquet hall early, hoping to catch the Imperial matchmaker before she got to the rest of the day. He had some things to discuss with her after all. One of which might even be personal. Scanning around the area is eyes finally landed on the young matron and he started making his way towards her.

"Otomo-sama." He greeted her with a polite bow. "I hope I'm not disturbing you this morning."

[Otomo Mariko]

Mariko looks up from her breakfast, red-rimmed eyes blinking as she takes in the gunso.

It may be there is a grain of rice at the side of her lip.

"Have you eaten, Hiruma-san?" she asks. "This is rather the place for it, if you've not."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Not as of yet." He admitted as he glanced around. "So, I might as well take of advantage of the fact I'm here." The young crab added, as he reached a hand up to his chin in a thoughtful expression his finger brushing the edge of his lip in what might be considered a gesture to indicate she had rice stuck to her lip.

He noticed the red ringed eyes, but didn't comment instead asking. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

[Otomo Mariko]

"Please," Mariko says, gesturing to the seat across from her.

She makes no mention of the rice, takes no action toward it.

"Your name has been spoken with some admiration," she remarks. "And I hear you are not yet wedded."

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Not as of yet." He admitted as he took a seat across from the Otomo. "My duties to the south tend to keep me rather occupied." Flagging down the servant he ordered a simple breakfast of rice, fish, vegetables and miso. "Though I admit my family had some hopes that something could be arranged this season."

[Otomo Mariko]

"Has Yasuki Ryoichi briefed you about his efforts to secure marriages for your people?" Mariko asks. "If so, this conversation will proceed with far greater ease."

She eats more as she awaits his response.

A second grain of rice joins the first.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"He has, and he mentioned a certain possibility for himself of a match among the Miya." Daichi said, taking a moment to give thanks over his food as it arrived. "He asked if I could take the lead in that, as he wondered about the propriety of doing so himself. I plan to ask Miya-dono about it myself soon, as I believe that's the proper next step."

"He has also kept me appraised of the various other matches we have arranged this season, and I have a possible one to discuss with you myself should the opportunity arise." He explained, taking a moment to wipe his mouth after taking a bite of his breakfast. Maybe that would serve as a hint.

[Otomo Mariko]

"You may consider the opportunity to have arisen, Hiruma-san," Mariko says. "It would please a young woman to hear what such a man as yourself seeks."

The second grain leaps from the corner of Mariko's lip back into the bowl.

The first hangs on.

[Hiruma Daichi]

That wasn't exactly what he was talking about, but she had asked, and the other things could wait a bit he supposed. "What am I seeking?" Daichi paused a moment in thought.

You want to stroll with the cute girls.

"Well for one your thoughts on a potential match we are considering with the antis, beyond that though. In what I seek for in a spouse?" There was a moment of hesitation as he puts his thoughts in order.

"That depends on a lot of factors. My family has raised me to take over as head of House Tetsumura on my Father's retirement, and with my sister marrying into the Lion that stance is not one that they would likely easily change. So, their preference would be for me to remain among the Crab. I do understand though that my duty to the Clan comes first, and if a particularly good match were to come along that such might not be the case.

"Talking with my families plans in mind though, while I would not be opposed to a bushi having someone skilled in administration to help my mother and eventually take on her duties would be a boon. Though I would also state that the lands of the Hiruma can be difficult to become accustomed to for the most delicate of flowers. so that may need be taken into account."

[Otomo Mariko]

"The Mantis for yourself, Hiruma-san? Or for someone else in your cadre?" Mariko asks.

[Hiruma Daichi]

It would be a Gusai Yayoi marrying a Hiruma-ke no kashin Sugimura Haruko." He explained. "With the mantis courtier joining the Crab."

[Otomo Mariko]

"Ah," Mariko says. "So they get their desires at long last. May it be all they hope it will be."

She looks at the Hiruma, gauging his reaction.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Time will tell there, though i wish them luck." He replied easily. "Though I think they will have the fortunes and the compassion of Gusai-dono to thank as well for this match finally coming to be."

"The Crab have promised a lot of young Samurai to other Clans this season. I'd be lying to say if we didn't wish to lose a skilled scout, and that their weren't other parties interested in Sugimura-san."

[Otomo Mariko]

"And that speaks well of the match for your people," Mariko replies, nodding.

"To return to a match for Yasuki Ryoichi," she continues, "I had suggested that he might find Miya-ke no kashin Hojo O-Nana suitable. He would have to join the Miya, of course, but I do not imagine that that would be much of a hardship for him--normally. You do note the loss of many from your Clan, and that might be enough reason to suggest other pairings."

She smiles, somewhat tightly. "When he and Kitsu Sayomi called on me the other day, it did occur to me that they would be an auspicious pairing, as well. And Yasuki-san seemed moved at the idea."

That one grain of rice is holding on for dear life.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"That would certainly be auspicious to find a match among the Miya" Daichi agreed with a nod. "And certainly, acceptable if we can find balance elsewhere in our marriages. Yasuki Masaki wishes to find a match to marry into the Clan for example. Though with her standing that may be difficult even with the influence of her house."

"As to Kitsu-san." He paused thoughtfully. "From what I noticed she is an intelligent woman, and skilled in both the ways of Fan and Sword. She would make a good match for Yasuki-san, at least in my mind. Especially if she were to join the Crab, though it also occurs to me that without proper considerations involved there may be some disparity to the match that would have the Lion refuse."

[Otomo Mariko]

"Perhaps Kitsu-san would be a good match for a gunso we both know," Mariko says.

She eats more of her food, awaiting a reply.

Finally, mercifully, the one grain of rice is gone.

Less happily, a new one seems to have found purchase on her bottom lip.

[Hiruma Daichi]

"Perhaps." He agreed with a nod. "She matches quite a few of the things I have been looking for." Daichi admitted with a nod, she wasn't wrong after all. "If circumstances were different, I might pursue it."

"But I don't know if Benten would smile on such a match. To negotiate his marriage to Miya-sama, and at the same time pursue my own match to Kitsu-san, who you yourself said he looks at fondly. It seems like the type of action to cause displeasure to the Fortunes."

[Otomo Mariko]

"A young man looks with fondness in many places, Hiruma-san," Mariko says. "Surely you are not so old as to have forgotten it?"

[Hiruma Daichi]

If he sees a girl with a really slender nape and a super pretty face, he gets sprung!

"Age isn't always best calculated by a number of years." He observed in return. "But you're right a man can look fondly on many things." That wasn't something he could easily forget, even if he tried.

Which might also be something of a source of his protests if he thought about it. A few fleeting moments had left an impact on him, and he likely hadn't given Kitsu-san a fair shake being as they mostly had talked of trade.

"So, I'll take that into consideration and try to find time to speak with both of them. If it's nothing but a fleeting fondness and perhaps only on part of one, I'll consider your suggestion more seriously." He finished with a dip of his head in deference.

[Otomo Mariko]

Mariko nods, and the errant grain falls to join its comrade.

"Now, you'd also asked after others marrying into the Crab," she says. "Have there been any offers made to your people for such things?"