Rebecca
Adohiro decided to try and set a formal dinner scene. He decided to put random "Flowers" He got for free from the fields not knowing they were weeds. But at least they looked pretty. Once the scene was set, he then would start to make some traditional Yakitori and rice balls. His rice balls looked super lumpy but edible at least as he would decide to make a teriyaki type sauce for dipping the rice balls. Once he did so, he then would set the Yakitori onto a metal skewer in hopes it'd look fancy. He made a super sad omelette too with a smiley face with the teriyaki sauce he made that had some chunkiness form the ingredients in the teriyaki sauce. For some added healthiness, there was green beans that were baked somewhat with some salty seasoning. There was also some dessert, he decided to make a rice pudding but he flavored it with the Sakura. Hopefully his meal was good tasting. He did test it during the cooking process but he was nervous about it being actually good and up to par wit her pallete. 

He did buy dumplings though who he had someone else make for him. Now the apology dinner was all set but his wallet seen better days.
Johnna
Moshi Mai and her Yojimbo, Chiyoko, arrived outside of the Crane Embassy, per the request of one Daidoji Adohiro. The Ambassador wasn't expecting it, to say the least, and after not hearing from Doji Arami, she assumed she was snubbed. But, she hadn't minded, since it meant she didn't have to worry about embarrassing herself. 

But then, all the sudden, a simple invitation was made, and the pair found themselves at the Crane Embassy. How bizarre. "Moshi-sama," Chiyoko said, "Are you certain we should accept this invitation? It's so sudden, it could be some sort of trap or ruse."

"Could be," Mai replied, "But fortune favors the bold. I won't let some child shame me by refusing his invitation. Besides, if he's got something up his sleeve, we'll just deal with it." 

"...Deal with it?"

"Oh, not like _that."_ Mai laughed, and readjusted the small wooden box in her hand. "We'll just find a way to make us come out smelling like roses. Now, let us go." 

The two would greet the nearest attending servant to notify Adohiro of their arrival. 

||sorry for the delay
Rebecca
Adohiro would soon hear word that the pair arrived. He'd tell the servant to go back and lead them in here. The setting was alls et ho and be felt like it was okay for the event. He did put up some decoration do Mae the place feel at home. Soon when they would enter he would wait quiet. 

Luckily Adohiro had not planned to not do anything bad or anything prankish. The young crane member would wait as he started to set up the plates in the nicest way possibly. He was no expert at playing this but he expected he didn't need to do anything fancy. He would go son playing the four and now he'd wait!
Johnna
"Daidoji-sama. May I present Ambassador Moshi Mai and her yojimbo, Chiyoko-san." 

The servant bowed deeply as the two entered the hall, and Mai and Chiyoko walked in to meet Adohiro. 

"Daidoji Adohiro." Mai looked the young man over before giving a proper bow. "I was wondering when you would reach out for this dinner. I had heard nothing from Doji Arami-san, and feared I was forgotten. Color me surprised when I received your missive." 

"Likewise, thank you for your invitation," Chiyoko added, bowing. "You honor this ronin with your invitation." 

Mai presented her gift for Adorhiro, prepared for the customary refusal if it followed. The gift was a wooden box carved from polished and stained driftwood from the Isles of Spice and Silk, inlaid with some quotes from a quintessential reading on etiquette written by the Doji family of the Crane. It contained a small sample of varying exotic spices, some of which only the Mantis could provide. 

||
Rebecca
Adohiro would hear the servant announced their presence. He thanked the servant and he'd then bow to Mai hearing her talk about Doji Arami. "Oh apologies. I believe Arami-San is swamped with his official duties." He replied not sure where he was, he knew he was swamped with work. He heard Chiyoka bow too as he gives a small bow. "Hello, good day." He gives a small happily. "Are you both doing well?" He asked as he greeted. He saw a box offered to him, he gives a shake of his head. This seems way too much." He said trying tor refuse it. He also had a gift for them, a feather from a peacock but he planned to gift it to them after dinner.
Johnna
"We fare well, thank you," Mai said, pleasantly enough, "And you seem to have your health as well. Good, good." Chiyōko was silent, but polite, letting Mai speak for the both of them. She had her mind on other things, anyways, and simply wanted to have this whole event over with. She was glad to get free food, but she wasn't into whatever politicking came of it. 

"Oh, I must insist, it was no trouble to procure," Mai said in return. "It's the least I can do for my outburst, Daidoji-san." She didn't mean a word of it, but games must be played, and proper etiquette must be shown.
Rebecca
He would hear her say they were faring well. He gives a nod thanking her. "Thanks and yes I've been faring well." He smiled softly as he gives a small dip of his head. He soon heard her say take it. Once they went back and forth he finally caved in. "Thank you for the gift. I'll use it well." He gives a small smile happy with it. He nodded his head as he would then would tell the two they could eat. He also wasn't a fan of super formal dinners at all. He always found them a pain to do. He wished he didn't have to do it and all. He gives a polite smile. "I hope the meal is to your liking. I made most of it besides the dumplings."
Johnna
With the gift accepted, Moshi Mai and Chiyoko took a seat at the table, which had a variety of food upon it. Almost everything was handmade, which was very apparent. Lumpy rice balls, Yakitori on skewers, mishappen omelette with a rather questionable smile drawn upon them, 

Chiyoko looked at the food offering, and while she was used to eating caught fowl and (once, in desperation) plump field mice, she could tell this was more an insult than anything. "Daidoji-sama," She said, ready to scold on behalf of her master, this-"

"-is absolutely precious!" 

The ronin looked up and over to Mai, who had a big grin on her face, practically beaming, much to the younger woman's surprise. "This is so adorable! Hm, before my son became such a tough and surly young man, he and his sister would make me a feast just like this! Ah, I remember when they made me tuna cutlets fried so long it was as hard as charcoal... Oh, I miss those two so much..." 

"M-moshi-sama, this is obviously a-"

"Oh, shush, Cyclops. A homemade effort is an effort of care." Mai bowed to Daidoji, genuinely for once. "This is lovely, young Daidoji-san. I appreciate the time you put into it." 

Chiyoko was confounded, but sighed and bowed as well. "Yes... Thank you very much, Daidoji-sama."
Rebecca
He'd let the pair sit down as he also sat down. He would glance at the meal he made, obviously was not made by a chef, but it'd totally work. The omelette's smile was rather funky, it was harder squeezing the sauce and controlling how much came out. When he heard Chiyoki start to speak, he soon heard it was so absolutely precious. He smiled softly as he quickly thanked Moshi-San dipping his head. He soon what's a homemade effort was an effort of care as he gives a nod. "Thank you Mai-San." He said. When he heard Chiyoka thank him he also gives thanks to her. 

"Well we've put away the formalities, let's eat." He smiled softly. "I tried to follow a recipe I remember so it shouldn't be too horrible. I did test it too." He said smiling softly.
Johnna
"You should address the _Mantis Ambassador as Moshi-sama,"_ Chiyoko corrected, "Unless you-"

"No, no, it's fine, Chiyoko, I don't mind." 

Chiyoko almost stumbled over her own tongue at the flippant acceptance from her master, and went as far as to look at her with incredulity. "Moshi-sama, he's not showing proper respect-"

"And I said it's fine! The sweet boy's made us such a cute meal, how could I be worried about something like that?" Mai took a portion of the omelette, and after ushering a prayer over the food, took the first bite, being the highest ranking individual at the table. She made a pleased sound as she ate it, and gave herself a bit more. "Scrumptious, young Adorhiro-san. You know, if you focused more on cooking than playing _pranks,_ you'd be far more famous, I'd wager." 

Now she was even making _jokes?_ Chiyoko didn't speak, and only gave herself a humble bit of yakitori and some of the rice balls. The teriyaki sauce was terribly salty, and the balls fell apart just about when she squeezed with her chopsticks... But Mai seemed more than content. _'This woman's a brute... Unless some kid does anything cute, it seems.'_ The ronin couldn't comment; instead, she just removed a small flask from her sleeve to sip some airag to get the salty flavor out of her mouth and continue to eat. 
||
Rebecca
Adohiro would hear the correction until he heard she was fine with being called San too. "Oh okay, sorry." He filled bud head. He watched her quietly hearing he wasn't showing proper respect, he thought he was! He would hear her say he was sweet for making a cute meal as he gives a soft smile. When he watched her pray, he saw her start to eat his meal. He smiled when he heard her compliment about his cooking. "Thank you, I like to learn to cook in my free time!" He smiled. The teriyaki sauce would be salty and the rice balls had trouble holding their shape. He would begin to eat his yakitori that was a bit salty from the teriyaki sauce but personally he was a fan of some saltiness so it didn't seem to bother him. Adohiro would serve them apple juice he squeezed himself. "Here's some apple juice I pressed. I added some sweetness to make it sweeter hopefully."
Johnna
"Well, keep it up, young man," Mai cooed, "You're already doing a great job for starting out." She ate happily enough, and Chiyoko (with reservations and still not sure of what to make of her master) followed suit, politely dining as well. 

Apple juice was accepted, and enjoyed by both of them. It was tart, but not too tart, and it had a lovely aftertaste. Even the prickly Chiyoko approved, and took her time in sipping it instead of her airag. 

"Tell me, Daidoji-san," Mai said, after finishing her last bite of omelette, "How fair things in the Crane Embassy? Hopefully no bothers since the conference."
Rebecca
Adohiro would her tell him ti keep it up. He gives a nod as he would sip his apple juice. Even with the sugar it still was a little tart, but not super tart luckily. "Oh things at the crane embassy? Hmm I'd say it sometimes gets chaotic there. It's always busy a lot of times. But overall, I think we're doing well. I don't know every thing going on there, I'm like the last one who's told of everything." He chuckled.
Johnna
"I see, I see. Well, chaos breeds order, or so they say." Mai sipped her juice, none too worried about the lack of intel. More likely than not, Adohiro meant as he said, and was not aware of all things Crane. And that was fine, as Mai was getting what she wanted out of this thing after all. 

"You should try to ingrain yourself in more duties, Daidoji-sama," Chiyōko commented. "If I were of a Great Clan, I'd be at their disposal at a moment's notice. That way, I would be entrusted with our dealings and the like. Just... Food for thought."
Rebecca
Adohiro definitely didn't know every thing going on at the crane unless he was directly told by one of the higher ups or others around him. "I'm not one that doesn't know too much about the gossip around the crane embassy." He said. When he heard her state to ingrain himself in more duties he gives a nod. "I can do that. But I'm still treated like I need extra help cause of my age or I don't get told anything because of that." He said.
Johnna
"When I was your age, I was betrothed and expecting my first child. " Mai dined casually as she spoke, very nonchalant. "My husband and I married young and got into all sorts of trouble soon after. Perhaps the Crane handle things differently, but once my Gempukku was complete I was put to work."

"Indeed, I was guarding Togashi monks when I was your age, Daidoji-sama," Chiyōko commented. "I'm certain my first kill was maybe a week or so after I earned my blades."

"Chiyōko, no talk of such grisly things at dinner." Mai scoffed at the uncouthness of her yojimbo. "Pardon the help; I pay her for her arms, not her mouth, as you can see."
Rebecca
"Really? Married at that age?" He gasped. He couldn't believe that at all. "I guess children would be nice but I don't think I have the money for that really." He said. He shrugged unsure if cranes did handle it differently. 

When he heard the guarding part and even the killing, he chuckled when she was scolded. "Hah." He said letting out a little laugh. He was surprised over it. "I guess I just handle the other easy stuff." He said.
Johnna
"It's much more common than you think, young Daidoji-san. Life is fleeting; it's better to go at it with the thought you won't be around very long, lest you squander your time thinking more will come later. " She ate just a bit more, but found herself full and content. "You seem to be concerned about money, by the by. You know a Samurai should not care for money all that much, but if you're concerned about it, perhaps you should look into starting a business. I have a few operations of my own, back home." 

Eventually, with full bellies, Mai and Chiyoko finished the meal. "I must say, Daidoji-san, this has been a wonderful surprise." Mai smiled, and gave a polite bow. "Now, on the issue of the slight against me... I can consider it a thing of the past, never to be brought up again. All I ask is that you join me in prayer and meditation, here and now, as a sign of two Samurai (and a ronin) reaching understanding."
Rebecca
He gives a nod hearing life was fleeting. He didn't think of his life like that at all. He was for with his current life too. "Oh money? I don't really much care about money, it's nice to have it though." He said. "A business? Maybe a food business?" He asked with a small smile. 

He soon heard she would slide the issue but heard about the mediation. "Sure." He said with a small smile. "It sounds good." He gives a small smile.
Johnna
"Perhaps! I'd definitely buy your food if it was made this cutely!" Mai chuckled, and Chiyoko managed to give a genuine smile. This was nice, a little peace after all that craziness was nice. 

"Very well then. Let's begin." Mai recited a simple prayer for clarity and peace in these trying times, and initiated the three of them into quiet contemplation. It would be a bit over ten minutes, a rather standard time for one to connect to things and ignore the outside disturbances. All in all, it would be a nice way to put weight to the prayer (and let the food digest in their stomachs, of course). 

Once completed, Mai clapped her hands once, and sighed. "Well, that is that, then. Thank you again for dinner, Daidoji Adohrio-san. You're a young gentleman, for certain." Mai and Chiyoko bowed in thanks.
Rebecca
He gives a small smile when he hears she'd big bud good. He gives a small smile. "It'd definitely be popular maybe." He smiled softly. When he heard a horn the prayer he'd close his eyes. Soon the ten minutes felt very long. Once when I was over he'd hear the clap as he opened his eyes. "Oh me? A young gentlemen." Hr said surprised. "Oh thanks." He gives a small smile.
Johnna
"You're very welcome," Mai replied, "And consider any issue between us forgiven and forgotten, Daidoji Adohiro." The ambassador rose, as did Chiyoko, and once again they offered a bow. "You really must come to our embassy sometime for tea," Mai offered, "It would be nice to have a sweet young man around, hm!" 

Chiyoko smiled politely enough, though she wasn't too sure about all that. "All the same, Daidoji-sama, thank you for the meal. Unless there is anything else, we will depart."
Rebecca
He gives a nod as he heard he was forgiven and forgotten about the accidental pranking of the two way earlier. He soon heard her offer to the embassy as he gives a nod. "I will visit sometime." He smiled softly. "Well if you put it like that way, I'll definitely come more often." He promised. 

"I dont have anything else Chiyoka-sama and Mai-San." He smiled softly.
Johnna
Mai's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly when she was given the less proper honorific, but she didn't let herself get too angry. "Very well, Daidoji-san," She said. "Until we meet again." 

With that, the pair left the Embassy, stepping back out to the Noble Quarter. 

"That went better than I expected," Chiyoko commented. "Moshi-sama, were you satisfied, truly? It seemed like a meal prepared by a child, not a Samurai." 

"I actually am," Mai sighed, "It wasn't perfect or near what I would've expected, but it was endearing. Besides, we got what we wanted."